Dr. Donald Chi, the UW School of Dentistry’s Associate Dean for Research, has received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers from outgoing US President Joe Biden.
This prestigious award, also known as PECASE, is the highest honor given by the United States government to scientists and engineers who demonstrate exceptional potential for leadership early in their research careers.
Dr. Chi, who joined the dental school faculty in 2010, is a Professor of Oral Health Sciences and holds the Lloyd and Kay Chapman Endowed Chair for Oral Health. He has a joint appointment in the UW School of Public Health as Professor of Health Systems and Population Health.
He has received wide recognition for his research, including the 2017 Young Investigator Award from the International Association for Dental Research. In 2018, he was named Pediatric Dentist of the Year by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. The award recognizes a pediatric dentist who has made significant contributions to the dental profession and pediatric dentistry through clinical practice, academics or policy development. Recipients also have devoted extensive volunteer leadership service to the dental profession and their specialty.
Dr. Chi was also a fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University which helped inform his research program on the social and behavioral determinants of health inequities in children. Recently Dr. Chi led a study examining why some parents reject the administration of fluoride to their children and worked with Yup’ik communities in Alaska to help improve the oral health of Alaska Native children.
“I am thrilled that Dr. Chi has received this prestigious award, in recognition of his work to advance oral health and improve health behaviors and social factors that cause dental diseases in minoritized and underserved populations,” said Dean of the School of Dentistry Dr. André Ritter. “His research addresses root causes of health inequities at both the individual and the community level. The impact of Dr. Chi’s work on oral health outcomes cannot be overstated. ”
Check out the official list of the nearly 400 PECASE winners from 14 participating agencies and learn more about the award here.