School of Dentistry Loses a Respected Colleague and Friend

Robert Gorlin was an internationally acclaimed expert on oral and maxillofacial pathology, as well as genetic defects and syndromes, craniofacial disorders, and hereditary hearing loss.  He was a lifelong observer of rare forms of disease, studying physical malformations for clues about normal development and for answers to some of biology’s most basic questions.   During his 50 years at the University, he studied and named more than 100 syndromes caused by genetic defects, discovering six that were named for him.   For several of the 100 syndromes, he and colleagues isolated the gene responsible for the condition.

He authored more than 600 articles and several textbooks on genetic syndromes and oral pathology, including Syndromes of the Head and Neck, an encyclopedic work now in its fourth edition.  It is considered the authoritative work in this field. 

A man of unwavering dedication, Dr. Gorlin was often the first called by Twin Cities’ hospitals when a child was born with a craniofacial disorder.  He identified the syndrome, advised physicians on related health problems that could occur, and provided genetic counseling to parents concerned about the likelihood of the condition reappearing in future births.  His pioneering work has enabled physicians to assess and treat many genetic birth defects and continues to aid molecular biologists in finding ways to prevent or lessen the effects of genetic disorders.  

According to Michael Rohrer, D.D.S., M.S., director of the School of Dentistry’s Division of Oral Pathology and president of the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, “Robert Gorlin was the most world-famous faculty member at this dental school, and the most famous oral and maxillofacial pathologist in the world, period.” 

In addition to his faculty position at the School of Dentistry, Dr. Gorlin held joint appointments in the University’s departments of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Otolaryngology, Pediatrics, and Dermatology.   His interprofessional approach to research allowed doctors from a variety of disciplines to apply his work to diagnosis and treatment. 

Committed always to sharing his knowledge and inspiring others, he mentored and helped launch the careers of more than 20 postdoctoral fellows, and he attracted the nation’s scientific leaders to the University of Minnesota for conferences, guest lectures, and faculty positions.  In 1967, he played a pivotal role in creating the Lasby Visiting Professorship program, which continues to draw distinguished international and American health sciences scholars to the University’s School of Dentistry where they complement current research and educational programs.  For the last 13 years, he has been honored by an annual Robert J. Gorlin Dysmorphology Conference which attracts scientists and clinicians from around the world to discuss their research.

Robert Gorlin earned his doctor of dental surgery degree from Washington University School of Dentistry in 1947 and his Master’s in Oral Pathology from the State University of Iowa in 1956. The same year, he joined the faculty at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry as associate professor and chair of the Divisions of Oral Histology and Oral Pathology.  He was named a University of Minnesota Regents’ Professor in 1978.

Dr. Gorlin retired from his position at the University in 1993, but continued to lecture, write articles, edit text books, and consult.  He also continued to come to the dental school every day until only recently when his illness curtailed those visits. 

Internationally applauded across a variety of disciplines, he was the recipient of numerous awards, including five honorary doctorate degrees from universities as far away as Athens, Dublin, and Copenhagen.  In 1997, he was named a Senior Fellow in the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. That same year, he received the prestigious Premio Phoenix Anni Verdi Award, presented by the Italian Medical Genetics Society in recognition of his basic and applied research in genetically transmitted diseases, as well as the Goldhaber Award from Harvard University.   In 2002, he received the University of Minnesota’s highest honor, an honorary Doctor of Science Award, and, in 2003, he was recognized by the American Dental Association with its Gold Medal Award.  In 2004, he was the recipient of the American Society of Human Genetics Award for Excellence in Human Genetics Education and was the invited presenter at the Nobel Foundation conference in Stockholm on the topic of genetic signaling in development and disease.

Gatherings, in lieu of a service, will be at the homes of Jed Gorlin, 805 Park Terrace, Hopkins, Wed., 8/30 between 6-9 PM and Cathy Gorlin, 1230 Angelo Drive, Golden Valley on Thursday, 8/31 between 6-9 PM. A formal academic memorial service is to be scheduled later this fall.