A Distinguished Career Henry Fields, DDS, MS, MSD, Retires
When it comes to his career, there’s not much Dr. Henry Fields hasn’t done. Among other things, he served as dean of the College of Dentistry from 19912001, a professor in the Division of Orthodontics for 30 years, and the Vig-Williams Endowed Chair in Orthodontics. He has served in several leadership roles in organized dentistry, including president of the Columbus Dental Society and the Ohio Dental Association. Recently, Dr. Fields tried something new: he retired. “Technically retired” might be the better term since he has shown very few signs of slowing down. He currently teaches part-time at the college, sees patients in the Ohio State Dental Faculty Practice, and continues his research. He still serves in the outpatient clinic at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, chairs the Ohio Dental Association’s task force for Access and Auxiliary Utilization, and is the college’s liaison to the Ohio State Dental Board. Soon, he’ll rejoin the authors of “Contemporary Orthodontics” to begin revisions for the 7th edition of the textbook that is used in dental schools around the world. Dr. Fields took time from his busy schedule to share memories of his career and his plans for the future.
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Q) How did you end up working at the College of Dentistry? A) I applied for the dean position in 1991. At that time, I was a professor of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics and the assistant dean for Academic Affairs at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. That position was responsible for predoctoral and graduate studies. I got the job.
Q) What are some significant changes you’ve seen at the college over the years? A) The college has evolved its patient care system to a comprehensive care model, which was not present when I arrived. That model can only survive if it has the resources, including faculty, to allow it to perform successfully. Such a model is required by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), so it must succeed and be supported. Diverting resources away from critical faculty who can fulfill the potential of our new facility would violate a contract with our generous college donors, CODA and the students. The research program has expanded and faculty are expected to make scholarly contributions to literature. The college has recognized scholars and experts. We have an independent (serving only Dentistry) development group that has been successful in helping the college. When I arrived, we shared a development officer with the College of Optometry because the university believed we had little potential. That problem has been cured and the positive results demonstrated. Dentistry has potential and has shown its worth. We have made slow changes in technology, but nonetheless positive ones. We have seen an expansion of administrative personnel. Administrative personnel who advise on decisions are critical. We have some top flight people. It is always difficult for a public institution to compete for good clinical staff and our administrative staff can help. We need to compete for the best staff in all areas, help them grow and retain them. We have a more diverse faculty and staff. That is admirable and they can advance our
