April 22, 2009
Dr. David Precious has been named Dalhousie University’s 2009 A. Gordon Archibald Alumnus of the Year.
Dr. David Stanley Precious has been dedicated to the Faculty of Dentistry since his days as a student. This past summer, Dr. Precious completed his term as Dean, Faculty of Dentistry and has been named Dean Emeritus in acknowledgment of his leadership as Dean. In conjunction with his Deanship, Dr. Precious has been a Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Dalhousie University since 1987.
He has selflessly committed over 40 years of leadership and service to the health care community. In addition to educating Dalhousie dentistry students, Dr. Precious is also on staff at the IWK Health Centre and Capital Health Centre as senior Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon.
One of the most pre-eminent and recognized accomplishments Dr. Precious has achieved is his contribution to cleft lip and palate research and treatment. He is a founding member of the International Cleft Lip and Palate Foundation and holds a distinctive position on the Board of Trustees.
What truly makes Dr. Precious worthy of this award is his involvement with children in Vietnam, Tunisia, Brazil and India. He has traveled to these countries, along with a team of surgeons, to perform surgery on children with cleft lip and palate. These surgeries have dramatically changed the lives of children born with the common facial deformity as well as adults who have lived with the condition untreated for years. In addition, Dr. Precious also trains and teaches local surgeons the proper techniques so they can continue to help those born with this condition.
Dr. David Precious has accomplished more in his career than many can hope to accomplish in a lifetime. His dedication and passion for dentistry and helping others has taken Dr. Precious across the world and back again helping children and adults live their lives to the fullest. Without his contribution to cleft lip and palate research and treatment, many would not be who they are today; without his passion for dentistry, students would not have a role model to aspire; without Dr. David Precious dentistry at Dalhousie University would not be what it is today.
Thank you and congratulations Dr. Precious.
For more information about Dalhousie University’s A. Gordon Archibald Alumnus of the Year Award visit http://alumniandfriends.dal.ca/daa/award_gordonarchibald.php.
Story submitted by Katie Maskell.