ALD 2023 AWARD RECOMMENDATIONS

2022 Award Recipients

The Academy of Laser Dentistry (ALD) is accepting recommendations for four awards honoring leaders in the field of lasers in dentistry. This isyour opportunity to recognize colleagues who have contributed so much to our commitment to improving the health and well-being of patients through the proper use of laser technology. Please be a part of this process by nominating anyone you feel has greatly contributed to our mission.

 

Deadline to submit a nomination is December 31, 2022

 

Please click on an award link below to view full description of each award and to complete the online nomination form. A list of previous honorees follows below on this page.

Many of the members of the Academy of Laser Dentistry (ALD) submerge themselves in the dynamics of laser dentistry on a day-by-day basis. They put in long days at the office serving their patients, and in their “free time” dedicate themselves in even deeper ways. They spend time in research, developing new treatment techniques, write journal articles, teach at seminars, mentor colleagues, and spend countless hours volunteering on Academy committees. They do this without the thought of being given an award. 


 

2022 ALD Awards Presentations - Advance video to 13:00 to go directly to awards presentations.

 

 

 

Leon Goldman Award for Clinical Excellence

 

Lynn Atkinson, RDH
Private Practice, Torrance, California, USA

 

Lynn Atkinson has been a Registered Dental Hygienist for 32 years. She graduated from Cypress College, California with a degree in Dental Hygiene and was fortunate enough to be a part of several dental teams that incorporated state of the art technology. Since obtaining the Associate Fellowship Certification through the World Clinical Laser Institute (WCLI) in 1996, Lynn has been actively applying the use of dental lasers in hygiene daily. Lynn went on to achieve the Standard Proficiency Certification through the Academy of Laser Dentistry (ALD) in 2013 and the Advanced Proficiency Certification Parts I and II in 2019.

 

Lynn is currently practicing clinical dental hygiene as Clinical Hygiene Director in Mission Viejo, California four days a week. She speaks and trains doctors, hygienists, and team members on the use of lasers along with strategies to incorporate dental lasers into their protocol. Lynn is an active member of the Academy of Laser Dentistry, the American Dental Hygiene Association, the California Dental Hygiene Association, the Orange County Dental Hygiene Association, The Western Society of Periodontology, and is a Hygiene Faculty member, and Speaker for Biolase. Lynn serves on the Board of Directors at the Academy of Laser Dentistry as Auxiliary Chair, a member of the ALD Speakers Bureau, and is involved in the testing committee.  Lynn is married with four children and lives in Torrance, California where she was born and raised.

 

Disclosure: Lynn Atkinson is a speaker and educator for Biolase.

 

The Leon Goldman Award is presented for clinical excellence. Dr. Goldman was the first physician to report on laser exposure to a vital human tooth. In 2020 Dr. Grace Sun is honored with the Leon Goldman Award for Clinical Excellence. The candidates are required to provide supportive documentation displaying the candidates’ exceptional clinical work.  The criteria for the Goldman Award for clinical excellence include: ALD membership, Advanced Proficiency Certification, clinical presentations annually, and recognized clinical excellence using lasers in dentistry in peer-reviewed journals.  Dr. Sun joins a prestigious community of past recipients

 

 

John G. Sulewski Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Commitment and Contributions to the Academy

 

Lawrence Kotlow, DDS

Private Practice, Albany, New York, USA

 

Lasers became a passion in 2000 and Dr. Kotlow has been using lasers in his pediatric practice ever since in Albany, New York. Dr. Kotlow was among the early laser pioneers, focusing on pediatrics. He is a known authority on laser use for frenectomy procedures in newborns and infants and has dedicated his career to educating others on laser use in pediatric dentistry. Dr. Kotlow lectures worldwide, has written several books and has spent countless hours sharing his knowledge and foresight with members of the Academy of Laser Dentistry. 

