Dr. Peter Ngan speaks at a continuing education luncheon during which WVU alumni announced more than $900,000 in gifts to name the School of Dentistry’s orthodontic clinic in his honor. (WVU Photo/Garrett Cullen)
Since 1994, Dr. Peter Ngan has guided students at the West Virginia University School of Dentistry through a rigorous residency program to help them build successful specialty careers in orthodontics. After 30 years, alumni are sharing their gratitude for his dedication with gifts totaling more than $900,000 to name the orthodontic clinic in his honor.
Over 30 alumni and friends contributed to the fundraising effort with the goal of raising $1 million, which supports plans to update and relocate the WVU Dental orthodontic clinic at the WVU Health Sciences Morgantown Campus. The renovation is the latest in a series of upgrades to modernize School of Dentistry facilities for future generations of students and patients.
“Dr. Ngan is a nationally and internationally renowned leader in the orthodontic community,” Dr. Stephen Pachuta, dean of the WVU School of Dentistry, said. “His impact across the profession has been significant. His research has shaped and defined the practice of orthodontics for generations of orthodontists. As evidenced by the support and commitment of his residents over the last 30 years, Peter is an institution in the profession. He also has the distinction of being the longest-serving orthodontic department chair in the country. We are incredibly fortunate to have him as a leader at our School of Dentistry.”
Dozens of alumni surprised Ngan with the announcement during a recent continuing education program sponsored by the Department of Orthodontics.
“I was honored and humbled by the gesture of my students,” Ngan said. “There is no greater gratification one can receive as a teacher than seeing your students be successful in their careers and give back to the University from which they received their education.”
The naming effort emerged from a group chat among WVU orthodontics alumni led by Dr. Pranav Patel, of Aurora, Illinois.
Patel first met Ngan as a dental student at The Ohio State University, where Ngan previously worked. Patel said he applied to WVU because he liked Ngan, and he is grateful Ngan accepted him into the highly competitive orthodontics residency program at WVU.
“When I heard they were building a new clinic, I wanted to see if there was a way to create something in Dr. Ngan’s legacy,” Patel said. “He’s graduated orthodontists from WVU for 30 years, and he always created a warm, welcoming atmosphere. The aim is to create an environment that brings the most attractive applicants to WVU. A nicer clinic definitely makes a difference when you’re interviewing, as does hearing that residents and alumni are so appreciative they dedicated the clinic to the chair. I felt that positive energy when I came to WVU, and thanks to Dr. Ngan, I still feel it.”
Patel took the lead by donating $100,000. Dr. Larry Kalaskey, of Charleston, followed suit and helped reach out to alumni for their support. He was overwhelmed by the positive feedback he received from other graduates who wanted to contribute.
“All these years in education, Dr. Ngan could have made a lot more money in private practice, but he decided to stay in education and help us, so I feel like it’s well-deserved,” Kalaskey said. “I hope he understands that from everybody who’s contributed to the cause of getting his name on the clinic. We admire him dearly, and we appreciate that he stayed at WVU and taught us. He has made it one of the top orthodontic programs in the country by him being there, because of all the research he’s done. He’s well-respected throughout the country and overseas.”
Ngan is a renowned expert in dental and skeletal malocclusion. He is even sometimes referred to as “Mr. Class III” because he often gives lectures on this topic at national and international meetings. He has published over 170 original research and clinical papers in peer-reviewed journals and 180 abstracts, including contributions in several monographs and textbooks.
He has also delivered lectures at professional meetings in more than 40 countries. Patel said Ngan often reconnects with WVU alumni and residents at national meetings by taking them out for a Chinese dinner.
Dr. James Caveney, a three-time WVU graduate and former president of the American Association of Orthodontists, was involved in Ngan’s hiring and said he remains as impressed by Ngan today as he was 30 years ago. He said Ngan gained acclaim when he spoke at an AAO meeting of more than 20,000 people from 90 countries.
Caveney, of Wheeling, said Ngan works hard to promote WVU and recalled Ngan gathering alumni at a national meeting to sing “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”
“I think it’s the right thing to do for WVU to honor the man who’s been there all these years and had hundreds of graduates, hundreds of residents, all over America and some in other countries,” Caveney said. “He’s a hero at the School of Dentistry. He’s so good, and he’s so fair. His enthusiasm is number one. He’s just tremendous.”
Ngan emigrated to the U.S. from Hong Kong in 1973 and honed his English while selling dictionaries door to door. Ngan received his dental degree from the Harvard University School of Dental Medicine and certificates in orthodontics, pediatric dentistry and hospital dentistry from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine/Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Ngan is a fellow of the American College of Dentists, the International College of Dentists, and the Pierre Fauchard Academy. He also belongs to many professional organizations. In 2014, Ngan was installed as the inaugural Branson-Maddrell Endowed Professor in Orthodontics at WVU. He is president-elect of the AngleEast Orthodontic Society and honorary faculty at the University of Hong Kong and Wuhan School of Stomatology.
Ngan’s wife, Dr. Elizabeth Kao, is a professor of restorative dentistry at WVU. Their daughter, Dr. Tiffany Ngan, and her husband, Dr. Billy Borowski, are both WVU School of Dentistry graduates practicing in eastern Pennsylvania. Daughter Dr. Emily Ngan is a board-certified specialist in obstetrics and gynecology who practices in Annandale, Virginia.
Alumni and supporters interested in contributing to the naming effort can make a gift online to support the School of Dentistry Facilities Fund (2W686) or contact Karen Coombs, director of development for the School of Dentistry, at kcoombs@wvuf.org or 304-216-3784.
All gifts to support the WVU School of Dentistry are made through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University.
-WVU-
cr/9/25/24
MEDIA CONTACT: Cassie Rice
Director of Strategic Communications
WVU Foundation
304-554-0217; crice@wvuf.org
Call 1-855-WVU-NEWS for the latest West Virginia University news and information from WVUToday.