Spotlight on 2025 FAGD, MAGD and LLSR Recipients: Part Two

Each year during the AGD scientific session, the organization hosts the prestigious Convocation Ceremony for the year’s Fellowship, Mastership, and Lifelong Learning and Service Recognition (LLSR) recipients. These awards highlight the dedication to the craft of general dentistry that recipients demonstrate, and holders of these awards 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 awards and their advice for other general dentists who are pursuing these marks of professional recognition.

Sarah Anderko, DDS, FAGD

My inspiration to pursue AGD Fellowship stemmed from a deep commitment to lifelong learning and a desire to provide the highest standard of care to my patients. Interestingly, I made the decision to pursue Fellowship during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when many dentists — including myself — found themselves with unexpected free time due to clinic closures. I chose to stay positive and make the most of the situation by focusing on professional growth and education during this challenging period. AGD’s emphasis on CE and clinical excellence aligns closely with my own professional values, and I wanted to challenge myself to reach this distinguished milestone.

Balancing the rigorous requirements of Fellowship — particularly the 500 hours of approved CE and preparation for the comprehensive exam — with the demands of a busy clinic schedule and personal commitments was a significant challenge. As a busy mom to two active young boys, I had to find time for my own professional growth while managing family and personal responsibilities. Staying organized and maintaining consistent progress over several years required dedication, perseverance and a lot of creative time management.

Earning Fellowship has broadened my clinical knowledge and refined my skills across multiple dental disciplines. The process of completing extensive CE and preparing for the exam pushed me to stay current with advancements in dentistry, which has translated into more comprehensive care for my patients and increased confidence in my clinical decision-making. It also enhanced my professional reputation and sharpened my mentorship skills.

Achieving AGD Fellowship was incredibly rewarding and fulfilling. It was a proud moment to see years of hard work, dedication and commitment recognized in an official capacity. Joining the select group of dentists who have earned this distinction truly motivated me to continue striving for excellence. I was also deeply grateful for the support of my family and colleagues throughout the journey.

CE and awards like AGD Fellowship are vital in dentistry because they ensure practitioners remain at the forefront of evolving techniques, technologies and evidence-based practices. CE sharpens critical thinking and broadens clinical knowledge, enabling dentists to deliver confident, high-quality patient care. Professional awards affirm a dentist’s commitment and expertise while fostering a culture of excellence that strengthens the dental community.

My advice is to start early, stay organized, and view the process as a significant opportunity for professional growth. Take advantage of the educational opportunities AGD offers, and don’t hesitate to reach out to colleagues who have completed the process. The effort is substantial, but the personal and professional rewards are well worth it.

Toni Yeu-Shyr Tien Neumeier, DMD, MS, LLSR Recipient

I received the MAGD award in 2010. I have been very involved with AGD (state president, Fellowship Examination Committee, Scientific Meeting Council) and was otherwise very busy and put thoughts of LLSR aside until four years ago. One of my colleagues, Dr. Wendy Holder from Alabama AGD, started a MasterTrack program and invited me to be the first speaker for it. The program started with nine participants, and their enthusiasm stimulated me to complete all the requirements for LLSR. It took me almost three years to meet this goal. I was very excited when I took the final required participation course last year and eager to fill out the LLSR application form. I felt relieved that I had finally achieved the highest reward/award I could through AGD.

As an educator and faculty adviser for the student chapter, I always tell students there is no end to studying and learning. Dentistry has new techniques, materials and knowledge that come up every day. Attending CE courses not only enhances knowledge but also provides self-confidence in patient treatment and office management. Receiving an award or certification from the organization is a statement that informs patients and colleagues that you have spent time and worked harder to be a better dentist than others in this field.

Having this updated information will continue to be useful as long as I keep treating patients or teaching at school. All of this new knowledge makes me a better educator for students and a better dentist for patients. The process has also led me to teach MasterTrack courses and other classes. Since I have been involved with AGD both at the national and local levels for the past 15 years, I will continue to be a volunteer for AGD as long as I can contribute to the organization.

Since one of the requirements for LLSR is service, if you have already received the MAGD award, please volunteer to be more involved with AGD at either the national or local levels. Participation in AGD strengthens the organization because you are sharing your talents. You are also providing service to dentistry and your community. The rewards for any kind of volunteer service are not something that can be purchased, but they leave a permanent, positive mark on someone’s mind and life, which is priceless.

Maj. Jun Kyung Ko, DMD, FAGD, ABGD

As a former aerospace engineer and now an Air Force military dentist, I’ve always been drawn to careers grounded in structure, discipline and purpose. When I transitioned into dentistry, I was seeking a profession that would allow me to connect directly with people and make a lasting impact on their well-being. AGD Fellowship stood out as a symbol of excellence and commitment to continuous learning — values that align closely with both military service and healthcare. AGD supported me through dental school and residency, and pursuing Fellowship felt like a meaningful way to advance my skills while honoring my duty to serve others.

