Arthur Nimmo Retires After 39 Years in Education

Susan and Arthur Nimmo
Susan Nimmo, D.D.S., M.P.H., and Arthur Nimmo, D.D.S., FACP, at “Himmo’s” retirement party.
Since it could be confused to have two Dr. Nimmo’s at the college, they earned the loving nicknames Shimmo and Himmo.

On May 2, 2022, Arthur Nimmo, D.D.S., F.A.C.P., a tenured professor, retired from the University of Florida College of Dentistry as an emeritus professor following 39 years as a dedicated dental educator, with 23 of those at UF.

Nimmo joined the college in 1999 as a tenured professor.  He served as chairman of the Department of Prosthodontics from 1999 to 2005 and from 2010 to 2011.  Nimmo was appointed as director of the predoctoral implant dentistry program in 2009 and served in this capacity until his retirement.

Nimmo earned his bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Oneonta in 1975 and his dental degree from the University of Maryland in 1979.  He served two years as a commissioned officer in the United States Public Health Service and then went on to complete an advanced education program in the dental specialty of prosthodontics in 1983.  Nimmo has had faculty appointments at three dental schools: the University of California San Francisco, Temple University, and the University of Detroit Mercy prior to coming to Florida in 1999.

Nimmo has been active at the national level, serving as President of the American College of Prosthodontists from 1999 to 2000, Commissioner on the ADA Commission for Dental Accreditation (CODA) from 2001 to 2005, and as President of the American Board of Prosthodontics from 2016 to 2017.

At the college level, Nimmo provided leadership to the UFCD Promotion and Tenure Advisory Committee over the past decade, serving as chair for three two-year terms.  He has mentored many faculty members during his academic career.

Dr. Nimmo
Arthur Nimmo, seated in his “emeritus” chair from the University of Florida, with, from left, Dr. Deborah Dilbone, Dr. Josephine Esquivel, and Dean Isabel Garcia.

Nimmo contributed to the education of more than 3,200 general dentists and countless prosthodontic specialists on the use of implants in dental care during his career, and was regarded as an excellent, detail-oriented educator.

“Dr. Nimmo had a lovely way of inserting humor between critiques. His keen eye to detail inspired me to be hyper-critical, but his humor added the right amount of balance. He really ignited my joy for getting things right while finding humor along the way,” said Claire Sayoc, D.M.D., a member of the class of 2019.

In recognition of his teaching efforts, Nimmo received a Sustained Exemplary Teaching Award from UFCD in 2019.  He also was honored with a three-year University Term Professor award that recognizes faculty who have had a distinguished career that places them among the leaders in their discipline.

Nimmo is already enjoying his retirement, spending his time with his wife, Dr. Susan Nimmo, children, grandchildren and will devote more time to piano, Pilates, gardening, travel, and cooking.  He will continue to serve as a guest examiner for the American Board of Prosthodontics.