Dr. Steven Perlman Receives Let Me Be Brave Award
Clinical Professor of Pediatric Dentistry Steven Perlman PEDO 76 was honored at the Let Me Be Brave 2010 Hall of Fame Gala on May 11. The Gala was chaired by the Dean’s Advisory Board Member Marshall Sloane and his family and held at the Agganis Arena to celebrate the bi-annual Special Olympics of Massachusetts (SOMA) Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Receiving the Let Me Be Brave Award, Dr. Perlman—who currently serves as the Senior Global Clinical Advisor to Special Olympics Healthy Athletes® Special Smiles®—is only the second individual to be inducted into the SOMA Hall of Fame. The first was Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver.
"Receiving this honor was an indescribable feeling," said Dr. Perlman, "It is an honor to be in the same class as Eunice Shriver and having my BU family there to support me was so special."
Dr. Perlman thanked his BU family, including the Sloane family; Dean of Sargent College Dr. Gloria Waters; and GSDM attendees Dean Jeffrey and Mrs. Kathy Hutter, along with Dean Hutter’s cousin-in-law, Sheree; Assistant Dean of Development & Alumni Relations Kevin Holland and his spouse, Michael; and the "two sons I never had," Drs. Paul Farsai and Joe Calabrese, for attending.
Special Olympics Chairman & CEO and son of Eunice Shriver, Dr. Timothy Shriver was unable to attend the Hall of Fame Induction but sent a letter of congratulations to Dr. Perlman. He wrote, "It is difficult to imagine where our Special Smiles initiative—or even the Health Athletes program for that matter—would be today without your leadership. Thank God for you Steve, for your extraordinary dedication to the health and well being of our athletes worldwide." He continued, "Congratulations again! Over 3 million athletes around the world are sending you their biggest and brightest smiles tonight."
In 2009 alone, 841 Healthy Athletes events were held worldwide and 153,000 athletes were screened and accessed into the healthcare system. These athletes received dental treatment, hearing aids, glasses, and orthotics among other things.
"Dr. Perlman is known worldwide as an advocate for the oral health of children and adults with special needs," said Dean Hutter. "His dedication to working on behalf of the medically underserved populations in Massachusetts and the global community makes him an exemplary GSDM alumnus and dental professional. Please join me in congratulating him on this award."
Other award winners from the night included Ocean Spray Cranberries and Peter Smyth, Chairman & CEO, Greater Media, Inc; who both received SOMA Leadership Awards.