On May 3rd the UConn School of Dental Medicine celebrated the accomplishments of the graduating Class of 2023 with the annual farewell and awards ceremony before UConn Health\u2019s 52nd Commencement ceremony on May 8th.<\/p>\n
The event at the Pond House in West Hartford allowed the students to gather with their classmates one last time before heading off to their residencies. The ceremony included faculty well-wishes as well as the announcement of faculty and student awards.<\/p>\n
Dean of the School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Steven Lepowsky, opened the ceremony by congratulating the class on completing the most challenging and rigorous dental educational programs.<\/p>\n
\u201cI congratulate you on all your achievements and accomplishments that have brought you to this point, which are even more impressive considering the incredible impact that COVID-19 had on your education and your life,\u201d said Lepowsky. \u201cThere will be a time when you will be able to look back and reflect upon the past few years and realize that this experience will have had a life-changing impact on who you are, as a person, as a dentist, and as a member of society.<\/p>\n
The students heard inspiring remarks from Kathlene Gerrity, executive director of the CT State Dental Association as well as UConn Alum and president of the UConn Dental Alumni Board, Dr. Ron Birmingham \u201910.<\/p>\n
Dr. Sarita Arteaga, associate dean for students, kicked off the awards portion of the ceremony by applauding the students for their hard work and achievements.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are here to recognize and applaud you,\u201d said Arteaga. \u201cYou have been resilient and now ready for many of your future challenges. The individual disciplines have submitted nominations and you have been selected by the Awards Committee to acknowledge your accomplishments.\u201d<\/p>\n
Students from the commencement committee, Caroline Wilson, Madeline Montenegro, Natasha Patel, and Basant Sallam announced the faculty awards. Dr. Thomas Taylor received the South Park Inn Dental Clinic Award for his outstanding service to the community. Dr. Shivani C. Suvarna received the Kaiser Permanente Faculty Award for excellence in teaching in the clinical sciences.<\/p>\n
The student awards were selected by the senior awards committee, a committee made up of a diverse group of faculty, with nominations from faculty from each of the School\u2019s disciplines. The full list of awards and award winners is below.<\/p>\n
ENDODONTICS<\/strong> GENERAL DENTISTRY<\/strong> Academy of Operative Dentistry Award<\/strong> American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry Student Award of Merit<\/strong> The Quintessence Award for Clinical Achievement in Restorative Dentistry<\/strong> Olmstead Prize in Geriatrics<\/strong> Society for Color and Appearance in Dentistry (SCAD)<\/strong> OMF PATHOLOGY<\/strong><\/p>\n American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Dental Student Award<\/strong> OMF RADIOLOGY<\/strong><\/p>\n Allan B. Reiskin Award<\/strong><\/em> ORAL MEDICINE<\/strong><\/p>\n American Academy of Oral Medicine Award<\/strong> OMFS<\/strong><\/p>\n American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Dental Student Award<\/strong> American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Dental Implant Award<\/strong> American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Award (2022)<\/strong> Connecticut Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Award<\/strong> HEALTH CAREERS OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM<\/strong><\/p>\n Health Careers Mentorship Award<\/strong> ORTHODONTICS<\/strong><\/p>\n American Association of Orthodontists Award<\/strong> Dr. Surender Nanda Memorial Award<\/strong> PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY<\/strong><\/p>\n American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Certificate of Merit<\/strong> Special Care Dentistry Association\/Academy of Dentistry for Persons with Disabilities Award<\/strong> PERIODONTOLOGY<\/strong><\/p>\n American Academy of Periodontology Award<\/strong> Northeastern Society of Periodontists Award<\/strong> The Quintessence Award for Clinical Achievement in Periodontics<\/strong> ASDA<\/strong><\/p>\n 2022 ASDA Award of Excellence<\/strong> PROSTHODONTICS<\/strong><\/p>\n American College of Prosthodontists Achievement Award<\/strong> American Prosthodontic Society Award<\/strong> Hanautm Best of the Best Prosthodontic Award<\/strong> Kohrman Award<\/strong> IMPLANT DENTISTRY<\/strong><\/p>\n American Academy of Implant Dentistry Student Award<\/strong> Academy of