dentalum fall 2010

DentalUM magazine is published twice a year by the University of Michigan School of Dentistry.

Send comments and updates to: [email protected] or Director of Communications, School of Dentistry, Room 1218, 1011 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1078

Dean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peter PolveriniDirector of Communications . . . . . . Sharon Grayden Writer & Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jerry MasteyDesigner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Jung

Editorial Review Board: Member publicationDennis Lopatin - Chair of the AmericanRichard Fetchiet Association ofErica Hanss Dental EditorsLynn JohnsonSharon Grayden - ex officio

The Regents of the University: Julia Donovan Darlow, Laurence B. Deitch, Denise Ilitch, Olivia P. Maynard, Andrea Fischer Newman, Andrew C. Richner, S. Martin Taylor, Katherine E. White, Mary Sue Coleman, ex officio

University of Michigan School of DentistryAlumni Society Board of Governors:

Terms Expire 2011:Jemma Allor, ‘00 DH, Mt. Clemens, MISondra Moore Gunn, ‘78 DDS, ‘80 MS, Ann Arbor, MIGeorge Yellich, ‘72 DDS, ‘77 MS, Los Gatos, CAMichael Cerminaro, ‘86 DDS, Muskegon , MIJohn McMahon, ‘82 DDS, Grand Rapids, MI

Terms Expire 2012:Metodi C. Pogoncheff, ’76 Lansing, MIWayne Olsen, ’81 Traverse City, MISheree Duff, ’80 BSDH, Grand Blanc, MIDavid O. Cramer, ’93 Grand Rapids, MIScott Schulz, ’96 Traverse City, MI

Student Representative: Anh Pham (D3)

Terms Expire 2013:Kathleen Early, ‘77 DH, Lakeland, MIKerry Kaysserian, ‘81 DDS, Traverse City, MIJeff Smith, ‘82 DDS, ‘85 MS, Grand Rapids, MIJerry Booth, ‘61 DDS, ‘64 MS, Jackson, MIJanis Chmura Duski, ‘89 DDS, Gaylord, MI

Ex Officio Members:Peter Polverini, DeanJanet Souder Wilson, ‘73 DH, Northville, MIAlumni Association LiaisonSteve C. Grafton , Executive Director, Alumni Assoc.Richard R. Fetchiet, Director of External Relations and Continuing Dental Education

The University of Michigan, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University of Michigan is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, height, weight, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. Inquiries or complaints may be addressed to the Senior Director for Institutional Equity, and Title IX/Section 504/ADA Coordinator, Office of Institutional Equity, 2072 Administrative Services Building, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1432, (734) 763-0235, TTY (734) 647-1388. For other University of Michigan information call (734) 764-1817.

Copyright © 2010 The Regents of the University of Michigan

his issue of DentalUM is filled with numerous examples of how the School of Dentistry exhibits leadership on our campus, throughout the state, and around the

world. I encourage you to visit our Web site for expanded coverage and additional stories and videos: www.dent.umich.edu. It’s not often that one of our alums becomes president of the American Dental Association, the nation’s largest dental organization. The last time it happened was in 1967-1968 when Dr. Floyd Ostrander held that office. On October 13, 2010, Dr. Raymond Gist, DDS Class of 1966, became ADA president. In May, he delivered the School’s commencement address. In September, he was honored with the Distinguished Service Award from the Alumni Board of Governors. Everyone at the School of Dentistry extends our congratulations to Dr. Gist for his outstanding achievements. Our students and faculty have also distinguished themselves. The IADR honored Professors Jacques Nör and Paul Krebsbach with awards for their individual scientific contributions to dentistry. We were equally proud when three Oral Health Science PhD students, Chad Novince, Yuhe Lu, and Kathryn Ritchie, were invited to participate in the prestigious Hatton Competition at the IADR meeting in Barcelona, Spain. The American Association of Public Health Dentistry awarded dental hygiene students Michelle Washburn, Brittany Forga, and Tanzeela Rashid first place in the Student Merit Award competition. Research and discovery are crucial to the future of dental education and the profession. In May, the School hosted the first Dental Deans Forum to discuss the role of science in dental education and the standards needed to move dental education forward. Innovation, scholarship, collaboration are key to securing the future of the profession and forums like this are an ideal venue to further the discussion. Michigan will continue to lead on all fronts—teaching, research and patient care. That we are recognized for our accomplishments is an added bonus. I invite you to share in these achievements.

Sincerely,

Peter J. Polverini, Dean

Fall 2010 Volume 26, Number 2

D E A N ’ S M E S S A G E

Leadershipand Recognition

FEATURES

1 Congratulations, Dr. Gist Michigan alum’s advice for students plus his plans as ADA president

3 Dental Deans Forum

5 Graduation

9 AlumniProfile The Grabers

16 BacktoSchool-After23Years Carol Wiese returns for her DDS

18 75 Receive Free Mouth Guards

19 Curriculum Changes Begin

23 FacultyProfile Anne Gwozdek

DEPARTMENTS21 Faculty News25 Dental Hygiene27 Research 30 Alumni News

C O N T E N T S

Cover photo:Dr. Ray Gist, a graduate of the Dental Class of 1966, became president of the American Dental Association in October. Photo by Per Kjeldsen.

3

5

16

18

For more stories and the latest news go to Current News on our

Web site: www.dent.umich.edu

DentalUM FALL 201011

he last 12 months have been a whirlwind for Dr. Raymond Gist (DDS 1966). Last fall, he began serving a one-year term as president-elect of the American Dental Association. In May, he delivered the commencement address

to dental students at Hill Auditorium. On October 13, he became president of the ADA. The road to the presidency of the nation’s largest dental association actually began in Flint, Michigan, nearly 68 years ago. “My parents were hard workers and I learned from their example,” he said. His mother, Vesta, was a maid; his father, Isaac, was a janitor at Buick City, the massive General Motors facility. Others in his family also worked at GM. Listening to them talk about their jobs, young Ray Gist began developing plans for his future. When he was in the sixth grade, he told his parents and an elementary school counselor that he wanted to become a dentist. “The dentists I knew were intriguing,” he said. “I liked the respect they got from the general public, and I liked their lifestyle.” Gist said he thought going to dental school would be less expensive and would take less time than if he decided to become a physician. “I don’t think they believed that I would be able to do it because I would be the first member of my family to go to college,” he said in an interview that can be seen on the School of Dentistry’s Web site: www.dent.umich.edu. Gist said “they took me under their wing and said, ‘that’s a really good idea, and if you’re able to do this, we’d just love it. But

make sure you don’t get too overly excited about it, just in case you’re not able to pull it off’.” Gist said he was one of a few students who took college preparatory courses in high school. With his goal in mind, he concentrated on physics and chemistry. Counselors at Flint Northern High School were impressed and supported his efforts. After graduating in 1960, he attended Flint Junior College, later known as Mott Community College. He said the good grades he earned there in science and math “were crucial to my acceptance” at the U-M School of Dentistry.

