Spotlight on 2024 FAGD, MAGD and LLSR Recipients

Each year during AGD’s scientific session, the organization hosts the prestigious Convocation Ceremony for the year’s Fellowship, Mastership, and Lifelong Learning and Service Recognition (LLSR) recipients. These honors highlight the dedication to the craft of general dentistry that recipients demonstrate, and holders of the awards and recognition can be considered the top of the profession. AGD Impact spoke to several of this year’s recipients and asked about their motivations, their strategies for tackling the requirements of these accomplishments and their advice for other general dentists who are pursuing these marks of professional recognition.

AGD Impact: What inspired you to pursue AGD Fellowship, Mastership or LLSR?

Bernardino O. Elizondo, DDS, MAGD, LLSR recipient: I was in practice for about 20 years and had reached a point of burnout that was affecting my professional satisfaction. Luckily for me, I attended a course on early-intervention orthodontics with Dr. Brad Williams, who was pivotal in my becoming a member of AGD again and picking up my pursuit of Fellowship. Later, I began the process for Mastership, where I met Drs. Tony Menendez and Jim Haddix, who inspired me to continue to work toward LLSR. All of the dentists I have met in the AGD MasterTrack programs and our leadership have been highly inspirational and encouraging to my pursuit of becoming a lifelong learner.

All of the dentists I have met in the AGD MasterTrack programs and our leadership have been highly inspirational and encouraging to my pursuit of becoming a lifelong learner.

— Bernardino O. Elizondo, DDS, MAGD

Yin Hsu, DMD, MPH, MAGD, LLSR recipient: The whole journey started out with a flyer from the University of Florida’s Comprehensive Dentistry Program, which I received in September 2009. At that time, I had been teaching voluntarily at the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, and I was challenged by the students about whether my knowledge was current enough. I began a whole dentist-renewal journey. I looked at the structure of the FAGD and MAGD program tracks and thought they were perfect for me. After I achieved Mastership, I could not stop the learning process because the more I know, the more I realize I do not know.

Steven Blake Spoto, DMD, FAGD: My inspiration to pursue my AGD Fellowship came from my father and late grandfather. As dentists, they not only served as mentors for me, but also as advocates for the importance of organized dentistry and AGD. My grandfather was a founding member of his local chapter, and my father completed his Mastership because of the mentorship he received through AGD. Upon graduating from dental school, I wanted to make AGD a large part of my career, and pursuing Fellowship seemed like a natural first step.

CE and awards like those offered by AGD encourage us to become the best versions of ourselves, and, in turn, we can offer our best to the patients who depend on us.

— Steven Blake Spoto, DMD, FAGD

What are some obstacles you faced while fulfilling the award requirements?

Marc K. Nakamura, DDS, MAGD: Being from Hawaii, I have very few opportunities for hands-on training, and flying to meetings and courses is costly. In my early years of practice, raising a family took precedence, and traveling was not in the budget.

Spoto: One of the more difficult parts of attaining my Fellowship was studying for the Fellowship Exam. I completed the exam during my one-year advanced education in general dentistry residency. Finding a way to balance the requirements of the residency along with studying for the exam took some time and effort.

Jennifer S. Bell, DDS, MAGD: Finding the time and deploying the financial resources to complete the MAGD award does require some strategic planning. I was close to completing many of the requirements when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and many of the in-person continuing education (CE) options were no longer available. It certainly delayed my ability to complete the award requirements in the time I had previously anticipated.

By taking time to learn deeper about each subject, I feel I have become a more well-rounded general dentist who can speak comfortably about most disciplines within dentistry.

— Jennifer S. Bell, DDS, MAGD

Jill Pucel-Koopman, DDS, FAGD: Overcoming obstacles is just a part of life. As a practice owner, mother of three children, wife and daughter, my days are extremely busy. Each day, I set out to help create positive experiences and outcomes for both my personal and work families. Because of this, the most challenging obstacle is finding time. Time is precious, and one needs to set aside time for personal development. When we grow personally and professionally, this helps us become more confident in our abilities and share knowledge with others.

The importance of awards in dentistry helps to showcase to the public the commitments that we as general dentists make to lifelong learning and the continual pursuit of bettering patient care in their communities.

— Jill Pucel-Koopman, DDS, FAGD

In what way(s) did earning this award strengthen your dentistry skill sets, enhance your career and/or grow your practice?

Humberto Nunez Gil, DMD, MAGD, LLSR recipient: After you become a Master of AGD, you are measured at a new level in every single aspect of your professional career.

