Howard University Dental Student Places First in ADA Contest
Amira Baker Makes History as First Howard University Winner in More Than 40 Years

Washington, D.C., November 29, 2006 – Senior dental student Amira Baker captured first place in the DENTSPLY/American Dental Association’s (ADA) Student Clinicians Table Clinic Program during the recent annual meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada. Each of the 56 dental schools in the U.S. sponsors a student and for the first time in 44 years, Howard University has produced the top clinician in Category I: Clinical Application and Techniques.

“I am just so very proud of Amira for her professional presentation and stamina during a very tedious, and nerve-wrecking process,” said Leo E. Rouse, D.D.S., F.A.C.D., dean, Howard University College of Dentistry. “Her table clinic on Mechanical Properties of Various Dental Rubber Dams was outstanding.”

Baker selected this practical area of dental research to aide in her preparation of becoming an excellent clinician and dentist. “This award meant so much me in representing Howard University, an amazing school with vast research opportunities, but also holds a historical significance to me as a woman and as a minority,” she said. “It is an honor to represent dental schools nationwide during the upcoming ADA Conference in Chicago in February,” she added, as she will benefit from the all-expense-paid trip as first place winner of the prestigious award.

Howard University is one of 48 U.S. private, Doctoral/Research-Extensive universities and comprises 12 schools and colleges. Founded in 1867, students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. Since 1998, the University has produced two Rhodes Scholars, a Truman Scholar, 13 Fulbright Scholars and nine Pickering Fellows. Howard also produces more on-campus African-American Ph.D.s than any other university in the world. For more information on Howard University, call 202-238-2330, or visit the University’s Web site at www.Howard.edu.