Each generation has a different concept or image of an icon of contemporary culture. D. Walter Cohen is such an icon of dentistry. He is a pinnacle of energy and accomplishment with a glitter of idealism. Even today, in his 80s, he will play tennis early in the morning before he practices periodontics at his office.
He understands the “gestalt” of life. For example, he talks about Dr. Harry Sicher, author of Bone on Bones: Fundamental of bone biology, as not only being a great orthopedist but someone who loves music and catching butterflies as well.
Cohen makes the time and effort to enhance the lives of others and to encourage peace through education and understanding. Sharing his vision through unselfish seeds of giving, Cohen fertilizes the seeds with education and an interchange of knowledge.
With his nurturing, the seedlings grow into trees with strong roots and wide branches with spreading leaves. It is underneath the shade of these leaves that people learn and share knowledge.
He even manages to open eyes and ears that have been waxed shut through years of prejudice and ignorance.
In 1997, Cohen established the D. Walter Cohen Middle East Center for Dental Education in Israel at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University. Today, it continues to set the tone of learning for citizens all over the world.
It also allows for the exchange of dental students at Hebrew University with the students at the Al-Quds School of Dentistry in Jerusalem. This exchange illustrates true sharing between Israeli and Palestinians in Jerusalem by stressing knowledge, human compassion and understanding.
Cohen is a passionate man who has given the world a real opportunity to enhance peace efforts and change humanity through education and understanding.
Cohen is also helping to make strides in lowering the number of preterm, low birth weight babies. He is guiding the treatment and cure of periodontal disease during pregnancy, especially among pregnant teenagers.
This may be a major step in order to lower the number of preterm, low birth weight babies. A favorite phrase of his is that “we have to keep trying so we can break through the glass ceiling.”
Cohen helped establish the University of Pennsylvania’s first department of periodontics and served as its first chair. Growing from professor to dean, Cohen advanced new concepts and raised educational standards.
During his career he has found the time to write and publish 22 books and hundreds of articles. Despite his busy schedule, he always finds the time to participate as dean emeritus of the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Dental Medicine.
Among his many honors, he has received the Legion of Merit from France, was named president of the Medical College of Pennsylvania, chair of the Pennsylvania Diabetes Academy, president of the National Museum of American Jewish History and chancellor emeritus of Drexel University College of Medicine.
These are just a few examples of the awards and leadership recognition that he has received.
When I asked Cohen what he considered his greatest achievement to date, he unhesitatingly replied “my family.” His daughters would probably agree.
Proudly, he related the wonderful family home in which he was raised, and that his father was the first periodontist in Philadelphia. As he related it, the encouragement and love that his family gave to him made it easy for him to give so much back.
If the question were posed to me as to who and what is an icon in dentistry, I would swiftly reply, “D. Walter Cohen.”
NEW YORK CITY: Oral and maxillofacial surgeon Ruben Cohen, DDS launched a new, state-of-the-art practice — Park Avenue Oral & Facial Surgery — with ...
CHICAGO, IL, USA: Water Street Healthcare Partners announced that it has acquired OraPharma from Johnson & Johnson. Water Street, a strategic private ...
Imagine the environmental impact if every practice would stop sending more than 4,000 single use single-use plastic air/water syringe tips to landfills each...
CHICAGO, Ill., USA: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently released the final Public Health Service (PHS) recommendation for the ...
NEW YORK, NY, USA: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced that that 73.9 percent of Americans who get their water from municipal ...
NEW YORK, N.Y., USA: In 1945, the city of Grand Rapids, Mich., was the first municipality in the world to add fluoride to its public water supply. In ...
Berkeley, CA, USA: The Eco-Dentistry Association (EDA), an international association of dental professionals who encourage eco-friendly practices, is ...
Studies on learning have shown that visual images provide 80 to 90 per cent of the information that the brain receives. So it makes sense that in the dental...
John Russo DDS, MHS, is a periodontist in Sarasota, Fla. He graduated from The Ohio State University College of Dentistry and received a periodontics ...
CINCINNATI, US: The prevalence of gingivitis continues to be a significant public health concern, and barriers such as limited access to healthcare and high...
Live webinar
Thu. 18 July 2024
8:00 PM EST (New York)
Live webinar
Tue. 6 August 2024
6:00 PM EST (New York)
Live webinar
Tue. 13 August 2024
7:00 PM EST (New York)
Live webinar
Wed. 14 August 2024
12:30 PM EST (New York)
Live webinar
Wed. 21 August 2024
9:00 AM EST (New York)
Dr. Jim Lai DMD, MSc(Perio), EdD, FRCD(C)
Live webinar
Wed. 28 August 2024
8:00 PM EST (New York)
Live webinar
Mon. 2 September 2024
5:00 AM EST (New York)
He helped me for 28 years a great person will miss him !!