Hiroshi Ueno papers

Dr. Hiroshi Ueno (1929–1995) served as a professor and Vice Chairman of the Department of Fixed Prosthodontics at the Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) School of Dentistry. Born on October 2, 1929, in Iwate, Japan, he graduated at the top of his dental class from Nihon University in Tokyo in 1956. Before joining OHSU in 1964, he taught at his alma mater, Nihon University. Over the course of more than 39 years, Dr. Ueno dedicated himself to teaching and research in prosthodontics, while continuously deepening his understanding of gnathology, occlusion, and reconstruction; fields to which he contributed original research, ideas, and concepts.

In 1965, delegations of Japanese dentists began visiting OHSU’s Continuing Dental Education Department in pursuit of professional development. At the time, this level of international engagement was unprecedented among U.S. dental schools. The resulting interactions between our faculty and their families and the visiting Japanese dentists and their families created a rare opportunity for cultural exchange at both national and personal levels and Ueno played a central role in nurturing this relationship.

In 1973, Dr. Ueno proposed to Dean Louis Terkla the idea of establishing a sister school affiliation with Hokkaido University School of Dentistry in Sapporo, Japan. The partnership was officially established later that year. It fostered meaningful academic exchange between the two institutions, benefiting faculty and graduate students alike. The collaboration led to the sharing of research findings, clinical techniques, and advancements in both basic and clinical sciences. Over time, as many as six groups of Japanese dental students visited the OHSU School of Dentistry annually. These visits eventually led to the formation of the “University of Oregon Dental School Japanese Dentists Alumni Association,” a testament to the program's impact, much of which is credited to Dr. Ueno’s leadership.

Additionally, Dr. Ueno’s refined artistic sensibility was evident in the meticulous design of his teaching materials, including manuals, textbooks, clinical models, and lectures, all of which reflected a commitment to both aesthetic and educational excellence.