Midwestern Society of Orthodontists

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Jacobson receives 2004 Shepard Award The MSO annually presents the Earl E. Shepard Distinguished Service Award to a person who exemplifies the ideals of the orthodontic profession, community and family. The MSO Board of Directors unanimously voted to present its highest award for exemplary contributions to the art and science of orthodontics for 2004 to Dr. Bailey N. Jacobson, Chicago, Illinois. Bailey was born on the north side of Chicago in 1934. He was a talented kid, especially when it came to stand-up comedy and pantomime and spent most of his weekends during high school and early college years presenting shows. When asked as a teenager if he wanted show business as a career he always would reply “Nope, I’m going to be an orthodontist.” His dad was a dentist for 50 years on the same corner on the north side of Chicago. Bailey thought his dad’s work was interesting, but orthodontics was fascinating. In all these years, he’s never changed his mind. All of Bailey’s dental education was taken at Northwestern University. Unfortunately, now when he refers to the dental school, he always adds, “It should rest in peace.” Since the dental school has closed, none of the university’s alumni literature is allowed to reach his desk. He received his dental degree in 1957 and, after two years of active duty in the Army, received his masters in orthodontics in 1961. Bailey was quite active at Northwestern. At the time his good friend, Dr. Norm Olsen, was dean, Bailey tried to help him as much as possible to maintain the school’s high level of academics and alumni support. He was chairman of the Alumni Resource Committee, twice president of the Dental Alumni Association and one of the founders of the John R. Thompson Foundation for the support of the orthodontic department. He was an instructor in bacteriology while in dental school and joined the orthodontic faculty right after graduation. He was still there, as clinical professor of orthodontics, when they closed the doors in 2000, which was a very sad time for him. It has helped that since 1984 he has been a visiting professor in the graduate orthodontic department at the University of Detroit/Mercy. His son, Dr. Ron Jacobson, joined him on his sojourns to Detroit about ten years ago and, together, they teach courses on a wide variety of subjects. Ron also is Bailey’s partner in his office, joined by two more exceptional orthodontists, Drs. Jennifer Eggemeyer and Elizabeth Graham. Bailey is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, a Fellow of the American College of Dentists and an active supporter of the AAO Foundation. While at Northwestern, he was awarded faculty membership to Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the University Alumni Service Award, the University Alumni Merit Award and the Distinguished Orthodontic Alumnus Award. He was honored by the Illinois Society of Orthodontists as Outstanding Teacher of the Year in 2001. Along with clinical orthodontics, one of Bailey’s chief interests is the treatment of patients with cleft lip and palate, especially infant orthopedics, and other craniofacial birth defects. To that end he has given numerous lectures and courses and participated in over 25 publications, including a chapter written with his son on “Treatment of Patients with Craniofacial Anomalies” in Drs. Mike Riolo and Jim Avery’s new book, Essentials For Orthodontic Practice. He co-founded and was president of the Illinois Association of Craniofacial Teams and has been an orthodontic consultant on the Craniofacial Team at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago for over 40 years. He also is a reviewer for the Cleft Palate/Craniofacial Journal and the AJO/DO. Bailey was involved with the planning of the AAO annual sessions in San Francisco in 1995 and in Chicago in 2000. He is most proud of his active membership of over 30 years with the Midwest Component of the Angle Society, where he has held many positions including president. Bailey’s pride and joy are his two children, Shari, a family therapist, and Ron, his partner. But, what really turns his head are the words “Grandpa Bailey!” from his grandchildren Luke, Emma, Tyler and Rachel. He and his wife Ruth will be celebrating 50 years of marriage next summer. Congratulations to you, Bailey – you are a most deserving recipient of the Shepard Award.