Rochester pediatric dentist Dr. Abrahim Caroci received the Special Olympics 2018 Golisano Health Leadership Award for New York State on Saturday at the Jacob K. Javitz Center in New York City.

Dr. Caroci is one of 109 individuals and organizations in the world to be honored this year with this award.

He is the second person to be honored from New York State since the awards were established in 2016. 

Dr. Caroci’s career started in Arizona at Special Olympics Special Smiles. He then went on to be a part of a research delegation in two Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece and Los Angeles. 

He moved to Rochester in 2013 and became a Special Olympics Special Smiles Clinical Director.

Dr. Caroci is also a board member of the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry, which focuses on integrating the medical and dental fields to serve those with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

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