Michael Meenaghan, UB Professor Emeritus And Leading Dental Researcher, Dies At 62

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Michael A. Meenaghan, D.D.S., Ph.D., professor emeritus in the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine and a dental researcher whose work over two decades significantly contributed to the use and safety of implants in the human body, died Monday (August 31, 1998) in his home in Amherst following a lengthy illness. He was 62.

While many of Meenaghan's studies focused on the design of dental implants and the biocompatibility of various materials with oral tissue, he also was involved in evaluating techniques for "supercleaning" various implants for use in the human body and the long-term effects of umbilical-cord vein grafts.

As an educator, he had supervised post-graduate students and presented lectures in anatomy for medical and dental students.

A former chair of the UB dental school's cultural exchange committee and a member of the university-wide Provost's Council on International Studies and Programs, Meenaghan promoted exchange programs with more than 10 foreign dental schools, including those in Thailand, Korea, Japan, China and Mexico.

During his career, he was a consultant to more than 20 corporate, federal and university agencies. including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Meenaghan joined the UB dental faculty in 1971 in the former Department of Oral Pathology, and retired last year as professor in the Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences. During his career at UB, he served as director of the dental school's Electron Microscope Laboratories and professor and chair of the former Department of Stomatology and Interdisciplinary Sciences.

From 1971-89, he served as director of UB's Surface Science Center and from 1991 until his retirement was as an active member of the Council on International Studies and Programs.

Meenaghan retired in 1996 as a Lt. Colonel with the U.S. Army Reserves, 338th General Hospital, Niagara Falls.

A graduate of American International College in Springfield, Mass., he earned his dental degree and a doctoral degree in anatomical sciences from UB.

Meenaghan was a diplomate and past president of the American Society of Osseointegration and a member of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, as well as several professional organizations.

He also was a member of the American Dental Association, American Association of Anatomists, International/American Association of Dental Research and Omicron Kappa Upsilon.

Meenaghan is survived by his wife, Barbara; four sons, John and Michael of Williamsville; Kevin of Ft. Mill, S.C.; and Joseph of Lockport; a sister, Kathleen Meenaghan of Springfield, Mass., and six grandchildren.