COM Outlook Spring 2019

42 | DR. KIRAN C. PATEL COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE The Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine (KPCOM) and the NSU College of Dental Medicine received the 2019 ADEA Gies Award for Innovation—Academic Dental Insti- tution from the ADEAGies Foundation. The award honors the colleges’ collaborative D.O./ D.M.D. degree program, which was established in 2007 and graduated its first two students in 2013. The William J. Gies Award for Vision, Innova- tion, and Achievement recognizes significant con- tributions to oral health and dental education and pays tribute to individuals, institutions, and org- anizations that embody the ideals set forth more than 90 years ago by William J. Gies, Ph.D. The KPCOM administrators of this award-winning program are Delia Harper-Celestine, Ed.D., M.P.H., assistant dean of student and alumni affairs, and Hilda De Gaetano, D.O., M.S., FACOP, FAAP, senior assistant dean. “This degree remains the only joint D.O./D.M.D. degree in the United States and now has seven graduates who are truly pioneers since they are integrating oral and overall health,” said Linda C. Niessen, D.M.D., M.P.H., M.P.P., dean of the College of Dental Medicine. “Some are practicing dentistry and incorporating medicine into their practices, while others are practicing medicine and incorpor- ating oral health into their practices.” o Two NSU Colleges Win Innovation Award CLOSING NOTES CLOSING Notes Accepting the Gies Award are, from left, Delia Harper-Celestine, KPCOM assistant dean of student and alumni affairs; Elaine M. Wallace, D.O., M.S. 4 , KPCOM dean; Aaron Goodwin, D.O., D.M.D., 2015 graduate of the program; Linda C. Niessen, CDM dean; Abby Brodie, D.M.D., M.S., CDM associate dean for academic affairs; and Bruce Donoff, D.M.D., M.D., Harvard School of Dental Medicine dean, who introduced the NSU team.