Advice for Dental Students “Difficult.” That was the word Gist used to describe the dental curriculum at U-M. “The workload was surprising. I didn’t realize it would be as intense as it was,” he said. “A lot of my classmates did not make it past the first year. I think it was designed that way, just to see who was tough enough to stay focused.” In class five days a week, eight hours a day, Gist said that despite the workload, he never thought about quitting. “That’s one thing I could never do is quit,” he said. He successfully met the challenges he faced and enjoys sharing some of the important lessons he learned with dental students he meets. “I learned early on that I had to stay focused. With the workload, there was hardly any time to do anything but study because if I faltered, I knew I would be in trouble,” he said. The other important lesson he learned was maintaining self-confidence, “knowing I could get through this, regardless of how difficult it was.” Gist also said there are other words of encouragement he likes to pass along. “The reason a student is in this school is because they have something special to offer. They’re selected from a

U-M School of Dent ist ry President of the American

“The University of Michigan School of Dentistry prepared me for a future in dentistry better that I could have ever imagined. And I appreciate it. I sit here now as president of the American Dental Association, and I owe it all to the dental school.”

Per Kjeldsen


multitude of other applicants to this university,” he said. “That means they have a talent that’s recognized by faculty and by those involved in accepting them to the university. They should take that to heart and use it to their advantage. The confidence will come as they realize their input is significant, their ideas are accepted, and they have the creativity to practice dentistry.”

Addressing the Cost of Dental Education As president of the 157,000 member ADA, Gist said he would focus on several important issues during his one-year term, including the high cost of dental education. “I borrowed $25,000 from the government to pay for my dental educat ion and had a ver y easy repayment system when I left the armed services. But today’s students build up a tremendous amount of debt paying for their dental education,” he said. At the U-M School of Dentistry, for example, the average debt level of U-M graduating dental students in 2009 was $161,609. Tuition, fees, books, and instruments for the 2010-2011 academic year totaled more than $38,000 for a first-year in-state student and more than $55,000 for a first-year nonresident. The ADA, he said, is investigating ways to try to offer new options for students to repay their education loans so financial burdens don’t limit their professional and/or personal plans after graduation. He noted that a commitment to the military or other government service

is one way to manage student debt. Lobbying the government for loan forgiveness programs for those who provide care to underserved populations is an option, as is an initiative to encourage dentists to pursue a career in dental education. Getting Involved in Organized Dentistry “Get involved” could be his motto. Pointing to his own experience, Gist said his initial involvement with organized dentistry began with the Genesee District Dental Society’s legislative committee. “I saw the benefits right away,” he said. “What we could get done as a group with policy makers was just amazing. Realizing that my input and the input of our committee was so effective made me think ‘if we can get this far at this level, then what could we do at higher levels’?” When opportunities arose, Gist became involved in leadership roles with both the Michigan Dental Association and the American Dental Association. He urges dental students to get involved in organized dentistry as soon as they begin their dental education. “That will allow them to learn more about what’s going on with the dental profession at state and local levels,” he said. “Organized dentistry has much to offer,” Gist said. “It helps us have a united voice” in educating legislators at state and national levels about what concerns members have, the direction the profession is taking, and more. Asked about the future of the dental profession, Gist said, “I think the future is bright, but we have to show the value of membership. …My objective is to make new graduates realize that they need to be a member of organized dentistry, and without organized dentistry they would be lost.”

Still Involved with U-M Drawing on experiences from his past and trying to make a difference in the lives of dental students, especially at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, is deeply embedded in Gist. In addition to delivering this spring’s commencement address, he spoke to first-year dental students at their White Coat Ceremony in 2003. He has also gifted $100,000 to the School for scholarships for dental students. When asked to look back on his career, either as a dental student or new practitioner, if he ever thought that one day he would deliver a commencement address at his alma mater as president-elect of the ADA and that he would become the organization’s president that same year, Gist smiled and said, “No. Never in my wildest dreams.”

Dr. Gist discusses the use of

technology in the classroom

with Dr. Jose Vivas.

Alumnus NowDental Association

Jerry Mastey

watch video of Dr. Raymond Gist’s interview. Click on the Special Features icon at www.dent.umich.edu


Research & Discovery Crucial to Dental Education

esearch and discovery are cornerstones of dentistry that will lead the profession into the future. That was the message from deans, associate deans, and other leaders from nearly three dozen dental schools in the U.S. and Canada who came to Ann Arbor in May to discuss the future of

dental education, particularly at research-intensive schools such as the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. Also participating in two days of discussions were Lawrence Tabak, director of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research; Christopher Fox, executive director of the International Association for Dental Research; and Jack Bresch, associate executive director of the American Dental Education Association. “The dental deans forum was called to engage leaders from research-intensive dental schools in a frank discussion about the role of science in dental education and the standards needed to keep dentistry moving forward, said School of Dentistry Dean Peter Polverini who organized and chaired the forum. Research and discovery are vital to the mission of every dental school,” he said. “We must measure everything we do in order to validate our clinical expertise. If we don’t link research and discovery with how we teach dentistry, we run the risk of becoming a trade instead of a profession.” Welcoming the group, U-M Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs, Philip Hanlon, said “research universities have had a profound impact on society.” He noted that dental schools have an obligation to achieve a level of distinction comparable to other highly ranked schools and colleges within the university. In opening remarks, Tabak talked about dental research funding trends. He noted the percentage of research awards and grants to dental schools has decreased

Deans and associate deans from nearly three dozen dental schools in the U.S. and Canada met in Ann Arbor in May to discuss the future of dental education, particularly at research-intensive schools.

Per Kjeldsen


from 69 percent in the early 1990s to approximately 47 percent in 2009, even though the dollar amount has increased. “There is more competition for research dollars from non-dental schools, such as medical schools and other health science institutions. Our ability to effectively compete for these dollars will, in the long run, jeopardize our independence as a freestanding profession,” he said.

