Services will be held today (Oct. 13) for UNMC College of Dentistry Emeritus Professor Myron Pudwill, DDS, who died Oct. 7.
Dr. Pudwill received his DDS degree from the college in 1964 and was the first graduate of the MS in prosthodontics program in 1973. A Navy veteran, he joined the UNMC College of Dentistry faculty as an instructor in the department of restorative dentistry-fixed partial dentures on July 1, 1967, and served as a full-time faculty member until 2005 and a part-time faculty member until 2018.
The memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m. at Second Baptist Church, 525 N. 58th St. in Lincoln. The service also will be livestreamed.
John Reinhardt, DDS, former dean of the college, remembered Dr. Pudwill as a dedicated faculty member and assistant dean, calling him a colleague he greatly enjoyed working with for many years.
“His calm, even-tempered and quiet demeanor, along with his technical skills, made him an effective teacher and friend to many with whom he interacted,” Dr. Reinhardt said. “His leadership and volunteer service to the profession went far beyond the dental college. He was highly regarded by alumni and friends around the world.”
M.W. “Dub” Vogt, DDS, associate dean for student affairs and external relations, said Dr. Pudwill will be greatly missed.
“Dr. Pudwill was an outstanding faculty member, someone I highly respected,” Dr. Vogt said. “His engagement in organized dentistry was at the local, state, regional, national and international levels. I was always amazed at his ability to recall former students: their names, hometowns, undergraduate college or university, the year they graduated and where they were practicing. He had the respect and admiration of so many UNMC College of Dentistry alums.”
In his 51-year career at the college, Dr. Pudwill served as chair of the UNMC Department of Adult Restorative Dentistry, director of placement, director of continuing education, director of student and alumni affairs, and assistant dean for student and alumni affairs.
Read Dr. Pudwill’s obituary at this link.
Jeffrey Payne, DDS, the F. Gene and Rosemary Dixon Endowed Chair in Dentistry in the department of surgical specialties, remembered Dr. Pudwill as dedicated and committed to the college, taking on many essential roles to advance the college’s mission.
“Myron not only was a respected administrator, but he also was an excellent teacher who had a significant, positive impact on many students who completed their DDS training at UNMC,” Dr. Payne said.
Dr. Pudwill was active in the profession and, as Dr. Vogt noted, well known nationally and internationally for his many academic achievements and leadership roles, including serving as 10th District Trustee of the American Dental Association (ADA) from 1996–2000. He was also active in the FDI World Dental Federation.
Bob Bartee, vice chancellor emeritus for external relations at UNMC, said that in addition to being a kind and caring health care provider, Dr. Pudwill was an effective representative of the college of dentistry and UNMC to the community.
“He was an active and keen participant in determining public policy pertaining to dental education and clinical care and, for me, he was a trusted colleague,” Bartee said.
During his time at the college, he received many awards, including the Alumni Outstanding Teacher Award in 1982, the American Association of Dental Examiners Citizen of the Year Award in 1989, the Nebraska Dental Association Hall of Fame Award in 1995, the Alumni Achievement Award in 2000 and 2005, and the Alumni Association’s Outstanding Educator Award in 2014.
“He was one of the best,” Dr. Vogt said.
Dr, Reinhardt agreed.
“Among his lasting legacies will be memories of his kindness and spirit of service throughout his career,” he said.