Australian awarded global dental education prize

The Dean of The University of Adelaide School of Dentistry, Professor Johann de Vries, has been awarded the most prestigious global prize in dental education.

Professor de Vries is the first Australian, and only the second non-North American, to receive the ADEAGies Foundation Award for Vision, Innovation and Achievement.

Only four people worldwide have been selected to receive 2012 awards for dental education from the ADEAGies Foundation, which evokes the legacy of William J. Gies (1872-1956), a US biochemist and dental education pioneer who established the American Association of Dental Schools in the early 1900s.

Nine awards in total were announced last week to individuals, institutions and industry for their outstanding contribution to dentistry.

Professor de Vries is a member of the National Advisory Council on Dental Health for the Federal Government on the future of dentistry in Australia.

He is also the current President of the Australasian Council of Dental Schools, a member of the Australian Dental Council and on the review panel for Health Workforce Australia, examining the scope of practice for dental hygienists, dental therapists and oral health therapists.

Professor de Vries is also a member of a number of boards, including at King Saud University, International Medical University and King's College London, as well as being a Visiting Professor at the latter.

He will travel to the United States in March 2012 to receive his award in person.