{"id":38845,"date":"2018-07-04T14:30:35","date_gmt":"2018-07-04T18:30:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/?p=38845"},"modified":"2018-07-16T15:34:10","modified_gmt":"2018-07-16T19:34:10","slug":"pennsylvania-dentist-earns-academys-highest-professional-honor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2018\/pennsylvania-dentist-earns-academys-highest-professional-honor\/","title":{"rendered":"Pennsylvania dentist earns academy\u2019s highest professional honor"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Todd Weaver \u201887 lost a front tooth horsing around in high school, he had no idea that the painful experience would set him on a professional path that would result, 35 years later, in a prestigious and rare accomplishment.<\/p>\n

Weaver, a founder and partner at Weaver, Reckner & Reinhart Dental Associates<\/a> in Harleysville and Souderton, Pennsylvania, is now among 1 percent of practicing dentists in North America to be awarded the highest honor by the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).<\/p>\n

The \u201cMastership Award,\u201d also known as a Masters in The Academy of General Dentistry, recognizes a dentist\u2019s commitment to both excellence and professional development through the fulfillment of demanding requirements that include a comprehensive exam and the completion of participation credits and practical courses across 16 disciplines of dentistry.<\/p>\n

Even more significant \u2013 the \u201cbest part,\u201d Weaver says \u2013 is that his business partner of 25 years, Dr. John Reckner, fulfilled his requirements as well.<\/p>\n

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Todd ’87 and Anne ’88, MDiv. ’16 with Lara ’18 and Seth, a rising junior at EMU. Keri Weaver ’15 (not shown) works at University of Penn Lancaster Women’s and Babies Hospital.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The two honorees and their families traveled to New Orleans to attend a special convocation during the Academy of General Dentistry\u2019s annual convention in early\u00a0June. Both are now entitled to include the acronym MAGD in their professional titles.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s go back to wrestling practice, where it all started. The emergency repair landed Weaver in the chair of Dr. Ira Wolfe, who took the time to explain his profession with the intrigued teenager.<\/p>\n

Weaver declared pre-dental as his major when he attended Eastern Mennonite University. (The innocent assailant who knocked out the front tooth, Bryan Martin, would be his roommate for the next two years.) At EMU, he also met his future wife, Anne Kaufman, who graduated in 1988 with a degree in social work.<\/p>\n

Four years later, in 1991, Weaver graduated from the Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry at Temple University. From among his class, he was selected by the faculty for the Clinical Achievement Award \u2013 an early professional honor that Weaver attributes to his undergraduate preparation at EMU.<\/p>\n

Rather than specialize, Weaver chose to open an expanded practice in general dentistry. He and his partners have advanced training in orthodontics, surgery for implant placement and endodontics (root canals), and have been diligent in other areas of study and practice.<\/p>\n

\u201cDentistry is in my mind a perfect profession in that you can do everything from radiology, surgery, medicine, emergency care, and many other artistic expressions,\u201d Weaver said.<\/p>\n

His interest in the diverse, broad opportunities within the profession translated easily into the goal of achieving its highest professional honor, and when Reckner joined him as a business partner, the duo confirmed their commitment to lifelong learning and professional development.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe even put it in writing 20 years ago, and then 10 years ago, made the final commitment to accomplish it,\u201d Weaver said. \u201cThree years ago, we tried to create a path for it to happen the same year\u2026together.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Lara Weaver took off a week from her EMU senior year in January 2018 to assist her father in Nicaragua. She painted the watercolor as a remembrance of the time together on the mission.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The commitment was significant: participation requirements meant some travel and time away from the practice and lecture presentations required considerable preparation time. Weaver took more than 20,000 photos of procedures over a six-year period.<\/p>\n

It has been worth it, Weaver says. The process \u201cadvanced our professional skills and our practice, and has encouraged and supported the four other dentists who work with us in their own professional development. We\u2019ve also formed close friendships with many dentists working in Pennsylvania.\u201d<\/p>\n

With this major professional accomplishment completed, Weaver and his partner can focus on their two busy offices and their continued commitment to dental service in Central America. For the past three years, Weaver and Reckner have led a team of dental hygienists and dental assistants to serve in Nicaragua through the Hearts, Hands and Smiles Foundation.<\/p>\n