 

Larry chose the ALD for sharing his knowledge. From 2000 when first joined, he has supported all of ALD’s programs including the Dr. Seidner Scholarship program, earmarking a generous anonymous annual pledge specifically for pediatric dental laser education in undergrad and graduate programs.

 

Dr. Kotlow served on the ALD Board of Directors in its earlier years. And, while governing is not really Larry’s main focus, education is. Education has always been a passion and Dr. Kotlow looked to ALD. Year after year, Larry would guide ALD in our production of laser focused pediatric programming.  We needed an introductory video, Larry made one.  We wanted a compelling program at the annual conference, Larry created one. During the pandemic, we relied on Larry. He spearheaded ALD’s Pediatric Health Symposium in January 2021. In Oct 2021, Dr. Kotlow led another Pediatric Program in a month-long CE series. Both programs are available to you today. Through the Academy of Laser Dentistry. Now after more than 40 years in pediatric dentistry and more than 20 with ALD.

 

Acceptance by Dr. Kotlow

I would like to thank everyone at the Academy of Laser Dentistry for honoring me with this award. I would especially like to thank those that helped me through the years as we worked to accomplish the mission of the Academy of Laser Dentistry.  It all started for me in May 2000, whenI was asked to give a course on “Hi Tech” Dentistry at the Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. At the end of that presentation the ONE question I was asked was “What do you think of lasers?” My initial thought is that they would be difficult to use on children. At that meeting two laser companies, Hoya and Biolase, were exhibiting lasers. I spent two days learning all about Lasers and invested in an Erbium:YAG. And, that was the beginning of my journey with lasers. 

 

The ALD has always been home to me.  I have met, learned from, and become good friends with so many well respected and knowledgeable people. 

            

There are many awards given out for various accomplishments to individuals, unfortunately they are most often awards named to honor or recognize an individual who would never know about the honor. 

            

I appreciate the Academy recognizing me, specifically with this SERVICE award named for my good friend and respected colleague.  I have worked with and known John since I joined the Academy over 20 years ago. He has been a guiding beacon to ALD. I am happy John continues to shine his light upon us. 

             

The other person I feel has helped me on this path and has always been there when I suggest a project is Gail Siminovsky. Thanks, Gail for always taking my calls.

 

I accept this award with pride and I assure you that all these years were and will continue to be a source of satisfaction and gratification to me as I have helped and will continue to help the Academy to carry on its work. Thank you          

 

The John G. Sulewski Distinguished Service Award is presented for outstanding commitment and contribution to the Academy. In 2021, Dr. Ana Triliouris is presented with the John G. Sulewski Distinguished Service honor.  The Distinguished Service Award recognizes leadership and participation in the Academy far above the call of duty including Board of Directors service.  Dr. Triliouris joins esteemed colleagues as honorees.

 

 

 

The Dr. Glenda Payas Outstanding Educator Award 

 

Shigeyuki Nagai, DDS, PhD

Private Practice, Tokyo Japan

  

Dr. Shigeyuki Nagai received his DDS from the Osaka Dental University, Japan in 1987 and studied at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine as a Clinical Fellow from1989-1992. He practiced at the Massachusetts Veterans Administration Medical Center and Massachusetts General Hospital in 1991. He received his PhD from Tokyo Medical and Dental University.

 

Dr. Nagai serves as a Board member of the Japanese Society for Laser Dentistry, Asia and Pacific Division of the World Federation for Laser Dentistry and Vice President of the Japanese Academy of Color for Dentistry. He served as the board member of Academy of Laser Dentistry from 2010-2018. He is a committee member of the Japan Academy of Esthetic Dentistry, Japan Society for Laser Surgery and Medicine and Japan Association of Microscopic Dentistry.

 

He was awarded the ALD Leon Goldman Award for Clinical Excellence in Laser Dentistry in 2010 and the Excellent Presentation Prize of the Japanese Academy of Color for Dentistry in 2008.

