“We would do Birmingham a great disservice if we dreamed too little dreams.” This quote from Dr. Joseph Volker, DDS, PhD serves as an inspiration to our research society and demonstrates the impact a dental researcher can have on his environment.

Dr. Joseph Volker - Courtesy of the UAB ArchivesDr. Volker graduated from Indiana University and later pursued a PhD in biochemistry at The School of Dentistry and Medicine at Rochester. During his tenure at Rochester, Dr. Volker would begin his groundbreaking research into fluoride’s ability to prevent caries.

Dr. Volker began as a clinical professor at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and became dean by 1945. In 1948, Dr. Volker made the shocking decision to leave his deanship at Tufts and become the first Dean of the University of Alabama Birmingham School of Dentistry. Dr. Volker continued demonstrating his love of research as he was promoted to Director of Research and Graduate Studies in 1955. Dr. Volker continued to climb the ladder, becoming Vice President of Health Affairs and eventually the first president of the University of Alabama in Birmingham in 1969. Dr. Volker’s impact on UAB cannot be understated. When Dr. Volker resigned from the president position in 1976, UAB had grown from a small urban dental school to 190 acres of land with 1023 faculty, 8983 undergraduate, and 3059 graduate students. Dr. Volker dreamed giant dreams for Birmingham and created the vision he sought after. His dedication to community, research, and UAB serve as an inspiration to us in the Local Student Research Group and we are glad to share Dr. Volker’s story