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| Year : 2014 | Volume
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| Issue : 6 | Page : 503 |
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| Tribute to one of the foundational fathers of Indian endodontics and operative dentistry
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Velayutham Gopikrishna
Editor in Chief, J Conserv Dent Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics
Click here for correspondence address and email
| Date of Web Publication | 13-Nov-2014 |
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How to cite this article:
Gopikrishna V. Tribute to one of the foundational fathers of Indian endodontics and operative dentistry
. J Conserv Dent 2014;17:503 |
It is with a profound sense of grief that we share the loss of Dr. B Suresh Chandra, an international icon in academic dentistry, passed away on Oct 2 nd 2014, at the age of 68. As ever, Sir valiantly fought his battle with multiple myeloma for the past few years with a smile on his face. He is survived by his wife Suryakanthi and his two children Dr. Sowmya and Shravan.
He graduated in 1969 from Government Dental College, Bangalore and obtained his masters in the field of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics from Madras Dental College in 1976. During his post-graduation days, his relationship with his teacher and guide Dr. A Parameswaran was instrumental in molding his career and life. This blossomed into a mutually enriching experience that lasted for a lifetime.
His academic teaching career began at the Government Dental College, Bangalore where he taught between 1976 and 1989 as a Lecturer and then later as a Professor. He moved on to become Professor and Head of Department and Vice Dean, AB Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Mangalore. In this most productive academic phase of his career, he guided more than 100 postgraduate students and thousands of dental graduates between 1989 and 2003. In 2004 he took over as the Principal as well as Professor and Head at AJ Institute of Dental Sciences, Mangalore. He became the principal architect in nurturing this college from inception to a fully-fledged postgraduate institution of repute. At the time of his demise, sir was serving as Dean/Director-Research in the same institution.
He had also been serving as the Editor of Endodontology, the official publication of the India Endodontic Society, for the past 10 years. He has numerous publications and best paper awards to his credit. He was also the recipient of the Best Dental Teacher Award in 2012 by Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Karnataka. He has also held several positions in various medical universities including Member of Senate, Chairman, PG Board and Academic Council. He also made significant contributions to the Dental Council of India (DCI) initially as a member of DCI from 1992 to 1997 and then later as an executive committee member from 1997 to 2003. He was elected to be the President of the Indian Endodontic Society from 2001 to 2003 and as President, Federation of Operative Dentistry of India from 2003 to 2005.
I have had the unique opportunity of having seen his academic excellence initially as his student and later as his coeditor during the genesis of Grossmans Endodontic Practice 12 th and 13 th edition. As a student, I used to be amazed and inspired by his tireless passion for teaching. He would take lectures and discussions from morning till evening with a focus and energy unparalleled. He was more of a parent to his students than a teacher; with his ability to empathize with all, in both their professional and personal lives.
His single greatest contribution to Indian Endodontics and Operative Dentistry has been in creating and inspiring hundreds of next generation teachers with a passion to teach and research. I personally had planned to go back to my small hometown to practice and earn my living. It was his guidance and counsel that helped me start my career as an academician. He has touched and graced the lives of innumerable souls and his legacy will remain etched both in our hearts and in the annals of Indian academic dentistry for now and forever.
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Correspondence Address:
Velayutham Gopikrishna
Editor in Chief, J Conserv Dent Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0972-0707.144565
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