A central mission in education is to find order in chaos. The motto of the University of California is Fiat Lux, which translates from Latin as "Let there be light." The meaning is to separate light from darkness, which in academics means searching for understanding in a universe of mystery and the unknown.
The core of a successful university is the pursuit of knowledge. We want to be able to demonstrate that the things we define as "facts" are based on concrete and provable evidence, rather than emotional beliefs that lack a demonstrable connection to truth. We pursue the truth because we believe it benefits society and everyone in it.
Healthcare is an area where generations of people have formed a foundation of truth that has benefited us all. In the not-too-distant past, many illnesses claimed the lives of people before they made it out of childhood. In 1900, the infant mortality rate in the United States was approximately 165 deaths per 1,000 live births. Today it is fewer than 6. Much of that improvement is due to the efforts of scientists in finding ways to keep us safe from transmissible diseases.
Smallpox, diphtheria, scarlet fever, measles, influenza, tuberculosis and whooping cough claimed countless lives in the early history of the United States. In the case of poliovirus, many who survived bouts of the disease were permanently scarred. Privilege and wealth do not provide immunity on their own. Polio left Franklin D. Roosevelt paralyzed from the waist down. Yet thirty years after Roosevelt was president, polio was eradicated in the United States due to the efforts of researchers.
Looking back at what patient care was like before important advances can be shocking. Consider that until the 19th century, patients were awake and had no protection from pain during surgery. In 1846, the dentist William T.G. Morton gave the first public demonstration of ether as an anesthetic while he removed a tumor from a patient's neck. If you have ever had surgery or a root canal done, imagine being wide awake and feeling everything during the procedure. You might agree that scientific advances in patient care have been beneficial.
Our country has a long history of people offering medical advice that isn't based on scientific discovery. The term "snake oil" came about when an American named Clark Stanley discovered that people were willing to pay money for an unproven "cure" for just about anything. He claimed his "snake oil liniment" could cure "rheumatism, lame back, toothache, sprains and swellings, frost bites and chill blains" as well as the bites of animals, insects, and reptiles. When analyzed, Stanley's snake oil was found to contain mineral oil, beef fat, chili peppers, and turpentine. To this day, these ingredients have not been shown to be effective treatments for the ailments described on the bottle.
In the 1950s through the 1970s, a radio host in New York named Carlton Fredericks advocated for vitamin supplements and dietary changes as an alternative to established medicine. He had no background in science or medicine, but his popular radio show reached a vast audience. He railed against fluoride as a treatment for tooth decay. Many of his listeners followed his advice for a healthy lifestyle, despite no evidence supporting his claims. Ironically, despite promoting a healthy lifestyle, he was a heavy smoker and he died at age 76 of heart disease.
It is understandable that people want quick and easy remedies for health problems. If someone promises an inexpensive and fast cure for an illness that is distressing us or someone we love, it is human nature to want that easy solution. Also, people in the United States have a strong sense of independence. We believe that everyone has a right to choose things for themselves, so of course people are free to select their own remedies. These choices often come from a place of hope and trust, not from ignorance.
Health-centered universities pursue the most beneficial, evidence-supported treatments with proven benefits for our patients. Our goal is to provide care options that offer positive results that reward people’s hope. That is why so many travel great distances to be treated at UCSF. We work toward a public good by advancing knowledge and improving healthcare for everyone we can. We can only do this by continuing our mission to search the unknown for truths.
We are presently in an unsettled period of history, and our country is going through tremendous change. But disorder is not something that we fear at UCSF where we relentlessly pursue the truth. Our great motto Fiat Lux is the guiding beacon that illuminates our way and draws people to us who need and deserve proven, beneficial care. We will continue to do our best work, pushing back against chaos, and championing reason as a great human achievement that benefits us all.
Michael S. Reddy, DMD, DMSc
Dean, UCSF School of Dentistry
Associate Vice Chancellor, Oral Health Affairs