After you become a Master of AGD, you are measured at a new level in every single aspect of your professional career.

— Humberto Nunez Gil, DMD, MAGD

Elizondo: I strongly believe that earning my Mastership and LLSR have helped me stand out in my community and profession. I feel that the requirements for achieving these awards make us better dentists by enhancing our professional skills and keeping us abreast of advancements in technology and procedures. The LLSR requirements helped reinforce my knowledge and strengthen my skill set to keep me at the top of my profession.

Spoto: I vividly remember getting ready to start my first operative procedure after my residency and being nervous to start without supervision. Completing the requirements for my Fellowship helped me become more confident in my existing clinical skills and knowledge while continuing to learn and grow. What I learned from fulfilling the CE requirements has enabled me to expand my scope of practice and give my patients higher-quality and more complete care.

Bell: The MAGD requires a dentist to spend time in each discipline of dentistry. Without that motivation, many of the subjects would not be areas I would naturally pursue. By taking time to learn deeper about each subject, I feel I have become a more wellrounded general dentist who can speak comfortably about most disciplines within dentistry.

How did you feel when you achieved AGD Fellowship, Mastership or LLSR?

Eric K. Cheung, DDS, MAGD: It hasn’t sunk in yet. I feel I have a bigger responsibility now that I learned more, and I need to both apply my new knowledge and always continue to learn more. During the path to Mastership, I formed my own dental assisting school, so I will be able to contribute back to our profession.

Elizondo: I felt an immense sense of pride and achievement at every award level I have completed. I feel that I am promoting the improvement of general dentistry and the quality of care to our communities by achieving these award levels, as well as encouraging other dentists to work toward these goals.

Hsu: It is such an exciting moment when we get recognized with our Fellowship and Mastership awards on stage with all our friends and families. After that, the momentum carries on through LLSR — once, twice and three times. Lifelong learning is part of my career now, and the flames of passion to pursue more understanding of the trade and life just get stronger. The urge to know more, learn more and make more friends will never stop.

Pucel-Koopman: Earning the FAGD award is something I’m internally proud to achieve. I’m not a boastful person, so many people are not aware of the commitment I’ve made to my practice, patients and family. Continual learning and changing is just a part of life. Now, I cannot wait to achieve the next level!

Why are CE and obtaining awards like AGD Fellowship, Mastership and LLSR crucial in dentistry?

Elizondo: Staying up to date and knowledgeable on the latest technology and techniques is crucial for the advancement of our capabilities and improvement of the quality of care we provide our patients. Pursuing these award designations encourages and reinforces foundational knowledge as well as strengthens our skills. I love how our profession recognizes AGD’s award designations due to the rigorous requirements to achieve them.

Nakamura: Constant education helps me keep up. I feel that I have gone through multiple paradigm shifts that really changed the way I learned dentistry, and, without keeping up with these shifts, I would be in the Stone Age.

Pucel-Koopman: Earning specific designations helps elevate dentistry as a whole. The importance of awards in dentistry helps to showcase to the public the commitments that we as general dentists make to lifelong learning and the continual pursuit of bettering patient care in their communities. AGD membership is special because it provides a focused organization for general dentists to address important advocacies and relevant CE and professional development.

Spoto: During the last two years of dental school, my clinic team leader frequently quoted L.D. Pankey, who said, “A dentist owes his patients no less than to be a continual student.” CE and awards like those offered by AGD encourage us to become the best versions of ourselves, and, in turn, we can offer our best to the patients who depend on us.

What’s your advice for AGD members who are pursuing or considering pursuing their AGD Fellowship, Mastership or LLSR?

Judith A. Belitz, DDS, MAGD, LLSR recipient: Many of the state AGD chapters have MasterTrack programs that combine both Fellowship and Mastership opportunities. This allows for mentoring as well as networking with fellow dentists — it’s a great way to learn with and from others. I would strongly urge any general dentist to pursue these awards, as it strengthens our profession as a whole.

Spoto: It seems overwhelming at the start, but it is so worth the time and effort. Start with CE classes that you think you could implement tomorrow in your practice. Learning new skills is worthwhile, but I got the most value out of classes that I could implement immediately.

Bell: There will never be a great time to make this a priority, as our lives will always fill up with lots of other demands, but you must do this for yourself. Find an accountability partner whom you can take along on the journey. Whether it takes you a few years or a decade to accomplish, you will never regret making your professional growth a priority in your career.

For more information on achieving AGD Fellowship, Mastership and LLSR, visit agd.org/continuing-education-events/get-recognized.