The contributions of Dr. Gies

Dr. William John Gies had amazing perspicacity and foresight. In a relatively brief presentation, 1 Gies WJ The dental educational problem. JADA. 1924; 11: 97-108 Google Scholar he addressed the origins of dental education, its relationship to medical education, proprietary dental schools, dental schools’ relationship to universities, the scientific background for practice, the function of research in dental schools, interprofessional relationships, dental auxiliaries, manpower issues and the financing of dental education. In the same year, in a presentation to the American Association of Dental Schools, he added considerations of postgraduate dental education, dental specialties and the relationships between oral and systemic diseases. 2 Gies WJ A further discussion of some problems in dental education. JADA. 1924; 11: 1107-1124 Google Scholar How many of these have been serious issues through the years, continuing to the present! A detailed examination of each of these issues is still worthy, but available space for comment is limited, so my commentary is of necessity brief. Unavoidably, it also is influenced by personal experiences.