Dr. Mary Walker (center) accepts the 2014 Burton C. Borgelt/SCADA
Faculty Advisor Award from Dr. Terri Dolan DENTSPLY VP and Chief
Clinical Officer (left), and Dr. Andrew Brewer, SCADA President (right)

Dr. Mary P. Walker, associate dean for Research and Graduate Studies, was presented with the International Association of Student Clinicians-American Dental Association 2014 Burton C. Borgelt Faculty/SCADA Advisor Award at the 155th ADA Annual Session in San Antonio, TX. This award recognizes the work of a faculty member who is committed to mentoring students in research at their university.

Dr. Walker has a significant history of supporting and mentoring pre-doctoral and post-doctoral student research projects while conducting her own research on oral mineralized tissues and in materials science. This is in addition to her teaching responsibilities and her work in assisting the research development of faculty members. Dr. Walker’s many responsibilities also include oversight of our external grants administration area and of our Advanced Education core curriculum. Many students have had excellent opportunities to interact both regionally and nationally in research areas. The students return to UMKC valuing the excellent programs and research that we have right here at UMKC!

Dr. Walker’s mentoring efforts as well as her experience as a clinician and scientist offer our faculty and students excellent perspectives for asking relevant scientific questions about the practice of dentistry and dental hygiene.