Dental Lifeline Network partners with 43 dental schools across the US through the Brian D. Stone Memorial Award to recognize outstanding dental school graduates who have committed to volunteerism and public service to helping people with special needs.
The award was established 16 years ago by Brian’s parents Drs. Joy and Justin Stone of New Jersey. The collaborative partnership between these accredited schools allows Dental Lifeline Network to recognize future dental professionals who believe in the importance of volunteering to help our most vulnerable populations.
(From Left to Right) Brian D. Stone Recipient Christine Nguyen; Dr. Mai Ly Duong, Associate Director of Special Care Dentistry at A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-ASDOH); Dr. Justin Sapwall, fellow Class of 2021 classmate at ATSU-ASDOH
Christine Nguyen is an example of one of those students. Dr. Nguyen graduated from A.T. Still University-Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health in May 2021. During her time at dental school she reflected on how she could use dentistry to be a part of positive change in her community. This led Christine to become involved in volunteering with the Special Olympics of Arizona and helping 150 patients with special needs through oral screenings and fluoride varnish. She also helped pack 250 period packs for a non-profit organization called Go With the Flow that helps low-income schools in Phoenix, Arizona support young women who cannot afford feminine hygiene products.
In addition, Christine partnered up with the Arizona Dental Association (AzDA) and the American Dental Association (ADA) to influence legislation through advocacy efforts to make dental care more accessible. She lobbied for legislation to increase insurance benefits for patients such as medicaid dental coverage for pregnant mothers.
“These events have shown me that advocacy and education are essential parts of the dental profession that can be a part of my practice every day as a dentist. Whether it is delivering education on oral hygiene and nutrition or packing feminine hygiene packs to fulfill a basic need, I am grateful to serve others,” said Christine.
Having grown up in Southern California, Christine describes Disneyland as her happy place. She even took a Disney class in college. As a result, when people asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, she said a Disney Imagineer!
This year, 43 students received the prestigious award! DLN’s continues to work on expanding this program by adding more school’s and more recipients. With generous support from our partner, Avēsis, a Guardian Company, we will continue to do this in the coming years. If you are interested in participating in the program, please fill out our form.
2021 Brian D. Stone Recipients
- Abigail Minsker, Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine – IL
- Adam Hess, University of Utah School of Dentistry
- Allison Stump, University of Kentucky College of Dentistry
- Amanda Disney, Indiana University School of Dentistry
- Austin Rodenberg, University of Louisville
- Bailey Morgan, UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry
- Bayli Phillips, University of Tennessee Health Science Center
- Brian Jaroniewski, University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine
- Brielle Bowerman, The Dental College of Georgia
- Carlie Enns, West Virginia University School of Dentistry
- Casey Lally, University of Pittsburgh School of Dentistry
- Christine Nguyen, A.T. Still University, Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health
- Christopher Bocklet, James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina
- Dryden Granger, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC
- Emily Thompson, University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Dentistry
- Erica Eden, University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry
- Gabriella Szewczyk, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry
- Harrison Klerk, Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine – Arizona
- Ishwpriya Singh, A.T. Still University – Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health
- Jessica Chellis, Southern Illinois University
- Joanna Ferguson, Penn Dental Medicine
- Jose Malang, University of New England College of Dental Medicine
- Julia Geaumont, Boston University – Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine
- Justin Stone, University of Pennsylvania School of Dentistry
- Justine Gullia, University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine
- Kayla Erps, University of Iowa College of Dentistry
- Lauren Lubowitz, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
- Melchior Savarese, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry
- Michael Rhees, Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine
- Misha Shaikh, NYU College of Dentistry
- Niharika Jain, Temple University – Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry
- Nousha Eslami, University of Washington School of Dentistry
- Renee Greene, University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry
- Scott Balzer, The Ohio State University College of Dentistry
- Stephen Migliore, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Dentistry
- Steven Vassell, Rutgers School of Dental Medicine
- Suzie Lee, Loma Linda University School of Dentistry
- Tara Craven, University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Dentistry
- Taylor McElwee, Marquette University School of Dentistry
- Taylor Sims, Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry
- Treyce Sanderson, University of Minnesota School of Dentistry
- Yuhong Lin, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Dentistry
