Heritage Snapshot: 64

Dr. M. Webster Prince’s graduate-trained dental faculty continued to expand on schedule, as the first graduating class progressed from one academic year to the next. The new School of Dentistry drew nearly all of its basic science teachers from the School of Medicine faculty. Physical facilities were a different story. Except for the basic sciences, the new school taught its pioneer students in scattered facilities, including the basement of the recently built clinical laboratory behind the hospital on the hill. The School had one large room for laboratory studies and one small classroom. Dean Prince’s office was located in the new administration building. Students saw patients across the campus in the basement of the School of Medicine’s pathology building. The situation fell considerably short of the ideal. While still in graduate training, Dr. Ross Stromberg had drawn up a full set of new architectural plans for a proposed dental school building. Now speaking before the Board, he envisioned a three-level building with the third floor to remain unfinished but available for future expansion. Then, on January 28, 1954, however, just a few months after the first dental class began, the plans for a School of Dentistry building almost collapsed. Since economic conditions in the West were not strong and local funds were limited, Board Chair William H. Branson made a very unwelcome announcement. Because of financial challenges, the construction of the proposed dental school building would have to be delayed, possibly for five years. The announcement shocked and dismayed Dean Prince, the faculty, and students attending the meeting! The Board suggested that Quonset huts be provided as temporary quarters for the School of Dentistry! In an eloquent plea, Dean Prince assured the Board that accreditation by the American Dental Association would certainly be denied with such inadequate facilities. Moreover, the first dental class diplomas would be worthless! Forcefully, he announced that he had not worked and planned for ten years, sold his established practice and home in Detroit, and accepted the position as Dean to “preside over a Quonset-hut operation.” Moved by Prince’s passion, the Board voted unanimously to authorize the expenditure of more than $1 million for construction of the dental school, $619,000 for the building and $427,806.95 for equipment and furnishings. They would seek funds from Adventist foundations and other possible sources. Dr. Stromberg’s proposed building had to be scaled down from three levels to two. A little over a year later, on September 18, 1955, CME dedicated the School of Dentistry building. An audience of more than 1,000 gathered for the ceremony. It became part of CME’s year long 50th anniversary celebration. Guest speakers included: Dr. Willard C. Fleming, Dean of the College of Dentistry of the University of California in San Francisco, and Dr. T. E. Strevey (University of Southern California) praised CME’s objectives and contributions to world health and missions: “Backed by your deep religious convictions and high sense of moral and spiritual values, yours has been a unique opportunity to mold a curriculum combining technical and scientific training with a strong social consciousness.” Dr. Fleming’s remarks harmonized with CME’s emphasis on care of the whole person. Dean Prince drew attention to the fact that a school of dentistry had been anticipated when administrators originally planned the College of Medical Evangelists. Tours for the guests followed. The 50,000-square-foot building had been designed for the complete operation of a modern dental school. It housed 129 dental chairs, of which 102 were in the main clinic. The School of Dentistry became the only school in the country to be fitted throughout with the latest Ritter dental equipment, installed in innovative semi-private cubicles. In addition to the main clinic floor with its own reception area, the new facility had seven operating rooms for the Department of Oral Surgery. A medical laboratory, an X-ray dark room, two recovery rooms, a sterile supply room, record room, and staff offices supported a major operating room with an adjoining scrub area. The section for Oral Diagnosis encompassed four complete units for patient examination and treatment, plus three standard X-ray rooms, a dark room, a record room, and an office for the Director. The building was also touted as being air-conditioned—something worth mentioning in 1955. In summertime, the desert heat of Southern California’s Inland Empire averages temperatures in the high 90 and lower 100 degrees. The new building also had two major research rooms, one for biological research and one for dental materials. Of the four lecture rooms, one was reserved for the future use of student dental hygienists. Completely equipped freshman and sophomore student laboratories were located on the first floor, while juniors and seniors were to share one upstairs. For children, a separate Pedodontics Department boasted miniature dental chairs of a most attractive coral-rose pastel. There, true to the School’s emphasis on preventive dentistry, students and faculty taught the children proper dental care and good eating habits. In September 1955, 133 students and 20 faculty members moved into the almost-completed dental building. Student and faculty lounges provided for relaxing breaks, while soft music flowed over the building’s public address system. Later, in 1961, Dr. Godfrey T. Anderson, President of CME wrote, “From that day on, the School of Dentistry building, with its active group of faculty and students, has been a campus landmark to which we direct visitors with … satisfaction.”