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Source: Robin Ainsworth, DDS, MS, Odontology Section Secretary
It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that Dr. Paula Brumit passed away last Friday, December 17, 2021.
Dr. Brumit’s contributions to forensic odontology were considerable. Dr. Brumit was actively engaged in both the American Board of Forensic Odontology and the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS), dedicating her time for the betterment of each organization. She served in multiple leadership positions in each organization as well as served on the Board of Directors for both AAFS and the Forensic Specialties Accreditation Board. She served as a forensic consultant for several medical examiners in Texas and had been appointed to the Texas Forensic Science Commission Bitemark Case Review Team, the National Institute of Standards & Technology Organization of Scientific Area Committees Odontology Subcommittee, Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team, and the Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) National Dental Image Repository Review Panel for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Academically, Dr. Brumit held an appointment as Assistant Professor in the Department of General Dentistry, Division of Forensic Odontology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center Graduate School of Medicine (UTGSM) in Knoxville, TN. In this capacity, she taught dentists who are in both the Fellowship in Forensic Odontology and the Masters in Forensic Odontology programs. For nearly two decades, she taught as an adjunct Assistant Professor for the Center for Education & Research in Forensics (CERF) at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio with the Forensic Fellowship Program.
Dr. Brumit worked tirelessly with those dentists who are interested in becoming forensic odontologists. She has mentored countless dentists who have either already earned board certification or were working toward that goal. Dr. Brumit provided invaluable guidance and personal support to her mentees in a way that only she could. She was approachable and mentored in a fashion that reflected her vast knowledge without patronizing or minimizing her mentees. Dr. Brumit was always ready and willing to help others. Her passing leaves a void in our community that cannot be filled.
Paula’s obituary may be found HERE.
Memorial donations in Paula’s honor may be made to the Nocona Volunteer Fire Department at 100 Clay St., Nocona, Texas 76255, or Rathgeber Hospitality House at 1615 12th St., Wichita Falls, Texas 76301, where the family stayed during Paula’s illness.