IAOTP names Shankargouda Patil for 2026 global dental award

The International Association of Top Professionals will honor Prof. Shankargouda Patil with its 2026 Global Impact Award in Dental Research and Education at its annual gala in New York City. The recognition highlights his work in dental education, translational research and digital health innovation, along with a career that spans more than 500 publications and leadership roles in the U.S., Italy and Saudi Arabia.

Why it matters: - The award puts a spotlight on dental research and education at a time when schools and clinics are testing new tools in digital health, artificial intelligence and virtual reality. - IAOTP says the honor recognizes professionals with measurable leadership, academic achievement and field-wide impact. - Patil’s work spans oral pathology, oncology, academic publishing and technology-driven dental education.

What happened: - The International Association of Top Professionals selected Prof. Shankargouda Patil for its 2026 Global Impact Award in Dental Research and Education. - IAOTP will honor Patil at its annual awards gala at the Plaza Hotel in New York City in December. - Patil is Director of Translational Science and Digital Health Innovation at the College of Dental Medicine, Roseman University of Health Sciences in South Jordan, Utah. - Patil also serves as Visiting Professor of Oral Pathology at the School of Dental Medicine, University of Siena in Italy. - IAOTP President Stephanie Cirami said the panel found Patil to be “inspirational, influential, and a true visionary and thought leader.”

The details: - Patil has more than 15 years of experience in the field. - From 2016 to 2022, Patil was an Associate Professor in the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences at Jazan University in Saudi Arabia. - Patil is Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice. - Patil serves on editorial boards of multiple international dental and medical journals. - Patil has more than 500 peer-reviewed publications, more than 42,000 citations and an H-index of 69. - Patil is co-editing a Springer Nature book titled COVID-19 in Dental Practice. - Patil is a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow’s Faculty of Dental Surgery, the International College of Dentists, the Pierre Fauchard Academy and the ADEA Leadership Institute. - Patil has delivered invited lectures at major dental and medical conferences worldwide. - Marquis Who’s Who has named Patil a Top Educator and Top Scientist and listed him in its bibliography. - Patil earned a Bachelor of Dental Surgery from P M Nadagouda Memorial Dental College and Hospital. - Patil earned a master’s in dental surgery from Shree Balaji Dental College. - Patil earned a Ph.D. in Medical Biotechnology from the University of Siena in 2019. - Patil was awarded IAOTP’s Top Professor and Innovator of the Year in Transitional Research last year. - Patil was featured in Forbes and Associated Press. - Patil was named one of the Top 5 Exceptional Leaders to Follow in 2025. - Patil is being considered for a feature in TIP (Top Industry Professionals) Magazine. - More information is available on Patil’s website. - More information on IAOTP is available at IAOTP’s website.

Between the lines: - IAOTP’s selection process is designed to be selective, and the organization says membership is not open to the general public. - The award adds to Patil’s existing recognition pipeline and reinforces his profile as both a scholar and a public-facing leader in dental innovation. - Patil’s stated interests in AI and augmented or virtual reality suggest his next phase of work will focus on how dental training is taught, not just how it is researched.

What’s next: - IAOTP will celebrate Patil and other honorees at its annual gala later this year in New York. - Patil is developing programs that would integrate artificial intelligence and augmented or virtual reality into dental education. - Patil is working on a virtual reality classroom aimed at changing how dental education is delivered. - Patil plans to keep mentoring students and hopes to one day lead the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.

The bottom line: - IAOTP is recognizing Patil for a career that blends research, teaching and digital innovation, with his next chapter aimed at reshaping dental education through immersive technology.