Dr. Steve Perlman Receives Cushing Award

The Chicago Dental Society (CDS) presented Steve Perlman PEDO 76, MSD 76 with the George Cushing Award during the opening session of its Midwinter Meeting at the end of February. The award recognizes those who raise public awareness about the importance of oral health.

Dr. Perlman was selected for his work as Senior Global Clinical Advisor of Special Olympics’ Healthy Athletes Special Smiles, President of both the Academy of Dentistry for Persons with Disabilities and The Massachusetts Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and Head Start consultant for the City of Lynn, Massachusetts, The Lynn Community Health Center, and several rehabilitation centers.

“I was honored to receive this award,” said Dr. Perlman. “Much of the recognition I have enjoyed previously has been from the field of pediatric dentistry or care of children and adults with special needs. To be acknowledged by dental professionals outside of the specialty world is very significant to me and demonstrates that the dental profession is recognizing a medically underserved and vulnerable population.”

Dr. Perlman also gave a lecture as part of the Midwinter Meeting on special needs care. Bridget Brown, daughter of Chicago dentist Blaise Brown, and a 22-year old woman with Down syndrome, introduced him to the audience of clinicians prior to his lecture. Brown shares Dr. Perlman’s passion for advocacy of children and adults with special needs and communicated this to the audience and Dr. Perlman through a touching introduction.

"Dr. Steve Perlman is an outstanding member of our alumni," said Dean Jeffrey Hutter. "He has achieved so much since graduating from the Goldman School of Dental Medicine and I know he serves as an inspiration to many of our students past and present. For these reasons and many more I am proud to announce Dr. Perlman as the 2009 commencement speaker."