Jared Fine, D.D.S., M.P.H., 2008 Award Recipient

Pictured (from left): Robert Bagramian, Linda Bennett, Jared Fine, and Janet Fine

Jared Fine, D.D.S., M.P.H., received the Myron Allukian Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Achievements in Community Dental Programs at the American Association for Community Dental Programs' annual symposium on April 27, 2008, in Miami, FL.

Dr. Fine has devoted his career to supporting the needs of special populations, including persons with HIV/AIDS, individuals with low incomes or from minority groups, pregnant women with low incomes, and underserved infants and children. In the early days of the AIDS epidemic Dr. Fine was one of the first in the country to organize an education and training program for oral health professionals on treating those with HIV. He has also been chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee for the California First 5 Oral Health Education and Training Project, which provides education and training to health professionals and oral health professionals to promote earlier preventive dental visits by infants and young children.

In addition to directing the dental public health activities of a large urban county health department, Dr. Fine has been the president of his local dental society and has served as chair of the board of the Dental Health Foundation and of the Oral Health Section of the American Public Health Association. He is the local project coordinator of the Healthy Kids, Healthy Teeth Program, a national demonstration project aimed at increasing access to oral health care, reducing the incidence and severity of oral disease, and controlling the costs of oral health care among infants and children from birth through age 5 enrolled in Medi-Cal, the Medi aid program in Alameda County, CA.