U of T’s Dean of Dentistry on leave pending investigation into racist images used in lecture

Anil Kishen is seen in this undated photo published in a University of Toronto news release following his appointment. (Jeff Comber/ Supplied)

The dean of the University of Toronto’s (U of T) Faculty of Dentistry is on leave and the school says it has launched an investigation after antisemitic images were used in one of his recent lectures.

The images appeared in a lecture Dr. Anil Kishen has given to second-year dentistry students for the past several years, according to the Jewish Medical Association of Ontario (JMAO), which helped bring forward a complaint.

A student who was in the lecture on Wednesday complained to JMAO after Kishen showed an image in his presentation of a person with the colours of the Palestinian flag on their face being strangled by ropes and a blue and white flag. A Google image search of the picture from the presentation brings up the original image, complete with an Israeli flag on the torso. The star of David was erased from the image used in the deck, which accompanied a slide asking whether strangulation theory occurs in dental pulp.

A handout from the slide deck of the lecture given in previous years includes another image showing a hook-nosed man swimming in a pool of money, inaccessible to handicapped people below. “Immunity” is written on the side of the swimming pool. “Immunological modulation” was the apparent topic of that slide.

JMAO President Lisa Salaman said while a student came forward to complain this year, the organization discovered that Kishen has been giving the same lecture for several years, but students in previous years did not complain because they felt concerns around antisemitism would not be taken seriously and were afraid that a complaint might draw reprisal.

“To be honest, this is probably one of the first times where we have seen the university act accordingly and act swiftly,” Salaman said. “And so I do have to commend the university and truthfully Dr. Kishen, for doing the right thing in terms of taking a leave.”

Jewish students have reported an upsurge in antisemitism on campus over the past few years, an issue U of T has acknowledged and vowed to combat.

Salaman said the images used in the lecture stood out because they were “egregious” and because they had been used in the same lecture for several years.

In a statement provided to CP24, U of T Vice-president and Provost Trevor Young said KIshen has “committed to participating fully” in the probe, adding he’ll remain off pending its outcome.

“The Dean reports that he used these images without appreciating the antisemitic and discriminatory meanings, and their negative impact on Jewish colleagues and students and the broader learning environment. He has removed the images from his course materials and has apologized directly to his class and the broader Faculty,” Young wrote in an email Friday.

“He has also committed to exercising greater diligence in reviewing course materials to support an inclusive and respectful learning environment for all, and to improving his understanding and awareness of antisemitism and other forms of discrimination.

The university said it is not commenting further on the situation.

Kishen, a decorated academic, author, and inventor who specializes in oral health nanomedicine and endodontics, was appointed as the dean of U of T’s Faculty of dentistry in April 2025. He assumed the role on July 1, 2025, for a five-year term, the university said in a media release. Kishen joined U of T in 2009.

CP24 has also reached out to Kishen directly but he has not responded as of publication.

Jewish community calls for antisemitism to be addressed

Salaman said the incident is not a “one-off” and said it highlights the need for better education.

“He (Kishen) claimed he didn’t realize that the images were hateful and discriminatory,” Salaman said.

“Whether or not this is true, it still points to the fact that there needs to be urgent antisemitism and anti-Zionism training for all university senior administrators and leaders done by reputable organizations that represent the broad, mainstream Jewish community.”

In a statement posted to X, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs said all students deserve to learn in an environment without fear of discrimination.

“Accountability is important — and so is ensuring our campuses uphold the highest standards of professionalism and respect,” the Jewish advocacy group said.

In a post on Facebook, Toronto Coun. Mike Colle said sharing images vilifying Jews in a dentistry lecture is “horrific” and called on the provincial government to launch a third-party investigation.

In a statement, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security Nolan Quinn said the government expects colleges and universities to provide an environment free from disruptions, discrimination, harassment or hate.

“We are pleased that University of Toronto took swift action to address this disturbing incident,” Quinn said. “We continue to work with all of our institutions, including University of Toronto, to make clear our expectation that this type of discrimination and hate is not tolerated.”