The 2009 John W. Knutson Distinguished Service Award
in Dental Public Health

The APHA Oral Health Section is pleased to announce the 2009 John W. Knutson Award to R. Gary Rozier, DDS, MPH. The award will be presented at the APHA 137th Annual Meeting and Exposition in Philadelphia, at the Oral Health Awards Ceremony on Monday, Nov. 9, 2009, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

R. Gary Rozier, DDS, MPH, received both his dental and public health degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He served two years as a dental officer in the Army and a year in private practice. In 1976, he completed a Dental Public Health Residency Program through the Department of Environment Health and Natural Resources at Raleigh, N.C., in 1976. In that same year he initiated his academic career.

Gary’s commitment to dental pubic health became apparent with his involvement in the first comprehensive survey of oral health and work force issues in North Carolina. He has continued to contribute to the field through his publications on manpower needs, epidemiology, preventive services and access to care.

His expertise in dental public health is recognized through his role as an investigator or consultant for 35 grants and contracts. He is the author and coauthor of over 120 peer-reviewed articles. In addition, he has published books, book chapters, monographs, editorials, reports, commentaries and other scientific writings. He has served on many committees and panels for dental professional and public health organizations, private and public foundations, national research programs, and other entities. He has been an editor and reviewer for journals of dentistry, dental public health, dental education, and other health-related disciplines, and served as president of the American Association of Public Health Dentistry in 1990. He contributed to the section on community oral health services of the 2000 Surgeon General’s Report on Oral Health. His past editorship of the Journal of Public Health Dentistry demonstrated his high standards and enthusiasm for dental public health.
 
Receiving over 20 awards and honors himself, Gary has mentored and preceptored students who have won awards from dental, public health and research organizations at the state, national and international levels. He has been an active member of APHA, participating in policy workshops and advising on review panels.

One of his colleagues wrote: "Gary is a dedicated and exceptionally effective public health advocate who has distinguished himself in dental public health not only in the State of  North Carolina but also throughout the U.S….Gary rarely says ‘no’ when prevailed upon to undertake additional tasks in dental public health and we can always count on an excellent product….”  It is our pleasure to honor Dr. Rozier with the APHA  Oral Health Section 2009 John W. Knutson Distinguished Service Award in Dental Public Health.

About the Award
The John W. Knutson Distinguished Service Award has been presented each year since 1982 to honor an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to improve oral health in the United States. Its recipients have demonstrated sustained and exemplary accomplishments in the field of dental public health. An award of $1,500 is provided by Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals of the Colgate-Palmolive Company. An inscribed silver tray commemorating the occasion is presented by members of the APHA Oral Health Section.

Previous Recipients of the John W Knutson Distinguished Service Award

The members of the 2009 APHA Oral Health Section Awards Committee were:
Charla Lautar (Chair)
Larry Hill
Jane Steffensen
Jane Weintraub
John Rossetti