Thursday, May 13, 2004 TODAY

Medicine and dentistry news

Commencement services for medicine, dentistry planned for Sunday, May 30

Joan Coggin, MD, MPH

Roger W. Triftshauser, DDS

Two hundred and eighty students from the School of Dentistry and the School of Medicine are expected to receive diplomas during conferring-of-degrees ceremonies scheduled for Sunday, May 30, on the campus mall.

Beginning the commencement program will be ceremonies for the School of Medicine, during which an anticipated 144 students will receive diplomas. The conferringof- degrees ceremony will begin at 8:30 a.m.

Presenting the commencement address to the School of Medicine students will be C. Joan Coggin, MD, MPH, immediate past vice president for global outreach, Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center, and retired professor, department of medicine, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University.

Born on August 6, 1928, in Washington, D.C., Joan Coggin earned her undergraduate degree from Columbia Union College in Takoma Park, Maryland. After completing her undergraduate studies, she entered Loma Linda University School of Medicine (formerly College of Medical Evangelists), where she graduated in the class of 1953-A.

Following graduation, Dr. Coggin took postgraduate training at Los Angeles County General Hospital (1953 to 1955), Children's Hospital of Los Angeles (1955 to 1956), Hammersmith Hospital in London (1956 to 1957), and the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto (1965 to 1967). In 1968 she was board certified in pediatrics. She earned an MPH degree from Loma Linda University School of Health in 1987.

Dr. Coggin began her career when women made up barely 5 percent of medical school graduates nationwide. During the past five decades she has successfully built a cardiology practice and professional reputation that have earned for her a place of distinction in American medical history.

In 1963, after co-founding with Ellsworth E. Wareham, MD, the internationally acclaimed Loma Linda University Overseas Heart Surgery Team, Dr. Coggin extended the borders of her service beyond national boundaries.

During its forty-year history, the heart-surgery team has either initiated or upgraded open-heart surgery programs in many countries throughout the world, including Chile, Greece, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Pakistan, People's Republic of China, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe.

In the course of her extensive international endeavors, Dr. Coggin has become a familiar face to government officials and heads of state in many countries. She has been the beneficiary of numerous awards and tokens of international esteem, including the Outstanding Woman of the Year in Science Award, presented by the California Museum of Science and Industry; the Golden Eagle Cine Award from the Venice Film Festival; and the Gold Medal of Health, presented by the Ministry of Health of South Vietnam. In 2002 she received a lifetime achievement award from the Association of Adventist Women, and in 2003 she was the recipient of the Zella Hobert Award, presented by Columbia Union College. In recognition of her many years of superior service, Loma Linda University presented her with the LLUAHSC President's Award in 2004.

Dr. Coggin has served numerous national and international organizations as officer or consultant; has held membership on professional boards, societies, and panels; and has led collaborative studies as coordinator or principal investigator. She has been the principal author or coauthor of more than 50 scientific articles published in peerreviewed publications. In 2003 she edited and published Into All the World: Adventist Hospitals and Dental Clinics Overseas--the story of Seventh-day Adventist health-care work around the world.

On February 24, 2004, Dr. Coggin's contributions to Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center were celebrated by friends and colleagues as she ended a half-century of dedicated service as teacher, administrator, and goodwill ambassador.

Speaking to the 143 graduates of the School of Dentistry at 5:00 p.m. will be Roger W. Triftshauser, DDS, rear admiral, United States Naval Reserve Dental Corps, retired, and immediate past president, American College of Dentists.

Dr. Triftshauser earned the DDS degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1961. He entered the Navy Dental Corps after graduation, where he served until his release from active duty in 1967. In 1969 he completed a master's degree in orthodontics at Loma Linda University's Graduate School.

Dr. Triftshauser retired from the United States Naval Reserve Dental Corps in 1995 after an illustrious career that spanned more than three decades. In 1990 he was promoted to flag rank. During his tenure as a flag officer, he attended both the Naval War College and the Army War College; he also served as a member of the Secretary of the Navy's National Reserve Policy Board. In 1994 he was promoted to the permanent grade of rear admiral.

Dr. Triftshauser--immediate past president of the American College of Dentists and past president of the Eighth District Dental Society--actively supports a number of professional organizations.

He holds membership in the Dental Society of the State of New York as well as the American Dental Association, in which he has served as a delegate. He is also a diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics and a fellow of the International College of Dentists.

Active in community affairs, Dr. Triftshauser was elected for 10 consecutive terms to the Genesee County Legislature--the last five of which he served as chair. During this tenure he was elected director of the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) and served as president of the NYSAC Legislative Board Chairs for the 62 counties of New York.

In December, 2000, he relinquished these positions to accept Governor George Pataki's appointment as special assistant for intercounty affairs. Dr. Triftshauser has served as president of the Batavia (New York) City School Board of Education, and is a member of the Genishua Council of the Boy Scouts of America and of the Rotary Club of Batavia.

Dr. Triftshauser is married to the former JoAnn Frances Novak of Attica, New York. They have three daughters and one son: Gretchen, Kristen, Erin, and Erik. During the graduation ceremonies, 89 dental students, 38 dental hygiene students, and 16 international dental students will receive diplomas.

A number of awards will be presented during the ceremonies. These will be reported in the next issue of TODAY.

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Thursday, May 13, 2004 TODAY

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