ADA 10 Under 10: Meet Dr. Kathryn Pawlak

Kathryn Pawlak, D.D.S., of Buffalo, New York — one of this year’s winners of the ADA 10 Under 10 Awards — 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.

“I grew up as a granddaughter of immigrants, and I realized really how the lack of access to dental care during their youth affected their health long term, so I was in college and I was really inspired to become a pediatric dentist,” she said in a video by the American Dental Association.

Dr. Pawlak started Planet Smilez Inc. while she was still a predental student. As a dental student at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, she launched a week-long summer camp through Planet Smilez to help educate children about oral health careers, and she continues to travel to dental health professional shortage areas to inspire youth to become oral health providers.

The ADA New Dentist Committee chose the recipients of the 10 Under 10 Awards 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 from dental school less than 10 years ago. The winners were announced in March during Elevate in Washington, D.C.

To learn more about the winners, visit ADA.org/10under10.