Faculty, Staff Recognized by Class of 2026 for Teaching, Service 

Philadelphia — Penn Dental Medicine faculty and staff members have been honored for excellence in teaching and service by the Class of 2026. Each academic year, the graduating class recognizes members of the faculty and staff who have had a significant impact on their educational experience; this year’s awards were presented as part of the Senior Farewell celebration, held May 12. The awards and honorees included:

The Basic Science Award – presented for excellence in teaching within the basic sciences. This year’s recipient is Dr. Elliot Hersh, Emeritus Professor in the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery/Pharmacology. This marks a record 25 times that Dr. Hersh has received this award over his teaching career at Penn Dental Medicine. A highly respected researcher in non-addicting strategies to manage acute postoperative dental pain, Dr. Hersh joined the Penn Dental Medicine faculty in 1988. He directed and lectured extensively in both the Introduction to Pharmacology and Neuropharmacology courses. Dr. Hersh is a past recipient of the University of Pennsylvania’s Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching and the IADR Distinguished Scientist Award in Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, a co-recipient of the University’s One Health Award with Drs. John Farrar and Rosemary Polomano and an invited speaker at NASEM.

The Robert E. DeRevere Award – presented for excellence in preclinical teaching by a part-time faculty member. The award is named in honor of Dr. DeRevere, a member of the Penn Dental Medicine Class of 1945, who served on the School’s faculty. This year’s recipient is Dr. Joy Bockstein Abt (D’94), Clinical Associate Professor of Restorative Dentistry. This marks the fifth time Dr. Abt has been honored with this award, after receiving it in 2013, 2014, 2017, and 2019. Dr. Abt has been on the faculty of Penn Dental Medicine for over 20 years. From 2001 to 2004, she was an Assistant Professor of Restorative Dentistry and Director of Operative Dentistry. She returned to the faculty in 2007 as a preclinical faculty member and the interim Director of Dental Materials. In 2008, Dr. Abt was appointed Director of Fixed Prosthodontics, a position she held for 17 years, until 2025. Dr. Abt currently teaches preclinical fixed prosthodontics, removable prosthodontics and operative dentistry. She is a member of the Matthew Cryer Honor Society and the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Honor Society. Dr. Abt is also the recipient of the Penn Dental Medicine Award for Outstanding Service to Students in 2012, the University of Pennsylvania’s Provost Award for Teaching Excellence in 2020 and the Penn Dental Medicine Alumni Award of Merit in 2024.

 The Joseph L. T. Appleton Award – presented to a part-time faculty member for excellence in clinical teaching. This year’s honoree is Dr. Ghina C. Maliha. Dr. Maliha is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Restorative Dentistry and has been a part of the school’s clinical faculty since 2008, teaching students general restorative care within the clinics. A 1991 Penn Dental Medicine graduate, Dr. Maliha maintained a private practice until 2024 when she started dedicating more time to the dental school. Dr. Maliha’s passion for dentistry, her commitment, and strong support of her students were recognized with the Appleton Award. This award is named in honor of Dr. Joseph Appleton, a 1914 alumnus of Penn Dental Medicine, who served as dean of the School from 1941 to 1951. The award was founded in 1979 by Dr. Abram Cohen, a member of the Class of 1923 and father of Dean Emeritus D. Walter Cohen.

 Earle Bank Hoyt Award – presented for excellence in teaching to a faculty member who is a Penn Dental Medicine graduate. The award was established by a grateful patient in honor of Dr. Hoyt, a distinguished clinician and educator and member of the Class of 1918. This year’s recipient is Dr. Jay Dubin, Clinical Associate in the Division of Restorative Dentistry, who has been part of the faculty since 2015 Dr. Dubin teaches within the general restorative clinics.

The Senior Outstanding Teaching Award – presented to a faculty member who goes beyond the scope of his/her responsibilities to significantly impact the class’s education at Penn Dental Medicine. This year’s recipient is Artur Kofman, C.D.T. Director of Laboratory Affairs and the Office of Laboratory Affairs Supervisor for the clinical labs at the School; this is the tenth year in a row that he was recognized with this award. Mr. Kofman has been sharing his knowledge and expertise in dental lab work with students as a member of the school’s staff for the past 25 years. Among his responsibilities, he coordinates students’ lab work from the school to commercial laboratories and vice versa, guides dental students in lab-related technical issues, and provides hands-on assistance as needed for minor adjustments to dental appliances at a chair-side setting. In addition, he operates the 3D printing lab for fabricating 3D models, occlusal guards, and surgical guides and is involved in the newly designed curriculum for CAD/CAM and printing of digital dentures for the dental students.

Outstanding Service Award — presented to a staff member who is highly regarded within the Penn Dental Medicine community for their extraordinary dedication. This award celebrates an individual who, in the estimation of the Senior Class, has consistently gone beyond their formal responsibilities to significantly enhance the overall experience of the Senior Class at Penn Dental Medicine. This year’s recipient is Sam Williams, who is part of the Instrument Management Services (IMS) team. Mr. Williams has been working in Penn Dental Medicine’s IMS since 2025. In his role, he supports students in their clinical care, providing the necessary equipment and materials to perform patient care and cleaning and sterilizing the equipment upon the return of their tools.