VCU School of Dentistry professor chosen for dental research scholarship

By Malorie Burkett

RICHMOND, Va. – Fred Certosimo, D.M.D., M.S. Ed., assistant professor in the Department of General Practice at Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Dentistry, was recently recognized as the recipient of the 2003 Harald Löe Scholars Program Award.

The award, a six-month stipend of up to $14,500, will allow Certosimo to spend at least three months in Washington D.C. with the American Association of Dental Research (AADR), The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) and The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) to gain direct experience in a broad range of national policy and administrative issues facing dental education, research and industry.

Selected through an application process, Certosimo was recently recognized at the opening ceremony of the 32nd annual meeting of AADR in San Antonio. In his application, Certosimo also included his statement describing his involvement and goals with the program at VCU’s School of Dentistry, as well as major national issues in dental education and research that would contribute to his research.

“The goals of my program would be to provide this dental educator the unique opportunity to analytically evaluate the role of dental professional ethics in our modern society and to define the most effective method(s) to teach professional ethics to our dental students in a way that will positively affect their careers,” said Certosimo.

Certosimo received his Bachelor of Science in biology/biochemistry from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J. in 1973. Upon graduating from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in 1977, he entered the United States Navy Dental Corps. Certosimo also received his Masters degree in education from Old Dominion University in 1994, and retired from active duty service as a captain in 1999.

He is actively involved in teaching and research, and has received numerous teaching awards, including the Instructional Development Centers Faculty Mentorship Award for Technology in Teaching and the VCU Dental School 2002 Faculty Research Award. A resident of Mechanicsville, Va., Certosimo has leadership roles in the department and dental school, and is actively involved in university governance.

Created in 1994 in honor of Harald Löe, director of NIDCR from 1983-1994, the program is funded by Procter & Gamble Company and gives dental educators and researchers the opportunity to concentrate on issues of national importance affecting health care policy and oral health.