Penn Dental Medicine pediatrics resident Catherine Lee (D’18, GD’20) has been honored by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) with its Resident Recognition Award. The award recognizes pediatric dental residents doing innovative and interesting activities in their training programs. 

Presented quarterly, winners are chosen based on activities during their residencies that contribute to patient care, education, research, and/or community service. Innovation, time commitment, and significance of service to others are the primary factors considered in the selection process. Selection is made by members of the AAPD Residents Committee, New Dentist Committee, and Board Liaisons.

Dr. Lee has helped the School’s predoctoral students learn about pediatric dentistry as a rewarding career path, organizing annual lectures by Penn alumni who are pediatric dentists. She has planned activities to honor retiring pediatric faculty and welcome alumni back to campus, and she helped raise the profile of the Division of Pediatric Dentistry by conceiving and producing the Division’s first alumni newsletter. In addition, Dr. Lee worked with Penn Dental’s Office of Institutional Advancement to organize the first Penn Dental Medicine alumni reception at the annual American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry meeting in Chicago last May attended by over 40 graduates, many of whom had not connected with the School and each other in many years.

Introducing DMD students and residents to the power of advocacy, Dr. Lee participated in visits to congressional delegations in Washington to acquaint legislators with the crisis of oral health access disparities. She has advocated for patients and organized a book drive to make books available to send home with children coming to the School for care. In addition, Dr. Lee has actively supported many community outreach activities at the School—from the annual oral cancer walk to the Give Kids A Smile Day.