Selection criteria for awards given each year for outstanding contributions to the AAP and the profession of periodontics.

Nomination and Selection Process

Nominations

We encourage you to nominate yourself or your fellow members for these prestigious awards.

  • You must complete a nomination form. For each nomination, please complete either the online form or the PDF version of the form, which you may complete on your computer and then mail, fax, or e-mail to the AAP.
  • You, the nominator, must provide a general statement on the nominee’s qualifications. A nominee’s achievements must match the award criteria.
  • AAP will notify award recipients.

Selection Process

  • Nominations for the Gold Medal, Master Clinician, Outstanding Periodontal Educator, Distinguished Service, Distinguished Scientist, Special Citation, Humanitarian, Honorary Membership, William J. Gies, Clinical Research, and R. Earl Robinson Regeneration awards will be forwarded to either the Volunteer Qualifications and Awards Committee, Education Committee, or Research Submissions Committee. The committees will review all nominations and submit recommendations to the Board of Trustees, which will select the recipients.
  • Award recipients are announced following the Spring Board of Trustees meeting. The awards will be presented during the Annual Meeting.
  • DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF NOMINATIONS (INCLUDING STATEMENT) IS JANUARY 31 in order to be considered for that year’s awards.

You may submit as many nominations as you like in any of the following ways:

Online Nomination Form
E-mail
Fax 312-787-3983
Mail Amanda Firlit
Manager, Advocacy and Strategic Communications
737 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 800
Chicago, IL 60611

If you e-mail, fax or mail your nomination, you may download the individual forms linked below under the award’s title. Before you e-mail a form, be sure to save it on your computer with the information you have entered.

Questions?
Please contact Amanda Firlit,  or 800-282-4867.

Gold Medal Award

Nomination Form
The Gold Medal Award is given in recognition of outstanding service to the Academy and contributions to the understanding of the field of periodontology and the diagnosis and treatment of periodontal diseases. It is the highest honor bestowed by the Academy.
Previous recipients

Award
The recipient receives a Gold Medal.

Criteria

  • Nominees must have made contributions to the Academy and to the field of periodontology in more than one area.
    • Contributions must have been made over a period of 25 years or more.
    • Services may include, but are not limited to, predoctoral or postdoctoral education, committee activity, or continuing education or contributions to the literature.
    • Nominees should have held leadership positions in the Academy, including service on the Board of Trustees; leadership positions in the American Board of Periodontology or the American Academy of Periodontology Foundation.
  • Nominee must be an Active, Life Active, Retired, or International member of the Academy.
  • Members of the AAP Board of Trustees and the Volunteer Qualifications and Awards Committee are not eligible.
  • Previous recipients are not eligible.

Master Clinician Award

Nomination Form
The Master Clinician award is presented to an Academy member who has practiced and demonstrated consistent clinical excellence in periodontics and who has willingly and unselfishly shared that clinical experience with members of the profession. The recipient is held in the highest esteem by the periodontal community and is recognized as a master clinician in periodontics.
Previous recipients

Award
The recipient receives a certificate of recognition.

Criteria

  • Nominees must have evidenced the characteristics of a master clinician through:
    • Demonstrating exceptional clinical skills.
    • Sharing knowledge through continuing education presentations at local, regional and national periodontal meetings.
    • Having been active in the field of periodontology for not less than 15 years.
  • Nominee must be an Active, Life Active, Retired, or International member of the Academy.
  • Members of the Board of Trustees and the Volunteer Qualifications and Awards Committee are not eligible.
  • Previous recipients are not eligible.

Distinguished Service Award

Nomination Form
The Distinguished Service Award is presented to an Academy member selected for distinguished service to the Academy in more than one area over a period of not less than 20 years.
Previous recipients

Award
The recipient receives a certificate.

