Awards
About the Award
The WFO ‘Rising Star’ Travel Scholarship was established by the WFO Executive Committee in 2022, and named after former WFO President, Doctor Roberto Justus. Dr. Justus is a teacher, mentor, researcher and clinician. He has been motivational and supportive to the younger members of the orthodontic community throughout his career. Dr. Justus travelled extensively as President of the WFO and has been widely respected as an excellent lecturer. This scholarship aptly carries his name.
This award is presented to WFO Fellows who, in the judgment of the WFO, have excelled in the field of Orthodontics and should be supported to present their research and/or clinical work internationally.
Intent
The intent of the award is to encourage younger WFO Fellows to participate in international meetings, present lectures at an affiliate national and/or regional meeting that is not their own, and to create more exposure for themselves. The WFO wishes to ensure a bright future for our profession by supporting colleagues with leadership potential in their early professional years.
To support orthodontic speakers early in their careers, the WFO has initiated a travel reimbursement program of up to 1000 USD per awardee as well as a plaque in honor of receipt of this recognition. It is presumed that a WFO affiliate meeting will provide free registration to WFO Fellows who are invited to present lectures within the affiliate’s scientific session and who win this WFO Travel Scholarship.
The Award Process
Eligibility
To be eligible for nomination for the award, a nominee must be a Fellow of the WFO and no older than 38 years of age at the time the application is submitted. All nominees must be in good standing at the time of submission and in the year any award is to be presented.
Nomination
Submissions for the award may be made directly to the WFO Central Office or through a current WFO Executive Committee member by any WFO Fellow in good standing, or any WFO Affiliate Organization in good standing. The nomination must be supported by a second who is a WFO Fellow. Regional representatives of the WFO may also help identify potential scholars. The WFO central office shall forward the nomination to the WFO Awards Committee. Nominations for this award may be made to the WFO from the 1st of June the previous year and must be received no later than 31st of March of the awarding year.
Process
The Awards Committee will make recommendations to the WFO Executive Committee for final determination of all awards. Up to 6 scholars (preferably 1 from each WFO region) may be selected annually. The nomination must be submitted on the provided form and must include all required materials outlined in the form. The scholarship winner(s) will be announced at the annual WFO President’s Breakfast meeting. Regional representatives of the WFO Executive Committee will subsequently help facilitate the lectures for the scholars.
General Award Policy
- The WFO Awards, Education and Communications Committees will publicize the scholarship through their projects and the various media platforms available. Regional WFO representatives and affiliate associations will also encourage participation from WFO Fellows.
- Each individual Fellow may only be nominated once in their lifetime. They must be no older than 38 years of age at the time the application is submitted. A maximum of six (6) scholarships may be given out every year.
- All successful submissions will be encouraged to contribute a submission to the JWFO if their work has not been previously published.
- The results of the award competition will be announced at the WFO President’s Breakfast meeting held annually during the AAO annual session. WFO regional representatives will assist in the arrangements for the lecture to be held at an appropriate conference. The respective plaques and certificates will be presented at the time the lecture takes place by the WFO Regional representative and/or any WFO EC member in attendance. Reimbursements for the award will be managed by the WFO central office and will be based on submitted receipts for land travel and coach airfare to and from the WFO affiliate meeting site. Receipts must be presented to the WFO central office within 60 days of travel to be reimbursed.
Recipients
2024
Dr. Carlo Bosoni
SIDO (Italian Society of Orthodontics)
Dr. Navdeep Bhusri
Cambodian Association of Orthodontists
Dr. Fabrizia d’Apuzzo
SIDO (Italian Society of Orthodontics)
Dr. Ivan Halim
Indonesian Association of Orthodontists
Dr. Koo Chieh Shen
Association of Orthodontists (Singapore)
Dr. Srirengalakshmi
Indian Orthodontic Society
2023
Dr. Samar Adel
Egyptian Orthodontic Society
Dr. Asma Ashari
Malaysian Association of Orthodontists
Dr. Blazhhkiv Nazar
Association of Ukranian Orthodontists
Dr. Tatiana Porcel
Sociedad Boliviana de Ortodoncia (Bolivian Society of Orthodontists)
