Lasting Impressions | Summer 2017

12 © NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY Professors Remember the CDM’s Before the NSU College of Dental Medicine opened its doors in 1997, the university executives had begun a search for profes- sors. Assembling a solid group of well-respected, knowledgeable professors who could lead and teach the next generations of dental professionals was vital to the new college’s success. Following are some of the professors’ memories about the CDM’s early days and why they chose to come to a fledgling school. PETER A. KELLER, D.D.S. Executive Associate Dean Full-time faculty member since 1996 WHY HE CAME TO THE COLLEGE: In 1995, I was in private practice in Hollywood, Florida. At that time, I was also chair of the Florida Board of Dentistry, and I had been serving as either an examiner or a supervisor for the Florida dental board exam for more than 20 years. Nova Southeastern University was interested in starting a college of dental medicine and wanted to have someone on the committee who knew many Florida dentists and understood the dental laws and rules of the state of Florida. The committee was to write a report to the NSU Board of Trustees to determine the need for a college of dental medicine in South Florida. Dr. Fred Lippman, chancellor of the Health Professions Division, was aware of my background and asked me to join the committee. Of course, I said yes. One year later, the committee sent in its report, and the Board of Trustees voted to start the new dental school. Dr. Seymour Oliet was appointed dean, and I was his first hire. He persuaded me to sell my practice and start working full time as soon as possible. My wife convinced me that I needed a new challenge, so I immediately started working five afternoons a week for NSU in North Miami Beach while working every morning in my Hollywood office. Within three months, I sold my practice to my associate and began working full time for the College of Dental Medicine. MOST MEMORABLE CDM MOMENT: Dr. Sigmund Stahl was the CDM’s first executive associate dean. He was one of the great thinkers, professors, and research scientists in the world of dental education. When I was a dental student in New York, I met Dr. Stahl on my first day in the clinic. I thought he was brilliant but really old and ready to retire. After that first meeting, I did not see him again for 20 years. Then our paths crossed again at the NSU College of Dental Medicine. He was still brilliant, but it turned out that I was now older than he was on that day of our first meeting, 20 years earlier. (Please see the story on Sigmund Stahl on page 22.) While at NSU, Dr. Stahl was trying to solve a difficult problem. He asked me what I thought. I told him what I would do, and he used my idea to accomplish his task. He thanked me profusely and stated that he never would have thought of that approach. I went home that night and told my wife I had just received the greatest compliment of my professional career. I will never forget that moment.