Jessica Y. Lee, D.D.S, Ph.D., associate professor of pediatric dentistry in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry, will receive a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.
Jessica Y. Lee, D.D.S, Ph.D., associate professor of pediatric dentistry in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry, will receive a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.
The award is the highest honor granted by the U.S. government to science and engineering professionals in the early stages of their independent research careers. Ten federal departments and agencies annually nominate “the most meritorious scientists and engineers whose early accomplishments show the greatest promise for assuring America’s preeminence in science and engineering and contributing to the awarding agencies’ missions.”
Lee, also an associate professor of health policy and management in the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, is the principal investigator for a $1.8-million grant addressing how the oral health literacy of caregivers and parents affects the oral health of their preschool-aged children. More than 1,000 underserved families in seven North Carolina counties – Brunswick, Buncombe, Burke, New Hanover, Orange, Robeson and Wake – are being interviewed about oral health literacy and possible challenges that may prevent them from accessing oral health care.
Lee, a board-certified pediatric dentist, practices within the UNC School of Dentistry’s Dental Faculty Practice. She is involved in teaching, clinical practice and research, both her own and mentoring student research. Her research interests include health literacy, outcome assessment, cost-effectiveness investigations, access to oral health care and health disparities in young children.
For information, go to: http://www.dentistry.unc.edu/news/2010/2010-11-08_lee.cfm
Photo of Lee: http://uncnews.unc.edu/images/stories/news/health/2010/lee%2C%20jessica_3x4x300.jpg
U.S. Office of Science Technology and Policy announcement: http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ostp/pressroom/11052010
School of Dentistry contact: Deb Saine, (919) 966-8512, deborah_saine@dentistry.unc.edu
News Services contact: Patric Lane, (919) 962-8596, patric_lane@unc.edu