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Known for his
compassionate care of patients, dedication
and commitment to teaching dental students
and residents, Durwood Bach, DMD, died
Jan. 1. The professor and chairman in the
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial
Surgery at the James B. Edwards College of
Dental Medicine was 63.
 Dr.
Durwood Bach
Bach served as associate dean for hospital
affairs and graduate programs within the
college and came to MUSC in June 1995
following a national search. Under Bach's
leadership, the four-year program grew and
was nationally recognized for its training
and quality patient care. In 2012, the
program was fully reaccredited by the
American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial
Surgery without recommendations. Bach, a
retired Army colonel and diplomate on the
American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial
Surgery, also was head of Oral and
Maxillofacial Surgery at the Ralph H.
Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
A Maryland native, Bach was born April 3,
1949. He was a 1971 graduate of Clemson
University and received his dental degree
from the University of the Maryland School
of Dentistry. He completed a
maxillofacial-cosmetic surgery fellowship
at the University of Alabama at
Birmingham.
After joining the U.S. Army Medical
Department, he served as director of
residency training in advanced educational
programs and was a consultant to the
Surgeon General for oral and maxillofacial
surgery. Additionally, he held a faculty
appointment at the Uniform Services
Medical School at Bethesda Army/Navy
Medical Center.
Bach held memberships with the American
College of Dentists, American Dental
Association, American Dental Society of
Anesthesiology and Association of Military
Surgeons.
Bach is survived by his wife, Kathy;
mother, Caroleen Bach; son, Jeffrey;
daughters, Karli and Kami and other
family.
Memorials can be made in Bach's memory to
the Clemson Fund, Clemson University, P.O.
Box 1889, Clemson, S.C., 29633-9972.
A service will be held at noon, Jan. 24 at
St. Luke's Chapel. Interment will take
place in Honolulu.
"Dr. Bach was the
hardest working clinician that I have
known in my 40 years of practice. His
clinical skills and experience were
without equal. His passion was oral
surgery and the development of
outstanding residents. His skills and
devotion to his profession will be
clearly missed. His spirit will live on
in the scores of residents that he
inspired and so capably trained."
—John
J. Sanders, DDS, professor and dean,
James B. Edwards College of Dental
Medicine
"Dr. Bach was the hardest working and
most dedicated person I have ever met.
He committed his life to his patients
and to the residents that trained under
him. I am thankful for the opportunities
he gave me and that I had the privilege
to work with him."
—Sarah
Proulx Donald, DMD, Oral and
Maxillofacial Surgery resident
"It was an honor and privilege to know
and work with Dr. Bach for 17 years in
oral and maxillofacial surgery."
—Susan
Privitera, College of Dental Medicine
"Dr. Bach was the most
compassionate person that I have ever met.
Not only was he greatly trusted by his
patients but well loved by the staff. His
stories were legendary, and he could
brighten your day with a smile. He was a
hero for many people and could treat many
patients that couldn't be treated by
anyone else."
—Elizabeth
Swain, College of Dental Medicine
"Dr. Bach was a wonderful person. I have
worked with him for almost 17 years.
Although he was our boss, he always was
very good to his staff. Never once had he
ever raised his voice, or ever was unkind.
He always remembered what was going on in
our lives, was always concerned, and
always gave us good advice. I will miss
his laughter, his wit and all the love he
always gave us."
—Casandra
Daniels, College of Dental Medicine
"As I mourn for Dr. Bach and his family, I
can't help but remember the great man he
was. I admired his dedication to oral and
maxillofacial surgery, to his patients and
to teaching of the residents. Dr. Bach had
a wonderful sense of humor and made all of
us in the clinic enjoy going to work. He
made our clinic feel like a family. I
imagine Dr. Bach is in heaven, with the
beauty of Hawaii surrounding him, playing
his ukulele dressed in Clemson attire. I
am grateful to have worked with Dr. Bach
for the last four years."
—Debbie
Stevens, R.N., Oral and Maxillofacial
Surgery
"Dr. Bach was a talented surgeon whose
contributions to the field of oral and
maxillofacial surgery have been
internationally recognized. His role in
the education of residents and students
will remain an enduring legacy."
—Kelley S.
Lybrand, DDS, assistant professor, Oral
and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of
Dental Medicine
"Dr. Bach came to MUSC after retiring as
chief of oral and maxillofacial surgery at
Tripler Army Medical Center. He was
extremely impressed with our MUSC
graduates, and offered them opportunities
to further pursue their residency here at
MUSC. Dr. Bach was a 'surgeon's surgeon'
and treated health care professionals and
their families in his area with surgical
expertise and expert analysis on Clemson
football. He earned national and global
accolades and consulted on complicated
cases at a national level. Dr. Bach will
be intensely missed by our dental
students, residents, faculty, staff and
patients."
—Tariq Javed,
DMD, professor and associate dean for
Academic and Student Affairs, College of
Dental Medicine
"Dr. Bach dedicated his
life to helping patients and training
residents. I have known him for the past
nine years where he patiently taught me
everything I know about oral and
maxillofacial surgery and more importantly
many aspects of life. He was the hardest
working individual I have ever had the
pleasure of meeting and his presence in my
life will never be forgotten."
—M. Kinon
Lecholop, DMD, assistant professor, Oral
and Maxillofacial Surgery
Friday, Jan.
18, 2013
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