Leadership Awards 

Dr. James J. Crawford Lifetime Achievement Award

This award, named in honor of one of the founding fathers of dental infection control, recognizes lifetime achievement in the field. Awardees have made major contributions in science, education, or public policy related to ADS’s core competencies of infection control and patient and provider safety.

Lois Cohen, PhD
2024 Award Recipient

Dr. Lois Cohen began her career with a PhD in sociology, joining what is now the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 1964. As a social scientist, she became part of a small team that gave rise to the field of social and behavioral science research in dentistry. Dr. Cohen retired in 2006 after serving as Associate Director for International Health and previously as director of the Division of Extramural Research, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). She is currently the Paul G. Rogers Ambassador for Global Health Research and a consultant to the NIDCR and advisor to several U.S. and international institutions and organizations focused on global oral health, including the World Health Organization.

Throughout her career, Dr. Cohen coordinated and facilitated all intramural and extramural international research activities, as well as staff involvement in multilateral, bilateral and organizational representation abroad. She served as the Director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Dental & Craniofacial Research, which was established in 1980 under the umbrella of the NIDR, and renamed NIDCR in 1998. She co-directed the first large-scale international collaborative studies of oral health systems with the late Dr. David E. Barmes, and co-chaired the former Friends of OSAP (formed in 2006) with Nancy Tomich Zapp.

Currently, she serves on the Boards of several organizations, including the Edw. B. Shils Entrepreneurial Fund and the Alliance for Oral Health Across Borders and on the advisory groups for the Center for Integrative Global Oral Health, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and as a member of the External International Advisory Group for the Global Health Research Programme on Oral Health, funded by the National Institute of Health Research in the United Kingdom. As a research sociologist whose research and publications in oral health science has spanned 60 years, her work as been central to linking the behavioral and social sciences with issues of public health significance national and internationally.

Previous award recipients:

Dr. Milton E. Schaefer Superior Service Award

This award is named after one of the founding members of ADS and celebrates superior service to the organization, recognizing either continuous contributions over a period of time or singular accomplishments. The nominee’s efforts have resulted in tangible benefits to the continuing advancement of ADS’s mission to be the leading provider of infection prevention and control education, training, and credentialing that supports safe dental visits.

Matthew R. Ellis, MPH, CIC, CDIPC, REHS/RS
2024 Award Recipient

Commander Matthew Ellis currently serves within the Bemidji Area Indian Health Service’s Office of Clinical Support, where he serves as the Infection Prevention and Patient Safety Consultant to the Area. He is a member of the Bemidji Area regional Executive Leadership Team and Quality Assurance Risk Management Committee and was recently appointed to the IHS National Quality Council.

Matthew has served admirably as the IPC Coordinator for the IHS Office of the Director within the Office of Quality/Division of Patient Safety and Clinical Risk Management. He was the IHS Portland Area Institutional Environmental Health Officer where he was an architect and Co-Lead of the regional healthcare accreditation readiness team and served collaterally as the Public Health Emergency Management Coordinator. He has provided infection control support and led multiple infection prevention capacity-building efforts and initiatives across the Tribal healthcare delivery landscape.

Matthew is Board Certified in Infection Prevention and Control, a Registered Environmental Health Specialist, and an OSHA General Industry Trainer. He is a US Army veteran and has completed infection control and safety position tenures within private healthcare consulting firms, the University of Kentucky Medical Center, and the Veteran’s Healthcare Administration. He currently serves on the ADS Board of Directors.

Previous award recipients:

Emerging Infection Control Leader Award

The goal of the Emerging Leader Award is to help develop and promote the next generation of stars in the field of dental infection prevention and safety by identifying outstanding new infection control advocates.

Sarah Stream, MPH, CDIPC, CDA, FADAA
2024 Award Recipient

Sarah Stream is a seasoned dental infection control specialist with a profound commitment to enhancing public health within the realm of dentistry. Armed with a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree and several certifications including being Certified in Dental Infection Prevention and Control (CDIPC) and a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA), Sarah brings a wealth of expertise to her role.

With a career spanning 17 years, Sarah has grown to become passionate in infection control protocols and compliance measures within dental settings. She leverages her expertise to educate fellow practitioners on the importance of prioritizing compliance, creating a safer dental visit and utilizing public health concepts to inform actions in their practice.

Sarah lives in the Midwest and enjoys the time she has at home with her 3 kids and many pets. When she’s not supporting dental facilities, she enjoys reading fantasy fiction and travels regularly as a paranormal investigator and photographer.

