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Thomas Evans Achievement Award

The Thomas Evans Achievement Award, Penn Dental Medicine Alumni Society’s highest award of recognition, honors alumni who have shown innovation, excellence and leadership in the profession of oral health care nationally and internationally.

2024
Cecile Feldman, C’80, D’84, GD’85, WG’85
2023
Thomas R. Tempel, D’63
2022
Anne Koch, D’77 GD’93
2021
Myron Allukian, Jr., D’64
2020
Daniel Fine, D’65
2019
Peter D. Quinn, D’74, GD’78
2018
David Garber, GD’78, D’81
2017
Adam Stabholz, GD’78
2016
Robert J. Genco, GD’67, GR’67
2015
Robert Schattner, D’48
2014
Thomas Sollecito, D’89, GD’91
2006
Jay S. Seibert, D’53
2000
James L. Ackerman, D’60
1998
J. Daniel Subtelny, D’47
1997
Harold E. Boyer, D’52 GD’58
1994
D. Walter Cohen, C’47 D’50
1993
Morton Amsterdam, C’45 D’45

Alumni Award of Merit

The Alumni Award of Merit recognizes love for and loyalty to the School of Dental Medicine, excellence in the profession of dentistry, and community involvement. The award is given annually by the Penn Dental Medicine Alumni Society to those graduates who have maintained their ties with the School through their support of alumni activities, demonstrated leadership in the dental profession, and fostered and maintained the ideals that the School of Dental Medicine has stood for since its founding.

Maria Perno Goldie, a 1971 dental hygiene graduate of Penn Dental Medicine, has been a leader in advancing dental hygiene and oral health overall. A respected researcher, author, and speaker, she served as President of the International Federation of Dental Hygienists (2010-2013) and also led the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) as President (1997-98). Goldie is a graduate of the 2004-2006 fellowship of the California Health Care Foundation’s (CHCF) Health Care Leadership Program, administered by the Center for Health Professions at the University of California, San Francisco.  She is currently a member of The Oral Cancer Foundation Registered Dental Hygienist Advisory Board and part of the Editorial Advisory Board of the Journal of Dental Hygiene and the International Journal of Dental Hygiene.

Goldie has also served on the National Advisory Committee for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Smoking Cessation Leadership Center and the National Women’s Health Resource Center (NWHRC), Women’s Health Advisory Council. She has been recognized with the University of Pennsylvania Dental Hygiene Alumni Achievement Award (1999), the Pfizer/ADHA Award for Excellence in Dental Hygiene (2003), and the ADHA Alfred C. Fones Award from (2011), and was the first recipient of the Ann Battrell Visionary Legacy Award in 2024. She also was awarded the inaugural Distinction in Service Award from the International Federation of Dental Hygienists in 2016 and received an ADHA Presidential Citation in 2018.


Dr. Nipul Tanna, Associate Professor of Clinical Orthodontics at Penn Dental Medicine, has been part of the Penn Dental Medicine community since earning his DMD here in 1990, after which he went on to complete an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency (1992), the combined Orthodontics/Periodontics program (2010), and MS in Oral Biology (2011). He joined the Penn Dental Medicine faculty in 1994, teaching as part of the Department of Preventive & Restorative Sciences through 2005 and then as part of the Department of Orthodontics (2013 – present). He is a board-certified diplomate in both orthodontics and periodontics.

Along with teaching at the predoctoral and postdoctoral levels, he has held numerous leadership roles, including serving as Associate Chair of the Department of Orthodontics (2022-2024), Program Director of the combined Orthodontics/Periodontics graduate dental education program (2011-present), and Clinical Co-Director, Department of Orthodontics (2020 – present). He has also been a practicing orthodontics and periodontics clinician in the Penn Dental Family Practice since 2010 and was a general dental care provider in the School’s practice from 1992-2010. Among active membership in a wide variety professional and scientific societies, he is a Board Member of the Academy of Osseointegration Foundation Continuing Education Oversight Committee and a Council Member of the College of Diplomates of The American Board of Orthodontics.