Serving in the military brings unique challenges, from unpredictable schedules to deployments and the high demands of providing care in diverse, sometimes resource-limited environments. Balancing CE requirements with the responsibilities of being a military dentist — along with maintaining family life — required a high level of discipline, time management and persistence. There were moments of fatigue and sacrifice, but the support of my family, colleagues and the AGD community helped me stay focused and motivated.

AGD Fellowship helped me become a more well-rounded and confident clinician. The broad scope of CE empowered me to take on complex cases and deliver comprehensive care — even in the dynamic and often fast-paced setting of military dentistry. It enhanced my leadership within the Dental Corps and reinforced my role as a resource for junior providers and teammates. Fellowship didn’t just elevate my clinical skills — it deepened my sense of service, both to my patients and to the profession.

Achieving AGD Fellowship was a moment of deep pride and reflection. It symbolized not just personal growth, but also professional resilience — a commitment to lifelong learning under the demands of military service. I felt honored, grateful and humbled. It reaffirmed why I chose to leave a stable engineering career: to serve others through hands-on care and leadership. It was a moment that reminded me of the responsibility I carry — not only to provide the highest quality care to those I serve, but also to lead by example.

CE is the foundation of excellence in dentistry. In the military, where we may treat a wide range of patients under varying conditions, staying sharp and adaptable is critical. Awards like AGD Fellowship go beyond recognition — they represent a commitment to staying current, ethical and clinically sound. They also encourage a culture of learning within the dental community, helping to raise the standard of care across the board and inspiring others to invest in their own growth.

If you decide to pursue Fellowship, start with a clear purpose, stay organized, and trust the process. Whether you’re in private practice or military service, it’s possible to make steady progress, even with a demanding schedule. Take full advantage of the diverse CE opportunities available, and approach the journey with curiosity and passion. Most of all, enjoy how much you evolve along the way. Fellowship isn’t just a milestone — it’s a reflection of how far you’ve come and how committed you are to delivering the best possible care.

Timothy F. Kosinski, DDS, MS, MAGD, AGD Editor, Four-Time LLSR Recipient

I began my AGD journey back in my second year of dental school at the University of Detroit Mercy. It seemed obvious to me — even in those early years — that there was so much to learn and that AGD was a means to document all the courses I took. I liked the idea of pursuing some acknowledgment or recognition, and Fellowship seemed like a natural path. My general practice residency at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio, promoted great education and a means to accrue many of the CE hours needed for Fellowship. I was fortunate to be mentored in my five-year associateship by a great educator and promoter of learning. Implants were a natural fit for me, so participation courses became paramount. I achieved Fellowship early. My accumulation of participation courses didn’t stop there, and I believe it took me another five years to achieve Mastership. LLSR was the next step. I focused on the topics that interested me the most and sought out hands-on programs. Community service has always been important to me — giving back to those less fortunate is an important part of being a professional — so that part of the LLSR requirements came naturally.

I have never stopped learning in my long career. This year in Montréal, I will receive my fourth LLSR. I tell my students and the attendees at my courses that learning never stops, and the importance of each and every course is to learn something. It might be one simple process that will make me a better dentist — more efficient, proficient and competent — but, as long as I learn at least one new thing, CE is worthwhile.

The process of accumulating specific CE credits in specific topics that interest me and that can be easily incorporated into my practice can be a chore, but it is certainly doable. Hands-on or participation courses are especially important, but not always easy to obtain. Travel and time away from the office can get expensive, but it is important to me.

Each course stimulates the mind and allows for an opportunity to advance. Technology is moving quickly, and making the proper investment that will improve my proficiency and efficiency as well as increasing patient compliance is critical. Never standing still makes me a better dentist. I have patients who have been with me for nearly 40 years, and I know that my patient family appreciates my efforts to keep my skills and knowledge current.

As AGD editor and an Executive Board member, I have the opportunity to help give out the Fellowship and Mastership awards on stage. I see the excitement in the eyes of each and every recipient as they begin their walk to the center to meet the AGD president. I reminisce about that feeling of accomplishment. It’s a good emotion and makes me want to do even more. Families, too, are involved in this journey, and I know how proud they are when I see all the smartphones in the audience taking photo after photo. It is truly heartwarming to see those emotions of love and respect.

Keep it up, and never stop learning. Hunt out the hands-on programs that most interest you. Our AGD scientific session is a great place for camaraderie and advancing clinical skills with some of the most prominent experts in all fields of dentistry. Belonging to AGD is such a small financial investment, but the return on that investment is immeasurable if you also invest your time and commit to growing as a professional. Never stop gathering experience and knowledge, and keep pursuing those great feelings of accomplishment that come in the moments when our patients are healthy and satisfied, our families are proud of and inspired by us, and we earn the respect of our peers and ourselves with achievement-based awards.