Neil S. Norton, PhD, professor in the Department of Oral Biology and associate dean of Admissions in the School of Dentistry, was recently awarded the R. Benton Adkins Jr. Distinguished Service Award by the American Association of Clinical Anatomists (AACA). The AACA advances the science and art of clinical anatomy by encouraging research and publication in the field and maintaining high standards in the teaching of anatomy.
Norton has received over 30 Teaching awards including the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Award for Teaching Achievement by the Creighton Student Union; the highest teaching award given by Creighton University, the GlaxoSmithKline Sensodyne Teaching Award given by the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), and the Stephen H. Leeper Award given by Omicron Kappa Upsilon Supreme Chapter. Additionally, he has been awarded Teacher of the Year Award honors by Dental School classes (freshman and seniors) on 23 occasions.
In 2006 he authored Netter’s Head & Neck Anatomy for Dentistry and Netter’s Advanced Head & Neck Flash Cards (both are currently in their 3rdedition). Norton has been a member of the AACA since 1996. He became Treasurer in 2006, and served in this position until 2013. In 2013 he became President-Elect of the AACA. He served as President from 2015-2017 and Past President from 2017-2019. He served on their Council for over 13 years and chaired or served on numerous AACA committees including Financial Affairs, Journal Committee, Membership, Program Committee, and Nominating Committee. In his final year as President he negotiated a new contract for the AACA’s official journal Clinical Anatomy, which netted the AACA $550,000.