Previous award recipients:

Dr. John S. Zapp Global Lecture

To honor and preserve Dr. Zapp’s memory, the Friends of ADS (formerly known as OSAP), a committed group of leaders who seek to integrate ADS initiatives into broader global health platforms, established the Dr. John S. Zapp Global Lecture. The lecture is intended to build bridges with global leaders to promote knowledge exchange about oral infection prevention and safety both for patients and providers of care.

Lois Cohen, PhD
2024 Lecturer

Dr. Lois Cohen began her career with a PhD in sociology, joining what is now the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 1964. As a social scientist, she became part of a small team that gave rise to the field of social and behavioral science research in dentistry. Dr. Cohen retired in 2006 after serving as Associate Director for International Health and previously as director of the Division of Extramural Research, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). She is currently the Paul G. Rogers Ambassador for Global Health Research and a consultant to the NIDCR and advisor to several U.S. and international institutions and organizations focused on global oral health, including the World Health Organization.

Throughout her career, Dr. Cohen coordinated and facilitated all intramural and extramural international research activities, as well as staff involvement in multilateral, bilateral and organizational representation abroad. She served as the Director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Dental & Craniofacial Research, which was established in 1980 under the umbrella of the NIDR, and renamed NIDCR in 1998. She co-directed the first large-scale international collaborative studies of oral health systems with the late Dr. David E. Barmes, and co-chaired the former Friends of OSAP (formed in 2006) with Nancy Tomich Zapp.

Currently, she serves on the Boards of several organizations, including the Edw. B. Shils Entrepreneurial Fund and the Alliance for Oral Health Across Borders and on the advisory groups for the Center for Integrative Global Oral Health, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and as a member of the External International Advisory Group for the Global Health Research Programme on Oral Health, funded by the National Institute of Health Research in the United Kingdom. As a research sociologist whose research and publications in oral health science has spanned 60 years, her work as been central to linking the behavioral and social sciences with issues of public health significance national and internationally.

Previous lecturers include:

Bette and Paul Schwarz Award for Volunteerism

Sarah Stream, MPH, CDIPC, CDA, FADAA
2024 Award Recipient

Sarah Stream is a seasoned dental infection control specialist with a profound commitment to enhancing public health within the realm of dentistry. Armed with a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree and several certifications including being Certified in Dental Infection Prevention and Control (CDIPC) and a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA), Sarah brings a wealth of expertise to her role.

With a career spanning 17 years, Sarah has grown to become passionate in infection control protocols and compliance measures within dental settings. She leverages her expertise to educate fellow practitioners on the importance of prioritizing compliance, creating a safer dental visit and utilizing public health concepts to inform actions in their practice.

Sarah lives in the Midwest and enjoys the time she has at home with her 3 kids and many pets. When she’s not supporting dental facilities, she enjoys reading fantasy fiction and travels regularly as a paranormal investigator and photographer.

Previous award recipients:

Chair’s Citation Award 

Steven Geiermann, DDS, FACD, FICD, 2023 – 2024 ADS Chair of the Board, presented special citations to individuals who have enriched the organization by contributing a unique blend of talents, skills, hard work, and unwavering commitment to the advancement of dental safety.

• Alyssa Aberle, RDH, MBA, CDIPC, FADHA
• Nancy Dewhirst, BSDH, RDH
• Kimberly Grensavitch, MJ, BA, RDH
• Michelle Lee, CPC
• Shannon Mills, DDS
• Michelle Strange, MSDH, RDH, CDIPC
• Andrew Whitehead

James A. Cottone Award for Excellence in Investigative Research

This award is named for one of the founders of ADS who exemplified the best in infection control and safety research.

Shane Castro, RDH, CDIPC, JM
2024 Award Recipient
Abstract: Revolutionizing Instrument Management: Harnessing RFID Technology in Dental Education

Previous award recipients:

Special Recognition Award for Leadership

Bestowed at the discretion of the ADS Board of Directors, this special leadership award recognizes individuals whose vision, works, or achievements have significantly influenced and broadly shaped dental infection control. Unlike other awards, this special recognition is not given annually.

Cynthia C. Durley, M.Ed., MBA
2021 Award Recipient

Ms. Durley is Executive Director of both the Dental Advancement through Learning and Education Foundation (the DALE Foundation) and the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). She has been employed by DANB for more than 35 years and by the DALE Foundation since its incorporation in 2010. Ms. Durley has served on a number of federal and national task forces and committees and held leadership positions in national associations and organizations. Ms. Durley joined former OSAP Executive Director Therese Long, CAE, MBA, as a founding member of the national Infection Control Consortium and currently serves on the OSAP-DANB-DALE Foundation Infection Control Certificate/Certification Steering Commission. She is former Chair of the National Commission for Certifying Agencies [national accrediting commission for certification programs] and former President of the National Organization for Competency Assurance [national membership organization for certification organizations, now called the Institute for Credentialing Excellence].