Lasting Impressions | Fall 2017

NSU COLLEGE OF DENTAL MEDICINE © 11 10 © NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY W hen Taner Cem Sayin, D.D.S., Ph.D., succeeded Kenneth Namerow, D.D.S., as chair of the College of Dental Medicine endodontics department in July 2016, it was the culmination of years of postgraduate education, as well as preparation as an associate professor at the CDM. Namerow had hired Sayin as an assistant professor almost 10 years earlier after Sayin earned D.D.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Hacettepe University in Turkey and taught at the university’s dental school. Namerow said he sensed promise in Sayin when he interviewed him for a predoctoral faculty position in 2007. “He was young. He was very eager and motivated to be the best he could be,” Namerow recalled. At the end of the academic year, Namerow met with Sayin to ask about his plans. “He was kind of guiding or advising me to go through the endodontics residency program at the CDM, become board certified, and com- plete the Florida boards so I could continue my academic life in the United States,” Sayin recalled. Namerow became a mentor to Sayin. “He was prepar- ing me for future positions throughout the years,” Sayin said. “Basically, he trained me on leadership. He was always encouraging me to take extra classes, courses on leadership, to improve myself.” In his role as endodontics department chair, Sayin is charting a path for the 20-year-old department while building on the foundation Namerow created. “I’m a different generation, so I’m trying to bring my energy, experience, and knowledge on technology, the latest improvements, and the latest teaching techniques to the position,” Sayin said. “But I’m building on what Dr. Namerow did throughout the years,” he added. “There’s no limit for improve- ment, no limit for learning. I keep trying to raise the bar as much as we can so the department can improve and compete with other endodontics departments in the United States.” Competing with endodontics departments at other, more established dental schools requires a greater emphasis on research and bringing young academics to the College of Dental Medicine’s endodontics faculty, Sayin said. “Nowadays, it’s hard to bring younger generations to academia, especially in my field, because financially it makes more sense for them to go outside and practice,” he explained. “So, academia is not the first choice for our alumni. One of the things we can do is work on salaries.” Namerow came up with the idea of an endowed profes- sorship to attract and retain promising young academicians. Working with the endodontic alumni, they raised more than $500,000 from faculty members, alumni, and the American Association of Endodontists Foundation to establish an endowed professorship. Today, the endowment is valued at more than $600,000. In recognition of his efforts, the Alumni Association recommended naming the professor- ship the Kenneth N. Namerow Endowed Professorship in Endodontics. Sayin was the first recipient of the endowed professorship. He deserved the award, Namerow said. “The idea was to give it to young educators who have the desire to be full-time academicians,” Namerow explained. “It’s really a way of saying thank you for doing this.” Passing the Endodontics Baton BY DAVID A. SCHWARTZ Namerow and Sayin discuss treatment with second-year resident Lauren Tink, assisted by Cavel Munroe, left. Chairman builds on the foundation his mentor created. continued on page 12 Kenneth Namerow, left, hired Taner Cem Sayin 10 years ago.