Gwen Essex Wins 2006 Oral-B Prize

Gwen Essex, an associate clinical professor within the division of Preclinical General Dentistry and the department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, has been named the 2006 winner of the Oral-B/Robert W. Hutson Faculty Prize.

The annual UCSF faculty award is given in memory of School of Dentistry alumnus Robert W. Hutson, DDS, inventor of the Oral-B toothbrush. Oral-B representative Karla Girts presented Essex with the award, which carries a $2,500 prize, on Thursday, May 11 at the School.

2006 Oral-B/Robert W. Hutson Faculty Prize winner Gwen Essex (left) with Karla Girts of Oral-B.

"Gwen Essex is widely recognized as one of the most effective teachers in the school," said Dorothy Perry, Associate Dean for Education. "She has outstanding ability to translate student skills from the laboratory setting to patient care in the clinic. Students have described her teaching skills as 'awesome.' In addition, Essex has created and manages support for the WebCT online courses."

Robert W. Hutson, who graduated from UCSF School of Dentistry in 1943, was a pioneer in the development of the toothbrush. He established Oral-B in a basement workshop in his home in San Jose. He died in May, 2001 at age 81. That same year, Oral-B Laboratories, now a part of Procter & Gamble, established the Oral-B/Robert W. Hutson Faculty prize.

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