Mile of Smiles

They say a smile is worth a thousand words, and for more than six decades Dr. Walter Edmunds has been helping Philadelphians find their smiles.

Graduating from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in 1960, Dr. Edmunds went on to enjoy a successful career as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and has served as a champion for the next generation of oral surgeons. Dr. Edmunds was an integral member of the Jefferson oral and maxillofacial surgery faculty for many years and sat on the medical college admissions committee.

Outside of Jefferson, Dr. Edmunds held positions as an adjunct associate professor of pathology, clinical assistant professor of pathology, assistant attending oral surgeon, and associate of oral pathology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. He is also a member of Sigma Pi Phi, Alpha Boulé—one of the most prestigious fraternal organizations in the country—is the past president of the New Era Dental Society, and is an affiliate of the National Dental Association.

In 1995, Dr. Edmunds, alongside the late Benjamin Bacharach, MD ‘56, established the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery / Jefferson Medical College Integrated Program, which has gone on to earn national acclaim. This six-year, intensive program has produced a new generation of industry leaders who have carried their Jefferson training and values throughout the country.

Now, Dr. Edmunds has made a gift to endow the program, ensuring it will last in perpetuity.

Dr. Edmunds’s generous gift will support scholarships and research for OMFS residents and students from socioeconomically disadvantaged communities. With the rising cost of medical education and post-graduate training, money is often a significant barrier for potential students. Dr. Edmunds’s support ensures that the best and brightest candidates will be able to attend Jefferson without the burden of tuition looming over them.