AUSTRALASIA

International Trustee Jonathan Rogers reports that their PFA Section held their breakfast meeting last March during the Australian Dental Association Biennial Congress. International President William Winspear and PFA Australia President Mark Sinclair were present. PFA President Bill Winspear gave the address, noting the induction ceremony for Dr. Percy Begg into the International Hall of Fame on June 1, 2007, at an Adelaide PFA Reception.

Forty-four new Fellows were presented for membership at their breakfast meeting. President Winspear noted that this is a tenfold increase in Australian membership over just a few short years.

CANADA

PFA Ontario Chairman Aldo Boccia reports that the Ontario Dental Association and the Canadian Dental Association will host a joint Meeting in Toronto in 2008. A formal dinner is being planned at the Sky Dome Hotel. A Toronto Blue Jays baseball game may be possible, and a side trip to the Shaw Festival at Niagara-on-the-Lake are in the works.

JAPAN

Section Chair Toshio Morioka, Professor Emeritus at Kyushu University, announced that the 38th Annual PFA Meeting for the Japan Section will be held in Sapporo City in Hokkaido, Japan on October 20-21, 2007, at the Congress Hall of Hokkaido Dental Association and Renaissance Sapporo Hotel.

United States

California, Northern Section

This past February, the Art Dugoni School of Dentistry (UOP) announced the appointment of PFA Fellow Craig Yarborough as Executive Dean to work with Dean Patrick J. Ferrillo, Jr. Dr. Yarborough's association with the dental school has been a long-standing commitment. He received his bachelor's degree from UOP's Stockton campus in 1977 and his dental degree from UOP in 1980. He has served as a faculty member and administrator for 26 years.

Fellow Art Dugoni is reported in the AADE Editor's Newsletter to be serving as the Honorary Chair of Dental Education: Our Legacy--Our Future. Dr. Dugoni, an orthodontist, has served as Dean of UOP's Dugoni School of Dentistry since 1978, is a past ADA President, past FDI Treasurer, former President of the American Association of Dental Schools, and President of the American Board of Orthodontics (to name a few outstanding dental roles).

California, Southern Section

USC Dean Harold Slavkin is the 2006 recipient of the ACD's William Gies Award, their highest honor, which is presented to an individual who has made exceptional contributions to advancing the profession and society.

Fellow James Crawford, past Executive Associate Dean of Loma Linda University's School of Dentistry, is one of six faculty members from the school who were honored for their contributions to their school's dental outreach programs. He received a Vanguard Award for contributions made to the LLU Adventists Health Science Service Center.

Fellow Cherilyn Sheets' Children's Dental Health Center in Inglewood received a PFA Foundation grant to help in the health education and treatment of children in poor families. Fellows Jim Vernetti and Terry Tanaka's Thousand Smiles Foundation also received a Foundation grant for their work in treating children with cleft palates and other oral malformations. (Dr. James Vernetti has just passed away.)

Fellow Charlie Goldstein was honored for his leadership role in USC's outreach program. Alpha Omega Dental Fraternity presented him with the Aaron B. Koran Meritorious Award for his humanitarian efforts. Young and Healthy, a nonprofit organization honored him with their J. Donald Thomas Award for his dedication, perseverance, and selfless devotion to the well-being of children.

Fellow Gary Harmatz was one of seven USCV faculty members who led 33 dental and hygiene students to Costa Rica's back country to treat natives who otherwise would have no access to regular dental care. The group attended to the needs of over 700 children and adults.

Fellow Ed Cowan received the Sparkplug Award last year as the best Deputy Regent of ICD's USA Section.

Fellow Bruce O. Lensch was honored at the 6th Annual ICD/ACD Spring Awards Dinner Dance last April in Anaheim with the Lifetime Contribution to Dentistry Award and Excellence in Dentistry Award.

Dr. and Mrs. Philip J. Boyne were nominated as Outstanding Philanthropists at the annual National Philanthropy Day Luncheon cosponsored by the Association of Fund Raising Professionals Inland Empire Chapter and by the Los Angeles Times.

Fellow Leif K. Bakland was named Loma Linda University Alumnus of the Year.

Fellow Paul M. Johnson is the new District 7 Regent for ACD.

Fourteen new Fellows were honored with membership. We welcome Drs. Frank Ceja of National City, Clayton Fuller of Chula Vista, Devang M. Gandhi of Los Angeles, Ted F. Feder of Northridge, Barbara J. Kabes of La Jolla, Richard Marias of Burbank, Lester Machado of San Diego, Gerald Middleton of Riverside, David G. Milder of San Diego, Melissa D. Primus of Bakersfield, Ann Steiner of Yucaipa, Atul Suchak of West Covina, Janice M. Sugiyama of Carpinteria, and Carla Lidner-Baum of Riverside.

