The American Dental Association (ADA) announced the recipients of its Distinguished Service Award, Norton M. Ross Award for Excellence in Clinical Research, and two Evidence-Based Dentistry Awards in connection with the Changemakers Celebration at the ADA 2026 Scientific Session in Indianapolis on October 9.
Elizabeth “Betsy” Shapiro, DDS, JD, received the ADA Distinguished Service Award, the highest recognition conferred by the ADA Board of Trustees. She has served the association for more than 15 years and currently serves as chief of governance and strategy management. She previously held the position of senior director of the Center for Dental Practice Policy and served as interim executive director in 2025.
During her tenure as interim executive director, she worked with the Board of Trustees to promote organizational transparency and address technology stabilization and financial stewardship. She practiced dentistry for 15 years before earning her law degree from Northern Illinois University.
Daniel Fine, DMD, chair of the Department of Oral Biology and senior associate dean at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, received the Norton M. Ross Award for Excellence in Clinical Research. His research has investigated the biological, molecular, and clinical factors associated with localized aggressive periodontitis to inform preventive approaches. He has authored more than 250 peer-reviewed publications, and his research and policy contributions have informed revisions to the classification of aggressive periodontitis.
Deborah Polk, PhD, a faculty member in the Department of Dental Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, received the Evidence-Based Dentistry Award in the Accomplished Faculty category. Her work has focused on implementing evidence-informed recommendations in dental practice. She contributed to the development of two clinical practice guidelines for pharmacologic management of acute dental pain, one addressing children and the other addressing adolescents, adults, and older adults.
Julie Frantsve-Hawley, PhD, received the Evidence-Based Dentistry Award in the Mid-Career Faculty category. She was the primary investigator on a grant supporting the establishment of the ADA Center for Evidence-Based Dentistry in 2007 and later helped develop the association's clinical practice guideline program. She currently serves as associate editor for guidelines and systematic reviews at the Journal of the American Dental Association and teaches evidence-based medicine and public health.
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