2024
Joy Abt, D’94
Betty Peebles, DH’59
2023
Howard P. Fraiman, D’911, GD’93, GD’94
Gail Schupak, D’83
2022
Charlene Jennings Fenster, DH’75
Frank Smithgall, C’79 D’83
2021
Muralidhar Mupparapu, D’96
Scott DeRossi, D’95 GD’97
2020
Tony Saito, D’95
Eric Stoopler, D’99, GD’02
2019
Peter Greco, D’79, GD’84
Najeed Saleh, D’94
2018
Lee Carrasco, GD’02
Heywood Kotch, D’77
Farideh Madani, GD’78, GD’80, D’84
Margrit Maggio, D’87
2017
Harold Baumgarten, D’77, GD’82
Robert Summers, C’61, D’65, GD’67
2016
Jeffrey S. Ingber, GD’71, GD’72
Ann Eshenaur Spolarich, DH’82
2015
Olivia Sheridan, D’90, GD’92
Robert Vanarsdall, Jr., GD’72
2014
David Shen, D’79, GD’81
David Tarica, D’83
2013
Bernie Kurek, D’73
Tara Sexton, D’88
2012
Lawrence M. Levin, D’87, GD’92
Louis I. Rossman, D’75, GD’77
2011
William W.M. Cheung, D’81, GD’82
2010
Joseph Foote, Jr. D’74, GD’80
Thomas Sollecito, D’89, GD’91
2009
Gerald Barrack, D’59
Adi A. Garfunkel, GD’74
Marshall J. Goldin, C’60, D’64
Heber T. Graver, D’56, GR’72
Adam Stabholz, GD’78
2008
Marc Ackerman, D’98
Leonard Cole, GD’57
Rowland Hutchinson, GD’58
2007
Stephen Brown, GD’69
Cecile A. Feldman, C’80 D’84
GD’85 WG’85
John C. Kois, D’77
Arnold B. Porges, D’59
Burton Rosan, D’57 GD’62
Harvey M. Rosen, D’71 M’73 FEL’79
Jonathan A. Ship, C’80 D’84
2006
Alan M. Atlas, D’86
H. Leslie Levine, GD’57
Karl A. Rose, GD’80
Neil L. Starr, GD’79
2005
Lawrence B. Caplin, D’90
Daniel B. Green, D’60
Louis F. Rose, GD’70
Edward F. Rossomando, D’64
Carl L. Tinkelman, D’65
Robert J. Tisot, GD’70
2004
Martin S. Greenberg, GD’68
Edward P. Henefer, D’54
Anna Kornbrot, D’79 GD’82
2003
J. Henry O’Hern, Jr., D’53 GD’55
Lewis E. Proffitt, D’73 WG’80
Robert I. Schattner, D’48
2002
Joseph R. Greenberg, D’72 GD’76
Louis H. Guernsey, D’47 GD’56
Robert J. Seltzer, D’72 GD’76
James S. Skinner, D’47 GD’48
2001
Peter Berthold, D’83
Laurence G. Chacker, D’85
Michael David Yasner, C’79 D’83 GD’84 GD’86
2000
Martin D. Levin, D’72 GD’74
Lawrence W. Loveland, D’55
1999
Kenneth C. Fieldston, D’74
Robert E. Weiner, C’72 D’79
1998
H. Martin Deranian, D’47
Jacob Harris, C’55 D’58 GD’60
Tom M. Limoli, C’46 D’48
1997
Edwin C. Horne, D’52
William J. McDonnel, C’53 D’57
Barry D. Wagenberg, D’72
1996
Vincent A. Callery, D’56 GD’59
Kenneth Allen Fetter, C’72 D’76
Jerome A. Urken, C’45 D’46
1995
Philip S. Caplan, D’60
Stephen F. Goodman, D’60
Lawrence Kessler, C’66 D’70
Reuben E. V. Miller, Jr., D’52
1994
Noah Chivian, D’59
Bal K. Goyal, D’81 GD’81
Max A. Listgarten, Professor
Emeritus of Periodontics
1993
Leonard Abrams, GD’59
Peter D. Quinn, D’74 GD’78
Mark B. Snyder, D’74 GD’77
Thomas O. Sweet, D’53
Thomas R. Tempel, D’63
1992
Robert J. Collins, D’71
Gershon A. Stern, C’52 D’54
J. David Stine, D’63
1991
Brendan J. Boylan, D’55 GD’57
George Feldman, D’49
Sig L. Seigel, D’55
1990 I. B. Bender, D’30 Joseph E. Gian-Grasso, C’67 D’71 Arthur B. Hattler, D’55 GD’57 John T. Ziegler, D’55 1989 Michael E. Fritz, D’63 GD’65 GR’67 Robert J. Genco, GR’67 Edwin R. McDevitt, Jr., C’50 D’53
1988
Robert W. Baker, Sr., D’52
H. Russell Bernd, Jr., D’53
Edwin H. Smith, Jr., C’38 D’40
