Loma Linda University School of Dentistry (LLUSD) faculty member R. David Rynearson, DDS'71, MS'87, has been honored with the O.B. Vaughan Special Recognition Award from the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO), one of the most prestigious recognitions in the field of orthodontic education.
The award is bestowed upon individuals who have made significant contributions to orthodontic education and who embody the ideals of the ABO. It bears the name of a former ABO president whose lasting impact on orthodontics continues to shape the profession, and Dr. Rynearson's connection to that legacy is personal.
"Dr. Vaughan was a role model for me and for so many others," Dr. Rynearson shared during a recent interview, adding that he hopes to continue carrying forward that same spirit of mentorship and service for his own students.
Dr. Rynearson's path to orthodontics began, as many great careers do, with a chance encounter. Growing up in the San Fernando Valley, he met his friend's father, a dentist who shared Dr. Rynearson's interests in artistry and engineering. It inspired a lifelong love of the profession. It was a pivot he never could have predicted: his original dream had been to become an animator for Disney, a passion he continued to actively pursue as a hobby. But from the moment dentistry captured his imagination, a new dream took hold. Years later, during dental school, he channeled his love of drawing into producing cartoons for the School newsletter, Contrangle.
After earning his DDS degree and completing a decade in private practice, Dr. Rynearson returned to LLUSD to pursue orthodontics. About a year into that program, Judson Klooster, DDS, MMS, approached him about joining the faculty. Wanting to remain rooted in patient care, Dr. Rynearson found a balance that would define his professional life: teaching two days a week while maintaining his private practice.
Over the decades that followed, Dr. Rynearson became a shaping force in orthodontic education, influencing how board examinations were structured, mentoring countless students, contributing to ABO processes, and conducting research alongside his clinical and teaching responsibilities.
The O.B. Vaughan Special Recognition Award is a fitting tribute to a career built on exactly the kind of dedication and service it was created to honor. The students Dr. Rynearson has guided over the decades carry his legacy into their own practices and classrooms — ensuring that his commitment to orthodontic excellence will extend well beyond his years at LLUSD.
