b'PERIO PEOPLEPerio people you should knowDr. Martha Somerman wins ADA Golddisease, as well as between periodontitis and type 2 diabetes. Medal Award Since September 2017, Dr. Hasturk has served as director of the AAP member Dr. Martha Somerman recentlyForsyth Institutes Center for Clinical and Translational Research. received the American Dental AssociationsIn 2019, she coauthored a paper concerning the potential Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Dentallink between periodontitis and Alzheimers disease. She is an Research. Now retired as National Instituteadjunct associate professor at the Boston University Goldman of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)School of Dental Medicine and a diplomate of the American director and as principal investigator for theBoard of Periodontology.Laboratory of Oral Connective Tissue Biology at the NationalThe ADA has presented the annual award since 1991 to Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases,recognize investigators whose research has significantly Dr. Somerman has enjoyed a long career in dental researchimpacted some aspect of clinical dentistry.and education. She continues to stay active, including her role as field chief editor for the journal Frontiers in Dental Medicine. Dr. Stuart Segelnick installed The award honors individuals who have helped advance theas president of the American profession of dentistry or improve the oral health of the publicAssociation of Dental Editors and through basic or clinical research. Established in 1985, theJournalistsaward is presented every three years, and it is sponsored byDr. Stuart Segelnick, a member of the the ADA and Colgate. Dr. Somerman was recognized Oct. 13AAP since 1992, was installed as president during the ADAs SmileCon closing session. of the American Association of Dental Editors and Journalists (AADEJ) in October. The AADEJ is Dr. Somerman earned her dental degree from the New Yorkan organization dedicated to improving communication within University College of Dentistry; her certificate in periodontologythe dental profession and in elevating the standards of dental from the University of Rochester Eastman Institute for Oraljournalism.Health in Rochester, New York; and her Ph.D in pharmacology from the University of Rochester School of Medicine andDr. Segelnick joins some prestigious company in this role, most Dentistry. notably Dr. Grace Rogers Spalding, co-founder of the AAP. During a recent conversation with Dr. Segelnick, he pointed out She has published more than 180 peer-reviewed articles,that Dr. Spalding served as the first editor at the AADEJ (then served on several journal editorial boards, and won globalknown as the American Association of Dental Editors) and later recognition for her research. As director of NIDCR, she waswent on to become the organizations first female president. Dr able to guide dental, oral, and craniofacial research at aSpalding served as the AADEs 10 thpresident in 1941-1942.national level.Dr. Segelnick is currently editor of the Second District Dental Martha Somerman, DDS, PhD, is the first woman to Society of New Yorks SDDS Bulletin and the Northeastern receive this honor. Society of Periodontists NESP Bulletin. Dr. Segelnick was the recipient of the ICD Journalism Silver Scroll Award in 2016 and ADA recognizes Dr. Hatice Hasturk withthe ICD Journalism Newsletter Award in 2019. He has co-research award edited five books on dentistry and has co-authored articles in The American Dental Association (ADA) namedthe Journal of Periodontology and recently Clinical Advances in Hatice Hasturk, DDS, PhD, the 20202021Periodontology. He is a fellow of the Pierre Fauchard Academy, recipient of the ADA Norton M. Ross Award forthe International College of Dentists, and the American Excellence in Clinical Research. College of Dentists. He is an adjunct clinical professor at New York University School of Dentistry in the Department of Dr. Hasturk has been a dentist and clinicalPeriodontology and Implant Dentistry and a diplomate of the scientist for more than 30 years. She has authoredAmerican Board of Periodontology. more than 100 articles in peer-reviewed journals, including work on the relationship between periodontitis and heart AAP Periospectives| 37'