Amanda Gaynor Ashley, D.M.D., dental clinic director of the Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital Dental Clinic in Barrow, AK, is among this year's recipients of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Community Health Leaders Award.
Now in its 16th year, the annual award honors 10 individuals who have overcome daunting odds to improve the health and quality of life for disadvantaged or underserved men, women, and children across the U.S., the foundation said in a press release
Dr. Ashley is being honored for expanding oral health services to the residents of Barrow and the surrounding villages. She created a program with the Ilisagvik Tribal College to train dental assistants and instituted programs to fight dental decay among local school children. Five years ago, one in three children who visited the dental clinic was diagnosed with a dental emergency.
"Under Dr. Ashley's leadership, the frequency of dental emergencies has been drastically reduced, and her clinic has trained members of the community to help transform the oral health of an entire generation," the release stated.
"As our leaders in Washington are working on national health reform, the 2009 Community Health Leaders have been addressing the shortcomings and challenges facing our nation's health care system in their communities," said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., M.B.A., president and chief executive officer of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. "These leaders are important pillars of their community and of the health care system, who have taken personal and professional risks to help the people in their communities live healthier, better lives."
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