We have a great committee that has committed to writing articles and bringing in fresh ideas for Lightwaves. The committee members are: Praveen Arany, Juliana Barros, James Clayton, Robin Horton, Tim Kelly, Alex Kusek, Shelly Patel, Dona Prince, Amanda Voegeli, and Chris Walinski. There are some familiar names, but most are new to an ALD committee.

First, let me tell you about myself. I have been a general dentist for over 28 years and have been involved with implant dentistry for 25 years. My association with the Academy of Implant Dentistry started in 1989 with Associate Fellow and then achieving Fellow two years later. In 1999, I received Diplomate status with the American Board of Implantology / Implant Dentistry. In 2003, my journey with laser dentistry started. A lunch and learn showed me how lasers can make healing faster and with less pain for my patients. I knew at that moment that I would incorporate lasers in my practice. My initial experience with organized laser dentistry was with World Clinical Laser Institute (WCLI). I progressed through all of their academic certifications very quickly as my experience with surgery also progressed me to lecturing in this organization. 

How and why did I get involved with ALD? My initial reason to get involved with ALD was the need to be involved with an independent laser organization. I found out very quickly that this organization required you to "earn your stripes," and that the credentialing program was valuable and rigorous. My perception at that time was you needed to be accepted into a "good old boys' society"; at least that was the feeling I had back in 2007. If not for the early friendship of three people at my first annual meeting (Arun Darbar, Scott Benjamin  and  Emile Martin), I may not have become involved with the ALD. I decided to stick with it though, because I saw the value of an independent credential that I chose to earn with the ALD. I decided to see if I could change some of the old norm with ALD and my perception of that "old boys society". I realized then that the ALD foundation was good and strong, thanks to the folks that came before me. I passed my Standard Proficiency within two years, and then completed Advanced Proficiency Part 1 and 2 the following year, and the AP Part 3 the year after that. I became the 23rd person to gain title of Recognized Course Provider in 2012. 

Last year, Art Levy asked me to become a board member of the ALD. Art may not have known of my earlier plight! My goal is to build on ALD's strong foundation and at the same time change this organization to a friendlier place, and to make testing for different levels more consistent with material offered by the organization. My plan is to use this forum to change how ALD is perceived, to reach out to new clinicians for fresh ideas, and to propel ALD's renewed energy forward for our members and our profession.

INTERVIEW WITH ALD PRESIDENT, GLENDA PAYAS, DMD 

In the fall of 1990, I attended the ADA meeting that was held in Boston, MA. It was there that I saw my first dental laser - the American Dental Laser Nd:YAG dLase 300. It was presented as a new device that could completely change patient care. I quickly recognized what potential that laser could have in my practice and didn't hesitate to act on that instinct! I had been in private practice for only 1½ years and had many older patients who were having serious periodontal issues. I knew that this laser would enable me to change the soft tissue management for many of those patients. This was indeed a unique opportunity and I was excited to begin using lasers.

I purchased my first laser and immediately signed up for a training program to learn how to effectively use this new piece of technology. I knew that it was going to take good instruction and training to be a success. Dr. David Roshkind, in West Palm Beach, FL, taught my first training class. After that I never looked back and have never regretted that purchase. I feel certain that the use of lasers has given me several new options and opportunities to provide exceptional care for the Tulsa community. Since then, I have added to my practice an Nd:YAG, CO2, three Diodes and several low-level lasers.

Why did you join the Academy?

As an educator, I realized the value of education and training. It is apparent to me that if a person wants to be effective in any profession, they must first learn the skill set necessary for proficiency. Growth through the learning curve and practice will enable a person to become effective and expertly trained to do the job at hand. Dentistry is no different. I realized that joining an Academy, which focused on my new dental equipment, was the conduit to meet other clinicians who were also learning and perfecting their laser skills. Interacting with them and learning from their experience has brought me to a level of confidence that could only come from being with others who are working with the same tools and techniques.

