Warren Arrasmith, D.M.D., associate professor and clinic director in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, was honored with the SSOMS Lifetime Achievement Award at the 72nd meeting of the Southeastern Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

The award recognizes an oral and maxillofacial surgeon who has significantly contributed to the specialty and to dentistry as a whole.

Arrasmith began his career in the United States Air force as a General Dental Officer. He was later mentored by Dr. Charles “Scotty” McCallum, among other prominent names in the field, while completing his residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at UAB.

In 38 years of private practice, he served as the Chief of the Oral and Maxillofacial section at Baptist Medical Center Princeton and UAB Medical West Hospitals. He also sat on numerous hospital and operating room committees and helped establish hospital guidelines for Oral and Maxillofaical Surgery privileges.

Arrasmith joined the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery as a part-time adjunct professor over 20 years ago and transitioned to full time in 2011, upon retiring from private practice. He currently holds the Thomas W. Jones Endowed Professorship and recently received the UAB President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.

In addition to serving as clinical director and maintaining active involvement in predoctoral dental education, Arrasmith is a member of the National Dental Practice Based Research Network, with research interests in practice-based research, clinical curricular design, and local anesthesia. He serves on various School of Dentistry committees and has chaired the Faculty Council and the Dean’s Leadership Council. He is also past president of the UAB chapter of OKU National Dental Honor Society.

Active in local, state and national professional organizations, Arrasmith is past president of both the Alabama Society and the Southeastern Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. He is a delegate to the Alabama Dental Association and American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. He also served as an examiner for the Board of Dental Examiners of Alabama. In 2020, he was honored with the Daniel M. Laskin Award for an Outstanding Predoctoral Educator by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS).

Arrasmith shared, “I have enjoyed the opportunity to impact the practice of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery throughout my career, through education, research, collaboration and service. I am deeply honored to be recognized by my colleagues with the prestigious SSOMS Lifetime Achievement Award.”

The Southeastern Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons contributes to the public welfare through advancement of the specialty of oral and maxillofacial surgery by fostering scientific programs, research, and standards of practice; by upholding ethical and professional standards and responsibilities; and by cultivating social and professional development that fosters a sentiment of mutual and cooperative endeavor among all its members to provide and render a better service to the public which as professionals they are privileged to serve.