CANTON – On Friday evening on the Historic Onesto Lodge, it was the Stark County dentists’ model of “and another factor.”
Tom Paumier, who has a longtime dental observe in Stark County, was amongst 4 dentists inducted this 12 months into the Distinguished Dental Service Academy. It is primarily a “lifetime achievement award” bestowed by the Stark County Dental Society annually since 1999.
However when the awards ceremony was set to finish, the dental society had a shock for Paumier.
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Two officers of Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital emerged to talk. They have been Tom Turner, vice chairman of improvement and authorities relations, and David Gormsen, chief medical officer. Turner directed Paumier to take away the fabric overlaying an easel.
When he did so, he discovered an image of a hallway within the places of work of the hospital’s Dental Basic Observe Residency that he helped present in 2007. To the left was the brand new title of the wing, the Thomas M. Paumier, DDS Dental Basic Observe Residency.
The greater than roughly 120 in attendance broke out in loud applause.
“Thanks very, very a lot. I am humbled and honored. This might be higher posthumously,” Paumier joked, sparking laughter.
He later stated he was shocked on the honor.
“I am very humbled, nevertheless it’s been a gaggle effort since its inception, and I am most happy that it’ll proceed to serve the residents of Stark County,” he stated. “Those that are most in want. And it’ll proceed to coach a lot of our future colleagues on this occupation, a lot of them who will assist increase the usual of care of dentistry on this neighborhood.”
Paumier, 60, of North Canton, stated the residency program has produced about 40 dentists, most of whom have stayed in Northeast Ohio. And it helps 1000’s of sufferers a 12 months.
This system focuses on coordinating oral well being care with medical medical doctors of assorted specialties. Paumier stated he led the hassle to boost $100,000 in 2009 to ascertain an endowment to maintain the residency program, which now has about $1 million in belongings.
Stark County Dental Society board chair and dentist Michael Thomas stated about Paumier and his position in founding the residency program: “He was the one which carried it although for 10 years pursuing, making an attempt, speaking, conferences. He was the man and it was like gas cell know-how. It was a good suggestion nevertheless it’s at all times two years away. … But it surely was his motivation that made it occur.”
Thomas stated when he mentioned the thought of naming the residency program after Paumier, there was a right away consensus amongst dental society leaders to take action.
Paumier has been credited with contributing to the creation of nationwide COVID protocols for dentists.
In his induction acceptance speech, he stated: “So I problem every of you right here to consider those in your life and to thank them a way. Extra necessary, I encourage every of you to be that one to another person.”
Additionally being honored as inductees have been Paumier’s mentor, Andrew Wojtkowski, the present director of the residency program that can have Paumier’s title; longtime Canton dentist Ok. “Ragu” Ragunanthan; and the late dentist Harvey B. Cohen. His daughter Religion Cohen and son Greg Cohen accepted his award on his behalf.
The Stark County Dental Society additionally honored the Alliance of the Stark County Dental Society, based by wives of dentists in 1955 with the James F. King Oral Well being Advocacy Award.
Attain Robert at [email protected] Twitter: @rwangREP.
https://www.cantonrep.com/story/information/2022/05/21/cleveland-clinic-mercy-hospital-renames-dental-residency-program-tom-paumier/9855518002/