The CDA Foundation is accepting nominations through May 31 for the Humanitarian Award honoring the late Dr. Andrew Soderstrom, CDA past president and co-founder of the Foundation’s volunteer-led CDA Cares program (now CDA Cares Connects).
CDA members and local dental society directors can nominate an active or retired licensed California dentist for the 2026 award. The recipient will be honored at House of Delegates in the fall, and the Foundation will make a $1,500 contribution on the recipient’s behalf to a nonprofit of their choice.
What makes a humanitarian?
Established in 2008, the Humanitarian Award recognizes California dentists who have broadly impacted oral health and improved the human condition through a lifetime of selfless commitment and volunteer leadership.
Dentists whose actions have helped the profession more fully address the needs of individuals at the local, state, national or international level will also be considered.
Dr. Soderstrom, for whom the Humanitarian Award was named in 2021, received the award himself in 2015. Along with contributing to the development of CDA Cares, Soderstrom was known for his tireless efforts to meet the dental needs of children, regardless of their families’ economic situation. His leadership was also apparent during a long-fought battle to fluoridate community water in his hometown of Modesto.
Edgardo de la Vega, DDS, earned the Humanitarian Award in 2025. For more than 50 years, de la Vega balanced his practice in San Fernando Valley’s Canoga Park with medical missions abroad. In 2015, Dr. de la Vega founded Dentistry for Every Village, a nonprofit that builds and donates fully equipped dental offices to local health care institutions, which then manage and operate the clinics to provide low-cost or no-cost care to residents.
Biographies of Soderstrom, de la Vega and all other past Humanitarian Award recipients are available on the nomination webpage.
Selection criteria and supporting nomination documents
Individuals and institutions are eligible for the Humanitarian Award if they:
- Contribute significantly to alleviate human suffering and improve the quality of life and oral health of individuals served.
- Are an inspiration to the dental profession.
- Demonstrate a lifetime of outstanding humanitarian volunteer accomplishments that bring honor to the profession.
- Show selflessness regarding direct personal or organizational gain or profit through the scope of their efforts.
The Foundation asks nominators to include with their online nomination (1) a curriculum vitae or resume highlighting the nominee’s humanitarian contributions, (2) one letter of support from an individual other than the nominator and (3) other documentation to support the nominee’s achievement.
Read the nomination guidelines for complete details on eligibility, selection criteria and required attachments. Nominate a dentist for the Humanitarian Award by Sunday, May 31.
Other Foundation grants and awards supporting dental professionals
As the philanthropic arm of the California Dental Association, the CDA Foundation works to improve the oral and overall health of all Californians by supporting the dental profession’s efforts to meet community needs. One of the ways it does this is through annual grants and awards. In addition to the Humanitarian Award, the Foundation offers in 2026:
Awards:
- Arthur A. Dugoni Award (Jan. 1-April 17)
- Public Health Leadership Award (April 1-May 31)
Grants:
- Dental School Wellness Grant (open until all funds are awarded)
- Dr. Gale Kloeffler Award (April 1-May 31)
- Dental Materials & Supplies Grant (paused in 2026)
Learn more about all Foundation grants and awards and how to apply.