George G. Stewart, D’44
1987
Myron Allukian Jr., D’64
James E. Kennedy, D’62
Samuel Seltzer, C’35 D’37
George A. Zurkow, C’37 D’39
1986
George Georgieff, GD’62
Saul Kamen, D’40
Jay S. Seibert, D’53
Poul H. J. Simonsen, D’19
1985
Stanley E. Goodman, D’58
Charles H. Kremer, D’24
Seymour Oliet, D’53
Arnold S. Weisgold, GD’65
1984
Laurence B. Brody, C’52 D’56
Frances B. Glenn, D’56
Charles R. Jerge, D’58 GR’61
Stanford E. Kane, C’53 D’56
Irving M. Rothstein, C’38 D’41
Arthur J. Sachsel, D’50
Anthony A. Vito, D’53 GD’66
1983
Clement C. Alpert, C’32 D’34
Reuben Feltman, D’30
Emanuel H. Malamed, C’41 D’43
James A. Tatoian, Jr., D’64 GD’65
1982
James A. English, D’36 G’48
Robert L. Heinze, D’23
Max Oppenheim, D’37
Robert D. Schweitzer, D’55
Jonathan A. Tenzer, D’66 GD’69
1981
Kenneth C. Fordham, D’53
1980
Harry B. Binder, D’34
Robert E. DeRevere, D’45
Morton E. Melman, C’43 D’44
Allan S. Shaw, C’56 D’59 GD’61
1979
Morton Crossman, D’29
Jacob Lewin-Epstein, D’44
Paul E. Farrell, D’51
George Kuttas, D’51
1978
D. Walter Cohen, C’47 D’50
Wilbur D. Johnston, C’31 D’33
Claude S. LaDow, Jr., D’42 GD’48
Milton Leof, C’27 D’28
1977
Irving E. Gruber, D’41
Paul H. Keyes, C’39 D’41
H. Milton Rode, D’33
1976
I. Lawrence Kerr, C’37 D’39
Barnet M. Levy, C’38 D’42
1975
Harrison M. Berry, Jr., D’43 GD’52
Ned B. Williams, D’38
1974
Louis J. Calisti, D’49
John P. Hellwege, C’56 D’59
Seymour J. Kreshover, D’38 H’67
1973
Donald S. Mayes, D’58
1972
Charles P. Egoville, D’35
Joseph V. Masino, C’31 D’33
1971
Norman R. Haig, D’19
Adrian R. Kristeller, D’24
Joseph P. Marnell, D’43
1970
H. Vernon Lapp, D’27
Francis F. E. Morse, D’45
1969
Morton Amsterdam, C’45 D’45
William C. Hudson, D’17
William C. Hudson, Jr., D’45
1968
Marvin M. Alderman, D’42
Pincus Coleman, D’23
Ford W. Stevens, D’32
1967
Abram Cohen, D’23
Geneva E. Groth, D’19
1966
Robert H. Ivy, D’01 M’07
Hebert Kabnick, D’26
James W. Lee, D’42
1965
H. Jay Ginns, C’29 D’33
Jacob A. Salzmann, D’23
1964
Louis I. Grossman, D’23 H’78
John H. Stine, D’34
1963
Victor H. Frank, D’21
Albert Goho, D’22
Reuben E. V. Miller, D’18
1962
Ellis Finkelman, C’32 D’34
William B. Smith, Jr., D’38
1961
Ralph S. Voorhees, Jr., D’24 GD’51
1960
Theodor Blum, D’09
Mary W. Kolb, Executive Secretary,
Dental Alumni Society
Leon Levy, D’15 H’73
1959
Lester W. Burket, C’29 D’32 H’78
Hamilton B. G. Robinson, C’32 D’34
1958
Thomas M. Meloy, Jr., D’32
1957
Charles H. Patton, D’19
1956
Malcolm W. Carr, D’22
1955
Bernhard W. Weinberger, D’08
1954
Paul E. Bomberger, D’15
James R. Cameron, D’14
Arthur E. Corby, D’17
Harry A. Mesjian, D’21
1953
James E. Aiguer, D’17
Leroy M. Ennis, D’16
Thomas P. Fox, D’26
Zachary T. Jackaway, D’98
Isidor S. Ravdin, Vice President of Medical Affairs, University of Pennsylvania
1952
Herbert K. Cooper, D’19
1951
Morton J. Loeb, D’09
1950
Emerson R. Sausser, D’03
1949
Wilson Zerfing, D’94
1948
George A. Coleman, D’13
1947
William A. Allwood, D’97
1946
Clarence C. Bastian, D’17
1945 Edward C. Stillwell, D’10
1944
Henry Rainey, Secretary of the
Thomas W. Evans Museum and Dental Institute and Recorder of the School

