A new fellowship created to encourage periodontal students to enter teaching was announced at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Periodontology Foundation in Philadelphia last month. The Abram and Sylvia Chasens Teaching and Research Fellowship will provide $30,000 per year to fund two fellowships awarded to students who have a stated career goal of periodontal education and who are in their third year of an accredited periodontal residence program.
"The Foundation is extremely appreciative of the fellowship and the spirit with which it was created," said L.K. Croft, DDS, president of the AAPF. "As an educator, researcher, and practitioner, Dr. Chasens has had a profound impact on the profession. He and his wife Sylvia understand the importance of attracting and retaining high-quality educators in periodontology. The Chasens Fellowship will benefit periodontal education and the profession for years to come."
The fellowship will be funded with an annual gift from Dr. and Mrs. Chasens throughout their lives. To ensure the continuance of the fellowship, the Chasens have provided for the future in their estate plan. The award will be funded by a series of three gift annuities established by the Chasens.
"The profession has been good to me and I want to give something back. A gift annuity program is an ideal vehicle for doing this because it produces an income for me and my wife, while providing the funds we want the Foundation to have," says Dr. Chasens.
The American Academy of Periodontology Foundation is dedicated to improving the periodontal health of the public by increasing public and professional awareness of periodontal diseases; stimulating and supporting clinical research and the generation of new knowledge; and enhancing educational programs and opportunities in periodontology. Periodontics is one of nine dental specialties recognized by the ADA.
