Ann Arbor, MI — May 25, 2011 — Lindsay Rayburn, a fourth-year dental student at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, has been named by the American Association for Dental Research to a prestigious public policy fellowship.  The Gert Quigley Fellowship to which she was named helps dental, PhD, or dual degree students become familiar with federal budget, legislative, and regulatory issues that are important to dental research. 

Starting in late July, Rayburn will spend six to eight weeks at AADR headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, working with the organization’s Government Affairs Committee.  In her role, she will help draft policy, position papers, and testimony; educate members of Congress and their staff members about issues important to dental research; and participate in national coalition meetings.  As a committee member for the next 12 months, Rayburn will also be a liaison to the National Student Research Group and attend fall and spring committee meetings in Washington, D.C.

“I’m honored to be named a Quigley Fellow and excited for the opportunity to see how policies that affect our profession are developed by organizations that represent our interests,” Rayburn said.  “I’m also looking forward to being the liaison to the National Student Research Group and all dental students to inform them of important actions taking place on our behalf and on behalf of our profession.”

Rayburn has worked with Dr. William Giannobile, director of clinical research for the School of Dentistry’s Michigan Center for Oral Health Research, and has been extensively involved in research that includes biomarker and imaging technologies that evaluate the progression of bone destruction.  She earned a bachelor’s degree in cellular and molecular biology and a master’s degree in clinical research, both from U-M. 

“Lindsay has been committed to MCOHR as both a pre-dental and dental student, and has been involved in some of the large saliva diagnostics studies that have demonstrated the ability of markers of oral infection to predict disease outcomes,” Giannobile said.  “Her training in public policy, clinical research, and clinical dentistry make her uniquely qualified to represent the School of Dentistry as an AADR Quigley Fellow.”