Dentist from Rio Rancho wins UNM Alumni Award

RIO RANCHO — A Sunland Park, New Mexico, dentist from Rio Rancho received an alumnus award from University of New Mexico.

Abdullah Shah, DDS, BSPH, and a La Clinica de Familia dentist received the Inspirational Young Alumnus Award.

According to the UNM alumni award website, the award recognizes significant contributions by an individual, whether through professional achievement or community service.

“Recipients demonstrate a commitment to excellence in post-academic life and an ongoing commitment to professional work, research, multicultural relations and/or volunteerism, while being recognized as an emerging leader,” the website says.

Shah currently practices at La Clinica de Familia, a federally-qualified health center in Sunland Park, which provides medical, dental and behavioral health services to low-income and underserved people in Southern New Mexico.

Shah attended the University of New Mexico full time from 2016-19 as a Presidential Scholar. In three years, he graduated summa cum laude with the Clauve Award with a Bachelor of Science Degree in population health.

He then went on to attain his Doctorate in Dental Surgery (DDS) at the Creighton University School of Dentistry as a National Health Service Corps (NHSC) scholar. In 2023, he graduated with his DDS in Omaha, Nebraska, with several awards in endodontics, implants, research publications, leadership, community service and as the youngest graduate in his class.

“Throughout his educational and professional careers, Dr. Shah has focused on improving health care access for those who need it, whether it be through community service, contributing through leadership roles, simply being at work or obtaining continuing education, or by giving back through providing mentorship at his childhood schools of Salam Academy and the Presbyterian Ear Institute,” UNM said in a news release.