Asserting Leadership During three breakout sessions, participants discussed numerous topics, including ways research oriented dental schools might assert their leadership in what is emerging as a tiered system of dental education. Different schools have different missions and each must be accountable to their parent institution. Historically, dental schools have had a three-fold mission — teaching, research, and patient care. New dental schools have moved away from this model and seem to have a more singular focus — teaching. “We should accept a tiered system and work together to determine how the various tiers can interact to ensure research and discovery remain at the forefront of the model for education and clinical care,” Polverini stressed. A consensus emerged during group discussions advocating that research-intensive schools should provide the basic scientific foundations for schools that do not have that as their core mission. Polverini reiterated the group’s sentiment that research-based dental schools “need to be a destination where exciting ideas are considered, interesting problems are investigated, and paradigm-changing questions of scale and scope are discussed.” He added that research-intensive schools could

“supply the science for evidence-based work that impacts all aspects of oral health and related systemic influences.” Questions were also raised about the relationship of dental schools with the American Dental Education Association and the American Association for Dental Research and how these groups might interact to advance the research focus of dental schools. “These relationships need to be clarified and enhanced so it is clear there is an emphasis on the importance of research,” Polverini said. The group determined the Council on Dental Accreditation should continue to define and shape the key role research plays in dental education and the profession. “Research needs to be specifically encouraged with specific targets for different schools, depending on their mission,” Polverini said.

Applying Innovation, Leadership, Excellence In a second breakout session, Deans Forum participants discussed how research-intensive dental schools could apply educational innovation, scholarly excellence, and academic leadership to affirm their value to their universities. Strategic planning and partnerships within a university are essential and should be aggressively pursued. These partnerships enhance the scope and breadth of research and broaden the campus-wide linkages with the entire scientific community. Since students today are tomorrow’s

academic faculty, dental schools must sustain developing outstanding faculty through role modeling and creating special tracks of education for elite students to encourage them to pursue academics and research.

Collaboration Strategies Collaboration and sharing academic resources among dental schools offers a way to advance and build inquiry and support evidence-based practice. Participants agreed that intra- and inter-institutional collaboration is becoming increasingly important to expand interest in pursuing challenging research questions. There’s also a need to work on approaches to bolster those interactions. One suggestion included trying to change the mindset and “territoriality with and between schools.” Given dentistry’s importance to systemic health, there were also discussions about ways research-intensive dental schools could become more directly aligned with other health sciences units to enhance research opportunities and develop innovative and better integrated educational and patient care programs. “We were successful in having an in-depth discussion of many issues,” Polverini said. “My hope is that the conversation will continue and together, all in academic dentistry can work together to write a Gies Report for the 21st century.”

Per Kjeldsen

Deans Forum participants suggest innovation, scholarship, and inter-

institutional collaboration are key to securing the future of the profession.


GraduationDay

t was a graduation and a homecoming for Dr. Raymond Gist. Gist, who earned his dental degree from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry in 1966, returned to his alma mater in early May to deliver this year’s commencement address

as president-elect of the American Dental Association. On October 13, he became president of the nation’s largest dental association that represents nearly 156,000 members. Recalling his graduation, Gist said, “I was full of fear and anxiety.” However, he quickly added with a smile, “all of you look relaxed, composed, and ready to begin the next chapter of your lives.” On behalf of organized dentistry, Gist told graduates, “the entire dental profession is extending a warm welcome to have you join us as fellow professionals. All of us are anticipating that the principles of integrity, dedication, focus, and hard work that successfully guided you through dental school will follow you throughout your professional career.” Acknowledging that many are apprehensive about their future and the challenges they face, Gist told graduates their dental education at the University of Michigan has “positioned you to overcome them all.” He added, “as a leader in dentistry, you won’t retreat from those challenges. You will welcome them…and look for more.” Reminding graduates the dental profession “is built on a foundation of professionalism, trust, and ethical behavior that is above reproach,” Gist said, “it will be your responsibility to maintain that privilege and to preserve that foundation.” He urged them to get involved in organized dentistry. Recalling a recent appearance on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. to talk about oral health care, Gist said that after he began practicing dentistry, “I never considered the presidency of the ADA as being available to me. But when I became aware of the many benefits organized dentistry had to offer, I was encouraged to participate and realized how influential my contribution to moving the profession forward could be.”

ADA President Challenges Graduates to “Get Involved”

Per K

jeld

sen

May 7, 2010


All photots Per Kjeldsen

Sara Arnold and her father, Dr. Gary Arnold (DDS 1975)

Katherine Cramer and her father, Dr. David Cramer (DDS 1978)

Maciek Dolata and his father, Dr. Andrzej Dolata (DDS 1989)

Todd Halonen and his father, Dr. Rodney Halonen (DDS 1978)

John Hamerink and his father, Dr. Howard Hamerink (DDS 1976)

Nathan Martzke and his father, Dr. Richard Martzke (DDS 1972)

Andrew Olsen and his father, Dr. Wayne Olsen (DDS 1981)

Matthew Ora and his father, Dr. Dennis Ora (DDS 1972)

Sean Patrick and his father, Dr. Timothy Patrick (DDS 1974)

Steven Pesis and his father, Dr. Solomon Pesis (DDS 1980)

David Schoonover and his father, Dr. William Schoonover (DDS 1977)

Elizabeth Vinckier and her mother, Dr. Mary Vinckier (DDS 1982)

Katie Warner and her father, Dr. Frank Alley (DDS 1981)

13 Alumni HoodSons, Daughters

Twelve fathers and one mother who earned a dental degree from the U-M School of Dentistry hooded a son or daughter before their graduate walked across the stage at Hill Auditorium to receive their diploma.

Listen on the WebYou can listen to the remarks of all graduation speakers and see

additional photographs by visiting the School of Dentistry’s Web site:

www.dent.umich.edu. Click the the Special Features icon


Graduation Day

Paul Gibbons Award Given to Dr. Berna Saglik

The Dental Class of 2010 presented the Paul Gibbons Award to Dr. Berna Saglik during commencement ceremonies. The award recognizes an instructor graduating dental students consider the most influential during their time in the School’s predoctoral program. Gibbons was a nationally known expert in prosthetic dentistry and cleft palate treatment and surgery until his untimely death in 1964 at the age of 44. Saglik, a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences and Prosthodontics, teaches in the comprehensive care clinics and directs the removable partial denture course. Her research interests are in dental implants and ceramics. She also studies the precision of fit and fracture resistance of all ceramic fixed partial dentures. Saglik received her dental degree from Marmara University in Istanbul, Turkey, where she practiced for three years after graduation. She completed her graduate prosthodontics training at the U-M School of Dentistry in 2007.

