ABO awards Earl E. and Wilma S. Shepard Distinguished Service Award to Dr. Russell Kittleson

 

The American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) awarded Dr. Russell T. Kittleson the Earl E. and Wilma S. Shepard Distinguished Service Award Saturday, May 14 at the annual luncheon of the College of Diplomates of the American Board of Orthodontics, which was held in conjunction with the 2011 Annual Session of the American Association of Orthodontists in Chicago, Ill.

The Earl E. and Wilma S. Shepard Distinguished Service Award was established to perpetuate Dr. Earl Shepard’s outstanding accomplishments and to show appreciation for his many contributions as the first executive director of ABO and those of his wife, Wilma, who was highly involved with her husband’s efforts to fulfill the ABO’s goals. This award recognizes an individual for outstanding dedication and advancement of the ideals and mission of the ABO.

“Dr. Russell T. Kittleson certainly fits the mold of an individual with outstanding dedication to orthodontic education,” said Dr. Jeryl English, the 2010-11 president of the ABO. “For 50 years, he has taught in the Department of Orthodontics at Marquette University after helping to found the graduate orthodontic program in 1961.”

Dr. Kittleson of Mequon, Wis., graduated from Marquette University School of Dentistry in Milwaukee, Wis., in 1958. He earned his certificate in orthodontics from the University of Illinois, Chicago in 1960. He was one of the founders of the graduate orthodontic program at Marquette University and currently is an adjunct professor of clinical orthodontics. He has taught every resident who has attended the program and has influenced many to become Diplomates of the ABO. In 1997, Marquette University honored him with the Distinguished Alumnus in Dentistry Award. The Wisconsin Society of Orthodontists recognized him with a special service award in 1991, and the Marquette Orthodontic Department honored him for his dedication and contributions in 2000. In 2005, Dr. Kittleson received the Earl E. Shepard Distinguished Service Award from the Midwestern Society of Orthodontists (MSO); this award is the MSO’s highest honor and represents the ideals of the specialty of orthodontics. In 2006, he received the Part-time Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award from the Marquette University School of Dentistry. He is a fellow of the Pierre Fauchard Academy and the American College of Dentists. He is a past president of the Angle Midwest Component of the Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontists, the Wisconsin Society of Orthodontists and the Marquette University Dental Alumni Association.

“As a practicing orthodontist and an orthodontic educator I realize the importance of teaching quality orthodontics,” Dr. Kittleson said. “The American Board of Orthodontics has always had the goal to improve the quality of orthodontics in our profession, and that is why this recognition is special to me.”