Dr. Arturo Santiago was honored during the 2005 Annual Session of the Hispanic Dental Association in San Antonio, TX as the first HDA/Arturo Santiago/SCADA Student Research Award was presented.

An original 1959 student clinician from the University of Puerto Rico, he has a most complimentary record of service to SCADA. He served our association as Secretary for a 16-year period beginning in 1966 and received the Third Alan J. Davis/SCADA Achievement Award the following year. In 1986 he was elected to a three-year term of office on the association's Board of Governors. Dr. Santiago served as our Vice President in 1989 and was SCADA President in 1990.

His involvement continues to the present day as he has presented in each of the SCADA Master Clinician Programs since they were initiated in 1988. The many awards he has received for his academic, professional and volunteer achievements have highlighted his long dental career and earned him the deepest respect and admiration among his peers.

Wishing to formally recognize Dr. Santiago's commitment to the association, the Board of Governors worked with the Hispanic Dental Association in granting a $1,000 student research award to a deserving Hispanic dental student and naming the award in his honor.

For the first time, the HDA/Arturo Santiago/SCADA Student Research Award was presented for the best original research study conducted in any field of research by a dental or dental hygiene student. Eligibility requirements stipulated that the student be enrolled in an accredited DDS, DMD or dental hygiene program in the United States. All submitted projects were judged on their scientific merits by a professional panel of judges.

Supported by DENTSPLY International, this annual award has been developed to honor the exceptional work Dr. Santiago has done on behalf of dental students through his dedication to teaching and through his involvement with SCADA. A graduate of the University of Puerto Rico, he served its School of Dentistry from 1964 until his retirement in 1986. He was a Dean from 1978 until he retired and many of his former students were in attendance at the HDA Annual Session.

Preceding the award announcement, Dr. Gustavo Cruz, HDA Vice President and one of Dr. Santiago's former students, presented him with a plaque citing his dedication and commitment to improving Hispanic oral health through education and research.

Dr. Cruz then announced the winner of the First Award and presented a check for $1,000 and a plaque to Maritza Miranda, DMD from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Dr. Miranda's research was titled “Cultural Adaptation of the Research Diagnostic Criteria /TMD in the Hispanic Community.”

This new Research Award will be a vital component of all forthcoming Hispanic Dental Association Annual Sessions.

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