Faculty Spotlight: Shilpi Joshi DMD 12 Received Lucy Hobbs Project Humanitarian Award
Shilpi Joshi DMD 12, instructor of general dentistry, has been named the recipient of the 2026 Lucy Hobbs Project Humanitarian Award.
The Humanitarian Award was given to an individual who has made exceptional contributions to advancing oral health and improving access to care for underserved populations. It was one of seven awards presented this year to women in the dental field who exemplify leadership, service, and a commitment to improving lives as part of the Lucy Hobbs Project, sponsored by Benco Dental.
“I am so deeply honored and have this sense of gratitude,” Joshi said. “I feel it’s a shared recognition of the communities that I serve and the teams I work along with. It reaffirms why I chose this career and reminded me of the importance of continuing this work.”
Between her role at GSDM and her work as an associate dentist at NeighborHealth, a community-based medical facility, Joshi said maintaining a humanitarian mindset comes organically, as she frequently treats patients who are facing complex medical, social, and/or economic barriers to care.
According to Joshi, it is vital to teach emerging dental professionals how to be socially responsible providers that advocate for equitable access to care in both traditional clinical settings and community health centers. She said the Lucy Hobbs Project Humanitarian Award serves as both an affirmation of the work she has done and a motivation to keep working towards dismantling oral health barriers.
“This award reinforces the importance of continuing to advocate for access to care, to mentor future dentists, and to engage in work that addresses the health inequities,” Joshi said. “It inspires me to keep leading by example and to encourage others, especially the students and the early career professionals, to pursue service-oriented paths as well.”
Going forward, Joshi said she is happy to serve as a mentor and resource for anyone who wants to get involved with expanding access to care and working in community health centers.
“Little by little, we can make a huge difference,” Joshi said.
Note: Joshi has previously mentored and supervised GSDM students in rotations at NeighborHealth (formerly known as the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center). These rotations are currently on pause.