Faculty Spotlight: “The Paul Revere of Modern-Day Dentistry” – Dr. Myron Allukian Jr. Reflects on 50-Plus Year Career After Receiving Lifetime Achievement Award

Dr. Myron Allukian Jr., GSDM clinical assistant professor of health policy & health services research, is widely known in the public health field as a visionary and “The Social Conscience of Dentistry” — a nickname he earned over the course of his 58-year career thanks to his passionate efforts on behalf of the public, the underserved, and vulnerable populations. He reflects on his extensive 50-plus year career after being the first dentist to receive the Massachusetts Public Health Association (MPHA)’s highest honor, the Paul Revere Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Research Spotlight: New Study Motivates Smoking Cessation via a Virtual Reality Headset during Dental Cleanings

GSDM Center for Behavioral Sciences Research Director Dr. Belinda Borrelli and her team are entering the fourth year of a five-year grant exploring whether a video shown through a virtual reality headset delivered while the patient is getting their teeth cleaned and paired with a customized text message program, are effective at encouraging smoking cessation. Currently, Borrelli’s team has recruited more than 288 patients in this randomized clinical trial in both the GSDM patient treatment center and at Tufts School of Dental Medicine.