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Annual Session Awards, Named Lectures, and Programs

RESEARCH AWARDS | SERVICE AWARDS | INNOVATION AWARDS | AJO-DO AWARDS | NAMED LECTURES |
ORAL RESEARCH, TABLE CLINIC, & E-POSTER PROGRAMS

Research Awards

AAO Initiatives Supporting Orthodontic Education

The AAO and the AAOF have collaborated to support fellowship awards and grant programs for orthodontic residents, students and junior faculty at accredited graduate orthodontic residency programs.

Milo Hellman Research Award

The Milo Hellman Research Award was established by the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) in 1958. Prior to 1958, the award was referred to as the Research Essay Contest. The Milo Hellman Research Award is open to any United States AAO member, Canadian AAO member or any person affiliated with an ADA or CDA accredited orthodontic program serving as a teacher, researcher or graduate student/resident. The award is for an original investigation that gives some new and significant material of value to the art and science of orthodontics. This award is presented at the AAO Annual Session.

The application for this award is available in March. The deadline to apply is October 1.

Harry Sicher Research Award

The Harry Sicher Research Award was established by the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) in 1976. The Harry Sicher Research Award is open to any graduate student/resident affiliated with an ADA or CDA accredited orthodontic program. These awards are for research efforts performed during graduate orthodontic education at the Certificate, Masters or PhD levels. The award is for an original investigation of significance and value to the art and science of orthodontics. This award is presented at the AAO Annual Session.

The application for this award is available in March. The deadline to apply is October 1.

Thomas M. Graber Awards of Special Merit

The Thomas M. Graber Awards of Special Merit was established by the AAO in 2002. Applicants for the Harry Sicher Research Award will be considered for the Thomas M. Graber Awards of Special Merit. This award is presented at the AAO Annual Session.

The application for this award is available in March. The deadline to apply is October 1.

Dr. William R. Proffit Resident Scholar Award

The Dr. William R. Proffit Resident Scholar Award program was established by the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) in 2004. The Dr. William R. Proffit Resident Scholar Award offers an opportunity to graduate students/residents to present clinical science and basic science research using narrative material and a posterboard. This award is presented during the AAO Annual Session.

The application for this award is available the first week of December. The deadline to apply is February 1.

Joseph E. Johnson Clinical Award

The Joseph E. Johnson Clinical Award recognizes a clinician(s) judged most deserving of those presenting Table Clinics at the AAO Annual Session.

Louise Ada Jarabak Memorial International Teachers and Research Award

Annually, the AAOF BOD selects the recipient of the Jarabak Award from nominations received from AAO Constituent Societies. This award is presented at the AAO Annual Session.

Lifetime Achievement Award in Orthodontic Research Lecture

The Lifetime Achievement Award in Orthodontic Research was established by the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) in 2015. The award recognizes those individuals who have made significant contributions to the science related to the specialty of orthodontics over the course of their lifetime. This award is presented at the AAO Annual Session.

Service Awards

Eugene and Pauline Blair AAOF Distinguished Service Award

The Eugene and Pauline Blair, American Association of Orthodontists Foundation, Distinguished Service
Award recognizes to a person, group of persons or an organization who, in the judgment of the members of the Board of Directors of the American Association of Orthodontists Foundation, has/have made exceptional contributions to the furtherance of the mission and goals of the Foundation.

James E. Brophy Distinguished Service Award

The Distinguished Service Award was established by the Board of Directors of the American Association of Orthodontists in 1963 and was renamed the James E. Brophy AAO Distinguished Service Award by the House of Delegates in 1986. The award is presented to those who, in the judgment of the Award Committee, have made contributions to orthodontics in addition to other valuable and devoted services to the Association and to its membership. This award is presented at the AAO Annual Session.

Humanitarian Award

The Humanitarian Award was established by the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) in 2011. The award recognizes significant contributions to improve the quality of human life that extend beyond the usual scope of private practice, academic functions or organized dentistry. This award is presented at the AAO Annual Session.

Outstanding Contribution Award by a Non-Orthodontist

The AAO Distinguished Service Award Committee is requesting nominations for the AAO Outstanding Contribution Award by a Non-Orthodontist for 2026. The Committee is composed of the eight most recent past presidents, each representing one of the eight constituent organizations. This award is presented at the AAO Annual Session.

Albert H. Ketcham Memorial Award

The memorial is awarded annually to the orthodontist or some other person who, in the judgment of the award committee, has made a notable contribution to the science and art of orthodontics. This award is presented at the AAO Annual Session.

Innovation Awards

Ortho Innovator Award

Introduced in 2018, the Ortho Innovator Award recognizes ideas that could revolutionize orthodontic treatment or practice management. This award is presented at the AAO Annual Session.

AJO-DO Awards

B.F. and Helen E. Dewel Award for Clinical Research

The Dewel Award is given annually to the highest-rated clinical research article published in the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics during the previous year. The prestigious award was established in memory of Dr. B.F. Dewel, a 1925 graduate of the University of Iowa and former editor of the AJO-DO (1968-1978).

CDABO Case Report of the Year Award

The College of Diplomates of the American Board of Orthodontics sponsors an award that recognizes the best case report published in the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics the prior year. The judges for this award are CDABO officers.

David L. Turpin Award for Evidence-Based Research

In December 2010, the Board of Trustees of the American Association of Orthodontists approved the creation of a new award to be given annually by the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. This award honors Dr. David L. Turpin, Editor of the AJO-DO from 2000 to 2010. It is given to the highest-rated systematic review published in the AJO-DO during the previous year. This award was given for the first time in 2012.

Wayne G. Watson Award for Biologic or Experimental Research

In September 2012, the Board of Trustees of the American Association of Orthodontists approved the creation of a new award to be given annually by the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. This award honors Dr. Wayne G. Watson, Editor of the AJO-DO from 1978 to 1985. It will be given to the highest-rated biologic or experimental study published in the AJO-DO during the previous year.

Named Lectures

Edward H. Angle Lecture

The Edward H. Angle Lecture, sponsored by the University of Tennessee, is an honorary lecture sponsored by annual and/or perpetual donors. It is a way to memorialize and honor individuals who have contributed to the rich heritage of the orthodontic specialty. This lecture features a specific aspect or issue of current clinical, academic or research interest that has its roots in the history of orthodontics and is significant to the contemporary practice of orthodontics or future direction of the orthodontic specialty. This lecture has been part of the AAO Annual Session since 1998

John Valentine Mershon Memorial Lecture

Mrs. Harriett Worrall Mershon established the John Valentine Mershon Memorial Lecture in honor of her husband Dr. John V. Mershon. This lecture has been part of the AAO Annual Session program since 1960. Dr. Mershon was a professor of orthodontics at the University of Pennsylvania and developed the removable lingual arch appliance. He was also a pioneer in the application of biological principles in orthodontics. The lecture is administered by the AAO.

Jacob A. Salzmann Lecture

The family of Dr. Jacob A. Salzmann and his wife, Leah Wishoff Salzmann, established the Jacob A. Salzmann Lecture. This lecture has been part of the AAO Annual Session program since 1986. The lecture is administered by the AAO Foundation.

Oral Research, Table Clinic, & e-Poster Programs

The AAO’s Annual Session is one of the most visible, prestigious opportunities for you to present your latest research. You are invited to share your research findings with your colleagues through an Oral Research presentation, a Table Clinic or an e-Poster at the AAO Annual Session.