Dental Faculty Awarded Board Certification
Associate Professors Dr. Hatice Hasturk and Dr. I. Alpdogan Kantarci were both named Diplomates of the American Board of Periodontology in 2009. Dr. Hasturk received her certification in May and Dr. Kantarci completed his in November.
The certification process involved comprehensive qualifying and oral examinations covering all phases of periodontal disease and its treatment, including dental implants. Both doctors began considering the certification process about four years ago. They felt it was important to their careers, and they both credit Professor and Director of the Center for Clinical Research Dr. Thomas Van Dyke—who is also a Diplomate—with encouraging them to take on the challenge.
“We both felt that it was important to earn our certifications because it would prepare us for the future and set a good example for students,” said Dr. Kantarci.
Dr. Hasturk added, “Despite the fact that we focus most of our time on research, we are also clinicians, and achieving Diplomate status is the highest honor for a clinician.”
Both said they learned a great deal from the experience. “This process made me feel like a better teacher, one who is more up to date on the current treatments and research,” said Dr. Kantarci
He also discovered an interest in new areas of research adding, “Studying all of the clinical literature in preparation for the examinations raised many new questions for me. I have discovered the gaps between the data and clinical treatment and I am currently writing new grant proposals based on these gaps.”
“Achieving Board Certification is a wonderful accomplishment and one Drs. Hasturk and Kantarci should feel very proud of achieving,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter.