NMDA Journal Summer 2019

10 New Mexico Dental Journal, Summer 2019 THE NMDA MEDAL OF DISTINCTION AWARD RECIPIENTS SHELLY L. FRITZ When you love people and the events that bring us together and discover that you can create change in your profession, you find yourself in a flow of likeminded people doing the same thing—reaching for the same goals. My brother is a dentist so when I was deciding what to be, we agreed that I would be a hygienist and he the dentist. That is how it was in 1970. As a hygienist, I worked for general supervision and local anes- thesia administration in the state in the ‘70s and ‘80s. I was President of NMDHA and Editor of the Discloser and every other officer and com- mittee chair over time. As District 9 Trustee of ADHA, I ran for President and lost, so I decided to go to dental school. My practice took off, life was easy, and I was bored. I joined the NMAGD and became its President. In the spring of 2002, John Cason asked me if I would be the Editor of this Journal. I said yes even though as a past hygienist, I felt like I was going over to the “dark side.”Well, I love writing, doing research, helping others write and herding cats, I mean authors. Then I was asked to do other things like be this Association’s President, run two Annual Sessions, a MOM and serve or lead task forces, councils and committees. When you love people and the events that bring us together and dis- cover that you can create change in your profession, you find yourself in a flow of likeminded people doing the same thing—reaching for the same goals. The tribe of dentistry included me and I included it. Gender was inconsequential. Race was never a consideration. Religion meant you couldn’t do things alone. The relationships we develop are because of our passion, resilience, and vision. As I grow older, I see shining stars in our profession. Those stars are our future. I hope those stars get bored with their lives and find themselves on this page. ROBERT J. GHERARDI Dr. Gherardi counts working to protect the rights of dentists among his most significant contributions to dentistry. Robert James Gherardi was born and raised in Albuquerque. He grew up on a family farm in the South Valley; perhaps he never grew up as he still is working on that farm! When in the 8th grade an event occurred that would change his life forever. He was pushed into the bleachers during PE hitting his front teeth. With his teeth mobile and ready to fall out, he visited a new oral surgeon in town, Dr. William Hanratty, who repositioned the teeth and splinted themwith an acrylic mouthpiece. The teeth remained in place, Robert realized the extraordinary care he received and the rest is history. He attended the University of NewMexico and graduated with a BS in Pharmacy. After working one year in retail pharmacy he decided to pursue his long-termdreamand go to dental school. He graduatedwith a DMDde- gree fromThe Oregon Health Science University in 1980, with honors. Shortly after graduation he joined Dr. Mark Yarbrough as an associate, and was promptly introduced to and joined the Albuquerque District Dental Society, NMDA and the ADA. His first job, in organized den- tistry, was to organize “Children’s Dental Health Month.” From then on to this day it has been one “association job” after another. In fall of 1981, Dr. Gherardi moved into his own office in the San Gabriel office complex, and he has been there ever since—with the help of five major remodels and expansions. Over those many years he says he was blessed to have“neighbor dentists”like Mark Yarbrough, James Fanning and David Hillson who were great friends, role models and mentors.