Professor, Department of Anatomy, School of Dentistry
1997
Bio:
Dr. Ettinger joined the University of Detroit School of Dentistry in 1967 as an Assistant Professor and Chairperson of the Section of Anatomical Science, Basic Science Department. In 1969 she was promoted to Associate Professor and granted tenure; in 1976 she was further promoted to the rank of full Professor also becoming the Chairperson of the Anatomy Department at the School.
In the Dean of the School of Dentistry nomination letter, Dr. Bruce Graham’s wrote “Dr. Ettinger is understanding, well organized and demanding. She has excellent rapport with the students who admire and respect her as an individual and a teacher. She has proven to be an excellent and astute student counselor and had unselfishly given her time in this endeavor.” In Sr. Fay's congratulatory letter she wrote “The thousands of students you have taught and mentored during your tenure here have greatly admired and respected you. Not only have your prepared them well for their careers you have motivated and encouraged them to use their talents to assist others. You have, in your thirty years at the University given generously of yourself to your students.”
In regards to professional service, Dr. Ettinger served on the Anatomical Board of the State of Michigan in multiple positions, as Secretary, Vice Chairman, or Chairman from 1982 to 1995. She served as Vice President and President of Omicron Kappa Upsilon from 1978 through 1981. In regards to community service Dr. Ettinger “worked with special programs for training underprivileged and deprived children in inner city public schools. She taught remedial reading and has spoken to school groups concerning the subjects of Gross Anatomy, higher education, and professional schools.”
Serving on both School and University committees were part of Dr. Ettinger’s commitment to higher education. She served on the Rank and Tenure Committee, Ad Hoc Committee for North Central Accreditation, Student Progress and Promotions Committee, Curriculum Committee, and the Dental Admissions Committee and its Subcommittee for Minority Admissions. She served on the Ad Hoc Faculty Evaluation Committee, Clinic Chairperson’s Program and Program Director’s Committee, Grievance Committee, Faculty Assembly, and Dean’s Executive Dental School Council.
Dr. Ettinger conducted research on kinesiology, effect of unequal lengths of legs in posture of high school students, autoimmune and collagen diseases, passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in chicks, isolation and identifying antimicrobial non-immunoglobulin substances in human milk, and antimicrobial effectiveness of gangliosides from milk of different species. She has published articles in Physical Therapy Review, Immunology, Journal of Immunology, Clinical Anatomy, and Journal of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery.
Dr. Ettinger earned a B.S. in Physical Education (1946) and an M.S. in Anatomy (1950) from the University of Wisconsin and a Ph.D. in Anatomy (1967) from the University of Illinois. She hold a Life Teaching Certificate, State of Illinois, with reciprocity with Michigan.
Dr. Ettinger was honored with Professor Emerita status on June 18, 1997 by Sr. Maureen A. Fay, O.P., Ph.D., President, University of Detroit Mercy.