Young Alumni Award of Merit

The Young Alumni Award of Merit recognizes Penn Dental Medicine alumni one to 15 years from graduation who have maintained their ties with the School through their support of alumni activities, demonstrated leadership in the dental profession, and fostered and maintained the ideals that the School of Dental Medicine has stood for since its founding.

Dr. Katherine France, Assistant Professor of Oral Medicine at Penn Dental Medicine, earned her DMD at Penn Dental in 2016 along with a Masters of Bioethics. She continued on to earn her graduate dental education certificate in Oral Medicine here as well in 2018, after which she joined the School’s faculty in the Department of Oral Medicine. Since joining the faculty, she has been recognized by students with the Earle Bank Hoyt Award for Excellence in Teaching, receiving it in 2023 and 2024.

A Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Medicine, France is currently Director of the Penn Dental Medicine Oral Medicine Clinic and Co-Director of the Personalized Care/Radiology/ Oral Medicine Honors Program. She is also a practicing clinician within the Penn Dental Family Practice and an attending in oral medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Active in Professional and Scientific Societies, France served as Reviewer (2020 – 2024) of the World Workshop on Oral Medicine VIII and Assistant Reviewer (2017-2019) and is currently Chair (2020-present) of the American Academy of Oral Medicine Membership Committee.

At Penn Dental Medicine, France is Vice President (2023-2025) of the Alumni Society and Chair (2023-2025) of its Nominations Committee. She is also faculty advisor (2022-present) of the Philadelphia Oral Cancer Walk and 5K, organized by Penn Dental Medicine students.


Dr. Roopali Kulkarni, Assistant Professor of Oral Medicine at Penn Dental Medicine, is a 2019 graduate of Penn Dental Medicine, also earning a Master of Public Health. She pursued postgraduate training in oral medicine here as well, graduating in 2021, after which she joined the School’s faculty in the Department of Oral Medicine. She currently serves as the Assistant Director (2022-present) of Penn Dental Medicine’s postgraduate oral medicine program and is on the medical staff (2021-present) in the Division of Oral Medicine at Penn Medicine. Since joining, she received the Earle Bank Hoyt award for dedication and excellence in teaching in 2022.

Kulkarni is widely engaged in scholarly activity and organized dentistry at the local, state and national levels. Among many different roles, she is currently serving as an Assistant Reviewer (2023-present) in the World Workshop on Oral Medicine IX, national media spokesperson (2021-present) of the American Dental Association, Chair-Elect (2025-present) of the Oral Diagnosis and Oral Medicine Section and Member-at-Large (2025-present) of the Council of Faculties of the American Dental Education Association, and President-Elect (2025-present) of the Philadelphia County Dental Society. She was also a 2024 American Dental Association “10 Under 10” award recipient.



