Loma Linda University School of Dentistry is mourning the loss of a world famous oral and maxillofacial surgeon, dental implantologist, biological innovator, and bone physiologist—and incidentally a notable marathon runner.

Not every researcher is a recluse. Dr. Philip Boyne’s office door typically remained open. You could find him in conversation with a colleague, student, or drop-in guest, the topics ranging from research to baseball, history, ballistics, cooking, running, and traveling—all in one session. Yet Dr. Boyne was one of the School’s most prolific researchers, remaining active long after he became emeritus professor. He modified and improved nearly every osseous surgical protocol ever developed within the scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery. In addition to textbooks, he published over 230 scientific papers, including a manuscript for which he received the prestigious Laskin Award for the most outstanding paper appearing in the OMFS Journal during 2006. 

His widely diverse research projects took him into shark-infested waters and into extended relationships with monkeys, affectionately named by him, that supported his research in bone grafting.

His interest in maxillofacial surgery received impetus during service in Vietnam, site of the last of three wars in which Dr. Boyne served. He was caring for bomb attack victims dropped on an aircraft carrier minutes after being wounded. Severely wounded patients awakened his passion for reconstruction research. With his colleague Dr. Peter Geistlich of Switzerland, he developed BMP (a protein) as a substitute for bone grafts and certified its viability for placement of dental implants, a breakthrough in improved methods for jaw reconstruction.

Other remarkable firsts in dental treatment are attributed to Dr. Boyne: He was studying the use of xenograft, freeze-dried bone, and autograft for bone defect treatment more than 50 years ago. He advocated the use of autogenous bone marrow aspirate in dental reconstruction and reported the first verified technique for secondary bone grafting of alveolar clefts; he was the first to describe use of sinus elevation to augment alveolar bone mass for implants; In 1987 he reported the use of socket preservation grafts. He is credited with initial use of human bone morphogenetic protein-2 for mandibular discontinuity treatment, for sinus grafting, for cleft repair, and as part of dental implant surfaces.

Dr. Boyne’s office walls abound with pictures of smiling children, restored patients and inspired residents. The pictures are interspersed with tributes bestowed by professional groups, among them an award accorded only to him and the highest honor ever bestowed by the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association. His undergraduate school, Colby College of Maine, named him its Distinguished Alumnus; Loma Linda School of Dentistry bestowed upon him its Distinguished Faculty Award.

Among the many plaques on his office walls according Dr. Boyne honor appears a framed collage of pictures with the inscription, Thank you on behalf of the Norwegian children you helped without even knowing them, from the Oslo Cleft Palate team, October 1994. A happy (and attractive) patient smiles from one of the pictures, being beneficiary of Dr. Boyne’s pioneering method of cleft-palate bone grafting, which is now used internationally.

Philip Boyne was born May 1, 1924, in Houlton, Maine. He completed predental studies at Colby College in his home state, which subsequently presented him with the Distinguished Alumnus Award. After he completed his dental education at Tufts School of Dental Medicine, he pursued a master’s degree in bone grafting at Georgetown University; for his research in bone grafting, he earned a doctor’s degree from the University Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

Notable among his accomplishments is his influence on students and colleagues.

Dr. Alan Herford, who has participated with Dr. Boyne in research, says,

"Dr. Boyne was the reason I chose to pursue a career in oral and maxillofacial surgery. When I completed a residency program in 2000, I chose to return to Loma Linda—a big reason was to work with Dr. Boyne, whom I first got to know as a dental student working on various research projects with him. He has been a mentor, colleague, and friend, but mostly an inspiration.  I first got to know Dr. Boyne in 1992 as a dental student.  I worked with him on various research projects.  We have discussed topics ranging from surgery to baseball.  I have many fond memories of spending time with both him and Mrs. Boyne.  I have continually asked for his advice and guidance.  I owe much of what I have become as an OMF surgeon to him."

Dr. Franco Audia, who graduated from the School of Dentistry seven years ago, suggests that Dr. Boyne’s life could be made into a major motion picture documentary.  Another colleague, Larry F deJulien, DDS, who taught with him, comments that some of the “home movies” taken of Dr. Boyne’s bone grafting, reconstruction, periodontology and implantology are classics deserving wide viewing by the profession. Dr. Audia’s most memorable times with Dr. Boyne came in the bone research lab, where he might launch into a discussion of science, history, ballistics, cooking, running, and traveling—all in one conversation. He came across as a person who could carry on a conversation with people in any walk of life at a high level.

Dr. Timothy Welch recalls first meeting Dr. Boyne in 1988. Dr. Boyne was running the Boston Marathon, barefooted no less. He had started the race, as he always did, with feet wrapped in athletic tape, which by now was in shreds. Now at the 20-mile mark, Dr. Boyne was visibly hypothermic and wet. Asked if he wanted to stop, Dr. Boyne looked at Dr. Welch as if he was crazy. Later joining Dr. Boyne in a junior faculty position, Dr. Welch says, “I am the surgeon I am today because of those four incredibly busy years I spent on staff under his direction.”

Dr. deJulien’s long-time relationship with Dr. Boyne began when he was on the receiving end of Korean casualties at Oak Knoll Naval Hospital. Coming direct from Japan, these patients had received fine reconstructive procedures performed by Dr. Boyne on the hospital ship.
 
In addition to his scholarly and skillful pursuits, Dr. Boyne has endowed programs at Loma Linda and Colby College to fund resident support and student tuition. The School of Dentistry lost a treasure on June 9, 2008, when this man of incredible talent, great humility, and an abiding level of empathy and tolerance, died.