Scott Tomar, D.M.D., Ph.D., received the 2011 H. Trendley Dean Memorial Award during the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) annual meeting in San Diego, Ca., in March 2011.
One of the highest honors bestowed by the IADR, the award recognizes distinguished accomplishments in research and development in the fields of behavioral science, epidemiology, and public health, and is supported by the Colgate-Palmolive Company.
“We are truly fortunate to have Scott on faculty in our college. His reputation, nationally and internally, as an expert in his field elevates the stature of our college and the university. He is highly deserving of this honor,” said Teresa A. Dolan, D.D.S., M.P.H., professor and dean.
Tomar is a professor in the department of community dentistry and behavioral science at the University of Florida College of Dentistry. Among his major research interests are the epidemiology and health effects of tobacco use; understanding and eliminating disparities in oral cancer prevention, detection, treatment, and outcomes; oral health surveillance; and facilitating access to prevention and treatment services for vulnerable populations. He currently serves on the IADR/AADR Publications Committee.
He earned his D.M.D. from Temple University, his masters in public health from Columbia University and his Ph.D. in public health in oral epidemiology from the University of Michigan.
He has served as an Epidemic Intelligence Service officer at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Office on Smoking and Health and has been a consultant to the World Health Organization, the CDC, the National Institutes of Health and the Florida Comprehensive Cancer Control Initiative.
H. Trendley Dean
The award is given in memory of H. Trendley Dean, the 21st President of the IADR and first dental officer of the National Institutes of Health, who was a pioneer investigator of water fluoridation in the prevention of tooth decay. With help from other investigators, dentists and other health investigators, he established that high amounts of fluorine in drinking water caused mottled enamel on the teeth, while at the same time precipitating lower rates of dental caries. The rest of Deans professional life was spent finding the optimal level of fluorine that would prevent tooth decay yet avoid staining teeth.
The International Association for Dental Research (IADR) is a nonprofit organization with more than 12,000 individual members worldwide, dedicated to: (1) advancing research and increasing knowledge to improve oral health, (2) supporting the oral health research community, and (3) facilitating the communication and application of research findings for the improvement of oral health worldwide.
To learn more about IADR, visit www.iadr.org.