Robert J. Gorlin
Orofacial geneticist Robert J. Gorlin received his D.D.S. degree from the Washington University School of Dentistry in 1947. Over the course of his career, Gorlin has discovered over one hundred syndromes and diseases of the head and neck, including the Gorlin Cyst (calcifying odontogenic cyst) and the Gorlin Syndrome (nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome). Gorlin has authored over 600 scientific articles and almost 20 books, including four editions of the noted textbook, Syndromes of the Head and Neck.
In 1956 Gorlin joined the faculty of the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, where he became professor and chairman of the Division of Oral Pathology in 1958, and regents professor in 1979. Gorlin is currently regents professor emeritus of Oral Pathology. He has served as president of the International Association for Dental Research, the American Academy of Oral Pathology, and the International Society of Craniofacial Biology.
In 2003 Gorlin received the American Dental Association’s highest honor, the Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Dental Research. The following year Gorlin received the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) Award for Excellence in Human Genetics Education. Dr. Gorlin holds honorary doctorates from the University of Maryland, the University of Minnesota, the University of Athens (Greece), Aristotle University (Greece), and the University of Copenhagen (Denmark).