University of Illinois established the Raffaele Suriano Award and further honored Dr. Suriano by presenting him with the first Award at the Dental Alumni Reunion and Reception Dinner
Dean Suriano being recognized
Dean Suriano surprised with affection from Dean Bruce Graham (right) and Alumni Secretary/Treasurer Charles DiFranco (left)
Dr. Raffaele Suriano graduated from Loyola University's Chicago College of Dental Surgery in 1944. He was a native of Kenosha, Wis., and a graduate of Loyola University College of Arts and Sciences in 1941. He proceeded to become active with the Department of the Army in attaining the position the Director of Continuing Education for the Office of the Surgeon General. His teaching career included positions at the U.S. Medical Services School at Brooke Medical Center in Texas and at the U.S. Institute of Dental Research at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C. He reached the rank of U.S. Army Colonel and served as Deputy Hospital Commander in the Munich Service Area of Germany, Chief Directorate in the Office of the Surgeon General, Personnel and Training in Washington, D.C., and Deputy Chief of Staff for the Health Services Command at Brooke Medical Center.
Dr. Suriano received the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the U.S. Army Commendation Medal. After an outstanding military career, Dr. Suriano was selected to become Dean of the Loyola School of Dentistry in 1973, a position he served for many years with distinction until his retirement in 1984. At Loyola, Dr. Suriano expanded the dental programs and improved its instruction. He formed the General Practice Residency Program, established a Hospital Dental Program, created a hospital dental clinic, computerized the dental clinics, recruited more women students and faculty, increased the faculty size with full-time and part-time positions, founded a faculty research fund, actively recruited foreign dentists for continuing education in the United States, extended the Loyola name in adding students from States with no dental school, and upgrading many teaching positions to better prepare the Loyola graduates for modern dental practice. Loyola Dental School successfully completed two accreditation reviews while receiving many honors for its excellence. His fiscal management leadership kept the student tuition below the median for private schools. He initiated a school-wide campaign to raise money for a Student Loan Fund.
He was honored by Loyola with their Man of the Year Award. He also was recognized with PFA Fellowship.
This year, the University of Illinois Alumni Association established the Raffaele Suriano Award and further honored Dr. Suriano by presenting him with the first Award at their huge Dental Alumni Reunion and Reception Dinner last May at the UIC Forum in Chicago. University of Illinois Dean and Fellow Bruce Graham, Loyola Alumni and PFA Editor Jim Brophy, Fellows Robert Brunetti (CEO of ProCare Dental Group), and Charles DiFranco (University of Illinois Dental Alumni Association Secretary/Treasurer) were on hand to congratulate their former Dean. Our PFA Secretary General, Richard Kozal, a Loyola Alumni and personal friend of Dean Suriano, sent a representative to acknowledge Dr. Suriano's honor.