ADA 10 Under 10 Awards honor new dentists for demonstrating excellence
Winners announced during Elevate leadership conference in Washington, D.C.
The American Dental Association announced this year’s winners of the 10 Under 10 Awards on March 29 during Elevate in Washington, D.C.
The ADA New Dentist Committee chose the recipients for demonstrating excellence and inspiring others in science, research and education; practice excellence; philanthropy; leadership; and advocacy. All 10 winners are ADA members who graduated dental school less than 10 years ago.
Elevate, a leadership conference hosted by the ADA in collaboration with the editor-in-chief of Entrepreneur magazine, took place March 28-30.
Below are the 2025 10 Under 10 Award winners. To learn more, visit ADA.org/10Under10.
Sara Ehsani, D.D.S., Dallas
University of California Los Angeles School of Dentistry — 2016
Dr. Ehsani is a board-certified pediatric dentist who earned her dental degree with highest honors and completed her pediatric residency at the University of Connecticut as chief resident.
Adam Lowenstein, D.M.D., Framingham and Wellesley, Massachusetts
Tufts University School of Dental Medicine — 2020
Dr. Lowenstein is an assistant professor in the Department of Basic and Clinical Translational Sciences at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.
Craig McKenzie, D.M.D., Pittsburgh
University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine — 2021
Dr. McKenzie is an assistant professor of dental anesthesiology and the director of the Center for Patients with Special Needs at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine.
Kathryn Pawlak, D.D.S., Buffalo, New York
University of Maryland School of Dentistry — 2019
Dr. Pawlak is the founder of Planet Smilez Inc., a global nonprofit organization devoted to advancing dental education and promoting oral health awareness among at-risk populations.
Eddie Ramirez, D.M.D., Portland, Oregon
Oregon Health & Science University School of Dentistry — 2018
Dr. Ramirez, who was born in Mexico and raised in the U.S., became the first undocumented individual to graduate from the Oregon Health & Science University School of Dentistry.
Allison C. Scully, D.D.S., Indianapolis and Marion, Indiana
Indiana University School of Dentistry — 2015
Dr. Scully is funded by a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration to innovatively improve access to oral health care for underserved populations in the state of Indiana.
Lyubov Daniilovna Slashcheva, D.D.S., Fergus Falls, Minnesota
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry — 2016
Dr. Slashcheva is a dental public health specialist with clinical expertise in geriatric and special care dentistry. She serves as research director for a nonprofit dental organization, Apple Tree Dental.
Akshay Thusu, D.D.S., San Antonio
UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry — 2015
Dr. Thusu mentors predental and dental students as well as early-career dentists and volunteers with organizations such as the Texas Mission of Mercy, San Antonio Christian Dental Clinic and many others.
Yi-Chu Wu, D.D.S., Columbus, Ohio
Taipei Medical University — 2017
Dr. Wu is a diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and a full-time faculty member at the Ohio State University College of Dentistry.
Lauren C. Yap, D.M.D., Philadelphia
Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry — 2019
Dr. Yap is a clinical associate and assistant program director for the Postdoctoral Pediatric Dental Residency Program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.
