Student Award Programs 

AAPHD is proud to recognize dental residents in public health dentistry, dental students and dental hygiene students through two award programs.

The Student Merit Awards offer cash prizes and support to dental public health residents, senior dental students and senior dental hygiene students to present their research during the poster session of the annual National Oral Health Conference.

The Student Recognition Awards in Community Dentistry provides recognition to students in dental or dental hygiene schools for service work or projects they have given to their communities. 

 2018 AAPHD Student Merit Awards

Dental Hygiene Student Merit Award for Outstanding Achievement in Community Dentistry

First Place: Pranayan Chakma, DH student
Title: Creating a Climate of Oral Public Health Connections in a Transitional Housing Community: Dental Hygiene Students Promoting Oral and Systemic Link
School: West Coast University
Nominator: Mary Ann A. Pedersen, RDH

Leverett Graduate Student Merit Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dental Public Health

First Place: Doaa Alsaggaf, BDS, DScD
Title: Psychosocial stressors and dental care utilization of low-income African-American women
School: Boston University, Henry M Goldman School of Dental Medicine
Nominator: Woosung Sohn, DDS, PhD, DrPH

Second Place: Jennifer Sukalski, RDH, BS
Title: Periodontal Treatment Need in a Medicaid Expansion Population
School: University of Iowa College of Dentistry
Nominator: Susan C. McKernan, DMD, MS, PhD

Third Place: Elizabeth Pitts, RDH, MS
Title: Dental Utilization Pattern of Ages 2-3 Covered by Medicaid and Residing in Wayne County, Michigan
School: University of Michigan
Nominator: Janet Kinney, RDH, MS

Honorable Mention by Student (in alphabetical order by last name):

Eman AlSagob, BDS, MS, DScD
Title: Influence of Community Level Factors on Non-Traumatic Dental Visit Rates to Emergency Departments in Rhode Island
School: Boston University, Henry M Goldman School of Dental Medicine
Nominator: Woosung Sohn, DDS, PhD, DrPH

Siddardha G. Chandrupatla, BDS, MMSc
Title: Group visits - a model to improve access to care and reduce treatment period for partial dentures
School: Harvard School of Dental Medicine
Nominator: Mary Tavares, DMD, MPH

Jennifer Clemens, DMD, MPH
Title: Effects and Acceptance of Silver Diamine Fluoride Treatment on Dental Caries in Primary Teeth
School: A.T. Still University
Nominator: Jaana Gold, DDS, MPH, PhD, CPH

Predoctoral Dental Student Merit Award for Outstanding Achievement in Community Dentistry

First Place: Katie Takach, MS, MPH
Title: The Oral Health Needs of Women Inmates in Phoenix, AZ
School: A.T. Still University
Nominator: Ashley Love, DrPH, MPH, MS, CPH

Second Place: Morgan Thorne and Vrinda Tarneja
Title: Community Education About Caries Risk Behavior Through Use of an Electronic Application
School: University of Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine
Nominator: Juan F Yepes, DDS, MD, MPH, MS, DrPH

Third Place: JungSoo Kim, BS
Title: Providing One Visit Dentures to Edentulous Homeless Individuals in San Francisco, California: A Program Evaluation
School: University of California San Francisco School of Dentistry
Nominator: George W Taylor, DMD, MPH, DrPH

Honorable Mention by Student (in alphabetical order by last name):

Adeena Arain, BS & Moustafa Badawi, BS
Title: Seeking Refuge from Plaque
School: UT Health School of Dentistry
Nominator: Robert Spears, PhD

Dan Malloy, BS & David Carpinello, BS
Title: A Pilot Oral Health Knowledge and Dental Career Awareness Program for Foster Care Youth in Greater Philadelphia Region
School: Temple University Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry
Nominator: Vinodh Bhoopathi., BDS, MPH, DScD

2018 Student Recognition Awards in Community Dentistry

The Student Recognition Awards in Community Dentistry provides recognition to students in dental or dental hygiene schools for service work or projects they have given to their communities. These awards are offered to each dental and dental hygiene school in the United States and Canada for senior students only. 

• Senior Dental Student Award for Special Interest/Achievement in Community Dentistry and Dental Public Health
• Senior Dental Hygiene Student Award for Special Interest/Achievement in Community Dentistry and Dental Public Health