Three West Virginia University School of Dentistry recent graduates achieved certification from the American Board of Orthodontics. Congratulations to Dr. Joshua Lokant, Dr. Mona Meky and Dr. Sharon Han (Wang) on this significant achievement.
Drs. Lokant and Meky completed orthodontics training at WVU in 2024, and Dr. Han completed the program in 2022.
With generous support from alumni, the certification examination fee has been funded for graduates who recently completed the program. This year’s achievements have continued a 100% pass rate for WVU gradates.
An orthodontist may become board certified by the American Board of Orthodontics by successfully completing rigorous written and clinical examinations.
Upon learning of their achievements, alumni Dr. Maury Hamill (’70), the first alumnus to achieve board certification, Dr. Dick Howells (’73) and Dr. Frank Bailey (’75) shared their congratulations.
“Congratulations from the first WVU Orthodontic alumni to be board certified. Back in the day, 1970 when I finished the residency, one had to be in practice for at least five years before being eligible to take the written exam! That was changed a few years, but I did not do the boards until 1980. After preparing full records for 15 cases at three intervals, original pre-treatment, end of treatment and after at least two years in retention, we had to fly out to St. Louis for the examiners to go over the 15 cases. As you can imagine after all that it was a great relief and satisfying to pass.” -Dr. Maury Hamill
“My kids would say don't bother Dad; he's working on the BOARDS. Cheryl and I loaded 15 cases in our car and drove to St. Louis. One of the best feelings I ever had. ‘ABO’. Congratulations to all who accomplished certification.” -Dr. Dick Howells
“I remember so well the many hours of writing and tracing cephs, and collecting all the cases required all the way to post retention. It was quite a task but the sense of pride and accomplishment in passing the ABO boards was gratifying. Congratulations to the new board-certified recipients.” -Dr. Frank Bailey
Currently, 63% of American Association of Orthodontists members are board certified. The WVU School of Dentistry Department of Orthodontics will continue to encourage graduates to obtain board certification to improve national rates.
-WVU-