Past IDA President Neal Richter among Fall Dental Conference Honorees

The honorees of the IU School of Dentistry’s 2007 Fall Dental Alumni Conference (from left):
Dr. Norman Novak, Dr. Steven Holm, Ms. Wendy Zent, and Dr. Neal Richter

Congratulations to the four individuals who were honored at the Indiana University School of Dentistry Alumni Association’s 65^th annual Fall Dental Alumni Conference, held in Indianapolis in October 2007:

Distinguished Alumnus Award

Neal B. Richter, D.D.S. 1981

Neal B. Richter, D.D.S., has maintained a practice in general dentistry in Merrillville, Ind., since graduating from the Indiana University School of Dentistry in 1981. During his career Richter has impacted the profession through diverse contributions in several areas.

He has served in many leadership roles in the American Dental Association and the Indiana Dental Association, including a term as IDA president in 2006. He has been the 7th District representative to the Speaker of the House of Delegates, ADA, since 2003 and an ADA delegate since 1996. Richter co-chaired a national conference on computers in clinical dentistry for the IDA and chaired a Technology Day program for the ADA. While serving on the Council on Annual Session for the ADA, he developed an innovative exhibit called "The Office of the Future" — the first of its kind encompassing all facets of cutting-edge dentistry. In addition to featuring the latest in technological advancements, the Office of the Future provided hands-on experience in a practical setting.

Richter was president of the Northwest Indiana Dental Society from 1992 to 1994 and was a founding member of the society’s foundation to raise money for local dental education. He helped to raise more than $100,000 in the organization’s first fundraising effort. A faculty practitioner in dental education on the IU Northwest campus, he co-chaired an event that raised more than $170,000 for the IU Northwest program. He also assisted the campus’s chancellor in procuring the additional funding needed from IU.

Richter is a fellow of the American College of Dentists, the International College of Dentists, the Pierre Fauchard Academy, and the Academy of General Dentistry.

Distinguished Service Award

Norman R. Novak, D.D.S. 1968

Norman R. Novak, D.D.S., became an integral part of his community through exemplary professional and civic service.

He saw two or more generations of families in his dental practice in Chesterton, Ind., during regular office hours and for emergency appointments 24/7. Novak taught younger children about dental health in his many presentations to classrooms and at Scout meetings. Through the local high school vocational program, students gained hands-on experience as dental office assistants in Novak’s office. And because Novak was a faculty practitioner for IU’s program, dental students came to his office for training as well.

Novak earned a degree in pharmaceutical science at Butler University in 1959 and a dental degree with honors from the IU School of Dentistry in 1968. He has held licenses as a pharmacist and dentist in the state of Indiana since those dates, respectively. He served as president of the IUSD Alumni Association in 2004-2005.

A member of the ADA and IDA, among several other professional organizations, Novak is a former president and treasurer of the Porter County Dental Society and former treasurer, program chair, and current board member of the Northwest Indiana Dental Society. He has served on numerous and varied committees for professional associations at all levels. One of the most challenging was for the ADA on the Test Construction Committee for National Testing Board for Dental Students.

Novak is a member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon honorary dental society. In February of 2007, he joined the IUSD faculty (IUPUI campus) as a volunteer clinical assistant professor in the school’s Comprehensive Care Clinics.

Honorary Member Award

Wendy J. Zent

Because of her long-standing and valuable contributions to the field of dentistry, Wendy J. Zent of Fort Wayne, Ind., has been named an honorary member of the IU School of Dentistry Alumni Association.

Her extensive support of the profession dates to 1975, when she joined the Dental Dames of Indiana University, for which she later served as president. She then joined the Alliances of the Isaac Knapp District Dental Society, Indiana Dental Association, and American Dental Association. Zent has chaired many committees for all three organizations, including membership, community outreach, and future planning. She has been president of the local and state organizations, and will repeat that role for the AIDA in 2008.

Reflecting her avid interest in politics, Zent has been the Alliance’s legislative chair for both Isaac Knapp and the IDA for five years. She has been active in the Indiana Dental Political Action Committee, serving as the IDPAC consultant for Isaac Knapp since 1997 and as a board member since 1995. She has been a Governmental Affairs Committee consultant for Isaac Knapp for 12 years, and she is also in her 12th year as head of the Dental Day at the Capitol Committee.

On the national level, Zent is an Alliance member of the Future Planning Committee as well as a trustee for District 4 and a representative to the ADA Political Action Committee. Last year, she was among 10 members of the Alliance of the ADA to be dubbed the "2006 Incredibles" and given the AADA’s Thelma J. Neff Distinguished Service Award.

Zent holds an A.S. degree from IU in radiologic technology. Her husband, Dennis Zent, is a 1979 IU dental graduate.

Certificate of Appreciation

Steven J. Holm, D.D.S.

Steven J. Holm, D.D.S., Valparaiso, Ind., began his general practice in dentistry in Portage, Ind., in 1976 and his teaching career at IU Northwest the following year. As an adjunct faculty member, Holm teaches oral pathology, oral anatomy, human anatomy, and radiology. He is an Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary clinical instructor and clinical extramural site instructor.

Holm has received numerous teaching awards during his career. He has twice been asked to deliver the commencement address during graduation ceremonies for dental education students at IU Northwest.

Holm has been active in the Northwest Indiana Dental Society, IDA, and ADA. His service to the Northwest Indiana Dental Society includes tenures as president, president-elect, vice president, and secretary, and he has served on committees for peer review and membership. He has served as speaker of the IDA House of Delegates since 2006. He also was a member of IDA committees on bylaws and continued competency and a chair of the IDA Council on Dental Education. Since 2003, he has been a delegate to the ADA.

Holm holds degrees from the University of South Dakota and Loyola University School of Dentistry. He is a fellow of the Pierre Fauchard Academy and has been the Indiana membership chair for that international honorary dental organization. He also is a fellow of the International College of Dentists and the American College of Dentists. The IU School of Dentistry Alumni Association welcomed Holm as an honorary member in 2004.