National honors for Schweitzer

Not long after Dr. Jordan Schweitzer began working as a faculty member in the dental school’s endodontic department, he had a vision in mind. He wondered if he might ever receive the Edward M. Osetek Educator Award. Given by the American Association of Endodontists, the award is one of the highest honors a dental educator in the endodontics specialty can receive. That was back in 2004, when he worked part time at Texas A&M University Baylor College of Dentistry.

“Lo and behold, 11 years later, it happened,” says Schweitzer, associate professor in endodontics. “It started as sort of a dream: ‘Could I possibly win this?’” he says. The award is given to faculty members in endodontics who have been teaching full time for 10 years or less. Schweitzer, who transitioned to full-time status in 2006, says the award serves as a vote of confidence from colleagues, and current and former students, who submitted letters of support as part of the process, which commenced with a nomination from his department chair, Dr. Gerald Glickman.

As predoctoral director of endodontics and course director for the preclinical endodontic course, Schweitzer instructs second-, third- and fourth-year students and supervises endodontic residents in the graduate clinic.

His teaching approach: Find out what motivates each student.

“I personalize my instruction to the student’s particular level, be it a D2 student at a beginning level, a D3 student entering into the clinic, and then a D4 student who’s about to graduate,” says Schweitzer. “I want to challenge them to be the best that they can be.”