UB Dental Students Receive Awards

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Twenty-six graduating seniors in the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine recently received awards at the school's annual senior awards banquet.

The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, the largest and most comprehensive campus in the State University of New York. UB's more than 23,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students pursue their academic interests through more than 100 undergraduate programs, 112 master's programs and 98 doctoral-level programs.

The award winners are:

• Orson Baek of Forest Hills, the Victor A. Fumia Award for excellence in fixed prosthodontics (first place); the American Academy of Periodontology Award for undergraduate achievement in periodontics, and membership in Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the national honorary dental society

• Daniel Barcomb of Delanson, the American Association of Endodontists Award recognizing ability and interest in the field of endodontics and membership in Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the national honorary dental society

• Denise Brown of Winsted, Conn., the Stephen B. Totten Memorial Award for significant work in the field of oncology; the Oral Surgery Award for academic excellence and clinical proficiency in oral surgery; the American Association of Orthodontists Award for exceptional interest in the development of the oro-facial complex; membership in Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the national honorary dental society, and the Richard A. Powell Award recognizing outstanding service, achievement and dedication to the UB School of Dental Medicine

• Baokhoi Bui of Buffalo, the International Congress of Oral Implantologists Award recognizing interest and commitment to oral implantology and/or implant dentistry; the American Association of Endodontists Award recognizing ability and interest in the field of endodontics; the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology Award for outstanding ability and interest in the field of pain control, and membership in Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the national honorary dental society

• Flora Chan of Scarborough, Ontario, the American College of Prosthodontists Award recognizing high academic and clinical proficiency in the field of prosthodontics and the Quintessence Award for Clinical Achievement in Periodontics for outstanding achievement in periodontics

• Genene Crofut of East Amherst, the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry Award for clinical proficiency and interest in esthetic dentistry; the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Implant Award for outstanding achievement and performance related to the placement and restoration of dental implants; the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Predoctoral Student Award for interest and proficiency in the care of young patients; membership in Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the national honorary dental society, and the Eleanor Bushee Award recognizing a graduating female dental student who has demonstrated both academic excellence and outstanding leadership

• Seth Farren of Rome, the American Academy of Orofacial Pain Award recognizing greatest interest and commitment to temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and orofacial pain and the American College of Dentists Award recognizing outstanding clinical skills in the art and science of dentistry

• Carrie Giuliano of Brooklyn, The Academy of Dental Materials Award for excellence in scholarship in dental materials; the Buhite Implant Dentistry Award recognizing great interest in dental implant research, as well as clinical implant dentistry, and the Quintessence Award for Research Achievement

• Jeffrey Goldberg of Rochester, the Dental Alumni Award presented to a graduating student based on academic standing, clinical achievement, personality and participation in university and other activities, and the New York State Dental Association Student Leadership Award

• Amy Guccione of Yonkers, the Dr. Samuel A. Cassamise Award presented to the graduating student who completes the best work in gold (inlays, onlays or crowns) and the George B. Snow Award in complete prosthesis (first place)

• Mona Haleem of Pittsford, the American Academy of Oral Medicine Award for interest and outstanding proficiency in the field of oral medicine

• Atima Kamra of Mason, Ohio, the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Award recognizing interest and accomplishment in the field of oral pathology; the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Award for exemplary aptitude and achievement in the field of oral surgery; the Alpha Omega Fraternity Award and Barrett Foundation Prize presented to the student who has attained the highest scholastic average for four years of dental study, and membership in Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the national honorary dental society

• Jason Lee of Niagara Falls, Ontario, the American Association of Public Health Dentistry Award for special interest/achievement in community dentistry and dental public health and membership in Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the national honorary dental society

• Giuseppina Lombardi of Pleasantville, the Water Pik Technologies Prosthodontics Award for excellence in the study and clinical application of prosthodontics

• Bilu Mathew of Floral Park, the Academy of Operative Dentistry Award for outstanding achievement in operative dentistry; the Excellence in Cosmetic Dentistry Award presented by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry through a national competition to a student who has performed and documented a procedure on anterior teeth (incisors and cuspids) and the Pierre Fauchard Academy Award presented to the student who has exhibited leadership and excelled in both the academic and clinical aspects of the dental program

• Amie McCarthy of Buffalo, the Pediatric and Community Dentistry Department Award for outstanding performance in the field of pediatric dentistry; the Erie County Dental Society Chester A. Glor Award presented to a student who is a long-time resident of Erie County and exemplifies the qualities demonstrated by Glor, and the Donald Kozlowski Memorial Award presented to the student who is judged by his or her colleagues as most respected, based on overall achievement and attitude during dental school instruction

• Amy Rappold of West Seneca, the Pediatric and Community Dentistry Department Award for outstanding performance in the field of pediatric dentistry and the Academy of Dentistry for Persons with Disabilities Award for sincere interest and concern for the dental needs of persons with disabilities and special patients

• Jill Rowland of Buffalo, the Organization of Teachers of Oral Diagnosis Award presented to the student who best typifies excellence and promise in the field of oral diagnosis

• Natalia Tarasevich of Brooklyn, the Delta Sigma Delta Award for proficiency in the field of operative dentistry; the Fixed Prosthodontic Award for outstanding work in the theory and practice of fixed prosthodontics; the Edwin C. Jauch Award; the Robert B. Levine Award recognizing an outstanding clinical case of operative dentistry; the Quintessence Award for Clinical Achievement in Restorative Dentistry for outstanding achievement in restorative dentistry; the George B. Snow Award in fixed prosthesis (first place), and the Academy of General Dentistry Award

• Valeriy Tsur-Tsar of Dryden, the Victor A. Fumia Award for excellence in fixed prosthodontics (second place); the George B. Snow Award in complete prosthesis (second place); the George B. Snow Award in fixed prosthesis (second place)

• Laura Van Varick of Fairport, the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Award for exceptional interest and accomplishment in the field of oral radiology

• Danny Vo of Santa Ana, Calif., the International College of Dentists Award presented to the student who has shown the greatest professional growth and development during his or her years in dental school

• Chad Wallace of Lee Center, the Northeast Society of Periodontists Award for interest and proficiency in the study of periodontics and periodontal research

• David Wunder of Spring City, Pa., the American Association of Oral Biologists Award for significant contributions to the advancement of oral biology; the American Dental Association/Dentsply Student Clinician Award presented to an outstanding student involved in research who has been selected to represent the school in the national ADA/Dentsply student clinician research competition, and the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Research Award for outstanding contribution to the science of dentistry through research activity

• Judy Chia-Chun Yuan of Flushing, The American Academy of Gold Foil Operators Award recognizing outstanding qualities in intracoronal cast gold restorations (inlays and onlays), as well as direct gold and rubber dam applications

• Steven Zdep of Baldwinsville, the Dentsply Merit Award in Removable Prosthodontics recognizing outstanding work in the theory and practice of removable prosthodontics; the American Academy of Dental Practice Administration Award recognizing professional growth in managerial skills and development of outstanding performance in four-handed dentistry; the Harvey D. Sprowl Award presented to the student who has consistently displayed a genuine concern for patients' needs, has shown a passion for the delivery of quality comprehensive care and has "gone beyond the call of duty;" membership in Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the national honorary dental society, and the Fonzi Dental Study Club, Anthony S. Gugino Humanitarian Award recognizing a student who has demonstrated those qualities exemplified by Gugino: unselfishness, total involvement in dentistry, high moral character and helpfulness to fellow students