Orthodontics Chair Dr. Sunil Kapila To Receive National Inclusion and Engagement Award

Sunil Kapila, B.D.S., M.S., Ph.D., the Dr. Thomas R. Bales Endowed Chair in Orthodontics at the UCLA School of Dentistry, has been selected as the inaugural recipient of the American Association of Orthodontists’ (AAO) 2026 Inclusion & Engagement Award, recognizing his leadership in fostering a more inclusive and collaborative orthodontic profession.

The award will be presented during the AAO Annual Session on April 30, 2026, in Orlando, Fla.

Kapila, who also serves as the School’s associate dean for strategic initiatives, has demonstrated a career-long drive to strengthen professional opportunities and cultivate an environment of community for the increasingly diverse AAO membership and in academic orthodontics. In 2020, he became the inaugural chair of an AAO task force focused on inclusion and engagement. The group later evolved into the association’s Special Committee on Inclusion and Engagement, which works to expand participation, mentorship, and professional development opportunities throughout the orthodontic community.

Through initiatives such as national forums, educational resources, and expanded networking programs, leadership development opportunities, virtual open house for under-resourced applicants to orthodontic programs, the committee has helped create new pathways for orthodontists and trainees to connect and contribute to the profession and take on leadership roles in orthodontics.

His other contributions in inclusion and engagement include recruiting and mentoring diverse faculty several of whom now hold leadership positions in academic and organized dentistry; developing scholarships and utilizing department reserves for students from disadvantaged backgrounds; developing an endowment to support the care of patients with craniofacial anomalies; and organizing and undertaking service and research endeavors in underserved communities in Kenya as part of dental student global health programs.

“Dr. Kapila’s dedication reflects our School’s commitment to both scientific excellence and a culture of inclusion within our profession,” said Dean and Professor Paul H. Krebsbach. “This national recognition from the AAO highlights the meaningful impact he has made to strengthen and broaden the orthodontic community.”

At UCLA, Kapila stewards one of the nation’s most highly regarded orthodontic specialty programs. His career has combined pioneering research, innovative clinical education, and mentorship of future orthodontic leaders and award-winning student research projects.

Kapila’s contributions to science and education have been recognized with numerous national honors throughout his career. These include the American Association for Dental Research Hatton Award, the American Association of Orthodontists Milo Hellman Award, and the AAO Foundation B.F. Dewel Honorary Research Award. He has also delivered the prestigious Jacob A. Salzmann Lecture and the Edward H. Angle Lecture at the AAO Annual Meetings, two of the association’s most distinguished speaking invitations.
 

“My commitment to inclusion has been shaped by a lifetime of experiences that taught me we are stronger when we embrace our differences,” Dr. Kapila said.

“Nearly 30 years of training diverse residents reinforced this belief, as I witnessed firsthand how inclusion enriches learning, relationships, and professional growth. It is gratifying to see those same values reflected today in an increasingly diverse AAO, an organization whose future is defined by collegiality, respect, and inclusiveness.”

The American Association of Orthodontists represents orthodontic specialists across the United States and internationally, supporting education, research, and professional collaboration while promoting the highest standards of orthodontic care. More on Dr. Kapila’s recognition and his fellow 2026 AAO awardees can be found here.