Dimensions of Dental Hygiene Editorial Advisory Board Member Receives Gies Award

Cynthia C. Gadbury-Amyot, RDH, MSDH, EdD, Dimensions of Dental Hygiene Editorial Advisory Board member and author, is the recipient of the Gies Award for Innovation–Dental Educator. The ADEAGies Foundation hosted the 13th Annual William J. Gies Awards for Vision, Innovation, and Achievement (Gies Awards), held in conjunction with the 2020 American Dental Education Association’s (ADEA) Honors and Symposia, during the 2020 Gies Awards @HOME virtual experience on July 24, 2020.

The Gies Awards, are named after William J. Gies, PhD, a Columbia University biochemistry professor, founder of the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine in New York, and a pioneer in dental education who published the landmark report that established the importance of dentistry as an essential component of higher education in the health professions. This award honors the efforts of individuals, institutions, and organizations to advance oral health and dental education. Awardees were recognized for their vision and commitment to bring innovative solutions and ideas to the dental profession.

A mentor and innovator, Gadbury-Amyot is an expert in distance learning and has contributed extensively to the scientific literature. Her efforts in distance and online learning have opened access to advanced education for students across the country.  She was also named the 2013 Dimensions “Six Dental Hygienists You Want to Know” honoree in academia.

“I am very proud to be able to represent small-town America, as a graduate of Grass Lake High School in Michigan, and also dental hygiene on a national stage as a Gies Award winner,” Gadbury-Amyot told Dimensions in a phone interview.

Gadbury-Amyot served as associate dean of instructional technology and faculty development and a professor in the Division of Dental Hygiene at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) School of Dentistry prior to her retirement. Her dedication to improving access to care led to her longtime support of  UMKC’s Mile of Smiles teledentistry program, which provides low-income students with preventive oral healthcare services at elementary schools in the Kansas metro area.

The 2020 ADEA Annual Session and Exhibition, along with the 2020 ADEA GoDental Recruitment Event and Gies Awards gala in-person event was canceled in March due to the global pandemic and was moved to the all-virtual @Home Awards Show.