Alumni Spotlight: Three GSDM alums are 2024 ADA “10 Under 10” Award winners

Three GSDM alums were named winners of the American Dental Association’s 2024 “10 Under 10” Awards.   

Ana Keohane DMD 16, Dr. Jessica C. Williams DPH 23, and Dr. Austin Lee AEGD 16 were recognized for their significant philanthropy, leadership, and/or advocacy efforts in the dental field. The “10 under 10” awards are given to American Dental Association (ADA) members who graduated dental school less than 10 years ago.  

“I am so proud to see three of our GSDM alums being recognized for the 2024 ADA ‘10 Under 10’ Awards,” Stacey McNamee, director of alumni relations & annual giving, said. “It’s incredible to see our recent graduates already doing amazing work for the dental community.” 

We spoke to the three winners about their win. Here’s what they had to say.

 


Dr. Ana Keohane DMD 16GSDM Director of Predoctoral Urgent Care and Clinical Associate Professor of General Dentistry 

In addition to her GSDM faculty positions, Keohane is the chair of the Boston District Dental Society Executive Committee and has served as president of the Massachusetts Hispanic Dental Association and treasurer of the Hispanic Dental Association. 

“It is a true honor to receive the ADA ‘10 under 10 Award.’ I am humbled to be recognized for what I have done throughout my dental career. This award inspires and motivates me to continue working hard for our practices, mentor our future dentists, and improve the quality of care for our patients.”


Dr. Jessica C. Williams DPH 23

Williams is a dental public health specialist who worked in rural Iowa as part of the National Health Service Corps. She has worked to improve dental public health on a state and national level by working with organizations including Iowa Public Health Association, American Association of Public Health Dentistry, American Public Health Association, and National Coalition of Dentists for Health Equity.

“I’m very honored to have been selected along with a bright, dynamic group of dentists who are improving dentistry and health care, overall!”


Dr. Austin Lee AEGD 16  

Lee is a restorative dentist and the owner of Orbis Dental Group in San Antonio, Texas. He serves on the board of directors and chairs the New Dentist Committee at the San Antonio District Dental Society. He also serves on the Council on Governance and Peer Review Committee for the Texas Dental Association. 

“I am absolutely honored for this award of ADA 10 under 10. However, these ‘achievements’ always have been and [always] will be a team effort of many great leaders around me. This award shows that our effort in organized dentistry is recognized by others and that we as colleagues, friends, and fellow members of various groups, still have a lot to work to do to make a better tomorrow for dentistry and our profession.”  

 

By Rachel Grace Philipson