Monday, Sept. 12, 2005

Catherine M. Flaitz, D.D.S., M.S., dean of The University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston, has just been named Texas Dentist of the Year by the Texas Academy of General Dentistry. Flaitz is the first female to win the award in the organization’s 41-year history. It is considered the most prestigious honor a Texas dentist can earn.

Flaitz, accompanied by her husband, John Hicks, D.D.S., Ph.D., M.D., received the award during a black-tie affair in Austin at the Renaissance Hotel on Friday, Sept. 9.

“Honored, humbled, elated and appreciative—I am not sure if any of these words can fully describe how pleased I am in response to being named the Texas Dentist of the Year,” Flaitz said. “This is by far one of the proudest accomplishments of my career. Having the opportunity to dedicate your life’s work to education, research and patient care, for the improvement of others’ quality of life, is a gift itself. But to be recognized by an organization such as the Texas Academy of General Dentistry, is absolutely heartwarming.”

“I am also proud to say that this award is a result of the talented students, staff, faculty and administrators I have had the opportunity to work with at the UT Dental Branch and the UT Health Science Center at Houston. I did not get here on my own. I have benefited from the support and loyalty of my UT family and alumni, to whom I am extremely grateful.”

The Texas Academy of General Dentistry is the second largest dental organization in Texas. Its nearly 2,500 members are dedicated to continuing dental education in general practice. To earn a nomination a dentist must demonstrate dedication to the profession, service to the community, commitment to the principles of continuing education and participation in other activities that indicate character and excellence.

Flaitz, who proudly accepts the award as the academy’s first female honoree, is no stranger to being a trailblazer for women in dentistry. Just last summer Flaitz was the first woman in the 100-year history of the UT Dental Branch to be named dean. And only a few months later, in the fall of 2004, she was the first dentist in the history of the UT Health Science Center at Houston to receive the President’s Scholar Award for Teaching Excellence.

Flaitz, a pediatric dentist, also specializes in oral and maxillofacial pathology in Houston. She graduated from the Creighton University College of Dentistry in 1978 and ever since has stayed involved in numerous professional organizations, including the Greater Houston Dental Society, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology.

Since 1998, Flaitz has traveled to Romania annually to treat pediatric HIV-infected and handicapped children. She also helped design a 5,000 sq. ft. medical/dental clinic attached to an orphanage and has trained Romanian dentists to treat these children.

 

This year’s nominees for the Texas Dentist of the Year award were:

*indicates one of our own UT Dental Branch graduates