UF College of Dentistry Class of 2022 President Carson Smith was awarded a 2021 dental student scholarship from the Oral Health Foundation of the Pierre Fauchard Academy.
Outstanding students are awarded based on their potential for developing into an outstanding leader in the dental profession, and because of participation in their college’s dental school and community. Qualities of integrity, imagination, initiative and communication skills are attributes of each scholarship recipient.
Smith is well-deserving and defines what it means to be an outstanding student at UFCD, to be a leader to his classmates and all dental students, alike. Volunteerism, representation, advocacy and incorporating a little fun into everyday life during dental school is what Carson does best, all while juggling the demands of being a student and class president first.
From volunteering in the community and serving the oral health needs of the underserved, to stepping up during COVID-19 to help at UF Health’s vaccination sites, to organizing themed events for his class – including re-vamping the “big/little” class mentoring reveal – you can catch Carson dabbling in just about everything at UFCD and beyond.
Smith serves as president of the college’s Dental Ambassadors, the official student representatives of the college at major events including Florida Dental Convention and Dental Fall Weekend, represented the college at the annual Hinman Student Research Symposium in Memphis in 2019 where he won the National Student Research Group President’s Award for outstanding efforts in student research, traveled to IADR in Vancouver and more.
When he’s not in class or clinic with patients – or researching and tending to class president obligations – you can find him spreading cheer throughout the college, whether setting up faculty appreciation socials, hopping around as the Easter bunny delivering candy, spreading holiday cheer with candy canes in December, sending holiday cards to the college on behalf of his class, or organizing fun outings and sharing photos of the memories and milestones of the DMD Class of 2022.
Congratulations, Carson!
About the Oral Health Foundation of the Pierre Fauchard Academy
Since 1995, the Oral Health Foundation of the Pierre Fauchard Academy has served as the philanthropic, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization for the Academy. The Foundation works to advance its purpose by providing:
- Funding for needed dental services through its Grants Program which offers financial support of charitable dentistry projects.
- Scholarships to deserving third-year dental students in the US and around the world.
About the Pierre Fauchard Academy
The Pierre Fauchard Academy is an honorary dental service organization that was founded in 1936 by Dr. Elmer S. Best, a Minnesota dentist. The mission of Fellows of the Pierre Fauchard Academy is to recognize and develop outstanding leadership in our profession, internationally. The Pierre Fauchard Academy consistently focuses on professionalism, integrity, and ethics worldwide, by fellows’ own conduct as worthy role models, by the advancement of dentistry to the highest level, by supporting and honoring colleagues for their distinguished work, research, contributions, and public service, and by providing excellence in programs, education, and leadership in oral health care.