Endowment Honors Dr. Timothy B. Henson for Pediatric Dentistry
For 12 years, Timothy B. Henson, DMD, served the School of Dentistry at UT Health San Antonio by transforming the lives of dental residents, students, colleagues and patients in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry.
The School of Dentistry is sad to share that Dr. Henson passed away on August 11, 2021.
Dr. Henson, who was a member of the pediatric dentistry team from 2000 through 2012, was instrumental in advancing the dental education experience in myriad ways, including instructing the Presurgical Nasoalveolar Molding Appliance coursework for treating pediatric patients with a cleft lip and cleft palates.
In 2018, Jason E. Turner, DMD, MBA, and Miles Mazzawi, DMD, decided to establish the Dr. Timothy B. Henson Endowment in Pediatric Dentistry at the School of Dentistry. The endowment honors Dr. Henson’s extraordinary contributions in teaching, scholarly research and compassionate pediatric care.
Dr. Mazzawi said, “Dr. Turner and I wanted to recognize Dr. Henson for his work in pediatric dentistry and put his imprint permanently on the pediatric program. He was battling cancer, and we wanted him to know we appreciated everything he did for us.”
Dr. Henson was overwhelmed by the generosity of his colleagues, former residents, friends and family members whose philanthropic support elevated the endowment to become the Dr. Timothy B. Henson Endowed Professorship in Pediatric Dentistry.
Dr. Turner said the need in academics to have quality professors teaching future pediatric dental residents is critical. “Funding is needed to be able to recruit and retain excellent professors. We believe this endowment can help guarantee the quality of the program, and, by naming it in Tim’s honor, we want people to learn about him.”
Dr. Mazzawi said it is important to them that Dr. Henson is remembered. “Tim had a great rapport with the entire pediatric dentistry team and the patients,” he added.
Dr. Turner said he remembers Dr. Henson taking time out of his personal schedule to get to know the residents on an individual basis. “He invited us to his home and took us to lunch. He went way out of his way to make sure that everyone felt included and part of the team.”
Dr. Mazzawi said that Dr. Henson was very approachable and as much an educator as a colleague. “He helped us collaborate and work as a team in our education and clinical training,” he added. “Tim was a fun-loving guy, and a good guy to be around. He was very accessible and well liked and well thought of.”
Dr. Mazzawi said Dr. Henson had a lot to do with the success of the residents. “We came out of the program really well trained and prepared. It goes back to his teaching style. The program is well regarded nationally. We felt like Tim had a lot to do with that.
“We wanted him connected indefinitely with the program. We wanted to create an endowment that he inspired through his dedication to our profession.”
Dr. Turner said the endowment offers the chance for graduates to pay it forward. “We can help future pediatric dentists who are coming behind us. This endowment helps the pediatric dentistry program retain its reputation. I ask everyone to please consider contributing to the endowment.”
Dr. Mazzawi completed the pediatric dentistry residency in 2005 while Dr. Turner completed his residency in 2007. Both went into private practice outside Atlanta, Georgia, after completing their residency. Dr. Turner opened Turner Pediatric Dentistry in Acworth, Georgia. Dr. Mazzawi established Cherokee Children’s Dentistry in Canton, Georgia.
To contribute to the endowment online, please visit makelivesbetter.uthscsa.edu/henson, or for more information, contact Amanda Liccione, Director of Development, at 210-567-6536 or liccione@uthscsa.edu.
Written by: Catherine Duncan