 

In addition to all of these noted appointments and positions, the most important of all is Dr. Nagai’s kind, gentle manner and willingness to teach others.  He is responsible for translating ALD’s certification examinations in Japanese.  What a feat that was!  He cares about colleagues around the world and it shows in all of his teaching.  He has served as mentor and examiner for years as ALD’s certification program grew.

 

Dr. Nagai maintains a full-time private dental practice in Tokyo, Japan. Dr. Nagai is visiting lecturer at Tokyo Medical and Dental University Photoperiodontics, Department of Periodontology.

 

Acceptance by Dr. Nagai

I am deeply honored to receive the Dr. Glenda Payas Outstanding Educator Award.

 

Back in 1996, my first laser was pulsed Nd: YAG laser. There was limited information to use the laser for dental treatment. I had tried to find the usage of the laser with a lot of questions in my mind. Finally, I decided to attend the conference of the Academy of Laser Dentistry to learn the laser dentistry which was the only international meeting in the world for the clinician in 1998.

 

I brought my cases for the oral presentation at the conference and I found that what I was doing with the laser was wrong! That was what I expected to attend the ALD meeting to find out the correct usage of the laser.

 

Since then, I have tried to attend international meetings like the International Society for Laser Dentistry which is for the researchers, and the Europe Society for Oral Laser Application, also I had taken examinations at the laser meeting. The ALD has an excellent certification program which is the best curriculum compared to the other certification program of other international laser societies. I enjoyed learning at the ALD certification program and the ALD educator course.

 

The most important part of attending the ALD for me is to meet the excellent people who have the passion and the energy to share their knowledge and to lead laser dentistry to become a part of dentistry. I wouldn't have become the lecturer of laser dentistry without friends and mentors of ALD. I have felt that I am at home during the ALD meeting, because of the hospitality of the people who welcome the international members, especially, Dr. Art Levy had been the chairman of the International Committee for a long time and had always cared about us. It was my greatest pleasure to work with him at the International Committee. I would like to dedicate this award to my friend Dr. Art Levy.

 

I have been teaching laser dentistry in various places and at the University and still have a lot of questions in my mind about laser dentistry more than in 1996. I believe that having questions or doubts about what am I doing with the laser makes me more higher quality for the patient care and learning is fun.

 

I wish to express my thanks to the Awards Committee for honoring me with the Dr. Glenda Payas Outstanding Educator Award.

 

The Dr. Glenda Payas Outstanding Educator Award is presented for lifelong leadership excellence in education globally.  This honor recognizes original research, years of educational instruction in multiple different educational environments from elementary school to postgraduate teaching, published articles, and distinguished volunteer leadership service that supports education globally.  This honor is selected by the Dr. Eugene Seidner Student Scholarship and Research Grants Board of Trustees. 




 

2021 AWARD RECIPIENTS

 

 

T.H. Maiman Award for Excellence in Dental Laser Research

 

James Carroll, AMInstP, RSM
CEO, THOR Photomedicine Ltd, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom


James Carroll has been working on photobiomodulation for 34 years and is a recognized authority on photobiomodulation dose, dose rate effects, and the measurement and reporting of treatment parameters. He has written or co-authored 24 academic papers and co-authored four books on the subject. 

 

His most recent appointments include: Co-Chair of the Biomedical Optics Society Conference on Photobiomodulation Mechanisms; Board Member of the World Association for Photobiomodulation Therapy; Fellow of The Royal Society of Medicine. 

 

Through his company THOR Photomedicine, he is working with 36 medical institutions across the world, including Harvard Medical School, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, and the UK National Health Service (NHS), on photobiomodulation treatment for a range of conditions such as traumatic brain injury, the side effects of cancer treatments, and managing acute and chronic pain.

 

James has presented at the United Nations Global Health Impact Forum on Photobiomodulation and to Congress on photobiomodulation treatments that could help solve the opioid crisis. 

 

 

 

Leon Goldman Award for Clinical Excellence

 

Grace Sun, DDS, MALD, MAGD, MICOI, FAACD

Private Practice, Los Angeles, California, USA

 

Dr. Sun has practiced comprehensive and restorative dentistry in Beverly Hills since 1983 and is responsible for many healthy beautiful and happy smiles. Her prestigious accreditations include Master of the Academy of Laser Dentistry, Accredited Fellow of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (the Academy’s first female fellow), Master of the Academy of General Dentistry, Master of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, and a Senior Instructor with the International Association for Orthodontics. An early adopter of lasers in dentistry, Dr. Sun has integrated lasers of multiple wavelengths, including low-level laser therapy, into her practice since 1997. She co-authored the first academic journal article on low-level lasers in the Dental Clinics of North America in 2004.

 

 

 

 

John G. Sulewski Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Commitment and Contributions to the Academy

 

Dr. Ana Maria Triliouris, DDS

Private Practice, Merrick, New York, USA

 

Lasers became her passion in 1991 and Dr. Triliouris has been using lasers in her practice ever since in Merrick, Long Island, New York.  She was among the early pioneers that incorporated lasers in the 1990s.  Together a small group met often to learn about laser technology and later founded an organization that later became the Academy of Laser Dentistry (ALD).  Dr. Triliouris served as the first editor of Wavelengths, a precursor of the Journal of Laser Dentistry, as the Ethics Committee Chair for many years, as a member of the Board and the Chair of the Dr. Eugene Seidner Scholarship Fund for many more years.  One highlight was in 2011 when she served as the ALD President.  Additionally, as the Dr. Seidner Scholarship Fund became successful and permanent during her tenure and because of the work she contributed in fundraising and networking, the Seidner Board of Trustees was able to add Research Grants to the program in 2018.

 

Dr. Triliouris continues to be active in the ALD, volunteering now as Chair of the Dr. Eugene Seidner Student Scholarships and Research Grants Program.  Since the program’s inception in 2004, ALD has presented $120,000 in students scholarships to 36 students in 6 countries, and $56,000 in 3 research grants to 6 researchers at 4 universities globally.  In addition, The Seidner Silent Auction has raised $31,000 with over 96 items donated.  The $153,000 Scholarships and Research Grants fund continues to grow.

 

 

 

 

The Dr. Glenda Payas Outstanding Educator Award 

 

Dr. David Roshkind, DMD, MBA, FAGD, MALD

Private Practice, West Palm Beach, Florida, USA

 

Dr. Roshkind has been involved in the dental field for over 45 years, and laser dentistry since 1990.  He has held positions as President of the Academy of Laser Dentistry, Chairman of Regulatory Affairs, Chairman of Scientific Sessions, and Chairman of Certification.  He has held appointments as Senior Clinical Instructor at the Institute of Laser Dentistry, a Certified Laser Educator, Member of the House of Delegates Florida Dental Association, Instructor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, an Assistant Professor at Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine, and an Assistant Professor at the University of Florida College of Dentistry.

 

Dr. Roshkind is a charter member of the Academy of Laser Dentistry, received the Academy’s Outstanding Service Award in 1998, holds the Master of Laser Dentistry designation, and is an associate of Laser Education International, LLC.  Dr. Roshkind has presented seminars, lectures, workshops, and has published locally, nationally, and internationally.  Some of the venues include the annual sessions of the American Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, Fédération Dentaire Internationale, California Dental Association, Florida Dental Association, and The Greater New York Dental Meeting.  He has practiced General, Cosmetic, and Laser Dentistry in West Palm Beach, Florida, for over 36 years and practiced for 8 years in Gainesville, Florida.  Dr. Roshkind holds the following degrees and honors:

  • Cornell University – BA
  • University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine - DMD
  • Wharton School - MBA
  • Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry
  • Advanced Proficiency Laser Certification
  • Master of the Academy of Laser Dentistry
  • Certified Dental Laser Educator – University of California San Francisco 

 

The Dr. Glenda Payas Outstanding Educator Award is presented for lifelong leadership excellence in education globally.  This honor recognizes original research, years of educational instruction in multiple different educational environments from elementary school to postgraduate teaching, published articles, and distinguished volunteer leadership service that supports education globally.  This honor is selected by the Dr. Eugene Seidner Student Scholarship and Research Grants Board of Trustees. The 2021 inaugural honor of the Dr. Glenda Payas Outstanding Educator Award is presented to Dr. David Roshkind.

