Ernest Newbrun, DMD, PhD, Professor Emeritus, received the title of honorary Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Public Health at the annual meeting in Portland , Ore., on March 20, 2009 .  

Dr. Reginald Louie, President of ABDPH, made the presentation:

I am delighted and honored to announce that the Board has unanimously and enthusiastically voted to bestow honorary Diplomate Status to Dr. Ernie Newbrun. “Ernie” is extremely well known to all of us. Now a Professor Emeritus of Oral Biology and Periodontology at UCSF School of Dentistry, Dr. Newbrun has a long and distinguished career which includes a lifetime of contributions to improve the public’s oral health.

Dr. Newbrun received a BDS from the University of Sydney, a Master of Science from the University of Rochester, a DMD from the University of Alabama, a PhD in biochemistry and also a Certificate in Periodontology from the University of California.

Dr. Newbrun is not only a world reknown researcher and a prolific author, he has been a devoted teacher, mentor and advocate for public health measures to prevent oral diseases. Through his work and advocacy in support of community water fluoridation, Dr. Newbrun has helped numerous communities throughout this nation and in other countries including Central and South America to adopt fluoridation.

Dr. Newbrun has given selflessly of his time to the dental public health community whenever asked to participate in panel discussions, or to testify to support fluoridation. He has received numerous awards and honors for his work, including honorary degrees from the University of Lund and the University of Sydney, a presidential citation from the ADA, the ADA’s Council’s Choice award after completing 20 years of service on their national Fluoridation Advisory Committee, the Dental Caries Research award from the IADR, and the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award from the UCSF School of Dentistry.

Please join us in congratulating our colleague, friend, mentor and now honorary diplomate, Dr. Ernie Newbrun.

(Source: UCSF School of Dentistry NewsBrief, April 27, 2009)