Criteria

  • Nominees must have made contributions to the Academy in more than one area.
  • Contributions must have been made over a period of 20 years or more.
  • Services may include, but not limited to, pre-doctoral or post-doctoral education, committee activity, continuing education, and publication.
  • Service in a leadership position in the Academy which includes, but is not limited to, officer, trustees, the American Board of Periodontology or the American Academy of Periodontology Foundation.

Eligibility

  • Must be a member of the Academy.
  • Members of the Board of Trustees and the Volunteer Qualifications and Awards Committee are not eligible.
  • Previous recipients and recipients of the Gold Medal or Presidential awards are not eligible.

Nominations and Selection Process

  • The Volunteer Qualifications and Awards Committee submits up to three nominees with appropriate supporting material to the spring meeting of the Board of Trustees.
  • The Board of Trustees votes to select the recipient.

Presentation
The award is presented at the Annual Meeting.

Distinguished Scientist Award

Nomination Form
The Distinguished Scientist Award is presented to an Academy member who has actively contributed to the basic science and/or clinical science of periodontology through published literature and may have contributed to pre- or postdoctoral education and/or scientific conferences or symposia.
Previous recipients

Award
The recipient receives a certificate.

Criteria

  • Has contributed to the basic science and/or clinical science of periodontology.
  • Contributions must have been made over a period of 20 years or more.
  • Has had scientific contributions published and may have presented at scientific conferences, symposia, continuing education courses or predoctoral/postdoctoral lectures.

Eligibility

  • Nominee must be an Active, Life Active, Retired, or International member of the Academy.
  • Members of the Board of Trustees and the Volunteer Qualifications and Awards Committee are not eligible.
  • Previous recipients and recipients of the Gold Medal award are not eligible.

Nominations and Selection Process

  • The Volunteer Qualifications and Awards Committee submits up to three nominees with appropriate supporting material to the spring meeting of the Board of Trustees.
  • The Board of Trustees votes to select the recipient.

Presentation
The award is presented at the Annual Meeting.

Outstanding Periodontal Educator Award

Nomination Form
The Award for Outstanding Periodontal Educator recognizes an exemplary periodontal faculty member whose career demonstrates excellence in teaching and is an inspiration to students.
Previous recipients

Award
The recipient receives a certificate.

Criteria

  • Nominees must have made a consistent and significant impact on teaching and educational innovation in periodontics over the course of their career, as evidenced through:
    • 2 letters of support from institution (i.e. Deans, Chairs).
    • 3 letters of support from students and alumni.
    • Curriculum Vitae
  • Nominee must be a current Active, Life Active, or Retired Academy member. If you have any questions about eligibility please contact [email protected].
  • Members of the AAP Board of Trustees and the Education Committee are not eligible.
  • Previous recipients are not eligible.

Special Citation

Nomination Form
Special Citations are awarded to individuals for a specific contribution to the Academy. The citation is awarded for outstanding work on an Academy committee or special project.
Previous recipients

Award
The recipient receives a certificate.

Criteria

  • Nominees must have made a specific contribution to the Academy through a committee assignment, special project or other work performed by the Academy.
  • Contribution(s) must have been made during the past two years.
  • Nominees need not be members of the Academy.
  • Members of the Volunteer Qualifications and Awards Committee are not eligible.

H. Dalton Conner Humanitarian Award

Nomination Form
The H. Dalton Conner Humanitarian Award is presented to an Academy member who has given selflessly through extraordinary actions that benefit a deserving population. The award acknowledges the member’s selfless act.
Previous recipients

Award
The recipient receives a certificate.

Criteria

  • The act(s) should reflect a member’s contribution in terms of time and/or expertise.
  • The act(s) should be ongoing and reflect a commitment to service for a period of not less then 5 years.
  • The act(s) should serve to benefit a deserving population in the United States or abroad.
  • The act(s) should serve as an inspiration to others.
  • Nominees must be members of the Academy.
  • Members of the AAP Board of Trustees and the Volunteer Qualifications and Awards Committee are not eligible.
  • Previous recipients are not eligible.

