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Volume2 Issue7
REMEMBERING
DENTISTRYLEADERS
O
bituaries
Dr.Walter (“Wally”) Teteruckof London, Ontario, passedaway
onAugust 13, 2015. Hewas 81yearsold.
A1961graduate fromMcGill University, Dr. Teteruck
specialized inprosthodontics at theUniversityof Indiana.
After teachingat theUniversityof Kentucky, he returned to
Canadaandplayedan instrumental role inestablishing the
dental school atWesternUniversity,wherehe taught for
over 30years. Throughout his career, hewrotenumerous
books and researchpapers,witha focusonprosthodontics
anddental education.
In1998, heestablishedandbecamechair ofWestern
University’sContinuingDental Educationprogram,which
attractsmore than1200annual attendees to its courses.
Out of this educationhub for dental professionalswas
alsocreated thefirst BusinessofDentistryprogram in
NorthAmerica.
Dr. Teteruck’spassion for dental educationdeveloped
early inhis career. Hechaired theCDADental Aptitude
Test (DAT) Committee in the1970s, at a timewhen the
programunderwent changes in its internal operations
and relationships to thedental faculties across thecountry.
Under hiswatch, theDATwas revisited tobettermeet
theneedsof thedental schools and stronger bondswere
createdwith theuniversities.
“Wally’s contribution toour profession, particularly through
theDATand theestablishment andconduct of Canada’s
premier ContinuingDental Educationprogram, hasbeen
without peer,” saysDr.WesleyDunn, foundingdeanof the
facultyof dentistryatWesternUniversity. “Andhis services
toour faculty since1967havebeennothing short of
magnificent. Hewill be sorelymissed.”
Dr. Teteruckanticipated thegrowingneed toensure that
theclinical skillsof internationally traineddentists areonpar
withcurrentCanadian standards. For decades, hedirected
thefirst courseoffered inCanada to internationally trained
dentists, toprepare them to seek licensure.
In recognitionofDr. Teteruck’s exceptional contribution
to theprofessionand itsdental school,WesternUniversity
created theWalter TeteruckBursaryand theWalter R.
TeteruckAward inFixedProsthodontics. In2013, Dr. Teteruck
received theuniversity’sAwardof Excellence inTeaching/
DistinguishedCommitments/OutstandingService, for the
ContinuingDental Educationprogram.
Alwaysbrimmingwithenthusiasm, Dr. Teteruck truly
enjoyed travellingandgoodcuisine. Oneof hisgreatest
passionswas automobiles, andhewas a rallycar racer in
his younger years. Hewill be fondly remembered for his
kindness andcompassion, and for living life to its fullest.
a
DR.WALTERR.TETERUCK
