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Local dentist wins regional award for his work with Special Olympians

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A Rochester area pediatric dentist was honored in New York City on Saturday with the 2018 Golisano Health Leadership Award for New York State.

That award, given to Dr. Abrahim Caroci, is the highest regional honor for Special Olympics health partners.

Ann Costello, the Executive Director for the Golisano Foundation, presented the award at the Jacob Javitz Center to Caroci at the Special Olympics New York Floor Hockey winter Classic.

Costello said that, “One of our chief missions at the Golisano Foundation is to improve access to inclusive health. When it comes to inclusive dentistry, Dr. Caroci is a pioneer. He is deeply committed to treating and caring for underserved populations."

Beginning his work with Special Olympics Special Smiles in Arizona, Dr. Caroci went on to be a part of a research delegation in two Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece and Los Angeles. Since moving to Rochester in 2013, he has become a Special Olympics Special Smiles Clinical Director, helping to coordinate projects locally and statewide.

Having won the state award, Caroci is now a candidate for the global recognition from Special Olympics and the Golisano Foundation at the Special Olympics Summer World Games in Abu Dhabi in March 2019.

Randy Gorbman is WXXI's director of news and public affairs. Randy manages the day-to-day operations of WXXI News on radio, television, and online.