deansaward2008

NYSDF Deans Award
June 2008

For the second year, the New York State Dental Foundation is honoring students at all four of the state’s dental colleges as well
as Eastman Dental Center, with its NYSDF Deans Award. The prize, valued at $5,000, is given in recognition of the fact that
ensuring a growing and sustainable oral health work force is crucial to expanding the availability of oral health services for all
New Yorkers, particularly as the needs of underserved and culturally diverse communities expand.

This year, the Board of Trustees of the Foundation changed the criteria in such as way that now, the Deans Award is given to a
third year student or postdoctoral trainee who has demonstrated an exceptional level of achievement as measured by:

-        outstanding academic performance;
-        demonstrated commitment to enhancing and improving the oral health of underserved populations, and
-        membership in the American Student Dental Association.

(When the Deans Award was first given, in 2007, it went to graduating seniors.)

The candidate for the NYSDF Deans Award must be nominated by the dean of each of the following academic dental institutions:
Columbia University College of Dental Medicine; New York University College of Dentistry; State University of New York at
Buffalo; Stony Brook University, and the University of Rochester Eastman Dental Center.

This year’s honorees are:

20 Corporate Woods Blvd.
Suite 602
Albany, New York 12211
ph: 518-465-0044
fax: 518-465-3219
alt: 800-255-2100
nysdf@nysdental.org

Carrie Wanamaker, University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine

Ms. Wanamaker has taken on a role of exemplary leadership with the school’s Buffalo Outreach
and Community Assistance Program, having served as BOCA’s President-Elect as a first year
dental student and its current President. She was the first freshman dental student to attend a
BOCA mission. She participated in dental outreach projects to the Bronx, NY and in Appalachia,
and has also organized and participated in two local outreach missions including volunteering at
local soup kitchens. Ms. Wanamaker has been instrumental in the organization of multiple
fundraisers for the BOCA program, and has made effective presentations about BOCA at various
school events, including family day and orientation for new students, the University’s
International Week, and the Buffalo Niagara Dental Meeting.

Laura Sotomayor, Columbia University College of Dental Medicine

As Director of the Academic Success Program, Ms. Sotomayor, who will receive her DDS in May 2009, coordinates review
sessions and tutoring for first year dental students. She also serves as a Teaching Assistant in oral histology, growth and
development, and, as a research assistant, she created and developed a fetal skill atlas using cone beam computed tomography.
She later presented her research at the American Dental Education Association 2009 86th Annual Session and Exhibition. Ms.
Sotoymayor is a member of Smile Train, Columbia University Chapter, and teaches an Academic Success Program, which
included one-on-one tutoring for students having difficulty. Among the many honors she has received include Columbia’s Dr.
Marlene Klyvert Merit Fund Scholarship, the ADA Dental Student Scholarship, the Dean’s Scholarship, the Chancellor’s List, the
NYS Scholarship for Academic Excellence, the NYIT Student Affairs Service to School Award, National Dean’s List Honorary
Award, and has been selected for inclusion in Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. Additionally,
she has received the NYIT Presidential Scholarship for Academic Merit, and has been named to the Presidential Honor List, all
semesters.

Dr. Maricelle Uy Abayon, Eastman Dental Center

Graduating as one of the highest ranking students at the University of the Philippines, and
ranked highest in her dental school class, it would seem that there is little left for Dr.
Abayon to achieve. Yet, for her, it is only a beginning. In one and a half years at Eastman
Dental Center, Dr. Abayon has demonstrated an ability to nurture excellent relationships
with patients, administrators, staff and faculty, while at the same time performing at the
highest level in the difficult Master of Science Program at the University of Rochester.
The Advanced Education in General Dentistry Program at Eastman. Has always been
considered a demanding task because of the required literature reviews, case
presentations, research seminars and academic classes, to say nothing of the patient
component of the program. Dr. Abayon has demonstrated the ability to be an active
participant in all of these areas while still finding time to help her fellow residents. She has
never refused a request to help with emergency patients or assist another resident in a
difficult procedure. Dr. Abayon’s unique ability to recognize the social, economic,
psychological, medical and financial impediments to successful dental treatment for her
patients, and to do so with both an air of confidence and a sense of humility, evidence a
maturity far beyond her years.

Collisha Wright, New York University College of Dentistry

A native of Kingston, Jamaica, Ms. Wright grew up in a family where education, hard work, excellence and concern for the less
fortunate were emphasized. After graduating from Wesleyan with a double major in Molecular Biology and Studio Arts
(Printmaking), Collisha enrolled at NYU College of Dentistry, where she is currently ranked in the top five percent of her class
(3.81 GPA). Based on her rank, she will most assuredly be inducted into the OKU Honors Society. All her adult life, Ms. Wright
has shown concern about the underprivileged. As a high school student, she attended weekend volunteering activities organized
in her community. In college, she volunteered in several hospitals both in Connecticut and Brooklyn, where her parents moved
and where she spent her vacations. During summer breaks, she would volunteer at King’s County Hospital, working with elderly
and destitute patients. At NYU, Ms. Wright joined ASDA, and has become a role model for female, African-American high
school and college students. Her goal for these young students is to help them see dentistry as an attractive, high priority
profession which gives one the opportunity to give back to community. Additionally, during the last three years, she was an
active participant in NYU’s Oral Cancer Walk through Harlem, an activity which provides free oral screenings and education to a
population disproportionately at risk for the disease. Just last month, Ms. Wright volunteered for an outreach program in rural
India, where she helped screen and treat hundreds of children who would not otherwise have access to care.

Natalie Bitton, Stony Brook University Health Sciences Center

Ms. Bitton entered SDM in 2005 after graduating from Binghamton University with
a BA in biological sciences. While in college, she attained academic excellence,
achieving the Dean’s List multiple times, and was one of two students to receive the
Terrana Pre-Dental Scholarship for our outstanding academic record. She has
continued her academic excellence at SDM, where she has performed well in both
clinical and didactic venues. In her second year, she was one of two students
selected to tutor Year One students in basic sciences, dental didactic and clinical
courses, and has willingly given her time to serve the dental school and her peers.
Recently, she has been selected to participate as a student representative for the
Department of Admissions. In addition to these academic pursuits, Ms. Bitton has
shown great interest in helping the underserved community. She is one of six
students selected to travel to Madagascar, a highly sought after SDM outreach
program which enables students to provide oral health care to the underserved
Malagasy populace. To be selected for this strenuous program, students must be in
good academic standing, demonstrate leadership qualities and strong professional
demeanor, as well as have an ability to meet and go beyond required responsibilities.