School of Dentistry Alumni Award Winners
Get to know the remarkable dental professionals who inspire the OHSU alumni community.
2027 Alumni Award nominations are now open!
Do you know an OHSU School of Dentistry alum who deserves to be celebrated?
Help shine a light on their impact — nominate them for a 2027 Alumni Award.
Nominations are due September 13, 2026.
Congratulations to the 2026 School of Dentistry Alumni Award Winners
Scott Dyer, D.M.D. ’00, M.S., Ph.D.
Agent of Change Award
“Scott is an excellent clinician, a powerful and brilliant instructor and trusted mentor. He not only improves the lives of his patients, but he helps other clinicians provide the same level of excellent treatment.”
— Gregory A. Williams, D.M.D. ’98
Scott Dyer, D.M.D. ’00, M.S., Ph.D., is a renowned expert in prosthodontics whose distinguished career blends clinical excellence, teaching and global service. A widely respected clinician and scientist, he is among a select group of prosthodontists who have earned both a Ph.D. in dental materials science and certification by the American Board of Prosthodontics.
Dyer is a devoted educator and mentor who is passionate about training dentists to become expert diagnosticians and treatment planners. He leads prosthodontics study clubs, treatment planning sessions, and lectures nationally and internationally on the subject.
In 2007, he co-founded Wide Open Humanitarian, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to dental care and oral health education in underserved communities worldwide. For nearly two decades, Dyer has led teams to remote regions of Central and South America, Samoa and India, providing essential oral health care to those who need it most.
Susan Rustvold, D.M.D. ’85, Ed.D.
John C. Peterson Distinguished Alumni Award
“Dr. Rustvold’s service to our profession meets and exceeds the qualities this award was established to recognize. She embodies the spirit of humanitarianism in her practice, in her volunteer service and in her advocacy for access to excellent oral health care.”
— Don Sirianni, D.M.D. ’64
Susan Rustvold, D.M.D. ’85, Ed.D., has dedicated more than 40 years to advancing dental education, oral health literacy and patient care. A longtime OHSU faculty member, she has helped shape the professional journeys of generations of dental students.
Rustvold’s impact extends beyond the classroom, bringing care to communities often overlooked. She has served as a dental officer with the Oregon Department of Corrections and built a robust record of volunteer service in the United States and abroad. She developed an oral health literacy presentation for women in residential substance use disorder treatment programs, and research on its outcomes contributed to her doctoral dissertation. Internationally, she has served in Guatemala, China, Indonesia, Haiti and Uganda, treating patients and supporting local providers with equipment and education. Rustvold’s research on dental anxiety has removed barriers to care for many patients who would have avoided or postponed treatment.
Together, her patient care, teaching and volunteer service amount to a legacy that has touched thousands — and will continue to do so through those she has trained.
Amberena Fairlee, D.M.D. ’17
Early Career Achievement Award
“Amberena has already taken on multiple leadership roles and is having an impact on the dental profession. I am sure this is only the beginning, and I am excited to see what she accomplishes as her career progresses.”
— Alayna Schoblaske, D.M.D. ’17
Less than a decade into her dental career, Amberena Fairlee, D.M.D. ’17, is already making a meaningful mark on the profession. An engaged and influential leader in organized dentistry, Fairlee is the current president of the Oregon Dental Association (ODA). She also serves on the Oregon Board of Dentistry’s Dental Assistant Workforce Shortage Advisory Committee, the Oregon Health Authority’s Health Care Workforce Committee and as Oregon’s American Dental Association Workforce Ambassador.
As a student, Fairlee’s aptitude for leadership was clear. She served as class president and held significant roles with the American Student Dental Association and the Delta Sigma Delta Psi Chapter. Since graduating from OHSU, Fairlee has navigated multiple career transitions and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic with professionalism, integrity and purpose — all while raising three children.
In January 2026, she became owner of Cascadia Family Dental in Bend, Oregon, marking the beginning of a new chapter in a promising career.
Bryan Guthrie, D.M.D. ’83
President’s Award
“Dr. Guthrie is widely regarded as a trusted mentor whose encouragement, expertise and accessibility profoundly enrich the learning environment.”
— Carly Christoferson Petersen, D.M.D. ’19
After many years in private practice, Bryan Guthrie, D.M.D. ’83, joined the OHSU School of Dentistry faculty, where he serves as assistant professor of restorative dentistry and leader of the Sellwood Bridge Practice Group. His commitment to teaching, mentoring, and advocating for students has had a transformative impact on the next generation of dentists.
A Fellow (1991) and Master (2003) of the Academy of General Dentistry, Guthrie’s deep commitment to the dental profession is reflected in his long history of leadership roles in both state and local dental societies. He has devoted his time and talents to dental and community organizations, including the Clackamas County Volunteer Dental Clinic, Medical Teams Northwest, Give Kids a Smile, and the Oregon City Rotary — a further testament to a career defined by excellence and generosity.
