Evidence-Based Dentistry Faculty & Practice Awards

Established by the ADA and the American Association for Dental Research (AADR), the Evidence-Based Dentistry Faculty & Practice Awards acknowledge currently practicing dental educators and clinicians who have made significant contributions to implement and advance EBD in research, practice, or education.

The Evidence-Based Dentistry Faculty & Practice Awards consist of three categories:

• the Evidence-Based Dentistry Accomplished Faculty Award,
• the Evidence-Based Dentistry Mid-Career Faculty Award, and
• the Evidence-Based Dentistry Practice Award.

Winners of the 2021 EBD Awards receive a commemorative plaque and a $1,000 honorarium. They will also receive lodging and travel to attend the EBD Awards ceremony at SmileCon, October 12, 2021, in Las Vegas.

Winners are selected by a committee composed of members of the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs Clinical Excellence Subcommittee, representation from AADR, and a non-voting participant from Colgate.

To receive award consideration, applicants or their nominators must click the "Submit nomination" button above and provide:

• Verification that the nominee meets all award eligibility criteria.
• Contact information for the nominee (and the nominator, if different than the nominee). 
• A letter of reference from a colleague, dental school dean, department head, or other leader in the profession describing the nominee’s relevant contributions to the profession (focusing on the criteria for the specific award) and the depth, breadth, and diversity of the professional accomplishments relevant to the particular award being sought.
• A CV for the nominee.

This is a one-time award; winners are ineligible to apply again. Nominees are not carried over from year to year. Prior-year nominees must apply again for award consideration.

Award eligibility criteria

• Membership in the ADA or AADR
• Fifteen years or more as a full-time or part-time faculty member at an accredited U.S. university
  • For example, seven years at school A and eight years at school B qualifies as 15 total years
• Have a leadership role in bringing a new EBD research or educational program to their school, or have a leadership role in developing EBD resources for the profession

Past recipients

• 2020: Dr. Rajesh Lalla, University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine
• 2019: Dr. Analia Veitz-Keenan, New York University College of Dentistry 
• 2018: Dr. Richard Niederman, New York University College of Dentistry 
• 2017: Dr. Jane Forrest, University of Southern California Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry 
• 2016: Dr. John Rugh, University of Texas Health Science Center Dental School at San Antonio
• 2015: Dr. Greg Huang, University of Washington School of Dentistry

Award eligibility criteria

• Membership in the ADA or AADR
• Five to 15 years as a full-time or part-time faculty member at an accredited U.S. university
• Outstanding and promising contributions to the practice and profession: Completion of an EBD project within the past two years, or authorship on an EBD-related project (such as an evidence summary, a systematic review, an evidence-based guideline, or a dissemination and implementation research study) that is accepted by a peer-reviewed publication

Past recipients

• 2020: Dr. Satheesh Elangovan, University of Iowa College of Dentistry & Dental Clinics
• 2019: Dr. Joana Cunha-Cruz, University of Washington School of Dentistry 
• 2018: Dr. Vineet Dhar, University of Maryland School of Dentistry
• 2017: Dr. Jaana Gold, University of Florida College of Dentistry 
• 2016: Dr. Ahmad Abdelkarim, University of Mississippi School of Dentistry
• 2015: Dr. Donald Chi, University of Washington School of Dentistry

 Award eligibility criteria

• Membership in the ADA
• Seventy percent of work must be in the clinic providing direct patient care
• Completion of an EBD project within the past two years, or demonstrated leadership in implementing EBD to improve patient care in private practice or a public health setting and encouraging colleagues to use research findings in practice

Past recipients

• 2020: Dr. Christopher Smiley of Grand Rapids, MI
• 2019: Dr. Thomas Paumier of Canton, OH 
• 2018: Dr. Elliot Abt of Skokie, IL
• 2017: Dr. Ben Balevi of Vancouver, British Columbia 
• 2015: Dr. Jane Gillette of Bozeman, MT

• 2016: Combined EBD Faculty Award presented to Drs. Teresa Marshall and Cheryl Straub-Morarend, University of Iowa College of Dentistry
• 2014: Inaugural Evidence-Based Dentistry Award presented to Dr. Robert Weyant, University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine