Dr. Douglas Peterson of the UConn School of Dental Medicine has been recognized with one of the highest international honors bestowed by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh: the award of Fellowship in Dental Surgery Without Examination.
Peterson is professor of oral medicine in the Department of Oral Health and Diagnostic Sciences and head of the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Head and Neck Cancer/Oral Oncology Program. He has been active in dental medicine and oncology for more than 30 years, including investigator-initiated funded research, health professional education, patient care and professional service with the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Peterson received the award during the college’s diploma ceremony Sept. 9 in Edinburgh, Scotland.
“I am deeply honored and most appreciative of this recognition by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh,” Peterson says. “I have been privileged throughout my career to have interacted with so many talented health professionals worldwide. The support I have received from my colleagues in the School of Dental Medicine and the rest of the Health Center for over two decades has been extraordinary. This award is a true reflection of these multiprofessional collaborations.”
The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh has been in existence since the 16th century and celebrated its 500th anniversary in 2005. Its mission is to maintain and promote the highest standards of surgical practice.
A Son’s Pride
Dr. Matthew Peterson
I recently had the honor of traveling to Edinburgh, Scotland, to witness the appointment of my father, Dr. Douglas Peterson, into the fellowship of surgery in the Royal College of Scotland. The fellowship is considered an honorary degree in the Royal College; one that is awarded to those for outstanding achievements in the fields of surgery and/or oral medicine. For him, it was a great honor for a lifetime of dedication to work within and the advancement of oral medicine. Although my father has received many accolades throughout his career, I think this fellowship holds extra meaning given the few individuals awarded the degree each year, the international platform, and the nomination to receive the fellowship coming from his fellow colleagues.
My father has been an extremely hard working man throughout his career, often working excessive hours and late nights. He has never complained about the amount of work or the difficulties that come with his job. When I have asked him about his dedication to his career, he has always described how lucky he feels to be able to impact the lives of others in such a positive way. As a clinician, educator, and researcher, my father has been able to change lives in so many different ways. Although I have never told him, it is through his career that I chose mine. I am presently finishing my residency in radiology and will be moving on to a fellowship in interventional radiology next summer. I have grown up witnessing my father’s passion in helping others and have always strived to have a similar impact in my own life.
Usually it is parents who cheer for their own children, not the other way around. Parents sit through countless sporting events, concerts and graduations, always supporting their kids no matter what the occasion. But in Scotland, the roles were reversed. I was the one in the audience standing and applauding for my father with a smile from ear to ear. For the first time, I felt the same type of pride as my dad did when I told him I was accepted into medical school, when I crossed the finish line of my first marathon, or when I told him he was going to be a grandfather. Our trip to Edinburgh was truly unique and one that I will never forget. It gave me a chance to witness my dad being recognized for all his hard work firsthand, for the first time. I have always been honored to call Dr. Peterson my father, but never as much as on the day he was named a fellow in the Royal College of Scotland.
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