70th Anniversary of the Department of Periodontics
Penn Dental Medicine is proud to recognize the 70th anniversary of its world-renowned Department of Periodontics. Following its founding in 1878, Penn Dental Medicine became an early leader in specialized dental training. The department of oral surgery was founded by Matthew Cryer in 1897. The Orthodontics Department was founded in 1915. Under the leadership of Dean Lester Burkett (1951-1972), the School became a leader in scholarship within the fields of oral medicine and endodontics (1972).
It was the pioneering work of Dr. D. Walter Cohen, who joined the faculty in 1951, and Dr. Morton Amsterdam, who joined the faculty in 1953, that led to the establishment of a separate department of Periodontics in 1955. Together, their work established Penn as a national model for periodontics and periodontal prosthesis, launching decades of storied accomplishment and graduating many leaders in the field.
The Penn dental community invites you to join in a year-long commemoration of the department. The following events are planned:
Fuel the Future
You can support ongoing excellence in periodontics by investing in the following education, clinical care and research programs: