Teacher of the Year Award:
Ronald P. Blank receives recognition…

Ronald P. Blank, SD'75A (right), receives the Teacher of the Year Award from Dr. Goodacre. Also pictured are B. Lyn Behrens, MBBS, president (left) and Richard H. Hart, MD, DrPH, chancellor.

Ronald P. Blank, SD'75A, immediate past chair and associate professor, oral diagnosis, radiology, and pathology, was presented with the Teacher of the Year Award during commencement ceremonies for the School of Dentistry. This is the first year the award has been given.

"I was surprised, humbled, and happy to be chosen for this award," says Dr. Blank. "It is the high point of my career, and I owe it to the loving support of my wife, Sandy, daughter Cariann, and son, Travis."

Dr. Blank is a retired U.S. Navy Commander who has held numerous dental officer positions throughout his military career. During his years in the Navy, he was responsible for significant teaching commitments, and received numerous commendations from his superiors. When he was ready to leave the Navy, he was contacted by Daniel Tan, SD'75A, professor, restorative dentistry, and joined the faculty in August, 1998. On July 1, 2000, he was named chair of oral diagnosis, radiology, and pathology.

Dr. Blank's teaching philosophy is to educate students in the clinic and classroom from a Christian perspective, making mutual trust, confidence, teamwork, and respect the guiding principles.

The following was written by Dr. Blank on December 17, 1997, before he began working at LLU: "The Loma Linda University philosophy is ‘to make man whole.' If this remains the focus of University faculty, staff, and administration, it can never fail. It will be perpetuated through its influence on our students, our alumni, our patients, and on the global mission of our Church."

In the same letter, Dr. Blank states that his philosophy of practicing dentistry mirrors the LLU mission: "Meet the mind of the patient before the mouth of the patient," "Care for patients as you would your own family," "Always treat everyone with uncommon courtesy, respect, and dignity," and "Give God the glory in your patient treatment successes."

Dr. Blank sees his philosophy as a testament to the Christian influence of dedicated faculty and staff when he was a student and it is his desire to support and perpetuate this mission as a faculty member.

This year Dr. Blank was selected by the graduating dental class to receive the Pierre Fauchard Academy Teacher of the Year Award.

The award, given to the individual from whom the graduating students felt they received the finest education during their four years of dental school, was presented to him during the Pierre Fauchard Academy Annual Luncheon in Anaheim on April 7.

In 2001, he was also honored by the graduating class during their Awards Banquet at the Mission Inn in Riverside.