2024
Evan Eisler, D’15
2023
Kari Hexem, D’15
2022
Brian Ford, D’09 M’12 GD’15
Steven Wang, D’09 M’12 GD’15
2021
Stefani Cheung, C’08 D’11
2020
Maria Velasco, D’10 GED’10
2019
Mark Koup, D’04
Mana Mozaffarian, D’06

Penn Alumni Award of Merit

The Penn Alumni Award of Merit, the highest award presented by Penn Alumni, is given in recognition of outstanding service to the University of Pennsylvania and selected by the Awards and Resolutions Committee of the Penn Alumni Board of Directors. Listed below are recipients who graduated from Penn Dental Medicine.

2019
William W.M.Cheung, D’81 GD’82
1997
Morton Amsterdam, C’43 D’45
1994
Joseph E. Gian-Grasso, C’67 D’71
1993
Abram Cohen, D’23
D. Walter Cohen, C’47 D’50
1980
William K. Conrad, D’30
Thomas H. Newmann, C’53 D’55
1976
Allan S. Shaw, C’56 D’59 GD’61
1975
John P. Hellwege, C’56 D’59
1971
Victor H. Frank, D’21
Leon Levy, D’15 H’73
1968
James W. Lee, D’42
1963
Louis I. Grossman, D’23 H’78
1960
Albert Goho, D’22
1959
Charles H. Patton, D’19
1958
Edward C. Stillwell, D’10
1957
LeRoy M. Ennis, D’16
1954
Thomas P. Fox, D’26
1953
Joseph T. Appleton, D’14
1951
Alan G. Brodie, D’19
1950
George A. Coleman, D’13
1949
William M. Hollenback, D’08
1948
Arthur E. Corby, D’17
Robert H. Ivy, D’01 M’07
1946
Clay A. Boland, D’26
1945
Zachary T. Jackaway, D’98
1943
Mark D. Littig, D’94
1941
Oborn G. L. Lewis, D’04

Charlotte Sullivan Lifetime Achievement Award

The Charlotte J. Sullivan Lifetime Achievement Award, established by the Alumni Society Executive Board in 2024 and previously given by the Penn Dental Hygiene Alumni Association, recognizes Penn Dental Medicine dental hygiene graduates for extraordinarily meritorious contributions advancing the dental hygiene discipline. The award is named in honor of the inaugural director of Penn Dental Medicine’s Oral Hygiene program, founded in 1921. The award is conferred only when the Board feels there is a dental hygienist who should be so honored.

Lisa Solden Schildhorn, a 1975 dental hygiene graduate of Penn Dental Medicine, has worked with various professional and community organizations to enhance and advocate for oral health as an essential part of general health. Her many professional roles throughout her 50-year career have included clinician, educator, practice manager, business owner, entrepreneur, organizational development consultant, and community health advocate.

After practicing clinically, teaching Penn dental hygiene students, and managing one of the School’s practices, Schildhorn took the leap as an entrepreneur in 1981, establishing Dental Power of Delaware Valley, Inc. Over 21 years, she expanded Dental Power into a premier dental search firm in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties, assisting dental professionals in obtaining temporary and direct-hire employment. After transitioning Dental Power to new leadership in 2002, Schildhorn began her consulting firm, LLC Dental Team Consultants, working with various organizations on educational programs and workshops, leadership training, grant writing, coalition capacity building, and stakeholder engagement. As part of her consulting activities, she worked with the team to establish and build capacity for the Pennsylvania Coalition for Oral Health, serving on the Board of Directors for 10 years.  Schildhorn’s non-profit activities include having served on the Board of Directors of Living Beyond Breast Cancer, Susan G Komen Race for the Cure, Heath Federation Early Head Start, and Kids Smiles, where she was President from 2005 to 2009.

When interviewed for RDH magazine in 2013 and asked for her advice to others, she said, “Believe in your strengths. Find the parts you love to do, and that creates the energy you need to succeed in life. I’m just doing what I love.”

