Bridging Borders Through Dental Care
D. Walter Cohen, DDS Middle East Center for Dental Education
In 1997, Dr. D. Walter Cohen, along with his wife Betty and the Alpha Omega Foundation, established the D. Walter Cohen, DDS Middle East Center for Dental Education in Jerusalem, Israel. Dr. Cohen's vision and passionate commitment created a meaningful opportunity to enhance peace efforts by emphasizing the importance of dental education, research, and cooperation among people in the Middle East. Today, the Center sets the standard for global learning and facilitates a unique exchange program between dental students at Hebrew University and Al-Quds School of Dentistry, promoting knowledge, compassion, and understanding.
Tree of Peace
The first Tree of Peace sculpture was placed in 2007 at the Hebrew University School of Dental Medicine.
The Tree of Peace sculpture marks the close collaboration of Al-Quds University and Hebrew University and the desire to use the oral health profession as a vehicle for building relationships and understanding throughout the region and the world.
The second Tree of Peace sculpture in the Middle East, located on the campus of Al-Quds University, continues the legacy of the inaugural installation unveiled at Hebrew University.
It opened avenues for dental professionals, educators, and students to transcend political and religious barriers, using oral health as a catalyst to improve the quality of life for people of diverse nationalities.
The second Tree of Peace sculpture in the Middle East, located on the campus of Al-Quds University, continues the legacy of the inaugural installation unveiled at Hebrew University.
It opened avenues for dental professionals, educators, and students to transcend political and religious barriers, using oral health as a catalyst to improve the quality of life for people of diverse nationalities.
In 2011, the Tree of Peace was installed at A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health as a testament to its commitment to global peace.
It symbolizes the collaboration between medicine, education, and the pursuit of peaceful coexistence worldwide.
This was the first Tree of Peace installation in the United States.
Temple University’s Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry in Philadelphia was the third dental school to install the Tree of Peace sculpture on its campus.
This symbolic tree serves as a steadfast reminder of ongoing efforts to build a lasting legacy of global peace through the field of dentistry.
Temple University’s Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry in Philadelphia was the third dental school to install the Tree of Peace sculpture on its campus.
This symbolic tree serves as a steadfast reminder of ongoing efforts to build a lasting legacy of global peace through the field of dentistry.
The fifth installation of the Tree of Peace at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine was dedicated to Dr. Walter Guralnick, professor emeritus of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and Dr. R. Bruce Donoff, former dean of the school.
This Tree of Peace commemorates the active engagement of students and faculty in global initiatives, fostering collaboration and partnerships with schools around the world.
It reflects the belief that through education, cultural exchange, and mutual respect, we can build a more inclusive, compassionate, and harmonious world.