There are giants in our profession to whom we owe debts of gratitude: Pierre Fauchard, the “father of modern dentistry” who canonized the first comprehensive system for dental care; Michael Buonocore, who gave us enamel etching with phosphoric acid; Rafael Bowen, who gave us Bis-GMA resin; Clifford M. Sturdevant and James B. Summitt, who gave us the two preeminent Operative Dentistry textbooks of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries; and the list goes on. As we strive for excellence in our profession, we should take time to acknowledge those who laid the groundwork for our success. So, I thought we should dedicate this issue, and perhaps one issue annually, to highlight individuals who have devoted their professional lives to providing that groundwork for us by demonstrating true excellence and dedication in their patient care, research, and teaching and from whom we can take instruction and inspiration.
For this inaugural spotlight issue,...