Alexandria, VA – The American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research has named Martha Somerman as the recipient of the 2025 AADOCR Irwin D. Mandel Distinguished Mentoring Award. Somerman, from the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, Bethesda, MD, was recognized during the Opening Ceremonies of the 54th Annual Meeting of the AADOCR, which was held in conjunction with the 49th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Dental Research, on March 12-15, 2025 in New York, NY.
Over the past 40 years, Somerman has mentored more than 150 individuals, including undergraduates, dental students, residents, PhD students, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty in a wide variety of disciplines. Many of these remained in academia or pursued research careers in industry, among whom are a university Provost, several Deans, Associate Deans, Chairs, and Professors, and a Past President of the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR). Several of her mentees have gone on to lead their own laboratories and train the next generation of researchers. She has authored more than 250 publications, books, and chapters, the majority of which were co-written with her mentees. Somerman received IADR Distinguished Scientist Awards for Basic Research in Biologic Mineralization (2018) and Research in Oral Biology (2005) and served as the 30th President of the AADOCR (2001-02).
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 (AADOCR) 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 IADR. Learn more at www.aadocr.org.
