Remembering Dr. Melvin Rowan by Santos Cortez

A giant in our profession, a great mentor and friend. I shall miss him! We shall miss him!

I met Mel as I became actively involved in CSPD leadership in the early 2000’s as a South Director to the Board of Directors. I had little experience in governance in a prestigious organization such as ours.

Unimaginable now, but at the time when a report was due I submitted my report in a typed format via “snail mail”! I received a call from Mel. Oh, oh I thought! “Santos”, he said in his deliberate and direct manner. “This is not going to work. I have many reports to collate for the board packet and a written report on paper is just not going to cut it.” That was Mel, to the point. Direct, but not making me feel badly with his straight message. I understood clearly not only about what he needed me to do but that he would guide me and many others to higher performance under his tutelage. I learned so much about governance, how to run a committee or board meeting and the nuances of dental politics...and the game of golf!

Mel graduated from Long Beach Polytechnic High School and was matriculated and was a member of the golf team at Stanford University before being admitted to the DDS program at the University of Southern California. He established practice in pediatric dentistry in the city of San Pedro and became an active member of the Harbor Dental Society. He loved his chosen profession and dedicated decades of volunteer leadership to enhance it. He was one of the first chairmen of the then-newly founded, The Dentists Insurance Company (TDIC), and we know what a gem on the crown of CDA that has become.

I recall Mel and Paul Reggiardo being so instrumental in guiding the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry through a major and successful strategic planning session. They worked great as a team and they both have left an indelible print on both organizations. As the Executive Director at CSPD, Mel led the organization to an unparalleled level in organizational structure, governance and advocacy. He was instrumental in helping the leadership attain the long-sought goal of becoming the voice of pediatric dentistry in California.

I vividly recall sitting next to him at my first CDA House of Delegates when I was serving as President. There was a Resolution at the House that called for me to speak before the collective policy-making body of CDA, well over two hundred people. I went up to the microphone, spoke on CSPD’s position on the (very brief statement as I recall) then returned to my seat next my mentor…he had a big smile. No way I had been that impressive, I thought! He nudged me as I was taking my first breath after my exhaustive speech, probably less than a minute long and he said to me, ”Do you realize that you are the first representative of any specialty organization that gets to speak on the floor of the CDA House of Delegates?” I had no idea! It became apparent to me that CDA policy had been adopted that allowed the president of a dental specialty organization to speak before this large delegation. I had no clue! What I did appreciate is how Mel, the seasoned veteran in dental politics mentored me, though at the time I felt like the kindergartener led by the first teacher they may have encountered! I am paying it forward Mel!

Mel and his wife Linda have been most generous with their time and money and have become benefactors to many organizations besides CSPD. One of the couple’s generous support has been to the Children’s Dental Health Clinic in Long Beach. They have been a model for me and many others in how to give back to our profession and our community, especially when it benefits children. That has been an awesome thing to see. Mel and Linda’s kindness has inspired many of us to pay it forward.

I have experienced Mel to be fully invested in his chosen profession and of course in our specialty. To that end he meticulously taught many of us to do the same, mostly by example. For that I am grateful. He was thoughtful and wise and really cared for his “trainees”. He shared his vast knowledge with those who knew him.

As a past-president of CSPD, I am privy to the comments from the past president group about how deeply they care about Mel and how much each of us have learned from this dedicated and inspirational man…we are blessed to have known him.

We have lost a giant in our profession but Mel’s legacy lives on in the leaders that he has kindly nurtured and helped to grow. WE love you Mel!