Dr. Angela Pack - Past President IAP

Associate Prof Angela Pack, of Dunedin, is the first woman to be awarded a fellowship of the New Zealand Dental Association in its 95-year history.

"We're delighted to be able to honour someone, in her home city, who's made such an important contribution in the area of hygiene," association president Dr Stewart Edward said after the presentation during the association's conference in Dunedin last night.

Assoc Prof Pack said it was a tremendous honour. In 1980, there had been only 55 women in a century on the country's dental registry. There were now about 300. She believed most people would remember her for establishing the first curriculum for dental hygienists, who were not even allowed to work in New Zealand until 1988 - "They're here to stay."

Assoc Prof Pack has been working at the University of Otago School of Dentistry since 1972 and involved with the dental association since 1979. She is on the International Academy of Periodontology board of directors and has been an examiner in New Zealand, Adelaide and Jakarta.