About the Award
Past Recipients
PFA 2024 Elmer S. Best Award Recipient Sir Nairn Wilson

Laurence (Laurie) J. Walsh AO

2025 Elmer S. Best Memorial Award Recipient

Emeritus Professor Laurence Walsh AO is a specialist in special needs dentistry based in Brisbane. Following his dental education and PhD at the University of Queensland, Laurence undertook postdoc training at the University of Pennsylvania, and executive education at Stanford University. He is an authority on several topics, including infection control, oral microbiology, and lasers in dentistry. Laurence has authored over 400 journal publications and contributed to 12 textbooks, as well as to multiple Australian standards and national guidelines. He holds patents in 7 areas of technology and has 17 granted patents. Laurence has been a faculty member of the University of Queensland School of Dentistry for over 40 years, serving for 10 years as the dean, and for 20 years as the research group leader in advanced technologies. Since retiring from a full-time university position in 2020, he has continued to have a strong involvement in research, supervising 10 research students across 3 universities, and contributing to specialist clinical training. Laurence has an extensive portfolio of service to the profession, and he has been made a life member of the ADA and the ANZ Academy of Special Needs Dentistry. Laurence was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2018.

About the Award
Past Recipients