Tufts Young Alumni Achievement Award Honoree: Nicholas Gordon

Since 1941, the Tufts University Alumni Association has honored accomplished individuals for service to their profession, communities, and to Tufts. The Young Alumni Achievement Award is p resented to an alum who has graduated within the past 10 years, has made significant achievements and contributions to their profession and/or community, and is recognized for leadership in their field.

Nicholas Gordon is a native of Fort Washington, Maryland and a graduate of Morehouse College. He is the first graduate of Tufts’ DMD/MPH dual degree program, obtaining both his Doctor of Dental Medicine and Master of Public Health degrees from Tufts. Gordon went on to complete specialty training in both dental public health and pediatric dentistry at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. Gordon is a board-certified pediatric dentist and is the owner of Camp Springs Pediatric Dentistry in Maryland.  

Gordon is a Captain in the United States Air Force and currently serves as a dentist in the District of Columbia Air National Guard. Additionally, he serves as Co-Chair of the National Dental Association Global Oral Health Outreach Committee where he works to increase access to dental care for vulnerable communities domestically and abroad. An area of focus of his has been working with the University of Haiti School of Dentistry to promote oral health and prevention in rural communities in Haiti. Gordon was awarded the Herschel S. Horowitz Scholarship from the American Association of Public Health Dentistry Foundation and his research focuses on access to care for vulnerable populations.

One of Gordon’s greatest joys is speaking to students. As a clinical instructor in the Department of Public Health and Community Service at Tufts School of Dental Medicine he has the opportunity to present to dental students about disparities in oral health and discuss social justice in health care issues.

Gordon enjoys spending time with his lovely wife, Shanika and their son, Julian. In his spare time, Gordon advocates to lawmakers for increased access to oral health care for all people. He also enjoys running, kayaking and speaking to youth about the wonderful profession of dentistry.