Association Activities Santa’s Helpers NYSDA STAFF gave Santa a helping hand in 2021 by “adopting” a needy family of five through the Albany County Department of Social Services Adopt a Family program. Staff purchased items from a gift list provided by Social Services, then wrapped each item for delivery in time for Christmas, in the hopes of spreading cheer during a season upended by the pandemic.
Eighth District Installs New Executive Director THE EIGHTH DISTRICT Dental Society has a new executive director. John D. Craig, Ph.D., assumed the post Nov. 1 following the retirement of Executive Director Chris Kilmecko. An educational specialist and Western New York native, Dr. Craig has worked at various
John Craig
educational institutions in the region for over 30 years, most
recently as a project manager at O/N BOCES in adult education. Prior to that he served as a consultant and executive director for the Niagara Frontier Industry Education Council. Dr. Craig is a Navy veteran with an A.A.S. degree from Niagara County Community College, a B.S. in Commerce and M.S. in Business Education from Niagara University and Ph.D. in Education Administration from the University at Buffalo. He has spent the majority of his career creating educational services and programs of impact that support educators, students, families and institutions, as well as community agencies, business and industry.
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JANUARY 2022
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The New York State Dental Journal
NYS Dental Foundation Presents Excellence Awards AT ITS “RETURN TO EXCELLENCE” awards brunch, held in conjunction with the 2021 Annual Meeting of the NYSDA House of Delegates, the New York State Dental Foundation honored the following for achievements in the fields of academics, community service and research: • SUNY Broome Community College Dental Hygiene Program (Academics). • Dennis A. Mitchell, D.D.S., M.P.H., vice provost for faculty advancement, Columbia University, and former director, Harlem component, Community DentCare Network for Columbia (Community Service). • Jayanth Kumar, D.D.S., M.P.H., California State Dental Director and former New York State Dental Director (Research). An additional award was presented posthumously to Dr. Mark Bauman, who at the time of his death was a member of the NYSDF Board. To honor his legacy, the foundation created “Smiles for All,” a project dedicated to raising funds to support programs to help veterans and/or people with disabilities receive necessary dental treatment. Information about “Smiles for All” is provided on the foundation website, www.nysdentalfoundation.org.
