NEWS
NORMAN, Okla. – David Ciesla, D.D.S., M.S., MAS, clinical assistant professor and director of the pediatric dentistry residency program at the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry, was recently awarded the Ann Page Griffin Humanitarian Award by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.
“I am honored to have been selected as the recipient of this reputable award and to be among an excellent class of other awardees who have been great examples to many,” Ciesla said. “I can only hope to be such an example to the incoming and future classes of the OU College of Dentistry pediatric dental residency program as I share my passion for making a difference in the world by serving children in need. It is a blessing to use my skills to treat under-served communities and to share this passion with students as we empower them to go out and make a difference in their communities and beyond.”
This award was established in 2010 by AAPD and honors an AAPD member dentist who has shown commitment to alleviating suffering and improving the oral health of under-served populations in the United States or abroad.
“We are immensely proud to announce that one of our esteemed faculty members, Dr. David Ciesla, has been honored with the AAPD's prestigious Ann Page Griffin Humanitarian Award,” said Paul M. Mullasseril, D.D.S., M.S., dean of the OU College of Dentistry. “This well-deserved recognition happens to coincide with this summer’s opening of the first and only pediatric dental residency program in Oklahoma, of which Dr. Ciesla is the program director. We are very honored to have him as part of our faculty, and his vision for global health is something we strive for and look forward to incorporating as he trains the next generation of pediatric dentists.”
Ciesla holds Doctor of Dental Surgery, Master of Science, and Master of Advanced Studies degrees. He is a board-certified pediatric dentist and currently serves in the undergraduate pediatric department and as the program director for the general practice residency at the OU Health Oklahoma Children's Hospital.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. OU was named the state’s highest-ranking university in U.S. News & World Report’s most recent Best Colleges list. For more information about the university, visit ou.edu.
Several graduate programs at the University of Oklahoma are ranked among the best in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Graduate Schools rankings. These include programs in the OU College of Pharmacy, the OU College of Allied Health and the Michael F. Price College of Business.
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