Honorary Membership

Nomination Form
Honorary members shall be chosen from those individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the art and science of periodontology.
Previous recipients

Award
A certificate of Honorary membership.

Criteria

  • Honorary members shall be chosen from those individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the art and science of periodontology.
  • Individuals qualified for Active membership in the Academy are not eligible.
  • Academy staff and paid consultants are not eligible.

Clinical Research Award

Nomination Form
The Clinical Research Award is presented to the most outstanding scientific published article with direct clinical relevance in periodontics. The paper should present new information which may be readily used by practitioners in the evaluation and/or management of patients with periodontal diseases.
Previous recipients

Award
Recipients are given a certificate in recognition.

Criteria
Articles must meet the following criteria:

  • Followed scientific methods for a human study.
  • Published in a refereed scientific journal during the previous calendar year.
  • Published in English.
  • Directly apply to the practice of periodontics.
  • Provide new information.

Eligibility

  • Authors need not be members of the Academy

R. Earl Robinson Regeneration Award

Nomination Form
This award was established by Dr. R. Earl Robinson (1922-1995) to encourage research in periodontal regeneration. It is presented to the author(s) of the peer-reviewed published paper that has contributed most to the knowledge of periodontal regeneration in a given calendar year. The research work can be either in the basic or clinical sciences.
Previous recipients

Award
Recipients receive a plaque and a cash award, underwritten by the estate of Dr. Robinson and provided by the AAP Foundation.

Criteria

  • Articles must meet the following criteria:
    • Published in a refereed scientific journal during the previous calendar year.
    • Made a major contribution to the knowledge of periodontal regeneration.
  • Authors need not be members of the Academy.

Eligibility

  • Authors need not be members of the Academy

ADA Norton M. Ross Award

Nomination Form
The Norton M. Ross Award for Excellence in Clinical Research acknowledges an individual who has made significant contributions in clinical investigations that have advanced the diagnosis, treatment and/or prevention of craniofacial-oral-dental diseases as well as outstanding research accomplishments in other areas.

Award
The recipient will receive a $5,000 cash prize and a plaque that will be presented at a dinner held during an ADA Board Meeting in Chicago.

Criteria
Selection of the recipient will be based upon:

  • The scope of the nominee’s research with special emphasis on its impact on clinical dentistry
  • Publication in refereed journals. Award recipients typically demonstrate a high level of creativity and innovation.

Balint Orban Memorial Program (Orban Competition)

Named in honor of Dr. Balint Orban, a member of the Academy who was influential in developing the scientific foundations of contemporary periodontics, this competition is open to students currently enrolled in accredited periodontal programs in the United States and Canada or those who graduated less than 18 months ago. Eight finalists, selected on the basis of written abstracts, are invited to present oral presentations at each Annual Meeting. Finalists receive airfare and one-night’s housing in the meeting city. First place winners (two – one for basic science; one for clinical science) will receive monetary awards of $1,250 each ($625 in case of a tie) and a certificate of recognition. Finalists will receive a certificate of recognition. Information on submitting abstracts can be found in Meetings information on the Academy’s website each year from January to March.
Previous recipients

William J. Gies Award

The William J. Gies Award in memory of Arthur Hastings Merritt is presented by the William J. Gies Foundation for the Advancement of Dentistry for outstanding contributions to the field of periodontology.
Previous recipients

Award

The recipient receives a monetary award of $500 and a certificate of recognition.

Criteria

Nominees should have made significant contributions to the periodontal literature and the advancement of dental education.

Nominations and Selection Process

  • The Research Submissions Committee submits three candidates with appropriate supporting material to the spring meeting of the Board of Trustees.
  • The Board of Trustees selects three nominees in rank order.
  • The nominees and supporting documentation are submitted to the Gies Foundation, which selects the recipient in accordance with eligibility requirements established by the Gies Foundation.