NSU Horizons Fall 2010

23 horizons “I asked myself, ‘Why can’t we scrape surface cells out of the mouth to test for cancer’,” he said. “In the 1960s, that was a novel technique to discover oral cancer. Now, it’s fairly common. The earlier you diagnose oral cancer, the better your chances are.” Stahl also studied how a lack of protein, through mal- nutrition, affects bone and gum tissues. “When a patient is malnourished,” he said, “their gums and bones may take longer to heal after a dental procedure.” “Because of his research, he has been an icon in the world of periodontology,” said William Parker, D.D.S., chair of the periodontology department at NSU dental and one of Stahl’s colleagues. Unsuccessful Retirement Stahl’s pioneering days at NYU came to an end in 1996, when he left the Big Apple to retire in Florida. Not long after, he was recruited by Oliet to help start the CDM. “I said ‘yes’ because I have never had a chance to build a dental school,” Stahl said. “I was coming to a brand new place, where there was no tradition. I wanted to leave my imprint.” That he certainly did. Working with Oliet, Stahl helped build the foundations for the CDM, including putting the faculty and staff members and students in place and earning accreditation from the Commission on Dental Accreditation, which is a body of the American Dental Association. He worked on the nuts and bolts of starting a new school, such as financing, budget management, and getting facilities, namely the dental clinic, off the ground. Stahl also used his reputation and prestige to help recruit a top faculty, which was hard to come by because of a national shortage. “He was recognized in the dental profession,” said Robert Uchin, D.D.S., the CDM’s current dean and one of its first administrators. “Whoever he called, he would get answers. He had lots of connections. He set a tone for the dental school and its search for excellence.” Excellence is what the CDM has been achieving since it opened in 1997, becoming the first dental school in the nation to do so in 24 years. It now has 105 students per entering class, the largest low-cost dental and special-needs clinics in Florida, a renowned faculty, and cutting-edge research projects including the use of adult stem cells to clone teeth. The CDM’s acceptance rate, currently less than 15 percent, makes it one of the most selective dental schools in the nation. Entering first-year students score in the 90th percentile on the Dental Admission Test and have an average grade point average between 3.65 and 3.7. The CDM provides dental treatment for a variety of patients, including those with AIDS/HIV, cleft palate, autism, cerebral palsy, and craniofacial disorders through its community dental clinics in Davie, North Miami Beach, and Pompano Beach and the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood. Stahl served as the CDM’s associate executive dean, as well as professor and chair of the periodontics depart- ment. In 2005, he decided to retire, again. But, like his first retirement at NYU, it was not successful. The longing to influence the next generation of dentists kept pulling him back. For the last five years, Stahl has traveled from his Palm Beach County home to NSU’s main campus to serve as an adjunct professor at the CDM to pursue his passion. “Teaching students gets my juices flowing,” Stahl said. “When you see a young person grasping an idea, you feel so good inside. It’s called the ‘ah-ha’ reaction. That’s what I live for.” n