CHICAGO, Illinois – The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) announced today a $1 million commitment to the American Academy of Periodontology Foundation (AAPF) in support of initiatives to promote academic careers in periodontics.

"The Academy’s $1 million commitment to the American Academy of Periodontology Foundation is an investment in the future of periodontics," said Vincent J Iacono, DMD and AAP president. "This commitment will enable the Foundation to offer awards that provide added incentives for talented young periodontists to pursue an academic career in periodontics."

"I can’t think of a better time to be a periodontal educator," Iacono continued. "Innovations in regeneration, periodontal plastic surgery and dental implants have changed the scope of therapy, and advances in tissue engineering, microsurgery techniques and host modulation offer exciting opportunities for the future. By recruiting the best and brightest to educate tomorrow’s practitioners, we are making a commitment to the specialty and the patients it serves."

"The Foundation is delighted to be the stewards of the Academy’s $1 million commitment to education," explained S. Jerome Zackin, DMD, AAPF President. "This commitment builds on the Foundation’s mission to improve the periodontal health of the public by enhancing educational programs and opportunities in periodontology. The Foundation has announced two new awards designed to recruit and retain the best periodontal educators: The AAP Educator Scholarships and the AAP Teaching Fellowships."

The AAP Educator Scholarship is intended to support future periodontal faculty by awarding $50,000 to students who have been accepted into or are currently in a U.S. periodontal postdoctoral training program and who intend to enter full-time teaching at a U.S. program. The AAP Teaching Fellowship is a $50,000 award given to qualified faculty members within their first three years of teaching at a U.S. periodontal training institution. This award is given at the end of each year of full-time teaching.

"The institution must agree that the Fellowship will not replace any stipend or salary to which the recipient is entitled," explained Zackin.

Potential candidates may apply for the awards each year for three years, and recipients of other Foundation awards may also apply. The applications deadline is July 1, 2006. More information about AAP Foundation educational awards is available online or by contacting the Foundation at (800) 282-4867 or Sharon@perio.org. Up to four awards will be announced at the 2006 AAP Annual Meeting in San Diego.

The American Academy of Periodontology Foundation is dedicated to improving the periodontal health of the public by increasing public and professional awareness of periodontal diseases; stimulating and supporting clinical research and the generation of new knowledge; and enhancing educational programs and opportunities in periodontology.

The American Academy of Periodontology is an 8,000-member association of dental professionals specializing in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the gums and supporting structures of the teeth and in the placement and maintenance of dental implants. Periodontics is one of nine dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association.

SOURCE: American Academy of Periodontology

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