2007 Awardee: Brian A. Burt, BDS, MPH, PhD
The awardee, Brian A. Burt, BDS, MPH, PhD, is Professor Emeritus, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health; and Professor Emeritus, School of Dentistry, at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Dr. Burt has distinguished himself in multiple capacities in dental public health, including conducting research, lecturing, consulting, publishing, editing and mentoring public health students. It is well recognized that Dr. Burt is responsible for many of our young, energetic dental public health leaders today, some of whom are current directors in various entities of the Dental Public Health community including academia, government, and other public and private organizations.
As a researcher he has been a principal investigator in many ground-breaking studies and has published more than 200 scientific articles, reports, and book chapters. Dr. Burt is the lead editor of “The Dentist, Dental Practice, and the Community” now in its 6th edition (2005); this textbook is an essential resource in the field and read widely by students, educators, and practitioners in dental, medical and public health fields. He also has served for many years as a sharp-minded reviewer and editor of leading journals of our professional field. Since 1997 he has been, and continues as the editor of Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology.
He has also served as president of the American Board of Dental Public Health.
Dr. Burt’s contribution to the field of Public Health through research, service, and teaching and mentoring has been well recognized by many other organizations, including receiving the H. Trendly Dean Award for Research Excellence from the International Association for Dental Research and the Distinguished Service Award from the American Association of Public Health Dentistry.
Throughout his illustrious career, Dr. Burt has worked actively to improve the quality of life through improved oral health for millions of people around the world and is particularly deserving of this award.