April 24, 2008

John Thornton. Download image.

• Dental professor improved care among underserved

• Honor went to Alabama Healthcare Hall-of-Fame inductee

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - John Thornton, D.M.D., a leader in reducing disparities in dental care, has won the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) 2008 Odessa Woolfolk Community Service Award.

A professor of pediatric dentistry in UAB's School of Dentistry, Thornton has spearheaded efforts to improve oral health care in rural and underserved areas of Alabama for more than three decades.

Thornton has accomplished these improvements through hands-on dental care that requires travel, along with post-graduate dentist trainees, to several clinics in underserved urban and rural areas to treat children, adults, seniors and those with disabilities.

Thornton also serves on numerous volunteer boards and health-policy committees, including the Alabama Medicaid Task Force in Montgomery, the Cheaha Regional Head Start-Early Head Start Program in Talladega and the scientific affairs council of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.

He was recently inducted into the Alabama Healthcare Hall of Fame.

PASSION FOR PEDIATRIC ORAL HEALTH

"His passion and energy for helping the underserved, especially children, receive the oral health care they need is truly inspiring," said School of Dentistry Dean Huw Thomas, B.D.S, Ph.D., of Thornton. "He has this knack for persuading people on opposite sides of an issue to sit down and negotiate, something we often need in working with community leaders on opening new clinics."

In addition to teaching, Thornton is the School of Dentistry's associate dean for community affairs and a dental co-director of UAB's Sparks Center for Developmental and Learning Disorders, part of the Civitan International Research Center.

Three days a week Thornton travels to Anniston, Talladega and Montgomery to treat patients in community clinics, including disabled children. He serves on the board of directors for the nonprofit Sarrell Regional Dental Center for Public Health, a network of public-assistance clinics in Calhoun, Cleburne and Jefferson counties.

Thomas said one of Thornton's proudest accomplishments is hearing about a rising number of UAB dental graduates opening practices in inner-city and rural areas. Thornton himself continuously breaks new ground in getting oral health care to special-needs children, the deaf, the blind and those enrolled in Head Start educational programs around the state, community service leaders said.

"Thanks to John and some grants we're working on together, online learning will soon be available for dentists and hygienists to better prepare them in caring for persons with disabilities," said Mark Cohen, M.D., director of medical services for United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Birmingham.

A native of Bessemer, Thornton earned his dental degree from UAB, and a master's degree in education from Pepperdine University in Los Angeles. Also, he completed the U.S. Army's Command and General Staff College.

The father of two is a retired colonel from the Alabama Army National Guard with past service in the U.S. Navy.

In addition to the Woolfolk award, Thornton has received the American Dental Association Dental Access Award.

Odessa Woolfolk, founder and past president of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, directed the UAB Center for Urban Affairs from 1981-1993. She also served as special assistant to the UAB president for community relations.