Baylor College of Dentistry
Dentistry professors Benson, Dechow named
newest Texas A&M Regents Professors
Dr. Byron Benson and Dr. Paul C. Dechow at Texas A&M
University Baylor College of Dentistry are Texas A&M Health
Science Center’s latest recipients of the prestigious Regents
Professor Award. They were honored at the Jan. 29, 2014, meeting of The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents in
Galveston, Texas.
“We are so proud to have two TAMBCD faculty members
awarded this prestigious honor,” said Dr. Lawrence Wolinsky,
TAMBCD dean. “It says a lot about the caliber of individuals we
have representing Texas A&M Health Science Center.”
Established in 1996, the Regents Professor Award is bestowed
annually by the Board of Regents in recognition of the awardees’
exemplary contributions to their university or agency and to the
people of Texas.
Benson is professor and vice chair of the Department of
Diagnostic Sciences and director of the radiology/imaging center at TAMBCD in Dallas. He is an internationally respected
leader in the dental specialty of oral and maxillofacial radiology,
having been elected by his peers as president of both the
American Academy of Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology and the
American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology. He currently
serves on the Board of Commissioners for the American Dental
Association Commission on Dental Accreditation. His areas of
research include radiation risk assessment and diagnostic outcomes of advanced imaging systems.
“This is a wonderful and humbling privilege to join the other
distinguished recipients of this career culminating award,”
Benson said. “I have found it very satisfying to interact with
peers, students and staff in providing an excellent educational
foundation to dentists, dental specialists and dental hygienists
for practice, academics and research. I appreciate the encouraging atmosphere of excellence and academic camaraderie of
this institution.”
Benson received his master’s degree from the University of
Texas Health Science Center and doctor of dental surgery
degree from the University of Iowa. He joined the TAMBCD faculty in 1987, and currently serves as the graduate program
director for oral & maxillofacial radiology. During the last three
years, Benson was integral in developing, planning and coordinating the construction of the dental school’s new state-of-art
imaging facility, which includes the predoctoral radiology clinic
and the postdoctoral/extramural Oral and Maxillofacial
Imaging Center.
“Dr. Benson inspires enthusiasm in his students and particularly enjoys one-on-one clinical teaching scenarios,” said
Dr. John M. Wright, Regents Professor and chair of diagnostic
sciences at TAMBCD. “He consistently updates the radiology
curriculum to include new technology and incorporates innovative educational experiences for students. Under his leadership, our college’s imaging facilities have set the standard and
have been emulated internationally.”
Also receiving the Regents Professor Award is Dr. Paul C.
Dechow, professor and chair of the Department of Biomedical
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