About the Editorial Council

On February 6, 1950, the Publication Committee of the Academy of Denture Prosthetics met with officers of the C. V. Mosby Company in Chicago. “The purpose of this meeting was to explain to the members of the Mosby Company the need for a magazine devoted exclusively to the subject of denture prosthesis, wherein the papers of the various denture groups would find expression.” It was agreed at this meeting that the American Denture Society, the Academy of Denture Prosthetics and the Pacific Coast Society of Prosthodontists would unite in support of such a Journal.

On April 29, 1950, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the concept of a Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry was initiated and a nine-member Editorial Council was developed. Dr. Louis S. Block from the American Denture Society was selected Chair of the Editorial Council and charged with the responsibility of negotiating with Mr. Joel A. Rogers, Vice-President of the C.V. Mosby Company, to establish the first business agreement to publish the Journal.

The final contract to publish the Journal was presented to the Officers of the founding organizations and the Editorial Council members for approval on October 20, 1950. A Western Union Telegram recorded this historic event. Dr. Louis S. Block wired Mr. Joel A. Rogers that, “Presidents and Secretaries of American Denture Society, Academy of Denture Prosthetics and Pacific Coast Society of Prosthodontists as well as the Editor of the new Journal, and the Chairman of the Editorial Council have signed the contract. This should suffice to authorize you to proceed with plans for publication.”

On October 27, 1950, at the Seaside Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Dr. Block called the meeting of the Editorial Council to order. Dr. W. Les Warburton made a motion that was seconded by Dr. Thomas E. J. Shanahan that the Editorial Council officially approve the publication of The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. It was unanimously approved. The first issue of The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry was published in March 1951.

Past Chairs of the Editorial Council

Dr. Louis S. Block

Dr. Louis S. Block was a man of vision who recognized the need for a publication to disseminate the lectures and reports presented at annual meetings of the three major organizations in prosthetic dentistry; namely, the Academy of Prosthodontics, the American Prosthodontic Society and the Pacific Coast Society of Prosthodontics. He brought together the leadership of the three organizations where the idea of an Editorial Council was conceived to guide and direct the operations of a journal to be called The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. At the first Editorial Council meeting, Dr. Block was selected to serve as the Chair of the Editorial Council which he did until 1987. It would be safe to say that Dr. Louis S. Block and the first editor of the Journal Dr. Carl O. Boucher were the principle founders of The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry.

A labor of love that began in 1950 culminated in the first issue of the Journal to appear in March of 1951. Dr. Block devoted a major part of his professional career to the conception, birth, and development of The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry into a remarkably successful scientific journal. Dr. Block served as the Chair of the Editorial Council for 37 years. His leadership, sound judgment, wise and prudent decision-making, and his keen financial awareness helped place The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry in a position of respect and prominence in the dental scientific literature. During his leadership, the Editorial Council of The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry became a benevolent force in support of excellence in the practice of restorative and prosthetic dentistry, education, and research for the ultimate benefit of the public. Dr. I. Kenneth Adisman, his successor once stated, “Louis S. Block was known as the great arranger. His entire life was devoted to satisfying the needs of others. He gave and received love, loyalty, respect, and his dedication to The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry was unsurpassed.”

Dr. I. Kenneth Adisman

Dr. I. Kenneth Adisman was appointed to the Editorial Council of The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry in 1980. He was elected Vice Chair in 1985 and was selected to serve as Chair in 1987 following Dr. Louis S. Block. His writing and editorial skills, and his awareness of the Mission of the Journal contributed significantly to the progress and success realized by The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry under his tenure. The standards in journalism, intellectual honesty and integrity that the Journal exhibits today were the direct result of his leadership. His insight and recognition of the need for the Journal to be read throughout the world led to the increase in the number of organizations that sponsor the Journal and it truly becoming an international journal during his tenure. His dedication, intellectual resourcefulness, and financial ingenuity propelled the Journal forward as the leading publication in prosthetic dentistry.

Dr. Adisman had a profound influence on all those who knew and worked with him, and he strengthening them by example through his energy and labors, pursuit of purpose, and evidence of leadership as Chair of the Editorial Council.

Dr. Brien R. Lang

Dr. Brien R. Lang was appointed to the Editorial Council of The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry in 1993, elected Vice Chair in 1995 and was selected to serve as Chair in 1998 following Dr. Adisman. As the current Chair of the Editorial Council, he realizes the benefits of a strong heritage created by those who have preceded him. The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry is the premier Journal in restorative and prosthetic dentistry recognized around the world. He is committed to maintaining the excellent record of the Journal and to the need to be aware that we are in an environment of “change”. The growth of knowledge in restorative and prosthetic dentistry and related disciplines is constantly increasing. To keep abreast of this knowledge explosion and to report evidenced-based information as quickly as possible is a challenge that will be met by the Editorial Council under his leadership.

Dr. Lang has devoted his energy to the maintenance of the standards in Journalism developed by his predecessors. He has recognized the significance of expanding the reading of the Journal to dental professionals in countries where English is not the primary language. Publishing The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry in multiple languages and presenting the full text of each monthly issue on the Internet at the Journal website is one of his primary goals.

Dr. Baldwin W. Marchack

Dr. Baldwin W. Marchack was appointed to the Editorial Council for The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry (JPD) in 1995. He was elected Vice-Chair in 1998, and served in this position until 2010. He was subsequently selected to serve as Chair of the Editorial Council in 2011 following Dr. Brien Lang, a position he held until 2018.

In 2003, the team of then-Chair, Brien Lang and Vice-Chair, Baldwin Marchack were successful in clarifying ownership of the Journal. Today, sole ownership of the Journal lies with the Editorial Council of The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, Inc.

As Chair, Dr. Marchack devoted his efforts to serving the founding and sponsoring organizations of the JPD. While he emphasized the appearance and readability of the Journal, he created enthusiasm by encouraging readers and authors to submit their photographic art for inclusion on the cover of the Journal. Ironically at the same time print journalism saw an increasing change from print to digital as many readers eschewed the print copy for the ease and convenience of the digital format. The digital format allowed the Journal to be one of the first to embed video and audio files into the body of the manuscript. During the 8 years that Dr. Marchack served as Chair, the Journal enjoyed a substantial increase in its impact factor.