David vs Goliath, Round 2

It is in writing this book that I am attempting to tell the story of a young cowboy from Julian, California, and his attempt to bring forth some innovative changes to the field of medicine; specifically, it is a story of the oral and maxillofacial surgeries and inventions over his lifetime and how his ultimate battle with the FDA is much like the classic David Vs. Goliath.

It is a bit easier to review and tell the story from the vantage point of a person who has lived for 87 years and counting. It is also somewhat easier to be more reflective as to what God is doing in one’s life from that vantage point. Although this story reaches its climax in my battles with the FDA, it is in seeing the hand of God working in most, if not all, of the earlier, smaller battles which give a person the courage and knowledge to directly address Goliath.

The reader may say, well, Dr. Christensen is certainly no David, and that reader would be right. The important lesson to take from this small work is that our God is more than able to bring to pass whatever He desires in your life, at whatever time of life, IF you are willing to let Him.

Now let me set the stage a bit. In later chapters I will cover much of my early life, from the Roaring 20s through the Great Depression, to WWII, the Korean War, and the 1950s --- all the way through the first decade of the 21st century. It has been a time of great changes and a time than anyone 20 years of age or younger will likely not understand, but I will give it the old college try.

I first want to say that I truly believe that our God has a calling and plan for each one of us, for each of our lives, great and small. No life is more important than another, despite the often outrageous salaries received by star athletes and Hollywood celebrities. In his word, He states: “I know the thoughts I have for each of you, to give you good and not evil.” – Jeremiah 29:11


Being born in New York City in 1925 maybe has a few drawbacks, but it also has its advantages. My mother, Eva Sutherland, who was in college at Columbia University at the time, married a dentist named Dr. Charles J. Brophy. His family was all immigrants from Ireland and of modest means. He put himself through dental school at the New York College of Dentistry, graduating in 1913. He and mother had three children: my older brother, Charles, me, and my sister, Shirley. Within a period of six years, however, my father died, and my mother was left to raise her three children.

My story will relate mostly to my own experiences as the middle child, and how I was directed by God to follow in the footsteps of my father, Charles J. Brophy, into the dental profession.

The book will fast forward through my life as a young cowboy in Julian to when I graduated from dental school, entered the service in the Navy (twice), to when I served as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon at the Marine base in San Diego --- and to when I finally opened my own surgery practice in Pasadena, California, in 1952.

In my earlier years, I will give the reader a little idea of the still primitive nature of the oral surgery techniques, mentioning “hot point Percy” and “burr hole Grant”; I will then take the reader through some of my early innovations along with the battles and attacks that often ensued.

This story will culminate some sixty years later in my battle with the modern day Goliath, the FDA, and how a modern day David came face-to-face with Goliath and came away victorious --- again (as history repeats itself).

Like Pope John Paul II and his personal inspiration from God, his advice to people of all nations is to “be not afraid, for God is with you” in their search for truth; I could not have said it any better myself.