As the Academy has matured, I have felt that the training and knowledge, coming from both the annual meeting and from friendships and colleagues, has developed and provided me with the skills I have today. Education has been my key to success. I have taken the ALD Standard Proficiency several times, as well as having my ALD Advanced Proficiency in Nd:YAG and CO2. In 2008, I received my Mastership from the Academy of Laser Dentistry.  I would not feel as comfortable using lasers without this training.

How would you like to see the Academy's future?

I am excited about the future of the Academy of Laser Dentistry. This organization has so much to offer clinicians all over the world. There are many dentists who have heard of lasers but have never used one, and then there are scores of dentists who have used a laser and realize the tremendous potential that it presents.

We have a unique opportunity to educate dentists about this technology as well as work with dentists and manufacturers to improve the techniques and the safety of using lasers. New research is constantly being done to determine new uses and better techniques. I am thrilled about those prospects for the future. This Academy offers the clinical dental community an organization where research is appreciated and standards of practice are articulated and taught on a very high level. ALD represents the benchmark for lasers the world over.

Why did you take on the challenge to be President?

I had received so much - it was time to give back. I wanted to be involved in the Academy, not only as a participant but also as a catalyst for change, to move the Academy forward and to make it all that it can be for the membership and for the dental profession. I feel that a significant focus of my presidency is to bring unity to the membership and to help the organization develop. I have been fortunate to have been involved in a number of non-profit organizations, that has allowed me to work with the membership to both unify and to increase involvement and participation. Certainly, my vision for ALD is to see this organization increase its membership and also to continue to focus on its training and certification for dentists and all dental professionals. We need to enable our membership to see effective uses for lasers in dentistry and to also provide them with the research to support these techniques.

2013-14 Presidential Goals

• Build on the foundation of our previous leaders
• Move our organization toward unity
• Articulate, solidify our educational curriculum offerings
• Lead us in the development of a vehicle to deliver our education offerings by establishing a Speaker's Bureau to maximize the expertise of our members and provide education for our colleagues.
• Promote ALD both nationally and internationally
• Focus on building our membership by:
• establishing like-mindedness among users of lasers, both dentists & hygienists
• providing educational updates on the latest research
• Be proactive to build strong relations with our state regulators. They need our expertise and wisdom
• Initiate the process of curriculum development so that laser education is provided in our dental schools
• Continue promotion of dental students grants and research presentations to involve the next generation.
• Implement our Strategic Business Plan to move toward our long term goals
• Work along side our corporate members - if they succeed - we succeed
• Work with our Executive Director to market our product, education, to our great profession of dentistry

Personal things

My very first laser, the American Dental Laser Nd: YAG dLase 300, was sold to me by Rick Shock at the ADA meeting held in Boston in 1990. During that time the laser was shipped on a wooden palate and I was told to not open the container or take it off the palate until a representative from American Dental Laser came to the office to unpack and check it out. The ADL sales rep, Rick Presley (who I found out later was a singing cowboy from Texas), delivered my laser and helped me set it up for my first procedure. At noon, I took him to lunch at the only restaurant in the Utica Square Shopping Mall called The Garden. It just so happened that it was a tea garden restaurant frequented mostly by women. When we were seated he looked around and observed that he was the only male in the restaurant. He handled it well but needless to say he was a little uncomfortable about being the only man in the place! As our paths have crossed through the years he always mentions that lunch and we laugh together about the memories created when lasers were first introduced.

Because training was key to the use of lasers, American Dental Lasers asked several key people to become educators to help other learn how to use this new technology. I was one of those individuals. Shortly after I received my laser, I flew to Detroit to be trained. The first people I met within our group were John Sulewski, Terry Myers, Dennis Pietrini and Don Coluzzi. They have become some of the most influential friends in my laser career.

