USA Section of the Academy of Dentistry International

Dr. Seggerman raised for himself and fellow students’ scholarships towards mission trips and helped create a team of over 30 people from the States and likely over 50 students from the University of Francisco Marroquin in Guatemala City, who will join the effort (including the head of their Pediatric Dentistry department). He has attended the outreach ministry of CMDA. His character will inspire many others before and after the 2023 Mission Trip.

Dr. Wesley Cole Spigener was selected for the ADI SSLA because of his commitment to community service.  Dr. Spigener graciously volunteered and organized treatment at the Ozanam Inn, a dental clinic providing extractions for the underserved in New Orleans, LA.  As a student, Dr. Spigener consistently demonstrated selflessness and sincerity with patients, faculty, staff, and peers.  Dr. Spigener will be starting an Oral Surgery Internship in Shreveport, LA. 

Dr. Patel was chosen at a committee meeting where her qualities were discussed orally among our selection faculty. 

Dr. Marqua Lofton plans to serve through dentistry by returning to rural areas to practice. Her current dental school extracurricular activities include serving in the Student National Dental Association (SNDA). She participated in several community-based health fairs, donation drives, student mental health support, and self-care activities each year. She has been the community service chair for SNDA, where she hosted a food drive in which all donations were donated to our local stewpot. She is also the chapter’s historian documenting events and meetings. She participated in the 2022 Mississippi Mission of Mercy project and several rotations at the Jackson Free Clinic, the Dental Acute Clinic at the Jackson Medical Mall, and the Mission First dental clinic. She will also be a resident in the UMMC AEGD program this fall.

Dr. Jixa Patel has demonstrated a passion for service and providing quality healthcare.  With experience as a dental assistant before moving on to earn a BS in Dental Hygiene, she has excelled in the DDS program at LLUSD, always with the goal of serving patients with the utmost care and quality.  LLUSD is extremely grateful for Dr. Jixa Patel’s commitment to her patients, classmates, faculty, and the dental school.

Dr. Amanda Wilson has demonstrated professionalism, leadership, and a high commitment to serving her local and global community.  She has advocated for vulnerable patients and participated in global oral/health education trips, including the Dominican Republic outreach, where she traveled last year despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic to serve the underserved globally. She has served in leadership roles at the University of Texas Health at San Antonio (UTHSA), the San Antonio Refugee Health Clinic, and the Christian Medical and Dental Associations of San Antonio. She also served as the co-president of the Global Health Student Association and the International College of Dentists chapter of the UTHSA.

Dr. Lee has been an astonishing student for over three years, performing in the upper 1-5% in his coursework. However, this only represents one aspect of his achievements so far. It is evident from getting to know him that he is passionate about his career and is motivated to become the best dentist he can be. Dr. Lee will be a caring and compassionate dentist who gives his future patients the best care possible and will be someone I would have no hesitation in sending my family members to for treatment.   

Dr. Johnson attended the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry in Detroit, Michigan. While at Detroit Mercy, she maintained membership in the American Student Dental Association (ASDA) and held multiple positions on the Executive Board of the Student National Dental Association (SNDA), finishing as the president. Additionally, she served as the vice president and president of the Student Government Association throughout her years at UDM and as an active student ambassador.

Dr. Willis participated in 2 international mission trips at The Dental College of Georgia. He is passionate about patient care and education.

Andre Jones was undoubtedly UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry’s most committed student to Community Service Learning in 2019. He participated in an incredible 1,260 hours of community service learning within the South Texas community and internationally. Andre provided care during Christian Medical Dental Association Border Trips, at the San Antonio Refugee Clinic and traveled abroad to the Dominican Republic to deliver care to those in need…

Chi “Joe” Hui Lee Qualifications- Attitude and commitment are key qualities of a true professional. Mr. Lee has maintained a superb academic standing and has demonstrated outstanding academic, clinical, and leadership ability. His self-motivation and work ethic are marks of a true professional. His academic achievements have led to him receiving numerous awards and honors. Mr. Lee displays the caring, compassionate attitude which makes certain health care providers special in the eyes of their patients. He entered dental school with a BS in Dental Laboratory Technology from LSUSD showing his determination and dedication to the dental profession. He enjoys being involved in all aspects of dental school especially serving the less fortunate. Mr. Lee has participated in yearly mission trips to the Dominica Republic through Students International. He cherishes the opportunity-providing healthcare and experiencing the Dominican culture and hopes to continue once in private practice.

As a first with the SSLA from ADI, the MUSC award committee felt two graduating seniors deserved the award and thus awarded both Dr. Lane and Dr. Berkey with this distinctive award!

Dr. David Morrison was awarded the Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the East Carolina University (ECU) School of Dental Medicine on May 3, 2019. He completed his undergraduate studies at North Carolina State University in 2015 where he earned two bachelor’s degrees: a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Biology and a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition Sciences, both awarded Magna Cum Laude.

