The American Dental Association gave John D.B. Featherstone, PhD, its 2023 Distinguished Service Award.
Dr. Featherstone received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and chemistry from the Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand in 1964. He started his career as a chemist before going back to school for a master’s degree in physical chemistry from the Manchester University College of Pharmacy in the United Kingdom. He then earned a doctorate in chemistry from the Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand, where he focused on the chemistry of dental caries.
He joined the University of Rochester (N.Y.) Medical Center Eastman Institute for Oral Health in 1980 and spent the next 15 years studying dental caries and fluoride. He is also known for pioneering research on dental lasers and spearheading the development of caries management by risk assessment.
Dr. Featherstone joined the University of California San Francisco School of Dentistry in 1995 and served in various roles before being appointed dean in 2008. He retired in 2017.
Dr. Featherstone is a recipient of the ADA’s Norton M. Ross Award for Excellence in Clinical Research and is an honorary lifetime member of the association. He is also an honorary fellow of the American College of Dentists and an honorary lifetime member of the Academy of Laser Dentistry. Additionally, he was a founding member of the American Academy of Cariology and a founding board member of the ADA's Science & Research Institute, according to a July 6 news release.