UB Dental School Receives Prestigious Diversity Award From National Institutes of Health

Inaugural $100,000 prize awarded to 10 universities throughout country

The University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine (SDM) has received the Institutional Excellence in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) in Biomedical and Behavioral Research Prize from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

UB is one of 10 universities that received the inaugural $100,000 prize for demonstrating exceptional dedication and innovation in fostering DEIA within research environments. Other winners include Duke University, Vanderbilt University and the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT).

“The prize recognizes transformative cultures, systems, projects and processes that promote inclusive excellence and create environments that advance and value a culture of DEIA,” said Marie Bernard, MD, chief officer of scientific workforce diversity for the NIH.

The competition, which began in April 2023, is co-sponsored by NIH UNITE and the 24 institutes and centers across NIH. This is the first cohort of institutions to receive the prize.

“I am extremely proud, though not surprised, that UB was included among this year’s impressive group of recipients,” said Marcelo Araujo, DDS, MS, PhD, dean of UB’s School of Dental Medicine. “Through ongoing, vibrant initiatives, the dental school is doing its part to make the oral health field more diverse. We are committed to opening up opportunities to underrepresented minorities, serving individuals with disabilities, and hiring more faculty from a range of backgrounds and cultures.”

UB’s dental school was recognized specifically for its pathway programs, Destination Dental School and Native American Pre-Dental Gateway Program, and its mentoring program, Support, Training, Early-Career Enhancement and Retention (STEER).

“We are honored and extremely grateful to be a recipient of this prestigious prize,” said Latifa Bairam, DDS, MS, director of equity, diversity and inclusion for the dental school. “Within the dental profession, representation is slowly changing to reflect our patient population. With support from the NIH, we are hopeful that our programs and initiatives will continue to support growth and change.”

Founded in 2021, Destination Dental School (DDS) aims to remove barriers to careers in dentistry through a free seven week summer pathway program open to undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students from across the United States and Canada interested in a career in dentistry.