Osseointegration Outstanding Dental Student in Implant Dentistry<\/strong> International Congress of Oral Implantologists\/Dentsply Student Achievement Award<\/strong> SENIOR AWARDS COMMITTEE AWARDS<\/strong><\/p>\n American College of Dentists Outstanding Student Leadership Award (Yankee Dental Congress)<\/strong> Dr. Robert G. Levine Award<\/strong> Dr. Richard G. Topazian Prize<\/strong> The Dr. Loeb Prize<\/strong> Friends of the School of Dental Medicine \u2013 Fox Award<\/strong> International College of Dentists Student Humanitarian Award<\/strong> International College of Dentists Student Leadership Award<\/strong> The Brian D. Stone Student Memorial Award<\/strong> The Pierre Fauchard Academy Award<\/strong> The Quintessence Award for Research Achievement<\/strong> University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine Professional Development Award<\/strong> Academic Achievement Award 2023 Sponsored by the Provost\u2019s Commission on the Status of Women, the UConn Alumni Association, and the Women\u2019s Center<\/strong> American Association of Women Dentists Eleanor J. Bushee Senior Dental Student Award<\/strong> The Alumni Relations Award<\/strong> The South Park Inn Homeless Shelter Award<\/strong> Phi Chi Chapter of Omicron Kappa Upsilon 2023 Inductees<\/strong> UConn School of Dental Medicine students and faculty gathered one last time before the UConn Health 52nd Commencement Ceremony to celebrate the accomplishments of the graduating Class of 2023 with the annual farewell and awards ceremony. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":139,"featured_media":199601,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_crdt_document":"","wds_primary_category":0,"wds_primary_series":0,"wds_primary_attribution":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2166,179],"tags":[],"magazine-issues":[],"coauthors":[2209],"class_list":["post-199594","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sdm","category-uconn-health"],"pp_statuses_selecting_workflow":false,"pp_workflow_action":"current","pp_status_selection":"publish","acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-08 17:57:23","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/199594","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/users\/139"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=199594"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/199594\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":199609,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/199594\/revisions\/199609"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media\/199601"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=199594"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=199594"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=199594"},{"taxonomy":"magazine-issue","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/magazine-issues?post=199594"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=199594"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nAmerican Association of Endodontists Student Achievement Award<\/strong>
\nDemonstrates a skill level in endodontics that is above average.<\/em>
\nEdward Amelemah<\/p>\n
\nAcademy of General Dentistry Senior Student Dental Award<\/strong>
\nStudent who exhibits potential for becoming an outstanding General Dentist<\/em>
\nAddison Vitols<\/p>\n
\nExemplifies outstanding achievement in operative dentistry.<\/em>
\nJohnathan Leonard<\/p>\n
\nStudent who has demonstrated the highest level of clinical proficiency and greatest interest in esthetic dentistry.<\/em>
\nBrianna Alves<\/p>\n
\nPresented to a student for achievement in Restorative Dentistry<\/em>
\nChristopher Allen<\/p>\n
\nTo recognize outstanding achievement in Geriatric Dentistry<\/em>
\nLauren Gross<\/p>\n
\nAwarded to a dental student who demonstrates the highest level of clinical proficiency with a great interest in color and appearance, either through esthetic clinical dentistry or research<\/em>
\nCarlos Cardenas Peralta<\/p>\n
\nDemonstrates exemplary aptitude and achievement in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology<\/em>
\nJonathan Leonard and Madeline Montenegro<\/p>\n
\nFor outstanding achievement in Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology<\/em>
\nLaura Doherty and Emma Warren<\/p>\n
\nFor developing and maintaining high standards for excellence, interest and achievement in oral medicine<\/em>
\nElyse Estra<\/p>\n
\nTo recognize a dental student who has shown outstanding performance in the area of dental implant placement.<\/em>
\nCatherine Florentine<\/p>\n
