Dr Soares is the 2013 recipient of the Tony Volpe award Dr Teresa A. Madeira Soares from Dili, Timor-Leste, and qualified as a dentist from School of Oral Health, Fiji School of Medicine, Fiji Island has been working at the Ministry of Health Timor-Leste, since the completion of her studies. Her work encompassed not only clinical aspects of dentistry but also focusing on oral health programs delivered to the community. At the early stages of her professional carrier has dedicated to the oral health of the population, especially in improving the oral health of children through the school and community-based programs such as oral health promotion for the primary schools and SISCa (Integrated Community Health System/Sistema Integrado de Saude Comunitario).