2025 Joseph L. Bernier Dental Research Competition Results
17 October 2025 – LTC Andres Mendoza, committee chair of the Bernier Dental Research Competition, announces that MAJ Brandi Gervais, CDR Joseph Grant and LCDR Beau Shaw are Bernier Dental Research Award recipients for 2025. The competition is designed to recognize dental research in the Army Dental Corps and to select the best scientific research papers written by graduating or recently graduated dental residents.
MAJ Gervais’ manuscript, “Success Rate of Identifying Dental Pulp Stem Cells in Intact Extracted Third Molars,” takes first place. COL Erik Reifenstahl was MAJ Gervais’ program directors and MAJ Matthew Rehmel was her research mentor.
In second place is CDR Grant’s manuscript, “A Comparative Analysis of U.S. Coast Guard Dental Emergency Visits.” LTC John Krider was CDR Grant’s program director and MAJ Eric Hu was his research mentor.
LCDR Shaw’s manuscript, “Comparing Shade Matching Ability of Universal Composites Using a Spectrophotometer Under Dry and Wet Conditions,” receives third-place recognition. LTC Kreider was LCDR Shaw’s program director and MAJ Eric Hu was his research mentor.
Additional entries receiving honorable mention include CPT Braxton Duncan, MAJ Han Kim, MAJ Chelsea Harris, CPT Jong Kim and MAJ Dustin Nygard.
The annual competition was established more than 29 years ago. It is named for Major General Joseph L. Bernier, who is credited with advancing dental education and military dental research. MG Bernier was the 14th chief of the U.S. Army Dental Corps.