Author: PerioFoundation

$2.5 million program designed to improve oral and systemic health and encourage referrals for periodontal care through research, education, and advocacy

The American Academy of Periodontology Foundation is launching an ambitious initiative to grow understanding of the relationship between oral and systemic health. The program will sponsor new research, disseminate knowledge with education programs for dentists, physicians, and allied health professionals, and enable advocacy to raise awareness of periodontal/peri-implant diseases, the importance of treating them, and the specialists who can help. Named for its founding donors, Patty and Dr. Paul Levi and Dr. Colin Richman, the Levi-Richman Integration Initiative will leverage $2.5 million in existing and new investments to champion periodontal health as the oral-systemic link.

Programs of the Initiative will include

• An ambitious new program of research grants focused on interdisciplinary research into the oral-systemic link
• Existing Richman Family Foundation Perio-Ortho Interface Grants, which began in 2021 through a transformative gift from Dr. Richman
• Expanded Patty and Paul Levi Research Awards, which began recognizing prevention-related research conducted by predoctoral dental students in 2016, funded by gifts from the Levis and more than 100 other donors, and now will include a second award for postdoctoral periodontal residents
• Education programs for dentists, physicians, and all allied healthcare professionals
• Funding for relevant programs at the American Academy of Periodontology, including the upcoming Best Evidence Consensus on the prevention of peri-implant diseases
• Collaborations with Europe’s leading charity dedicated to periodontology, the Sepa Foundation, including:
  • A biannual online global symposium on prevention, beginning in 2027
  • International expansion of the AAP Foundation’s PerioDash 5K run/walk
  • A series of educational webinars for dentists and physicians in conjunction with events such as World No Tobacco Day and World Diabetes Day

This Initiative marks a visionary new chapter for the AAP Foundation, which in 2025 celebrated surpassing $10 million in cumulative grants, scholarships, and fellowships awarded over 35 years including support to programs of the American Academy of Periodontology and American Board of Periodontology. “The AAP Foundation is proud to continue its long history of support to academic periodontology,” said its president, Dr. Christopher R. Richardson, “while now complementing that core competency with this ambitious new Initiative aimed at directly supporting clinicians in private practice and improving both periodontal and systemic health.”

Funding for the Initiative comes from nearly $2 million in contributions, including Dr. Richman’s transformative $1 million pledge from 2020, a portion of which will now support other components of the Initiative. In addition to more than $250,000 previously contributed by the Levis and other donors for the Levi Research Award, Patty and Paul have committed additional funding in new and previously unannounced gifts and an estate commitment to support other components of the Initiative. Their gift also enables a $200,000 grant to the Sepa Foundation, the charitable arm of the Spanish Society of Periodontology. The AAP Foundation has committed to continuing this Initiative for five years and is actively seeking another $500,000 to extend it further.

“My family and I are proud to support this ambitious new project,” said Dr. Richman, “and to expand understanding of the bi-directional relationship between oral and systemic health. Our existing Perio-Ortho Interface Grants have already sought to strengthen collaboration between periodontists and orthodontists, which has been a major area of  focus over my career. Now, with this new effort, we extend that same spirit of integration to our systemic health colleagues and embrace another topic about which I am passionate: the oral-systemic link.”

“Our goal here is to ‘put the mouth back in the body,’” added Dr. Levi, quoting the late Dr. Bruce Donoff, a dentist and physician who served as dean of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine for 28 years. “Evidence has been mounting for years of the strong correlation between periodontal diseases and systemic conditions such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease. More recently, new research has demonstrated relationships between oral health and an ever-growing list of conditions, from Alzheimer’s to erectile dysfunction. Although these relationships are understood among periodontists, they remain largely unfamiliar to the general public and physicians, including cardiologists, pulmonologists, and endocrinologists, whose patients could be in critical need of periodontal care.”

“Periodontal and peri-implant disease and the dysbiosis and inflammation associated with these diseases have been linked to the development and progression of many systemic diseases,” said Dr. Mia Geisinger, Immediate Past-President of the American Academy of Periodontology, who will chair the Levi-Richman Integration Initiative’s Advisory Committee. “While these associations do not necessarily prove causation, the currently understood correlations indicate that patients suffering from such systemic conditions are at increased risk of periodontal disease and should be evaluated for periodontal treatment, particularly if they demonstrate one or more warning signs of periodontal disease. Enhanced medical-dental integration, including the more universal adoption of electronic health records may allow for better assessments of the bidirectional impacts of periodontal disease and systemic disease. Future longitudinal studies and epidemiological research may allow us to further elucidate best practices to enhance diagnostic and treatment outcomes. The Levi-Richman initiative will both fund research assessing causal links between periodontal and systemic disease and help to propagate its findings through education and advocacy.”

