William John Gies Award

In 1939, the leaders of the American College of Dentists sought the means to recognize exceptional efforts and accomplishments by its Fellows. This recognition became the William John Gies Award, named in honor of the man who shaped the profession through his untiring efforts. The Board of Regents recognizes Fellows who have made truly unique and exceptional contributions to advancing the profession and its service to society. This is the highest honor of the American College of Dentists. This year, the 2021 William John Gies Award is presented to Dr. Kathleen O’Loughlin.

Dr. Kathleen T. O’Loughlin is a most deserving and highly qualified individual who has served the College, our community, and our profession with distinction for over five decades. She is the first woman to have served as the Executive Director of the American Dental Association. She has been a strong advocate of oral healthcare to disenfranchised populations while promoting outcomes-based healthcare delivery. Additionally, she is a leadership role model for women dental professionals. After earning her dental degree from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine where she was the first female class president and valedictorian, she earned a master’s degree in public health and health care management from Harvard School of Public Health. Early in her career, she established and maintained a private dental practice, following the example of her late father, Dr. John Treanor. She simultaneously served as an assistant clinical professor at Tufts and continues to serve as faculty as well as a member of the Tufts University Board of Trustees.

She served in public health dentistry for 20 years, and became president and CEO of what is now known as Delta Dental of Massachusetts. Dr. O’Loughlin was chief dental officer for United Healthcare.

As a national and internationally renowned dental educator, administrator, researcher, and clinician, Dr. O’Loughlin has recently been awarded The American Dental Association’s Distinguished Service Award. In 2021, she was the recipient of the Samuel B. Shapiro Award for Chief Staff Executive Achievement from the Association Forum Foundation. It is the highest honor the organization bestows on an association professional and is presented for outstanding service and accomplishments in association or nonprofit management. She also has received the Forsyth Institute’s Icon in Oral Health Award, the Association Forum’s 2019 Woman of Influence Award, and the Lucy Hobbs Taylor Award from the American Association of Women Dentists.