This award recognizes professional leadership and service to the University of Maryland School of Dentistry and the community. In its third year, the award honors Leslie E. Grant, DDS '86, MSPA, for her leadership, service, and contributions to organized dentistry.‌

Grant is a native of Charlotte, North Carolina. After receiving her Bachelor of Science Degree, Cum Laude from Boston University, Grant obtained her Master of Speech Pathology and Audiology Degree from the University of Washington in Seattle. She has worked at the Washington State Cerebral Palsy Center, The Kennedy Hospital for Children in Boston, and the North Jersey Developmental Center in New Jersey.

Grant received her Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UMSOD) in 1986. She completed a General Practice Residency at Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Paterson, New Jersey in 1987, and provided dental care in her Baltimore City office “Dentally Speaking” for more than twenty years. Most recently, Dr. Grant worked for the Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners as the Chief Dental Officer.

Some of her achievements include previous service on the Maryland State Dental Association’s Forensic Dentistry and Legislative Committees, and volunteering on the Bright Smiles / Bright Futures Colgate Palmolive Van. Grant has given testimony several times before Maryland State Legislative Committees regarding Medicaid Dentistry in Maryland to solicit expanded access to dental care for underserved and uninsured residents. Grant has also donated a day of gratis dentistry to Healthcare for the Homeless and served for six years on the Board of Directors of Health Education Resource Organization (HERO), an HIV services organization. In 1999, Grant led a dental mission to El Salvador, and she returned for further mission work in 2002. An NAACP life member, Grant has also been a World Vision child sponsor since 1977. She is a member and serves on the Board of Directors of the League of Women Voters of Baltimore County, and a Life Member of Jack and Jill of America. Her spiritual affiliations include Presbyterian Elder (1988-1992), and she is presently a member of Govans Presbyterian Church in Baltimore.

Grant participates in many professional dental affiliations. She served on the Board of Directors of the Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP) from 2010-2017, and currently serves on the Boards of the Ed Shils Entrepreneurial Fund, and the National Dental Association Foundation.  In 2015 she was named as one of Maryland’s “Top 100 Women” by the Maryland Daily Record, and in 2006 she was named as one the “One Hundred + Most Influential African Americans” by Ebony Magazine. The American Association of Women Dentists presented the Lucy Hobbs Taylor Award to Dr. Grant in 2018. 

Grant is a member of the National Dental Association, The Academy of General Dentistry, The American Association of Women Dentists, The American Dental Association and The American Speech, Language, Hearing Association. She is a Fellow in both the American and the International College of Dentists. She has chaired the Oral Health America Advocacy Committee and served on their Board of Directors. She served as Secretary of the Maryland Dental Society for six years and as a delegate for six years. Grants’ NDA activities include serving on the Reference Committee, chairing the Committee on Constitution and By-Laws and serving as speaker of the house for five years. She was the president of the National Dental Association in 2006, and served as legislative chair from 2007 through 2012.