Awards, Faculty and Staff, Pediatric Dentistry

Lee Receives National Honor for Service to Children’s Health

Dr. Jessica Y. Lee, an associate professor in the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Dentistry’s Department of Pediatric Dentistry, has received a national award recognizing her outstanding efforts directed to advancing childhood oral health and well-being.

Dr. Jessica Lee was presented the 2008 Jerome B. Miller “For the Kids” Award at a dinner held in conjunction with the 61st American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) Annual Session.

Lee received the 2008 Jerome B. Miller “For the Kids” Award at the 61st American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) Annual Session in May. Healthy Smiles, Healthy Children: the Foundation of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry established the award in 2007 to honor the lifetime achievements of former AAPD and Healthy Smiles, Healthy Children president Dr. Jerome B. Miller. Procter & Gamble/Crest/Oral-B sponsors the award.

Lee is the principal investigator for a $1.8-million grant addressing how the oral health literacy of caregivers and parents affects the oral health outcomes of their preschool-aged children. More than 1,000 underserved families in seven N.C. counties – Buncombe, Burke, New Hanover, Wake, Orange, Brunswick and Robeson – will be interviewed about oral health literacy and possible challenges that may prevent them from accessing oral health care.

This study, funded by the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research, is in collaboration with the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Psychology and the School of Public Health’s Department of Health Policy and Administration. The study is believed to be the first RO1 grant on health literacy funded by the NIDCR.

Lee has been a member of the Orange County Board of Health since 2002 and serves on Healthy Carolinians and Head Start advisory committees. Nationally, she serves on several AAPD councils and committees.

Founded in 1947, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry is a not-for-profit membership association representing pediatric dentistry and with an estimated 7,300 members.