Ryan Turner Award to Ryan Shinska The president of the Dental Class of 2010, Ryan Shinska, was named the recipient of the Ryan E. Turner Memorial Award. The award recipient is selected by the graduating dental students and recognizes a colleague who best exemplified Turner’s enthusiasm for dentistry, compassion for patients, and Turner’s character. Presented for the first time in 2008, the award was named for the late Ryan Turner, a dental student who died unexpectedly in 2007 a few months before he was to have received his dental degree.

Per Kjeldsen

Ryan Shinska, Dental Class of 2010 president

Dr. Berna Saglik

Per Kjeldsen


36 ReceiveDental Hygiene Degrees

Thirty-six Bachelor of Science degrees in dental hygiene were presented during graduation ceremonies. Congratulating the graduates, Dr. Raymond Gist, president-elect of the American Dental Association, also acknowledged four dental hygiene students who received national awards for their innovative public health initiatives. Praising them for their work, he said, “You have demonstrated compassion and professionalism and I commend you for that.”

Outstanding Faculty Awardto Harrel

Graduating dental hygiene students presented their Outstanding Faculty Award to Carla Harrel, a clinical lecturer in the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine. Harrel teaches in classrooms and clinics and coordinates the pediatric dentistry rotation for hygiene students and second-year dental students. She also supervises DH students and provides direct patient care in the MDENT program.

Per Kjeldsen

Per Kjeldsen

Graduation Day

MAJOR TRAITS OF GRADUATING U-M DENTISTS

The U-M School of Dentistry dentist will be a highly skilled and self-motivated clinician who applies scientific knowledge and critical thinking to provide the best oral health. The U-M dentist will…• Haveadeepknowledgeandunderstandingofscience.• Understandtheorofacialcomplexisanintegratedsystem.• Interactwithotherhealthprofessions.• Bepreparedtoinfluencepolicyfortheprofession.• Modelintegrityandprofessionalresponsibility.

Carla Harrel


ach fondly remembers being a student at the University of Michigan and the School of Dentistry. All five are grateful for the outstanding education they

received, adding their Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Michigan has made a significant difference in their lives. But there was an important person in their lives, whose frequent visits to the School and unassuming demeanor played an important role in their decision to come to Michigan. More than 50 years after first setting foot on the U-M campus, the influence of the late Dr. Thomas Graber continues to be felt by his son, Lee Graber (DDS 1971, MS 1973, MS 1975, PhD 1980), and his daughter, Susan

ALUMNI RELATIONS

P R O F I L E SGraber (DDS 1978)…as well as Jane Berkeley Graber (DH 1969, MS 1971, DDS 1978), Lee’s wife; R. Lance Robbins (DDS 1978), Susan’s husband; and Katherine Graber Evarts (DDS 2002), the daughter of Lee and Jane Graber. Thomas Graber earned his DMD from Washington University in 1940, a master ’s in orthodontics from Northwestern University six years later, and a PhD in anatomy, also from Northwestern, in 1950.

The Michigan Connection Drawing on his research experiences on cleft patients with severe dentofacial deformities, Thomas Graber was one of the first to recognize, document, and publish data on how external forces could be used to modify the growth of the human face. That work caught the attention of Dr. Robert E. Moyers, chair of the School of

Dentistry’s Department of Orthodontics who, in 1958, invited Graber to come to Ann Arbor as a visiting faculty member. Subsequent visits to U-M confirmed for Graber that the School and the Department of Orthodontics were the finest in the country. In April 1995, he gifted $1.2 million to the School of Dentistry to fund the Thomas M. and Doris A. Graber Professorship in Orthodontics which is held by Dr. James McNamara. [See page 12.]

Why His Children Noticed Lee Graber recalled his father’s influence at an early age. “When dad came home from work, he was always upbeat and excited to talk about what he was doing and the people

The Grabers, a family of

University of Michigan

School of Dentistry

alums. Left to right:

Drs. Susan Graber,

Lance Robbins, Jane

Graber, Lee Graber, and

Katie Graber Evarts.

Jeff Freshcorn


Graber said. “We were taught more than the didactic skills of dentistry. I learned the reasoning and science behind the services we provide. This training has helped me become a better diagnostician and a better clinician.” Because the dental curriculum was so rigorous, she said, “it felt like boot camp. But teachers like Drs. Ron and Don Heys were there to offer encouragement. I’ve always been grateful for that. I not only received a great education at the

School of Dentistry, I also met the man who would later become my husband and father to our three sons.” R. Lance Robbins recalled why he came to Ann Arbor, where he met Susan Graber in their first-year gross anatomy class. Growing up in Salt Lake City, Robbins said he enjoyed working with his hands and thought about becoming an architect. He switched to dentistry because he wanted to be his own boss and thought a career in oral health care would be more rewarding. Robbins had to leave Utah to study dentistry because there were no dental schools in Utah or elsewhere in the Rocky Mountain area at the time. “A friend knew about Michigan’s reputation and

he met. I was so intrigued that I worked in his office,” he said. Susan Graber agreed. “Dad had Lee and me pegged to become dentists, yet neither one of us was ever pressured to follow in his footsteps. Initially, I wanted to become a veterinarian, but later chose dentistry realizing it was, in fact, a better career choice for me.” For nearly 20 years, Thomas Graber participated in the annual Moyers Symposium. In 1994, he delivered the Jarabak Lecture, one of the School of Dentistry’s most prestigious-named lectures. That same year, he became the first and only person from the School of Dentistry to receive an honorary degree from the University of Michigan.

Dental School Faculty and the Curriculum “I recall meeting many of dad’s colleagues, all very bright people,

when he brought me to Michigan,” Lee Graber said. “But I especially remember Dr. Moyers and the tour of the dental school. I remember him telling me that dentistry was not just practiced in clinics, but that it also included research, academics, and much more. The more Dr. Moyers told me about how well University of Michigan graduates were doing in their professional lives, dental societies, and the respect they had in their communities, the more I wanted to go to Michigan to study dentistry.” Once in dental school, both Lee and Susan Graber said they began to appreciate even more the education they were receiving at U-M. “The faculty was outstanding,” Susan

suggested I apply,” Robbins said. Robbins said “going to a Big Ten school was a good fit for me. But it became an even greater experience when I learned that one of my dental classmates, Tom Slade, had quarterbacked the Michigan football team as an undergraduate.” Robbins, who was a wide receiver at the University of Utah, said, “the close friendship I developed with Tom and the common bond we had as college football players made my Michigan experience even better.”