Fellow Francis S. Johnson passed away last year just shy of age 81. He was born and raised in Santa Barbara and practiced there since his graduation from USC in 1949, except during his service in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He retired from his prosthodontic practice in 1992. He was a leader in many dental organizations, having served as President of the Santa Barbara-Ventura Dental Society, Editor of the Journal of the Southern California Dental Association, President of the California Dental Association, and Founding Member of the Dental Insurance Company.

Georgia

Last issue we reported the passing of Dr. Michael Rainwater, which left his ADA 5th District Trustee's position vacant. PFA Fellow Marie Schweinebraten, a Norcross periodontist, has been selected to replace Dr. Rainwater on the Board.

Dr. Schweinebraten has served in the House of Delegates for many years and has been on the Council of Dental Benefits and the Strategic Planning Committee. Dr. Schweinebraten is graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, spent her military service in the U.S. Army Dental Corps until 1981, then opened her periodontic practice in 1983. She is a part-time faculty member for the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry. She had been President of the Georgia Dental Association (1999- 2000) and President of the Georgia Society of Periodontists (1992-1993). She is a Fellow in the PFA, ICD, and ACD.

Illinois

Our PFA Section cohosted their annual Luncheon during the 142nd Annual Chicago Midwinter Meeting last February, reports PFA Section Chair Chris Baboulos. Past President and Foundation TreasurerWilliam Kort (past CDS President) was honored with the Illinois Distinguished Dentist of the Year Award. President-elect James Englander, Secretary General Richard Kozal (past CDS President), Assistant Secretary Judy Kozal, and Trustees Daniel Castagna and Ernesto Acuna, along with Editor James Brophy, were present at the ceremony. ADA President Kathleen Roth and ADA President- elect Mark Feldman had lunch with our PFA Officers.

Iowa

Past PFA President C.F. Larry Barrett reports holding their Section Meeting in Iowa City last May to present their Dentist of the Year Award. International Trustee Steve Hedlund and Chair Fred Fuller were present as well.

Michigan

Past Section Chair Virginia Merchant was highlighted with an article in the AADE Editor's Newsletter. Dr. Merchant noted her service as a dental editor for the Detroit Dental Bulletin in 2000. In 2003, Dr. Merchant became Editor for the University of Detroit-Mercy School of Dentistry's alumni magazine, The Leading Edge. In her AADE article ''Thoughts on being an Editor.,''Dr. Merchant notes, ''I amcontinually amazed at the poor quality of material I get for the publication.

I don't know whether the authors think what they write is acceptable or just assume that someone will fix it.'' Another sage thought Dr. Merchant offers is, ''The biggest problem I have is getting people to meet deadlines, a seemingly incomprehensible concept for some.'' This editor agrees.

New York

Fellow Stephen B. Gold of Setauket is President-elect of the New York State Dental Association (NYSDA) and will become President in 2008. This constituent of the ADA represents more than 13,000 dentists in New York. Dr. Gold is a pediatric dentist and former President of the Suffolk County Dental Society. He has served on the NYSDA Board of Governors. He served as an ADA Delegate from 1988 to 1996 and as an alternate in 2005. He is the Director of the Department of Dentistry for St. Charles Hospital, where he earned the Theodore Roosevelt Award for outstanding service.

He is also a clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Children's Dentistry at the SUNY Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Gold is a Diplomat of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, an ICD Fellow, an ACD Fellow, and a PFA Fellow.

Oklahoma

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Oklahoma Dental Association, past ADA President Richard Haught (2004-2005) of Tulsa presented a bronze miniature statue of Pierre Fauchard to the Association during their ADA Board of Trustees Meeting last December at the Chicago ADA Headquarters. The ADA News reported on the presentation and acknowledged Pierre Fauchard as being ''renowned as the founder of modern dentistry.'' The original statue was sculpted by PFA Fellow and ODA past President Gary Gardner and was placed at the entrance of the ODA building in Oklahoma City last April during their annual meeting. The PFA International Officers were on hand at the ceremony. The new ODA building is located two blocks from the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry and two blocks from the Oklahoma State Capitol.

Pennsylvania

Past PFA President Nicholas D. Saccone has returned home after a series of operations and rehabilitation for his leg. He is in good spirits and wants to thank all of you for your cards, letters, e-mails, and calls during his time of stress.