The Douglas Award – Oral Health & Senescence
Oral Health & Senescence Heading link
A large proportion of the population now reaches advanced ages, but components of the body may deteriorate. Research has already shown that the underlying process of aging(referred to as senescence) is modifiable. Poor oral health is a risk factor for some senescent-related diseases, but dentistry can prevent or control that with available methods. New oral health technologies may offer additional prevention benefits.
The Douglas Award Heading link
The goal of the Douglas Award is to increase dental professionals’ awareness that oral health care may be an important front-line intervention in the prevention and control of numerous senescent-related diseases. It also seeks to inform the public that dental care providers can help prevent many of the fatal and disabling diseases that people fear most as they get older.
Speakers Heading link
Dr. Scott Tomar
Associate Dean for Prevention and Public Health Sciences
UIC College of Dentistry
Olshansky Heading link
Dr. S. Jay Olshansky
Professor
UIC School of Public Health
Douglas Heading link
Dr. Bruce Douglas, Professor
UIC College of Dentistry and UIC School of Public Health
Essay Submission Information Heading link
How to Apply
- Open to all students in UIC health sciences colleges (DENT, SPH, COM, PHARM, NURS, AHS, JACSW).
- Essay submission on oral health and senescence.
- Requirements will be available on the submission portal.
- The winning entry will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.
- Prize amount: $3,000.
Important Dates
- April 19, 2024 – Submission portal opens.
- July 31, 2024 – Submission deadline.
- October 1, 2024 – Winner announced.
Submission Form
About Dr. Bruce Douglas Heading link
Bruce Douglas, DDS, MA, MPH is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery who joined the faculty of the UIC College of Dentistry in 1962 to start teaching programs in Community Dentistry and Oral Medicine. He also maintained a part-time oral surgery private practice in a low-income Chicago neighborhood, and initiated a program to bring volunteer dental students into the homes of older adults. His commitment to community service included a four-year elected term in the Illinois General Assembly. In that role, he worked to establish the UIC School of Public Health and subsequently became its first faculty member. Dr. Douglas served as a consultant to the World Health Organization, which brought him to countries around the world. He was a Fulbright Professor in Japan prior to coming to Chicago and subsequently worked with the State Department to recruit other qualified dentists to go abroad as Fulbright scholars. In 2013, Dr. Douglas returned to UIC as Professor of Health and Aging at the School of Public Health and Oral Medicine at the College of Dentistry. As the oldest member of the University of Illinois Chicago faculty, he is now honored with the establishment of the Douglas Award at UIC.