Meeting Dr. Hard On the other hand, Jane Berkeley Graber, Lee’s wife, said she knew from an early age what she wanted to enter the dental profession. “When I was 14, I worked for Dr. Mark Gilson, a periodontist and U-M faculty member. Some of the people in his office called me ‘the sterilization girl’

because my job was to sterilize his dental instruments. But I also learned a lot by watching and, after a while, had my own ideas about how I would run my own practice.” A f t e r t w o y e a r s a s a U - M undergraduate, Jane was accepted into the School’s dental hygiene program. The program director, Dr. Dorothy Hard, “was strict, but fair,” Jane recalls. “I especially remember her caring enough about us so that if we weren’t in class, she would call to learn why we weren’t there. Often, she asked if there was something she could do if we needed help. Once, I was unable to take a final exam. I explained why I couldn’t be there, and Dr. Hard’s response made me feel that she was there for me.”

In 1994, Dr. Thomas Graber

became the first and only

person from the School

of Dentistry to receive an

honorary degree from the

University of Michigan.


Lee Graber - DDS 1971

ALUMNI RELATIONS

Family Togetherness A w a re o f T h o m a s G ra b e r ’s groundbreaking work in orthodontics, Lance Robbins recalled his hesitation about his first-time meeting with the man who later became his father-in-law. “I felt a bit intimidated when Susan first introduced me to ‘the famous Dr. Graber’. I knew who he was and the impact he was making in dentistry,” Robbins said. “But that feeling didn’t last long. Tom welcomed me with open arms. He didn’t think he was better than anyone else, despite his professional stature. He was easy to get to know and talk to.” Jane Berkeley, who met and became friends with Lee Graber when Lee was a dental student, returned to Michigan to earn her dental degree after they were married. Jane agreed with Robbins’ assessment. “Tom never thought of himself in lofty terms,” she said. “I will always remember him as a very special and a

very caring person, especially the love he had for his children. An important goal for Tom Graber was family togetherness. He achieved that goal. He was a great dad who always enjoyed skiing, boating, or sledding with his children. To him, weekends were sacred because those were

the times he could do those things with his family.” Jane said Tom Graber also passed along something very important to her – the power of belief. “Lee always encouraged me, but Tom often told me, ‘if you have a dream, pursue it. Don’t let anyone or anything deter you.’ I took that advice to heart because, in the late 60s and early 70s, women who were in dentistry were primarily hygienists. But I wanted something different. I wanted to become a dentist.”

Another Generation That passion for oral health care has been passed on to a third generation of Grabers. Katherine (Katie) Graber Evarts, the daughter of Lee and Jane, said neither her mother nor father pressured her to become a dentist. “They wanted me to reach that decision by myself,” she said. “I enjoyed working with my hands, and planned to

major in technical theater production as an undergraduate at Miami of Ohio. In that role, I made sure sound systems, lights, and other technical elements were in place.” Those talents were recognized when she received a Bill Cosby Scholarship for the Performing Arts.

However, Katie said she began to consider dentistry the summer she worked in her mother’s office.

Praise from Patients “I was struck by how one hour with a patient could make such a difference in that patient’s life, often for years. Many times when I was shopping with my mother, patients would go out of their way to thank her for the dental work she did. The fact that her patients did that, seeing the expressions of joy on their faces, and realizing the difference she was making had a profound impact on me.” So Katie switched majors, wrote an honors thesis on periodontal pathogens, and earned a bachelor ’s degree in microbiology. Coincidentally, a fellow Miami of Ohio graduate was Laurie McNamara, the daughter of Dr. James McNamara, the Thomas M. Graber Professor of Dentistry at the U-M School of Dentistry. In 2002, Katie and Laurie crossed the stage at Hill Auditorium to receive their DDS from the University of Michigan. Today, both Katie and Laurie practice orthodontics with their fathers.

Today…and Plans for the Future Robbins and his wife, Susan Graber, chose to practice in different offices – he in Skokie, she in Glenview, Illinois. In addition to his full-time practice, Robbins is the team dentist for the Northwestern University Athletic Department. Susan, aside from her full-time practice, is active in the Chicago Dental Society, chairing the Mediation Committee, mentoring dental students, and serving on other committees. “I believe in giving back to help maintain the respect our profession commands,” she said. The husband and wife team of Lee

I’m proud to say that Michigan was a very good place to get a solid education. The Michigan faculty and my fellow students provided an environment that helped develop outstanding oral health care professionals.

Susan Graber - DDS 1978Earning my dental degree at Michigan opened many doors for me allowing me not only to practice, but also teach at universities in the Chicago area.


T h e G r abe r E ndowed

P r o fesso r sh i pIn 1995, Dr. Thomas and Doris G r a b e r, P h D, g i f t e d $ 1 . 2 million to the University of Michigan School of Dentistry to fund the Thomas M. Graber Professorship in Orthodontics. Dr. James McNamara holds that professorship. Graber’saffiliationwiththeUniversity of Michigan School ofDentistrybeganin1958whenhe was asked by Dr. RobertE. Moyers, then chair of the Department of Orthodontics, to serve as a visiting faculty member. Graber did so under twosuccessivechairs,includingDr. Lysle Johnston, Jr. Wo r l d r e n ow n e d i northodontics and craniofacial biology,Graberwasoneof thefirst to recognize, document, and publish information on using external orthopedic forces to modifythegrowthofthehumanface.Theworkwastheresultofresearch he conducted on cleft patientswhooftenhadseveredentofacial deformities. When the Grabers made their gift to the School of Dentistry, Dr. Thomas Graber said, “Very few schools in theentire country can say that they have people the caliber of Lysle Johnston and Jim McNamara. The thing that continues to impress me about the School of Dentistry is that they don’t live on their reputation. They live up to it.” Dr. Graber died at the age of 90 on June 26, 2007.

and Jane Graber also practice in different venues — Lee, as an orthodontist, in Vernon Hills and Jane, as a general dentist, in Northbrook, Illinois. Jane has reduced the time she practices to one day a week to spend time with her 3-year-old grandson, Mikey, while Katie works with her father in their Vernon Hills practice. The arrangement benefits everyone. “I really enjoy working with my dad, even though he’s right handed and I’m left handed,” she said with a laugh. “Sometimes we have different perspectives on a treatment problem,

but in the end, we develop a solution that benefits the patient.” You could hear the pr ide in Lee’s voice as he talked about the contributions his daughter has made to his practice and to his patients. “Katie works with me, just like I did with my dad,” said Lee who is the 2010-2011 president of the American Association of Orthodontists. “There’s a mutual respect we have for each other that reminds me of the wonderful relationship I had with my father.”