I am no stranger to Education. I graduated from Wayland Baptist University with a major in Biology and Secondary Education and started teaching Junior High School science classes in Las Vegas, NM. Shortly after starting to teach in public school, the National Science Foundation awarded me a full scholarship to complete a Masters in Natural Sciences with emphasis in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

New Mexico Highlands University is in northern New Mexico and they began to offer night classes so I could teach school during the day and attend graduate classes in the evening. During that season, I received a Masters in Guidance and Counseling followed by a 3rd Masters degree in Administration and began a 4th Masters in School Administration. Along the way I also branched out into throwing pottery, silver smithing, to fabricating silver jewelry, small engine repair, electrical wiring and woodworking.

While working on my 4th Masters in Secondary Education, I was accepted to Oral Roberts University Dental School and transitioned all my passion into dentistry. I continued my advanced education by becoming a Clinical Instructor for Dr. John Kois at the Kois Center in Seattle, WA. I received my Mastership from the Academy of General Dentistry and currently have my Mastership in the Academy of Laser Dentistry.

I am happy to be a part of the ALD because it gives me the opportunity to learn and share with others. Because I was a teacher before I ever entered dentistry and I taught for 13 years before attending dental school, my goals have always been to share knowledge rather that keeping information to myself. Knowledge is power and I think it is important that information is shared, discussed, and improved on.

The greatest advice I was ever given was to Work Hard...Play Hard... and Share what you have with others along the way, in other words......Invest in Others.  As you help others move up, you will also move up.

I have been blessed by the Academy and I am delighted to serve. Each of us can help another to become more skilled and more knowledgeable. Let's invite more clinicians to join us in the Academy's growing future.

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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT - PRAVEEN ARANY BDS, MDS, MMSc, PhD

This is the first in the series of questions to dentists who influence laser dentistry today or topics that are current with laser dentistry. Our first topic is an interview with Praveen Arany BDS, MDS, MMSc, PhD, who works for National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institute of Health. He describes his involvement with Low Level Laser Therapy and how he got involved with this organization.

Ed: Praveen, I would like you to discuss what your title is and the type of research you are doing.

Praveen:  My position description is Assistant Clinical Investigator at National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, NIH, Bethesda. The position involves two major responsibilities: initiating clinical trials with light devices for oral diseases, and pursuing basic lab research understanding the mechanisms.  The latter is aimed at complementing the clinical trials and helping to address concerns on dose, efficacy and safety. More specifically, my previous research has demonstrated a novel molecular mechanism of photobiomodulation / low level light therapy involving activation of a growth factor pathway that we are currently pursuing for clinical translation, focusing on oral wound healing.

Ed: When you say you have unraveled one of the molecular mechanisms, what is that going to mean for clinicians in treating patients? Presently, what clinical trials are using LLLT?

Praveen: Knowing one (sure, there are many more out there based on specific biological contexts) of the mechanisms will help us tailor the precise dose and monitor clinical efficacy and toxicity. My current research is focused on normal and perturbed oral wound healing. My previous work has focused on utilizing dental stem cells for tissue regeneration. These applications are currently under review for publication and trial approval; details will be available shortly for me to share with everyone.

Ed: Do different cells require different amounts of energy to regenerate themselves? If so, how can you test what energy levels work for different cells?

Praveen: Most likely, but we usually focus on the effects of light on tissues and organs, which, are a mix of many individual cell types. We look at various cellular responses such as proliferation (increase in numbers) and better functionality.

Ed: What about the medical community with the use of LLLT, are they open to its use?  I have seen some studies with diabetics on helping open wounds to heal. What is your opinion on the use of LLLT in this field of medicine?

