Dr. Peter E. (Pete) Dawson is well-known as a master dentist and icon of the dental profession. His teaching, writing, and personal influence have changed the lives of thousands of dentists worldwide, over a career that spans 50 plus years. Beneath the extraordinary reputation lives a person who is driven by an extraordinary passion for life.
Pete Dawson was born in St. Petersburg, Florida, the third child of seven in his family. His father Doug, a former professional wrestler, aka “Devil Dog Dawson,” owned and operated Dawson Dental Laboratory. A master dental technician, Doug instilled in his teenage son the importance of hard work, attention to small details, and tenacity. It was working at the lab bench beside
his Dad that young Pete discovered his passion for
dentistry.
Dr. Dawson graduated from Emory University College of Dentistry, working his way through school playing saxophone in a jazz band. It was at Emory that he met his lifelong friend and collaborating colleague, Dr. Parker Mahan, for whom the University of Florida Facial Pain Center is named. Dr. Dawson served his country for two years at Femcom Hospital, Tachikawa Air Force Base, Japan. Assigned as a Base prosthodontist immediately out of school, he was mentored by Colonel Ralph Bates, also a prosthodontist, who introduced him to complex cases. It was during this time that Dr. Dawson recognized his passion for problem solving.
Dr. Dawson’s admonition has always been to seek out the very best clinicians/researchers in specific areas of dentistry (anatomy, occlusion, TM disorders, restorative, etc.), learn all that you can from them, and then implement what you have learned into your practice. While still in his twenties, Dr. Dawson formed a local study/research group, which would invite experts from around the world to come spend a weekend in St. Petersburg and share their knowledge. Through his passion for learning and research, he became close friends with new mentor colleagues such as Dr. Sig Ramfjord, Dr. L.D. Pankey, and many others.
In the midst of a blossoming career in dentistry, Dr. Dawson met the love of his life, a cute, vivacious dental hygienist named Jodie Wood. A definite match made in Heaven, Jodie and Pete recently celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. They have four children and eight grandchildren.
Dr. Dawson’s best selling text Evaluation, Diagnosis and Treatment of Occlusal Problems, first edition published in 1974, was primarily written on the back porch of the family weekend cabin on the Rainbow River, with many breaks for swims and canoeing with the kids. Dr. Dawson has a very strong, uncompromising passion for family first.
Dawson Dental Seminars developed due to an overflow of local, regional, and national dentists who wanted to see the work Dr. Dawson was doing. He had an ingenious ability to understand and resolve complex problems and make them understandable to others. He’s developed many original concepts and solutions that have led to greater predictability and stability of oral rehabilitations. Over 40,000 dentists, laboratory technicians, and team members have come to St. Petersburg to attend his seminars over the years. His work and influence have continued to grow year by year. In 1979, the Dawson Center for Complete Dentistry was formed, as a multidisciplinary educational facility and think tank with a diverse, specialized faculty. Renamed the Dawson Academy in 2008, it provides multiple tracks for dental professionals to pursue ethical esthetic/ restorative dentistry, dental medicine, successful business modeling, and a healthy philosophy of practice and life. Dr. Dawson has a selfless, tireless passion for teaching and mentoring.
Dr. Dawson has received more awards and honors than could be listed in this brief editorial. However, for those who know him best, we understand that personal recognition has never been his motivation or passion.
Peter Dawson is first and foremost a man with a passion for faith. Anyone who has sat under his teaching knows this to be true. He often says during his seminars, “I’m not sure how anyone can honestly look at the magnificent design of the masticatory system and be an atheist. There must be an intelligent designer behind this complex intelligent design.”
A compilation of Dr. Dawson’s lifelong passions can be observed by the recent formation of the Dawson Foundation. This charitable foundation has the following mission: “The Dawson Foundation exists to support dental education, the advancement of ethical dentistry, scientific research, and dental outreach programs worldwide to help the less fortunate.”
Dr. Dawson has made a significant financial commitment to this mission. This is what it means to put one’s faith into action. This is what it means to have an inspired passion for life.
It is only fitting that a man who has inspired so many would receive the well-deserved honor of being on the cover of the CRANIO.
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