The John W. Knutson Distinguished Service Award has been presented by the American Public Health Association, Oral Health Section 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.
John W. Knutson was the first dentist to be president of the APHA. He collaborated with Klein in the 1937-47 Hagerstown studies of the epidemiology of dental caries. In the 1940’s he studied outcomes of dental referral programs and systematically researched topical fluoride effectiveness. He made seminal contributions to the understanding and implementation of the roles of dental health and dentistry in public health.
2008 Awardee: John P. Rossetti, DDS, MPH
The 2008 awardee, John P. Rossetti, DDS, MPH, received his dental degree from West Virginia University and his Master of Public Health 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, Maryland, 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 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 U.S. Public Health Service, 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 has a remarkable career in the field of dental public health. He 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 programs related to 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 a member of the American Public Health Association 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 as the underprivileged, making Dr. John Rossetti a well deserving recipient of the 2008 John W. Knutson Distinguished Service Award in Dental Public Health."
The Oral Health Section acknowledges and thanks Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals for their continued support of the John W. Knutson Award.