Lee says he hopes to practice “for 15 years or more. Just like my dad, I enjoy going to work each day and the opportunity to be a leader in organized dentistry. That’s been a part of the Graber family for a long time. It’s also enjoyable meeting people in professional organizations who have read a ‘Graber book’ or attended one of dad’s lectures. Hearing so many of my colleagues say how helpful my dad’s work has been to them and their patients is especially meaningful.” Between her practice and taking care of her grandson, Jane has plenty

to keep her busy. “I take care of my grandson three days a week. I practice on Wednesdays. On Fridays, I’m doing special projects, including giving oral health lectures and advice in elementary schools.” When asked if her son, Mikey, might become the next generation in the Graber family to practice dentistry, Katie said, “I hope so, but that will be his decision. Dentistry is a great profession that allows you to do so much and help so many.”

Jane Berkeley Graber - DH 1969, DDS 1978Of all my memories… the one person I remember most is Charlie Jaslow. His removable prosthetics class was fascinating. He loved dentistry and you felt it by the way he taught.

R. Lance Robbins - DDS 1978

Being a student at a Big Ten school, the University of Michigan School

of Dentistry, was an experience I will always remember.

Katherine Graber Evarts - DDS 2002I received a great education…the curriculum was demanding…my advice to first-year dental students is,‘Keep your head up and stay with it’ because it’s worth it.


ALUMNI RELATIONS

ery busy.” “Great to be in clinics early.” “Extremely supportive faculty.” Those were among the phrases used by a group of 10 dental and dental hygiene students who described their clinical and

classroom experiences to members of the School’s Alumni Society Board of Governors during the Board’s spring meeting. “We’re very busy. As soon as you get here in the morning, it’s a whirlwind with clinical and classroom activities,” said third-year dental student Steve Mancewicz. He told Board members that being in clinics early in the predoctoral program was a bonus. “I was doing cleanings and simple fillings as a second-year student. That turned out to be more than I expected when I came to Michigan,” Mancewicz said. Second-year dental student Ricky Lugo agreed with that assessment. “Being in the clinics early as part of our education is one of the great things about dentistry at Michigan,” he said. “When I tell some of my friends at other dental schools, they’re envious,” he said with a smile. Jody Atzmon, who described herself as “a stay a home mom who came to Michigan from Alaska,” said it wasn’t just the curriculum, but something else that influenced her decision to choose Michigan. “It was the technology we’re using. The ability to listen to classroom lectures on an iPod gives me another tool to enhance my learning after a lecture ends.” The students also praised faculty members. Second-year dental hygiene student Elizabeth Easter said, “it’s very stressful, but faculty members are extremely supportive. They want you to succeed, and you feel that.” Third-year dental student Patrick McGrath agreed. “We have a great faculty here and great clinical instructors,” he said. “Their help and support makes things go much easier which enhances our learning.” Michelle Washburn, a fourth-year dental hygiene student, said creation of clinic teams has also helped. Begun in the fall of 2009, clinic families are groups of dental and dental hygiene students and faculty who work with one another throughout the year. “As a group, we learn from each other,” Washburn said.

“The clinic team gives us opportunities to network allowing us to learn and share information that helps us as students as well as our patients.” Other dental students participating in the meeting included Dawn Kuras, Anh Pham and Carole Wiese and dental hygiene students Elizabeth Brown and Elizabeth Easter. Following remarks from the students, Dr. Sam Bander, Board chair, told colleagues, “we have some great students here at Michigan. I’m really impressed.” Another Board member, Dr. Jerry Booth, said that from his perspective as a member of the Class of 1961, “the life of a dental student today is dramatically different. That includes everything from being able to listen to lecture content on an iPod to being with a patient in clinics the first year.” He added the clinic family idea “enables dental and dental hygiene students to learn from each other and helps bring continuity to the process.” Board member Dr. Scott Schultz agreed. “With the help you receive from upper classmen, you learn a lot. You get information and insights which will be valuable as you move through the program.”

Dental students Steve Mancewicz and Patrick McGrath, standing, answer questions from members of the School’s Alumni Society Board of Governors meeting in March. Seated are (left to right): Carol Wiese, Jody Atzmon, Dawn Kuras, Ricky Lugo, and Anh Pham.

Jerry Mastey


DEVELOPMENT

scholarship that will help dental students pay for some of their education has been established by a Michigan family with longstanding ties to U-M. The $50,000 gift to the School of Dentistry is from the estate of Irwin and Fanny Lappin. Dr. Irwin Lappin earned his DDS from Michigan in 1927. His brother, Dr. Milton

Lappin, earned both of his degrees from U-M — a dental degree in 1936 and a master’s degree in orthodontics three years later. Two other Lappin brothers also attended Michigan. “As a family, we could think of no better way to remember my parents for whom education was so important,” said Enid Grauer, daughter of Dr. Irwin Lappin. “A scholarship can directly affect a student by providing important financial assistance to someone who might not otherwise be able to afford a dental school education.” Talking about her father, Grauer said, “dentistry suited him perfectly. He enjoyed working with his hands, building, and fixing things. He was goal oriented,” she continued. “So the education dad received at Michigan was critical in shaping his life. It allowed him to use his talents to benefit others and helped him realize his dreams in a profession that provided an enormous amount of satisfaction.” Grauer said her father did all of the lab work for his patients, as was the practice during that time. “He excelled at it,” she said. “When he retired, other dentists would remark about the perfection of his work in a former patient’s mouth.” The gift to the School of Dentistry was arranged by Thomas Stulberg, the grandson of Irwin and Fanny Lappin, who received his MBA from U-M in 1985. “Multiple members of the family earned degrees from Michigan,” Stulberg said. “All of us have had a great affinity for Michigan and are pleased to do what we can to help other dental students meet their educational needs now and in the future.” Other members of the Lappin family earned degrees from Michigan, including Fanny and Irwin’s older daughter, Aline (now deceased), both sons-in-law, and several grandchildren and their spouses.

