College of Dentistry Names 2011 Distinguished Alum

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 15, 2011) − Dr. Bill Wathen, of Weatherford, Texas, has been named the 2011 recipient of the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry's Distinguished Alumni Award.
 

The Distinguished Alumni Award was established seven years ago to honor an alumnus of the UK College of Dentistry who remains loyal to the college, who demonstrates excellence in the profession of dentistry and community leadership, and has reached and remained at the pinnacle of his or her field of dentistry.   
 

Wathen has been practicing dentistry for 44 years. He graduated from UK in 1963 and from the College of Dentistry in 1967. He was nominated for this honor by many of his classmates who have described him as "someone who has represented the college with extraordinary distinction from the day he graduated through today. His professional career in dentistry reflects the principles of professionalism the UK College of Dentistry was founded on as put forth by those who came before him."
 

After graduation, Wathen spent three years in the U.S. Air Force where he was stationed in Louisiana. From 1971 to 1976, Wathen was the director of the Dental Assistants Training Program at the Trimble Technical High School Clinic in Texas. He then went to Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine where he was a clinical instructor in the Department of Oral Medicine/Oral Pathology.
 

Wathen is now celebrating 20 years at Baylor College of Dentistry where he has held numerous positions ranging from course director to associate dean.  His professional contributions include many invited talks and lectures in the United States and abroad. He is very active within editorial advisory boards where he has served as chief, associate or assistant editor.
 

He has been a member of the American Dental Association, American Fund for Dental Education, Academy of General Dentistry, American/International Association of Dental Research, the Fort Worth District Dental Society and the Texas Dental Association and others. He has held leadership positions within many of these organizations.
 

Together with the UK College of Dentistry Class of 1967, Dr. Wathen was instrumental in establishing the Class of 1967 Award which is presented each year to a fourth-year dental student. He and his class are extremely proud of the education they received from the College of Dentistry and want to pass that passion on to current dental students.

Media Contact: Ann Blackford at (859)323-6442 or ann.blackford@uky.edu