Turvey Recognized with the Robert V. Walker Distinguished Service Award 

Timothy A. Turvey, DDS, received the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) Dr. Robert V. Walker Distinguished Service Award during the 101st Annual Meeting.  

The award recognizes outstanding contribution and distinguished service to the specialty and is the highest accolade presented by the AAOMS.  

“I know this award has special meaning to Dr. Turvey because it is named for Dr. Walker, who was Dr. Turvey’s mentor while at Parkland Memorial Hospital,” said Dean Scott S. De Rossi, DMD, MBA.  

“But even without that connection, there could not be a more deserving professional in the specialty. Dr. Turvey has impacted oral and maxillofacial surgery in so many ways that one cannot truly quantify his impact. We are incredibly proud of all he has accomplished, and thrilled to see him receive this incredible recognition from AAOMS.” 

Turvey explained that the academic surgeons he met at Parkland helped shape his career path as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in a hospital environment.  

“Dr. Walker and the other faculty at Parkland and affiliated hospitals had a profound influence on me and a whole generation of academic surgeons whose careers blossomed because of the dedication, perseverance, hard work and importance of quality of surgical care instilled in us,” said Turvey.  

During the AAOMS meeting, Turvey presented two invited lectures on zygomatic-orbital construction in craniofacial microsomia, a birth defect. 

“Dr. Turvey’s contribution to our specialty is internationally recognized,” said George Blakey, DDS, chair of the Division of Craniofacial and Surgical Care. “He has and continues to have a huge influence on maxillofacial surgery at the University. The oral and maxillofacial surgery residents at the UNC Adams School of Dentistry have been the beneficiaries from his dedication to resident education.” 

Turvey was cited as the first of the AAOMS to perform transcranial facial surgery. He also has written more than 100 peer-reviewed publication, 40 book chapters, and 100 published abstracts. Turvey has lectured in more than 35 countries. He has participated in the training of more than 125 residents in oral and maxillofacial surgery, many choosing to remain in academic positions and in professional leadership positions.