Each year, our Section recognizes the outstanding contributions of its members through the following awards.
John W. Knutson Distinguished Service Award in Dental Public Health
The John W. Knutson Distinguished Service Award in Dental Public Health has been presented each year since 1982 to honor an individual who has demonstrated sustained and exemplary accomplishments in the field of dental public health. The Oral Health Section of the American Public Health Association seeks nominations for the John W. Knutson Distinguished Service Award. The Award is conferred annually at the American Public Health Association meeting based on the following criteria:
- Outstanding accomplishments and contributions to improving oral health in the United States.
- A distinguished career at the local, state, national or international level in dental public health practice, academia, military, business, or industry.
- Demonstration of robust leadership in advancing oral health equity and expanding access to care for underserved populations.
- Past or present member of American Public Health Association.
To nominate a candidate for the 2024 Award, submit a curriculum vitae or biographical information and one letter of nomination regarding the candidate to the Oral Health Section Awards Committee Chair by June 30, 2024. Questions and Nominations should be sent to the 2024 Knutson Award Committee Chair, Dr. Anusha Kotha.
Award Presentation: Awardees will be presented with the award during the Oral Health Section Award Ceremony at the APHA Annual Meeting.
Notification: The awardee and the nominator will be notified by mid-July. If the nominee is not named the award recipient, the nominator will be notified by the end of July.
Nominators: The nominator is required to be an active member of the APHA Oral Health Section. Any Oral Health Section member, except a voting member of the Knutson Award Selection Committee, may submit a nomination letter. The nominator is responsible for confirming all required documents are submitted to the Committee Chair before the nomination due date.
Nomination Rollover: If the nominee is not named the award recipient, the nomination will automatically remain in the database for three award cycles. After the third award cycle, the nomination will expire.
Letters of Support: Letters of support in addition to the nomination letter will not be accepted. Supporting signatures can be included in the nomination letter, but are not required.
Monetary Award: A financial stipend is not offered for this award. A limited amount of travel support is available to offset travel costs depending on the availability of funds. Section leadership will consider travel support upon request by the awardee.
Anthony Westwater Jong Population Oral Health Pre-Professional Award
The awards were established in memory of the late Anthony Westwater Jong, in recognition of his commitment to population oral health, his strong and highly acclaimed mentoring of students, and his emphasis on the importance of state, local and community-based public health action.
The Anthony Westwater Jong Population Oral Health Pre-Professional Award will recognize outstanding population oral health research or service projects. Two Pre-Professional Awards will be granted each year.
Eligibility
Current student or student who has graduated within the preceding 12 months from an undergraduate or graduate-level program. Eligible students include: Graduate students (MPH, MSPH, PhD) and students in a dental/medical professional health education program (PA, RN, MD, DDS, DrPH, RDH, etc.).
Nominees must submit a scientific abstract through the APHA Oral Health Portal and the required support forms through the Google link. Abstracts will undergo a rigorous peer-review process. The student submitter must be the first author.
The two highest-scoring abstract first authors will be eligible to receive the award.
Award (valued at $1,200)
- Each awardee will receive a commemoration
- Each awardee may receive up to $700 to cover travel expenses to attend the meeting, (up to $400 for hotel, up to $300 for airfare)
- Each awardee will receive meeting registration and two years of APHA membership
Awardee Expectations
Awardees will be invited to present their work at the conference (poster presentation)
Student awardees will be mentored for one year and are expected to participate in the Oral Health Section activities, including attending monthly section phone meetings and participating in a subcommittee of their choice
Please note: Pre-professional Award recipients may apply for the Post-Professional Award in a subsequent year but must submit a different project for consideration. Individuals cannot apply for both the Pre-professional Award and the Post-Professional Award in the same year.
To be eligible for the travel assistance, students will need to verify that they live 60 miles from the venue. Students will verify that they are not being reimbursed or have access for travel reimbursement through a different organization (employment or educational affiliation). Students will need to complete a W-9 to receive reimbursement for travel expenses. No cash award will be offered in leu of the outlined benefits.
The APHA Oral Health Section is grateful for the generous support provided by the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health for the Anthony Westwater Jong Memorial Population Oral Health Pre-Professional Student Award and the Caswell A. Evans Population Oral Health Post-Professional Student Award. Students and early career professionals who are awarded receive mentorship opportunities, two years of APHA membership, APHA meeting registration, and travel support to the annual meeting.
Caswell A. Evans Population Oral Health Post-Professional Award
This award was established to honor Dr. Caswell A Evans, in recognition of his commitment to population oral health. Dr. Evans is an oral health industry veteran and pioneer in public health, as well as an accomplished author, teacher and speaker.
The Caswell A. Evans Population Oral Health Post-Professional Award will recognize outstanding population oral health research or service projects. Two Post-Professional Awards will be granted each year.
Eligibility
A health professional such as dentist, physician, dental hygienist, dental therapist, nurse, nurse practitioner, social worker, or other professional with an interest in oral health who is currently enrolled in or has graduated within the preceding 12 months from: (1) a CEPH-accredited School of Public Health or Graduate Public Health Program; (2) an CODA-accredited Dental Public Health Program; or (3) a graduate-level/university-based program with a significant course of study in public health.
Award (Valued at $1,200)
- Each awardee will receive a commemoration
- Each awardee may receive up to $700 to cover travel expenses to attend the meeting, (up to $400 for hotel, up to $300 for airfare)
- Each awardee will receive meeting registration and two years of APHA membership
Awardee Expectations
Awardees will be invited to present their work at the conference (poster presentation)
Student awardees are expected to participate in abstract peer-review process for the Oral Health Section the following year after they receive the award.
Student awardees will be mentored for one year and are expected to participate in the Oral Health Section activities, including attending monthly section phone meetings and participating in a subcommittee of their choice.
Please note: Pre-professional Award recipients may apply for the Post-Professional Award in a subsequent year but must submit a different project for consideration. Individuals cannot apply for both the Pre-professional Award and the Post-Professional Award in the same year.
To be eligible for the travel assistance, students will need to verify that they live 60 miles from the venue. Students will verify that they are not being reimbursed or have access for travel reimbursement through a different organization (employment or educational affiliation). Students will need to complete a W-9 to receive reimbursement for travel expenses. No cash award will be offered in leu of the outlined benefits.
The APHA Oral Health Section is grateful for the generous support provided by the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health for the Caswell A. Evans Population Oral Health Post-Professional Student Award and the Anthony Westwater Jong Memorial Population Oral Health Pre-Professional Student Award. Students and early career professionals who are awarded receive mentorship opportunities, two years of APHA membership, APHA meeting registration, and travel support to the annual meeting.
The deadline for Call for Nominations for APHA OH Section Student Awards 2024 submissions has been extended to June 30, 2024.
Click here to apply for the Student Awards! Questions should be directed to the Student Awards Committee Chairperson, Dr. Kevin M. Rodriguez-Lichtenberg.