Dean Mitchell Receives Gies Award for Achievement

Dennis Mitchell, DDS, MPH, the interim dean of the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, has received the ADEAGies Foundation Award for Eminence in Achievement.

In announcing the award, the Foundation cited Dr. Mitchell’s extraordinary stewardship of academic achievement, his advancement of interprofessional education in the allied dental community, his development of innovative academic programs, and his focus on paving diverse and inclusive pathways to generate future leaders in health care education. He is deeply committed to ensuring that the next generation of dental leaders is truly prepared to meet the total health needs of the communities that they serve.

“I have firsthand knowledge of [Dennis Mitchell’s] integrity, professionalism, clinical skills, leadership, and passion for the profession of dentistry, dental education, and higher education,” said Leo Rouse, DDS, former dean of the Howard University College of Dentistry, where Dr. Mitchell earned his dental degree. “Dr Mitchell is one of our nation's leading dental administrators and educators, who is committed to ensuring that our next generation of dental leaders is truly prepared to meet the total health needs of the communities they serve.

The William J. Gies Awards recognize the efforts of individuals, institutions, and organizations that exemplify the highest

standards of vision, innovation, and achievement in oral health and dental education. The awards were created to honor

the extraordinary accomplishments of dental education pioneer and advocate, William J. Gies, Ph.D., and recognize the significant work of individuals, intuitions and organizations whose work represent the highest order of innovation, achievement or vision and leadership in oral health and dental education.

The Gies Awards are particularly significant to CDM because William J. Gies, for whom the award is named and who is widely credited as the father of modern dental education, helped to found CDM. Gies, a biochemist, joined the Columbia University faculty in 1898. His research on the causes of dental caries led him to meet leading dental practitioners in New York, with whom he would work with to establish what eventually became CDM.