Alumni
Day 2012
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Robert
L. Skinner, DDS,
MS, PA
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Alumni Day,
held on September 21, drew
an audience of 306 alumni,
students, and faculty.
Celebrating 40 years of
education, the 27-member
dental class of 1972, the
first graduating class of
the LSUHSC School of
Dentistry (LSUSD), was
recognized. The all-day
event raised over $21,000
to benefit the school and
the LSUSD Alumni
Association. Dental
classes celebrating
reunions in 2012
contributed a total of
$140,660 to benefit the
various initiatives and
programs of the school.
The dental class of 1972
contributed the highest
total ($44,900), and also,
the highest percentage of
their classmates
participated in the
campaign (63%).
Two
individuals were honored
during the day for their
contributions to dentistry
and dental education.
Robert Lee Skinner, DDS
'86, was named the 2012
Alumnus of the Year and
Dr. Shu Cheuk, longtime
faculty member, received
the Shawky Mohamed
Distinguished Faculty
Award.
A resident
of Fort Smith, Arkansas,
Dr. Skinner came to LSUSD
after receiving his BA in
zoology and an MS in
cytogenetics from the
University of Arkansas.
After graduation, he
returned to Fort Smith to
practice dentistry, raise
a family, and serve his
community.
Dr. Skinner
has served in many
leadership roles. On a
national level, after
completing his four-year
term on the American
Dental Association Council
on ADA Sessions in 2009,
he was elected by the
council to serve as the
ADA annual session general
chairman for the
organization's 150th
anniversary celebration in
Honolulu, Hawaii. He is
the current ADA District
12 Delegate and
past-president of the
Arkansas State Dental
Society.
In 1992, due
to his efforts as
co-founder of the
Community Dental Clinic in
Fort Smith, he received
the Community Service
Award presented by the
Office of the Governor and
KARK-TV and the 699th
Point of Light Award
presented by former
President George H.W.
Bush. The clinic provides
free dental services to
the underprivileged and
the indigent.
Addressing a
dental hygienist shortage
in Arkansas' northwest
region, Dr. Skinner formed
a task force in 1996 to
develop a dental hygiene
training program at a
local community college.
Westark Community College,
now known as the
University of Arkansas
Fort Smith (UAFS),
graduated its first class
of hygienists in 2001. In
the program's third year,
it was rated 16 out of 240
nationwide in national
board scores.
Dr. Skinner is a member of
the Pierre Fauchard
Academy, the American
Dental Association, the
Arkansas State Dental
Association, the Northwest
Dental District Society,
and the Fort Smith Dental
Association. He is also a
fellow of the
International College of
Dentists and the American
College of Dentists.
Dwight D.
Duckworth, DDS '89,
nominated Dr. Skinner for
the Alumnus of the Year
Award. He wrote, "Dr.
Skinner has remained
committed to providing
outstanding dentistry to
his patients while also
serving his community and
the field of dentistry as
a whole. I cannot think of
a more deserving
recipient."
Click here
to read more about Dr.
Skinner. Dr. Cheuk's
accomplishments will be
highlighted in the next
issue of E-News.
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The
LSUSD charter
class of 1972
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Special
thanks to Accupal, the
lead sponsor, and
co-sponsors Campus Federal
Credit Union, Carestream,
Delta Dental Insurance, GC
America, Ivoclar-Vivadent,
Kool Smiles, and P&G
Crest Oral-B for their
support of Alumni Day.
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