American Business Awards recognizes ADA for its COVID-19 response

The ADA announced April 28 it received a Silver Stevie Award in the 19th Annual American Business Awards, the nation’s premiere business awards program which recognized the Association’s response to COVID-19.

The ADA was honored in the category of Most Valuable Non-Profit COVID-19 Response from more than 3,800 nominations from organizations of all sizes and virtually every industry.

“It’s an honor that the ADA has received a Silver Stevie Award for its COVID-19 response,” said ADA Executive Director Kathleen T. O’Loughlin. “The pandemic has been challenging for us all, but the team has risen to the occasion to serve our members and the entire profession. Even as we continue to work remotely, collaboration across the ADA is probably the best it’s ever been.”

Over the last year, the ADA has rallied to support dentists and their patients through the COVID-19 pandemic. Judges of the award reviewed an array of ADA-created resources including the Return to Work Interim Guidance Toolkit, pandemic-related advocacy accomplishments, the ADA YouTube Channel, the ADA Coronavirus Center for Dentists, the Health Policy Institute’s economic impact data, COVID-19 vaccine resources, and 2020 media coverage and results, such as the ADA News’ “Extraordinary Contributions in Extraordinary Times,” published in September 2020.

One judge commented: “It’s very positive for both the profession and public to see a health-focused organization making credible information accessible during a time when misinformation was rampant.”

Other judges indicated that the ADA helped dentists stay open safely and “led by example.”

“The ADA staff has excelled in its endeavors to keep patients informed, advocate on dentistry’s behalf, and help dentistry recover,” Dr. O’Loughlin said. “The work continues, and I am so proud of every person who has helped the ADA lead the profession during its pandemic year. This is a testament to what trust, teamwork, and creativity can do — especially in trying times.”

The Association received the Silver Stevie Award with seven other organizations including the University of Minnesota COVID-19 Hospitalization Tracking Project and the Dr. Philips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Florida. The recipient of the Gold Stevie was The Salvation Army of Greater New York.

The winners were determined by the average scores of more than 250 professionals worldwide in the three-month judging process, according to the American Business Wards.

The ADA will be honored during a virtual awards ceremony, which will be held June 30 at 2 p.m. Eastern time.