A total of 46 graduates from the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine took the stage in the SIU Edwardsville Meridian Ballroom on Saturday morning dressed in traditional regalia to mark their special day. They walked into the facility as students. They left as doctors of dental medicine.
“It certainly is an honor to be with you here today,” said commencement keynote speaker, Dr. W. H. “Bert” Milligan, director of the Center for Continuing Education at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. Milligan is a graduate of the SIU School of Dental Medicine and a former faculty member.
Milligan, who had earned a Ph.D. in microbiology, served first as a faculty member at the school for four years. After the death of his father, who was a dentist, Milligan decided to enroll as a student, while continuing to teach. He earned his D.M.D. in 1979.
From a podium surrounded by SIUE Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Ann M. Boyle, SIU School of Dental Medicine Dean Roger E. Rotter and others, he recounted his own experience as a student at the dental school, talking about the changes through the years, and how some things should never change with time.
“Listen to your patients,” he said. “Knowledge becomes experience. Information overload can compromise patient care. So, rest your iPhone, relax your thumbs and use your brain. Be leery of new and improved technology. Your patients should not be an experiment. They deserve better.”
Dr. Milligan received the SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame Award in October 2012. The SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame annually honors alumni who, through leadership, character and hard work, have made exceptional contributions in their chosen field.
Milligan spent eight years as a SIU SDM faculty member before returning to his native Pennsylvania. He spent 25 years practicing general dentistry, lecturing part-time and giving continuing education courses at Pitt’s SDM. Before recently transitioning to his current position, Milligan had served as the Pitt SDM associate dean of Clinical Affairs.
In March 2013, Milligan received the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Presidential Citation, which is awarded to leaders who have demonstrated exceptional service to ADEA and the dental education community.
During the ceremony, five graduates were hooded by family members who also are SIU School of Dental Medicine alumni. The graduates were Dr. Christopher Balda, Dr. Graham Beard, Dr. Kellen Bosma, Dr. Anthony Elger and Dr. Kendall Schumacher.
Student Speaker Dr. Tyler Crews, who was chosen by his peers to deliver remarks, spoke of the roller coaster ride he and his fellow graduates had experienced during the last four years.
“We’ve all come a long way and we should be proud of our accomplishment,” he said. “We should be very proud today and always.”
Dr. Dean W. Drake, the SIU School of Dental Medicine Alumni Council president and a 1975 graduate of the Alton dental school’s inaugural class, delivered closing remarks. He welcomed the students into the profession and showed them a photo from the first years of the school’s existence. The picture showed one student conducting an exam on another student with a third student holding a flashlight over the other two. He explained the proper operatory lighting had not arrived.
Thirty-eight years later, he described the SIU dental school as “among the finest our nation has to offer” and described the institution as “the tie that binds us.” He encouraged the students to stay in touch with their alma mater and turning on a flashlight, said: “Shine the light for those students who follow in your footsteps.”
Despite the inclement weather from the night before, the ceremony drew an audience of roughly 850 proud family members and friends. A reception followed the ceremony in the Goshen Lounge.