Sabino receives prestigious award for oral surgery project
Dr. Ma’Ann Sabino, of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, was recently awarded the prestigious ITI Straumann Resident Scientific Presentation Award for her oral surgery research project.
Dr. Sabino is currently at the University of Minnesota Dental School and is part of the Dental Scientist Award (DSA) residents program. The DSA program combines clinical practice and research and is funded by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, a division of the National Institutes of Health.
Her winning project was entitled “Reduction of Metastatic Cancer-Induced Skeletal Fractures with Osteoprotegerin Treatment”. This project is a follow-up to the study published by Dr. Sabino and other dentists in May 2000 issue of Nature Medicine. This award-winning study examined breast cancer pain and how the treatment of metastatic bone lesions with osteoprotegerin increased the patient’s mobility and function of the affected limbs.
Dr. is the daughter of the late Dr. Henaro Sabino, a long-time dentist with the Department of Public Health, and Lupe Sabino, a long-time educator for the Public School System. Dr. Sabino comes from a family of healthcare providers with two other sisters practicing dentistry and a brother, Dr. Henaro Sabino, Jr., who is currently taking medical residency after graduating from the University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine earlier this year.
Upon graduating from dental school, Dr. Sabino’s scheduled return to practice public health dentistry changed when her interest in research increased.
“Research gives you a chance to enhance your brain and think harder. It’s a nice diversion from memorizing formulas for class. Combining research and dental school creates a nice balance for me.” she said. Dr. Sabino plans to pursue a career in academia after receiving her Ph.D.
As a winner, Dr. Sabino will attend the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) in San Francisco, CA. this month and will receive $1,500 stipend and will be honored at a small award ceremony.