\nTo recognize a dental student with high academic standing for outstanding performance in undergraduate student and clinical training in the area of oral and maxillofacial surgery and anesthesiology<\/em>
\nKyle Grabowski<\/p>\n
\nFor outstanding achievement in Oral Surgery<\/em>
\nCatherine Florentine<\/p>\n
\nTo a student who has excelled in activities at the SDM related to Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery<\/em>
\nFlaviah Muchemi<\/p>\n
\nServes with distinction as a mentor.<\/em>
\nEdward Amelemah, Carlos Cardenas Peralta, Talia Staiger and Flaviah Muchemi<\/p>\n
\nDemonstrates exceptional interest in the development of the Oro-Facial Complex<\/em>
\nEmma Warren<\/p>\n
\nFor exceptional interest in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics<\/em>
\nJulia Witt<\/p>\n
\nFor outstanding promise in the field of Pediatric Dentistry<\/em>
\nCarly Ramirez<\/p>\n
\nFor Outstanding contributions in the delivery of oral health care to patients with special health care needs<\/em>
\nCaroline Wilson<\/p>\n
\nFor outstanding achievement in Periodontics<\/em>
\nEvan Jansen<\/p>\n
\nExcellence in the field of periodontics<\/em>
\nMatthew Wittstein<\/p>\n
\nAchievement in Clinical Periodontics<\/em>
\nQuinn Kropf<\/p>\n
\nStudent who honors the spirit of volunteerism and recognizes student participation or leadership in service to their school or local community.<\/em>
\nAudrey Brigham<\/p>\n
\nTo a student who excelled in Prosthodontics<\/em>
\nAudrey Brigham<\/p>\n
\nAwarded to a student with the highest level of clinic proficiency and greatest interest in prosthodontic dentistry.<\/em>
\nElyse Estra<\/p>\n
\nTo a student who has demonstrated excellence in Prosthodontics<\/em>
\nCarlos Cardenas Peralta<\/p>\n
\nTo a student who has demonstrated excellence in removable Prosthodontics<\/em>
\nAddison Vitols<\/p>\n
\nFor outstanding achievement, academically and clinically in implant dentistry<\/em>
\nLondon Minta<\/p>\n
\nGiven to a student to support and expand their interests, education, and research in dental implants.<\/em>
\nKyle Grabowski<\/p>\n
\nStudent who has demonstrated the most interest in and enthusiasm for dental implantology.<\/em>
\nCatherine Florentine<\/p>\n
\nTo a student who has demonstrated leadership and outstanding scholastic performance<\/em>
\nElyse Estra<\/p>\n
\nPresented to an outstanding student continuing in an Advanced Education in General Dentistry or General Practice Residency program.<\/em>
\nLauren Gross<\/p>\n
\nAwarded to a student who demonstrates volunteerism and service to Humanity.<\/em>
\nFlaviah Muchemi<\/p>\n
\nAwarded to a student who is a resident of Connecticut and has been selected for qualities of leadership.<\/em>
\nNatasha Patel<\/p>\n
\nAwarded to the student judged to the best all-around in the class.<\/em>
\nCatherine Florentine<\/p>\n
\nAwarded to a graduating student who has demonstrated exemplary character traits when participating in humanitarian service or projects.<\/em>
\nDecelia Makera Gen Browne<\/p>\n
\nAwarded to a graduating student who has demonstrated significant leadership traits when participating in humanitarian service or projects.<\/em>
\nTalia Staiger<\/p>\n
\nPresented to an outstanding senior dental student who embodies the mission of Dental Lifeline Network by demonstrating exceptional volunteer service or care for patients with special needs.<\/em>
\nRyan Carrera<\/p>\n
\nPresented to an outstanding and deserving student who has exhibited leadership and<\/em>
\nwhose accomplishments have demonstrated dedication to the advancement of the dental profession and literature.<\/em>
\nCatherine Florentine<\/p>\n
\nPresented to a student for research achievement.<\/em>
\nMatthew Wittstein<\/p>\n
\nTo a senior student who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in professional development over the four years of the curriculum<\/em>
\nSamuel Ratcliffe<\/p>\n
\nExcelled academically and demonstrated high achievement in research and service to the University community.<\/em>
\nTalia Staiger<\/p>\n
\nThe recipient of this award should demonstrate enthusiasm in her career in dentistry and in her life as a colleague, friend, and mentor.<\/em>
\nAddison Vitols<\/p>\n
\nAppreciation of student leadership and commitment to the UConn School of Dental Medicine<\/em>
\nAlumni Advisory Board<\/em>
\nJacob Burns<\/p>\n
\nFor long-standing service to the South Park Inn Homeless Shelter Dental Clinic<\/em>
\nTalia Staiger<\/p>\n
\nInducted into the Phi Chi Chapter of OKU National Honor Dental Society with a focus on scholarship and character.<\/em>
\nAudrey Brigham, Carlos Cardenas Peralta, Catherine Florentine, Lauren Gross, Talia Staiger, and Caroline Wilson<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"