Gary P. Brigham, 1948-2023

Dr Gary Brigham was a lifelong educator. His passion was to mentor others and illuminate orthodontics to the entire specialty. He spent numerous years preparing and giving inspiring lectures for Invisalign, residents, and peers. These teachings revealed his outstanding commitment to service. His mission was to be of service to others, even if they did not know they were being served. He lived on this mission and passed this message on to his beloved staff and colleagues. His dedication to his patients and loved ones was sincere and deeply felt by his community. Dr Brigham grew up in Cleveland, OH, where he completed all his education and training in dental and orthodontics. After graduating from Case Western Reserve University, Dr Brigham continued to expand his knowledge of craniofacial anomalies in Chicago, IL. During his time in Chicago, he served as an Associate Professor of Pediatric Medicine at the University of Illinois Medical Center. He then went on to complete one year of a PhD program in biological chemistry and nutrition. This is where he found enjoyment in whole-person health care. This PhD program was interrupted by the U.S. government with an assignment in Japan. After his service in the Air Force, Dr Brigham returned to the United States and started a practice in Scottsdale, AZ. Along with growing and nurturing his practice, he also raised his beloved daughter in Arizona. He spent the rest of his career focused on service to his patients, clinical excellence, and expanding his knowledge using the best and newest technologies. He was a pioneer in the field of orthodontics. Dr Brigham joined the Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health Postgraduate Orthodontic Program in 2014 as the designated Invisalign instructor. His exceptional teaching has tremendously impacted all the residents he taught over the last nine years. His students and colleagues, who benefited from his teaching and lectures, are deeply grateful. Moreover, Dr Brigham's enthusiasm for teaching orthodontics showed in the numerous lectures he gave nationally and internationally. Remarkably, he even dedicated himself to preparing his last webinar the day before his passing on December 25, 2023. Beyond orthodontics and education, Dr Brigham was a man of many talents. He truly enjoyed the arts by attending concerts, local shows, and productions by patients and colleagues. More impressively, he has even produced a movie that won several film awards. He also had a passion for music. In his early days, he participated as a band member and manager. Being left-handed dominant, he taught himself how to play piano and a right-handed guitar. Even in his later years, he spent his spare time playing piano. His generous contributions to the specialty and community will continue to carry on in the ones he has mentored, collaborated with, and cared for. Dr Brigham will be severely missed. It will be difficult to hold a candle to this man. May he rest in peace and continue to the universal consciousness, as he would always say.