At the 2026 ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition in Montreal, which took place from March 21-24, Pitt Dental Medicine Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics Chair and Associate Professor, Wellington Rody Jr., DDS, MS, received the ADEA/AADOCR/Colgate-Palmolive Co. Dr. Dominick P. DePaola Scholar in the ADEA Leadership Institute Fellowship.
This fellowship provides an academic dental faculty member who has shown potential for leadership an opportunity to participate in the ADEA Leadership Institute.
"This is an honor that recognizes leadership in dental education and the outstanding work we are doing together in our department and in the School of Dental Medicine. This opportunity would not have been possible without the incredible support, dedication, and collaboration I receive from each of you every day. Whether through your teaching, clinical work, administrative efforts, or resident engagement, you have all played a vital role in building the strong foundation that made this recognition possible. I am truly grateful for your continued partnership and encouragement. A special thanks to Dean Oakley for supporting my nomination to this prestigious award. I look forward to bringing back fresh insights and ideas from the Institute to further strengthen our program and support our shared mission."
—Dr. Wellington Rody Jr.
The award, named in memory of Dominick DePaola, D.D.S., Ph.D., a leader in dental education, research, patient care and academic administration, is made possible by a generous commitment from the Colgate-Palmolive Co. to the American Dental Education Association (ADEA).