The Dr. Edward B. Shils Entrepreneurial Fund recently held its third annual Shils Stars Dental Student Competition and its 17th annual awards ceremony. Ola Adel Farrag, a student at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, took first place in the student competition.
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Dr. Edward B. Shils Entrepreneurial Fund, Inc.,
a nonprofit organization dedicated to innovation in health care, held its third annual Shils
Stars Dental Student Competition and its 17th annual awards ceremony on October 16
at New York University College of Dentistry.
The Dr. Edward B. Shils Entrepreneurial Fund recently honored health care
entrepreneurs and oral health innovators at its annual awards ceremony.
“Our event is an exciting opportunity for health care entrepreneurs to motivate,
educate, and engage with one another in a mission to advance innovation in oral
health,” said Steven W. Kess, President of the Dr. Edward B. Shils Entrepreneurial
Fund’s Board of Directors. “From our competition showcasing young entrepreneurs to
the recognition of social entrepreneurs who help expand access to care, Dr. Shils’
legacy lives on in elevating the contributions of the next generation of health care
leaders.”
The Shils Stars Dental Student Competition included submissions from U.S.- and
Canada-based dental students who pitched their ideas, innovations, and inventions to a
panel of judges led by Stanley M. Bergman, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer of Henry Schein, Inc. The competition results were:
- 1st Place, $2000: Ola Adel Farrag, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental
Medicine – “P-File” New Endodontic File - 2nd Place, $1500: Michael Schiappa, Columbia University College of Dental Medicine
– Oral Capnography Accessory - 3rd Place, $1000: Dr. Supontep Teerakanok, Boston University Henry M. Goldman
School of Dental Medicine – The Fabrication of Novel Orthodontic Cement - 4th Place, $500: Fareed Tareen, New York University College of Dentistry – The
Invisible Needle Syringe
The evening concluded with an awards reception that recognized people, organizations,
and programs that safeguard the oral health of underserved communities and
populations and positively influence the dental community. The evening began with
the 2019 Shils Fund Innovator Awards, a prize given to people and programs from
across the health care community in recognition of their bold impact on the field and
their respective communities. The awards, which include $1,000 to a charity of the
winner’s choice, were presented to:
- Teresa A. Dolan, DDS, MPH, Vice President & Chief Clinical Officer, Dentsply
Sirona – In recognition of her outstanding “Excellence in Industry” entrepreneurial
efforts, dedicated leadership, and unique skill set, which has enabled the
technologically driven oral health education program of Dentsply Sirona to reach
more than 400,000 dental professionals worldwide. - Joseph Brofsky, DMD, Section Head, Department of Pediatric Dentistry
at Cohen Children’s Medical Center – In recognition of his “Excellence in
Community Service,” leading and expanding the Nassau County Dental Society’s
Give Kids A Smile program, one of the largest events of its kind in the country, to
advance the oral health, and by extension overall health, of thousands of underserved
and special needs children. - Meg Booth, MPH, Executive Director, Children’s Dental Health Project – In
recognition of her “Excellence in a Nonprofit Organization” efforts to transform the
status of children’s oral health across our nation through her innovative leadership of
the Children’s Dental Health Project. - Dr. Stephen LeBeau, President, nanoMAG LLC – In recognition of his “Excellence
in Research” ground-breaking efforts to significantly advance the development of
bioabsorbable implants made of high-strength magnesium alloys with the potential to
transform this area of oral health care delivery.
The Special Recognition Award, which acknowledges people and programs for their
work to improve the oral health and well-being of others, was presented in absentia
to Dr. Karen Fields-Lever, Founder & Owner, 28 to Brush Dental Studio and
Mobile Dentistry Program. Dr. Fields-Lever received the award in recognition of her
entrepreneurial efforts to expand 28 to Brush Dental Studio’s delivery of care to more
than 3,000 patients, as well as the creation of a mobile dentistry segment, which raises
awareness of oral health’s importance and brightens the smiles of more than 16,000
students.
The Cohen-Volpe Award is given to those who have made outstanding contributions to
dentistry or its allied sciences, and is named for two distinguished clinicians,
researchers, and educators: Dr. D. Walter Cohen and Dr. Anthony Volpe. This year’s
award was presented to Daniel H. Fine, DMD, Professor and Chair, Department of Oral
Biology, Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, Senior Vice Dean of Research, Graduate
School of Biomedical Science. Dr. Fine was recognized for his longtime, unwavering
dedication to the field of integrated medical and dental research of oral infectious
diseases, significantly advancing the ability of health care professionals to successfully
treat their patients, and ultimately helping to improve our nation’s overall health.
About The Dr. Edward B. Shils Entrepreneurial Fund, Inc
Friends and colleagues of Dr. Shils, who are also prominent leaders in the dental
industry, founded the Dr. Edward D. Shils Entrepreneurial Education Fund in 2002
because they knew that Dr. Shils wanted to leave a legacy of entrepreneurship. In 2012,
the Fund was renamed The Dr. Edward B. Shils Entrepreneurial Fund, Inc. and became
a registered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Through annual awards, partnerships
and other branded events, the Fund honors the pioneering vision of Dr. Shils and helps
foster inspiration and initiative in current and future healthcare entrepreneurs. For more
information, please visit: www.ShilsFund.org.
Shils Fund Hosts Social Entrepreneur Leadership Conference & 16th Annual Awards