Dr. Francisco Ramos-Gomez to Receive 2025 Borrow Memorial Award
International honor recognizing leadership in preventative oral health highlights School's presence at IADR 2025.
Francisco Ramos-Gomez, D.D.S., M.S., M.P.H., professor and chair of the Section of Pediatric Dentistry, has been named the 2025 recipient of the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) E.W. Borrow Memorial Award. The award will be presented on Wednesday, June 25, during the IADR General Session Opening Ceremony in Barcelona, Spain.
One of the most prestigious international honors in dental public health, the E.W. Borrow Memorial Award recognizes outstanding research and leadership in the advancement of oral health services, policy, and prevention. Established in memory of Dr. Ernest William Borrow, a trailblazer in community dentistry, the award celebrates individuals whose work has shaped the science and practice of preventive oral health on a global scale.
A passionate advocate for early childhood caries prevention, Dr. Ramos-Gomez has dedicated more than 30 years to improving oral health outcomes for vulnerable and underserved populations, particularly young children from Latino/a, immigrant, and low-income communities.
“I am deeply honored and humbled to receive this award,” said Dr. Ramos-Gomez. “It reflects not only decades of work, but also the collective commitment of so many colleagues, communities, and families who have joined in advancing children’s oral health and fighting for equity in care.”
As pediatric dentistry chair and executive director of the UCLA Center for Children’s Oral Health (UCCOH), Dr. Ramos-Gomez has championed the integration of public health principles into clinical care. His accomplishments include founding the NIDCR-funded Center to Address Disparities in Oral Health (CAN-DO), advancing medical-dental integration, and developing culturally sensitive, community-based prevention models that have influenced national policy and practice.
“Dr. Ramos-Gomez’s work is exceptional … Not only in its scope, but in its real-world impact on the lives of children and families who too often fall through the cracks of the healthcare system,” said School of Dentistry Dean and Professor Dr. Paul H. Krebsbach. “We are elated to see his leadership recognized on the international stage.”
The presentation of Dr. Ramos-Gomez with the Borrow Award punctuates the School of Dentistry’s robust presence at IADR Barcelona, June 25 to 28. The full schedule of UCLA participants is as follows:
