Last Friday, I was asked to speak for 10 minutes to the ITI annual scientific meeting about the loss of a legend within the ITI and a great friend of mine, Jack Richardson.
Jack died late last year at the grand old age of 84 still working.
As part of the tribute to Jack on that day when the UK and Ireland ITI section collected together for their annual meet, four people were asked to speak about Jack for 10 minutes each around a topic related to implant dentistry.
Steve Dover (Craniofacial and head and neck surgeon from Birmingham) did 10 minutes on the development of dental implants and Jack Richardson and him (they worked together for about 40 years).
Charlotte Stilwell discussed the development of the ITI as an organisation and the education in the ITI and how it has developed over Jack's time.
And my great, great friend, Colin Burns, did something on implant surfaces around Jack Richardson.
I was asked to do the future of education, including memories of Jack all in 10 minutes.
Colin and I spoke during the week and he asked me if I had any slides ready, to which I answered “no”.
I didn't think trying to remember Jack in 10 minutes around a subject which didn't really matter when I was remembering Jack, needed me to put graphs or slides or videos of clinical cases on the screen for people to watch.
I thought it distracted from what I was trying to say but as the other three people spoke on stage immediately before me, I realised that I might have got it entirely wrong.
Steve's 10-minute lecture was brilliant with pictures of the development of the ITI and Straumann dental implant systems and some of Jack's own clinical work from over 30 years ago.
There were pictures of Jack and also pictures of Jacks Ski course in Austria and all manner of stuff to show a well prepared, well-polished presentation.
Charlotte's was the same (as I would completely expect) as she charted the development of the ITI all the way from when Jack started until she became president of the Global ITI Organisation.
As we discussed though, Colin had one slide. Just the ITI logo and he recounted anecdotes of Jack around dental implant surfaces and the way that surfaces have developed through Jack's time in implant dentistry.
And then it was my turn.
What I hadn't realised or expected was that Jacks son would be in the audience to hear the tributes to his dad and so, as is my way now, and I think probably my USP for speaking, I struggled to hold it together when I started to talk about Jack on stage.
I never expected that, but Jack was so kind to me and so instrumental and so foundational in my development as a clinician and an implant dentist because of the opportunities that he gave me and the things that he taught me.
In the end I don't know how long I spoke for, probably not 10 minutes and I can't remember what I said but it seemed to be well received and although I was trying to integrate the future of implant dentistry education, it was more to remember my friend.
Overall, I think it worked. Different people with different backgrounds and different memories, in different styles, remembering a legend.
Miss you Jack.
Blog Post Number - 3377