Remembering Dr Brian Alpert

Dr Alpert was an iconic force and an exemplary contributor to the CMF specialty and the AO Foundation
Brian Alpert

The AO family has lost a treasured surgeon and a great person.

Dr Brian Alpert will always be remembered as an iconic force and an exemplary contributor to the CMF specialty and to the AO.

Dr Alpert was active within the AO since 1985, serving in several leadership positions representing craniomaxillofacial surgery. He participated as faculty in 98 AO CMF courses worldwide, and in 2007 he was elected an Honorary Trustee of the AO Foundation. Dr Alpert served as chairperson AO CMF North America when the process of organising an international structure for AO CMF teaching and research activities was initiated by Michael Ehrenfeld and Joachim Prein.

“made friends with surgeons from multiple specialties from all over the United States and in fact the world. He had a tremendous impact on our specialty and truly advanced surgical care during his life.”

George M. Kushner DMD, MD

George M. Kushner DMD, MD, friend and colleague of Dr Alpert, describes him as being “a pillar in the surgical community for his entire career,” someone who “made friends with surgeons from multiple specialties from all over the United States and in fact the world. He had a tremendous impact on our specialty and truly advanced surgical care during his life.” Michael Ehrenfeld adds: “we came from different parts of the world, different education and healthcare system backgrounds. But we immediately bonded over our mutual interest in education and teaching, with the common goal of advancing the art and science of surgery around the world, and we became good friends. In committee work Brian was always straight, no games, no hidden agenda. Rare qualities these days.”
Dr Alpert at a CMF course in Pittsburgh, 2002

Dr Alpert was born in Southern California and grew up in Lake Placid, New York.  He finished college (NYU), dental school (Columbia), and residency (LIJ-QHC) in New York City.  Following training, he served in the US Army Dental Corps. In 1973, he joined the faculty at the University of Louisville as associate professor and director of the OMFS residency, the youngest OMFS program director in the country.  He was promoted to professor in 1978 and was chairperson from 1987 to 2017.

He has left an incredible legacy and we will miss him. We keep Dr Alpert and his family in our thoughts.