Two fourth-year students win 2025 ISDS Foundations scholarships
Introduction
Each year, the ISDS Foundation’s scholarship program celebrates the promise of future dental leaders—students whose curiosity, compassion and vision will help shape the future of oral health in Illinois. This year, we are proud to recognize two outstanding award recipients whose dedication and commitment to service will continue to advance the high standards of our profession, LaFonte' Krushall and Asia Reynolds.
The challenge of applicants was to grapple with one of the most urgent questions facing the profession today. In an era where healthcare delivery is rapidly evolving, teledentistry has emerged as a potential tool to address disparities in dental care access. While in-person comprehensive oral examinations remain the gold standard, virtual dental visits present both opportunities and challenges. Drawing from your understanding of oral healthcare disparities and the role of technology, discuss how virtual dental exams could be effectively implemented to improve access to care while maintaining clinical excellence.
In their essays, they were asked to address the following three things:
- A specific accessibility challenge you've observed or researched in dental care
- How virtual exams could help address this challenge, including considerations for maintaining standard of care and appropriate reimbursement
- Your vision for integrating teledentistry into a broader solution, incorporating both immediate practical steps and long-term systemic changes you would implement as a future dental professional
Below are our winners and excerpts of their essays. Read the full essays and learn about all six winners on ISDS news.
LaFonte
“Based on oral findings and the patient’s chief concern, I believe that oral hygiene products can be mailed to patients to support their ongoing dental health. Maintaining a high standard of care is crucial for all patients, especially those in rural areas with limited providers. To ensure a high standard of care, I believe the patient’s first visit should be in person in order to be eligible for teledentistry visits.” – LaFonte Krushall, fourth-year dental student
Asia
“For teledentistry to work equitably, however, it must meet the same standard of care as in-person visits. Tools like intraoral cameras and mobile imaging devices should be available in trusted community spaces: schools, churches, libraries, and mobile clinics. I envision school nurses or community health workers using tablet-based kits to help facilitate real-time exams. A child could receive a virtual screening at school, catching early decay or gum issues before they impact learning or well-being.” – Asia Reynolds, fourth-year dental student