Winter 2012 - College of Dental Medicine - Columbia University

Martin J. Davis ’74, Peds ’75 Retires
Dean Martin Davis retired as Senior
Associate Dean as of December 31, 2012,
ending 42 years at CDM. Holding a BA
from Yale, Dr. Davis earned his DDS in
1974, and his postdoctoral certificate in
pediatrics the following year, both at Columbia,
where he spent his entire career.
After accepting a junior faculty position in
Pediatric Dentistry in 1975, he soon rose
to become Division Director, a position
he held for more than two decades.His
subsequent leadership responsibilities in
the Office of Student and Alumni Affairs
included overseeing admissions, financial
aid, career counseling, academic advising
and alumni affairs.
A past president of the American
Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and a
diplomate of the American Board of
Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), he serves
as a trustee and is a past-president of
the American Society of Dentistry for
Children (ASDC}, the AAPD Education
Foundation, and the William J. Gies
Foundation of the American Dental
Education Association. He is a Fellow
of the American College of Dentists,
AAPD, and ASDC, and a past chair
of the American Dental Education
Association Section for Development,
Alumni Affairs, and Public Relations.
Dr. Davis has published more than 65
articles and textbook chapters, and has
presented papers at numerous national
and international symposia.
In announcing the retirement, Interim
Dean Ronnie Myers said that CDM has
had “no greater or more dedicated
individual. During the course of his
tenure here at CDM, whenever asked,
Dr. Davis delivered. There are not many
hats that he hasn’t worn. Most importantly,
I believe every student over the
past four decades can honestly say that
Dr. Martin Davis has been there for them
whenever they needed him, and was a
person who advocated for their needs
in the fairest possible way.”
4 primus | winter 2012-13