The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) is pleased to present multiple awards during its annual meeting on July 17-20, in Nashville, Tenn.
Distinguished Service Award
Presented to Bruce R. DeGinder, DDS, MAGD, and William D. Powell, DDS, MAGD, the Distinguished Service Award honors a council or committee member who serves the AGD in an outstanding manner, dedicating extensive time and energy to assure the continuity and integrity of AGD operations and developing new programs and services to meet the membership's changing needs
Dr. DeGinder, of Williamsburg, Va., is chair of the AGD Membership Council. He also has been president, legislative chair, component representative, and Young Dentist chair of the Virginia AGD. He has served as a delegate and alternate delegate to the AGD and has served on the Council on Constitution, Bylaws and Judicial Procedures.
Dr. Powell, of Gainesville, Texas, is chair of the Council on Dental Education. Dr. Powell has served as president of the Dallas AGD and scientific chairman of the Texas AGD. Dr. Powell founded the Dallas AGD Mastership Program and was the program's director from 1997-1999. He has been an AGD delegate since 1994 and is treasurer of the Texas AGD.
Albert L. Borish Award
Presented to Harold E. Donnell Jr., CAE, executive director of the AGD, from Wilmette, IL, the Borish Award is presented to a person whose dedication, tenacity, innovation, and leadership have benefited the dental profession and the dental health of the public.
Mr. Donnell began his exemplary career as AGD executive director in 1974, following eight years as executive director of the Maryland State Dental Association. Under his direction, the AGD grew from a small group of general dentists interested in fostering continuing dental education, into a worldwide association with 37,000 members and a staff of 80. Mr. Donnell is a driving force behind the AGD's Oral Health Literacy Project, which aims to incorporate oral health education into elementary and high school curricula. Mr. Donnell will retire this year.
Thaddeus V. Weclew Fellowship
Presented to James Williams Robbins, DDS, MA, of San Antonio, Texas, the Weclew Fellowship is awarded based on exceptional contributions to the art and science of dentistry and the promotion of the AGD principles and ideals. Dr. Robbins is a private practitioner in San Antonio, Texas, and a respected educator, author and editor. Dr. Robbins serves as a clinical professor, Department of General Dentistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio; and as a clinical assistant professor, Department of Operative Dentistry at Oregon Health Sciences University.
William W. Howard Academy Constituent Editors (ACE) Award
ACE Awards are presented to outstanding AGD constituent editors based on the writing, design and overall content of their newsletter. Winners of the ACE Award of Excellence are: Peter Laliberte, DMD, MAGD, of Maine's Pine Tree G.P.; Darlene Bassett, DDS, MAGD, of Louisiana's The Pelican's Pouch; Kathryn Poleson, DMD, MAGD, of Washington's Today; and Larry Scheitler, DDS, MAGD, of Florida's Florida Focus.
Fellows and Masters of the AGD
The 460 dentists that recieved the prestigious AGD Fellowship or Mastership Award come from nearly every state in the United States, from Canada and from as far away as Eastern Africa. What unites these far-flung dentists is their dedication to remain current in their profession and to provide excellent patient care. This led them to complete one of the most rigorous continuing dental education programs today and earn their Fellowship or Mastership honors.
The AGD awarded over 330 dentists with the Fellowship Award at its annual meeting. To earn the Fellowship Award, dentists must complete 500 hours of continuing dental education and pass a comprehensive written exam given by the AGD. To date, over 12,800 AGD members worldwide have earned Fellowship honors.
An additional 120 dentists received Mastership honors at the AGD's annual meeting. Dentists must complete more than 1,100 hours of quality continuing dental education in the 16 disciplines of dentistry, including 400 hours of hands-on courses, to earn the Mastership Award. To date, over 1,700 AGD members worldwide have earned Mastership honors.
