CALLAHAN MEMORIAL AWARD: DR. RON OCCHIONERO
Dr. Ron Occhionero, the 2024 Callahan Memorial Award winner, gives an acceptance speech at the Callahan Celebration of Excellence.
Dr. Ron Occhionero has been a leader in organized dentistry, a visionary for dental education and an innovator leading the charge in the expansion of duties for auxiliary personnel. In recognition of his efforts, he received the 2024 Ohio Dental Association Callahan Memorial Award on Friday, Sept. 13 at the Callahan Celebration of Excellence, held in conjunction with the 158th ODA Annual Session.
“In choosing a Callahan Award recipient, as a commission, we look at many things,” said Dr. Joseph Mellion, chair of the Callahan Commission. “What the individual has done in their history in the dental profession, be it teaching, inventing, developing new ideas. Dr Occhionero taught and was involved in administration at Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine for 58 years. He also is a past president of the Ohio Dental Association. He developed the Department of Comprehensive Care which was originally called the Preceptor Program. This has existed for 55 years. He developed the EFDA program in Ohio many years ago. That is why he is called the ‘Father of EFDAs’ in Ohio. While on the ODA Executive Committee, he pushed for more flexibility with dental assistants, hygienists and other dental team members. This helped dentists in Ohio to be more efficient. He pushed for more flexibility in where dentists could move to different areas of the country once they passed any dental board exam. This is coming to fruition in many parts of the country.”
Occhionero received his DDS degree from the Western Reserve University School of Dentistry (now known as Case Western Reserve) in 1961.
Occhionero started teaching at CWRU in 1964, and has served in several prominent positions, including chair of general dentistry and associate dean of administration. He also served as director of dental auxiliary utilization, assistant dean for clinical affairs, associate dean for external affairs and special program, assistant dean for clinical affairs and auxiliary programs and director of Expanded Functions training, among other positions. He retired in 2022 after 58 years of service.
His visionary leadership has led the way in dental education, developing new models for the instruction of clinical general dentistry. In 1967, Occhionero developed what became the Department of Comprehensive Care, which simulates providing care in the private practice setting. This preceptorship program is now the standard for teaching clinical dentistry.
Occhionero said the model was based on the concept of apprenticeships from the middle ages, and he described the preceptor program as one of his seminal innovations and a successful fundamental shift in dental education.
Occhionero also initiated the computerization of the Case dental clinics in 1989, which he said was a business paradigm shift.
He also initiated, developed, implemented and chaired the annual Professionals Day at CWRU that started in 1980, a day dedicated to dental student achievement in research and clinical care judged by the faculty and supported by the dental industry.
Occhionero was also instrumental in the initiation, development and implementation of the dental benefits program for CWRU faculty, students and staff across the campus. This has developed into a revenue stream for scholarship programs for both dental and auxiliary students, he said.
Occhionero is known as the “Father of EFDAs” in Ohio because of his tireless work with policymakers, legislators and representatives from the Ohio State Dental Board and the ODA to make his vision for EFDAs in Ohio come to fruition.
Because of his hard work and dedication, in 1977, Ohio became one of the first states to authorize EFDAs in private dental practices working under the supervision of a dentist. Shortly thereafter, Occhionero worked to help establish the first EFDA training program in Ohio at the CWRU dental school. Not only was Occhionero committed to the training of EFDAs, he also educated dentists across the state on how to incorporate them into dental practices. Today, more than 3,000 EFDAs are registered with the OSDB, working as part of the dental team in dental offices and clinics all across Ohio.
During his tenure on the ODA Executive Committee, he pushed to make dental offices more efficient by allowing dentists to utilize their teams to the fullest extent of their training. Today, dentists in Ohio have the flexibility to allow their dental hygienists, under certain circumstances, to see patients when the dentist is not physically present at the office, and certified dental assistants with specific training can polish the crowns of teeth under the dentist’s supervision.
Occhionero said that increasing the dental health manpower through the expansion of duties for ancillary personnel has improved access to care and the delivery of care.
Occhionero has served on many councils and committees with the Ohio Dental Association and Greater Cleveland Dental Society, and served as president of the Greater Cleveland Dental Society in 1987 and as president of the ODA in 1995. He has also served with the American Dental Association and served as vice chairman of the Council of Dental Practice.
He also has given many presentations, written books, chapters and research articles, and has secured funding for many research projects.
Occhionero received the ODA Achievement Award in 2000, which is annually presented to a dentist or an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the dental profession and to oral health. In 2004, he received the ODA’s Distinguished Dentist Award (now known as the Joseph P. Crowley Distinguished Dentist Award) which is annually presented to an ODA member who has demonstrated service, commitment and dedication to the profession throughout his/her career.
He also received the ADA Award of Excellence in 2017, the Distinguished Dentist Award from the Pierre Fauchard Academy in 2002, the E.P. Mason Award from the Greater Cleveland Dental Society in 2006 and the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1990, among others.
He is a fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry, International College of Dentist and American College of Dentists.
The Callahan Memorial Award Commission was established in 1920 by the ODA to honor the work of John Ross Callahan, one of Ohio’s noted dental researchers and a leader in organized dentistry. Since its establishment, the award has continued to grow in prominence in the dental profession. Past Callahan Memorial Awardees include such luminaries as Drs. George Paffenbarger, Wendell Postle, Lindsey Pankey, P.I. Branemark, Arthur Dugoni, Gordon Christensen and Linda Niessen.
The Callahan Memorial Award recipient receives a $5,000 gift via the ODA Foundation to be donated to a charity of their choice.