 

 

 

ABOUT THE AWARDS

 

The T.H. Maiman Award is presented for excellence in dental laser research. The first laser was developed by Theodore H. Maiman in 1960. In 2021, James Carroll is honored with the T.H. Maiman award for research excellence in light therapy. The candidates are required to provide supportive documentation displaying the candidates’ exceptional dental laser research.  The criteria for the Maiman Award for excellence include publication in peer-reviewed journals as first or second author. This honor is not given every year.

 

Dr. Joel White 1993
Dr. Lynn Powell 1995
Dr. Richard Blankenau 1996
Dr. Terry D. Myers 1998
Dr. Peter Rechmann 1999
Dr. Frederick Parkins 2000
Dr. Akira Aoki 2001
Dr. John Featherstone 2002
Dr. Craig Gimbel 2003

Dr. Linda Otis 2006

Prof. Raimund Hibst 2008
Prof Dr. Daniel Fried 2009
Dr. Wayne Selting 2011
Dr. Sebastiano Andreana 2012
Dr. Georgios Romanos 2016
Dr. Shalizah Patel 2019
Dr. Juliana Barros 2019

James Carroll 2021

 

The Leon Goldman Award is presented for clinical excellence. Dr. Goldman was the first physician to report on laser exposure to a vital human tooth. In 2020 Dr. Grace Sun is honored with the Leon Goldman Award for Clinical Excellence. The candidates are required to provide supportive documentation displaying the candidates’ exceptional clinical work. The criteria for the Goldman Award for clinical excellence include: ALD membership, Advanced Proficiency Certification, clinical presentations annually, and recognized clinical excellence using lasers in dentistry in peer-reviewed journals.

 

Dr. Kim Kutsch 1993
Dr. Robert Pick 1995
Dr. Steven Parker 1998
Dr. Donald J. Coluzzi 1999

Dr. Robert E. Barr 1999
Dr. Janet Hatcher Rice 2000
Ms. Nora M. Raffetto, RDH 2001
Dr. Duane H. Beers 2002
Dr. Gabi Kesler 2004
Dr. Glenn van As 2006
Dr. Frank Yung 2007 

Dr. Giovanni Olivi 2007
Dr. Stu Coleton 2009

Dr. Shigeyuki Nagai 2010

Dr. Giuseppe Iaria 2011
Dr. Mel Burchman 2012
Dr. Larry Kotlow  2014
Dr. Fred Margolis 2014 
Dr. Claus Neckel 2015
Dr. Gerry Ross 2016
Dr. Beatrijs Deruyter 2017
Dr. John Graeber 2018
Mary Lynn Smith, RDH 2018
Dr. Nuran Çulcuoglu  2019

Dr. Grace Sun 2021

Lynn Atkinson, RDH 2022

 

The John G. Sulewski Distinguished Service Award is presented for outstanding commitment and contribution to the Academy. In 2021, Dr. Ana Triliouris is presented with the John G. Sulewski Distinguished Service honor.  The Distinguished Service Award recognizes leadership and participation in the Academy far above the call of duty including Board of Directors service.  Dr. Triliouris joins esteemed colleagues as honorees:

 

Dr. Stewart Rosenberg 1993
Dr. Scott Brundrett 1995
Mr. John Sulewski 1996
University of California, San Francisco 1997
Dr. David M. Roshkind 1998
Dr. Alan J. Goldstein 1999
Dr. William Siminovsky 2000
Dr. Stuart Coleton 2002
Dr. Donald Patthoff 2003
Dr. Tony Hewlett 2004
Dr. Joel White 2005
Dr. Donald Coluzzi 2006