Praveen: Some fields of photomedicine have wide acceptance and are even considered the standard of care in medicine such as photodynamic therapy, 'biliblankets' and Psoralen UVA therapy. There are numerous research studies, including some well done, controlled clinical studies that indicate LLLT can have beneficial biological responses including managing pain, inflammation and promoting healing. I feel the biggest obstacle today is the lack of mechanisms that prevent standardized, efficacious clinical dosing protocols from being made available to all. Hence, the mixed bag of results with LLLT in clinical medicine. Given the dramatic changes in healthcare practices we are currently witnessing, the emphasis on preventive and efficacious - not empirical - treatments will be vigorously sought by all, patients, health care and insurers. Light medicine appears to be nicely poised to make this collective leap.      

Ed: What do you see in the future with use of LLLT in dentistry? Any other thoughts you would like to share with the Academy with your research?  

Praveen: Lasers in dentistry is currently a great novelty tool but with few, limited applications. There are clearly skilled clinicians who are benefitting from its use immensely but these are a few, selected bunch and the larger population is yet to fully benefit. Even within its high power 'surgical' applications, astute clinicians have noted that their soft tissue procedures are providing great healing benefits, be it simple gingivectomies or complex field excision-ablations. There may be a zone of 'low power' effects that is inadvertently utilized in these applications.

The major problem with LLLT seems to be our ability to define 'low' and 'level'! Clearly, we need to understand the mechanisms, rather than proceed empirically, with different instrument settings, as the biological contexts and outcomes span a vast breadth of possible variables. There is exciting progress on this front in many labs and most are rapidly moving to clinical translation. Professional forums including ALD, ADEA and ADA are ideal platforms to disperse these clinical and research advances to foster the next generation of laser dentists.

Ed: How did you get involved with ALD?  And is there anyone in the Academy that may have been your mentor?

Praveen: I was fortunate to be awarded the ALD Eugene Seidner fellowship that began my interactions with ALD at Scottsdale, AZ. My very first meeting was very memorable as it not only included my interactions with the clinical dental laser community, which was surprisingly larger than I imagined, but also exposed me to a whole new forum of 'working' laser knowledge from everyday clinics! The basic course was very unique in its instructors not merely providing information but being very collegial, open to discussing and sharing their experiences-expertise.

A dear friend, colleague and mentor in laser dentistry has been Dr. Donald  Patthoff who, from our very first interactions at a LLLT mechanisms meeting in Tomar, Portugal, has been a fantastic resource for many lasers in dentistry questions.  My introduction to ALD was largely facilitated by Don, as well as, Drs. Arun Darbar and Scott Benjamin. Once I began my ALD interactions, I have been graciously mentored on various aspects of lasers in dentistry by Drs. Glenda Payas and Ana Triliouris (Seidner fellowship), Don Coluzzi, Steven Parker, Giuseppe Iaria and John Graeber (clinical laser dentistry resources).    

Ed: Thanks Praveen for the insightful answers.

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WHAT'S AHEAD IN 2013-2014 FOR THE ACADEMY OF LASER DENTISTRY? 

As we embrace the future, here's a list of upcoming programs and opportunities. Mark your calendar and visit ALD's Dental CE Calendar:

• You're invited to an ALD Members Hospitality at the upcoming AGD Annual Session in Nashville, June 27-29, 2013. ALD is sponsoring various educational programs. Mark your calendar and stay tuned for details. 

• Once again ALD partners with Penwell for RDH Under One Roof at Ceasar's Palace in Las Vegas, July 17-19.  Look for Angie Mott at the ALD booth.

• You're invited to an ALD Members Hospitality at the upcoming ADA Annual Session in New Orleans, Oct. 31 - Nov. 2, 2013. Check the various educational programs on lasers in New Orleans. Mark your calendar and stay tuned for details.

• New in 2013 is ALD's collaboration at the Greater New York Dental Meeting,
  Nov. 30 - Dec. 4, in New York City for a Standard Proficiency Course and introductory laser courses.

• In February ALD announced a new corporate member, Darby Dental. Darby offers ALD Members significant cost savings beyond the standard online pricing. Consider using Darby for some of your office needs. ALD receives 2% rebate on new sales by our members. Click here for a special offer from Darby Dental. 

