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

Page 28 text:

Martin Asness J If we were to elect the man most likely to give Cary Middle- coff competition, our Max would be the one. A spring afternoon would often find Marty exercising his talents at the nearest golf course and there are few he has not played. The enthusiasm and proficiency shown in golf is equally mani- fest in Marty ' s enthusiasm and proficiency in dentistry. Outwardly unassuming, never loquacious, we were fortunate when he came to us from Columbia College on professional option. His ability has been recognized by both the Queens Dental Association from whom he has received a scholarship and by Dr. Herlands who selected him as his assistant. Marty ' s popularity with his patients is undoubtedly due to his relaxed, steady manner as well as to his technical capability. Interest in athletics has afforded Marty an opportunity to earn some money during summer vacations as golfing in- structor in a children ' s camp and during the school year as a basketball coach in an evening center. A number of the Alpha Omega Fraternity, Marty is planning to take an internship or enter the Armed Services following graduation. This he hopes will be followed by post-graduate study in dentistry. 24

Page 27 text:

With the third year came a change in atmosphere. No longer could 68 cents solve the problems en- countered in operative dentistry. The pulp emerged from the microscopes and appeared in the floors of several cavity preparations. After a year of hearing about pockets we at last entered the full scale war on calculus. Armed with curettes, scalers, bone powder and hemostat, we pioneered under- graduate gingivectomy. In prosthetics, time was spent trying to remove compound (green and red), rubber base, alginate and the innuendos of Dr. Pleasure and his magic knife. It was tricky trying to keep from being cut or punctured in the path of the onrushing Mrs. Moore as we stuffed our pockets with instruments that didn ' t belong in our kits. While we gaily frolicked and gambolled through the junior year two sinister figures hovered at the outskirts of our happy group. It was Bert and Harry waiting to snatch victims for their frankenstein- like experiments with pain and hypnodontics. The diagnosis clinic presented problems to the class in weekly roentgenologic free-for-alls where your guess was as good as anyone elses. In a little glass enclosure we discovered one of the sons of E. R. Squibb and Sons Inc.. who descended upon the class with adhesives galore. Color chips, fluorescent pastes and experimental anaesthetics were a mys- tery to us who wondered why they just could not make their toothpaste taste a little better. Overall though, our third year fulfilled what we had been promised by the classes ahead of ours. It proved to be fairly relaxed, mildly informative, and gen- erally pleasant. The senior year was to be another story. Except for being more informative, it bore no resemblance whatever to that which had pre- ceded it. The fourth year found the class divided into four tribes, each with its own chieftain: Golden Fingers, Running Bull. Do-It-Again, and Silent Wa- ters. Acting as peacemaker was the nomadic chief Blue Chips and over-all gleamed the countenance of the Great White Mother. Instead of scalps we were responsible for points and units. Failure to get them would mean our scalps. Rapidly becoming proficient in operative and prosthetics it was time for the class to try out the specialties. In endo the bugs of bacteriology sneaked, of all places, into the root canals. In pedo, line angles and hand instruments were discarded for the more modern psychological approach to dentistry: Last week we cleaned all your teeth, this week we ' re going to clean a really dirty one. At least it sounded as though it should have worked. As hand pieces over- heated due to the strains of the senior year there arose the first murmurings of discontent. This led to the formation of various handpiece clubs which soon engulfed the entire class. Time once spent on crossword puzzles and chess was now being de- voted to the cleaning, oiling and reassembling of complex instruments. With increased speeds and abilities it became evident that we were to become dentists after all, and good dentists at that. Now, as we prepare co enter the profession that will call forth the best effort we can make, our thoughts slip back into the sharp focus of the present. Soon we will leave even this day behind us, and it is difficult to believe that our memories of what lies ahead, whatever it may be will prove as funny, as lasting, and as youthful as were those of our years at Columbia. Stephen S. Markow and Irwin Gertzog 1959 23

Page 29 text:

Bernard Jules Biron With characteristic calmness, Bernie has navigated his way, unruffled, through the four year dental course. His taciturnity belies his diligent application to his studies. In the clinic, his careful, deliberate manner has inspired patient confidence. Born in Antwerp, Belgium. Bernie now resides in Manhattan. He came to Columbia from New York University College of Arts and Science. Early recognition of the benefits of the Navy ' s Early Com- missioning Program prompted Bernie to sign up in the fresh- man year. This was in complete harmony with his interest in boating. He can be seen on balmy Sundays piloting his craft up the Hudson River. An active Alpha Omegan. Bernie and his wife. Debora, are always prepared to demonstrate their terpsichorial skill with a lively Mambo at fraternity dances. After two years of Navy Service, Bernie expects to enter private practice in the New ork City area. 25