CHICAGO, March 24, 2026 — Jeffrey J. Moses, D.D.S., F.A.A.C.S., an oral & maxillofacial surgeon from New Braunfels, Texas, is the recipient of the 2026 American Dental Association (ADA) Humanitarian Award. Dr. Moses receives the award for his decades of charitable service, most notably through Smile International Foundation (SIF), an organization he founded that provides free surgical care to underprivileged children with cleft and craniofacial anomalies.
First established in 2008 and one of the ADA’s highest honors, the Humanitarian Award annually honors an ADA member for creating a legacy of volunteer work. Dr. Moses will be recognized this fall during the ADA 2026 Scientific Session in Indianapolis, Ind., and will receive $10,000 designated to his chosen charity.
Since the 1980s, Dr. Moses has provided free surgical care to thousands of underprivileged children in the United States and internationally. As president of SIF, he currently leads 6-8 surgical missions each year, operating several clinics in Mexico and one in Costa Rica. Accompanying him on every mission is his wife, Maribel, who leads self-esteem programs and coordinates patient care records.
Mentorship is an important facet of Dr. Moses’s work. The surgical residents and fellows who join him on missions gain valuable surgical experience and learn to organize and carry out charitable programs. Oral health care professionals local to areas Dr. Moses visits receive training so that care may continue in his absence. Clinics established in Ukraine and India have become self-sufficient, treating children throughout their development. Some clinics have expanded to offer services beyond surgery, such as speech therapy, ear exams, sleep apnea screenings, radiographs, and psychological consultations.
“As an oral & maxillofacial surgeon myself, I understand deeply the profound difference Dr. Moses makes in the lives of the children he serves,” said Richard Rosato, D.M.D., president of the ADA. “His charitable work transforms communities and empowers oral health care providers, instilling a legacy of care that will result in thousands more children leading healthier, happier lives.”
Dr. Moses’s nomination letters praised him as a powerful influence on the young practitioners he mentors and the unprivileged children he serves. He is regarded as compassionate and kind, with the interpersonal skills necessary to forge relationships with local leaders that contribute to each clinic’s success. One peer noted that during a surgical mission in India, Dr. Moses installed a solar-powered water purification unit in an area lacking clean water, demonstrating that his commitment to sustainability and charity extends beyond surgical care.
“While I am deeply honored and humbled to receive the ADA Humanitarian Award, the true credit belongs to our incredible volunteers. For our team, every opportunity to provide life-long healing for a child with a facial cleft is a profound privilege,” said Dr. Moses. "We lead by giving. In serving others, you create space for the universe to pour abundance into your life.”
Dr. Moses received his dental degree from the University of the Pacific Dental School. He completed his residency in oral & maxillofacial surgery at the University of Texas HSC Parkland Memorial Hospital and his anesthesiology fellowship at John Peter-Smith Hospital. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and the National Board of Dental Anesthesiology. He is also a fellow of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery. During his time in the U.S. Naval Dental Corp., he achieved the rank of Lieutenant-Commander.
After over 30 years of academic teaching and clinical practice, Dr. Moses retired in 2003 and sold his practice, Pacific Surgical Institute, to focus on his philanthropic efforts and volunteer service.
Each recipient of the ADA Humanitarian Award has distinguished themselves by outstanding, unselfish leadership in the field of dentistry, through the expenditure of extraordinary time and professional skills to improve the oral health of underserved populations. For more information about the award, please visit ADA.org/humanitarian.