San Antonio (Nov. 18, 2003) – James Mellonig, D.D.S., M.S., professor of dentistry and director of the Advanced Education Program in Periodontics at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSC), received the Outstanding Educator Award from the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP). This is the first time the AAP has presented this prestigious award.
The AAP has 7,800 members who are dental professionals specializing in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the gums and supporting s structures of the teeth, and in the placement and maintenance of dental implants.
The academy’s mission is to advocate, educate, and set standards for advancing the periodontal and general health of the public and to promote excellence in the practice of periodontics. Periodontics is one of nine dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association.
Dr. Mellonig has worked at the Health Science Center since 1989. He earned his doctor of dental surgery degree from Marquette University Dental School in Milwaukee, Wis. He has earned numerous awards and honors, including the Gold Medal award from the AAP in 1999. In 1996 he served as president of the AAP.
Dr. Mellonig has been a guest lecturer at various universities and conferences throughout the world. His research areas of interest include periodontal regeneration, bone allografts, bone inductive proteins, endosseous dental implants and guided tissue regeneration.
For more information about the AAP, visit www.perio.org/index.html.