The historical implications of American missionary dentist W.J. Scheifley and the first Korean Dental Department established in the Severance Union Medical College

미국선교치과의사 쉐플리와 세브란스연합의학교 치과학교실 개설의 역사적 의의

This article discusses accomplishments and historical implications of American missionary dentist W.J. Scheifley and the first Korean dental department, which was established in 1915 in Korea. W.J. Scheifley, with Christian service mind and mission as a dentist, applied to American Protestantic missionary dentist overseas. The dental department in the Severance Union Medical College introduced the scientistic dental education of America, facilitated research on the dental condition of the Korean people, and ran independent dental clinic. W.J. Schiefley criticised the profit-seeking attitude of Japanese dentists and denturist(="IPCHISA", in Korean pronunciation) and emphasized on the significance of Oral Health. He did all kind of dental treatments with advanced equipments like X-ray machine, and managed the collective oral health care for missionaries overseas. He trained medical students and assistants of the dentists with the goal of producing Korean dentists, but he failed due to the Dentist law introduced by Japanese colonial administration that interfered with producing Korean dentists. However, O.R. Avison's proposal of the establishment of dental schools stimulated the establishment of Kyungsung dental school, which provided the basis for the Dental department in the Severance Union Medical College becoming special training institution for Korean Dentists.