Walter T. Kalista, Jr., DMD knew that he wanted to be a dentist upon attending college and planned his life accordingly – a slight rarity in the overall population of yearly incoming freshman. Graduating from Gannon University in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science degree, he attended the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine and received his degree in 1970.
Walter took a general practice residency in Pittsburgh with the Veterans Administration, only to relocate to Florida where he would spend seven years working at the Miami Veterans Administration Hospital. Returning to Pittsburgh in 1977, he would eventually begin teaching at the University of Pittsburgh, his alma mater.
While at Gannon, Walter was a member of the bowling team and ROTC and still can boast a 190 bowling average. He mentions, “I have taught several students in the school of dentistry who graduated from Gannon. These students have been well prepared by their instructors. In academic circles, Gannon is well-respected throughout the United States.”
Today, Walter continues to be an assistant professor in the prosthodontic department in the School of Dental Medicine and was voted Outstanding Instructor of the Year in 2008 by the school’s graduating class.
(Published September, 2014)