Editorial Type:
Article Category: Award
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Online Publication Date: 01 Apr 2014

American Academy of Gold Foil Operators' 2013 Distinguished Member of the Year Award

Page Range: 332 – 332
DOI: 10.2341/1559-2863-39.3.332
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It gives me great pleasure to present the distinguished member award to a most deserving member. This year's recipient is Dr. David William Thorburn. His Patients call him Dr. Thorburn, his friends call him Dave, his climbing buddies call him Hey wait up, and there is a rumor that the Vancouver music underground calls him Disco Dave. He is indeed a man of many talents. His artistic ability shows in the fabulous art drawings he has completed. In fact he was so prolific that at one point he had an art studio in Vancouver filled with his own art. Then again, he also built up custom race engines for Datson race cars, so prized, that he had one of them stolen right in front of his office. When it comes to mountain climbing, Dave is really out there. He has climbed in Canada, the United States, and Europe, from Mt. Assiniboine, and Mt. Rainier to the Matterhorn. Of course he is also an avid skier, traveling all the way to the mountains in South America to ski during our summertime. However, it is Dr. Thorburn's dental talents that we are honoring today.

Dave graduated from the University of British Columbia School of Dentistry in 1981. He immediately went to work treating patients in Fort Nelson, B.C., White Rock, B.C., Surrey B.C., Sardis B.C., and Vancouver B.C., before opening his own dental practice in Vancouver in 1989. He joined the Walter K. Sproule Gold Foil Study Club, and the Vancouver Crown and Bridge Study Club to hone his operating skills to the point where his name has become synonymous with exceptionally fine quality restorative dentistry. His patients are very fortunate to have him as their dentist.

Dave served on the executive council of this Gold Foil Academy from 2001 through 2003, served as vice president in 2004, president elect in 2005 and President of the American Academy of Gold Foil Operators in 2006.

Never selfish, but always trying to help other dentists at his own expense, David has made a special effort to pass on the skills he has perfected to dental students and the general dental community. He has been a clinical instructor for the Vancouver Community College Dental Hygiene Department, a clinical instructor for the 3rd year students at the University of British Columbia School of Dentistry, a clinical instructor for the 4th year students at the University of British Columbia School of Dentistry. Dave also presented a two-day Gold Foil course in Corona, Italy and taught the Vancouver Gold Foil Seminar, a one-week course limited to practicing dentists, for 15 years. In addition, he provided hundreds of patients for the course from his own private practice. He has given many lectures and presentations to various dental organizations, but it is his clinical demonstrations on live patients that are unsurpassed, providing treatment that will last a lifetime. It has been shear enjoyment to watch him create dental works of perfection for the patient, that, as the observer, I could take pleasure in, as you would enjoy any fine piece of art. Please rise and join me in congratulating Dr. David William Thorburn, our Distinguished Member.

Submitted by Dr Richard D Tucker

Presented at the 2013 AAGFO Meeting

Lincoln, NE 26 October 2013

Copyright: Operative Dentistry, Inc. 2014
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