Randall Laffre Jr. (left), Robert Justice (center) and Gerald Rowe were members of the first graduating class of the UAB School of Dentistry. Laffre, Justice and Rowe and 49 other men, all of whom were World War II veterans, graduated May 31, 1952.
Since that time, UAB has educated dentists from across America and the globe. In June, 10 students from the School of Dentistry became the first graduates of the school’s International Dentist Program, a curriculum that enables internationally trained dentists the opportunity to earn their DMDs and pursue licensure and practice in the United States — something that UAB’s first president, Joseph Volker, DDS, who also was the first dean of the School of Dentistry dean, would have been proud of, according to Tim Pennycuff, university archivist.
“Dr. Volker would likely be pleased as he had international students and post-docs in the dental school from the very early years, and he went to Thailand often during his time as dean,” Pennycuff added.