The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) announced that T. Bob Davis, DMD, MAGD, of Dallas, Texas, has been named the recipient of the 2025 AGD Humanitarian Award. The prestigious honor will be presented during AGD’s Annual Meeting on November 14, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois.

The AGD Humanitarian Award recognizes a dentist who has made exceptional contributions of volunteer service and consistently enhanced the image of general dentistry through the continuous delivery of quality oral health care. Davis embodies the spirit of this award through more than five decades of professional leadership, humanitarian outreach, and mentorship that has touched communities around the world.

Over the years, Davis has become internationally recognized for his tireless commitment to dental volunteerism. In 1977, he founded T. Bob Davis Productions’ Student Dental Mission Trips, which have since brought more than 2,500 dental professionals, students, and volunteers to underserved communities in Mexico, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and beyond. His teams have provided life-changing care to thousands of patients while mentoring generations of dental students in service and compassion. These missions have also led to the creation of permanent and portable dental clinics, including an eight-chair facility at the Matamoros Baptist Children’s Home in Mexico and a 21-chair portable clinic at a hospital in San Raymundo, Guatemala.

“Dr. Davis has built a remarkable legacy of service that blends clinical excellence, mentorship, faith, and compassion,” said Chethan Chetty, DDS, MAGD, AGD president. “His dedication has not only transformed countless lives through improved oral health but also inspired generations of dentists to give back to their communities.”

Davis earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine from the University of Alabama in 1967 after completing undergraduate studies at Howard College/Samford University and Mars Hill University. He went on to serve his country as a Captain in the UU.S. Air Force before beginning a distinguished dental career in Dallas, Texas.

In addition to his leadership in international dental missions, Davis has long advocated for underserved populations closer to home. He played a pivotal role in establishing dental care facilities for Dallas-area children in foster care, residents of juvenile detention centers, and guests at Dallas Life, the city’s largest homeless shelter. His commitment to addressing disparities in oral health access continues to inspire both his peers and the next generation of dentists.

“Having started going on dental mission trips taking my staff in 1977, adding students in 1982, it became clear that these once in a lifetime experiences for many students changed forever their appreciation for and value of dentistry,” said Davis. “For some students it was a great first leadership opportunity and they became great leaders in our profession.  For all who have supported/encouraged students on these trips I am most appreciative.”

Davis’s humanitarian spirit also includes decades of leadership in organized dentistry. He served as President of the Texas AGD, Director of the Dallas AGD, and an AGD spokesperson and delegate for more than 30 years. He received his Fellowship and Mastership from AGD and is also a Fellow of the International College of Dentists, American College of Dentists, Academy of Dentistry International, and Pierre Fauchard Academy, having served as President of the Academy of Dentistry International from 2016 to 2017. His extensive honors include the ADA Humanitarian Award (2018), Texas Dentist of the Year (2014), AGD President’s Award (2015), International College of Dentists Distinguished Humanitarian Award (2021), and the Christian Medical & Dental Association’s Servant of Christ Award (2020).

Beyond dentistry, Davis is also known for his passion for music. A gifted pianist, he has accompanied church choirs, produced recordings, and performed at national dental meetings, often weaving music into his ministry and humanitarian outreach.

Davis and his wife, Janis Murphy, are the parents of three children and grandparents to seven. His personal and professional life reflect a steadfast commitment to service, leadership, and faith, values that continue to guide his extraordinary humanitarian journey.