Dr. and Mrs. Irwin Lappin


STUDENTS

106 D1s Receive

ne hundred six first-year dental students at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry received

white coats welcoming them to the dental profession during a ceremony July 30 at Rackham Auditorium. The 106 students, 60 men and 46 women, represent five percent of 2,075 individuals who applied for admission. Sixty-three of the first-year students are

White Coats at CeremonyMichigan residents, 43 are nonresidents. The average undergraduate grade point average of the dental class of 2014 is 3.46. In keynote remarks Dr. Gary Jeffers, president of the Michigan Dental Association, urged students to stay focused on ethics and professionalism. “These are the ideals of our profession that set us apart and help us gain respect in the eyes of the public we serve,” he said. “Ethics are not easily taught or learned. It comes from within your heart and your soul.” Jeffers advised the first-year students that, although their dental education is just beginning, “learning never ends. Life-long learning is a cornerstone of our profession. Our patients must remain confident that their dentist always has their best interest in mind and remains qualified to deal with new information and treatment innovations as they may evolve,” he said. After receiving their white coats, the dental students recited an oath promising to maintain high standards of professionalism, administer sound ethical judgment when treating patients, and pursue lifelong learning.

It was a proud moment for Jonathan Dzingle (left) as he donned his white coat.

Also receiving white coats were Jacqueline Mendoza (top) and Ash Rohra (bottom).

All Photos Call Photography


hat is it like to be a dental student…when you’re 48 years old? Ask Carol Wiese who recently returned to the classroom as a full-time student 23 years after earning an associate’s degree in

dental hygiene. Now a D2, Wiese said she entered the School of Dentistry’s predoctoral program in 2009 “because the timing was right. My two children are older. I had plenty of encouragement from Dr. Gary Sasaki (MS, restorative dentistry, 1981), my boss, a dentist in Ypsilanti. And I wanted to earn a dental degree. So, it was now or never.” Wiese was born and raised in Elkton, South Dakota, a town that hugs the Minnesota border approximately 50 miles northeast of Sioux Falls. Describing growing up in a town of about 500, Wiese said that her experiences have been very different from those of her classmates. She said her mother, “who had only an eighth grade education, became a widow when she was 36 years old and had to raise 10 children.” Wiese said the first time she saw a dentist was when she was 19, “and I was terrified.” But it was a visit to the local library to learn more about her treatment options that sparked Wiese’s interest in dentistry. In 1987 she received an associate’s degree in dental hygiene from the Madison (Wisconsin) Area Technical College. After meeting her husband and moving to the Ann Arbor area in 1993, Wiese began working for a bachelor’s degree. After taking several years off to raise her son and daughter, Weise was nine credit hours short of completing her degree requirements. She returned to the classroom as a part-time student and received her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Eastern Michigan University in December 2008. Wiese worked for five years for Dr. Gloria Kerry (DDS 1956, MS periodontics 1966) who also taught at the School of Dentistry from 1974 to 1988. Wiese later worked for Sasaki for about 10 years and also volunteered at the Lenawee County Dental Clinic in Adrian, Michigan. “My experiences at all three locations influenced my decision to study dentistry here at Michigan,” she said.

Dental Student Carol Wiese… Back in the Classroom after 23 Years

Asked about the reaction she has received from her younger colleagues, Wiese said, “they’re not sure, at first, how to communicate with me, so they’re very polite. But as they get to know me, they relax and we can share some laughs. They are always eager to help me.” Wiese said working in a high-tech dental office “prepared me for using the technology here in the School.” After earning her dental degree, Wiese said she would like to combine her skills in technology and dentistry and practice restorative dentistry in Michigan or perhaps South Dakota.

Jerry Mastey


STUDENTS

he dental students who traveled to Kenya earlier this year as part of the Kenya Smiles initiative will always remember their two-week visit to the East African nation.

They examined hundreds of children and adolescents at the Kikuyu Dental Clinic in Nairobi and traveled to villages five and six hours away to screen, place fillings, perform extractions, and demonstrate proper brushing techniques. The five dental students who participated – Warren Woodruff, Ross Ryan, Ryan Hukill, Ryan Shinska, and Elizabeth Prast – were there to build on the success of this initiative that began in 2008. They were supervised by Dr. Kenneth May, associate professor in the Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences.

“A few years ago this was just an idea, but now is a lot closer to becoming a reality,” said Dr. Nejay Ananaba (DDS 2009) talking about efforts to create the first dental school in her native Liberia. Three times in the past two years, Ananaba has traveled to the West African nation to outline her initiative and enlist the support of academic and government officials, including the country’s president. She is also working with faculty and colleagues at the School of Dentistry and the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning. Earlier this year, Ananaba said she received important support from Dr. Tabeh Freeman, the dean of the medical school at the University of Liberia; Dr. Emmet Davis, the University’s president; the minister of education and the minister of health and social welfare, among others. “Each gave me important insights that are helping to move the project along,” she said.

Oral Health Needs Assessment to Begin Because of that visit, the Liberian Institute of Statistics and Geo-Informational Services (LISGIS), the government agency that compiles statistical information about the country, pledged its support for the next phase of Ananaba’s project – an oral health needs assessment that will begin early next year. “An important part of establishing the new dental school in Liberia is evaluating the needs of people from all parts of

Kenyan Smiles Initiative

1st Dental School for Liberia Project Progressing

the country to learn more about their oral health care habits and their concerns,” she said. Joining Ananaba in this endeavor are Christie Springstead Scanlon and Stephanie Núñez, students in the School of Dentistry’s dual-degree DDS/PhD program; Lola Adebiye, a graduate of the U-M Master’s in Public Health Program; and School of Dentistry faculty members Drs. George Taylor and Michael Manz. “The needs assessment data will provide the blueprint for the final plan,” she said. “That includes determining how many students will be enrolled, what the curriculum will be, how many faculty members will be needed, and even the final design of the dental school.” Ananaba said Dr. Michael Kennedy, a lecturer in architecture, and students at the College of Architecture and Urban Planning have proposed a number of “green” ideas for the new school that include solar panels, wind turbines, and ways to harness water for power and store it for use during the dry months. Ananaba hopes groundbreaking for the new dental school will take place in 2014 and that it will open in 2016 or 2017.

Ready to screen youngsters at a dental clinic in Kenya are (left to right): Dr. Kenneth May and dental students Ross Ryan, Warren Woodruff, Ryan Hukill, and Ryan Shinska.

