Texas A & M College of Dentistry
REFLECTIONS
Triplett reflects on profession , friendship with award namesake Robert V . Walker
by Kathleen Green Pothier
Dr . Robert G . Triplett , Regents Professor in oral and maxillofacial surgery , recently received the Robert V . Walker Distinguished Service Award from the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons . For Triplett , the award is even more meaningful and humbling because he personally knew and admired the man for whom the award is named . from 1991 to 2007 and served as interim chair from 2019 to 2020 . Triplett has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed articles . He served as chief of the oral and maxillofacial surgery division at BUMC from 1991 to 2020 and was primary liaison between the hospital and the dental school . Triplett served 21 years with the U . S . Navy Dental Corps .
Triplett was a first-year resident in Bethesda , Maryland , 50 years ago when he met Walker , a 1947 alumnus of Texas A & M College of Dentistry , which was known then as Baylor University College of Dentistry .
“ He was a magnificent and inspiring individual who cared deeply about his patients and oral and maxillofacial surgery education . He was a strong leader , clinician and humanitarian ,” says Triplett , who was “ fortunate to know him socially and professionally .”
Triplett was recognized at the AAOMS 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting , Scientific Sessions and Exhibition in October . The fulltime faculty member at the College of Dentistry — who is also an attending surgeon at Baylor University Medical Center and Scottish Rite for Children — was honored for significant contributions to oral and maxillofacial surgery .
“ We have been so fortunate to have had Dr . Robert Triplett as an outstanding member of the faculty for 29 years ,” says Dr . Lawrence Wolinsky , dean . “ His impact on the practice and profession of oral and maxillofacial surgery , our students and alumni and , most importantly , the patients he serves is immeasurable .”
In 1998 , Triplett was named Regents Professor by The Texas A & M University System Board of Regents . He chaired the College of Dentistry ’ s oral and maxillofacial surgery department
Texas A & M College of Dentistry ( formerly Baylor College of Dentistry ) in Dallas is a part of Texas A & M University and Texas A & M Health Science Center . Founded in 1905 , the College of Dentistry is a nationally recognized center for oral health sciences education , research , specialized patient care and continuing dental education . Learn more at dentistryinsider . tamhsc . edu or follow @ TAMUdental .
Kathleen Green Pothier is communications coordinator at Texas A & M College of Dentistry . She previously worked at Positively Proofed , where she wrote and edited content for corporate clients , publications and motivational speakers . She also was a writer and editor at The Dallas Morning News , Houston Post and Beaumont Enterprise . Pothier has a journalism degree from the University of Nebraska .
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