Dr. Michael J. Yuan has been selected by the Florida Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons as the 2015 recipient of the prestigious Martin Lebowitz Award. “Mikey Yuan was born in Texas to Peter and Theresa Yuan. He moved to Winter Springs, Florida, shortly after his father became a professor of Electrical Engineering, at the University of Central Florida. During his undergraduate career at the University of Florida, Mikey majored in Food Sciences and Human Nutrition while also competing as a 4 year letterman award winner and team captain on the University of Florida’s Swim Team. While completing his undergraduate studies, Mikey also garnered the honor of being the University of Florida’s sole nominee to the All-Southeastern Conference All-Sports Boyd-McWhorter Scholarship and U of F Kynes Assistantship recipient.

Mikey became interested in dentistry during his junior year of college. A teammate’s father, Dr. Jeff Smith, encouraged Mikey to shadow his dental practice in Melrose, FL. After the first half-day, Mikey was hooked and committed himself to dentistry. He loved the rapport dentists develop with patients, the immediate success of taking a patient out of pain and the long-term gratification of helping patients achieve optimal oral health.

Mikey, who is the University of Florida College of Dentistry 2015 Class President, has volunteered extensively within the many extracurricular programs offered at UFCD, including UFCD’s Dean Search Committee, the Summer Learning Program, Ambassadors of Admissions, and Psi Omega Dental Fraternity. Mikey could be seen around Shands as his alter ego — UFCD’s mascot — Mr. Mighty Molar. In his spare time, Mikey enjoys working out, playing sports, and simply being outdoors. He is a National Association of Underwater Instructor’s “Master SCUBA Diver” and NAUI-“Certified Rescue Diver,” and also has Lifeguard, CPR and First Aid Certifications. He is proficient in Scientific Method as a Research Assistant in the Comprehensive Center for Pain Research at the U of F College of Dentistry (2009-11). He is a classically-trained in piano, violin, alto and tenor saxophone. He will be traveling to Alaska and the Caribbean during the short summer break before his residency.

In July, Mikey will begin his 4-year OMFS residency at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, and his objective is to graduate with honors from that Emory University OMS Residency. His future plans are to become the owner of an Oral Surgery practice in Florida and to continue to mentor/teach future student dentist as part-time faculty at UFCD. We of the FSOMS also hope that he will become a leader in our Society and perhaps someday even rise to the position of President. And finally, Mikey would like to thank his parents, Peter and Theresa, for their continued unconditional support and encouragement, and his brother Jerry, for being a great roommate and confidant.

We of the FSOMS wish you well, Mikey, and look forward to your potential involvement in the FSOMS!

Lawrence K. Cook, Awards Chairman