The CDA Foundation is accepting nominations through May 31 for its Humanitarian Award. The award honors the late Dr. Andrew Soderstrom, CDA past president and co-founder of the Foundation’s volunteer-led CDA Cares program.
CDA members and component dental society directors are invited to nominate an active or retired licensed California dentist for the 2025 Humanitarian Award.
Recipients of this honorable recognition are eligible to receive the award only once, which includes a $1,500 contribution to a nonprofit of the recipient’s choice.
Recognizing the impact of individual dentists
Established in 2008, the Humanitarian Award recognizes California dentists for demonstrating a lifetime of volunteer commitment and leadership that have broadly and positively impacted oral health and improved the human condition.
Individuals whose actions have enabled the dental profession to respond more fully to the needs of individuals at the local, state, national or international level may also be honored.
The late Dr. Andrew Soderstrom, for whom the Humanitarian Award was named in 2021, received the award himself in 2015. Along with his contribution to the development of CDA Cares, Soderstrom was known for his tireless efforts to meet the dental needs of children, regardless of their families’ economic situation. His leadership was also apparent during a long-fought battle to fluoridate community water in his hometown of Modesto.
2024 Recipient embodies volunteer spirit
Gayle Cheatwood, DDS, FADI, FICD, earned the Humanitarian Award in 2024.
A practicing dentist in Holtville, Cheatwood went on his first mission trip in 1974. Over the decades since, he has completed more than 140 service trips to countries in dire need of dental services. Beneficiaries of Cheatwood’s service span continents and cultures, from rural villages to densely populated underdeveloped regions, all transformed through improved oral health and the empowerment of knowledge. His ability to connect, inspire and uplift has positioned him as a role model not only for fellow dentists but for anyone driven by the desire to serve humanity.
In recognizing Cheatwood, the CDA Foundation celebrated not just his extraordinary achievements but the spirit of dentistry as a force for good in the world. His work is a reminder that compassion and expertise, when combined, have the power to transcend barriers and change lives.
Biographies of all past recipients can be viewed on the Humanitarian Award nomination page.
Selection criteria and required supporting documents
The Foundation asks nominators to submit a handful of attachments with their online application, including a curriculum vitae or resume highlighting the nominee’s humanitarian contributions, one letter of support from an individual other than the nominator and other documentation to support the nominee’s achievement.
Among other ideals and attributes, the nominee should:
- Contribute significantly to alleviate human suffering and improving the quality of life and oral health of individuals served.
- Be an inspiration to the dental profession.
- Demonstrate a lifetime of outstanding humanitarian volunteer accomplishments that bring honor to the profession.
- Show selflessness regarding direct personal or organizational gain or profit through the scope of their efforts.
Read the nomination guidelines for complete details on eligibility, selection criteria and required attachments. Submit your nomination online by Saturday, May 31.
The CDA Foundation offers additional grants and awards that financially support dental professionals and community-based organizations providing dental care to undeserved communities. You can read more about them on the Foundation’s Grants and Awards page.