Ivoclar Vivadent CEO Robert A. Ganley recently received a pair of awards as he looks forward to his retirement after 39 years with the company in July, collecting accolades from Business First of Buffalo and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD).
Business First of Buffalo honored Ganley with its Excellence in Health Care Award in March during a special ceremony in downtown Buffalo, New York. The award recognizes Ganley as one of the top people in the Western New York healthcare industry.
Other award honorees include physicians, nurses, board members, advocates, and researchers whose work has improved how the health system works in Western New York hospitals, laboratories, clinics, nonprofits, and health facilities.
“Being acknowledged as a healthcare leader within the Western New York community is wonderful honor,” said Ganley. “I extend my congratulations and thanks to the other award recipients for their heroic achievements, high standards of patient care, and dedication to improving the health and wellness of our region.”
Ganley has been CEO of Ivoclar Vivadent for the past 16 years, overseeing an organization with more than 3,500 global employees. He first joined the company in 1980 as vice president.
Coining the phrase “The Esthetic Revolution” when the company launched IPS Empress in the early 1990s, Ganley introduced a promise for better dentistry, greater patient satisfaction, and more creativity for dental professionals, according to Ivoclar Vivadent. Ganley later pushed the envelope for stronger and less invasive dental materials such as IPS e.max, the company adds.
Under Ganley’s initiatives, Ivoclar Vivadent also has donated millions of dollars to dental associations and non-for-profit outreach efforts, such as the American College of Prosthodontics. Last year, the company supported the National Association of Dental Laboratories Foundation by donating a Harley-Davidson motorcycle to a campaign that raised more than $15,000 for scholarships and grants.
Ganley has remained steadfast in the company’s global commitment to providing underserved populations with access to oral healthcare as well, Ivoclar Vivadent says. From product donations to special initiatives such as Give Kids a Smile Day, the Wisdom Tooth Project, and missionary service groups, Ivoclar Vivadent has supported thousands of patients worldwide, it says.
“We try to educate and improve the oral healthcare of others whenever we possibly can,” said Ganley, who will remain a member of Ivoclar Vivadent’s Supervisory Board.
Also, the AACD gave Ganley its Lifetime Achievement Evy Award during the 35th Annual AACD Scientific Session Celebration of Excellence on April 27 in San Diego.
The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated significant achievement in cosmetic or restorative dentistry both personally or professionally. Evy recipients are first nominated for the award by their colleagues and then selected by the Awards and Recognition Committee.
“During his tenure with Ivoclar Vivadent, Bob has made many significant contributions to dentistry, and many industry experts credit him with changing the face of dentistry when the organization launched ‘the aesthetic revolution’ in the early 1990s,” said AACD president Betsy Bakeman.
“Bob introduced a promise for better dentistry, greater patient satisfaction, and more creativity for dental professionals. This concept re-invigorated dental professionals and ushered in a new era in aesthetic restorative dentistry,” said Bakeman.
“Today, he is steering in a new revolution in cosmetic dentistry, ‘The Digital Age.’ Under his direction, Ivoclar Vivadent has a clear and promising path that includes a wide range of restorative solutions and digital processes for dentistry,” Bakeman said.
These awards follow the American College of Prosthodontists’ (ACP) recognition last fall, during its 2018 Annual Session in Baltimore. In 2018, Ganley renewed the company’s support of the ACP Education Foundation for another five years, commencing this year.
“Ivoclar Vivadent’s Bob Ganley has been a true friend and supporter of the ACP and the Education Foundation,” said Leonard Kobren, DDS, chair of the ACP Education Foundation.
“His vision, leadership, dedication, and service have advanced the field of prosthodontics. Bob is truly a visionary who transformed the dental technology landscape by innovating disruptive processes, technologies, and products that altered the profession,” said Kobren.
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