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.

David Reznik, DDS
2021 Award Recipient

Dr. Reznik is the Director of the Oral Health Center of Grady Health System’s Infectious Disease Program, a program he founded thirty years ago, and serves as Chief of the Dental Medicine Service for the health system.  Dr. Reznik is president and founder of the HIV Dental Alliance (HIVdent), a not-for-profit organization of concerned healthcare providers committed to assuring access to high-quality oral health care services for people with HIV disease. During the last year, he has focused on ensuring that both providers and consumers of dental care have the safest possible visits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Reznik has provided technical assistance to oral health programs throughout the United States for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) grantees and serves as a clinical site visitor for HAB grantees. Dr. Reznik was a member of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) from 2002 – 2007 and during this time chaired the Treatment/Care sub-committee and Domestic sub-committees. Dr. Reznik is a 2016-2019 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholar alumni working with multidisciplinary teams to increase access to oral health care for adults and children throughout the U.S. In 2020, Dr. Reznik was awarded the Atlanta Business Chronicle's Healthcare Heroes Lifetime Achievement Award.

Previous award recipients:

2020: Karen Gregory, RN 
2019: James A. Cottone, DDS, 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.

Stanley Bergman
2021 Award Recipient

Mr. Bergman has been Chairman of the Board and CEO of Henry Schein, Inc. since 1989. Mr. Bergman serves as a board member or advisor for numerous institutions including New York University College of Dentistry, The University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, The Columbia University Medical Center, University of the People, Hebrew University, Tel Aviv University, The University of the Witwatersrand Fund, The World Economic Forum’s Health Care Governors, The Business Council for International Understanding, The Japan Society, and The Metropolitan Opera. Mr. Bergman is an honorary member of the American Dental Association and the Alpha Omega Dental Fraternity. Mr. Bergman is the recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor; the CR Magazine Corporate Responsibility Lifetime Achievement Award; the 2017 CEO of the Year award by Chief Executive Magazine; Honorary Doctorates from The University of the Witwatersrand, Western University of Health Sciences, Hofstra University, A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health, Case Western Reserve University and Farmingdale State College (SUNY); and Honorary Fellowship from King’s College London - Dental Institute and the International College of Dentists. 

Previous award recipients:

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.

Michelle Strange, MSDH, RDH
2021 Award Recipient

Ms. Strange brings over 20 years of experience to her numerous roles in dentistry. A graduate of the Medical University of South Carolina with a bachelor’s of health science and the University of Bridgeport with a master’s in dental hygiene education, she is focused on expanding the knowledge of her colleagues in all aspects of health care. Strange’s passion for dentistry and its connection to overall health extends to her community and global efforts. Currently, she is the co-founder and co-host of the longest-running podcast for dental hygienists, A Tale of Two Hygienists, the cofounder of Level Up Infection Prevention and TriviaDent, a practicing dental hygienist, and client success manager for MouthWatch.

Previous award recipients:

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.

Margaret Hamburg, MD
2021 Lecturer

Dr. Hamburg, an internationally recognized authority in medicine and public health, currently serves as Foreign Secretary, National Academy of Medicine. Prior to this, she was Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, where she was known for advancing regulatory science, medical product innovation, and globalization of the agency, while also overseeing the implementation of groundbreaking laws to curb tobacco use and enhance food safety.

Previously, Dr. Hamburg was vice president/senior scientist at the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a foundation dedicated to reducing nuclear, chemical, and biological threats. Dr. Hamburg also served as New York City Health Commissioner, where she undertook major initiatives to address HIV/AIDS, curtail the resurgence and spread of tuberculosis, and launched the nation's first public health bioterrorism preparedness program. President Clinton later named her HHS Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Health and Human Services, the chief policy role in the Department of Health and Human Services.

Previous lecturers include:

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

Shannon Mills, DDS
2021 Award Recipient

Dr. Mills is an independent consultant, lecturer, and author and is internationally recognized as an expert in infection control and prevention. He has been a member of OSAP since 1991 and is a recipient of the OSAP James J. Crawford Award for Lifetime Achievement. He has served for many years as a volunteer member of the American National Standards Institute/American Dental Association Standards Committees for Dental Products (ADA SCDP) and Informatics (ADA SCDI) and is currently the institutional voting representative for OSAP on both committees.

Previous award recipients:

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

Chairman’s Citation Award 

Doug Risk, DDS, 2020 – 2021 OSAP Chairman 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.

• Kathy Eklund, RDH, MHP
• Ashley MacDermott, MPH, CHES
• Jill Moore, EdD, MHA, BSDH, RDH
• Tara Zeravsky, CMP

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. The 2021 James A. Cottone Award is sponsored by Patterson Dental.

Sepehr Makhsous, PhD
2021 Award Recipient
Abstract: Evaluating Aerosol Persistence During Dental Procedures Using a Real-Time Network of Sensor

Previous award recipients:

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
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].