BIRMINGHAM, AL — Pediatric dentist Doug Grant, D.M.D., of Mobile, Alabama, has been named 2004 Most Outstanding Former Trainee of the UAB Maternal and Child Health Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) project.

LEND, funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides specialized training to prospective health care professionals who plan to provide services to children with special needs.

The award was presented to Grant recently during a lecture and open house hosted by UAB’s Civitan International Research Center and Sparks Clinics, dedicated to the well-being of individuals with or at-risk for developmental disabilities. Among the clinics is the Sparks Dental Clinic, where Grant completed his training.

“Over the course of three years, Dr. Grant completed more than 4,000 hours of service at the Sparks Dental Clinic,” said John Thornton, D.M.D, UAB professor and associate dean of pediatric dentistry. “Already, he has done so much for pediatric dentistry and for special needs children.”

Grant also serves as president of the Alabama Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. “In this role, he has been instrumental in encouraging young pediatric dentists, in particular, to get involved in the development of policies and guidelines governing our profession and to become strong advocates for children’s oral health,” Thornton said.

Grant’s pediatric dentistry practice is located at 5047 Cottage Hill Road, Mobile, Alabama.