
Dr. Steven Olsburgh (1974-2022)
Dr. Steven Ralph Olsburgh was an outstanding orthodontist based in Lausanne, Switzerland. Endowed with excellent technical skills, he shone through with kindness, gentleness and professionalism. He was greatly appreciated by his patients and their parents, his colleagues, his staff and anyone who had the chance to know and be in contact with him. He was consistently portrayed by his warm smile and his desire to bring the most beautiful smile to everyone. His academic and clinical excellence was widely recognized.
His passion for orthodontics began at the same time as his own orthodontic treatment! As a youngster, he asked his orthodontist, Dr. Olivier von der Mühll in Lausanne, if the latter would agree to him being present during the care provided to his patients. Naturally, in the face of such enthusiasm, Dr. von der Mühll accepted and young Steven went to his practice dressed in white to do his first internship.
Around the age of 16, Steven did an internship with another orthodontist in Lausanne, Dr. Georges Herzog, who recounted this episode as follows:
"Steven was a memorable encounter for me, the day when, as a high school student, he came to my practice and asked if he could spend a few days in my orthodontic practice, as he dreamed of taking up this profession. I was impressed by the gentleness, determination and enthusiasm he expressed at the time, and I was not surprised to see him a few years later, fulfilled at having realized his dream.”
Dr Olsburgh obtained his dental degree at the Geneva University in 1997 and his doctorate in 2000. He then received his certificate in orthodontics and MS in Craniofacial Biology in 2003 under the direction of Prof. Glenn T. Sameshima at the University of Southern California (USC) where he later became Clinical Assistant Professor.
Dr. Olsburgh has won prestigious awards including the Prix Ernest Métral (University of Geneva, 2001), The Golden Plier - Symbol of excellence in Orthodontics Award (USC, 2003) and the Thomas M. Graber Award of Special Merit for the best research work in North America (AAO, 2004).
On his return to Switzerland, Dr. Olsburgh had his specialization in orthodontics recognized by the Swiss Dental Association SSO. In 2004, he took over Dr. Olivier von der Mühll's practice, the same one where he had completed his first internship as a child, and devoted himself to it with passion and love for his profession. The practice grew in renown, expanded considerably and featured both cheerful furnishings and a warm appearance, topped off by Dr. Olsburgh's caring and radiant smile. Dr. Olsburgh practiced there until his very last days in November 2022.
It should be noted that Dr. Olsburgh was deeply involved in the Société Vaudoise des Médecins-Dentistes (SVMD), where he was a member of the committee from 2006 to 2021. He was driven by an everlasting desire to help his peers and patients.
Dr. Olsburgh was able to perpetuate this desire through the Olsburgh Smile Foundation, which he created shortly before his death.
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