Atlanta – Carestream Dental is pleased to announce another successful year of sponsoring the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) Foundation in support of the Dr. D. Walter Cohen Teaching Award, which was presented at the American Academy of Periodontology’s (AAP) 2013 Annual Meeting. The meeting took place at the Philadelphia Convention Center in Philadelphia Sept. 27-Oct. 1. The 2013 award winner was Jonathan H. Do, DDS, a graduate of the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Dentistry.
According to the AAP Foundation, the number of qualified periodontal professors is decreasing, as most graduates feel the pressure of student loans or other obligations and bypass a teaching career to go directly into practice. To address this growing concern, the AAP Foundation offers a $10,000 award to jumpstart the teaching career of a deserving periodontal student. The AAP Foundation hopes the Dr. D. Walter Cohen Teaching Award will encourage students to consider becoming a professor of periodontal studies and further advancing the specialty.
After living with an undiagnosed case of periodontitis through his teenage years, Dr. Do is passionate about teaching dental students the importance of correctly diagnosing and treating periodontitis and knowing when it’s appropriate to refer a patient to a periodontist. Dr. Do plans to use the Dr. D. Walter Cohen Teaching Award to further his studies and aid him in his new position as a professor in UCLA’s periodontology department.
“The American Academy of Periodontology Foundation wants to ensure a bright future for periodontology by strengthening our future generations of students and educators,” said Dr. Robert Vitas, executive director of the AAP Foundation. “We’re thrilled for Dr. Do and know that he will put this award to good use, and we’re so happy that Carestream Dental has elected to support us in our endeavors over the years.”
The AAP Foundation award is in honor of Dr. D. Walter Cohen for his contributions to the study and practice of periodontology. Dr. Cohen was born and raised in Philadelphia, and earned his doctor of dental surgery degree from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Dental Medicine in 1950. Dr. Cohen established the school’s department of periodontics, serving as its first chairman, and later advancing to the roles of professor of periodontics, associate dean and dean of Academic Affairs, and president of the Medical College of Pennsylvania, all during his 35-year career at the university.
“Dr. Cohen consistently adopts new technology and sets a great example for those beginning their teaching career in periodontology,” said Marc Gordon, general manager of Carestream Dental’s U.S. equipment and software. “We are sponsors of the AAP Foundation and the Dr. D. Walter Cohen Teaching Award because of our dedication and commitment to the periodontology specialty.”
Third-year students of a nonmilitary accredited periodontal post-doctoral training program in the United States are eligible to apply for the Dr. D. Walter Cohen Teaching Award. Candidates must demonstrate excellent character and integrity, have a record of academic and personal achievements, and intend to pursue a full-time career in periodontal teaching and research.
For more information on the American Academy of Periodontology Foundation, please visit www.periofoundation.org. For more information on Carestream Dental and the company’s recent achievements, please call 800-944-6365 or visit www.carestreamdental.com/learnmore.
