In the heart of the Big Easy, UCSF School of Dentistry recently attended two major conferences alongside the greater dental education and research communities, securing prestigious honors and awards at both events.
ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition
The ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition kicked off the festivities in New Orleans over the March 9–12 weekend. Dental educators and students participated in educational workshops and keynote presentations, learning about the latest advancements in the field. Attendees were honored with several awards, scholarships, and fellowships.
Among the recipients, UCSF School of Dentistry stood out prominently.
Diana Nguyen, DDS, received the prestigious ADEAGies Foundation Junior Faculty Achievement in Oral Health Education Award for her innovative teaching methods and contributions to enhancing dental education. This was the first time the Gies Awards included award categories for junior faculty.
Andrew Chen, a third-year student, and Lara Fu, a fourth-year student, were awarded the ADEA/Haleon Preventive Dentistry Scholarship. This award supports predoctoral dental students who have demonstrated academic excellence in preventive dentistry.
Group photo at ADEA GoDental Pre-dental event with ADEA volunteersAdditionally, several UCSF students presented posters throughout the weekend.
“It was wonderful to see so many learners and faculty members joining the larger dental community and thriving in so many areas. From student leaders participating in the Student Diversity Leadership Program to the buzz of energy at our GoDental booth, and throughout all the various sessions, this ADEA conference proved to be even more dynamic and inspiring than I had imagined. I'm so thankful for all the staff and faculty who contributed to make this level of engagement possible – a true team effort that reflects our PRIDE values,” said Jack Gormley, EdD, assistant dean for Learner Success & Belonging.
IADR/AADOCR/CADR General Session & Exhibition
UCSF School of Dentistry was honored with more accolades the following week during the IADR/ AADOCR/ CADR General Session & Exhibition, the largest annual gathering for the dental and craniofacial research community.
Effie Ioannidou Inaugural Address.Effie Ioannidou, DDS, MDS, was introduced as the incoming American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) president, an organization she has been a member of since 1998. She has served in multiple AADOCR leadership roles over the years and also helped found the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research’s (IADR) Women in Science Network.
“Being introduced as the 53rd President of AADOCR, the 11th female President and the second Greek American woman to hold this prestigious position, is a profound honor. The meeting was a wonderful opportunity to connect with colleagues from numerous domestic and international academic institutions. I was deeply moved by the warm support of Dean Reddy and my UCSF colleagues, who participated in the opening and president’s induction ceremony. AADOCR is a vibrant community dedicated to advancing oral, dental, and craniofacial research,” she said. “As president, I am committed to championing increased research funding before Congress. Concurrently, I will advocate for amendments to the Council on Dental Accreditation (CODA) Standard 6 through public hearings. These efforts aim to enhance investment in research and bolster support for basic, translational, and clinician scientists within academic institutions.”
After Dr. Ioannidou's induction, UCSF School of Dentistry carried forward its momentum, securing additional honors.
DDS/PhD student Jessi Cook was elected the next National Student Research Group councilor.
Ameera Haque wins first place in the SCADA Award Competition.Ameera Haque, with her mentor Ophir Klein, MD, PhD, won first place in the Student Competition for Advancing Dental Research and its Application (SCADA) Award Competition. The SCADA award showcases students’ research and recognizes their passion for discovery and innovation.
Minyoung Kim (mentored by Erica Hutchins, PhD), Karin Shamardani (mentored by Jeffrey Bush, PhD), and Eric Yin (Mentored by Christine Hong, DMD, MS) were among the winners of the AADOCR Research Fellowship Awards.
Jake Ngu (mentored by Pamela Den Besten, DDS) received an AADOCR Bloc Travel Grant.
