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Interview with Dr. Gordon J. Christensen, Founder of the Academy of LDS Dentists

Dr. Christensen: In 1976 I was approached by the then dean of the College of Agriculture and Biology at Brigham Young University about organizing the dentists in the Church. This was immediately after I had moved from Colorado to Utah and had changed my career direction from university academics to independent education, research, and practice. The suggested purposes of the request to organize the dentists were to provide continuing education for dentists, raise funds for the college, serve the Church, interact with the college and the profession, and assist in whatever other areas seemed logical.

Editor: Was dentistry the only profession considered? Were other professions, in addition to dentistry, able to raise money for the university and provide service for the Church?

Dr. Christensen: I suggested to the dean that the organization should represent all of the health sciences and not dentistry alone. He agreed. However, because of lack of interested leadership in medicine and other areas, the planned “Academy of LDS Health Practitioners” resulted in the “BYU Academy of Dentists,” with a name change later to the “Academy of LDS Dentists” for political and legal liability reasons. Subsequently, about ten years later, medicine started an academy, but it has struggled and has not been integrated with the Academy of LDS Dentists.

Editor: In what way would a coalition of health professions be useful to the Church?

Dr. Christensen: It is my strong opinion that eventually an overall academy of health professions should be formed. Such an academy would provide enormous eclectic advantages for the Church in all medically related fields. Because of the apparent lack of direction from other health services, I agreed to assist in the formation of an academy for dentists, wrote the original constitution, and served as the president for three terms. The Academy of LDS Dentists grew rapidly, and apparently it has filled a void in the profession for LDS dentists and their families. It is my hope that eventually an academy including all categories of health practioners will be formed.

Editor: How has the Academy of LDS Dentists evolved over the years?

Dr. Christensen: Over the many years of service to the profession, the Academy has provided excellent continuing education courses each year, cumulatively attracting thousands of dentists and their families and providing hundreds of the best non-LDS speakers/educators in the profession an opportunity to see BYU, Utah, and the Church. Fellowship among LDS dentists has been fostered, and the positive results are obvious. Additionally, service projects have been carried out throughout the world, providing dental care to hundreds of patients and allowing many dentists the opportunity to serve.

Editor: How well is the Academy integrated into the Church’s humanitarian service program?

Dr. Christensen: Church recognition of the Academy and its potential for both service and ecclesiastical help has been slow and sporadic, in spite of the efforts of many Academy leaders. However, at this time, Church recognition and acceptance is at an all-time high, and the potential is great!

Editor: What direction is the Academy taking now?

Dr. Christensen: Currently, the Academy of LDS Dentists is providing professional clinical services in numerous areas of the world. It is developing, staffing, and teaching in dental schools in diverse countries; delivering continuing education to Academy members, their spouses and children, guests, predental students, and others; organizing and funding donated continuing education to the dentists of developing countries (the 2005 program will provide five days of CE to the dentists of India, resulting in an estimated 5,000 dentists in attendance and influencing their ten million patients); and providing significant leadership for the Church in many other dental related projects. The original goals appear to have been satisfied well along with significant expansion into other areas.

Editor: That is amazing! Those 5,000 dentists in India will then be able use their newly acquired knowledge and skills to help an even greater number of patients. Of course, these dentists and possibly their patients will be introduced to the Church as well. What are the Academy’s goals for the future?

Dr. Christensen: In my opinion and that of other Academy leaders, the following appear to be the Academy’s goals:

• ·Continuing the ongoing programs
• Expanding the service projects to provide professional services to Church members and missionaries, as well as nonmembers of the Church, as directed by the leaders of the Academy and representatives of the Church
• Expanding the outreach continuing educational programs for dentists and staff members in developing countries, with official acceptance of and support by the Church
• Eventually becoming a Church “major initiative”
• Expanding the service and educational programs in the dental schools of the world as related geographically to missionary training centers
  · Integrating with organizations representing other health professions
• Expanding the influence and size of the CE programs for members, staff, families, and guests; growing to the level that the Academy is the voice of dentistry for the Church
• Increasing the influence of the Academy among LDS dentists by increasing membership in the Academy and encouraging more attendance of members and guests at Academy meetings
  

I feel confident that with the continuing excellent leadership, the Academy has a fantastic potential to serve the Church, the public, and the profession.

Editor: It is evident that you are very optimistic about the Academy. I hope that other members of the Academy will catch this same spirit and have a better understanding of the amazing depth and breadth of the Academy’s worldwide vision and mission. Thank you, Dr. Christensen, for the time that you have taken for this interview and also for all that you do for the Academy and our profession.

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