The John W. Knutson Distinguished Service Award in Dental Public Health
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
. An award of $1,500 and a commemorative plaque are presented by Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals of the Colgate-Palmolive Company.
John W. Knutson was the first dentist to be president of APHA, in 1957. He collaborated with Henry Klein in the 1937-47 Hagerstown studies of the epidemiology of dental caries. In the 1940s he studied outcomes of dental referral programs and systematically researched topical fluoride effectiveness. He made seminal contributions to the understanding and implementation of public health dentistry.
John P. Rossetti, DDS, MPH, the 2008 awardee, received his dental degree from West Virginia University and his MPH in Health Planning/Policy, Regulation, and Clinical Management from the University of California, Berkeley. He completed a Dental Public Health Residency at the Office of Chief Dental Officer, Public Health Service, in Rockville, Md. in 1986, and in the same year became a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Public Health.
Beginning his public health career as a Peace Corps volunteer in Puerto Rico and Panama, Dr. Rossetti
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| John Rossetti accepts the Knutson award from Susan Ferrante, Sr. Manager Academic Relations of Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Howard Pollick presiding. |
continued his commitment to excellence as a dental officer with the U.S. Air Force in Thailand in 1972 and with the Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. He continued his distinguished service with the USPHS, Indian Health Service (IHS) until he became the Assistant Chief for Dental Health Services for IHS from 1986 until 1989. Dr. Rossetti then served as Chief Dental Officer at the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), until his current position as the lead Head Start Oral Health Consultant to MCHB and HRSA.
Dr. Rossetti is a leader in the areas of training, policy development, strategic planning, implementation, coordination and evaluation of oral health programs with an emphasis in systems building. He has provided outstanding leadership in oral health needs assessment, Special Olympics, child abuse prevention, and the Healthy People 2000 dental sealant objective. His efforts have led to sponsorship of national meetings such as the National Oral Health Conference, creation of the Head Start Consultant Manual, and support of state oral health program development. He is also responsible for the establishment of a national oral health systems development grant program for states and communities, a national MCHB funded school-based/school linked dental sealant program, a state fluoridation grant program, the HRSA/MCHB Oral Health Resource Center, and the National Oral Health Policy Center.
Dr. Rossetti has received numerous awards that recognize his exemplary and distinguished career in dental public health. He has served on over 70 governmental and non-governmental advisory committees, and is a member of many public health organizations. He has been an APHA member since 1980.
One of his colleagues wrote: "John's record of humanitarian contributions extend far beyond the field of oral health. His work speaks volumes about his concern for his fellow human beings, especially for those often referred to as the underprivileged, making Dr. John Rossetti a well deserving recipient of the 2008 John W. Knutson Distinguished Service Award in Dental Public Health."
[Go to www.apha-oh.org/Knutson/index.htm for previous Knutson Awards]
Call for Nominations for the 2009 Knutson Award
APHA Oral Health Section
Nominations for the John W. Knutson Distinguished Service Award are being accepted.
Criteria include:
· Outstanding contribution to improve oral health in the United States.
· Distinguished career at the local, state, national or international level in dental public health practice, academia, military, business or industry.
· Leadership in the profession.
· Significant accomplishments.
· Past or present member of APHA.
Nomination procedure:
· Submit a curriculum vitae or biographical information of nominee.
· Letter(s) of recommendation for this award.
Please send nomination package to:
Charla J. Lautar, RDH, PhD
Chair, Knutson Award Committee
School of Allied Health/MC 6615
Southern Illinois University
Carbondale, IL 62901
cjlautar@siu.edu
FAX: (618) 453-7020
Further information: Charla Lautar at (618) 453-7211 or 453-8860 or www.apha.org.
Deadline for submission: May 29, 2009
Tax-deductible contributions can be made to the APHA Oral Health Knutson Memorial Account. Click here for the APHA Donation Form.