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OSAP Leadership Awards 

Dr. James J. Crawford Lifetime Achievement Award

This award, named in honor of one of the founding fathers of dental infection control, recognizes lifetime achievement in the field. Awardees have made major contributions in science, education, or public policy related to OSAP’s core competencies of infection control and patient and provider safety.

 Andy Whitehead

Andy Whitehead
2023 Award Recipient

Andy Whitehead has been involved in the dental industry for more than 50 years, holding executive positions in dental distribution and manufacturing organizations focusing on dental infection prevention and control and safety. He is one of five founding OSAP members and a tireless advocate for young dental infection preventionists. He has served on various boards, including the OSAP Association and Foundation Boards, the OSAP-DANB-DALE Foundation Infection Control Certificate/Certification Steering Commission, the Dental Trade Alliance Foundation Board, and the American Dental Assistants Association Foundation Board. Andy’s fundraising capabilities were critical in developing the OSAP-DALE Foundation Dental Infection Prevention and Control Certificate Program™, the CDIPC® certification, and the DISIPC® certification – the first of its kind. Andy has raised over $3 million as an auctioneer for OSAP, DTA, ADHA, ADAA, and Oral Health America, earning him the informal title, The Dental Industry Auctioneer. He was the 2009 Dr. Milton E. Schaefer Superior Service Award recipient and is a US Army Vietnam Veteran who served from 1967-1970. Andy truly believes in OSAP's vision and mission and works tirelessly to tell OSAP’s story so that more in dentistry can access this critical education.

Previous award recipients:

2022: Steven Geiermann, DDS, FACD, FICD
2021: David Reznik, DDS
2020: Karen Gregory, RN 
2019: James A. Cottone, DMD, MS
2018: Shannon Mills, DDS
2017: Peggy Cottrell
2016: Kathy Eklund, RDH, MHP
2015: Therese M. Long, MBA, CAE
2014: Harold Jaffe, MD, MA, FFPH
2013: Michael Glick, DMD
2012: Jennifer Harte, DDS, MS
2011: Jennifer Cleveland, DDS, MPH 
2010: A. Enrique Acosta-Gio, DDS, PhD
2009: Eve Cuny, MS
2008: William Rutala, PhD, MPH
2007: Sam Rosen, PhD
2006: Robert Kolstad, PhD
2005: Donald Marianos, DDS, MPH
2004: John Young, DDS, MSc
2003: Chris Miller, PhD
2002: Herman H. Langkamp III, MS 
2001: Walter W. Bond, MS, RCSA
2000: Robert Runnells, DDS
1999: John Molinari, PhD
1998: James J. Crawford, PhD


Dr. Milton E. Schaefer Superior Service Award

This award is named after one of the founding members of OSAP and celebrates superior service to the organization, recognizing either continuous contributions over a period of time or singular accomplishments. The nominee’s efforts have resulted in tangible benefits to the continuing advancement of OSAP’s mission to be the leading provider of infection prevention and control education, training, and credentialing that supports safe dental visits.

Erinne Kennedy, DMD, MPH, MMSc

Erinne Kennedy, DMD, MPH, MMSc
2023 Award Recipient

Dr. Kennedy graduated from Nova Southeastern College of Dental Medicine in 2015. She completed a 1-year general practice residency at a VA Hospital in 2016, a Dental Public Health residency in 2018, and a MMSc in Dental Education at Harvard School of Dental Medicine in 2019. She currently serves as the Assistant Dean for Curriculum and Integrated Learning in the College of Dental Medicine at Kansas City University in Joplin, MO. In 2022, she helped OSAP secure CDC grant funding to disseminate antibiotic stewardship resources to dental personnel and led OSAP's first-ever Antibiotic Stewardship Summit.

Previous award recipients:

2022: Marie Fluent, DDS
2021: Stanley Bergman
2020: Therese Long, MBA, CAE
2019: Eve Cuny, MS
2018: Helene Bednarsh, RDH, MPH
2017: Douglas Risk, DDS, ABGD
2016: Doug Braendle
2015: Henry Schein Dental and Patterson Dental
2014: AEGIS Communications
2013: Karen Gregory, RN
2012: Cheryl Wolf, CDA, BS
2011: John Hunt, OBE, FFGDP(UK), BDS
2010: Nancy Tomich Zapp and Lois Cohen, PhD
2009: Andy Whitehead
2008: Jennifer Cleveland, DDS, MPH
2007: Gayle MacDonald, PhD
2006: Kathy Eklund, RDH, MHP
2005: Charles John Palenik, PhD, MS, MBA
2004: Shannon Mills, DDS
2003: Mel Rouse
2002: Milton Schaefer, DDS, MLA


Emerging Infection Control Leader Award

The goal of the Emerging Leaders Award is to help develop and promote the next generation of stars in the field of dental infection prevention and safety by identifying outstanding new infection control advocates.

