Dentistry faculty member receives $50,000 teaching fellowship

Matthew Byarlay, D.D.S.

The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) Foundation has awarded a $50,000 AAP Teaching Fellowship to Matthew Byarlay, D.D.S., assistant professor in the department of surgical specialties at the UNMC College of Dentistry.

“I am very pleased that Dr. Byarlay is being recognized as an outstanding young faculty member,” said John Reinhardt, D.D.S., dean of the UNMC College of Dentistry. “He was recently appointed as graduate director of our postgraduate periodontics program, a very strong program that I am confident he will make even stronger.”

Dr. Reinhardt noted that Dr. Byarlay also holds the prestigious Dr. Bernard J. Doyle and William J Doyle Endowed Faculty Fellowship in the College of Dentistry.

The Foundation’s AAP Teaching Fellowship is awarded to outstanding young periodontal educators who are in their first three years of teaching at U.S. periodontal training programs. A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in the treatment of the gums, soft tissues, and bones that support the teeth.

“I am honored to be recognized by the American Academy of Periodontology with this award,” Dr. Byarlay said. “I cannot thank the AAP Foundation enough for their generous recognition, it will really help take a bite out of my school loans.”

“I cannot thank the AAP Foundation enough for their generous recognition, it will really help take a bite out of my school loans.” Matthew Byarlay, D.D.S.

Dr. Byarlay received his certification in periodontics from UNMC in 2004. He received his D.D.S. degree summa cum laude from the University of Texas Health Science Center Dental School, San Antonio, in 2001.

In 2007, he received the Educator Award from the AAP. Since beginning his academic position at the UNMC College of Dentistry two years ago, Dr. Byarlay has been involved in the development and execution of three research studies. He also is a peer reviewer for the “Journal of Periodontology.”

In addition to his extensive graduate and undergraduate periodontics teaching responsibilities, Dr. Byarlay works in the faculty practice at the college.

The AAP Teaching Fellowship was created in 2006 by a $1 million commitment from the AAP and is administered by the AAP Foundation. Candidates for the award are nominated by the periodontal chair of their teaching institution.

The AAP Foundation is dedicated to improving the periodontal and general health of the public through increasing public and professional knowledge of periodontal disease and its therapies, stimulating and supporting basic and clinical research to generate new knowledge and enhancing educational programs at all levels to create opportunities in periodontal education and practice.