Second Dr. Gerald W. Deas Scholarship Awarded
) Ms. Krista McKenzie and Dr. Gerald W. Deas. |
NYUCD has awarded a second scholarship in the name of Dr. Gerald
W. Deas, a physician, patient advocate, TV and radio personality,
social activist, and public health crusader. The Gerald W. Deas
Scholarship aims to increase the number of underrepresented young
people pursuing careers in dentistry so that the profession can
be more diverse. The recipient of the second Gerald W. Deas Scholarship is Ms. Krista McKenzie, a 2005 graduate of St. John's University, whom Dr. Deas personally identified and successfully nominated to receive the scholarship. In addition to maintaining a solid academic record, Ms. McKenzie, who will begin her dental studies at NYU in fall 2005, will be required to spend time doing outreach in underserved communities and mentoring high school students in underrepresented groups. For over 40 years, Dr. Deas has been one of New York City's most respected and dedicated physician-educators and an icon within the city's African-American community. He has devoted a number of his TV shows to championing dentistry as an attractive career option for young people and has sponsored outreach led by minority NYU dental students to local high schools. |
