A Pioneer in Periodontics: a new Clinical Research Fund honours Howard Tenenbaum

Few names resonate in periodontology like Howard Tenenbaum, 7T8, Dip Perio 8T2. A trailblazer in both clinical care and research, his journey from earning his DDS and PhD at the Faculty to leading the graduate periodontics program and serving as associate dean – plus holding the role of Dentist-in-Chief at Mount Sinai – reflects a lifelong commitment to excellence and innovation.

To honour and celebrate his contributions to the field of periodontology and legacy at U of T Dentistry and beyond, the Dr. Howard Tenenbaum Clinical Research Support Fund was created. The special campaign accompanying the Fund recognizes his unwavering belief in the power of clinical research in dentistry and more generally head and neck biomedical sciences. The Fund will carry forward that vision, empowering future clinician-scientists to lead with curiosity and drive meaningful improvements in oral health.
 
Despite these accolades, Tenenbaum was still taken aback when he first learned of the Fund created and named in his honour.

"Funds like this one, and collective support of them by the community, can have an immeasurable impact on a student’s ability to pursue their studies"

“I was surprised and ecstatic when I learned that this was being done,” he says. “Not so much because it recognized my near 40 years at the university, but because historically, it’s been challenging to fund clinical research, and I’m so pleased to see the Faculty supporting it. Funds like this one, and collective support of them by the community, can have an immeasurable impact on a student’s ability to pursue their studies.”

Tenenbaum knows this firsthand, thinking back to the studies he did in the area of chronic oral facial pain on a shoestring budget. He notes that once he received CIHR funding, it had a direct impact on what he was able to learn about pain and treating those who have chronic pain.

“There is a clear influence when it comes to funding and research,” he says. “Without the grant, we wouldn’t have been able to get as granular with our research. Clinical and basic research are the foundations of progress in the biomedical sciences, driving new ideas for managing disease and promoting health. But unfortunately, financial support for clinical research in dentistry has proven difficult to obtain. Yet, this type of research moves forward care for conditions such as tooth decay, orofacial pain, periodontal disease, and oral cancer – aiming for better, less invasive treatments.”

Tenenbaum adds, that by identifying new biomedical targets, clinical research continually improves how we prevent and manage disease.

“To quote one of my mentors, Dr. Anthony Melcher, ‘without well designed clinical research, those afflicted with, say, polio, might still be undergoing treatment in iron lungs, albeit much more sophisticated iron lungs, while the invention of the polio vaccine might never have occurred’.”

During his career, Tenenbaum saw the way clinical research didn’t just advance science – it changed lives. Each new discovery deepened understanding of diseases and led to treatments that were more precise, effective, and compassionate. Patients benefitted through better care and improved quality of life, while the graduate students behind the research grew into sharper, more thoughtful clinicians.

Vanessa Mendes, periodontics graduate program director, witnessed Tenenbaum’s impact on the graduate students he worked with and the patients they treated.

“His mentorship, leadership, unique sense of humour, and warm smile have left a lasting impression on countless colleagues and students, including myself,” says Mendes, who is also an associate professor, teaching stream. “The Fund created in Howie’s honour, will advance the scope and impact of graduate clinical research within our Faculty. It extends beyond the graduate periodontics program to benefit all clinical specialty training programs at our school. It is also aimed at building bridges between clinicians and basic scientists, and fostering inter- and multidisciplinary collaborations.”

The special campaign aims to raise at least $100,000, with the Faculty already contributing $10,000 to help carry forward Tenenbaum’s legacy of excellence and advance this important work. To date, more than 40 donors – many wishing to celebrate Tenenbaum and support clinical research – have donated to the Fund, making collective giving central to the campaign’s strength.

"With the right support, dental research can spark the next breakthrough in patient health and wellbeing"

As Tenenbaum reflects on his nearly four decades at the Faculty, he can expertly see the impact of dental research support, an area he notes has faced chronic underfunding.

“History shows that even unexpected discoveries can transform care – nobody ever thought when nuclear magnetic resonance research began that it would eventually lead to the development of the MRI,” he says. “With the right support, dental research can spark the next breakthrough in patient health and wellbeing.”

Be part of the collective effort to advance lift-changing clinical research. Make a tax-deductible donation today at: https://engage.utoronto.ca//tenenbaumclinicalresearch

Top photo: Tenenbaum with his wife, his students, and members of the U of T Dentistry alumni community at a recent event in his honour (Jim Lai)