The American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) has given Walter J. (Bud) Belanger, DDS, MS, the O.B. Vaughan Special Recognition Award.

This year, the Special Recognition Award was renamed to honor O.B. Vaughan, DDS, MSD, MS, a past president of the ABO. The ABO established this award to acknowledge those who have made a significant contribution to the orthodontic specialty.

“Dr Vaughan is an icon in the specialty of orthodontics, and his selfless service as both an examiner for the ABO Clinical Examination and an educator is evidence of his dedication to excellence in the orthodontic specialty, said Jeryl English, DDS, MS, the 2010-11 president of the ABO. “We are also pleased to give this award to Dr Belanger. Dr Belanger, a longtime clinical associate professor at The University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston (UTDB), has taught residents his ‘Golden Rule,’ which is to treat every patient the way you would want to be treated. He has stressed board certification throughout his career. Bud loves the orthodontic specialty, but also stresses family, faith, and friends for a successful life.”

Belanger is a clinical associate professor in the Department of Orthodontics at UTDB. He has taught in the Department of Orthodontics for 40 years and maintained a private practice in Pearland, Tex.

“I feel so humbled and blessed to have journeyed in the specialty of orthodontics,” Belanger said. “I have had the amazing opportunity to have been surrounded by many professional colleagues who were brilliant and passionate?true role models for me, like Dr O.B. Vaughan. To receive an award like this, the first O.B. Vaughan Special Recognition Award from The American Board of Orthodontics, is genuinely a tremendous honor for me.”