Eastman Institute for Oral Health’s Caton Earns National Honor

Jack G. Caton, DDS, MS

Jack G. Caton, D.D.S., M.S., of Pittsford, professor, chair and program director of the Periodontics Division at the University of Rochester Medical Center’s Eastman Institute for Oral Health, has received the 2009 Award for Outstanding Periodontal Educator from the American Academy of Periodontology. This award recognizes an exemplary periodontal faculty member whose career demonstrates excellence in teaching and is an inspiration to students.

Considered by his students and peers to be firm yet compassionate while motivating his students to dig deeper, Caton’s style has motivated many of his graduates to pursue educational careers within dentistry.

"The advice and guidance he gives to his students is unparalleled," said Dr. Gary Greenstein, a former resident who today is a clinical professor of Postgraduate Periodontics at the New Jersey Dental School, in a letter. "Over the years he has guided numerous research projects and always insisted unselfishly that publications have the student’s name on them as the lead author. It was his guidance and generosity that enabled many young investigators to flourish as researchers and attain recognition."

"During my residency at Eastman Dental, Dr. Jack Caton taught me not only the love for the art and science of periodontology, but more importantly the pursuit of excellence in everything I do," said Dr. Spyros Karatzas, associate professor at the University of Athens in Greece.

Since 1973, Caton has been educating students at the Eastman Institute, formerly known as Eastman Dental Center. He has served as program director for the Periodontics Division since 1990, and also the division chair since 1998. This year he was named EIOH associate director for Education.

Caton has published more than 90 scientific articles and book chapters. He has held several leadership roles in professional organizations, including the American Board of Periodontology, the American Academy of Periodontology, and the American Academy of Periodontology Foundation, as well as consultant positions and served on advisory boards. Additionally, Caton served four years as a commissioner for the Commission on Dental Accreditation and the American Dental Association’s Advisory Committee for Advanced Education in Periodontics.

Caton received the American Academy of Periodontology’s Gold Medal Award, the William J. Gies Award for contributions to periodontal literature, and the ADA’s Norton M. Ross Award for Excellence in Clinical Research.

Eastman Institute for Oral Health at the University of Rochester Medical Center is a world leader in research and post-doctoral education in general and pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, and oral surgery.