Dental World^®

PIERRE FAUCHARD ACADEMY

President’s Message

January/February • 2007

Old State Capitol

Often our news items pertain exclusively to what the Fellows in PFA are doing to make the world a more dental-friendly place to live in, one project at a time. Or they pertain to what outstanding contributions in the field of dentistry that individuals are making, and to those honored by Fellowship or PFA recognition. Few times do we insert PFA and our members into the entire picture of our profession, and life in general.

Last November, in the haze of running from the epitome of what our Pierre Fauchard Academy does on the international scene (held during the ADA meeting in Las Vegas), to our President’s meeting with the officers of the Louisiana PFA Section, the officials of the Katrina-ravaged New Orleans, and our professional standing there, the editorial staff met the next weekend with PFA leaders in Iowa City, Iowa.

Editor Jim Brophy presenting Iowa scholarship check to Dean Chalkley

Under the opportunity of the University of Iowa School of Dentistry Homecoming, we attended and experienced a collage of PFA, dentistry, education, college athletics, Iowa history, and the effect the Iowa Dental School has on Iowa dentistry and, hence, our country. The entire picture is one of a blend of dental leaders who produce an outstanding report on our Academy—and the profession as a whole.

We arrived there late Thursday night in time to take in the outstanding Louisville-Rutgers football game on TV. That exciting victory for Rutgers certainly set the stage for events to come.

The following morning we drove to the beautiful campus to meet with Iowa Associate Dean of Students, Yvonne M. Chalkley, to discuss the opportunities that PFA has been fulfilling in their educational system with scholarships and professional recognition.

The Dean also sang the praises of such outstanding dental leaders as our past PFA President C. F. Larry Barrett, our Regional Trustee Steve Hedlund, our Section Chair C. Frederick Fuller, as well as former Iowa Dean John C. Montgomery, and FDI Officer Kathy Kells, to name a few of their dental leaders. These individuals are and have been outstanding in their own personal pursuits. But they are also PFA Fellows.

The University of Iowa School of Dentistry educates more than 80% of the State’s dentists. So it is no mystery that when they have a Homecoming, the profession of dentistry in Iowa has its own important gathering of dentists in practice, government, education, and research. The University of Iowa School of Dentistry is recognized as one of the top dental schools in the country, and by extension, the world. It attracts many foreign students (such as Dr. Mitzi Moldauer, daughter of Guatemala/Belize Section Chair Bertram Moldauer, and sister of Dr. Ivan Moldauer, an endodontic professor at NOVA), as well as highly capable students from the United States/Canada. The richness of our profession can be seen in this microcosm of campus culture coming together on this weekend to celebrate their graduation—initiation into this elite group of professionals, many of whom have become leaders in dentistry on some varying levels.

PFA Regional Trustee Steve Hedlund and Iowa Chair Fred Fuller at the PFA Luncheon Meeting

After our early morning conference with Dean Chalkley, we attended their Homecoming’s seminar courses offered to the alumni. This series of courses presented reports on the status of dentistry in the State of Iowa, the current research being done there, and a compilation of new technology/materials being done elsewhere. The package was a complete education building off their past presentations.

At noon, we then were invited to the University Club for the PFA Section Luncheon Meeting.

PFA Meeting at the University Club

The PFA Luncheon Meeting included a speaker who had been directing the rebuilding of the original University of Iowa/Iowa Capitol building, after some recent damage. The building, over 100 years old, has since been retired from use as a teaching facility and is being made over into a museum. At its beginning, it had been the meeting place for the Iowa State government. The University of Iowa, and that building in particular, has always had a tight relationship with the history of Iowa—its government and its top educational system, including dentistry.

Editor with Brophy Memorial Scholarship recipient Lindsay Compton

That evening, we joined in the cocktail reception where we met (entirely by chance) the recipient of the James Brophy Senior Memorial Scholarship Award at Iowa, Ms. Lindsay Compton.

As guests of past President Larry Barrett and his wife Lois, and former Dean John Montgomery, and his delightful wife Shirley, we enjoyed the Alumni Dinner and Award Festivities, where many of our Fellows were recognized for their dental achievements for the University.

PFA past President Larry Barrett and past Iowa Dean John Montgomery at the Iowa Reunion Banquet

And several were in the leadership of raising tremendous amounts of money for the dental school, challenging the other dental school graduation classes to match their efforts. While this is not unusual at such dental school functions, the enthusiasm and number of young dentists active in making this commitment was amazing. This was a “family” event of graduates who had actually enjoyed and appreciated their education at the University of Iowa. The warmth and candor was exceptional. We were accepted into their family with no qualms.

We were up early in the rain on Saturday to attend the remaining continuing education courses (and to get a close parking spot for the afternoon football game). When we had gone into the dental school, the campus was pretty empty. When we came out, it was entirely different. Like in the play “Brigadoon,” the area had been transformed into an old English tournament festival. The dental school had their own alumni tent with all types of warming food and drink. Other tailgaters filled the enormous parking areas with large balloons, flags, and wafting smells of this Autumn ritual for a home football game. What was a chilly, raining morning blossomed into a warm sunny afternoon.

This was to have been an easy win for a much-touted Hawkeye team against a usually poor Northwestern squad. But it was not to be. Someone forgot to tell the Wildcats and Coach Fitzgerald. As we walked over to Kennick Stadium (one of the nation’s largest), the some 71,000 fans were filing in to fill the seats. They left less enthusiastically. Dr. Barrett apologized for the “poor result of the game,” but to us Northwestern is just down the street from where we live. While we had no favorite in the game, wearing the University of Iowa Alumni name badge and sporting my Iowa scarf had me root for the home team. The game had been a good one from a playing perspective, but the Hawkeyes did not seem to be up for it.

Iowa Deans David C. Johnsen and John Montgomery

We pleasantly walked back to our car and headed home from this whirlwind tour of an exciting Iowa City. In the few days there, we were able to observe and participate on different levels of Iowa events that formed a wonderful mixture of what Iowa, their dental school, and their people are all about—a giving group of citizens and professionals who would help out anyone in need. That universal attitude pervades what makes their programs and their people so successful. No one particularly wants to run the world—just move it forward for everyone.

As many of you know Larry Barrett, he is not unique. He is an excellent example of an Iowan and a professional. We need many more like him.