History of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Service at Legacy Emanuel Hospital and Health Center

The Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Service at Legacy Emanuel Hospital and Health Center was created in 1988 by Bryce E. Potter, MD, DMD, FACS, and William Long, MD, FACS for the purpose of providing consistent, high-quality care in the treatment of cranio-maxillofacial trauma for the level I trauma center. Prior to the creation of the service, maxillofacial injuries were managed by a hodgepodge of various community physicians from various specialties with vastly different levels of training, expertise, and commitment. The trauma service was plagued by inefficient and untimely responses to calls, competing interests (both financial and social), and a dichotomy in patient outcomes. Trained in both oral and maxillofacial surgery and otolaryngology, Dr. Potter had the skill and training to remedy this situation with his "one call does it all" approach to treating craniofacial trauma. Dr. Potter agreed to manage not only injuries to the hard and soft tissues of the craniomaxillofacial skeleton, but adult and pediatric airway problems, dental injuries, and head and neck reconstruction as well.

It was also at this time that oral and maxillofacial surgery residents from Oregon Health Sciences University were integrated into the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Service at Emanuel. The broad, undiluted clinical experience and quality care practiced at Emanuel made this an integral part of the residency training program. In 1990, Eric J. Dierks, MD, DMD, FACS, was recruited from the faculty of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School (Parkland Memorial Hospital) to join Dr. Potter in this endeavor. Dr. Dierks — who is also dual-trained in both oral and maxillofacial surgery and otolaryngology — complemented Dr. Potter well and soon initiated the first American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons recognized fellowship in Head and Neck Oncologic Surgery, as well as a subsequent additional fellowship in Craniomaxillofacial Trauma. R. Bryan Bell, MD, DDS, FACS, was recruited to join Drs. Potter and Dierks in 2003 and has since made important contributions to the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Service through clinical research, technological advancements, and an active clinical practice.

The Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Service Today

Today, the oral and maxillofacial surgery service continues to not only thrive, but to accrue national and international recognition. The group is operated on a private practice model under the auspices of Head and Neck Surgical Associates with academic appointments at Oregon Health Sciences University as well as the University of Washington. Head and Neck Surgical Associates is contracted with Trauma Services, LLP, a multi-specialist trauma group that provides comprehensive trauma care for Legacy Emanuel Hospital. Head and Neck Surgical Associates holds the exclusive contract for all head and neck injuries and covers the subspecialties of dentistry, oral and maxillofacial surgery, otolaryngology, and plastic surgery. Fulltime resident surgeons rotate on the service from both the Oregon Health and Sciences University and the University of Washington, as well as surgeons undergoing fellowship training in either head and neck surgical oncology or craniomaxillofacial trauma. Residents from numerous other institutions in the US and abroad seek to spend their elective rotations at Emanuel.

The OMFS residency program at OHSU remains an integral part of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Service at Emanuel. The program is a six-year M.D. integrated program which accepts two residents per year. Each resident will spend at least one full year at Emanuel Hospital and can expect to be report over 1,000 major O.R. cases. This expanded scope includes extensive experience in cranio-maxillofacial trauma, head and neck oncologic surgery, microvascular reconstruction, orthognathic surgery, and temporomandibular joint surgery, with substantial exposure to cleft and craniofacial surgery, skull base surgery, and dentoalveolar surgery.

It is part of our mission to uphold the four academic endeavors of patient care, teaching, service, and research. This is accomplished through various conferences, meetings, and individualized instruction. Residents and fellows are intimately involved with all aspects of every case and our resident and fellow alumni have been highly successful at obtaining expanded scope privileging.

Contact the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Service

If you would like to learn more about the high-quality cranio-maxillofacial trauma services we provide, contact the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Service.

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