Alexandria, VA – The American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) has announced Stuart Gansky as the 2026 recipient of the AADOCR Irwin D. Mandel Distinguished Mentoring Award. Gansky, from the University of California, San Francisco, was recognized during the 55th Annual Meeting of the AADOCR, which was held in conjunction with the 104th General Session of the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) and the 50th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Dental Research on March 25-28, 2026 in San Diego, CA.
Gansky represented the School of Dentistry in the University of California, San Francisco Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI) Mentor Training Program (MTP), previously called Mentor Development Program (MDP) workgroup, participated in its first cohort, and represented the School of Dentistry for the second MDP cohort in the "Defining Mentorship" session. He served as the School of Dentistry Assistant Director for the MDP/MTP to help build mentoring capacity and participated in multiple phases of the MDP/MTP. This greatly enabled him to develop his skills in mentoring students and faculty and teaching others about mentorship.
Gansky’s mentorship extends across various stages of academic and professional careers. His dedication is evident in his ability to nurture not only academic achievements but also substantial professional development among his mentees. His methodology prioritizes academic achievements and the fostering of significant professional and personal growth. It encourages scholarly rigor, promotes research and innovation, and inspires the exploration of new, often challenging, domains. Gansky has received several accolades, including the Distinction in Faculty Mentoring Award from the UCSF Academic Senate, that underscore his ability as a mentor. He was inducted as an AADOCR Fellow in 2025.
The AADOCR Irwin D. Mandel Distinguished Mentoring Award provides national recognition for outstanding efforts to foster and promote research training and career development of students, trainees, and junior faculty. It identifies individuals at all levels of their career with an exemplary record of mentoring. This award was renamed in 2012 in honor of its first recipient, Irwin D. Mandel. The award consists of a monetary prize of $1,000 and a commemorative plaque.
About AADOCR
The American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research is a nonprofit organization with a mission to drive dental, oral, and craniofacial research to advance health and well-being. AADOCR represents the individual scientists, clinician-scientists, dental professionals, and students based in academic, government, non-profit, and private-sector institutions who share our mission. AADOCR is the largest division of the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research. Learn more at www.aadocr.org.
