2026 Eleanor J. Bushee Award Recipients
Recognizing Senior Dental Student Leaders
The American Association of Women Dentists (AAWD) is proud to recognize the recipients of the 2026 Eleanor J. Bushee Senior Dental Student Award.
Named in honor of Dr. Eleanor J. Bushee, this award recognizes graduating dental students who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, academic achievement, service, and dedication to advancing women in dentistry. Each year, dental schools across the United States nominate outstanding students whose accomplishments reflect the values and vision that have guided AAWD for more than a century.
This year's recipients represent the future of the profession: leaders, mentors, advocates, researchers, volunteers, and clinicians who have made meaningful contributions to their schools, communities, and fellow students. AAWD congratulates each recipient on this well-deserved recognition and looks forward to welcoming them into our growing community of Early Career members.
2026 Award Recipients
Meredyth Simpson Alvarez University of Puerto Rico | Betty Birbo University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry | Brianna Marie Brown Midwestern University, College of Dental Medicine - Illinois | Jamie Buchanczenko A.T. Still University Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health |
| Linda Chen University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry | Tabetha Clark University Of Washington School of Dentistry | Hallie Grace Craig Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dental Medicine | Maggie Currie Creighton University School of Dentistry |
| Elizabeth Earl University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine | Sabba Givi A.T. Still University Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health | Jessica Hao University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine | Karen Hayes Rutgers School of Dental Medicine |
| Isabel Kennedy University of New England College of Dental Medicine | Claire Genevieve Martin University of Buffalo School of Dental Medicine | Abigail Morgan University of Louisville School of Dentistry | Emma O'Shea University of Maryland School of Dentistry |
| Jane Rich University of Utah School of Dentistry | Hannah T Ryan Texas A&M University College of Dentistry | Ariana Sarkhail University of Florida College of Dentistry | Olivia Schmitt Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine |
| Pamela Shehu Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine | Emily Silman New York University College of Dentistry | Anna Thompson The Dental College of Georgia | Alexis Vasciannie University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine |
| Christina Pan Xu Harvard School of Dental Medicine | Netaliya Zora Western University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine |
This As part of this recognition, each recipient has been awarded a complimentary year of AAWD Early Career membership. AAWD looks forward to supporting these outstanding graduates as they begin the next chapter of their professional journeys and encourages members to connect with them through the AAWD Member Portal.
Over the coming weeks, AAWD will spotlight many of these outstanding recipients on social media. Follow AAWD on Instagram (@aawd1921) and LinkedIn to learn more about their accomplishments and leadership journeys.