Dr David Donaldson, BDS, FDSRCS, MDS, FADSA, FAAD, Dental Educator and Sedation Pioneer, Dies at 76
British Columbia—Dr David Donaldson, an internationally recognized authority on pain and anxiety control in dentistry, died June 16, 2018.
Dr Donaldson, 76, completed his dental degree in 1965 at St Andrews University, He went on to receive his fellowship in dental surgery through the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh in 1969, and in 1971 he was granted his master's degree in restorative dentistry by Dundee University. In 1970, he accepted an appointment at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in the new Faculty of Dentistry. David enjoyed and excelled at academia but also worked in private practice, specializing in treating chronic pain and temporomandibular joint pain management. Dentistry was his passion, and he would retire from UBC after 45 years of service as a distinguished professor emeritus, having held appointments as Head of the Departments of Oral Biological and Medical Sciences, and Oral Surgery; and Professor and Head of the Division of Pain and Anxiety Control. He was also the past Chairman of the Canadian Dental Association Council on Education, and past President of the Association of the Canadian Faculties of Dentistry and the International Federation of Dental Education Associations.
Dr Donaldson is remembered by his colleagues and friends for his devotion to patient comfort and his teachings that gave countless dentists a sound foundation in pain management as well as oral and inhalational sedation. David was well published in the dental literature, he coauthored several textbooks, and he was a sought-after lecturer both nationally and internationally. He loved his practice on Vancouver Island, specializing in the treatment of chronic head and neck pain, and he continued to provide consultation services to dental boards and colleges and teach continuing education courses for university-based programs long after retirement from UBC.
Dr Donaldson is survived by his wife, Kim; 3 children, Mark, Scott, and Shona; and 6 grandchildren. Information on a celebration of David's life can be found at https://www.yatesmemorial.ca/notices/David-Donaldson.