Former Mayor David N. Dinkens










Mr. Stanley M. Bergman accepts the Strusser Award

Urging the Class of 2002 to actively exercise their rights and obligations as citizens, former New York City Mayor David N. Dinkins delivered a rousing keynote address to an audience of nearly 3,000 guests who joined together on May 24, 2002, to celebrate the educational achievements of over 400 candidates who received the D.D.S. degree, the A.A.S. degree in dental hygiene, the B.S. degree in dental health education, and certificates in the postgraduate dental specialties. Only hours earlier, Mayor Dinkins had graciously agreed to pinch hit for the scheduled speaker, United States Congressman Charles B. Rangel, who was called to Washington, D.C., for an important vote.

Accepting NYUCD’s highest honor, the David B. Kriser Medal, on behalf of Congressman Rangel, Mayor Dinkins paid tribute to his longtime political ally and good friend, calling him “a distinguished legislator, human rights champion, and New Yorker’s New Yorker.”

Stanley M. Bergman Receives Strusser Award
An added highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the Harry Strusser Memorial Award for outstanding contributions to public health to Mr. Stanley M. Bergman, chairman of the Board, CEO, and president of Henry Schein, Inc., the largest distributor of health care products and services to office-based practices in the combined North American and European markets.

In presenting the award, Dean Alfano cited Mr. Bergman’s notable support of American dental education and his international humanitarian efforts, including his support for NYUCD’s health care missions in South Africa and Tanzania; his rapid response to the events of September 11, when he rushed delivery of essential medical supplies to Ground Zero, thereby enabling NYUCD volunteers and many others to provide urgently needed care to victims of the terrorist attacks; his example of corporate commitment to improve the oral health of communities near and far; and his special generosity to NYUCD.