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As part of its 50th anniversary celebrations, the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine (CU SDM) presented a group of 12 awards to recognize excellence among faculty, staff, students, residents and alumni. During the ceremony, Dean Denise Kassebaum, DDS, MS, expressed her gratitude and pride: “It is our people who make this school what it is today. Your enthusiasm and dedication drive all of our accomplishments and make SDM a special community and flourishing. .”
The inaugural awards program shines a spotlight on those who have made an impact in SDM’s mission areas in education, research, patient care and community engagement.
Left to right: Dean Denise Kassebaum, DDS, MS; Daniel Mora-Plata, DDS ’21, GPR ’23; Danna Cervantes, CDA; David Gozalo, DDS, MS; Taryn Slepicoff, DMD; Daniel Carney, DDS ’24; Susan Somerset, DMD, PharmD, MS; Viensuong Nguyen, DDS, MDSc, FACP; Catherine Flaitz, DDS, MS; Trista Hinz, MS; and Kunjan Kakar, DDS (ISP ’10), MS, BDS. Award recipients not pictured: Katherine Fantauzzo, PhD, MS, MS and Todd Hinshaw.
Faculty Awards
Faculty Excellence in Teaching
Catherine Flaitz, DDS, MS
Professor and Chair, Division of Diagnostic Sciences
Faculty Excellence in Student Mentoring
Susan Somerset, DMD, PharmD, MS
Assistant Professor, Community Dentistry and Population Health
Director of the High and Special Care Clinic
Faculty Excellence in Research
Katherine Fantauzzo, PhD, MS, MS
Associate Professor, Craniofacial Biology
Excellence in faculty service
David Gozalo, DDS, MS
Associate Professor, Restorative Dentistry
Chairman, Division of Prosthodontics, Implant and Digital Dentistry
Director, Digital Dentistry Program
Faculty Excellence in Clinical Dentistry
Viensuong Nguyen, DDS, MDSc, FACP
Assistant Professor, Restorative Dentistry
Assistant Director, Advanced International Student Program
Faculty Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Kunjan Kakar, DDS (ISP ’10), MS, BDS
Assistant Professor, Restorative Dentistry
Staff Awards
Recognition of clinical staff
Danna Cervantes, CDA
Bullet Dispensary
Recognition of Administrative Staff
Todd Hinshaw
Facilities Manager
PRA Recognition Award
Trista K. Hinz, MS
Chief Research Services Professional, Craniofacial Biology
Student and resident rates
Outstanding contribution of a student
Daniel Carney, DDS ’24
Student Assistant, Clinical Affairs
Outstanding contribution from a resident
Taryn Slepicoff, DMD
Orthodontic graduate resident ’24
Alumni Award
Alumni Achievement Award
Daniel Mora-Plata, DDS ’21, GPR ’23
Graduate periodontic resident ’26
The selection process for these 12 special awards included nominations from every corner of the school, allowing peers to recognize deserving friends and colleagues with whom they work every day. A selection committee made up of representatives from the Faculty Senate, student government, human resources and administration carefully reviewed all nominees.
Dean Kassebaum drew inspiration from the Colorado School of Public Health (CSPH), which hosts a similar annual awards program. She was excited about creating this new tradition: “This is just the beginning,” she said. “We are proud to institute these annual awards, ensuring that we continue to recognize and celebrate excellence within our community year after year.”
As SDM begins its next 50 years, the legacy of excellence and dedication embodied by this recognition program will undoubtedly continue to inspire and shape the future of dentistry.
