Dean Mark Wolff Honored with Woods System of Care Distinguished Service Award

Philadelphia- Penn Dental Medicine’s Morton Amsterdam Dean, Dr. Mark S. Wolff, has been awarded the Woods System of Care Distinguished Service Award, presented in appreciation and recognition of outstanding leadership, nationally and globally, in providing high-quality dental care to persons with disabilities.

A longstanding advocate for providing comprehensive dental care to individuals with physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities, Dean Wolff has served this population throughout his time as a practicing clinician and years as an educator. Upon assuming the Deanship of Penn Dental Medicine in 2018, he made improving access to care for persons with disabilities and educating students in serving this population a priority for the School. Among the initiatives he has led in this area was a partnership with Woods Services to establish the Penn Dental Medicine at Woods Mikey Faulkner Dental Care Center.

Woods Services is a non-profit organization based in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, dedicated to serving children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, along with acquired brain injuries. The Care Center, which opened in 2022, is located within Woods’ Langhorne, Pa., campus. This state-of-the-art facility features five dental operatories, including a quiet space for individuals requiring a low-stimulation environment for care, along with a waiting/reception area and a conference room. The Center caters to residents, clients, and staff of Woods Services, as well as the broader disability community in the vicinity.

Postdoctoral students and faculty from Penn Dental Medicine’s Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) program are providing care in the Center.

“I’m humbled by the Woods award,” says Dean Wolff. “We are honored to have Penn Dental Medicine part of the Woods campus and support Woods in its comprehensive care and service to individuals with disabilities.”

In conjunction with the Woods Service Awards, Dean Wolff was also acknowledged by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the Pennsylvania Senate for his role in establishing the Woods Care Center, exemplifying dedication to community enrichment through care and education. These certificates of recognition were presented by State Representative Joe Hogan and State Senator Frank Farry, who both represent the district where the Center is located.