The Association for Dental Safety (ADS) proudly announced the recipients of the 2026 Leadership Awards during its Annual Conference on May 27 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
“In 2026, our ADS Leadership Awards shine a light on people who turn best practice into everyday practice in dental infection prevention and safety,” said Julie Lynch, MS, BSN, RN, Board Chair of ADS. “From seasoned leaders to emerging voices, this year’s honorees deliver measurable impact, unwavering standards, and inventive leadership. Their expertise and advocacy strengthen our global community and accelerate progress across the profession.”
Dr. James J. Crawford Award: Michelle Lee
The Dr. James Crawford Award is named after one of the founding fathers of dental infection control and 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 promoting the safest dental visit for patients, providers, and their team members.
Michelle Lee served as ADS Executive Director from 2018–2026, professionalizing operations, streamlining the conference program, strengthening global partnerships, and guiding the field through COVID with steady, science-based leadership. She rebranded OSAP as ADS, grew membership and multi-year funding, expanded offerings and international credibility, and spearheaded the founding of the ADS Institute for Dental Safety and Science to provide national infection-prevention guidance after the CDC Division of Oral Health was eliminated in 2025.
Dr. Milton Schaefer Award: Denise Sabol, MEd
The Dr. Milton Schaefer Award is named after one of the founding members of ADS and celebrates superior service to the organization, recognizing continuous contributions over a period of time or singular accomplishments.
Denise Sabol, MEd, is a steadfast champion of ADS’s mission who consistently elevates Infection Control in Practice. Working behind the scenes, she shapes Infection Control in Practice’s (ICIP) direction with creative thinking and a sharp editorial eye. She pairs big-picture guidance with meticulous attention to detail—refining processes, tightening content, and enabling the team to do its best work. Her reliability, positivity, and tireless follow-through make her a trusted backbone for the publication and a catalyst for excellence across ADS. Thanks to her leadership, ICIP’s value and impact continue to grow. We’re proud to recognize Denise for her unwavering dedication and lasting imprint on our community.
Emerging Infection Control Leader Award: Bhumika Patel, RDH, MSDH, CDIPC, FADHA
The goal of the Emerging Infection Control 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.
Bhumika Patel, RDH, MSDH, CDIPC, FADHA, is an educator and safety champion elevating infection prevention across one of the nation’s busiest dental teaching environments. As Manager for Infection Prevention and Control at the University of the Pacific’s Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, she embeds AHA TeamSTEPPS into training and, in a 130+ chair multispecialty clinic, leads rigorous rounds that turn data into action—implementing procedures, reducing risk, and ensuring compliance. A trusted partner to administration and a go-to mentor for faculty, students, and new staff, she strengthens every clinic through meticulous detail and hands-on coaching. She holds a master’s degree and is pursuing a doctorate in education, and she presented two sessions at this year’s Annual Conference. She makes infection prevention engaging and memorable, inspiring lasting commitment to patient and provider safety.
Bette & Paul Schwarz Award for Volunteerism: Enrique Acosta-Gio, DDS, PhD
The Bette & Paul Schwarz Award is named in honor of a dynamic couple who personify the spirit of volunteerism.
Enrique Acosta-Gio, DDS, PhD, expands ADS’s global reach by translating key documents and marketing materials into Spanish. On the 2026 Annual Conference planning committee, he brought strategy, reliability, and an eye for impact—and championed the 2026 Annual Conference Video Poster Presentations to make scholarship more inclusive and dynamic across borders and time zones.
Chair Citation Awards
Board Chair Julie Lynch, MS, BSN, RN, presented six citations to Marie Fluent, DDS, Nancy Dewhirst, BSDH, RDH, and Ramneek Rai, DDS, for their incredible efforts in developing and presenting an engaging and informative workshop on Dental Unit Waterlines at this year’s Boot Camp; Liliana Donatelli, BS, MBA, MPH, CDIPC, for her work expanding ADS’s impact globally; Eve Cuny, MS, CDIPC, for her leadership in the launch of the ADS Institute for Dental Safety and Science; and Matthew Ellis, MPH, CIC, CDIPC, REHS/RS, for his work expanding ADS’s impact within the tribal health community through his connections and work with the Susan Harwood Training Grant program.
James A. Cottone Award for Excellence in Investigative Research: Erinne Kennedy, DMD, MPH, MMSc
The James A. Cottone Award is named for one of the founders of ADS, who exemplified the best in infection control and safety research.
Erinne Kennedy, DMD, MPH, MMSc, was recognized for her 2026 Annual Conference Poster Presentation, Close the Gap: Operationalizing Antibiotic Stewardship in Routine Dental Practice.
For more information about the ADS Leadership Award recipients, visit MyADS.org/awards.
About ADS
The Association for Dental Safety (ADS) is the only nonprofit membership association for oral health care professionals that focuses exclusively on dental infection prevention and patient and provider safety. ADS helps operationalize dental infection control and safety laws, regulations, guidelines, standards, and best practices to ensure every dental visit is a safe visit. For additional information, visit MyADS.org.
