From the ACD Historical Record Past is Prologue

FROM THE ACD HISTORICAL RECORD:

Past is Prologue

In 1934 Dr. Carr was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Dentists. He became active in the organization and was elected president for the 1945–1946 term.

“The noblest motive is the public good.”

In his 1945 inaugural address, delivered in New York City, the inimitable Dr. Malcolm Wallace Carr reflected on the need for disciplined journalism and responsible public policy. As the last of the wartime presidents of his era, President Carr stressed some of the problems facing the profession and the College in the postwar world. These remarks could easily be applied to our current discussions of both quality journalism and addressing the health care needs of vulnerable populations. These are timeless truths.

These remarks made more that 75 years ago seem particularly prescient as we reevaluate oral health and oral health care delivery in the College’s second century of service to the profession and the public we are privileged to serve.

“During the past quarter of a century the College has made notable contributions to the advancement of the dental profession which have had far reaching effects. I shall not attempt to describe the many accomplishments of the College during this comparatively brief period of time—I leave that task for future historians to catalogue and to evaluate. It is appropriate, however, to contemplate a few of the outstanding contributions which have had far reaching effects and to give credit to those who have contributed with high purpose to the success of these achievements. From its very beginning the College has championed professional journalism and has forcefully and militantly pursued its conviction in support of professionally controlled journals. A report of the Commission on Journalism of the American College of Dentists was published in 1932, under the title of, “The Status of Dental Journalism in the United States.” This report was a monumental contribution which presented the subject for the first time in a complete monographic form and embraced the results of an intensive three-year study. The impact of this report upon dental journalism, and the changes brought about since its publication may well reward the Commission on Journalism for its heroic effort and the College for its encouraging leadership. In 1933 the Journal of the American College of Dentists was founded and since its beginning this journal has been a living example of dental journalism at its highest level. In more recent years the College became aware of the many unmet needs for more and better dental care which exist in all parts of this country.

It recognized also that really adequate and competent dental care are beyond the financial resources of an appreciable proportion of the population. Persuaded that these needs must be met and the conditions corrected, the College undertook to study the ways and means this may be achieved.

Although the problem is acknowledged to be both enormous and complicated, the Committee on

Socio-economics set out to initiate a study which would be helpful in understanding the fundamentals of the problem, and as the result of its efforts published in 1943 a volume entitled, “Cost of Dental

Care for Adults under Specific Clinical Conditions,” which was an exploration of general issues, on the basis of initial and maintenance care experience of 485 patients of the Dental Health Service in

New York City. This volume was dedicated to the “fulfillment of the ideals of adequate dental care as a health service for the entire nation.” It may well be remembered that it was Virgil who said, “The noblest motive is the public good.”