Daniel is the sixth recipient of this highly respected award, which is presented annually by the osseointegration foundation. It honours an individual whose contribution to implant dentistry has had a significant impact on the field. The award recognizes his long-term achievements as a leader, teacher and researcher. It was presented at the academy of osseointegration’s annual business meeting in Florida, on March 9, 2013.
“I am very honoured to receive this prestigious award,” said Buser. “I see it as recognition of the achievements of my team at the University of Bern, School of Dental Medicine, and also, more broadly, of the treatment philosophy championed by the ITI since 1980 that has contributed to the standards and norms that guide the field today.”
Buser joins a distinguished group of award-holders, who number to date Prof. Per-Ingvar Brånemark, William R. Laney, Profs George A. Zarb, Daniel van Steenberghe and Ulf Lekholm.
Daniel is an oral surgeon and currently Professor and chairman of the department of oral surgery and stomatology at the University of Bern. He received his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in dentistry from the University of Bern. He did research at the Harvard school of dental medicine in Boston from 1989 to 1991 and spent educational sabbaticals at the Baylor Collage of Dentistry in Dalla in 1995 as well as at the University of Melbourne from 2007 to 2008 then he became International Team for Implantology (ITI) president in 2009.
He also served as president of the European Association for Osseointegration (EAO) in 1996/7, was president of the Swiss society of oral implantology from 1999 to 2002 and president of the Swiss society of oral surgery and stomatology from 2002 to 2007. He is currently a board member of the Swiss implant foundation and the osteology foundation.
The ITI unites professionals around the world through implant dentistry and related tissue regeneration. As an independent academic association it actively promotes networking and exchange among its membership. They share their knowledge with from research and clinical practice at meetings, courses and congresses to help improve treatment methods and outcomes with members.
The organisation focuses on the development of well-documented treatment guidelines backed by extensive clinical testing and the compilation of long-term results. It funds research as well as scholarships for young clinicians, organises congresses and continuing education events and runs 650 Study Clubs around the globe, each offering three to four study club meetings per year. The organisation also publishes reference books such as the ITI treatment guide series.