Two Dental School faculty members from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio recently received national awards.

In November, Lloyd K. Croft, D.D.S., a part-time faculty member in the Department of Periodontics, received the Gold Medal Award from the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP).

Earlier in the fall, Joseph Connor, D.D.S., M.A., assistant professor of comprehensive dentistry, received the Golden Apple award from the American Dental Association for inspiring careers in dental education.

Lloyd K. Croft, D.D.S., received the Gold Medal Award from the American Academy of Periodontology.
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Outstanding contributions to field of periodontics
Dr. Croft received the American Academy of Periodontology’s highest award — the Gold Medal Award — for his many contributions to the periodontology profession and to the 8000-member American Academy of Periodontology. The award was presented by AAP President Donald S. Clem, D.D.S., a 1984 graduate of the periodontology residency program at the Health Science Center.

Dr. Croft first became involved in the AAP while serving on the student loan committee in 1975. He served on the AAP Board of Trustees from 1987 to 1990, where he participated on the executive, budget, audit and nominations committees.

However, his hallmark work was helping to establish the AAP Foundation (AAPF). During his involvement with the AAPF, he guided it to become an efficiently run and financially independent entity that supports the profession, provides scholarship funds for aspiring periodontists, as well as teaching and research fellowships for top periodontal residents who intend to go into education.

Dr. Croft then became active in the AAPF, serving on the advisory committee from 1993-1995, as a foundation board member in 1996, then as vice president in 1998 and president in 1999. “During my tenure as president, a strong bond was established between the AAP and the AAPF, and the Gerald M. Bowers Fund for the AAP was created,” Dr. Croft said. “Our goal was to raise $1.5 million in five years. Instead, we raised nearly $2 million within three years,” Dr. Croft said.

“The campaign accomplished several key goals. It enabled the foundation to be self-sufficient, freeing the academy from having to support it. It also enlarged the AAPF donor pool with new corporate and individual donors,” he said. A Visionary Society was established to create the opportunity for legacy funding for the foundation.

Dr. Croft was in private practice for 31 years in Dallas and served as an associate clinical professor of periodontics at Baylor College of Dentistry, where he taught and mentored numerous periodontal students. He later retired and moved to the San Antonio area where he joined the Health Science Center as an associate clinical professor in 1998. He continues to provide educational experiences on a volunteer basis for graduate dental students.

Joseph Connor, D.D.S., M.A., received the Golden Apple award from the American Dental Association.

Building dental students’ self-confidence
Dr. Connor, who teaches in the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry, has many attributes that encourage dental students to grow in both confidence and skill, as noted in the nomination letter submitted by senior dental student Symon B. Stanley and was supported by a number of current and former students.

“Dr. Connor’s teaching style is one in which he does not dictate or teach ‘at’ his students but rather presents himself and his formidable knowledge with grace and humility. For me, this has created the impression that he is not only a teacher but a lifelong learner who understands what it means to be a lifelong student,” Stanley said — a useful approach for the continually evolving field of dentistry.

Stanley noted that Dr. Connor is respectful when communicating with patients and tactful when coaching students so that patients do not lose confidence when their dental treatment plan must be altered.

“He uses neither a carrot nor a stick to motivate, but rather keeps the door of learning open to us so that we may forge ahead boldly and achieve our highest degree of possibility. We can forge ahead because his actions instill confidence that is he available when we need him. This creates an environment of interdependence rather than dependence. Dr. Connor fosters necessary skills of judgment, self-assessment and self-growth for each of us. These will be crucial skill sets when we are serving as our own guides and teachers in our private practices,” Stanley said.

Dr. Connor received the award at the ADA’s 22nd annual Golden Apple Awards ceremony in September. Upon receiving the award again in front of his Health Science Center colleagues at the Dental School's annual Faculty Development Day & Dinner in October, Dr. Connor said, “We all share the responsibility and the privilege of teaching, and that is reward enough in itself, but it is really a special experience to be given an award for doing something we love.”