India Chance, RDH, BS, CDIPC

India Chance, RDH, BS, CDIPC
2023 Award Recipient

India is a Registered Dental Hygienist, Independent Compliance Consultant, & Authorized OSHA Trainer who provides continuing education courses for dental healthcare providers to improve their knowledge of infection prevention & safety in the workplace environment. Nationally, she has trained hundreds of dental practice owners & teams on compliance program creation & implementation. Her mission is to equip dental healthcare providers with current & credible information so they can deliver the safest dental visit possible. She has worked on several committees for various CDC dental industry projects, featured on national podcasts, is an invited guest speaker to dental conferences & is a former healthcare subject matter expert writer for the USA Today Educators Blog.

Previous award recipients:

2022: Amanda Hill, BSDH, RDH
2021: Michelle Strange, MSDH, RDH
2020: LCDR Matthew R. Ellis, MPH, CIC, REHS
2019: Joyce Moore, RDH, BSDH, CRCST
2018: J. Hudson Garrett Jr., PHD, MSN, MPH, MBA
2017: Kandis Garland, RDH, MS
2016: Michele Junger, DDS, MPH
2015: Jessica (Wilson) Higginbotham, MPH


Dr. John S. Zapp Global Lecture

To honor and preserve Dr. Zapp’s memory, the Friends of OSAP, a committed group of leaders who seek to integrate OSAP initiatives into broader global health platforms, established the Dr. John S. Zapp Global Lecture. The lecture is intended to build bridges with global leaders to promote knowledge exchange about oral infection prevention and safety both for patients and providers of care.

 Rangina Hamidi, MA

Rangina Hamidi, MA
2023 Lecturer

Rangina Hamidi is an Afghan American writer, educator, social activist, and politician, is known for her tireless efforts to advocate for the rights of women, girls, and education in Afghanistan.

Hamidi, a professor of practice at Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University and Afghanistan's former Minister of Education, was born in Kandahar, Afghanistan. She immigrated to Pakistan in 1981 and then to the United States seven years later. She returned to Afghanistan in 2003 and spent 20 years working to better the lives of Afghans. She is the founder of an all-women's social enterprise, Kandahar Treasure, to assist women working within the cultural boundaries of Pashtunwali to earn a living and find a degree of self-determination in Kandahar.

Previous lecturers include:

2022: Raymond Cohlmia, DDS, American Dental Association
2021: Margaret Hamburg, MD, Food and Drug Administration
2020: Matt McCarthy, MD, Weill Cornell Medicine
2019: CAPT Ryan Fagan, MD, MPH&TM, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
2018: Dr. Michael Bell, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
2017: Dr. Ruth Carrico, University of Louisville School of Medicine
2016: Andy Goodman, The Goodman Center
2015: Dr. L. Clifford McDonald, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
2014: Dr. Michael Osterholm, Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy
2013: Dr. Harold Jaffe, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
2012: Dr. Marion Bergman, Miracle Corners of the World
2011: Sir Liam Donaldson, National Patient Safety Agency, UK
2010: Dr. Kathleen O’Loughlin, American Dental Association
2009: Stanley Bergman, Henry Schein, Inc.
2008: Dr. Burton Conrod, FDI World Dental Federation
2007: Dr. Lawrence Tabak, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
2006: Dr. Poul Erik Petersen, World Health Organization


Bette and Paul Schwarz Award for Volunteerism

This award, named in honor of the Schwarz's for their innumerable contributions of time and service to the OSAP Conference, recognizes volunteers who go over and above in helping the organization achieve its goals through their volunteer service.
 

