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The American Academy of Periodontology Foundation announced that Sara Khraibut won the Dr. and Mrs. Gerald M. Kramer Scholar Award for Excellence in periodontal plastic surgery and implant dentistry, according to a Kuwait Times report published October 4. Khraibut, who works at the Kuwait Ministry of Health, was nominated by her accredited periodontology program in the United States and advanced through selection as one of three national finalists before securing the top honor. The award is conferred each year on a single dentist enrolled in such a program.
According to the AAP Foundation, the Kramer Scholar Award includes a $10,000 one-time cash prize and evaluates candidates on academic achievement, personal motivation for excellence, integrity, leadership, community involvement and concern for others. Finalists must attend the American Academy of Periodontology annual meeting to deliver a 10-to-15-minute research presentation and participate in interviews. Claire Coleman, the 2025 recipient from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Dentistry, was the third consecutive winner from that institution, following recipients in 2023 and 2024.
Khraibut told KUNA that the achievement would encourage her to intensify efforts to serve patients and society. She expressed thanks to all who supported her during the process. Her program director submitted the nomination that led to her selection among applicants from across the country.
This success forms part of a pattern of international recognition for Kuwaiti medical professionals. In September 2026, Professor Musa Khorshid received the Pioneer Award from the International Federation of Surgery for Obesity and Metabolic Disorders during a conference in Toronto, Al Rai reported. Sheikh Dr. Salman Khalifa Al-Sabah, undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, stated that such accomplishments reflect the strength of Kuwait’s health care and academic systems.
The American Academy of Periodontology Foundation oversees multiple scholarships aimed at advancing the specialty, which focuses on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of gum disease as well as dental implants. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention figures show nearly half of all adults aged 30 years and older have periodontitis. A University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio announcement noted that the award honors the legacy of Dr. Gerald M. Kramer, an internationally recognized practitioner, educator and advocate for continuing education in dentistry.
Periodontology programs in the United States combine rigorous clinical training with research requirements that prepare graduates for leadership roles. The AAP Foundation application deadline for the award falls each year on May 15, with nominations originating from program directors at accredited institutions. Khraibut’s historic win as the first recipient from Kuwait and the broader GCC region arrives as the foundation continues to support emerging talent in the field.