Dr. Art Levy 2007

Dr. Lester Burman 2008
Dr. Dennis Pietrini 2009
Dr. Steven Parker 2010
Dr. Charles Rhodes 2011
Dr. Emile Martin 2012
Dr. Robert Convissar 2013
Ms. Angie Mott, RDH 2014
Dr. Mitch Lomke 2015
Dr. Glenda Payas 2016
Dr. Arun Darbar in 2017
Dr. Scott Benjamin in 2018
Dr. Walid Altayeb in 2019 

Dr. Ana Triliouris in 2021

Dr. Larry Kotlow in 2022

 

The Dr. Glenda Payas Outstanding Educator Award is presented for lifelong leadership excellence in education globally.  This honor recognizes original research, years of educational instruction in multiple different educational environments from elementary school to postgraduate teaching, published articles, and distinguished volunteer leadership service that supports education globally.  This honor is selected by the Dr. Eugene Seidner Student Scholarship and Research Grants Board of Trustees. The 2021 inaugural honor of the Dr. Glenda Payas Outstanding Educator Award is presented to Dr. David Roshkind.

Dr. David Roshkind 2021

Dr. Shigeyuki Nagai 2022

 


2019 Award Recipients

The Leon Goldman Award for Clinical Excellence

Nuran Çulcuoglu, DDS, MSc. Private Practice - Istanbul, Turkey
About Dr. Nuran Çulcuoglu

Dr. Çulcuoglu graduated from Ankara University Dental Faculty in 1977. She conducted research on denial originated focal infections in the early 1980s. Sheachieved ALD’s Standard Proficiency certification in1994 and Advanced Proficiency in1996. Dr. Çulcuoglu completed her MSc program at Genoa University in November 2014. She is practicing as a general dentist in Istanbul. Dr.Çulcuogluis a long-time ALD member and has attended just about every Academy of Laser Dentistry annual session for 25 years.

 

About this honor from Dr. Çulcuoglu
Since my childhood, I always wanted to be a scientist and do something for humanity. People are created beautifully and so, whether primitive or advanced, poor or rich, everyone deserves the best treatment especially about health. Continuing my work in accordance with this principle, I found laser dentistry. When I learned the capabilities of lasers, I felt like none of the treatments that I had been performing on my patients was sufficient. Finally, in 1990, I joined a laser course in Birmingham, Michigan. Following the course, I purchased a dLase 300 Nd:YAG dental laser and started incorporating laser treatments for my patients. In 1991, at the International Academy of Laser Dentistry meeting in Geneva, Professor Arthur Dugoni, who was the dean of the San Francisco University School of Dentistry, said, “These years are the golden age of dentistry! Implant treatment is very important to progress in dentistry, but laser treatment is a revolution because our patients can continue to use their own teeth.” That speech widened my horizon further and in time I observed this result in my own treatments. Today I continue to follow the progress of lasers closely. In light of high scientific technology, receiving this award for the clinical success I had due to my responsibility and respect toward my patients and their trust in me is a great honor.
I wish to express my thanks to the Awards Committee for honoring me with the Leon Goldman Award for Clinical Excellence.


The T.H. Maiman Award for Excellence in Dental Laser Research

Juliana A Barros, DDS, MS
Associate Professor
Department of Restorative Dentistry & Prosthodontics
UTHealth | The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston | School of Dentistry

