Remembering A Pioneer

While I usually use this space to outline the content of the current issue, this month I’d like to take a moment to acknowledge the recent passing of a renowned dental educator, clinician, mentor, and friend, Morton Amsterdam, DDS, ScD, FACD. Recognized by many as “the father of periodontal prosthesis,” Dr. Amsterdam, who died this past summer at age 92, was a true pioneer in the fields of periodontics and advanced restorative dentistry.

Known as an innovator, Dr. Amsterdam helped establish a legacy of leadership for periodontics and periodontal prosthesis, directly mentoring many of today’s leaders in the field. His list of achievements and awards is boundless, his contributions to dentistry momentous. In 1974, his landmark paper on the art and science of periodontal prosthesis fundamentally changed the course of modern restorative dentistry, impacting and influencing thousands of students and practitioners worldwide.

Dr. Amsterdam, who established a successful practice in Philadelphia more than 60 years ago and maintained it throughout his distinguished academic career, was instrumental in helping develop the Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry. He worked closely with D. Walter Cohen, DDS, in the publication’s early days, helping the Compendium become a national fixture with a reputation for excellence in dental education, publishing groundbreaking articles on new techniques and critical issues in oral medicine.

I, for one, will sorely miss Dr. Amsterdam. Our pledge to the readers of Compendium is to carry on the long tradition of quality that he helped create.

Sincerely,

Louis F. Rose, DDS, MD
Editor-In-Chief
lrose@aegiscomm.com