Dr. Bob Gorlin, Extraordinaire
Read Memories of Bob Gorlin in Northwest Dentistry (the journal of the MDA). He has an entire syndrome named after him, and a clinical sign. He worked at the U of M School of Dentistry for 30 years. Well, he was the SOD for 30 years. But, that’s not the full story.
He was a wonderful person, the cornerstone of the dental school, eminently personable and entertaining… he was well known amongst dental students for giving extemporaneous lunchtime lectures about a huge array of topics. Dr. Raj (our oral histology, embryology, and genetics prof) showed us a video of Dr. Gorlin talking about how he discovered the syndrome named after him — absolutely fascinating to listen to him speak. Every tangent was so interesting. Anyhow, a few excerpts from that article, which are memories of Dr. Gorlin from folks at the School of Dentistry:
I had known about Bob Gorlin since I started dental school in 1966, finally meeting him in 1976. From that moment on he called me by name, and every time he saw me he remembered everything about me and asked about my program, my family, and so much else. I was so proud that he knew me. I’d tell people all the time that Bob Gorlin was the only true genius that knew me by name. He was faster and more accurate than Medline. In one area only he wasn’t accurate. He’d often introduce me as his boss. I don’t believe Bob ever really had a “boss”. Michael Rohrer
I do believe this is my favorite anecdote:
A patient who was coming from Norway needed the Gorlin touch, but unfortunately the letter describing her potentially life-threatening problem was in Norwegian. With apologies, I presented the letter, and what followed was typically Bob. He began reading the letter with virtually no pause as he translated. The phone rang and Bob took the call, conferring in the speaker’s apparently eastern European native language. At which time one of the foreign post-docs popped in with a technical question. Grand total: two simultaneous conversations in two foreign languages plus translation of a third. Result for me: diagnosis of a rare developmental problem, a visit for the patient with Dr. Gorlin, a referral to the physician who could best help her, and another moment of awe that such things exist — all of them. But especially Bob.
David Born
I wish I had been at the school when Dr. Gorlin was alive. I hope to hear more about him during my remaining 3 years.