Shils-Meskin Award
Lawrence A. Tabak, DDS, PhD
Dr. Lawrence A. Tabak has been chosen as the recipient of the 2016 Shils-Meskin Award for his tireless leadership of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research at the National Institutes of Health and dedication and advocacy for advancing Dental Research.
Dr. Takak is the Principal Deputy Director and the Deputy Ethics Councilor of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Prior to that he was the Director of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research from 2000-10. Dr. Tabak has provided leadership for numerous trans-NIH activities. Most recently he led a trans-NIH team responsible for developing a 5-year Strategic Plan for the agency. His major research focus has been on the structure, biosynthesis, and function of glycoproteins. He continues work in this area, maintaining an active research laboratory within the NIH intramural program, in addition to his administrative duties.
Dr. Tabak has also served as the Senior Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Dentistry and Biochemistry & Biophysics for the School of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Rochester in New York. He is an elected member the National Academy of Medicine (formerly, the IOM). He received his undergraduate degree from City College of New York, his D.D.S. from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Buffalo.
Shils Award
Dr. Othman Shibly
Dr. Othman Shibly has been chosen as a recipient of a 2016 Shils Award for his courageous leadership for serving the dental needs of those in distress both here in the United States and abroad.
Dr. Shibly is currently the Director of the Post Graduate Program in Periodontics, as well as the Coordinator of the International Advanced Dental Education Scholar Program and the Associate Director for the Center for Dental Studies at the School of Dental Medicine at University at Buffalo. Dr. Shibly received his DDS degree from Damascus University in Syria in 1982, and went on to earn his Certificate of Specialty in Periodontics in 1986, and a Master’s Degree in 1991. He then earned a Master’s of Oral Science Degree, a Doctor of Dental Science Degree, and Periodontology Certificate of Specialty from the University at Buffalo.
Since launching his career, Dr. Shibly has been involved in promoting an understanding and cultural compatibility between the West and the East based on shared common values, and has been recognized numerous times for his exceptional commitment to community service and education. Some of his awards include being honored with the 2002 Circle of Distinction Award from the University at Buffalo’s Committee for the Promotion of Respect for Diversity, the 2008 Community Service Award for distinguished services, the 2009 Recognition Award from the Western New York Tobacco Free Programs, and the 2015 Outstanding Contribution to International Education Award from the State University of New York. Most recently, Dr. Shibly was awarded a “SAMS Ibn Al nafees Outstanding Achievement Award” for innovation and outstanding achievements in oral care.
Dr. Shibly serves the international community as well as people here in the United States. He has participated in medical missions to help Syrian refugees in Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon, and has helped raise money to establish two dental clinics in Turkey. These clinics were selected to be sites for the Alliance for the Oral Health, an organization that include more than 30 Universities in the US and around the world that provide dental care for the people in conflict zones.
Dr. Laurie McCauley
Dr. Laurie K. McCauley has been chosen as a recipient of a 2016 Shils Award for her outstanding leadership as a health educator and a committed innovator in research for prevention of early dental decay.
Dr. McCauley is the William K. and Mary Anne Najjar Professor, the Dean of the School of Dentistry, and a Professor in the Department of Pathology at the Medical School at the University of Michigan. Dr. McCauley earned her B.S., D.D.S., M.S. and Ph.D. of Veterinary Pathobiology from Ohio State University. She has had several visiting scientist/professor appointments around the world, including the Institut de Genetique et de Biologie Moleculaire et Cellulaire, the École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, and the Center for Experimental Therapeutics and Reperfusion Injury at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Dr. McCauley is a diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology, a fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a former council member of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR), former Associate Editor of the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research (JBMR), a Fellow in the American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists, and has also served on the National Institutes of Health, National Advisory Dental & Craniofacial Research Council.
For more than twenty years, Dr. McCauley has led an active research program in hormonal controls of bone remodeling, parathyroid hormone anabolic actions in bone, and prostate cancer skeletal metastasis. Among her many recognitions are the inaugural Paula Stern Achievement Award from the ASBMR, a Distinguished Scientist Award from the International Association for Dental Research, The Ohio State College of Dentistry Distinguished Alumnus award, and membership in the National Academy of Medicine.