All of ALD Committees are hard at work in the areas of certification, conference, membership, education, auxiliary, regulatory affairs, science and research, university and academia relations and student scholarship.

Our President, Dr. Glenda Payas, leads us with her passion for education, "This Academy offers the clinical dental community an organization where research is appreciated and standards of practice are articulated and taught on a very high level. ALD represents the benchmark for lasers the world over."

Here's what to watch for this year.... 

• Dr. Chuck Hoopingarner (Houston, TX) will lead the Education Committee in completing a basic competency 1-day laser course.  Education is creating a slide bank of educational materials.  A Speakers Bureau is being designed.

• Dr. Mel Burchamn (Langhorne, PA) leads the Certification Committee with improvements to ALD's Advanced Proficiency Program.

• Jeanette Miranda, RDH (Sioux Falls, ND) leads our Auxiliary Committee with opportunities to  propel our hygiene members and the role of lasers in hygiene applications. 

• Dr. Ed Kusek, (Sioux Falls, ND) our newly appointed Communications Chairman has new ideas for the ALD electronic News.  Stay tuned for new format and new information.

• Dr. Doug Gilio and Angie Mott, RDH (Visalia, CA; Tulsa, OK) co-chair Regulatory Affairs with plans to once again provide laser educational information to state regulatory agencies.

• Dr. Craig Gimbel, (Denville, NJ and President 2007) leads the Science and Research committee with updates to our Position Papers.

• Dr. Steve Parrett (Chambersburg, PA) chairs our newly formed Membership committee.  Watch for exciting changes.

• Always a key focus of ALD's ongoing programs is the Annual Conference.  ALD 2014 Conference Chair Dr. Scott Benjamin (Sidney, NY) and General & Scientific Sessions Chair Dr. Raminta Mastis (St. Clair Shores, MI) are well ahead in plans for our Scottsdale Conference February 27- March 1.

• Dr. Arun Darbar (Leighton Buzzard, UK) is fostering our International Relations with a focus on long term planning with other associations.

• Dr. Will Gianni (Twain Haute, CA) is steering ALD's new Technology Committee by including corporate members and providing updates on laser technology in the marketplace.

Stay tuned for monthly updates. The Future of ALD is so bright. Wear your sun glasses in Scottsdale.  

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ALD CELEBRATES 20 YEARS IN PALM SPRINGS 

I am new to laser dentistry and new to the ALD, and have attended two annual meetings. I can honestly say that I can't wait for my third in 2014!  Scottsdale, Arizona was amazing in 2012 and should be so again in February 2014. As for this year's meeting, Palm Springs in February was a wonderful winter destination and was a perfect location for the 20th Anniversary ALD Conference. Warm weather and sunshine is a welcome respite from winter's chill, and with the north central and northeast U.S. slammed with a major winter blizzard, the California desert seemed like paradise. Thanks to our the entire 2013 Conference Committee chaired by Dr. Glenda Payas, Executive Director Gail Siminovsky, Donna Rell, John Sulewski and our meeting coordinator, Nick Hudson, the meeting was flawlessly executed and the accommodations at the Rancho Las Palmas were 5 star, with excellent food, golf, and family activities.

Of course we came for the courses (no, not the golf courses, although I did get in 18 holes on either side of the conference). Many thanks and praise to Dr. Charles Hoopingarner, Chair of the General Scientific Sessions Committee, for providing us with 3 days of stimulating lectures, panel discussions and participation courses. University of Florida Periodontist and Past President of the American Academy of Periodontology, Dr. Samuel Low, was Thursday's keynote speaker and presented a very positive lecture on "managing" periodontal disease by "Adapting Current Laser Technology to Periodontal Patient Management".  Friday's keynote speaker, Dr. Rella Christensen presented findings from her study, " A Practice Based Controlled Study of Lasers in Periodontitis Treatment". Saturday's trio of keynotes, laser giants Dr. John Featherstone and  Dr. Peter Rechmann, and tissue grafting master, Dr. Edward Pat Allen, gave our eager audience a ride through what was, is, and can be in the future with lasers in dentistry.