One such advocacy program is PerioDash, the AAP Foundation’s annual 5K run/walk to raise awareness of periodontal diseases, the importance of treating them, and the dedicated specialists who can help. Now a part of the Levi-Richman Integration Initiative, PerioDash will expand to Europe through partnership with the Sepa Foundation. Supported by funding from the Initiative, Sepa will also produce educational programs open to oral and systemic health professionals worldwide, in collaboration with the AAP Foundation and other groups. These programs will begin in 2026 with a series of webinars held in conjunction with international health awareness events such as World No Tobacco Day (May 31) and World Diabetes Day (November 14). The programs will have both global and local components, enabling periodontists to reach out to physicians in their local communities to expand understanding of the oral-systemic link and build their referral networks.

Funds from the Levi-Richman Integration Initiative may also be used to support programs related to prevention and the oral-systemic link at the American Academy of Periodontology, American Board of Periodontology, and other partner organizations. The first example is partial funding of the AAP’s upcoming Best Evidence Consensus on the Prevention of Peri-Implant Diseases, to be held in May of this year. The workshop has a goal of developing clinically relevant strategies to prevent the onset, progression, and recurrence of peri-implant diseases.

About the American Academy of Periodontology Foundation

Founded in 1990, the American Academy of Periodontology Foundation serves to advance the specialty of periodontology and dental implant surgery through advocacy, research, and education. It is the premier philanthropic entity ensuring the viability and sustainability of the specialty of periodontics and dental implant surgery. More than 350 dental students, periodontal residents, faculty members, and practicing clinicians have received educational and research awards from the AAP Foundation over its 35 years, totaling more than $10 million in total funding. Those grants were made possible by funding from more than 150 corporate and organizational donors and nearly 5,000 periodontists and other individuals.

About Colin Richman

Born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, Dr. Richman attended school in South Africa and England before receiving his periodontal certificate from the University of Connecticut. Dr. Richman is a leading periodontist in Georgia. He has extensive training and experience in periodontology and has presented more than 350 lectures in the U.S. and abroad. He is a former assistant professor at the Emory University School of Dentistry and a former clinical instructor at the University of Connecticut. Dr. Richman serves as a faculty member at the Georgia Health Sciences University.

About Patty and Paul Levi

Patty Levi has supported Paul for nearly sixty years in his endeavor to teach and practice periodontology. Patty supported Paul during his post-doctoral periodontal program at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM). He entered private practice in Burlington, Vermont and taught at the University of Vermont Dental Hygiene School for 27 years. He eventually began commuting to Boston to teach part-time at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) and at TUSDM. Today he is faculty at Harvard teaching 4-5 days a week. Patty and Paul share a deep commitment to prevention as a lifestyle and philosophy, which they have passed on to their children and grandchildren. They enjoy traveling internationally and became acquainted with the Spanish periodontal community when Paul taught in Barcelona for an academic year.

PerioDash Dental School Spotlight: University of Utah

Dr. David Okano, Professor (clinical), Assistant Dean for Advanced Dental Education Programs, Section Head of Periodontics

What inspired you to bring PerioDash to the University of Utah, a dental school without a periodontics residency program?
As a previous board member of the AAP Foundation, I learned the value of PerioDash as a means to promote periodontics and inspire predoctoral dental students to gain interest in their perio courses and potentially apply to perio programs.

How has your team shaped PerioDash to fit your school community?
Since we do not have a postdoctoral perio program in place yet, we wanted to bring excitement and enthusiasm about periodontics to our predoctoral dental students. We opened PerioDash to the entire student body and had 57 students participate. We also had seven faculty and staff members and one alumnus currently in a periodontal residency participate this year. This has tightened the bonds among all of us.

You’ve achieved remarkable participation this year. What helps drive such strong interest and turnout?
Our students enjoy their interactions with the perio faculty and we wanted to extend that camaraderie into a social, fun event. Students talk about PerioDash throughout the school year. Immediately following this year’s event many were already asking about next year and wanting to participate again. Several are looking forward to receiving a PerioDash shirt and medallion for all four years of dental school.

