Celebrating a rich history
Those who knew him say Dr. Norton Ross would have been humbled by all the hoopla and attention surrounding the award named in his honor. A noted researcher, academician, pharmacologist and philanthropist, Dr. Ross contributed significantly to oral medicine and dental clinical research before his death in 1990.
For 20 years, the Norton M. Ross Award for Excellence in Clinical Research has honored some of the best minds in dentistry.
The award is administered by the ADA and sponsored by the ADA Foundation, with support from Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products, a Division of McNeil-PPC Inc. It was created not only to recognize individuals for their significant clinical contributions to the advancement of the diagnosis, treatment and/or prevention of craniofacial-oral-dental diseases but also to ensure the memory of Dr. Ross’s commitment to the profession.
“The list of luminaries who have received the award reads like a Who’s Who of Clinical Research, and I’m certain that Dr. Ross would be proud to know his name is associated with these outstanding individuals and the contributions they have made to patient care,” said Dr. Arthur A. Dugoni, ADAF president.
Dr. Tony Volpe, a longtime friend and colleague of Dr. Ross, considered him a mentor and remembered him as being a “meticulous researcher,” who was always gracious, both personally and professionally.
“I think he would be very, very humbled by this award,” said Dr. Volpe, vice president, scientific affairs, Colgate-Palmolive. “To have his name showing up everywhere and the focus on preventive dentistry—he would be humbled and proud.”
A World War II veteran, Dr. Ross was born in 1925 and attended dental school at the University of Maryland Baltimore College of Dental Surgery. He later obtained graduate degrees in biochemistry and histology and taught at three dental schools, UMBC, Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry and Fairleigh Dickinson School of Dentistry. At the time of his death, he was the senior director of dental affairs for the Warner-Lambert Co.’s Consumer Healthcare Research and Development division.
“When he died we wanted to honor his memory and contributions,” explained Dr. Mike Barnett, who worked for Dr. Ross from 1987-90 at Warner-Lambert. “At the time, clinical research was underappreciated and undervalued. People forget that it’s only relatively recently that clinical research has become more scientifically rigorous, and Norton played a major role in moving the field in this direction.”
Dr. Volpe said one of Dr. Ross’s proudest accomplishments occurred in 1987 when he was successful in obtaining the ADA Council on Dental Therapeutics (later merged into the Council on Scientific Affairs) Seal of Acceptance for Listerine as being effective in helping to reduce plaque and gingivitis.
“Due to Dr. Ross’ efforts in providing appropriate safety and effectiveness studies, the Seal was awarded to the original amber Listerine Antiseptic Mouthrinse,” said Clifford Whall, Ph.D., director of the ADA Acceptance Program. “In later years, several other versions of Listerine Antiseptic Mouthrinse also received the Seal.”
In 1996, the American Academy of Oral Medicine dedicated its history in a pamphlet to members to Dr. Ross, calling him “a tireless, unselfish, dedicated professional who possessed considerable warmth and charm, foresight and sensitivity to others.”
Dr. Ross was one of the important historical figures of the AAOM, according to Dr. Martin Tyler, who also functions as that organization’s historian.
Dr. Ross “worked tirelessly” and is “warmly remembered for admonishing everyone to wear his/her name badge. At the time we did not realize how important it was to have new members and visitors identified so that we could welcome them and make them feel at home in our meetings,” Dr. Tyler said.
“Regrettably, no one has filled this gap and new members at times now go unnoticed. I remember him for his humor as he took the microphone and said: ‘Without repeating myself, and being redundant, and saying the same thing over and over again—please wear your name badges.'”
The 2010 deadline for nominations for the Norton M. Ross Award for Excellence in Clinical Research is May 3. For more information, call the ADA toll-free, Ext. 2852. Nominations may be mailed to the attention of Kathi Alexandrakis at ADA Headquarters at 211 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60611 or e-mailed to alexandrakisk@ada.org.