The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), the leading authority on children’s oral health, will celebrate the 2024 winners of its prestigious awards during the organization’s Annual Meeting, AAPD 2024, in Toronto from May 24-26.
The 2024 AAPD and AAPD Foundation Award recipients are:
Distinguished Service Award: The 2024 award recipient is Dr. John R. Liu.
The Distinguished Service Award is the most prestigious award given by the AAPD. Presented only when the AAPD Board of Trustees identifies a truly worthy recipient, the award recognizes individuals who have made a major contribution, on a national or international level, over their entire career to advocacy for children, improvement of children’s health, or to a health profession related to children. The Miller Foundation supports this award.
Pediatric Dentist of the Year: The 2024 award recipient is Dr. Charles S. Czerepak.
Established in 1998, this annual award honors a pediatric dentist who has made significant contributions to the dental profession and the specialty of pediatric dentistry through clinical practice, academics, or policy development over the past year. Recipients will also have devoted extensive volunteer leadership service to the dental profession and the specialty. This award is sponsored by NuSmile.
Jerome B. Miller “For the Kids” Award: The 2024 award recipient is Dr. Brittaney Hill.
This award is presented annually to an up-and-coming clinician, researcher, or academician in pediatric dentistry for their outstanding efforts directed to children’s oral health and welfare. The Miller Award was established in May 2007 by the AAPD Foundation to honor former AAPD and Foundation President Dr. Jerome B. Miller for his many years of service to children, philanthropy, and giving back to the profession of pediatric dentistry.
Merle C. Hunter Leadership Award: The 2024 award recipient is Dr. Jacob K. Lee.
The Merle C. Hunter Leadership Award is presented to an AAPD volunteer who has provided exemplary leadership service in the volunteer structure of the organization over the past year. This award, established in 1998, honors the memory of Merle C. Hunter, AAPD Executive Director from 1968-1986.
Manuel M. Album Award: The 2024 award recipient is Dr. E. LaRee Johnson.
The Manuel M. Album Award is presented annually to the individual or organization that has made the greatest contribution to the oral health of children with special needs. The award, established in 1997, honors Manuel M. Album, who devoted his entire career in pediatric dentistry to improving the oral health of children with special needs. The Album Society supports this award.
Dr. Lewis A. Kay Excellence in Education Award: The 2024 award recipient is Dr. James E. Jones.
This award, established in 2011, honors the director of the pediatric dental program determined to best exemplify the dedication and values set forth by Dr. Lewis A. Kay: outstanding leadership; commitment to educating pediatric dental residents to provide children with comprehensive quality oral health care; and contributions to society and the profession of dentistry which bring recognition to their program. This award is sponsored by Pediatric Dental Associates, Ltd.
Suzi Seale Coll Evidence-Based Dentistry Service Award: The 2024 award recipients are the members of the AAPD Evidence-Based Dentistry Work Group, including Dr. Chia-Yu Chen, Dr. Vineet Dhar, Dr. Elizabeth Gosnell, Dr. Jayaraman Jayakumar, Dr. Clarice Law, Dr. Martina Majstorović, Dr. Abdullah Marghalani, Dr. Cameron L. Randall, Dr. Janice Townsend, Ms. Rachel Wedeward, and Dr. Martha Wells.
The Evidence-Based Dentistry Service Award, established in 2016 by the AAPD’s Evidence-Based Dentistry Committee (EBDC), recognizes pediatric dentist(s) who have made a major contribution, on a national or international level, to the dental profession and the specialty of pediatric dentistry through evidence-based clinical practice, academics, or policy development over the past year. Nominees are solicited from the membership and considered by the EBDC, which makes the final selection.
Paul P. Taylor Award: The 2024 award recipient is Dr. James A. Coll.
The Paul P. Taylor Award is given to the lead author of the most prestigious journal article in Pediatric Dentistry from the previous year. This award is determined by the AAPD Editorial Board and the AAPD Awards Committee. The Baylor Pediatric Dentistry Alumni Fund graciously supports this award.
Dr. Ann Page Griffin Humanitarian Award: The 2024 award recipient is Dr. David A. Ciesla.
The Ann Page Griffin Humanitarian Award is sponsored by Practicon, Inc. This award, established in May 2010 by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Foundation, honors Ann Page Griffin, AAPD member and president and founder of Practicon. The award honors an AAPD member dentist who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to alleviating suffering and improving the oral health of underserved populations in the United States or abroad.
Dr. Beverly A. Largent Access to Care Innovator Award: The 2024 award recipient is Dr. Nicole McGrath-Barnes.
Established in 2022, this award seeks to shine a light on a selected individual whose efforts are making a difference for children in their community as an outstanding grantee of the AAPD Foundation. This award is sponsored by Elevate Oral Care.
For more information on the 2024 award recipients and AAPD, visit www.aapd.org.
About the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) is the recognized authority on children’s oral health. As advocates for children’s oral health, the AAPD promotes evidence-based policies, best practices, and clinical guidelines; educates and informs policymakers, parents and guardians, and other health care professionals; fosters research; and provides continuing professional education for pediatric dentists and general dentists who treat children.
Founded in 1947, the AAPD is a not-for-profit professional membership association representing the specialty of pediatric dentistry. Its 11,000 members provide primary care and comprehensive dental specialty treatments for infants, children, adolescents, and individuals with special health care needs.
For further information, please visit the AAPD website at www.aapd.org or the AAPD’s consumer website at www.mychildrensteeth.org.
