Dr. David Turpin—who served as a part-time affiliate professor in the UW Department of Orthodontics for an extraordinary 48 years—passed away peacefully on May 29, at the age of 87.
Dr. Turpin studied dentistry at the University of Iowa and then started his dental career as a dentist in the U.S. Navy. After completing his military service, he and his family moved to Seattle so he could begin graduate training in orthodontics at the University of Washington School of Dentistry.
Upon graduation from UW, Dr. Turpin started his own private orthodontic practice in Auburn, WA, which he maintained for more than 37 years. Alongside his thriving practice, he made a profound and lasting impact on orthodontic education, literature and professional organizations.
From 1971 to 2019, Dr. Turpin served as a part-time faculty member in the Department of Orthodontics, helping to educate more than 300 orthodontists. From 2010 to 2019, he held the prestigious title of Moore-Riedel Endowed Professor. The culmination of this professorship was the David Turpin Symposium on Evidence-based Orthodontics, which featured speakers from all over the world. He remained actively engaged with the department throughout his life, regularly attending events such as Thesis Day and the Dean’s Club Dinner.
Dr. Turpin’s influence on the orthodontic literature began in 1971 with his appointment as a Regional Editor of the Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists (PCSO Bulletin). He became Editor in 1978, and in 1988, was named Editor of The Angle Orthodontist. In 1999, he assumed the role of Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics (AJODO). These decades of service as editor of the field’s most prestigious journals made him one of the most well-known orthodontists in the world.
Dr. Turpin also held significant roles in national and state professional organizations. A Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, Dr. Turpin received numerous honors throughout his career.
He made considerable scholarly contributions to the specialty, publishing 34 scientific articles and delivering 155 lectures during his career. Importantly, he authored 135 editorials in the AJODO, along with many more in The Angle Orthodontist and the PCSO Bulletin. His graduate research at UW earned him the prestigious Milo Hellman Award.
“While Dr. Turpin’s accomplishments were significant, his commitment to the specialty was even more impressive,” said UW School of Dentistry Dean André Ritter. “Whether he was representing a journal, the UW, the AAO or the WFO, David was always a gracious ambassador for the orthodontic profession. Despite being a giant in the field of orthodontics, he remained humble, approachable, curious, open-minded, collaborative, dependable, hard-working and intellectually honest. A true role model to all of us.”
Dr. Turpin is survived by his wife, Judy and three children: Barbara, Paul and Matthew.