AADOCR, DDI announce equity grant recipients

The American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) and the Delta Dental Institute (DDI) have named the 2024 recipients of the AADOCR DDI Oral Health Equity Research Award. 

Marvellous Akinlotan, PhD, a clinical assistant professor at Texas A&M University, and Jason Semprini, PhD, a postdoctoral scholar in the college of public health at the University of Iowa, have been awarded $25,000 each to promote oral health equity among underserved populations.

Akinlotan will research how expanding Medicaid dental benefits affects emergency dental visits in rural and urban areas, focusing on social factors influencing access to care.

Semprini will research how access to Medicaid dental services impacts oral cancer treatment and outcomes, aiming to highlight the significance of dental health services in cancer care.