Written by Dr. Shadid Aziz:  “Last night I had the honor to celebrate my mentor, Dr. Steven Roser, as he received the 2024 Elizabeth Beckman Award for his long history of service in global surgery. The Beckman Award has very unique criteria, the nominator (aka me) must have developed a sustainable impactful organization (www.smilebangladesh.org) and in turn nominate the person who inspired/mentored/advised (aka Dr. Roser) the nominator in developing said organization. Those who know me know I consider Dr. Roser more than a mentor, a professional father. It was during my time training under him at Columbia Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery that he exposed me to global surgery and the impact a surgeon can make with a bit of effort for the most needy worldwide. His example and mentorship combined with my father’s example laid the foundation for Smile Bangladesh. He is so much to so many that he trained in his 50 year academic career. A more deserving person there is not. Congratulations Dr. Roser!”

Dr. Steven M. Roser, DMD, MD, FACS, FRCSEd is the DeLos Hill Chair and Professor of Surgery, Residency Program Director, Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Emory University School of Medicine & Chief, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Service at Grady Memorial Hospital. Dr. Roser has an extensive history of international service that includes being a team leader for Healing the Children Northeast every year since 1992, taking surgical teams to countries in Central and South America to provide cleft lip and cleft palate repair.

Dr. Shadid R. Aziz, DMD, MD, FACS, FRCSEd is a Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Rutgers University, is a Diplomat of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Aziz volunteered for years with Healing the Children Northeast, traveling to Ecuador and Bangladesh since 2002, and started his own non-profit Smile Bangladesh in 2006.