LLU School of Dentistry Journal

Leif K. Bakland receives Distinguished Service Award

Leif K. Bakland, SD'63, associate dean for advanced education, recieves the School Distinguished Service Award during School of Dentistry conferring of degrees ceremonies held May 27 on the Loma Linda University campus mall.

Leif K. Bakland, SD’63, professor and chair of endodontics, and associate dean for advanced education received the School Distinguished Service Award during conferring of degrees ceremonies for the School of Dentistry. Colleagues took extreme care to make sure that the award would be a surprise—in fact, the page containing his biography was removed from his copy of the graduation program.

After general dental practice for eight years, Dr. Bakland entered the advanced education program in endodontics at Harvard School of Dental Medicine, after completion of which he taught there on a half-time basis until in1976, he was recruited back to Loma Linda University.

Dr. Bakland’s career in academic dentistry has included many officer roles, including serving as president of the American Board of Endodontics, the College of Diplomates of the American Board of Endodontics, California State Association of Endodontists, and the Tri-County Dental Society; and secretary-treasurer of the International Association of Dental Traumatology. He is a consultant in endodontics for the United States Army Dental Corps, the United States Navy Dental Corps, and the Veterans Administration.

Adding further distinction to his career, Dr. Bakland has authored more than 50 publications—including journal articles, textbook chapters, and scientific abstracts in the areas of endodontics, traumatology, and immunology. He is currently co-editor of Endodontics. In addtion, he is editor of LLU DENTISTRY; and is a reviewer for the Journal of the California Dental Association, the Journal of General Dentistry, and is a member of the American Association of Dental Schools’ national peer review panel.