by Terri Hunter-Davis
Dr. Steve HarringtonJohn Stephen ("Steve") Harrington, DDS, longtime member of the UCSF School of Dentistry faculty, passed away May 14. He was 65.
Dr. Harrington, who taught preclinical and patient-centered care courses, joined the faculty on a volunteer basis in 1999, later moving to part-time salaried faculty. Till 2009, he also provided care within the School’s Faculty Group Practice.
He worked closely with Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences colleagues Joel White, DDS, MS, and Howard Pollick, BDS, MPH.
“I am so sad” to learn of Dr. Harrington’s passing, Dr. Pollick said. “Steve and I worked hand in glove for many years.” Dr. White added, “We are missing him every day and appreciated his contribution to UCSF.” Many other colleagues in the School of Dentistry were similarly shocked and saddened.
John Stephen Harrington was born Nov. 1, 1952, in Little Rock, Ark. A 1974 graduate of Rhodes College in Memphis, he was awarded his DDS degree from Louisiana State University in 1982. Dr. Harrington completed his residency at Mount Zion Hospital’s dental department in 1983, prior to the hospital’s 1990 acquisition by UCSF.
Volunteering and mentoring students were close to Dr. Harrington’s heart. He regularly volunteered with UCSF’s student-run Community Dental Clinic and the “Give Kids a Smile” annual outreach event, and oversaw students at numerous community dental screening events.
A schoolwide memorial took place May 30 at Millberry Union Conference Center. A student/faculty/staff memorial took place May 18 in the preclinical simulation laboratory.
