GSDM Community Makes Lasting Impressions at 2025 Yankee Dental Congress
Members of the GSDM community connected with friends and colleagues, learned from innovative speakers, and expanded their industry knowledge at this year’s Yankee Dental Congress, held from January 30 to February 1 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.
“Yankee Dental Congress is always a great opportunity to catch up with our alumni and celebrate their recent achievements,” said Stacey McNamee, director of alumni relations & annual giving.
Read on for some highlights from this year’s event.
Four GSDM alumni inducted into Pierre Fauchard Academy
The Pierre Fauchard Academy is an international dental honor organization with a mission to recognize and develop outstanding leadership in the dental profession. Fellows in Pierre Fauchard are selected based on contributions to dental literature, service to the profession, and service to the general community.
This year’s GSDM alumni inductees are:
- Lindsay Janof DMD 19 PERIO 22
- Shilpi Joshi DMD 12
- Janice Spada DMD 82
- Hitesh Vij DMD 20
Four GSDM faculty/alumni awarded MDS “10 under Ten”
The Massachusetts Dental Society’s (MDS) “10 under Ten” award recognizes dentists who have made significant contributions to the field and have been in the profession for 10 years or less.
This year, MDS named the following GSDM alumni to the list:
- Ashish Agarwal DMD 17
- Arifa Bakerywala DMD 18
- Lindsey Janoff DMD 19 PERIO 22
- Ruchieka Vij DMD 20
GSDM students receive awards from MDS, ACD
Jared Jacobson DMD 25 received the Matthew Boylan Award from the Massachusetts Dental Society (MDS) and Eastern Dental Insurance Company (EDIC). The $1,000 scholarship is presented annually to one student from each Massachusetts-based dental school during Yankee Dental Congress.
The award is given in memory of Matthew Boylan, a former executive director of the MDS. Recipients must be Massachusetts residents and have provided distinguished service to organized dentistry and the community.
Jacobson serves in leadership positions with several student organizations at GSDM, including as president and legislative liaison of the GSDM chapter of the American Student Dental Association and as treasurer of the GSDM chapter of the American Association of Public Health Dentistry. He has also volunteered as a matriculation coordinator for two years.
Sarah Sveen DMD 25 was this year’s recipient of the American College of Dentists (ACD) Outstanding Student Leader Award. This award is given to one fourth-year dental student from each of the five New England dental schools who represents ACD’s principles of high achievement, strong leadership, and high ethical standards.
Sveen is currently the president of GSDM’s chapter of the Student Professionalism and Ethics Association, after previously serving as the organization’s treasurer, and is also an executive board member of the school’s chapters of the Association of Women Dentists and the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry. She is a national student representative for the American Academy of Women Dentists.
GSDM faculty receives award from Massachusetts Association of Orthodontics
Dr. Leslie Will, chair and Anthony A. Gianelly professor of orthodontics & dentofacial orthopedics, received the Fredrick Moynihan Award for contributions to the profession of orthodontics from the Massachusetts Association of Orthodontics on Friday, January 31.
GSDM faculty/alumni received Yankee Dental Congree Awards
The Yankee Dental Congress Awards Ceremony recognized leaders in the dental profession with a variety of awards.
Both of Yankee Dental Congress’ volunteer-based awards were given to GSDM faculty members. Ana Keohane DMD 16, clinical associate professor of general dentistry and director of predoctoral urgent care, received the Volunteer of the Year Award, given to a Yankee Dental Congress volunteer who “goes above and beyond.” Dr. Carl McManama, professor of general dentistry, received the Dental Influencer Award, given to a Yankee volunteer or attendee that has had a positive influence on the Yankee community. Keohane and McNamama were selected from submitted nominees by dental peers.
Howard Zolot PERIO 85 received the Yankee Dental Congree James W. Etherington Award. This award is given annually in recognition of New England dentists who dedicate much of their professional lives to furthering the high ideals and objectives of organized dentistry.
DMD students participate in debate
June Woo Lim DMD 28 and Xin Xiong DMD 28 represented GSDM at the 16th Annual Massachusetts Dental Society (MDS) and the American Student Dental Association (ASDA) District 1 Student Debate on Saturday.
The other teams that participated in the debate were from University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Harvard College of Dental Medicine, and University of New England College of Dental Medicine. A team of predental students also competed.
Lim and Xiong debated against the University of New England College of Dental Medicine in the first round. Tufts University School of Dental Medicine ultimately won the debate.