Loma Linda University School of Dentistry: Dentalgram, Nov. 2000

Suzanne McCormick, MS, DDS, named chair of oral and maxillofacial surgery

Suzanne McCormick, DDS, MS, (far right), works on a patient in Mexico. One of her interests is providing care to medically underserved populations.

Suzanne McCormick, MS, DDS, has joined the School as chair of the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery, and director of the advanced education program. She looks foward to teaching both predoctoral and gradaute students.

"Loma Linda has a strong history in oral surgery and is well-known in the oral surgery community, both nationally and internationally," says Dr. McCormick.

A special interest of Dr. McCormick's is distraction osteogenesis--using the bodies' own healing to generate and grow bone, skin, and muscle. Using this technique, the surgeon cuts an area in the bone where there is inadequate bone and soft tissue, causing the bone to expand as much as 1 mm a day. "In two to three weeks, as much as an inch of bone can be generated," she says. Patients who may benefit from distraction osteogenesis include infants with cleft lip and palate, and those who need corrective jaw surgery. The technique may also be used in implant surgery patients.

"This is a very low-tech technique that can be used in many settings," she informs, "and provides an opportunity to see art and science work together."

When treating cancer patients, Dr. McCormick has experienced the joy that comes when the patient becomes actively involved in the process--in some cases with the entire jaw being reconstructed. "Patients may feel that everything is being done to them, and this enables them to become actively involved in their care. It is a global philosophy of care, with the patient involved completely--mind, body, and spirit."

Many people first see an oral surgeon when they are 14 or 15 years old and need wisdom teeth removed. "The [practitioner] can help the patient can go through this experience," she says, "in a secure environment; providing a safe haven."

Dr. McCormick comes to LLU from New York Eye and Ear Infirmary where she served as director of dentistry in otolaryngology, department of otolaryngology, head and neck surgery; and director of facial pain/TMJ and dentofacial deformities clinics. Her hospital affiliations in New York included Mount Sinai Medical Center (assistant clinical professor); Metropolitan Medical Center (assistant clinical professor); St. Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center (assistant clinical professor), and New York University Medical Center.

Dr. McCormick is the second female to be named chair of an oral and maxillofacial surgery department (the other is Maria Papageorge, DMD, MS, Tufts University, Boston). Currently about two percent of oral maxillofacial surgeons are female.

"Oral maxillofacial surgery has provided many wonderful opportunities," states Dr. McCormick. "When many people think of the field, trauma and the emergency room come to mind. However, there are many opportunities to tailor one's practice to what you would like to do."

In addition to teaching, Dr. McCormick looks forward to continuing to provide service to medically underserved communities.