Each year, Detroit Mercy Dental honors students, staff and faculty with a variety of awards. Recipients are chosen based on a demonstration of excellence in different aspects of dentistry and dental education.
The Class of 2026 awardees were honored on Monday, April 27th at Mario’s Restaurant
Student Government Staff Appreciation Awards
These awards are presented for outstanding dedication and service to students at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry.
Todd Herrington Sharda Johnson Darryn Salter
Student Government Faculty Appreciation Award
These awards are presented for outstanding dedication and service to students at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry.
Ahmed Sarhan, B.D.S., M.S. Joseph Ellis, D.D.S.
DH1 – Class of 2027 Dental Hygiene Outstanding Clinical Faculty Member
This award is presented to a Dental Hygiene faculty member selected by the Dental Hygiene Class of 2027
for their significant contribution to the clinical educational experience.
Ellese Blackmon, R.D.H., M.S.D.H.
DH1 – Class of 2027 Dental Hygiene Outstanding Didactic Faculty Member
This award is presented to a Dental Hygiene faculty member selected by the Dental Hygiene Class of 2027 for their significant contribution to the didactic educational experience.
Sanjay Chand, M.D.
DH2 – Class of 2026 Dental Hygiene Outstanding Clinical Faculty Member
This award is presented to a Dental Hygiene faculty member selected by the Dental Hygiene Class of 2026 for their significant contribution to the clinical educational experience.
Pamela Ramirez, R.D.H., B.S.D.H.
DH2 – Class of 2026 Dental Hygiene Outstanding Didactic Faculty Member
This award is presented to a Dental Hygiene faculty member selected by the Dental Hygiene Class of 2026 for their significant contribution to the didactic educational experience.
Kristina Okolisan-Mulligan, R.D.H., B.S., M.A.
DS1 – Class of 2029 Outstanding Pre-Clinical Faculty Member
This award is presented to a faculty member selected by the Dental Class of 2029 as the most outstanding pre-clinical instructor.
Christina Kucy, D.D.S. & Nacxit Calderon Trejos, D.D.S., M.S.c
DS1 – Class of 2029 Outstanding Didactic Faculty Member
This award is presented to a faculty member selected by the Dental Class of 2029 as the most outstanding didactic instructor.
David Fischer, Ph.D.
DS2 – Class of 2028 Outstanding Didactic Faculty Member
This award is presented to a faculty member selected by the Dental Class of 2028 as the most outstanding didactic instructor.
Sanjay Chand, M.D.
DS2 – Class of 2028 Best Pre-Clinical Faculty Member
This award is presented to a faculty member selected by the Dental Class of 2028 as the most outstanding instructor.
Pranit Bora, B.D.S., M.D.S., M.S.
DS3 – Class of 2027 Outstanding Clinical Faculty Member
This award is presented to a faculty member selected by the Dental Class of 2027 as the most outstanding clinical faculty member.
Luiz Magno, D.D.S., M.S.D.
DS3- Class of 2027 Outstanding Overall Faculty Member
This award is presented to a faculty member selected by the Dental Class of 2027 as the most outstanding didactic instructor.
Sanjay Chand, M.D.
DS4 – Class of 2026 Outstanding Clinical Faculty Member
This award is presented to a faculty member selected by the Dental Class of 2026 as the most outstanding clinical faculty member.
Group 1: Timothy Saunders, D.D.S.
Group 2: David Kirschner, D.D.S.
Group 3: Fernando Harp Ruiz, D.D.S.
Group 4: Gary Bonior, D.D.S.
DS4 – Class of 2026 Dr. Charles Cooper Award
This award is presented to a faculty member selected by the Dental Class of 2026 as the most outstanding fulltime faculty member.
David Kirschner, D.D.S.
DS3 Award – American College of Dentists Michigan Section Outstanding Leadership Award
This award is presented to a DS3 who has shown exemplary ethical conduct, leadership potential, technical competence and commitment to learning.
Ali Rammal
DS3 Award – American Student Dental Association Award of Excellence
This award is presented to a DS3 in recognition of outstanding leadership and dedicated service to the School and organized dentistry.
Sophia Huszti
DS3 Award – Detroit District Dental Society Recognition of Excellence in Patient Care
This award is presented to DS3 who demonstrates outstanding clinical skills, applying biomedical science knowledge to the compassionate care of patients and shows leadership potential in dentistry.
Yesmine Hamood
DS3 Award – American Dental Association and DENTSPLY
This recognition is given to a student for their participation in the Clinician Research Program.
Arif Hussain