Other highlights from, what I counted as 55 different presentations or workshops, over the three day period ran the gamut for the advanced practitioner as well as the novice. These included a leader in the field of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) in dentistry, Dr. Gerry Ross, from Ontario Canada, presenting information that highlighted the remarkable qualities of LLLT and its many uses in the dental practice.  Another presentation from James Carroll truly hit the spot, educating a neophyte like myself on the possibilities of LLLT in medicine and dentistry. I left eager to incorporate LLLT into my practice. Hands on workshops were available on LLLT, periodontal laser use, and pain management as well as hygiene-track lectures and workshops, and practice management and dental team offerings.

Our attendance of 260 was bolstered by a large contingent of 25 Japanese dentists that made the long trip to Palm Springs with Dr. Shigeyuki Nagai, and participated in the introductory and standard proficiency courses offered on Wednesday. Thirty-seven (37) attendees participated in the Standard Proficiency level and 8 doctors achieved various levels of Advanced Proficiency with ALD during the session.  With the goal of promoting clinical education, research and the development of standards and guidelines for the safe and effective use of laser technology worldwide, the Academy is pleased that more and more professionals are achieving certification through ALD. Congratulations to our new credentialed ALD members.

Two bright new stars shone at the student presentations. The Dr. Eugene M. Seidner Student Scholarship was awarded to Dr. J. Ryan Blankenship from Children's Hospital Colorado, presenting his paper, "Measuring Heart Rate to Assess Pain Levels in Pediatric Patients During Cavity Preparation with an Er,Cr:YSSG Laser." Dr. Chanthoeun Chui from Tokyo Medical and Dental University presented  her paper, "Antimicrobial Effect of a-PDT Using High-Power Blue LED and Red Dye Agent on Porphyromonas Gingivalis" and made the judges job incredibly challenging. Both presentations were superb.

If the above stars shone brightly, then the supernova of the meeting came with the announcement that the ALD Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Commitment and Contributions to the Academy was being renamed the John G. Sulewski Distinguished Service Award, in his honor. His very humble acceptance of this tribute was in stark contrast to the incredible life's blood effort that John has put into the Academy. Thank you ever so much. The first distinguished recipient of the award was Robert Convissar, DDS, a renowned expert in the field of laser dentistry, a long time ALD member and educator for Standard Proficiency Dental Laser Courses and supporter of the Academy by growing our membership significantly through his educational efforts.  Dr. Convissar most recently authored Principles and Practice of Laser Dentistry (Mosby Elsevier). In addition to his private practice in New York, he is Director of Laser Dentistry at New York Hospital Medical Center of Queens, NY.

This milestone 20th Anniversary Conference paid tribute to the previous 20 years with banners and pictorial signage commemorating the achievements of the Academy of Laser Dentistry during its formative years. The Hallway of History marked each year with significant association milestones noting the year's presidential leadership, award recipients, student scholars and conference venues. The ALD certainly met the meeting's theme "Celebrating the Past, Embracing the Future." Thank you to Dr. Glenda Payas, ALD President and Palm Springs Conference Chair for leading this effort.

A BRIGHT LIGHT IN LASERS HAS DIMMED 

Frank has made a memorable mark on the Academy of Laser Dentistry with his personal dedication to academic pursuits and countless hours of instruction to many students whom he has educated and mentored. Many of us had the pleasure and honor of knowing Frank and recognizing what an inspiring, ambitious, yet humble, generous, courteous and courageous man he was.

Frank was born in Hong Kong on September 23, 1954. He graduated from Bathurst Heights High School, North York (Ontario). He then went to Dental School and  graduated with honors from the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Toronto in 1980. He was accepted as a member of the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Honour Dental Society in the same year.  

