News & Events
Retired City Tech Professor Inducted Into Project Hope Hall of Fame
In recognition of his volunteer service and exceptional commitment to the mission of Project Hope (Health Opportunities for People Everywhere), retired New York City College of Technology Professor Cecil Frith, Department of Restorative Dentistry, was approved by the Project Hope Board of Directors in October 2007 for induction into the project’s Hall of Fame.
Professor Frith served as an educational consultant with Project Hope in the country of Portugal. He was instrumental in developing a program of Restorative Dentistry Technology at the School of Dentistry in Lisboa, Portugal, and provided hands-on teaching techniques to restorative dentistry faculty.
Induction into the project’s Hall of Fame is an honor rarely bestowed and one reserved exclusively for those individuals who have volunteered their time and talent as a “Hopie.” Professor Frith’s name has been entered into the Donor Hall of Fame Record at the Project Hope Headquarters in Millwood, Virginia, and will remain there permanently.
Established in 1958, Project Hope enjoyed the enthusiastic support of U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who gave the project a decommissioned navy hospital ship named U.S.S. Consolation. It was painted white and renamed the S.S. Hope, becoming a floating platform for volunteer American physicians and nurses working side by side with local doctors and other medical professionals worldwide.
The 15,000-ton ship had three operating rooms, a pharmacy, isolation ward, radiology department, and closed-circuit television so visiting local doctors and students could observe operations. It also carried its own freshwater plant and the "iron cow" – a machine that blended powdered milk and fats into 1,000 gallons of milk a day, for use on the ship and distribution among the malnourished at global ports of call.
The medical crew usually included 100 doctors and 150 nurses, whose primary job was to teach American practices in specialties from neurosurgery and physical therapy to dentistry and public health. While the ship has been retired, Project Hope has greatly expanded its outreach and now operates in more than 32 countries on five continents, sharing health, education and humanitarian aid with men, women and children worldwide.
“I am so proud to be associated with Project Hope,” says Professor Frith, “just as I am proud to be a former member of the City Tech faculty. I am especially grateful for the inspiration provided by Professor Nicholas Manos, chair of the Department of Restorative Dentistry, who always encouraged faculty to contribute their time and talent not only to the College, but to people in need throughout the community and larger world.”
Restorative dentistry department faculty were delighted to learn of the honor bestowed on their former colleague. “We are greatly pleased for the recognition given Professor Frith by Project Hope,” says Professor Manos. “As one of the very few professionals in dentistry who received national certification in three specialties, Cecil was widely published and lectured extensively. He also designed the first tutorial program in the country on health and safety – a program that has been used nationally for technologists to recertify.
“Moreover, Cecil was always a team player and you could count on him to get the job done and done right the first time. He consistently received the highest student and classroom ratings during his tenure at City Tech. It was an honor having Professor Frith as a faculty member as well as a friend and supporter of the department and College community. Our sincere congratulations to him for this well deserved recognition.”
11/21/07
