Dr. Robert J. Genco left an impact that was nothing short of extraordinary. He was a true pioneer in periodontal research and a leading figure in the broad recognition of the perio-systemic link, consistently spreading his knowledge to others. Since 2021, the AAP has held the Robert J. Genco Symposium each year at the Annual Meeting in honor of the late Dr. Genco.
About Dr. Genco
Dr. Genco – an internationally recognized expert in oral biology – earned his dental degree from the State University of New York (SUNY) in 1963. He then simultaneously pursued both specialized periodontal training and immunology at the University of Pennsylvania. By 1967, he had accomplished a remarkable feat, obtaining his certificate in periodontics and doctorate in microbiology and immunology.
Dr. Genco went on to write over 370 scientific papers which are regarded as some of the most important work establishing a link between periodontal health and systemic health. He has won several awards—including the 1991 Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Dental Research, 2003 Norton M. Ross Award from the American Dental Association (ADA), and the 1993 Gold Medal Award and 2012 Distinguished Scientist Award from the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP). Dr. Genco was committed to educating others and served as chairman of the SUNY Oral Biology Department for 25 years and Editor-in-Chief (EIC) of the AAP's academic journal: Journal of Periodontology (JOP) for over 18 years.
Read more about Dr. Genco's accomplishments here.
AAP's Robert J. Genco Symposium
As one of the first researchers to connect periodontal disease with other diseases (such as heart disease and diabetes), the perio-systemic link was a principal focus for Dr. Genco, and the Robert J. Genco Symposium honors his memory by keeping the latest periodontal topics and research at the forefront.
In 2021, the Robert J. Genco symposium focus was to provide data for the mechanistic and clinical relationship between diabetes and periodontitis. The impact of periodontal and systemic inflammation, dysbiosis of the oral and gut microbiome, and the clinical impact of periodontitis on the management of diabetes were explored.
In 2022, the symposium topic was the relationship between periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases. The goal of this symposium was to bring leaders in the field of cardiology who were instrumental in demonstrating the inflammatory link to cardiovascular diseases to the podium along with an expert in periodontal disease pathogenesis and its link to systemic disease to provide the latest data and concepts to members of the Academy.
Stay tuned to find out more about this year's topic of focus regarding periodontal and systemic interrelationships at the Robert J. Genco Symposium. The symposium will take place on November 10 at the 2023 Annual Meeting!