DMD Student Wins Jong Award

Adrienne Archidiacono DMD 09 was a second place winner of the 3rd Annual Anthony Westwater Jong Memorial Community Dental Health Pre-Professional Award sponsored by Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The award was presented at the American Public Health Association (APHA) Oral Health Section 2008 held during the 136th APHA Annual Meeting in San Diego, California from October 25 – 29.

This award is given annually to two pre-professional candidates, although this year Colgate was generous enough to sponsor a third student due to a tie for second place between Archidiacono and Maciek Dolata, a third year student at The University of Michigan School of Dentistry.

The award was created in memory of the late Anthony Westwater Jong in recognition of his commitment to community-based dental public health, his strong and highly acclaimed mentoring of students, and his emphasis on the importance of state, local and community-based public health action. Prior to his death, Jong served as Associate Dean of the Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine (BUGSDM) and Chairman of the School’s Department of Dental Care Management.

Archidiacono received the award based on her work as Community Outreach Chair of the BUGSDM section of the American Student Dental Association (ASDA). This past year as Chair, Archidiacono organized a very successful expanded outreach effort at the Yawkey Club, a Boys and Girls Club of Boston, located in Roxbury, Massachusetts, which educated children on how to achieve good oral health and provided sealants and fluoride to children.

"I commend Adrienne Archidiacono, for her work expanding a local dental public health program at the Boys and Girls Club," said Pat Westwater Jong, wife of the late Anthony Westwater Jong, in remarks prepared for the award ceremony. She added, "I thank you for doing your part to make this world a better place."

"I am very excited and honored to receive this award," said Archidiacono. "As a dental student it’s hard to find time for activities outside of school, but community outreach is something I really care about and enjoy doing."

Archidiacono plans to pursue a residency program in pediatric dentistry following graduation, but says she plans to stay involved with community outreach as she continues her education and afterwards as a dental practitioner.