SAO Awards
Below is a list of all SAO awards, past recipients and a link to nominate yourself or a colleague for our annual awards.
Sharon Hunt Emerging Leader Award
In 2020, the SAO Board of Directors established a Sharon Hunt Emerging Leader Award to honor an emerging leader that has significantly advanced the mission of the SAO, Component Organizations, and/or the AAO.
You may nominate someone for this award. Please verify they have not previously received this award
Previous Recipients
- 2020 - Dr. Chris DeLeon (GA)
- 2021 - Dr. James Martin (NC)
- 2022 - Dr. Arghavan Welch (FL)
- 2023 - Dr. Angela McNeight (FL)
Citizenship Award
The SAO Citizenship Award, established in 1989, recognizes SAO members whose voluntary service activities exemplify dedication to community, democratic standards, and/or spiritual values, thereby creating a favorable public opinion about orthodontists.
You may nominate someone for this award. Please verify they have not previously received this award
Previous Recipients
- 1990 - Drs. Marvin Goldstein (GA), and Linn Tompkins (SC)
- 1991 - Dr. William Ditto (NC)
- 1992 - Drs. John Goodloe, III (VA), Frank Hines, Jr. (SC), and Robert Williams (TN)
- 1993 - Drs. John Bradshaw (TN), Anthony Spadafore (WV), and Fayette Williams, Jr. (MS)
- 1994 - Dr. William Oliver
- 1998 - Dr. Orrin Clifton (VA)
- 1999 - Drs. Michael McCombs (VA), and Shelley Phillips (MS)
- 2000 - Drs. James Caveney (WV), Robert Helmhold (FL), and Richard Svitzer (VA)
- 2001 - Dr. William Haltiwanger (NC)
- 2002 - Dr. Robert Escher (KY)
- 2003 - Dr. Jack Harrell, III (NC)
- 2004 - Drs. Daniel Joseph (WV), and Wright Pond (VA)
- 2006 - Drs. Tom Field (GA), and James Valentine (WV)
- 2007 - Dr. Hubert (Puck) Kiser (WV)
- 2008 - Dr. John Ferguson (GA)
- 2010 - Dr. Alex Willis (NC)
- 2011 - Drs. David Jones (VA) and Greg Lacy (WV)
- 2012 - Drs. Ernest Goodson (NC) and Julian Metts (VA)
- 2014 - Dr. William Silver (FL)
- 2015 - Dr. James Riley (VA)
- 2016 - Dr. William Parris (TN)
- 2017 - Dr. Dennis Ross (NC)
- 2018 - Dr. Henry Zaytoun, Jr (NC)
- 2019 - N/A
- 2020 - Dr. Miller Gibbons (NC)
- 2021 - Dr. Ryan Bowles (TN)
- 2022 - N/A
- 2023 - Dr. L’Tanya J. Bailey (NC)
The DeWayne McCamish Lifetime Achievement Award
The Lifetime Achievement Award, established in 2008, is presented to honor orthodontists and non-orthodontists who have contributed outstanding lifetime service to the Specialty of Orthodontics.
You may nominate someone for this award. Please verify they have not previously received this award
Previous Recipients
2009 - Dr. Henry Zaytoun, Sr. (NC)
2012 - Dr. J.M. Chadha (LA)
2013 - Ms. Sharon Hunt (Executive Director)
2018 - Dr. DeWayne B McCamish (TN)
2021 - Dr. Gary Inman (KY)
2022 - Dr. Mike Rogers (GA)
2023 - Dr. James Vaden (TN)
The Oren Oliver Distinguished Service Award
The Oren Oliver Distinguished Service Award, established in 1978, is presented to recognize an individual member of the Southern Association of Orthodontists who has given “above and beyond” the normal commitment to the SAO and has helped the Association to accomplish its mission.
You may nominate someone for this award. Please verify they have not previously received this award
Previous Recipients
- 1980 – Dr. William Buhner (FL)
- 1982 – Dr. Fay Culbreth (NC)
- 1983 – Dr. Donald Eifert (FL)
- 1987 – Drs. Grady Price (AL) and Walt Sheffield (GA)
- 1991 – Dr. Russell Greer (KY)
- 1992 – Drs. Hubert Kiser (WV), John Mattingly (KY), David Goodchild (GA), Russell Boyd (FL), and James Caveney (WV)
- 1994 – Dr. William Thompson (FL)
- 1996 – Mr. John Ottley (SAO Exec. Director)
- 1998 – Dr. William Wallert (VA)
- 1999 – Drs. Charles Smith (GA-posthumously) and Ralph White (TN)
- 2000 – Drs. William Mitchell (SC-posthumously) and Clark Browne (AL)
- 2001 – Drs. DeWayne McCamish (TN) and Ken Owen (NC)
- 2002 – Drs. John Harrison (FL), Don Toso (LA), and Mike Rogers (GA)
- 2003 – Drs. Tom Pryse (TN) and William Proffit (NC)
- 2004 – Dr. Watt Cobb, Jr. (NC)
- 2005 – Dr. Alan Helwig (VA)
- 2006 – Dr. Terence Walsh (LA)
- 2007 – Drs. Jack Beattie (FL) and Daniel Joseph (WV)
- 2008 – Drs. Richard Hewitt (SC) and Lionel Sadowsky (AL)
- 2009 – Dr. Albert “Buddy” Foy (AL)
- 2010 – Dr. Richard McClung (WV)
- 2011 – Dr. James Vaden (TN)
- 2012 – Dr. Page Jacobson (FL)
- 2013 – Dr. Gary Inman (KY)
- 2014 – Dr. Steve Tinsworth (FL)
- 2015 – Dr. Allen Moffitt (KY)
- 2016 – Dr. Eladio DeLeon (GA)
- 2017 – Dr. Rod Klima (VA)
- 2018 – Dr. John “Jay” Whitley (LA)
- 2019 – Dr. Robert Calcote (SC)
- 2020 - Dr. Brian Jacobus (FL)
- 2021 – Dr. Jeff Rickabaugh (NC)
- 2022 - Dr. Jeri Stull (KY)
- 2023 - Dr. Richard Williams (MS)
Orthodontic Legend Award
The Orthodontic Legend Award, established in 2008, honors the most admired and esteemed orthodontic educators. These individuals deserve to be honored for their many contributions to the Specialty – as educators, leaders, and mentors.
Previous Recipients
- 2008 – Dr. William Profit
- 2009 – Dr. Dr. John Casio
- 2015 – Dr. Dr. Henry Field
- 2016 – Dr. Dr. James Vaden
- 2022 - Dr. Eladio DeLeon
- 2023 - Dr. David Sarver
Faculty Lecture Award
The SAO Faculty Lecture, established in 2008, offers a platform for orthodontic faculty to present research via a lecture at the SAO Annual Meeting. Special consideration will be given to junior faculty.
Previous Recipients
- 2004 - Dr. Calogero Dolce
- 2005 - Dr. Paul Armbruster
- 2006 - Dr. Chris Martin
- 2007 - Dr. Eser Tufekci
- 2008 - Dr. Dipak Chudasama
- 2009 - Dr. Ching-Chang Ko
- 2011 - Dr. Tung Nyguen
- 2012 - Dr. Richard Ballard
- 2013 - Dr. Sylvia Frazier-Bowers
- 2015 - Dr. Daniel Levy-Bercowski
- 2016 - Dr. Ayman Al Dayeh
- 2017 - Dr. Eric Bednar
- 2019 - Dr. Lina Sharab
- 2023 - Dr. Christos Vlachos