Professor Eugene LaBarre received the 2019 University of the Pacific Distinguished Faculty Award during Commencement ceremonies May 11.

Dr. Eugene LaBarre, associate professor of preventive and restorative dentistry in the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, was presented with University of the Pacific's 2019 Distinguished Faculty Award during the all-university Commencement ceremony in Stockton May 11. One award is given each year, recognizing an outstanding faculty member for their teaching, scholarship, professional leadership and service to the university. 

Over the course of his 37-year career at the Dugoni School of Dentistry, Dr. LaBarre has directly impacted the lives of more than 3,000 students who have gone on to become clinically competent health care providers, researchers and educators.  

Dr. LaBarre began his career at the dental school in 1981 and has been actively involved in developing the preclinical and clinical curriculum in fixed and removable prosthodontics and implant prosthodontics. In addition to his commitment as an educator, he has maintained a faculty dental practice at the school since 1982, serving as a role model for students, treating patients professionally with excellence, humanism and empathy.  

His students and colleagues benefit from his unique interests, strengths and clinical experience through his teaching and mentoring. He embodies the school's humanistic commitment by modeling the profession's highest standards, setting high expectations for his students, and connecting deeply with patients and the community.  

Dr. LaBarre has contributed to the profession through his scholarly research and to the ongoing development of practicing dentists and dental educators by delivering nearly 50 well-regarded scientific presentations, and has helped build relationships and international collaboration to enhance the future of global dental education through the school's academic exchange and cooperation efforts with dental schools in China and Egypt.  

In addition to his many curricular contributions at the school, Dr. LaBarre has generously shared his time, expertise and service to seek and facilitate grant-funded teaching and learning opportunities and patient care with numerous community partners. Passionate about providing care to people without access, he is actively involved in Dugoni's community outreach through programs such as Project Homeless Connect and has received more than $450,000 in funding to help support these programs.  

Dr. LaBarre has been honored on numerous occasions for his teaching, mentoring, and professional endeavors. In 2008, he was awarded the Dugoni School Alumni Association's Medallion of Distinction for his service to the school and the advancement of the dental profession and also received the Distinguished Faculty Award from the American College of Dentists' Northern California Section. He received the Dugoni Dental Faculty Council's Distinguished Faculty Award (2015), senior class Outstanding Faculty Award (2004), and the Lucian Szmyd Memorial Award for Excellence in Teaching (1994), the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a faculty member by the school's Associated Student Body.  

He earned his bachelor's degree from Harvard, a doctorate in dental medicine from Tufts University, an MS in Prosthodontics from the University of North Carolina, and an MBA from University of the Pacific. Prior to teaching at Pacific, he taught at Tufts, Temple University and the University of Geneva in Switzerland. His research interests include public health and globalizing higher education.