CDA has learned with deep sadness the passing away of two dentists who have greatly contributed to the dental profession in Canada, Drs. Nick Mancini and Dr. Dennis C. Smith.
Dr. Nick Mancini
Dr. Mancini was an accomplished Dentist for 63 years. He was Past Chairman of the Canadian and Ontario Dental Associations and the recipient of the Barnabus Day Award, the highest honour given by the Ontario Dental Association.
Dr. Dennis C. Smith
Dr. Smith emigrated from England and became Professor and Head of Biomaterials at the Faculty of Dentistry in 1969. He built a leading-edge research laboratory, and established a graduate program in Biomaterials. He then went on to develop one of the few truly international research programs in Biomaterials in the world. In 1986, Dr. Smith initiated the formation of the Centre for Biomaterials and became the founding Director. Later, the Centre joined with the Institute for Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering to form the IBBME, where Dentistry is strongly represented by scientists from our Biomaterials division. Dr. Smith received numerous international awards for his contributions to materials science, including Honourary Doctorate Degrees from the Universities of Toronto, McGill, Dalhousie and Manchester. He formally retired in 1993, and was made Professor Emeritus Biomaterials. Dr. Smith was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2007 in recognition of his significant achievements.