Valli Meeks, DDS, of the University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UMSOD) has been awarded the 2020 William J. Gies Award for her decades-long efforts to provide oral health services to uninsured and underinsured people living with HIV/AIDS.
Dr. Meeks is a clinical professor in the university's department of oncology and diagnostic sciences. For more than 30 years, she has directed UMSOD's PLUS Clinic, which serves Maryland residents with HIV/AIDS who have no insurance, the university said. She has also worked to incorporate competency in HIV testing into UMSOD's predoctoral dental/dental hygiene curricula.
The award is part of the annual William J. Gies Awards for Vision, Innovation and Achievement and recognizes the efforts of individuals, institutions, and organizations that advance oral health and dental education, according to UMSOD.
