Dr. Jack Neal, a prominent Kirkland oral and maxillofacial surgeon who died away on April 15, will be honored with a new endowment at the University of Washington School of Dentistry, the school has announced.
The Delta Dental Jack E. Neal Endowed Fund for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery will be launched with a $50,000 gift from Delta Dental of Washington, on whose board of directors Dr. Neal served for eight years. The endowment will provide financial support for pre-doctoral and post-doctoral students studying in the school’s Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery program.
“Our school greatly appreciates Delta Dental’s generous support of one of our key programs,” said School of Dentistry Dean Dr. Joel Berg. “It’s a very fitting and meaningful way to honor the memory of an outstanding dentist who was thoroughly dedicated to serving the community.”
Neal, who practiced in Seattle and Kirkland for 40 years, served terms as president of both the Washington State Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and the Western Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to have served with Jack on the Delta Dental of Washington Board of Directors,” said Joanna Lohkamp, chair of the board. “Jack brought to the board a warm and generous nature that contributed to better decision-making across stakeholders. With this gift we’re pleased to celebrate and recognize Jack’s distinguished service to his profession and to our company.”
Neal was active in the Seattle King County Dental Society and the Washington State Dental Association, and served on several boards including the Washington Physicians Health Program and the Physicians and Dentists Credit Bureau.
In addition, he provided charitable care for patients through the Washington State Dental Association Access Program and the Donated Dental Services Program. He also played an instrumental role on the Delta Dental board in helping provide dental care to more than 800 underserved children throughout King County.
After graduating from Furman University in South Carolina, Neal received his DDS from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. He then served in the U.S. Army Dental Corps in Frankfurt, Germany.
After his military service, Neal entered the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery residency program at the University of Iowa, where he pursued clinical and laboratory research on bone grafting and reconstruction and received a master’s of science degree. In 1973, he moved to Seattle and began private practice in Kirkland. He was certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in 1976.
“The Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is grateful to Delta Dental for its leadership in supporting OMS education, and to Dr. Neal for his outstanding contributions to the profession,” said Dr. Thomas Dodson, chair of the department. “The vitality of our educational activities ensures that UW will be the program of choice for top candidates.”
