Deborah S. Bishop (’79), DMD, has been named the 2023 H. Moren Fuller Award recipient by the University of Alabama School of Dentistry Alumni Association. Bishop accepted the award on June 21, 2024, at the annual alumni luncheon held during the Gulf Coast Dental Conference in Destin, Fla. The Fuller Award is the highest honor in Alabama dentistry and is bestowed by the Alumni Association in recognition of outstanding contributions to the dental profession.

Dr. Bishop, who practices endodontics in Huntsville, AL, has not only been an innovative leader in her field, but has also been a leader in organized dentistry and with the Alumni Association throughout her career. Bishop and her husband, John (’79), live in Guntersville, AL. She has served on the University of Alabama School of Dentistry Alumni Association’s Executive Council for more than twenty years, including president in 2000. She also served as president of the Alabama Dental Association (2011-2012) and has held numerous leadership positions with the organization. Bishop currently serves as a Delegate to the American Dental Association. She is also recognized as a pioneer in endodontics. “She was the first endodontist in Alabama to use surgical microscopes, and her treatment results are outstanding,” said Dr. John Anderson (’73) in his letter nominating Bishop for the award.

Dr. Clay Wright (’01) and Dr. Zack Studstill (’65), presented the award to Dr. Bishop at the special ceremony. Said Studstill, the retired Executive Director of the Alabama Dental Association, “I have had the opportunity to observe Deborah’s vision and energy on the district dental society level, through the officer corps of the Alabama Dental Association … on each level and with each responsibility she brought that same tireless vision and energy to the table that made a difference. She has made a positive difference for dentistry, especially in Alabama”.

In addition to earning her DMD from the UAB School of Dentistry, Bishop also completed her endodontics residency there in 1981. She has held numerous positions at the local, regional, and national levels to further endodontics. She currently serves as Treasurer of the Alabama Association of Endodontists, a labor of love she has performed for seventeen years. Her work for the School of Dentistry’s Alumni Association and her efforts to promote the School of Dentistry span several decades of service. Her mentorship of dental students is legendary. She and John have hosted UAB and Japanese dental exchange students on numerous occasions. Bishop has also played an integral role in Alumni Weekend programming and Alumni Association decision making through the years. In accepting the award Bishop said “This is truly an honor. I am very appreciative of everyone who played a role in my getting this award, but I’m really accepting this award on behalf of all those who I have worked with along the way to promote organized dentistry and our dental school.”

The Fuller Award is named for Dr. Moren H. Fuller, of Centerville, Alabama, one of the first members of the School of Dentistry advisory board. Fuller was not well known by his Alabama colleagues but was highly respected by his community, which earned him his spot on the board. He spent a lot of time at the school during its early years. Many of the first students were World War II veterans with impeccable credentials to enter dental school but could not find a spot in out-of-state universities. Because of his day-to-day involvement with the school from the beginning, the students saw Fuller as their personal benefactor and the Dental Alumni Association chose to honor Fuller and to make the award his namesake. In 1955, Fuller was the first recipient of the award.