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Ed Redman recognized at Staff Recognition Luncheon

(submitted by Bruce Moxley)

Thank you to Dr. Precious and Rita for the opportunity to say a few words about Ed Redman and his career with the Faculty of Dentistry.

Thank you to all of you - staff, faculty, family and friends of Ed and Glenda for coming to this lunch – what a wonderful turn out to acknowledge both of your contributions and careers!!

A special welcome to staff from University Computing and Information Services who worked with Ed since 1998 when Ed was transferred to Academic Computing Services.

Ed’s first day at the Faculty of Dentistry was September 21st, 1983. His first job title was Data Coordinator and his supervisor was Betty Lou Hudson – she resigned one week later – quite an impact Ed!!?? Ed’s first office was the same one he retired from on May 25th, 2007 – and I think there were bits of every work type Ed has experienced in that 25 years in that office.

While I cannot verify it, I suspect Ed might have been one of the very first people in Canadian and perhaps North American Dental Schools directly involved in computer use for a dental clinic. That was because of the influence of Dr. John Eisner, Associate Dean at the time. Dr. Eisner had at least three staff developing/programming a clinic management information system and Ed’s responsibility was the data entry from three part NCR forms, completed by students and faculty members, into that first data system. Those forms became known as chits and Ed must have handled tens of thousands of them – I know I helped him store and eventually shred the last of them – I don’t believe I saw any tears on his face when that process ended after ten or eleven years - although he may have one at home secretly framed to remind himself of those days!? Updating and correcting and checking chit data entry was an onerous task especially at year-end – the chit system required students to directly interact with Ed if there were errors or omissions or late chits brought in by students – it was a job I would not have enjoyed but Ed made it work – well done Ed!

Within one year of joining the Faculty of Dentistry, Dr. Eisner formed a unit called Dental Management Information Systems or DMIS as it was known. Ed became a member of this unit along with a Director, two or three programmers, a secretary, hardware specialist and Ed as data coordinator. In this unit, Ed was part of the introduction of the first of the individual workstations in 1985 – the HP 150s.

In 1986, and in addition to his work, Ed became a Union Shop Steward – a position where he would support staff members and which he carried out dutifully for 20 years.

While DMIS directors and staffing changed a lot over the years, Ed quietly maintained the chit system and made the effort to learn a lot about computer programming and computer technical support knowledge and skills. The last Director of DMIS was Doug Schaller and Marg. Redden was the secretary. By 1993/94 budget cuts saw these positions eliminated.

While at one time the computer equipment supporting the clinic information system developed by Dr. Eisner filled an entire room, by 1994 one large desk top computer could do it all. By late 1995 Joey Baron, the hardware specialist, had resigned and Ed and Chris Webster were the only two computer support staff left in the Faculty of Dentistry. Students began entering their own data on HP workstations from chits instead of Ed.

In 1997, Chris Webster, the last programmer on the clinic information system, resigned leaving Ed Redman as the last staff member of DMIS. Working with me by that time Ed accepted responsibility for all IT systems in the Faculty of Dentistry which by this time included supporting the clinic information system and all macintosh and pc workstations and printers.

The clinic information system was by now out of date and had to be replaced. The year 2000 was coming and the old system could not adapt to the date change. The number of individual workstations was now approaching 100. The Faculty needed to develop a more comprehensive service and a new clinic system. During 1997 and 1998 the Faculty negotiated a service contract with University Academic Computing Services, ACS, which included moving Ed into ACS in the hope that he would have more support in his computing services work. The contract included support from the Carlton Computer Lab for faculty and staff workstations so that Ed could focus on a new clinic information system. Ed’s supervisor in ACS, Alan Thomson, and his co-workers in the Carlton Lab, Craig and Peter are here today a long with Ed’s replacement Sandi.  I want to thank them for the support they gave Ed and the comprehensive IT support they now give the Faculty of Dentistry.

Ed was instrumental in helping the Faculty implement the new Clinic information system called Axium in 1998. His knowledge and efforts helped install and set-up the new system, roll over the data from the old system, install and support nearly 80 clinic workstations and keep them all standardized. Along with Exan staff in Vancouver, he got us though the year 2000 date changeover. In the last few years he has helped us struggle with the implementation of digital radiograph workstations and he designed and developed many new reports for management and teachers.

Ed made an extra effort to update and improve his knowledge and skill sets throughout his 25 years with the University as technology and job responsibilities changed around him. That is not always easy and the Faculty did not always have all the support structures in place to assist him with those changes. He persevered and I thank him for that. For a number of years I had no one else to depend on for advice and direction.

Ed made many friends at the University and in the Faculty and ACS but I am certain the one who will miss him the most is Robert Creaser – Ed’s office was Robert’s coffee shop – I don’t know what Robert will do in his absence!?

In addition to supporting his University community through his shop steward work, Ed also supported and continues to support his home community of Porter’s Lake with his contributions to the Boy Scout movement. I understand he is continuing this contribution.

Ed – on behalf of the Faculty of Dentistry and Academic Computing Services and from me personally a big/Heart Felt thank you for a job well done.

Please come forward to accept a token of appreciation from Dr. Precious on behalf of the Faculty.