You mentioned personally supporting student registrations to build goodwill and connection. How has this gesture strengthened relationships between students and the periodontics faculty?
I offer to pay registration fees for all students, and two of my periodontist faculty colleagues also contribute. Students recognize that the periodontics faculty care about them and appreciate that we spend our own money to create this experience. They greatly appreciate receiving a shirt, medallion, the food we serve, and especially the prizes we distribute. These are supported by the perio faculty, the Perio Club, and our Advancement Office. University of Utah School of Dentistry swag is also distributed to participants.

What did this year’s event look like?
Planning began shortly after last year’s event for a group of approximately 100 participants, including perio faculty, students, and family members. A planning committee handled student recruitment and registration, communication updates, food purchases, onsite preparation, shirt distribution, liability waivers, and other logistics. Student volunteers were key to creating an organized and enjoyable event. The committee met three times during the year and again the day before the event. They built the PerioDash balloon arch, set up tables for medallions and prizes, and managed cleanup afterward. We described PerioDash as a 5K where participants could walk, run, or engage to the extent they desired. Some completed only 2.5K, and that was fine as long as everyone had fun. We did not treat this as a race or competition. The goal was team building and shared participation.

How are students engaging with the Foundation’s mission or learning more about periodontics through PerioDash?
At the start of the event, we explain the Foundation’s role in generating interest in and advancing the specialty of periodontics. We consistently emphasize the importance of perio during PerioDash. I often share that periodontics is the “foundation” upon which restorative and prosthetic care and smiles are dependent upon. Known as “Dr. Foundation” at the school, I use this event to reinforce both the periodontal foundation and the importance of the AAP Foundation to the growth and advancement of our periodontal specialty.

What kind of impact has PerioDash had on your school culture and sense of community?
The Perio Section is widely known as the most organized and cohesive section at the University of Utah School of Dentistry. Events like PerioDash continue to reinforce our influence at the school. We have created a collaborative environment where students enjoy learning about perio and working with the perio faculty. Non-perio faculty and staff observe what we have created with PerioDash and have wanted to be a part of what we enjoy with our annual event.

What advice would you give to other dental schools that might want to organize their own PerioDash, especially those without a residency program?
Working with AAP Foundation staff has been very important. Regular conversations tapping into their experience and advice helped shape our event. Recruiting student volunteers to serve on an organizing committee is also critical. Consulting with others who have hosted PerioDash events at their schools has provided excellent advice. I would be happy to help those interested in starting PerioDash at their institutions or practice communities. Most of all, have fun with this event! PerioDash is a great team building activity that everyone enjoys.

PerioDash Military Spotlight: Navy Perio

Dr. Jin Hwang, United States Navy Periodontics program

What first motivated your program to take part in PerioDash?
I am spearheading the planning for PerioDash in our program as the AAP Foundation Student Ambassador and acting chief resident. I have participated the past two years, and this year I wanted to organize the event for our Navy Perio team to support the Foundation and highlight our specialty. The Navy Perio team is a periodontics residency program at the Naval Postgraduate Dental School, which graduates 3 or 4 periodontists yearly who then go on and serve Sailors, Marines and their families around the world.

What will your team’s 2025 event look like?
We are planning an organized 5K run on base with our perio staff, residents, assistants, and family and friends. We will run as team “Navy Perio” and may invite other specialty departments from our graduate school to join us. Documenting the event with photos and sharing them through our Navy Perio network will help extend the impact beyond the day itself.

What makes PerioDash valuable for your program and community?
PerioDash highlights our specialty and reinforces healthy living, which aligns with our mission in the Navy – to develop the future leaders of the Periodontal Community, Dental Corps, and Navy Medicine. For the wider Navy dental community, it creates a shared experience even when we are stationed in different places. Here at our base, it builds connections within our team.

How do you see the advocacy component shaping your team’s involvement?
The advocacy component is a good fit for our program. Having access to the Foundation’s social media graphics, educational handout, and talking points allows us to share information not only within our department but also across the larger Navy dental community and the families connected to it.

What would you say to other programs or practices considering PerioDash?
PerioDash works in any setting. For us, it is a base run that combines physical activity, professional pride, and community outreach, but it can be shaped to fit any community. Go Navy, Beat Army! 

PerioDash Multi-Program Spotlight: L.A. Team

Drs. Flavia Pirih & Beatriz Bezerra of UCLA organizing a city-wide periodash including UCLA, West L.A. VA and USC

What first inspired your program to take part in PerioDash?
We saw PerioDash as an opportunity to bring our residents, faculty, and friends together while supporting the AAP Foundation. It combines wellness, fun, and advocacy in a way that really resonates with our program. We have been doing it since its inception and has grown significantly over the years

What will your 2025 event in Santa Monica look like?
We’re planning the “L.A. Team” PerioDash 5K for Sunday, November 2, at Palisades Park in Santa Monica. Registration will include a t-shirt, medal, and breakfast. We’re also adding a raffle and prizes for the top finishers to make the day even more engaging.

