Journal of Dental Research, Vol 78, 1192-1196, Copyright © 1999 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
The emergence of the social and behavioral sciences in dentistry: Lois Cohen as principal architect
S. F. Dworkin
Department of Oral Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle 98195, USA.
The role that Lois played at the NIDR and the IADR as an advocate for
biopsychosocial research in dentistry cannot be underestimated and remains
one of her most cherished and lasting legacies. First, she has steadfastly
maintained her vision for dentistry as a major health discipline that
continues to mature toward acceptance of responsibility for every aspect of
the impact that oral disease could have on the health and welfare of its
patients. Next, she has been an exemplary role model as a rigorous social
scientist, simultaneously advocating that such research be
interdisciplinary and collaborative while reflecting only the highest
standards of excellence for research from the social, biologic, and
clinical sciences. Through her administrative leadership skills, she has
encouraged such a research mission to be incorporated into the long-range
planning of the NIDCR, IADR, FDI, and ADA. Such is the esteem in which she
is held that respected social scientists have been attracted to dentistry,
persuaded by her vision and drawn by her science. For several decades,
thanks to Lois as the primary role model, these scientists have been able
to develop their own careers and research interests while bringing cadres
of new scientists similarly committed to the broadest and deepest
understanding of dental and orofacial growth and development and the
prevention and management of dental and orofacial conditions as those
processes emerge in peoples around the world.
