Dentist in Alaska among 10 honored by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for “Improving Health and Health Care in Hard-to-Reach Communities   

Amanda Gaynor Ashley, DMD, MsEdu, dental clinic director, Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital Dental Clinic, Barrow, Alaska

Gaynor is being honored for expanding oral health services to the residents of this northern slope community and the surrounding villages. She created a program with the Ilisagvik Tribal College to train dental assistants, and instituted programs to fight dental decay among local school children. Five years ago, one in three children who visited the dental clinic was diagnosed with a dental emergency. Under Ashley’s leadership, the frequency of dental emergencies has been drastically reduced, and her clinic has trained members of the community to help transform the oral health of an entire generation.

Now in its 16th year, the RWJF Community Health Leaders Award winners represent the geographical, cultural, ethnic, social and economic diversity of America. They have overcome daunting odds to improve the health and quality of life for disadvantaged or underserved men, women and children across the United States. They join a distinguished and diverse group of 163 previous recipients of the $125,000 award.

[RWJF Announcement, Oct. 24, 2009]