Dr. Cortino Sukotjo of U of IL at Chicago College of Dentistry Named ADEA/Gies Fellow

CHICAGO - April 26, 2013 - PRLog -- Dr. Cortino Sukotjo, Assistant Professor, Restorative Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry, has received an American Dental Education Association/William J. Gies Foundation Education Fellowship.

         The ADEA/Gies Foundation provides Fellows with a stipend of $10,000 to cover expenses for a three-month experience in Washington, DC, working with staff in the ADEA Center for Educational Policy and Research.

         Only one ADEA/Gies Fellowship is presented each year. Dr. Sukotjo is the first-ever recipient from UIC.

         “This Fellowship is designed to familiarize dental educators with a broad range of timely educational issues facing dental education,” Dr. Sukotjo said. “It allows me to work closely with ADEA staff to study about dental education policy and research on issues such as faculty recruitment, development, and retention.”

         Dr. Sukotjo expressed the hope that his Fellowship “will help the College to address the faculty recruitment, development, and retention issue,” he said, noting that through the knowledge gained through his Fellowship, “I am hoping to assist the College in developing a predictable approach to attract Foreign Trained Dentists (FTDs) to be involved in our oral health educational system for the next generation.”

         He also believes such Fellowships have nationwide benefits as well. “Faculty recruitment, development, and retention in the U.S., to enhance our dental education system, are important,” Dr. Sukotjo said. “The ADEA/Gies Foundation Education Fellowship allows one to work closely with the ADEA staff to address timely issues in a structured approach, such as collecting and analyzing data related to FTDs’ participation and their experience in U.S. academics.

         “Such a resource, in turn, could establish information to attract well-qualified FTDs to oral health academic careers. This retrieved information would establish a sound foundation for developing strategic solutions,” he concluded.

         Dr. Sukotjo thanked Dean Bruce Graham; Dr. Bill Knight, Executive Associate Dean for Academic Affairs; and Dr. Stephen Campbell, Head, Restorative Dentistry, for their support during the nomination process that helped him earn the Fellowship.

         For more information on the Fellowship, call (202) 289-7201.

The University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry is celebrating its 100th year as a college of the University of Illinois in 2013 with special events throughout the year under the theme “A Proud Past, A Brilliant Future.”         -30-