Contributions to the early stages of dental education and dental care in China
Faculty of Dentistry alumni played a pivotal role in introducing modern dental practices to China. Pioneers and early members of the West China College of Stomatology at Sichuan University, which is known as the cradle of modern dental education in China, were dedicated dental missionaries and proud graduates of our faculty. The West China College of Stomatology is now considered one of the best dental schools in China and its research programs and publications are respected internationally.
Dr. Ashley Lindsay was the first missionary dentist in Chengdu, West China, in 1908. The following year, he was joined by Dr. John E. Thompson. Together, in 1911, they founded the Dentistry Department at the West China Union University's medical faculty. In 1913, the first laboratory technicians’ training class was organized. In 1917, the medical faculty of the West China Union University established a department of Dentistry. By 1921, that department became the College of Dentistry (2). During this period, other University of Toronto graduates joined Drs. Lindsay and Thompson at various times: Dr. Harrison J. Mullett in 1917, Dr. M. R. Anderson in 1919, and Dr. R. Gordon Agnew in 1923 (3). The arrival of these missionaries with superb medical skills laid a firm foundation for modern dentistry in China. In 1927, the Colleges of Medicine and Dentistry united to form the joint College of Medicine and Dentistry, which became one of the first health science colleges in the world.
Under Dr. Ashley Lindsay’s visionary leadership, with his unwavering determination, innovative thinking, and ability to inspire others, the contributions made by those Faculty of Dentistry University of Toronto alumni can be summarized into the following three key areas:
- They were instrumental in establishing the West China Union University dental school.
- They introduced the modern dental education model into China with added components to make it suitable for the development of dental education in China.
- They helped to develop the National Government Dental Education Program.
Their groundbreaking work earned them revered titles in dental history in China.
Dr. Ashley Lindsay is honored as the Father of Dentistry in China.
Dr. Ashley W. Lindsay. D.D.S, M.Sc. L.L.D., F.A.C.D. (1884-1968)
Graduated in 1907
In China from 1908 to 1950
Find his full bio at the bottom of this page.
Dr. John E. Thompson is recognized as the Founder of Prosthodontics in China.
Dr. John E. Thompson (1879-1932)
Graduated in 1908
In China from 1909 to 1932
Dr. Harrison J. Mullett is recognized as the Founder of Orthodontics in China.
Dr. Harrison J. Mullet (1892-1972)
Graduated in 1917
In China from 1917 to 1951
Dr. Roy Melville Anderson
Dr. Roy Melville Anderson (1894-1963)
Graduated in 1916
In China from 1920 to 1935
Superintendent of the Dental Department, Chongqing Hospital, United Church of Canada. In 1934, he was appointed to the College of Medicine and Dentistry as Instructor in Odontology, at West China Union University.
Dr. R. Gordon Agnew is recognized as the Founder of Oral Physiology and Pathology in China.
Dr. R. Gordon Agnew (1898-1983)
Graduated in 1921
In China from either 1923-1948 or 1924-1951
Dr. Agnew was the third person to receive Ph.D. at U of T Dentistry (1941) after Dr. Box and Dr. Frank Lott (4).
For more information about the contributions of Faculty of Dentistry alumni to China’s early dental education, please refer to the following articles:
- Crawford PR. Sharing our healing skills. Part One. Canadians pioneering dentistry in China. Journal of Canadian Dental Association. 1988; 54(12):892-5.
- Yueping He H. Dr. Ashley Lindsay: The Father of Modern Dentistry in China. CDA essentials. 2024; 11(2), 30-36. Retrieved from https://www.cda-adc.ca/en/services/essentials/2024/issue2/
- Yueping He H. Contributions of University of Toronto Dentistry Alumni to China's Early Dental Education. Journal of the history of dentistry. 2024 Spring;72(1):2-20. doi: 10.58929/jhd.2024.072.01.2. PMID: 38642375.