Ismail received the Distinguished Public Service Award from U-M Regents at a dinner this evening at the Rackham Assembly Hall.

In presenting the award, the U-M Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) noted that throughout his career, Ismail “has been a productive researcher and educator. What sets him apart, however, is the extension of his research efforts into the service area, particularly underserved populations in the Detroit area. For him,” the office noted, “it is not enough to document the health care disparities that occur in certain segments of the population, he tries to do something about them.”

Oral Health Disparities Research

In the fall of 2001, the School of Dentistry received funding from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research to develop a research program to investigate the social, economic, environmental, and biological causes of disparities in oral health. NIDCR approved approximately $9.3 million to fund the Detroit Center for Research on Oral Health Disparities which Ismail heads. The center is a collaborate venture that involves the School of Dentistry, other U-M schools and colleges, the Voices of Detroit Initiative, and the Detroit Department of Health.

Ismail also co-authored a chapter of the U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on Oral Health in America issued in May 2000 and verified the scientific accuracy of information contained in four chapters of the report.

Evidence-Based Dentistry

For the past two years, Ismail has also been a consultant to the American Dental Association’s task force on evidence-based dentistry. Evidence-based dentistry focuses on the scientific evidence pertaining to oral health care and dentistry in a disciplined, methodical, unbiased manner. Information or evidence that appears in journal publications is summarized and presented to oral health care providers in a way that minimizes biases inherent in that information.

Affiliations and Other Awards

Ismal is past president of the Behavioral Sciences and Health Services Research Group of the International Association of Dental Research; chairs the National Affairs Committee of the American Association of Dental Researchers; co-chairs the ADA’s Council on Scientific Affairs; and is on the editorial boards of the Journal of Dental Education and the Journal of Dental Research.

In 2001, Ismail received the H. Trendly Dean Memorial Award from the International Association for Dental Research for distinguished achievements in behavioral science, epidemiology, and public health.

The University of Michigan School of Dentistry is one of the nation’s leading dental schools engaged in oral health care education, research, patient care, and community service. General dental care clinics and specialty clinics providing advanced treatment enable the School to offer dental services and programs to patients throughout Michigan. Classroom and clinic instruction prepare future dentists, dental specialists, and dental hygienists for practice in private offices, hospitals, academia, and public agencies. Research seeks to discover and apply new knowledge that can help patients worldwide. For more information about the School of Dentistry, visit the Web at: www.dent.umich.edu.