Dr. Steve Patterson, School of Dentistry's Associate Chair (Academic) and 1986 DDS University of Alberta grad, has received a Barb Tarbox Recognition Award.
After a thorough review by the Barb Tarbox committee, Patterson was one out of four recipients to win a Barb Tarbox Award of Excellence in Tobacco Reduction. Winners were selected based on the significant impact they had in tobacco reduction. Of the four award categories: Rising Star, Scholarship, Recognition and Group awards, Patterson won in the Recognition category.
Patterson has been involved with tobacco reduction and cessation initiatives for 25 years, as a dental health professional, and in a teaching capacity in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, at the University of Alberta. During his tenure, Patterson has been a leader in tobacco control in Alberta, especially in the fields of oral health and tobacco cessation. As a faculty member, and through his professional organization, Patterson has helped to better integrate tobacco cessation within the practice of dentistry and dental hygiene. He has expanded the teachings in the university to dental clinics in Edmonton and in Fort McMurray.
"Barb Tarbox was a tremendous advocate against smoking and the harm it does," said Patterson. "It is a great honour to receive an award with her name on it, and to receive the award from her daughter. It signifies the value of all of our efforts to help improve the health of Canadians through tobacco reduction activities."
Patterson says that although we, as a dental profession, have long known about the harm tobacco causes to both our general and oral health, it has not been until recent years that we have focused on our role of focusing not only on just the consequences of tobacco-specific oral disease, but on t our role of helping patients to change their behaviour.
"We are in an influential position whereby we can encourage and assist people to quit tobacco use before it causes them significant harm," said Patterson. "Incorporating topics such as tobacco use in our curriculum, and in continuing education programs, has prepared the next generation of dentists to actively take on this role with their patients."
"I hope we will see the day that we can call our society tobacco-free," said Patterson. "It is an addictive, harmful substance that we know causes great damage and death, and so I hope that as healthcare providers we can be anti-tobacco in our practices, and as such, we would be seen as a significant source of help for those who are trying to quit and get past this addiction."
Citytv Breakfast Television Coverage