LLU School of Dentistry Journal

Journal

Spring 2002

Faculty profile
Dr. Daniel E. Tan--respected professor, mentor, researcher
Clyde Roggenkamp

Daniel E. Tan, SD'75A, models of compassion to his students and patients.

“Failures are the steppingstones to success.” “Attitude, attitude, attitude.” “Ten Ways to Get Along with Other People…” These are typical of pithy slogans and cogent reminders that may be pinned to the bulletin board over the desk of Daniel E. Tan, SD’75A. They also help describe why Dr. Tan consistently gets high marks for helping students.

Early life
Daniel E. Tan was born in Singapore, where he enjoyed life through his teen-age years, much of this time on a mission compound by Southeast Asia Union College. He always spoke English but due to a Cantonese influence there he also understands some Chinese. Dan’s mother was the college registrar and taught secretarial science. His father taught college-level biology classes.

He fondly recalls those youthful days when now-associate-dean Ron Dailey and his sister, Nancy, were living there—children of missionary parents. Another son of missionary parents, David Brodeur, SD ’71, was a student near him for four years at Far Eastern Academy.

Dan was 12 years old when he first came to the United States with his parents to spend two years at Berrien Springs, Michigan. He recalls helping pick ripe summer cherries at one of the many lush fruit-belt orchards around Andrews University.

That winter’s cold weather presented quite a shock compared with equatorial Singapore and provided his first intriguing experience with snow—plenty of it.

Dr. Tan (center) has been involved in 17 research projects and has presented 13 abstracts at the International Association of Dental Research. In addition, he has authored several research publications. He he poses with Dr. Anthony Tjan (left) in from of their research project, "Microleakage of combined amalgam/composite resin restorations treated with amalgambond." Also pictured is Dr. Daniel J GaRey, PG'89,PG'92

He was an unusually advanced student and found himself placed a couple years ahead in school. Already a sophomore by the age of 12, he adapted well to being the youngest student at Andrews Academy.

Dan returned to Singapore to finish his high school education but came back to the United States for his pre-dental curriculum at Andrews University.

Partly out of respect for his paternal grandfather who was a dentist, it seems that to become a dentist was also what Dan always knew he wanted. To help defray tuition expenses, he worked as a clerical secretary in the registrar’s office. This probably didn’t meet with many people’s expectations since he believes he was the first male employee to occupy this position. He was still too young to drive a car and remembers hitching rides to shop in downtown Benton Harbor located close by on Lake Michigan. Dan met the cold weather challenges partly by learning to enjoy ice skating. He considered it a privilege and highlight of his college experience to sing bass with the Andrews Singers, a special touring musical group.

At Andrews University he became closely acquainted with Ronald Blank, SD’75A (currently chair, oral diagnosis, radiology, and pathology, LLUSD), as his dormitory roommate. Dan and Ron both applied to and were accepted by the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry.

Teaching career

Shortly after finishing dental school, Dan was invited to join the faculty of the School of Dentistry. His first assignment was in the dental assisting unit (DAU), and then later with training in expanded auxiliary management (TEAM) working with Drs. Gilbert Dupper and Ron Dailey. This was a program for training expanded duty dental assistants (EDDAs) to administer anesthetic injections, fabricate provisional crowns, take impressions, and condense amalgam—procedures limited to what are considered reversible. That training program continued with government support through the ’70s and ’80s and was used by the School to provide valuable experience in office management to D4 (senior) students.

Dr. Tan has been course director for the freshman introduction to occlusion class and also served as laboratory coordinator for the D1 (freshman) tooth morphology class.

When there came a need for someone to direct the Operative Dentistry I course, his teaching expertise was again called upon. He is currently co-directing the tooth morphology course. His lecturing style is typically extemporaneous in nature and supported with facts thoughtfully suited to the audience.

Since the beginning, Dr. Tan’s teaching has primarily been associated with the D1 class. He particularly enjoys their eagerness and open acceptance to learning. He relishes the reward of sharing with students and their genuinely appreciative spirit expressed in return.

He first met his wife-to-be, Peggy, on a double date. She was a dental hygiene student who, as luck would have it, was the other guy’s date. After this initial acquaintance they seemed to find themselves talking with each other more and more in the school hallways as their relationship gradually grew closer. It was perhaps the most tragic challenge of his life in recent years to lose her after an extended bout with cancer. His 14-year-old daughter, Cara, currently is a much-appreciated part-time clerical worker in the restorative department. Several of Dr. Tan’s family members, including his parents, live in the Loma Linda area.

Dr. Tan is without doubt one of the dental students’ favorite lecturers. Few instructors know the first and last names of the nearly 100 students in each class, but Dan usually does. He exhibits such naturalness from the podium that students might almost take for granted his steady, imperturbable personality and confident, knowledgeable mastery of the classroom.

The material is always well organized and clearly presented. He has a special talent for explaining complex subjects simply, often by appropriate analogy, and without compromising any of the elements essential to true understanding.

Every bit as interested in the students’ external information as he is in their internal transformation, Dan recognizes that sometimes significant learning occurs after the fact. Whether in the laboratory or in the clinic, he draws students’ minds toward excellence by asking the right questions to make them think more and focus their attention on the proper details.

For example he might ask, “If you had the chance to do this over, what might you do differently?” He looks for the best in each individual, and this confidence in their ability often produces achievements beyond expectations—frequently surprising the students themselves. These are indeed exciting moments for teachers.

"If you had the chance to do this over, what would you do differently?"
-A question frequently asked of dental students by Dr. Tan

His pleasing, resonant, deep voice has been called on for narrating a handful of the School’s educational videotape demonstrations and reciting the Hippocratic Oath during graduation services.

Dr. Tan attained well-deserved distinction as full professor in 2000, receiving the Teacher of the Year Award that same year, and the Award of Teaching Excellence in 2001. In 2002 he was voted one of the faculty who had the most positive influence on students.

With initial guidance in research activities under Dr. Anthony Tjan he has been involved with 17 research projects, presented 13 abstracts at the International Association of Dental Research, and authored several research publications. He is a member of nearly a dozen highly respected dental organizations including the Academy of International Dental Studies, Pierre Fauchard Academy, American Equilibration Society, Academy of Dental Materials, and the OKU honor society. He serves currently as section chief for operative dentistry. All this before age 50. With sincerest respect, he almost might be thought of as our youngest “old-timer.”

Personal life and reflections
Dan has always appreciated working with his hands and creatively restoring things to proper form. Among his outside interests are photography, which he wishes there were more opportunity to do; gardening and housework (which he became skilled at during his wife’s extended illness) and reading books, particularly those dealing with adventure, self-help, and human relations.

He believes final enjoyment in life is liking what you do, which certainly seems expressed in everything he does.

It is inspiring to consider how God may have acted in various ways to bring us the brightest and the best. Dr. Tan, although extraordinarily well suited perhaps for more administrative positions, has chosen to remain on the front lines, so to speak, teaching primarily students entering their first year of dental school experience, serving responsible roles on School committees in the restorative dentistry department.

Daniel E. Tan has earned the respect of students and admiration of those of us fortunate to work alongside him.

Clyde Roggenkamp, SD'70 is an associate professor, restorative dentistry. He has appreciated teaching in the School of Dentistry with Dr.Tan since 1997.

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