The Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) has reached a goal of raising $1 million in support of the Donoff Scholars DMD Scholarship, created in recognition of R. Bruce Donoff, DMD, MD, and his 28 years of dedication, innovation, and leadership as dean of the school.
The scholarship will support predoctoral students who are pursuing a second Harvard graduate degree, the school said. It aims to strengthen the school’s mission of developing and fostering leaders dedicated to improving health by integrating dentistry and medicine at the forefront of education, research, and patient care, HSDM said.
“I was flabbergasted to learn that the scholarship fund exceeded $1 million. It is more about the strength, culture, and vision of our school than any individual or program,” said Donoff.
“I fervently believe that we need to create champions for medical-dental integration, public health thinking, and moving from fee-for-service to value-based care. This fund will enable the career goals of DMD students for transformational change in our profession,” said Donoff.
The scholarship committee included a diverse group of supporters who are equally as passionate about medical-dental integration as they are about honoring Donoff and his tenure as dean, HSDM said.
“I think that the Donoff Scholars DMD Scholarship will ultimately better equip leaders by giving them the opportunity to gain the knowledge and credibility to advance the cause of well-rounded, integrated care,” said committee member Gerard Moufflet.
“Unfortunately, older methods of providing care are fairly isolated, even though institutions like Harvard School of Dental Medicine have made strides in providing an education for dental students that integrates dentistry with systemic health care,” Moufflet said.
“The goal of this scholarship is to break down the barriers in education and make the public more aware of the importance of overall health. I think this scholarship will enable dental students to grow beyond oral care and view the world from a broader perspective,” he said.
Moufflet served as chair of the Dean’s Advisory Board (DAB) for nearly 12 years and continues to be a member. He credits his involvement with the DAB for opening his eyes to the concept of educating providers in a new way to meet the needs of the changing healthcare landscape.
“I learned a lot from Dr. Bruce Donoff, who really became a mentor to me in the oral healthcare space. I had not been involved at all in dentistry from a professional standpoint, and he really opened my eyes to the challenges that providers face. I am extremely appreciative to Dr. Donoff for everything he has taught me,” said Moufflet.
The Donoff Scholar DMD Scholarship will be eligible to students fitting the criteria in the 2022 academic year.
Related Articles
Giannobile Named Dean of Harvard School of Dental Medicine
Harvard Licenses Tough Gel Adhesive Technology to Amend Surgical
Western University Raises $90,000 to Benefit Students During the Pandemic