 

 

Honorary Alumni

The honorary alumni awards are presented to individuals who are not graduates of Penn Dental Medicine but have demonstrated a strong commitment to Penn Dental Medicine through their service to and involvement with the School.

Susan Scwartz, Director of Career Services, has spent her entire career and graduate school (earning her MSEd in 1975) at the University of Pennsylvania, pursuing her interest in higher education. She worked in undergraduate admissions and at the School of Nursing as Associate Director of Admissions and Student Affairs before joining Penn Dental Medicine in 2000 as Assistant Dean for Student Affairs. At the same time (2006-2014), Schwartz was engaged with undergraduate students as Associate Faculty Director in Fisher Hassenfeld College House at Penn, a shared role with her husband, Dr. Sandy Schwartz, who was the Director. She served as Assistant Dean for Student Affairs until spring 2019 when she moved into her current position, establishing a Career Services Division in the Student Affairs Office. The objective of the Division is to help students explore and plan for next steps after dental school as well as long-term professional goals.  Services include career advising, CV and personal statement review, mock interviews, and a variety of professional development programming. Among key programs of the Division is a six-part Selective series utilizing the wisdom and experience of dental alumni, and a two-day Career Fair with private, federal, and community-based dental practices, GPR and AEGD programs, and representation from all postgraduate programs at Penn Dental Medicine. Schwartz also works with the School’s Office of Institutional Advancement to help students connect with Penn Dental Medicine alumni for mentoring and shadowing opportunities. Schwartz notes that the resources of the Career Services Division are available to alumni at any point in their dental careers. She was also recognized with honorary membership in Penn Dental Medicine OKU ETA Chapter in 2010.



2024
Nathan Kobrin (posthumously)
David Swiecinski
2023
Syngcuk Kim
2022
Joseph Fiorellini
2021
Kenneth Kent
2020
Marianne Contino
2019
Markus Blatz
2018
Joan Gluch
Dennis F. Kinane
Irving M. Shapiro
2017
Beverly Crawford
Gary H. Cohen
Benjamin Hammond
2015
Elliot Hersh
2014
Arthur Kurperstein
2013
Corky Cacas
2011
Uri Hangorsky
2010
Arthur Steinberg

Dental Hygiene Alumni Special Achievement Award

The Dental Hygiene Alumni Special Achievement Award, given annually up until 2020 by the Penn Dental Medicine Dental Hygiene Alumni Association, recognizes the outstanding contributions of Dental Hygiene alumni to the growth and development of the profession of dental hygiene.

2020
Ann Robyn Watson, DH’69
2019
Karen Combs Flickinger, DH’58
Elisabeth McClellan Peebles, DH’59
2018
Ann Sproule Hunnicutt, DH’53
2017
JoAnn Rigolizzo Gurenlian, GRD’ 91
2016
Kathleen S. McAdoo, DH ’84
2015
Charlene Jennings Fenster, DH’75
2014
Rosalie C. Di Ferdinand, DH’85
2013
Judith Nist, DH’69
2012
Cynthia Staman Kleiman, DH’77
2011
Judith Zack Bendit, DH’81
Samuel L. Yankell DH’81
2010
Beverly Bizup Hawkins, DH’75
2009
Joan I. Gluch, GR’92
Linda B. Moore, DH’63
2008
Betty Brussel Shamas, DH’63
2007
Sandra L. Mellinger, DH’82
2005
Lisa Solden Schildhorn, DH’75
2004
Jaclyn M. Gleber, DH’74
2003
Suzanne Linn Dietz, DH’59, ED’59
2002
Ann Eshenaur Spolarich, DH’82, GED’99
2001
Patricia Anne Cohen, DH’71
2000
R. Roberta Throne, DH’39, GED’67
1999
Maria Perno Goldie, DH’71
1998
Allene G. Donoho, DH’58
1997
Kathleen E. Morr, DH’60
1996
Robin S. Holmes, DH’75
1995
Eleanor H. Mily, DH’45
1994
Nancy “Chris” Roy Lange Miller, DH’54, ED’54
1993
Anne S. Follweiler, DH’58, G’65