ADEA, AADR, and Colgate-Palmolive Company establish scholarship to pay tribute to the Late Dr. Dominick “Dom” DePaola

With a generous commitment from the Colgate-Palmolive Company, the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), in collaboration with the American Association for Dental Research (AADR), has established the ADEA/AADR/Colgate-Palmolive Co./Dr. Dominick P. DePaola Scholar in the ADEA Leadership Institute. The scholarship is in memory of Dominick DePaola, D.D.S., Ph.D., a leader in dental education, research, patient care, and academic administration for nearly four decades.

“Dom was a warm, inspiring leader who lives on through the countless lives he touched during his decades of service to academic dentistry and patient care,” says ADEA President and CEO, Richard W. Valachovic, D.M.D., M.P.H. “We are proud to honor his commitment to academic dentistry with this scholarship to help develop future academic leaders.”
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The award provides the opportunity for an academic dental institution faculty member who has shown potential for leadership to participate in the ADEA Leadership Institute. The scholar receives an award of $15,000 to participate in the year-long program, with the goal to prepare for a leadership position in an academic dental institution.

“Colgate-Palmolive Co. is committed to the dental education community and its future leaders,” says Fotinos S. Panagakos, D.M.D., Ph.D., Global Director, Scientific Affairs at Colgate-Palmolive Co. “We are pleased to support this important scholarship in the name of such an influential leader.”

Dr. DePaola received his dental degree from the New York University College of Dental Medicine, followed by a Ph.D. in nutritional biochemistry and metabolism from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. During his career in academic dentistry, he served as dean of four dental schools: Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, the College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, and the Texas A&M University Baylor College of Dentistry. Dr. DePaola was the first to serve as president of both ADEA and the American Association of Dental Research (AADR). He also served as president and CEO of the Forsyth Institute, an independent research organization. In 2005, Dr. DePaola received ADEA’s Distinguished Service Award, and in 2009 he received the ADEAGies Foundation Gies Award for Outstanding Achievement in Global Oral Health and Education. Throughout his career, Dr. DePaola published over 80 scientific articles and textbook chapters, edited two books, and gave over 1,000 lectures in the U.S. and internationally.

“We are delighted to be able to honor our friend and colleague, Dom DePaola. His passion for dental research and scholarship as the foundation for dental education and our profession will continue to inspire future generations of dental leaders,” says Peter Polverini, D.D.S., D.M.Sc., AADR President and Professor and Dean Emeritus, University of Michigan School of Dentistry.