{"id":59188,"date":"2017-06-26T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-06-26T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2017\/06\/26\/time-out-with-t-o-a-humble-legend\/"},"modified":"2022-09-02T17:01:04","modified_gmt":"2022-09-02T22:01:04","slug":"time-out-with-t-o-a-humble-legend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2017\/06\/26\/time-out-with-t-o-a-humble-legend\/","title":{"rendered":"Time out with T.O. – A humble legend"},"content":{"rendered":"

Humility is a trait that is common among Nebraskans. People like to do their job and not seek the limelight – even when they deserve it.<\/p>\n

That’s a perfect description of Leon Davis, D.D.S., M.D., a legendary oral surgeon at UNMC who is retiring at the end of June after 42 years on faculty. <\/p>\n

\n

Retirement tea set for Wednesday
\n<\/h3>\n

The campus is invited to the retirement tea for Dr. Leon Davis. It will be held from 2-4 p.m. on Wednesday in Private Dining Rooms A & B on the third floor of University Tower.<\/p>\n

Valmont Desa, D.D.S., M.D., will provide remarks at the event.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

“Dr. Davis is known as a man of very few — but effective — words,” said Karen Howard, D.D.S., M.D., a sixth-year resident in oral & maxillofacial surgery. “He’s very assured and approachable. There’s nothing he hasn’t seen or done. His ability to transfer that confidence to us has been invaluable.”<\/p>\n

In the 1970s, Dr. Davis led the way as UNMC and Harvard University pioneered the double degree (D.D.S.-M.D.) model for training oral surgery residents in both medicine and dentistry. Today, of the 105 oral surgery programs in the country, roughly half use the double degree model.<\/p>\n

\n

The Davis file<\/h3>\n

Personal<\/b><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Born June 11, 1943 in Webster Groves, Mo.\n
  • Both his parents were teachers.\n
  • Moved to Creston, Neb., his junior year in high school.\n
  • Wife, Janelle – 52 years.\n
  • Three children – Valerie, Brenda, Brian. One grandchild.\n<\/ul>\n

    Fellowships<\/b><\/p>\n

      \n
    • American Dental Society of Anesthesiology, 1974\n
    • American College of Surgeons, 1992<\/ul>\n

      Faculty appointments<\/b> <\/p>\n

        \n
      • Assistant instructor, surgery, UNMC, 1970-1972,\n
      • Assistant professor, oral surgery, University of Iowa, 1973-1975\n
      • Associate professor, oral surgery and surgery, UNMC, 1975-1992\n
      • Chief, section of oral and maxillofacial surgery, UNMC, 1976-2002\n
      • Professor, surgery, UNMC, 1992-current<\/ul>\n

        Honors<\/b><\/p>\n

          \n
        • Named chair – Leon F. Davis Distinguished Chair of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Nebraska Foundation, 2004<\/ul>\n

          National professional service<\/b><\/p>\n

            \n
          • President, American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 1989-1990\n
          • Chairman, Administrative Board, Council on Hospitals, American Association of Dental Schools, 1988-1989\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n

            For 26 years, Dr. Davis served as chief of the section of oral & maxillofacial surgery. It has earned a reputation as one of the leading oral surgery programs in the country.<\/p>\n

            “His vision and foresight guided and strengthened the program through the years,” said Valmont Desa, D.D.S., M.D., associate professor and current chief of the division of oral & maxillofacial surgery. “His career began during a time when our specialty was still searching for its identity and footing, fighting for privileges and being challenged on the scope of practice. <\/p>\n

            “Because of his intellect and leadership, Dr. Davis positioned our residency program on equal footing with other well-established residency programs in the department of surgery.”<\/p>\n

            During his career, Dr. Davis conservatively performed more than 10,000 surgical cases. “When I started, it was mostly teeth and jaw fractures,” he said. “Around 1980, we started doing dental implants. Now, we’re doing exotic bone movements to correct jaw deformities and normalize the face.”<\/p>\n

            One thing never changed during the course of his career – his passion for teaching and interacting with residents. <\/p>\n

            “It’s the reason I’m here. They make it worthwhile,” Dr. Davis said. “Educating residents is continual. Many times, it takes place in just 30 seconds during an operation.”<\/p>\n

            As he looks toward retirement, Dr. Davis lists travel and reading as top priorities. <\/p>\n

            “We’ll do some overseas travel, but there are places in Nebraska I’ve never been to,” he said. “I’ve read about the Homestead National Monument in Beatrice, now I want to see it.”<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            Retirement tea for Leon Davis, D.D.S., M.D., set for Wednesday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":59189,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"93308,95042,94356,95669,96126,95854","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-59188","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","department-college-of-dentistry","department-intercom","department-unmc-today-todays-headlines","author_override-tom-oconnor-unmc-public-relations"],"yoast_head":"\nTime out with T.O. - 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