ETHERINGTON AWARD

Charles L. Silvius, DDS

Yankee Dental Congress is pleased to present the prestigious 2019 Etherington Award to Dr. Charles L. Silvius of Swampscott, MA.  This award is given annually in recognition of New England dentists who dedicate much of their professional lives to furthering the high ideals and objectives of organized dentistry.  A Temple University School of Dentistry graduate and army veteran, Dr. Silvius had been a MDS member for more than 40 years.  He is a past president of the Massachusetts Dental Society and has also served in numerous other positions including Secretary, Speaker of the House and ADA First District Caucus Whip.  Dr. Silvius has been an active Yankee Dental Congress volunteer over the years and has chaired the General Arrangements, Hospitality, and Registration Committees.  He spent over 20 years as a district delegate to the MDS House of Delegates and more than 40 years as a member of the North Metropolitan District Dental Society, chairing from 1982-84.  He is a Fellow of the Pierre Fauchard Academy, American College of Dentists and International College of Dentists.  Dr. Silvius is a partner in a group practice in Revere, MA and resides in Swampscott with his wife Barbara.  He is the father of two boys, Geoffrey and Jonathan.

 CLINICIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD

David Harte, DMD

Dr. David Harte, a Tufts University School of Dental Medicine graduate, began presenting at Yankee Dental Congress over 40 years ago.  Dr. Harte is the Founder and National Spokesperson for the Comprehensive Masonic CHIP Program, serving as Director from 2001-2005.  He is a Fellow of the Academy of Dentistry International, American College of Dentists, International College of Dentists, and Pierre Fauchard Academy, where he won the Dentist of the Year Award in 2002.  He is also an Associate member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.   Dr. Harte has published numerous works on dentistry and the connection to lost and missing children.  He has lectured across the United States and in Canada.  Dr. Harte maintains a private practice in Milton, MA.

 ELIZABETH A. BAER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Tiffany Sum, CDA

Tiffany Sum is a  certified dental assistant with 30 years of dental practice experience.   A graduate of the dental assistant program at  Massasoit Community College, she was the recipient of the 2002 partners in Excellence Award from Massachusetts General Hospital.  Ms. Sum is bilingual, speaking fluent Cantonese and Mandarin dialects in addition to English.  She works at Harvard School of Dental Medicine where she performs chair-side four handed assisting at the faculty practice and teaching practice in all specialty procedures.  Ms. Sum resides in Braintree, MA.

 HYGIENIST OF THE YEAR AWARD

Katherine Soal, RDH

Katherine Soal has been an active volunteer for the Massachusetts Dental Hygienists Association (MDHA) for the past nine years. She is the current president of the organization, where she has also served as secretary and State Education Network representative. A 2012 Worcester District Hygienist of the Year Recipient, Ms. Soal lectures at dental meetings throughout the country. She is a graduate of the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Science University, where she earned a Master of Dental Hygiene and is currently employed as a professor at Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, MA. Ms. Soal resides in Hudson, MA.

 JOHN GOLDEN AWARD

Anthony Giamberardino, DMD

For nearly 35 years, Dr. Anthony Giamberardino has been a dynamic volunteer for the Massachusetts Dental Society (MDS).  A graduate of Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, he is a past president of the Massachusetts Dental Society and has also served as MDS Secretary.  Dr. Giamberardino is an active Yankee Dental Congress volunteer and has chaired both the Registration and Program Committees in addition to being Yankee General Chair in 2012.  He was also a member of the Yankee Oversight Committee.  Dr. Giamberardino is a Fellow of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, International College of Dentists, American College of Dentists and the Pierre Fauchard Academy.  Dr. Giamberardino and his wife have four sons and reside in Wilmington, MA.  He maintains a private practice in Medford, MA.

 ARMEN NALBAND AWARD

Matthew Fantasia, DMD

Dr. Matthew Fantasia has been a dedicated Massachusetts Dental Society member and volunteer for the past 15 years.  Dr. Fantasia is a member of the Yankee Oversight Committee and has chaired several Yankee committees including Signs, General Arrangements, Registration, Special Projects and Hospitality.   He was a member of the Speaker Scouting Committee for six years, and chaired the committee for three years.  He is a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry, International College of Dentists and the Pierre Fauchard Academy.  Dr. Fantasia owns a private practice in Wellesley, MA where he also resides with his wife and twin boys.

 VIVIAN CHAPUT AWARD

Barbara Wasserman

Barbara Wasserman has been an enthusiastic volunteer for Yankee Dental Congress for the past 10 years.  She has worked on committees for Hospitality, General Arrangements, Special Events, and Social and Cultural, which she chaired in 2013.  A graduate of the University of Alabama with a Master of Science in Communication Disorders, Mrs. Wasserman has been a Speech and Language Pathologist for more than 40 years.  She and her husband, MDS Past President Michael Wasserman, reside in Pittsfield, MA.  

 VOLUNTEER AWARD FOR AUXILIARIES

Pamela LaCerte, RDH

Yankee Dental Congress is pleased to honor Pamela LaCerte, a devoted volunteer since her graduation from Quinsigamond Community College in 2006. Ms. LaCerte has served as Presiding Chair and Room Coordinator for many years at Yankee Dental Congress. An active MDHA member and leader, she served for 11 years as President of the Middlesex component, for three years as their secretary and one year as Delegate at the ADHA Conferences. She has also served on the MDS Dental Auxiliary committee. She is currently the MDHA Vice President, ADHA Alternate Delegate and the Volunteer Coordinator for the MDHA conferences. Ms. LaCerte is presently employed at Drs. Moeckel and Wagner in Marlborough, MA and resides in Hudson, MA with her husband and three children.

 JOHN T. GRIFFIN TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD

Ira Dickerman, CDT

Ira N. Dickerman has been named the recipient of the John T. Griffin Technician of the Year Award, given to a dental technician for exceptional work in the field. A Middlesex Community College graduate, Mr. Dickerman has worked as a trainer for several of the largest dental implant companies and also acts as a dental consultant. In 1991, he became a Certified Dental Technician and has lectured nationally and internationally. He and his son lecture together, teaching dentists and dental technicians the art and science of full arch immediate load implant prosthetics. He routinely assists surgeons and restorative dentists chairside during full arch immediate load surgeries. A 2009 recipient of the NADL Excellence in Education Award, Mr. Dickerman and his wife of 36 years have two adult children. He is co-owner of Dickerman Dental Prosthetics, a full-service dental laboratory in Sharon, MA.