Dr. Ashwini Ranade Named Inaugural Recipient of an Award From the Dr. Jonathan D. Shenkin, DDS, MPH Research Fund
Dr. Ashwini Ranade, clinical associate professor of health policy & health services research, was recently named the inaugural recipient of an award from the Dr. Jonathan D. Shenkin, DDS, MPH Research Fund.
The late Dr. Jonathan D. Shenkin, GSDM clinical professor of health policy & health services research and pediatric dentistry, was a leading practitioner, researcher, and advocate in pediatric dentistry and public health policy. The research fund was established by Dr. Shenkin’s brother, Todd Shenkin, in 2023 to support GSDM faculty, students, and residents in pursuing research, with a preference for research relating to health policy, health services, or pediatric dentistry—all areas about which Dr. Shenkin was passionate.
Todd Shenkin said Ranade’s research spans all three of the concentrations on which his brother focused, making her selection by GSDM an excellent choice for the fund’s first award.
“This is exactly the type of research my brother would’ve championed or been involved in,” Todd Shenkin said. “He would’ve played an active role. In fact, I can envision him collaborating with Dr. Ranade on this important subject.”
Ranade’s research project will investigate the association between dental provider accessibility and the use of preventive dental services among children enrolled in Medicaid in Massachusetts. According to Ranade, the state’s mix of rural and urban areas provides a noteworthy opportunity to examine the ease with which individuals can access dental services within a specific geographic area.
By focusing exclusively on Medicaid enrollees, the study controls for dental insurance as a potential barrier to care, allowing researchers to conduct a broader inquiry to determine other gaps that may exist.
“We can actually start looking at the drivers behind these additional hurdles to accessing care,” Ranade said. “Access to care is a complex issue. It’s not just about insurance. It’s not just about your providers. It’s not just about patient characteristics. It’s everything coming together that creates these gaps.”
Ranade’s project started in January 2025 and is estimated to end in May 2026. Her team includes Dr. Anas Olwi DPH 28, Dr. Huimin Cheng, Boston University School of Public Health assistant professor of biostatistics, Dr. Mary Tavares DPH 81, professor of health policy & health services research and director of the advanced education program in dental public health, and Dr. Mauro Abreu, clinical professor of health policy & health services research.
According to Ranade, the assessment of the availability of dental providers and the ability to travel to dental care in Massachusetts will ultimately be valuable in making decisions regarding resource allocation, local dental service programs, and outreach efforts.
“The thing that I’m most excited about is the really unique opportunity to identify the dental service areas that need it the most,” Ranade said. “Our efforts can be more focused and targeted.”
Todd Shenkin said that one of the primary goals of the Dr. Jonathan D. Shenkin, DDS, MPH Research Fund is to support researchers like Ranade (and future recipients) in conducting groundbreaking dental research.
“It’s incredibly humbling to witness the impact of creating a fund with such a meaningful purpose,” he said. “May my brother’s legacy live on and continue to inspire new research in the areas he cared so deeply about.”
Please note: If you are interested in supporting one of these funds or in starting your own named research fund—or if you have any other questions–please contact, Catie Dargue, assistant dean for development & alumni relations, at cdargue@bu.edu or 617-358-8774. The 2025 applications for the Dr. Jonathan D. Shenkin, DDS, MPH Research Fund will open September 1, 2025. Visit the fund application webpage for more information.