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.

Thank you for joining us at the Practice Transition, Retirement, and Estate Planning Breakfast. We appreciate your time and interest in planning for the future of your practice and legacy, and in learning how these life milestones can also create meaningful opportunities for philanthropic impact through the AAP Foundation.

Download Presentation Materials Here

Thank you to Treloar & Heisel for sponsoring this important session.

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.