Prior to his dental school matriculation and throughout his time at the ECU School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Morrison consistently demonstrated altruism and a commitment to service. He has volunteered over 520 hours of his time to multiple service projects and organizations since 2010, including several NC MOM clinics, JOY Soup Kitchens, the Greenville Food Bank, and the Ronald McDonald House, to name a few. Notably, in the Summer of 2018, Dr. Morrison traveled to the Dominican Republic with Dr. Frank Serio and other volunteers for a week-long mission to provide dental services to patients in communities with limited access to healthcare. Dr. Morrison was an obvious choice for the Academy of Dentistry International Student Servant Leadership Award.

As a first with the SSLA from ADI, the MUSC award committee felt two graduating seniors deserved the award and thus awarded both Dr. Lane and Dr. Berkey with this distinctive award!

Kristen Grisham has been an incredible role model for her dental class peers and within the dental profession. She has served as a class representative, the fundraising chair, and then as the president for the Dental College of Georgia Operation Smile organization. She was a student volunteer for the Georgia Mission of Mercy held in Augusta, Georgia. Kristen also served with MCO as a Haiti Children’s Ministry Leader in January 2017, as a Haiti Small Group Leader in Augusta of 2017, and as a Haiti Mission Trip Team Leader in May 2018. On campus, she participated as an Interprofessional Education volunteer where she taught first year medical students how to perform head and neck exams. Kristen continues to serve her school, community, and beyond. The Dental College of Georgia is proud to recognize Kristen Grisham with this award.

Ms. Ayah Koleilat has facilitated and participated in many outreach activities during her time at the School of Dentistry. She served as president of the Student Chapter of the American Association of Public Health Dentistry and the School of Dentistry’s student organizer of oral cancer screening for the Michigan Institute of Urology’s Men’s Health Event – an event that has over 1,200 attendees. In addition, she organized and volunteers at the student-run Huda Clinic as well as travelled to Lebanon on behalf of a medical and dental mission trip. Ms. Koleilat embodies service – her compassion and dedication for those in need is something to be admired and commended.

Pan Kaping came to the USA as a 9 year old with his parents and siblings from Ukhrul, Manipur, India. They all became legal immigrants and valued members of their community. Pan worked for over three years with Dr. T. Bob Davis both as a chairside assistant and as a projects coordinator prior to his matriculation into Texas A & M College of Dentistry (formerly Baylor). It was his specific assignment to help Dr. Davis implement the ADI USA Section Student Servant Leadership Award in its early stages of promotion to dental schools and distribution upon awarding to those schools. He at the same time was Dr. Davis’s coordinator for the T. Bob Davis Dental Student Mission Trips to Guatemala, often going on the pre-trip and trips to facilitate the basic running of the organization from a pre-dent and then dental student’s perspective.

He has served as Class President all four years of his dental education, served in numerous humanitarian and service projects locally, married to Joy, a medical doctor, surgeon, from India, and plans to continue his public service in the years to come. It is very fitting that the ADI Student Servant Leadership Award for 2019 go to this remarkable leader and servant.

Raven-Deneice Grant is a graduating fourth year at the University of Texas School of at Houston. She is a native Houstonian, and completed her undergraduate degree at Rice University studying Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Well before dental school, Raven developed a desire to serve others in the realm of healthcare, both domestic and abroad. During her undergraduate career, she traveled to Cusco, Peru and lead her group's hygiene team in teaching oral hygiene principles to students. She has participated in a dental mission trip to Kingston, Jamaica to serve various members of the community. She has also participated in two dental mission trips to San Raymundo, Guatemala with Dr. T. Bob Davis’s Dental Student Mission Trip to provide dental treatment and a message of hope to children in the country. When she is not traveling, Raven enjoys serving locally through her membership in the Student National Dental Association (of which she is a former President), American Student Dental Association, and the Texas Association of Women Dentists.

Sarah Spaltenstein, as a fourth-year dental student at the UNC Adams School of Dentistry, has been an outstanding leader in the school and in her community, serving as the Co-President of the UNC Hispanic Student Dental Association, Coordinator of the Hispanic Outreach and Language Assistance Program, and Representative of the Class of 2019 on the UNC Curriculum Committee. Most significantly, Sarah has contributed to numerous free dental clinics at the school and in the surrounding community throughout her time in dental school. This past year she founded the Vidas De Esperanza Dental Clinic in Siler City, North Carolina.

Tucker is the main organizer for all of our student outreach events. He is the first to arrive and the last to leave at each event. Tucker served as the President for RAM, Remote Area Medical which provides free medical clinics in our area. Tucker has been a recipient of many academic scholarships and has been an exceptional student on and off-campus.