Donald B. Giddon ’52

Formerly of Massachusetts, Dr. Donald B. Giddon ’52 died Nov. 15 in Sarasota, Fla. He was a transformative leader in medical and dental education. He earned a master’s in psychology from Boston University, a DMD from Harvard, and a PhD in psychology from Brandeis University. His research included the analysis of pseudocholinesterase activity in saliva, demonstrating biochemical differences between psychiatric and nonpsychiatric populations. As both a medical and dental trained psychologist, he explored physical and psychological responses to pain, including the effects of stress on the periodontal tissues. He was also a key figure in pain science and dental anesthesiology, advocating for the designation of “oral physician.” During his career, he held faculty appointments at Harvard, Tufts, NYU, Brown, McGill, and the University of Illinois at Chicago. He served as a consultant to federal and state governments, was an advisor to the NIH and international organizations, was a participant in global health initiatives, and was a leader in minority oral-health research programs. He authored three books and more than 250 publications. He received numerous awards and honors, including fellowships in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Psychological Association, the International College of Psychosomatic Medicine, and the Royal Society of Medicine. He was an NYU Distinguished Educator and Dean Award recipient and designated as a Knowles Scholar at Harvard. The annual Professor Donald B. Giddon Memorial Lecture in Behavioral Medicine and Dentistry at Harvard School of Dental Medicine continues to advance this interdisciplinary vision. He is survived by wife Phoebe Giddon; four children and their spouses, including son Ken Giddon ’81; and seven grandchildren, including grandson Kyle Giddon ’15.