How has the L.A. Team grown its presence year after year?
We invite everyone—faculty, residents, dental students, alumni, family, and friends—and make it a tradition that people look forward to each fall. Each year builds on the last, and the energy continues to grow.

What strategies have helped make you one of the largest teams and top fundraisers?
Keeping the event fun and welcoming is key. We encourage wide participation, highlight the AAP Foundation’s mission, and make sure people feel proud to be part of the effort. That combination has helped us grow both participation and support. Some of the things we do are: we sponsor part of the registration of dental students and residents, faculty help us with donating items for our raffle (at the end most people end up winning something), we have prizes for the fastest runners, amongst other things.

How do residents and students contribute to the team’s energy and success?
Residents and students bring enthusiasm and help rally their classmates and friends. Their involvement adds momentum and ensures strong student turnout, which energizes the whole group. The Periodontal Study Club is instrumental in engaging the dental students.

What impact has PerioDash had on your team morale and community spirit?
It’s a morale booster every year. Running, walking, and celebrating together outside of the clinic strengthens our sense of community and pride in the specialty.

Has participating opened doors to connect with patients, referring dentists, or the broader community?
Yes. The visibility of a large, enthusiastic group gathering for periodontal health sparks conversations and helps us connect more broadly — with colleagues, patients, and community members alike.

How does your team use PerioDash to help educate others about periodontal health?
PerioDash is a natural platform to highlight the importance of periodontal and peri-implant health. We take the opportunity to explain the event’s purpose, connect oral health to overall wellness, and point people to the resources of the AAP Foundation.

What advice would you give to other programs or practices thinking about hosting their own PerioDash?
Keep it simple. Pick a location and date, invite your group, and add one or two fun touches like breakfast or prizes. The most important part is gathering together to celebrate periodontics and support the AAP Foundation.

PerioDash Private Practice Spotlight: Dr. Walt Colón

Dr. Walt Colón, Periodontal Associates of North Florida, AAP Board of Trustees member

What do you love most about being a periodontist?
I enjoy having specialized knowledge and skills that allow me to help patients in ways most others cannot. Beyond clinical care, being a periodontist also positions my office and partners as leaders in our community, a role we take to heart.

What first drew you to participate in PerioDash?
I was excited by the opportunity to support a worthy cause through a health-oriented, community-centered event. It’s a purposeful way to bring the dental community together while promoting wellness and our specialty of periodontics.

How did your team respond to the idea of participating?
My team is always enthusiastic about health-related competitions. They respond positively to any event that combines wellness, fun, and purpose, and PerioDash was no exception.

What did the planning process look like, and did you incorporate any creative elements?
The planning process grew organically and evolved each year. Dr. Jake Zellner took the lead on route planning and social media. Dr. Aixa Guzmán did a great job, especially in outreach to fellow female professionals. I focused on logistics such as securing food, signage, a race clock, shirts, flyers, and coordinating race-day assignments. I also handled communication with the AAP Foundation. It was truly a collaborative effort. Creativity was key. We chose not to charge participants and instead made a donation to the AAP Foundation that exceeded our participant count. We created and distributed custom event shirts with our logo as well as the Foundation’s, awarded prizes to the top three finishers, and saw great engagement on social media from participants.

How did participating in PerioDash affect your team dynamic or morale?
It was a tremendous morale booster. The team was all-in, not just during the race, but also with setup and breakdown. Many brought their families, including babies and pets. Seeing everyone come together outside the office for a shared mission was truly heartwarming.

Did it open opportunities to connect with patients, referring dentists, or your community?
Absolutely. Assistants from other practices made PerioDash their annual event and encouraged their doctors to join the following year. Several referring doctors and their staff toured our office, allowing for meaningful in-person connections. We even reconnected with former team members who shared how much they missed being part of our community-focused environment.

How do you see PerioDash helping educate the public about periodontal health?
We use our digital office sign and event activities to share community-focused health messages tied to PerioDash. During medal presentations, we explain the purpose of the event, highlight the work of the AAP Foundation, and connect physical wellness with periodontal health. It’s a great platform for interdisciplinary collaboration and public education.

What would you say to other periodontists considering PerioDash for their practice?
Do it! It’s a powerful tool to build team spirit, strengthen your referral network, and showcase your role as a health advocate. With thoughtful effort, it can be an energizing and unifying experience for everyone involved.