Elizabeth Dianne Rekow, BSME, MSME, MBA, DDS, MS, Certificate in Orthodontics, and PhD (1944-2022), was a dental science futurist pursuing brave new paths during her career. She was one of the pivotal scientists who initiated the CAD/CAM movement in the 1980s and went on to focus on digital dentistry for the rest of her career. Her professional contributions involved seven patents, 92 peer-reviewed publications, 10 book contributions, 31 proceeding contributions, and well over 100 national and international presentations. She was an avid supporter of women in science. Her greatest contribution was her expansive imagination. She served as 35th president of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research in 2006-2007 and 88th president of the International Association for Dental Research in 2011-2012. The present article reviews key elements of her career and includes testimonies from friends about her special relationships.
Keywords: CAD-CAM; artificial intelligence; biomaterials; ceramics; engineering; restorative dentistry.