The American Academy of Implant Dentistry recognized three dentists with the highest awards given by the Academy during its recently concluded 63rd Annual Meeting.
Named the recipient of the Aaron Gershkoff /Norman Goldberg Memorial Award was David Vassos, DDS, FAAID, DABOI/ID. Dr. Vassos' long and distinguished career in implant dentistry includes being a founding member of the Canadian Society of Oral Implantology. He achieved the status of Fellow of the AAID in 1985 and was elected an Honored Fellow by the Academy in 1993. Dr. Vassos became a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry in 1990. In addition to his outstanding career as an implant dentist, Dr. Vassos is a comedian who played the world-famous Comedy Club in Los Angeles. He also was the opening act for such top name entertainers as Tina Turner, Neil Sedaka and Charlie Pride.
The 2014 recipient of the Isaih Lew Memorial Research Award was Shahram Michael Ghanaati, MD, DDS. is the 2014 receipient of the Isaih Lew Memorial Research Award. This prestigious award is presented by the AAID Foundation to an individual who has contributed significantly to research in implant dentistry. Dr. Ghanaati is one of the youngest yet most recognized researchers in the field of head and neck onocology in the world. He is currently head of the ocological section of the Department for Oral,Cranio-Maxillofacial and Facial Plastic Surgery at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt. He also is a Visiting Professor at the University of Riga, Latvia and Visiting Research Fellow, Division of Biomaterials, Biomimetics and Biophotonics at King's College in London.
Larry Nalitt, DDS, AFAAID, has been named the recipient of the 2014 Paul Johnson Service Award.
The award recognizes the work of AAID volunteers who have gone "over and above" and highlight that much of the success of AAID is due to the hard work of committed volunteers. As a member of the Public Relations Committee this past year, Dr. Nalitt and all members of that committee, as well as the Board of Trustees were encouraged to become active in AAID's social media efforts, particularly on Facebook. Dr. Nalitt took this to heart and became one of the top five "influencers" on AAID social media channels. He was active in his participation on the Public Relations Committee. Previously, he served on the Membership Committee for two years.
Established in 1951, the AAID is the only implant organization that offers dental implant credentials recognized by state and federal courts as bona fide. Its membership, which exceeds 5,000, includes general dentists, oral surgeons, periodontists and prosthodontists from across the United States and in 40 other countries.
For more information about the AAID and its credentialed members, visit the American Academy of Implant Dentistry's website at www.aaid.com or call the AAID at 312-335-1550 or 877-335-AAID (2243).