About Dr. Juliana Barros

Dr. Barros is an Associate Professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry and Prosthodontics at The University of Texas School of Dentistry (UTSD) atHouston. She earned her DDS from the University of Uberaba, Brazil, in 1995. She has postgraduate training in Restorative Dentistry from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. In addition, she earned a master’s degree in Laser Dentistry from the Nuclear and Energy Research Institute and University of São Paulo, Brazil. Recognizing great opportunities to advance knowledge and treatment in laser dentistry, she became the Director of Dental Laser Studies and designed a didactic and laboratory-based teaching curriculum for laser education at the UTSD at Houston. She also collaborated with UTSD’s Endodontics Department where she studied the effect of low-level laser irradiation on the migration and proliferation of dental follicle progenitor cells. She is also worked with UTSD’s Orthodontics Department in investigating the effects of low-level laser irradiation on bone regeneration and healing. Dr. Barros is currently collaborating with the Department of Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences and Baylor College of Medicine Sjögren’s Syndrome Clinic in studying the effectiveness of photobiomodulation on xerostomia and sensory alterations. Dr. Barros lectures and conducts research in the fields of restorative dentistry, biomaterials, and hard/soft tissue laser applications. She developed the laser dentistry curriculum at the University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth) School of Dentistry at Houston and is the acting director of the laser clinic. Dr. Barros is a member of the Academy of Laser Dentistry’s University and Academia Relations Committee, American Dental Education Association, Academy of Operative Dentistry, International Association for Dental Research, and Consortium of Operative Dentistry Educators. 

 
Shalizeh “Shelly” A. Patel, DDS
Associate Professor, Director of Clinical Simulation
Department of Restorative Dentistry & Prosthodontics
UTHealth | The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston | School of Dentistry

About Dr. Patel

Dr. Patel is an associate professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry and Prosthodontics at the University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston. Shereceived her Doctor of Dental Surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Dental School in 2001. As the Director of Clinical Simulation, Dr. Patel is involved in simulation teaching, curriculum development, and research. She also designed the didactic, lab and clinic-based teaching curriculum in laser education at UTSD. She has served as the principal investigator/collaborator in several research projects in the field of caries diagnosis/management, laser dentistry, simulation, and advances in teaching and learning. These efforts have led to numerous scholarly publications, a textbook chapter, and a number of presentations at both state and national levels. In 2012 and 2015, Dr. Patel was recognized with the Dean’s Teaching Excellence Awards for “Innovation in Teaching” and the “Scholarship of Teaching,” respectively. She was the 2014 winner of the John H. Freeman Award for Faculty Teaching, as well. To serve her institution and the field of dental education, Dr. Patel is currently pursuing a master’s degree in education in Curriculum and Instruction.

 


The John G. Sulewski Distinguished Service Award

Walid Altayeb, DDS, PhD, MSc, FALD, MALDPrivate Practice, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE)

About Dr. Altayeb

Dr. Altayeb received his dental degree from the Faculty of Dentistry, Damascus University, in 1998 and completed his Master of Science in Periodontics in 2004and Doctorate of Philosophy in Periodontics in 2007. He had been working as a clinical supervisor in the Department of Periodontics, Damascus University, Syria. Dr. Altayeb achieved an advancd level of knowledge in the application of lasers in dental science and patient treatment (Advanced Proficiency certificates from the Academy of Laser Dentistry in 980-nm diode and Er:YAG lasers). He has Mastership in the Academy of Laser Dentistry, is a member of the ALD Board of Directors and Speakers Bureau, Chair of the ALD International Relations Committee, and Founder and Chair of the ALD Gulf Laser Chapter. He is the founder of the laser section in the British Academy of Implant and Restorative Dentistry (BAIRD) and the founder of the Professional Diploma in Advanced Laser Dentistry of BAIRD. Dr. Altayeb conducts “Pink Aesthetics & Laser Dentistry” courses with the British Academy of Implant and Restorative Dentistry in Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and UAE. He has participated in many conferences in the Middle East and USA as a speaker in the fields of periodontal medicine and laser dentistry. He is working in private practice as a periodontist and implantologist in the Tamim Dental Polyclinic, Doha, Qatar, The British Lasik and Cosmetic Surgery Center, Dubai, UAE, and the Masters Dental and Aesthetic Center, Abu Dhabi, UAE.