After working one year in Northern Ontario, in 1981 he settled in his private practice in Toronto. Curious and dedicated to his profession, he started using new technologies, one of which was the incorporation of dental lasers in his practice, which soon became a passion. He embraced with fervor and enthusiasm the possibilities that lasers offered, always seeking a deeper understanding, and thus, expanding the field of laser solutions for dental treatment, which he eagerly brought to his patients in his everyday dental practice.

He was an active member, volunteer, educator, and contributor in the Academy of Laser Dentistry. He achieved Standard and Advanced Proficiency from the ALD in the use of the Diode (980 nm) laser in 2001 and 2003 respectively. In 2004, he achieved Advanced Proficiency in the use of the Er:YAG (2940 nm) laser. He was awarded the Educator Certificate in 2005 from the Academy at the University of California San Francisco. "I was honored to be in the group "the 21 of us" with Frank, when we took our educator class together. He was always willing to share his knowledge and expertise with all of us, and for that we will be forever grateful!," reflects Angie Mott, RDH. In 2007, he was the recipient of the Leon Goldman Award for Clinical Excellence in Nashville, Tennessee, for recognition of his exceptional scientific and clinical expertise.

He enjoyed his profession, including publishing research papers and participating in peer-editing of notable dentistry publications. He was a lecturer and instructor at the University of Toronto, but also found time to be an avid tennis player as well.

Paralleling his busy practice he was committed to working with the Doctors Without Borders, selflessly giving to those not as fortunate as he was. Almost annually he traveled to remote regions of under-developed countries to help those most in need. These noble and altruistic humanitarian efforts were just another facet of the generous heart and kind soul we found in Frank. Many of his patients have commented on his obituary guest book, stating that he was "the Dentist that always gives back."

His quest for more knowledge was insatiable. Frank was a founding associate of Laser Education International, an organization aimed at a continued pursuit of learning and teaching about lasers in dentistry. In 2011, he was awarded his Master of Science degree from RWTH Aachen University in Germany after a strenuous two year program culminating with  his thesis: "Shear strength of composite bonded to Er:YAG laser-prepared enamel: an in vitro comparative study," which was published in the peer-reviewed journal, Lasers in Medical Science.

Shortly after he reached this summit, the rug was pulled out from under him with a diagnosis of lymphoma, yet he persevered with optimism. By the summer of 2012 his health had improved and again he dove into researching and exploring the many opportunities that lasers offered. He even purchased a new Er:YAG laser and was excited about his plans for so many ambitious projects and goals, including sharing his insights in publications. Unfortunately, by December he was dealing with devastating news: his lymphoma was back, this time with a vengeance. Another battle was to be fought, which sadly was lost during the course of treatments.

Frank always strived for perfection in his clinical as well as his scientific work, which he reached better than any individual I have experienced. If you had a question or a problem Frank knew the answer or gave you the important tip where to look or what to consider. We often sat together after conference sessions and discussed seemingly minor problems that only became clear by his analytic ability to put things together. Even if we did not share the same opinion on a subject, Frank always respected your standpoint and tried to understand your reasoning. His enthusiasm and hunger for knowledge was contagious.

Everything I have summed up shows just a small part of Frank. Technicalities can be learned, techniques can be practiced until we can utilize them perfectly, but the big hearted, generous man that was Dr. Yung was something you can only have, you cannot learn....and he was just it.

Frank was a great leader, a passionate researcher, a master clinician, an inspiring educator, and a sincere friend. He will be greatly missed and always very fondly remembered. May the light he shared with us forever shine!

A memorial tribute was held in Toronto on March 3, 2013. Any Memorial donations can be made to "Doctors Without Borders."

Our deepest sympathies go out to Dr. Frank Yung's wife Cecilia, his sons Eric and Patrick, his brothers and sisters and other family members.

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