Long-time DCG faculty honored with prestigious award

Frederick Rueggeberg, DDS, has been a fixture at the Dental College of Georgia since 1987. Even after officially retiring in 2023, Rueggeberg has remained close at hand by serving as emeritus professor and continuing to conduct research.

During his nearly 40 years of dedication to DCG, Rueggeberg has earned an international reputation as a leader in the areas of photopolymerization, polymer science, dental cements, dental restorations and orthodontic adhesion.

It was that dedication to research and advancing the field of dental health that recently earned him the 2024 IADR Distinguished Scientist Wilmer Souder Award from the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR). The IADR presented Rueggeberg with the award during the opening ceremonies of the 102^nd General Session of the IADR, held in conjunction with the 53^rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research and the 48^th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Dental Research.

“I never dreamed I would even be considered for this award,” he said. “Having worked in the field of dental materials for 35+ years, I personally knew many of the previous recipients who were the giants in this field to me – men I adored and looked up to professionally and personally. Having my name associated with this award is extremely humbling, and I still have a difficult time believing I was selected.”

Rueggeberg, who served as the director of the Section of Dental Materials for 28 years, is the sole inventor on six U.S. patents and a co-inventor on two U.S. patents and one patent in Brazil.

He has given more than 200 national and international presentations, is the author or co-author of 274 scientific abstracts and has authored chapters in five textbooks. He has published more than 200 peer reviewed publications and currently holds an h-index of 60. His contributions in research, teaching and service have been recognized by his induction into several societies and numerous awards.

Rueggeberg has served as an editorial board member for many respected journals in dentistry, including the Journal of Dental Research, Operative Dentistry, Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry and the Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry. He has also actively served on several committees of the IADR and AADOCR, the National Board Test Construction Committee, the Academy of Dental Materials, the Standards Committees for ANSI/ADA and ISO, and NIH Special Emphasis Panels. 

The IADR Wilmer Souder Award recognizes excellence in the field of dental materials research among those scientists who, through research in this field, bring about outstanding advances in dental health. Established and supported by an endowment provided by the IADR Dental Materials Group, the award is one of the 17 IADR Distinguished Scientist Awards and one of the highest honors bestowed by the IADR.

“What an honor it is to be recognized by my peers in this manner. I am forever grateful and look forward to seeing who will receive this award in the future,” Rueggeberg said. “I only hope it will be one of my students. That would be icing on the cake.”