Dentistry at Western : 50 Years of Vision, Politics, Recession and Academic Leadership

__Transforming Dentistry__ traces the rise and near demise of the dentistry program at Western University. "The history of the dental program at Western University is a spirited and gritty story of grand visions, strong personalities, and contentious leadership. Focusing on the years from 1965 to 2015, Transforming Dentistry highlights Western University's ambitious plans to create and situate a dental program within a health sciences complex; the practical challenges involved in implementing a curriculum and populating a new school; the influence of key dental faculty, community dentists, and students in shaping the program; and the school's near closure during the 1990s. David J. Kenny and Shelley McKellar detail how and why the training of dentists was transformed by science, technology, and individual educators. The book focuses on the unique aspects of Western's dental program and situates it in comparison with Canada's other nine dental programs. Today, the strong reputation of Western's dental school is a direct result of the ambitious visions, professional commitment, and steadfast leadership employed by London dentists and university educators over more than five decades."-- Provided by publisher

The history of the dental program at Western University is a spirited and gritty story of grand visions, strong personalities, and contentious leadership. Focusing on the years from 1965 to 2015, Transforming Dentistry highlights Western University’s ambitious plans to create and situate a dental program within a health sciences complex; the practical challenges involved in implementing a curriculum and populating a new school; the influence of key dental faculty, community dentists, and students in shaping the program; and the school’s near closure during the 1990s.

David J. Kenny and Shelley McKellar detail how and why the training of dentists was transformed by science, technology, and individual educators. The book focuses on the unique aspects of Western’s dental program and compares it with the programs offered at nine other Canadian schools. Today, the strong reputation of Western dentistry is a direct result of the ambitious visions, professional commitment, and steadfast leadership employed by London dentists and university educators over more than five decades.

Contents 7 Foreword 9 Acknowledgments 11 List of Abbreviations 15 Introduction: Transforming Dentistry 17 1 Vision and Determination: President George Edward Hall and the London Dentists, 1945–1965 28 2 Founding Dean and Program Launch: Mobilizing Faculty, Students, and Space, 1965–1970 48 3 A Fledgling Faculty of Dentistry Grows and Adapts, 1970–1982 80 4 Research, Reorganization, and Clinic Renewal, 1982–1994 118 5 President Paul Davenport and Dentistry: Vertical Cuts, Merger, and Move, 1994–1999 150 6 Building and Renovation: Faculty, Alumni, and the Dental Sciences Building Addition, 1999–2006 184 7 Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry: Symbiosis, 2006–2015 214 Epilogue: Life after 50 241 Appendices 245 Notes 265 Index 321