Dental Category Awards

Ten prestigious Dental Category Awards recognize dentists who work in agencies served by the United States Public Health Service (USPHS).  The awards recognize dentists across the span of their careers and all civil service, tribal hire, and Commissioned Corps officers are eligible.  The awards are presented only when deserving individuals are identified and nominated for their outstanding efforts.  We encourage you to formally recognize your extraordinary peers by nominating them for one of the following Dental Category Awards.

• Ernest Eugene Buell Award (only Commissioned Corps)
• Frank C. Cady Award (only Civil Service or Tribal Hire)
• Ruth Lashley Award (only Commissioned Corps)
• Vernon J. Forney Award (only Civil Service or Tribal Hire)
• Jack D. Robertson Award
• Senior Clinician Award
• Herschel S. Horowitz Oral Health Research and Policy Award
• Dental Responder of the Year Award
• Dental Mentor of the Year Award
• Surgeon General David Satcher Keynote Lecture Award

Dentists who have been selected as Dental Category Award recipients are proudly listed at: https://dcp.psc.gov/OSG/dentist/awardwinners.aspx. 

DENTAL CATEGORY AWARDS APPLICATION PROCESS

Nominations are accepted up through 1 August of each year.  Information on the nomination timeline and procedures, as well as eligibility criteria, can be found in the DePAC Bylaws Section IV.B.. 

Please direct questions you may have about Dental Category Awards or the application process to any of the Awards Workgroup members identified at: https://dcp.psc.gov/OSG/dentist/subcommittees.aspx.

The Awards Workgroup of the USPHS Dental Professional Advisory Committee (DePAC) solicits and processes all award nominations.  DePAC Voting Members review the nominations for particularly deserving individuals and make recommendations to the Chief Dental Officer.  The Chief Dental Officer considers the recommendations and then selects award recipients when merited.  Dental Category Awards are presented at the annual USPHS Symposium on the Dental Category Day.

DENTAL CATEGORY AWARD DESCRIPTIONS AND NOMINATION FORMS

Award nomination materials required for each submission include the award-specific nomination form, a Curriculum Vitae, and a Word document not to exceed two pages with a narrative substantiating why the individual is deserving of the award.  Narratives should describe the individual’s actions, the results of those actions, and the impact of those actions (e.g. created school sealant program and provided $7,500 in preventive treatment to 120 children reducing missed school days).  Only those actions performed while employed as a civil service, tribal hire, or Commissioned Corps dentist in federal agencies served by the USPHS are considered.  After reading award descriptions below, click on the hyperlinked award name to download the award-specific nomination form.  Additional eligibility requirements can be found in the DePAC Bylaws Section IV.B. Please see the Narrative Template and Guidance document for additional details on writing the narrative.  

• The Ernest Eugene Buell Award was established in the Commissioned Corps Centennial Year of 1989, in commemoration of the first USPHS Commissioned Corps Dental Officer, CAPT Ernest Eugene Buell.  He was commissioned in June 1919 as part of the Marine Hospital Service Division of Marine Hospitals and Relief.  The award is presented to an outstanding CC dental officer who has made significant professional contributions in the provision of oral health services.  Dental officers must have served in the CC for at least 1 year before the nomination deadline.  They must have graduated from dental school fewer than 8 years before the nomination deadline.

• The Frank C. Cady Award was established in commemoration of Dr. Frank C. Cady, the first USPHS dental officer employed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.  Dr. Cady served as the Dental Supervisor for three years and organized a comprehensive dental program focused on prevention through education and restorative services.  The award is presented to an outstanding civil service or tribal hire dental officer who has made significant professional contributions in the provision of oral health services.  Nominees must have been employed as a dentist in federal agencies served by the USPHS (e.g. Indian Health Service, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Food and Drug Administration) for at least 1 year before the nomination deadline.  They must have graduated from dental school fewer than 10 years before the nomination deadline.

• The Ruth Lashley Award was established in 2005 in commemoration of CAPT Ruth Lashley who served a long and distinguished career in the Federal Bureau of Prisons.  The award is presented to an outstanding CC dental officer who has made exceptional professional contributions in the provision of oral health services or program management.  Dental officers must have served in the CC for at least 5 years before the nomination deadline.  They must have graduated from dental school fewer than 15 years before the nomination deadline.

• The Vernon J. Forney Award was established in commemoration of Dr. Vernon J. Forney who served as Dental Supervisor for the Bureau of Indian Affairs from 1950 to 1955.  Under his leadership, Dr. Forney procured dental equipment, expanded the dental workforce, developed regional dental programs, created dental assistant training schools for youths in high school, and established Preventive Service Units to expand access to fluoride and other preventive treatments.  The award is presented to an outstanding supervising civil service or tribal hire dental officer who has made exceptional professional contributions in the provision of oral health services or program management.  Nominees must have been continuously employed as a dentist in federal agencies served by the USPHS (e.g. Indian Health Service, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Food and Drug Administration) for at least 5 years before the nomination deadline.  They must have graduated from dental school more 10 years before the nomination deadline.

• The Jack D. Robertson Award was established in 1982 in honor of CAPT Jack D. Robertson who served a long and distinguished career in the USPHS.  The award is presented to an outstanding senior CC dental officer whose professional performance exemplifies dedication, service, and commitment to the USPHS.  Dental officers must have served in the CC for at least 8 years and have attained the grade of O-5 before the nomination deadline.  They must have graduated from dental school more than 15 years before the nomination deadline.

• The Senior Clinician Award was established in 2001 to recognize an outstanding civil service, tribal hire, or CC dental officer with exceptional clinical knowledge, skills, and abilities.  Dental officers must have graduated from dental school more than 15 years before the nomination deadline and work in a billet providing predominantly clinical services.

• The Herschel S. Horowitz Oral Health Research and Policy Award was established in 2005 to recognize CAPT Herschel S. Horowitz who had a distinguished career as a researcher, educator, and dental public health specialist.  He helped improve the nation’s health through research and action to extend the use of fluoride for professional, public health and self-care applications.  He was also the first professional to study oral health cost benefits  and effectiveness. The award is presented to outstanding civil service, tribal hire, or CC dental officers who improve the nation’s oral health by applying clinical and research findings to manage federal programs or who influence and develop oral health policy with a regional, national, or international impact.  Nominees must have been employed in agencies served by the USPHS for at least 15 years at the time of the nomination deadline. 

• The Dental Responder Award was established in 2006 to recognize a CC dental officer who made significant contributions to local, regional, national, or international public health preparedness and response activities.  Dental officers must have served in the USPHS for at least 1 year before the nomination deadline.

• The Dental Mentor Award was established in 2011 to recognize outstanding mentors as evidenced by their significant contributions towards enhancing the professional growth and career development of civil service, tribal hire, or CC dental officers.  Dental officers must have been employed by the USPHS for at least 4 years and achieved the rank of O-4 in the CC or GS-12 in the civil service or tribal hire equivalency at the time of the nomination deadline.

• The Surgeon General David Satcher Keynote Lecture Award was established in 2002 to recognize Surgeon General Admiral David Satcher who served simultaneously as Assistant Secretary for Health and as the Surgeon General.  He was the first Surgeon General appointed as Admiral in the Commissioned Corps and he was committed to health promotion and disease prevention.  Surgeon General Satcher included oral health as part of general health and well-being and championed reducing health inequities.  The award recipient delivers the keynote lecture during the Dental Category Day of the annual USPHS Symposium.