Celebrating Dr. Paul Nativi: A Lifetime of Service Recognized with the Bauman Sportsmanship Award

The Academy for Sports Dentistry is proud to celebrate Dr. Paul Nativi, who has been honored with the Bauman Sportsmanship Award by Saint Louis University—an award recognizing individuals who exemplify the highest principles of integrity, honesty, and fair play through selfless service to athletics.

Dr. Nativi’s connection to Billiken Athletics spans more than four decades. Since 1982, he has served as the team dentist for Saint Louis University’s men’s and women’s basketball and field hockey programs. That same year, he founded SLU’s sports dentistry program, which he continues to direct, helping shape the integration of dental care into comprehensive sports medicine.

A graduate of Saint Louis University with a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry (1971) and a Doctor of Dental Medicine from Washington University, Dr. Nativi has dedicated nearly 50 years to clinical excellence, education, and service. His impact reaches far beyond the university level. In 2013, he was appointed as a USA Olympic Team Dentist and has supported numerous NCAA and Missouri Valley Conference postseason basketball and wrestling tournaments.

Dr. Nativi’s leadership within the profession is equally notable. He has served as an Assistant Clinical Professor at SLU’s Center for Advanced Dental Education, a long-standing member of the Athletic Training Program Advisory Board, and a member of the Billiken Club Board of Directors. Within the Academy for Sports Dentistry, he served on the Board of Directors from 2007 to 2010 and as President from 2011 to 2012, helping to guide the organization during a period of growth and advancement.

His commitment to service also extends internationally through years of dental mission work in Jamaica, reflecting a career defined not only by professional achievement but by compassion and dedication to others.

The Bauman Sportsmanship Award is a fitting recognition of Dr. Nativi’s lifelong contributions to athletics, education, and sports dentistry. His career embodies the values this award represents and serves as an inspiration to the entire ASD community.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Paul Nativi on this well-deserved honor and in thanking him for his extraordinary service to athletes and to our profession.