Press Releases

Kathleen T. O'Loughlin Named 2022 Recipient of AADOCR Jack Hein Public Service Award

Alexandria, VA – The American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) announced Kathleen T. O'Loughlin, American Dental Association, Chicago, IL, as the 2022 recipient of the AADOCR Jack Hein Public Service Award. She was recognized during the Opening Ceremonies of the hybrid 51st Annual Meeting of the AADOCR, held in conjunction with the 46th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Dental Research (CADR), on March 23, 2022.

O’Loughlin is the past Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the American Dental Association, where, in 2009, she became the first female to hold the position in the association’s history. O’Loughlin started out her postsecondary schooling at the Massachusetts General Hospital, where she studied nursing. However, she switched to Boston University to study biology and graduated cum laude and then graduated summa cum laude and valedictorian from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine She received a master’s degree in Public Health and Health Care Management from Harvard University.

Prior to joining the ADA staff, O'Loughlin was chief dental officer for United Healthcare and prior to that president and chief executive officer for Delta Dental of Massachusetts.  Previously she maintained a private dental practice for over 20 years, while also serving as an assistant clinical professor at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.

The AADOCR Jack Hein Public Service Award honors individuals who have given exemplary service in the area of public affairs by consistently promoting the interests and activities of oral health research to a wide constituency. O’Loughlin was recognized for her constant advocacy for the science base of the dental profession.

View a PDF for this press release online.

About AADOCR
The American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) is a nonprofit organization with over 3,000 members in the United States with a mission to drive dental, oral, and craniofacial research to advance health and well-being. AADOCR is the largest division of the International Association for Dental Research which has over 10,000 members. Learn more at www.aadocr.org.