54 Tribute to Benjamin F. Lawson, DDS
TRIBUTE TO BENJAMIN F. LAWSON, DDS Benjamin F. Lawson, DDS, professor emeritus of oral and maxillofacial surgery and former Dean of the College of Health Professions (CHP), passed away Feb. 15, 2012. Before coming to MUSC, Lawson served on the faculty at Emory University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He joined the faculty at MUSC July 1, 1968 as an associate professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery, where he organized the Department of Oral Medicine. In 1970, Lawson was promoted to full professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery, a position and rank he held until his retirement in 1990. In 1972, however, he was given the opportunity to become the Dean of the newly created College of Allied Health Sciences (presently the College of Health Professions). He relished the prospects of having a chance to build an educational body from the ground up and led the College in developing a diverse number of health professions programs.
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His vision and leadership guided the growth and development of the College of Health Professions, laying the groundwork for the success it now enjoys. He gave me my first leadership opportunity at MUSC and guided my early career with wisdom, high expectations, and a warm heart. He was larger than life in many ways and made an enormous contribution to MUSC.� Valerie T. West, EdD MUSC Professor Emerita 2012 Annual Report
By the time Lawson retired, he had helped the College of Health Professions achieve the distinction of having the highest student enrollment of any of the colleges at MUSC, and programs such as Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy were being noticed and recognized by national publications. The deans who came after him have capitalized on the base that he built, encouraging growth of the various clinical and healthcare programs, along with the completion of the CHP complex on Rutledge Avenue in 2005, and the addition of the Center for Rehabilitation Research in Neurological Conditions at the original CHP building at the corner of President and Bee streets. Dr. Lawson will be missed by all who knew him and the College will always be grateful for the foundation he laid for our growth and success. n