BOSTON —The National Wrestling Hall of Fame has announced that Myron Allukian, Jr., DDS, MPH will be inducted as an Outstanding American into their Massachusetts Chapter. Dr. Allukian will be the first dentist ever to be recognized in the 24-year history of the organization.
The induction ceremony, which includes a plated dinner, will take place at Gillette Stadium’s Putnam Club on October 28, 2023, at 3 p.m. Tickets can be purchased for the event here.
Dr. Allukian is a nationally and internationally recognized public health expert, a Vietnam War veteran, the son of an Armenian Genocide survivor and a former Tufts wrestling captain. Among his many roles, he served as the dental director for the city of Boston for 34 years and has been on the faculties of various schools of dental medicine (including Harvard, Boston University and Tufts) and public health (including Harvard and Boston University).
For 58 years, Dr. Allukian has worked as a tireless and fearless leader in promoting better health, social justice and improved access to care for the most vulnerable, not only in Massachusetts and the nation but internationally as well. He has been called “The Social Conscience of Dentistry.”
Dr. Allukian has received over 50 awards, including the prestigious Paul Revere Award from the Massachusetts Public Health Association last November for five decades of outstanding public health leadership. He continues to serve on the Board of Trustees at the New England College of Optometry and is a consultant to NYU Langone Dental Medicine. Dr. Allukian is also an advisor to the Oral Health Working Group, World Federation of Public Health Associations.
Raised in Boston’s South End, his mother was an Armenian Genocide survivor. A first-generation college student, Dr. Allukian received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from then Tufts College, his DDS from the University of Pennsylvania and his MPH from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH).
Allukian began wrestling during his freshman year at Tufts in 1956, becoming captain and MVP his senior year when he took second at the New England AAU championships.
Allukian’s 50 year affiliation with the Boston Young Men’s Christian Union (YMCU), located on Boylston Street in Boston prior to its closure in 2013, enabled him to further pursue his passions for gymnastics, juggling, wrestling and teaching. A Boston Globe article (February 1960), “Tufts Wrestling Captain is Meat Cleaver Juggler,” documented his invention of the pirouette or spin leg take down. He taught this spin move to Kenny Mallory, who used it to help him win one Division I and three Division III NCAA titles.
Although never a wrestling champion himself, Dr. Allukian says that he has used his wrestling knowledge, training, experiences and competitive spirit to tackle the many challenges and barriers that he has faced when trying to improve the health and lives of vulnerable and high-risk populations in our country and abroad.
The Massachusetts Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame states that its mission “is to promote and strengthen the sport of wrestling in Massachusetts. We do this by preserving the history of Massachusetts wrestling, recognizing our excellence, and inspiring future generations to learn from our great sport.”
Dr. Myron Allukian’s recognition by the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame demonstrates that the skills developed from wrestling can help our youth establish a solid foundation from which remarkable goals can be reached and an impactful life can be achieved.
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Dr. Allukian is beacon of wisdom in our dental profession. I feel honored to have been his student and to continue learning from him through his continuous work and advice on important dental public health issues. Long life for a wise man.
Dr. Martha Mutis, President Elect – Hispanic Dental Association.
Dr. Myron Allukian Jr is without a doubt someone who has had a tremendous impact on my life to be a better dentist and public health professional. His voice rings deeply in my soul. He taught me to pay attention to details and to think broadly. His life is a testimony to this as his professional career and advocacy efforts has impacted millions of lives. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to be his student. Congratulations on another achievement Dr Allukian. Your students will continue to make you proud.
Dr Melvin Thomas
CEO , Smile Rite Dental
Houston, Texas