LSUHSC's O'Brien receives singular national dental teaching honor

August 5th, 2009

Michael E. O'Brien DDS, JD, Clinical Associate Professor and Director of Predoctoral Studies in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans School of Dentistry, has been selected as the recipient of the 2009 Daniel M. Laskin Award by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. The award recognizes the "Outstanding Predoctoral Educator in OMS" (Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery).

The recipient must have exemplified the highest ideals of an educator, be respected by his peers in education, have fostered an excellent relationship between the undergraduate faculty
and students with the oral and maxillofacial surgery residency program and
oral and maxillofacial surgeons in the community, have been actively involved in efforts to improve undergraduate education as well as residency and continuing education, both locally and nationally, and be respected and admired by his current and former students.

"This national honor recognizes the excellence of the dental education at Louisiana's only dental school," notes Dr. Henry Gremillion, Dean of the School of Dentistry at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans. "We are proud of Dr. O'Brien and what he contributes to each new generation of Louisiana dentists."

Dr. O'Brien received his pre-dental requirements from Louisiana State University. He attended Loyola University Dental School and graduated in1970 with a DDS degree. His honor societies included C. Victor Vignes, OKU and Alpha Sigma Nu. He then completed an internship and residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Charity Hospital in 1973 and was the chief resident in his final year. Dr. O'Brien is a diplomate of the Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and the Board of Dental Anesthesia. He is a fellow of the American, Southeastern, and Louisiana Societies of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and now serves as President of this organization. He is also a member of the American, Louisiana, and New Orleans Dental Societies and the American Dental Society of Anesthesia.

Dr. O'Brien has been associated with the LSUHSC School of Dentistry in various part time capacities for the past twenty-five years. He joined the full time faculty in 2001. In addition to teaching students, Dr. O'Brien also teaches a variety of continuing education oral surgery courses including all types of anesthesia, medical emergencies in the dental office, and malpractice lectures.

Prior to teaching full time, he was in full scope private practice as an Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon. During that time, Dr. O'Brien also graduated from Loyola Law School in 1998 and has served as an attorney for the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry. He still does some work with the board including the inspection of offices to certify them for the administration of intravenous conscious sedation and also as a consultant on difficult and complicated dental disciplinary cases.

He is published in the Triple-O Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and is the recipient of the 2006 Allen Copping Excellence in Teaching Award for Dentistry.

Dr. O'Brien will receive the Daniel M. Laskin Award during the 91st American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Annual Meeting Awards and Opening Ceremonies in Toronto on October 14, 2009.

Source: Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center