 Michele Lash, RDH, BA

Michele Lash, RDH, BA
2023 Award Recipient

Michele is a Manager in Clinical Research and Scientific Support for Dentsply Sirona with more than 20 years of experience in the dental hygiene profession. Over the last several years, with Dentsply Sirona, she has developed scientific evidence-based clinical education curriculum and resources for dental healthcare professionals, key opinion leaders, and internal team trainings. Keeping abreast of scientific literature and clinical trends allows her to provide insights for new product development. Her current focus is ultrasonic debridement, aerosol management, and best practices in infection control and prevention. She is a current member of ADHA, IFDH, AAOSH, and OSAP. She serves on committees for OSAP, attained the OSAP-DALE Foundation Dental Infection Prevention and Control Certificate, and was a subject matter expert in the remaking of the 2023 If Saliva Were Red video and facilitator’s guide.

Previous award recipients:

2022: Karen Gregory, RN, CDIPC
2021: Shannon Mills, DDS
2020: Helene Bednarsh, BS, RDH, MPH
2019: Liliana Junqueira de P. Donatelli, MPH
2018: Agnes Barry
2017: Peggy Spitzer, RDH, MAEd
2016: Jackie Dorst, RDH
2015: Jill Hunt
2014: Kathy Marianos 
2013: Susan Bailey
2012: Pamela Head and Norma Rychwalski
2011: Linda Basquill, DDS
2010: Matt Deck
2009: Jean Wolff, RDH, MEd 
2008: Cheryl Wolf, BS, CDA
2007: Teresa Ludwig, MT
2006: Helene Bednarsh, RDH, MPH
2005: Sharon Dickinson, CDA, CDPMA 
2004: Claire Pagliara, RN, MSN, PhD, and her son Jeff
2003: Bette Schwarz, LPN, CDA, and her husband Paul


Chair’s Citation Award 

David Kierce, 2022 – 2023 OSAP Chair of the Board, presented special citations to individuals who have enriched the organization by contributing a unique blend of talents, skills, hard work, and unwavering commitment to the advancement of dental safety.

  • Elaine Bailey, PharmD
  • Kathy Eklund, RDH, MHP
  • Matthew R. Ellis, MPH, CIC, CDIPC
  • Marie Fluent, DDS
  • Karen Gregory, RN, CDIPC
  • Erinne Kennedy, DMD, MPH, MMSc
  • Michele L. Lash, RDH, BA

James A. Cottone Award for Excellence in Investigative Research

This award is named for one of the founders of OSAP who exemplified the best in infection control and safety research.

Thiago Antônio Raulino do Nascimento, PhD

Thiago Antônio Raulino do Nascimento, PhD
2023 Award Recipient
Abstract: International Guidelines in Dental Settings Before COVID-19: Were We Prepared?

Previous award recipients:

2021: Sepehr Makhsous, PhD
2017: Peter Arsenault, DMD, MS, and Amad Tayebi ScD, Esq.
2008: Evandro Watanabe, PhD
2007: Charles Palenik, PhD, MS, MBA
2005: Ralph Leonard, DDS, MPH
2004: Enrique Acosta-Gio, DDS, PhD
2003: Joyce M. Galligan, RN, DDS
2002: Nuala Porteous, DDS, and Robert Cooley, DMD, MS
2001: Charles John Palenik, PhD
2000: Kathleen O'Keefe, RN
1999: Ruby Singh


Special Recognition Award for Leadership

Bestowed at the discretion of the OSAP Board of Directors, this special leadership award recognizes individuals whose vision, works, or achievements have significantly influenced and broadly shaped dental infection control. Unlike other awards, this special recognition is not given annually.

Cynthia C. Durley, M.Ed., MBA

Cynthia C. Durley, M.Ed., MBA
2021 Award Recipient

Ms. Durley is Executive Director of both the Dental Advancement through Learning and Education Foundation (the DALE Foundation) and the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). She has been employed by DANB for more than 35 years and by the DALE Foundation since its incorporation in 2010. Ms. Durley has served on a number of federal and national task forces and committees and held leadership positions in national associations and organizations. Ms. Durley joined former OSAP Executive Director Therese Long, CAE, MBA, as a founding member of the national Infection Control Consortium and currently serves on the OSAP-DANB-DALE Foundation Infection Control Certificate/Certification Steering Commission. She is former Chair of the National Commission for Certifying Agencies [national accrediting commission for certification programs] and former President of the National Organization for Competency Assurance [national membership organization for certification organizations, now called the Institute for Credentialing Excellence].