This year’s Frederick O’Reilly Hayes Prize for outstanding and innovative project work by employees in New York City agencies was awarded to the team of Ms. Ramneet Kalra and Dr. David Tepel of the Oral Health Program of the City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for their success in bringing dental services to over 700 schools. Both awardees are union members. Dr. Tepel is a member of the Doctors Council SEIU and Ms. Kalra is a member of the Organization of Staff Analysts.
“The innovative dental care program that Ramneet Kalra has implemented will benefit thousands of children in the New York City schools,” said Robert Croghan, Organization of Staff Analysts President. “We are especially proud of Ms. Kalra because her work shows enormous personal initiative and devotion to a wonderful cause.”
The team of Ms. Kalra as Director and Dr. Tepel as the Supervising Dentist has reinvigorated the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Oral Health Program. Through their efforts, there has been a seven fold increase in school services since 2015, benefiting over 90,000 children in the 2018-2019 school year. Ms. Kalra received her MBA, MPH, and undergraduate degrees from Stony Brook University, and is a DrPH candidate at Columbia University. Dr. Tepel received his D.M.D. from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and undergraduate degree from Brandeis University.
“We applaud Dr. David Tepel on being one of the recipients of the 2019 Fred Hayes Award,” said Dr. Frank Proscia, M.D., President of the Doctors Council. “His role in dental care through schools is a critically important component of providing care to all New Yorkers, including children. Helping to ensure the quality enables school children to receive oral health that is beneficial to both their overall well-being and learning experience.”
Since 2005 Prizes have been awarded to 30 people at relatively early points in their public service careers in recognition of outstanding efforts and creativity. The Frederick O’Reilly Hayes Prize Foundation is a not-for-profit, non-partisan entity independent of City government. Leaders at the Foundation are former prize winners and those who had worked with Fred Hayes, Director of the Budget in the Lindsay Administration. The Department of Citywide Administrative Services oversees nominations for the Prize from all City agencies.
