Dr. Terry Dickinson honored by National Rural Health Association
New Orleans鈥?/em>Helping thousands of rural Americans receive much-needed dental care through Mission of Mercy projects has earned Dr. Terry Dickinson the Rural Health Practitioner of the Year award.
Dr. Dickinson received the award at the National Rural Health Association’s annual conference here May 9.
The Virginia Dental Association executive director was honored for his leadership in developing and sustaining Mission of Mercy projects in Virginia, Kentucky, West Virginia and Tennessee since 2000, plus a MOM dental clinic in New Orleans for Hurricane Katrina victims in 2006.
MOM projects under his direction have provided more than $9 million in free dental care to more than 23,000 underserved rural citizens.
“I am extremely honored to receive this most prestigious award,” said Dr. Dickinson. “I accept it on behalf of all the health care heroes who serve those most in need.”
Dr. Dickinson said he was glad to see that dentistry was highlighted at the NRHA meeting.
“It says a lot about how far we’ve come in showing that dentistry is an important piece of the overall health picture.”
The NRHA is a nonprofit organization working to improve the health and well-being of rural Americans and providing leadership on rural health issues through advocacy, communications, education and research. Its members include individuals and organizations that share the common bond of an interest in rural health.
Oral health was one focus of the NRHA annual meeting May 7-10. Two ADA representatives, Dr. A. J. Homicz, a member of the ADA Council on Access, Prevention and Interprofessional Relations, and Dr. Steven P. Geiermann, ADA senior manager, Access, Community Oral Health Infrastructure and Capacity, attended the meeting.