Dr. Carolyn Primus
Dr. Carolyn Primus has been chosen as a recipient of a 2016 Shils Award for her leadership in innovation and pioneering groundbreaking inventions to enhance dental procedures and advance the dental profession.
Dr. Primus is currently the President of Avalon Biomed Inc., a company that is devoted to the commercialization of her research into dental materials. Dr. Primus is also an Associate Professor at LECOM School of Dental Medicine in Florida, an Adjunct Associate Professor at GA College of Dentistry in Georgia, and an Adjust Professor at Texas A&M College of Dentistry in Texas. She holds a BS in Ceramic Engineering from the University of Illinois, a Masters and PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of California, and a Certificate in Business Administration from Simmons College. Dr. Primus is also certified in Product Development.
Dr. Primus has specialized in the science and application of dental materials since 1989. She has served as the Director of Research & Development and Quality for Cermco/Dentsply, and has developed many products for fixed prosthodontics, orthodontics, and endodontics. She has also worked as a Materials Scientist at The Gillette Company, a Ceramic Engineer at Naval Research Laboratory, and has worked at the Sandia National Laboratories. She has written 23 peer-reviewed dental articles, 12 posters featuring dentistry, 13 peer-reviewed publications in materials science outside of dentistry, and holds 13 patents.
Steven and Sandra Sheller 11th Street Family Health Services
The Stephen and Sandra Sheller 11th Street Family Health Service has been chosen as a recipient of a 2016 Shils Award for their commitment and advocacy in serving the needs of Philadelphia’s most vulnerable population.
North Philadelphia’s 11th Street Family Health Services of Drexel University opened their dental department in October 2004. The Center’s mission is to provide health services to all those in need regardless of their ability to pay. In its peak year there were over 2800 active dental patients and more than 5200 total visits. Then, thanks to a major gift from Steven and Sandra Sheller, and a fundraising effort on the part of Drexel University and FPCN, the original building was renovated and the dental office was expanded to nine new, state-of-the-art treatment rooms.
The Center now has a clinical staff of four dentists, two hygienists, 3 Dental Assistants, and Expanded Function Dental Assistants. The waiting list is shrinking and the Center expects to serve 5000 patients by the close of 2017. In July 2016, 11th Street was awarded a federal HRSA grant to establish a fully integrated Medical/Dental Collaboration pilot project with Primary Care. The plan calls for placing a Public Health Dental Hygienist and a Dental Integration Coordinator in the Primary Care clinic five days a week to reach out to patients without a dental home who are coming in for medical visits, with a focus on children, diabetic, and prenatal patients. Diagnostic and preventive services will be available, along with oral health education right in their medical office. Subsequently, patients will receive any needed treatment in the new dental facility.
Special Recognition Award
Dr. Sidney Whitman
Dr. Sidney Whitman has been chosen as a recipient of a 2016 Special Recognition Award for his outstanding leadership and advocacy for children’s oral health in the Delaware Valley and New Jersey. Dr. Whitman’s hard work and dedication has made a tremendous difference in the lives of thousands of children.
Dr. Whitman is a graduate of Rutgers University, NYU College of Dentistry, and the Temple University Pediatric Dentistry Program. He is the Director of Pediatric Dentistry at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Chairman of the NJ Oral Health Coalition, Chairman of the ADA Medicaid Provider Advisory Committee, President of Dental Life Line Network of NJ, and Chairman of the Medicaid Committee for NJDA, as well as a member of the Medical Assistance Advisory Council and the Dental Advisory Committee for NJ Medicaid. He serves as an advisor to the NJ American Academy of Pediatrics, and is also currently practicing Pediatric Dentistry.
Dr. Whitman is well-versed in the difficulties of navigating the Medicaid system in addition to being an advocate for the oral health of children.
Dr. Robert Edwab
Dr. Robert Edwab has been chosen as a recipient of a 2016 Special Recognition Award for his dedicated leadership as the Executive Director of the Greater New York Dental Meeting and for being a true ambassador for the profession of dentistry.