Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery - Dental Columbian Yearbook (New York, NY)

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HISTORY and JURISPRUDENCE HENRY W. GILLETT, D.M.D. Professor of Dentistry PERIODONTIA -= ?i r sL HAROLD J. LEONARD WILLIAM B. DUNNING I5ADOR HIRSCHFELD HOUGHTON HOLLIDAY D.D.S., A.B. D.D.S. D.D.S. A.B., D.D.S. Professor of Dentistry Professor of Dentistry Associate Professor Professor of Dentistry of Dentistry ORAL PATHOLOGY LESTER R. CAHN HENRY A. BARTELS D.D.S. B.S., D.D.S. Associate Professor Assistant Professor of Dentistry of Dentistry

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PHYSIOLOGY H. B. WILLIAMS ALEITA H. SCOTT ERNEST L. SCOTT BARRY S. KING A.B., M.D., Sc.D. A.B., Ph.D. B.S.. M.S., Ph.D. A.B., A.M.. Ph.D. Dalton Professor Associate Professor Associate Professor Instructor in Physiology of Physiology of Physiology of Physiology LEO J. HAHN WALTER F. DUGGAN LOUIS B. DOTTI Ph.D., M.D. A.B., A.M., M.D. B.S., A.M. Instructor in Physiology Instructor in Physiology Instructor in Physiology BACTERIOLOGY FREDERICK P. GAY THEODOR ROSEBURY GENEVIEVE FOLEY A.B., M.D., Sc.D. D.D.S. A.B., A.M. Professor of Bacteriology Asst. Prof, of Bacteriology Assistant in Bacteriology PHARMACOLOGY CHARLES C. LIEB A.B., M.D. Hosack Professor of Pharmacology MELVILLE HUMBERT WALTER R. BEAVEN A.B., B.S., D.D.S. D.D.S. Instructor in Pharmacology Instructor in Pharmacology SOLON N. BLACKBERG D.V.M., B.S., Ph.D. Instructor in Pharmacology

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PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS HENRY W. GILLETT, D.M.D. Professor of Dentistry All young professional men are deeply and rightfully concerned about their chances of suc- cess in the calling they have chosen and have prepared themselves to follow. It is axiomatic that quality of professional service and degree of professional success are intimately related. In the practice of the health service pro- fessions, there are two types of success that may beckon to the young graduate; i.e. mere finan- cial success, and true professional success. A single individual may demonstrate both kinds conspicuously, or he may exhibit either one ef- fectively, and register mere mediocrity or even failure in the other. This latter fate may easily befall the man who concentrates too closely on mere financial return as the yardstick for meas- uring his ideals of success. Over-acute interest in the financial reward for his services may ob- scure his vision as to the best interests of the patient, and lead him to consider his own inter- est paramount. Such a course is incompatible with true professional success. Unless bolstered by exceptional personality, such conduct is iikely to bar one from the attainment of real leader- ship and respect among one ' s confreres, and eventually balk his efforts to enlist real loyalty from his patients. True and lasting professional success must be based on a well established realization that the highest interests of the patient are always paramount — that when the interests of the pro- fessional man conflict, they must always be sub- ordinated to those of the patient. The patient comes to the practitioner for advice and se rvice in a field in which the latter is supposed to have knowledge and skill. The mere fact that he offers his services at all, implies a promise to exercise in good faith the best skill and judgment he is capable of displaying, in order to serve the high- est interests of those who consult him. This being well established in the minds of both parties to the implied contract, then tact, pleasing personality, good judgment, skillfully applied psychology, and evident concern for the patient ' s welfare, will help to plant firmly in the patient ' s mind the confidence essential to secure his full cooperation. Well grounded confidence in one ' s own mas- tery of the principles and technique of the field in which one offers professional service, is an invaluable aid in the presentation of a proposed program. To be able to do this in a manner ef- fective for planting in the patients ' minds that confidence upon which all satisfactory profes- sional relations are established, is a factor of great value in building a practice. To know, and to know that one knows is a priceless qualification for the young professional man. Doubt as to one ' s own knowledge betrays itself to the patient, while assurance of the cor- rectness of one ' s knowledqe lends confidence to the presentation of a proposed program. Con- fidence in the soundness of the advice presented, coupled with evident concern for the interests of the patient, go far to establish trust in the mind of the patient. Not to know, or not to be sure one knows must lead to a weak presentation of one ' s case, and to uncertain execution. Confused concept, bungled presentation, and fumbling execution plant apprehension and fear in the patient ' s mind. Professional success cannot be reared on such a foundation. Postgraduate study, intern- ships, and consultation with those of wider ex- perience are the obvious recourse for betterment in these features. A clear concept of one ' s professional re- sponsibilities — of what one ' s fellow practitioners and the responsible part of the public expect of the younger members of a profession — is of value in shaping the course to be followed. In my files I have a letter from the late Augustus S. Downing, former Assistant Commis- sioner of Education and Director of Professional Education in the State of New York, in which he states his definition of a profession as follows — The word ' profession ' assumes proficient attain- ments in special knowledge as distinguished from mere skill, and the practical application of such special knowledge in use for others as a vocation, distinct from its pursuit for one ' s own use or benefit. For dentistry it implies specialized knowl- edge and peculiar skill in the application of that knowledge, for the benefit of another. I also have a copy of the Vow of Service adopted by the national association of a sister profession. In it I have substituted dental pro- fession and dentists and present it here in order to permit the members of the Senior Class to decide, each for himself, whether it may serve as a guide in all his professional relations. When modified as indicated above, it reads as follows: Vow of Service We dedicate ourselves to the service of mankind as members of the Dental Profession.