Academy of Operative Dentistry: Hollenback Memorial Prize

Dr William H Douglas

Dr Douglas completed his BS, MS and PhD degrees, majoring in chemistry, at Queen's University Belfast and was then appointed Assistant Lecturer in Dental Materials at Queen's prior to studying dentistry at Guy's Hospital, University of London. Following a period as Lecturer in Dental Materials at the School of Dentistry, Cardiff, Wales, Dr Douglas crossed the Atlantic—an event he describes as a watershed in his career—to become Director of the Biomaterials Program at the School of Dentistry, University of Minnesota. Dr Douglas has remained at the University of Minnesota as the first Harvey L Anderson Endowed Research Professor in Dental Biomaterials, a prestigious position created at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in 1986, generously funded by 3M.

The abiding passion in Dr Douglas' illustrious career has been clinically-simulated laboratory research, leading to the development of the world-renowned Minnesota Dental Research Centre artificial mouth. Work in this field led Dr Douglas into other areas, notably form, function and strength of the restored crown, salivary lubricity and, most recently, biomimetics reproducing tissues that are cognate with biological principles and systems. As Academic Director of the Minnesota Dental Research Center for Biomaterials and Biomechanics, Dr Douglas is an international figure in his field of special interest and expertise, with numerous important contributions to new knowledge and understanding being included among his many, exceptional achievements.

Dr Douglas considers three people as having made a special contribution to his career development: Dr Robert Craig, with whom Dr Douglas spent a sabbatical year in 1977; Dr Kamal Asgar, whom Dr Douglas has considered a driving force in his quest for excellence and Dr Richard Oliver, whom, as Dean of the University of Minnesota's School of Dentistry, saw potential in—as Dr Douglas puts it—a raw, unproven immigrant who he supported in building up a research base on dental biomaterials and biomechanics at the University of Minnesota.

In addition to his excellence in research, previously recognized by the International Association for Dental Research Wilmer Souder Award, Dr Douglas is an outstanding, inspirational teacher and presenter of continuing education courses both home and abroad. His curriculum vitae includes details of several prestigious educational accolades, including a number of Instructor of the Year awards and the Century Club Professor of the Year, the highest award given on behalf of the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry Alumni Association for teaching and service to the School of Dentistry.

Dr Douglas remains a great and most effective champion of research of immediate clinical relevance to, in particular, restorative dentistry. The Academy of Operative Dentistry is proud and most pleased to recognize Dr Douglas' sustained commitment and world-class contributions to the modern practice of dentistry with the award of the 2006 Hollenback Memorial Prize.