Dental Hygiene Yearbook Collection

Alumni of Penn Dental Medicine’s Dental Hygiene program now have a nearly complete archive of yearbooks to explore in the Penn Dental Medicine library. The extensive collection chronicles the history and activities of the program that ran from the first graduating class in 1922 through 1985. The only missing yearbooks in the archive are those from 1925 and 1950 (the first dental hygiene yearbook was published in 1923).

“We are thrilled to have this record of this important group of alumni who have done so much to represent Penn Dental Medicine and advance oral care,” says Elizabeth Ketterlinus, Vice Dean of Institutional Advancement.

The collection of the Hygieana yearbooks was developed through the donation of copies from dental hygiene alumni. Visitors to Penn Dental Medicine who wish to browse a past issue can request it at the service desk in the School’s library.

Call For Memorabilia

The School is beginning to gather additional memorabilia from the Dental Hygiene program to develop a permanent display on the history of the program within the School. Dental Hygiene alumni willing to donate items for the exhibit, such as pins, graduation programs, caps, and kits, should contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at alumni@dental.upenn.edu — please be sure to contact the School before sending any items.

Pursuing Dual Dreams

A successful oral surgeon and former NFL player remembers how he kicked off two careers at once.

Since high school, Dr. Ken MacAfee (D’83, GD’86) knew he wanted to be an oral surgeon. Then, during his senior year in college, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity arose—the chance to play professional football.

A top English and pre-professional studies student at the University of Notre Dame, Dr. MacAfee had a stellar run as a tight end for the Fighting Irish, who won the NCAA championship in 1977, his senior year. A three-time All American, Dr. MacAfee was a contender for the Heisman trophy and, in 1978, became a first-round draft pick, selected by the San Francisco 49ers.

He had been accepted to several dental schools, but only one of their deans thought professional football and dental school could work together: Dean D. Walter Cohen (C‘47,D’50) of Penn Dental Medicine. (Dr. Donald Kreuzer ( D’70 GD’72) was instrumental in helping convince Dean Cohen to take a chance on Dr. MacAfee, and would be the best man at Dr. MacAfee’s wedding several years later.)

“The other schools wanted me to choose, but Dr. Cohen said he thought I could attend dental school for six months and play football for six months, so that’s what I did for the next three years,” remembers Dr. MacAfee.

While in Philadelphia, he threw himself into classes and clinics, running at Franklin Field and working out alongside the Penn football team whenever he could. During football season, he played his heart out in San Francisco, with a career total of 46 receptions, 471 receiving yards, and five touchdowns.

In 1981, injuries and coaching changes helped him decide to return to school full-time. An original member of the Class of ’82, he graduated in 1983, only one year later than his classmates.

A Dedicated Teacher And Researcher

The NFL’s loss was Penn Dental Medicine’s gain: Dr. MacAfee would stay on at Penn for 11 more years, as an oral surgery resident (eventually head resident), a lecturer and clinic director, and, eventually, as Assistant Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. In 1990, he was awarded the School’s Earl Banks Hoyt Award for excellence in teaching.

“I loved giving back what I’d learned to the next generation,” he says. “Some of my best memories are of just sitting and talking with my students over pizza and beer.”

Dr. MacAfee was also a prolific researcher, authoring and co-authoring dozens of publications on topics that included temporomandibular joint (TMJ) reconstruction and the use of anesthesia and pain relief during oral surgery.

LIFE-CHANGING MENTORS

In addition to Dean Walter Cohen and Dr. Kreuzer, two other men were critical in shaping Dr. MacAfee’s dental career. One was Dr. Bil Moncevicz (D’75) a family friend who was in dental school when Dr. MacAfee was in high school and encouraged him to become an oral surgeon.

The other was Dr. Peter Quinn (‘D’74, GD’78), Schoenleber Professor of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery/Pharmacology, who led the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery from 1986 to 2008, and, through his groundbreaking work in TMJ reconstruction and replacement, established the department as a world leader in oral surgery and TMJ care. After Dr. MacAfee graduated, it was Dr. Quinn who offered him a job on the faculty.

“I was honored to have a chance to work alongside him,” Dr. MacAfee says. “His brilliant work built the reputation of oral surgery at Penn, and he remains one of the smartest people I know.”

A Distinguished American

In 1992, the University of Notre Dame presented Dr. MacAfee with its Distinguished American Award. A few years later, Dr. MacAfee and his wife Kathy returned to their home state of Massachusetts to raise their family. Dr. MacAfee became a clinical associate professor at Harvard while working with a partner in private practice. Since 2002, he has worked as a solo practitioner, seeing 12-20 patients a day and performing extractions, implants, bone grafts, and exodontia at his Waltham office, where Kathy helps with the books.

In 2016, Notre Dame named Dr. MacAfee one of their 25 greatest football players of all time.

While he continues to follow professional football—and rooted for the Eagles in the last Super Bowl—his sports interests over the years have focused on his athletic children: son Dalton, who was captain of his ice hockey team at West Point, and daughter Keeley, who was captain of her lacrosse team at Harvard. They have provided him with years of enjoyment as a parental spectator, his favorite role of all.