For over two decades, the Brian D. Stone Memorial Award has honored dental students who are dedicated to serving individuals with disabilities. It was created by Drs. Joy and Justin Stone to honor their son Brian’s memory and to recognize future dental professionals who share their commitment to serving the most vulnerable populations.
This year, Dental Lifeline Network partnered with 63 accredited dental schools nationwide to give this distinguished award to 67 deserving dental students, like Dr. Lydia Hartung.
Dr. Hartung, a 2025 graduate of East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine, was drawn to dentistry because it offered her the opportunity to blend the science she loved with the compassion she felt called to give to others. During her time at school, she founded her school’s chapter of the Special Care Dentistry Association and organized a “Carnival for a Cause” which raised funds for her patients who required individualized care. For Dr. Hartung, giving back is not just important, but is essential to who she strives to be in her career.
“In dentistry, we have the privilege of caring for people during vulnerable moments, and that responsibility extends beyond the clinic,” said Dr. Lydia Hartung. “By giving back, especially to those who face barriers to care, we help create a world that is a little more compassionate, a little more kind, and a little more just.”
DLN is actively working to grow the Brian D. Stone Award program, inviting more dental schools to participate and recognize more dedicated students. If your institution is interested in offering this recognition, please fill out this form.
2025 Brian D. Stone Award Recipients
Anna N. Panfill, ATSU Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health
Anthony Nguyen, West Virginia University School of Dentistry
Ariana Mehrabani, Louisiana State University Health Science Center School of Dentistry
Brandon Zadeh, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso Woody L. Hunt School of Dental Medicine
Cayli Cohrs, University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry
Chi Le, Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Arizona
David Arkow, Touro College of Dental Medicine
Emily Krieg, LECOM School of Dental Medicine
Emily Thornberry, Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine
Ethan Smith, The University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics
Gisselle Perez, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry
Grace Ansley, University of Florida College of Dentistry
Hannah Battle, UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry
Hannah Jorgensen, University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry
Jake Wallach, University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine
Jarrett Adkins, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry
Jason Beugnet, Marquette University School of Dentistry
Jessica Zammitti Jordan, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
Jocelyn Gonzalez, University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry
Jonathon Scaringe, Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University
Juliet Smith, University of Utah School of Dentistry
Justin Biam, University of Tennessee Health Science Center: College of Dentistry
Kai Xi Lin, Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine
Kaylyn Alice Hudson, The University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine
Kelly Lemus, ATSU Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health
Kimber Haley, Medical University of South Carolina College of Dental Medicine
Kristyn Gordon, University of New England College of Dental Medicine
Larekia Brown, Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry
Ludmila Doller, Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine
Luke Bertrand, Creighton University School of Dentistry
Luke Maddox, UAB School of Dentistry
Lydia Hartung, East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine
Madeline Sullivan, UNLV School of Dental Medicine
Margo Elizabeth Nash, Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine
Maryam Baldawi, UT Health Houston School of Dentistry
Megan McCulloch, New York University College of Dentistry
Mhary De Francia, University of Washington School of Dentistry
Michelle Frances Perena Abad, Loma Linda University School of Dentis
Mira Patel, University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine
Molly Roettger, University of Minnesota School of Dentistry
Nathan Hacker, Indiana University School of Dentistry
Nik Weske, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry
Nikitha Lanka, UNC Adams School of Dentistry
Nupur Moramganti Reddy, Temple University Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry
Olivia Iyar, Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine
Paige Madden, Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Illinois
Paige Samantha Warmuth, University of Buffalo School of Dental Medicine
Paola Benefo, UCSF School of Dentistry
Priscilla Hu, University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry
Rebecca Counts, University of Louisville School of Dentistry
Rebecca Lynn Clem, Harvard School of Dental Medicine
Saania Mehrin, University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine
Samuel O. Cox, Columbia University College of Dental Medicine
Sara Qualls, Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine
Sarah Carter, University of Michigan School of Dentistry
Stephanie L. Bobbitt, OHSU School of Dentistry
Sydney Tompkins, Howard University College of Dentistry
Tam Nguyen, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry
Theodore Huster, University of Kentucky College of Dentistry
Tiffany Hoang, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC
Tiffany Kim, UCLA School of Dentistry
Tiffany Yuen, University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry
Vanessa Stitzlein, The Ohio State University College of Dentistry
William Farmer, University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Dentistry
Yvette Rodriguez, UCLA School of Dentistry
Zachary Vigil, University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine
Zoe Singer, Rutgers School of Dental Medicine