Photo courtesy of Warren Woodruff


MDA Foundation Awards 4 DDS Scholarships

FourU-MSchoolofDentistrydentalstudentswereawardedscholarshipsfromtheMichiganDentalAssociationFoundationtohelpthemfinancetheireducation. Recipientsof$2,000scholarshipswereD4studentsMeghanDubois,BradleyStieper,andJohnDuRussell.PriortohergradationinMay,a$1,000scholarshipwasawardedtoHannahBahlhorn. All recipients expressed their appreciation to the MDA for sponsoring these important scholarships.

75 Fitted for FreeCustomized Mouth Guards

ifteen dental students, 10 faculty members, and several local dentists volunteered their time to participate in the program. Seventy-five amateur athletes came to the U-M

School of Dentistry July 10 to be fitted for free customized mouth guards. Among those who were fitted were three women belonging to a newly formed roller derby league in the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti area. “Roller derby is among the few full-contact sports for women in the area, so it was important to come to get

Photo courtesy of Warren Woodruff

a customized mouth guard,” said Vikki Allen, who was accompanied by her 21-year-old daughter, Stephanie. Marcus Edmondson, junior class principal at Ann Arbor Huron High School, brought three members of his family, including his 12-year-old son, Marcus, a wide receiver who plays in the Washtenaw Junior Football League. The younger Edmondson returned for the third year to be fitted for a mouth guard. “I brought my family to this clinic because it’s a great opportunity for them to be fitted with something that’s comfortable and that works,” Edmonson said. Members of a local taekwondo club were also fitted. Club leader Naji Husseini said he has been fitted for a customized mouth guard at the School of Dentistry in the past. “Taekwondo is a contact sport, so I make sure everyone who participates in our club knows about the clinic and is fitted, because the mouth guard provides a much needed cushion.”

Dental Students Enthused “The mouth guard clinic mixes two of my best interests, dentistry and sports,” said second-year dental student Anna Pogoncheff. “I’m passionate about the clinic because it’s a low-stress forum to practice important clinical skills and raise awareness among athletes about the importance of wearing a mouth guard.” Pogoncheff added that as a basketball and water polo player, “my mouth guard saved me from many chipped teeth and concussions over the years.” Chad Wert, a third-year dental student, said participating in the clinic “was a great experience. Not only was it great seeing the excitement on the faces of the kids when they received their mouth guards, but it was also great to give something back to the community. It lit a spark in me to continue doing volunteer dental work after I graduate.”

Members of a local roller derby team, Vikki Allen (left) and her daughter, Stephanie, show their customized mouth guards.

for more on these stories click on the Special Features icon at www.dent.umich.edu


FACULTY

nnovative DDS curriculum changes offer students more career path options, enhanced collaboration, and bolstered exposure to the scientific knowledge they need for patient care. A restructured academic calendar became effective

July 1 spreading the academic year from 39 to 42 weeks. The new calendar now parallels the University’s calendar.

Primary Mission Is the Same “Our primary mission continues to be educating Michigan dental students so they are the finest oral health care practitioners,” said Dean Peter Polverini. “The fundamental goals of our curriculum,” he emphasized, “are to graduate highly skilled and self-motivated clinicians while allowing career path exploration in dental school.” Curricular improvements encourage critical thinking and problem solving, provide a strong foundation for evidence-based dentistry, and stimulate a student’s pursuit of knowledge. Key changes include vertical integration of principles and concepts for all four years, grand rounds, educational pathway options, flexible times for various student faculty interactions, earlier introductions of clinical skills, and more patient-focused clinical practice.

Changes Outlined Previously, the first-year curriculum focused on preclinical exercises and basic science courses. Now, an integrated approach reinforces basic sciences with clinical content. Courses that once bridged the basic and clinical sciences are being replaced with a series of linked courses to incorporate key concepts in different ways. New oral health sciences courses will present the scientific and clinical content in ways that reflect how patients present in the clinics. Newly initiated “grand rounds,” provide customized examples linking basic science and clinical practice and emphasizing that science is key for clinical decision-making and evidence-based dentistry. Students interact with clinicians and scientists to discuss complex contemporary topics in ways that are difficult to do in traditional lecture

Jerry Mastey

All first-year dental students, including Brandon Veremis, pose for a photo by School photographer Per Kjeldsen.

courses. Students read the primary literature on a topic, listen to faculty point-counterpoint discussions, and participate in follow-up sessions to evaluate the issues. “Pathways” By the winter term, first-year students choose a “pathway option” in health care delivery, leadership, or research. “These pathways offer students choices aligned with their personal and professional interests. The benefit is that students explore career options before completing their dental education,” said Dr. Paul Krebsbach, chair of the Vision Implementation Team. “The Pathways curriculum nurtures future leaders for our profession who will provide science-based, compassionate care in our communities and globally, develop new treatments through scientific discovery, and create public policy to ensure optimal health for all,” said Carol Anne Murdoch-Kinch, associate dean for academic affairs, who has been involved in developing the initiative. “Flexible Time” Designated flexible time each week gives students time to absorb information conveyed in classrooms and clinics -- and foster greater student-student, student-faculty, and faculty-faculty interaction. Flexible time also will provide faculty members much needed time to collaborate and restructure future teaching activities.


r. Carol Anne Murdoch-Kinch has been named Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. The announcement of the appointment was made in June by Dean Peter

Polverini who said Murdoch-Kinch “is an excellent scientist, outstanding clinician, and a highly regarded teacher by the students she instructs in the dental hygiene, predoctoral dental, and graduate and specialty programs.” Board certified in oral and maxillofacial radiology and in oral medicine, Murdoch-Kinch is a clinical associate professor of dentistry in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Hospital Dentistry. For the past two years she has also been co-leader of a team that is developing the science foundation component of the curriculum innovation initiative that was launched in July by the School of Dentistry. As associate dean for academic affairs, Murdoch-Kinch will oversee the DDS curriculum, chair the Curriculum Committee, and serve as an ex-officio member of the Academic Review Boards and Multicultural Affairs Committee. Murdoch-Kinch is responsible for the faculty and staff in the Office of Academic Affairs. The group provides a broad range of services that includes developing and enhancing the academic structure and educational experience for students,

faculty, and staff. The Office of Academic Affairs provides personal, academic, financial, and career counseling to students in areas such as dental student admissions, financial aid, student registration, orientation, graduation, and other activities and events.

Professional Background Murdoch-Kinch earned her dental degree from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1985 and a PhD from Indiana University in 1996. In addition to practicing dentistry and teaching part time in Canada and Indiana, she also held a faculty appointment at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry for six years prior to joining the faculty at the School of Dentistry in 2000. In 2001 she joined the Dental Faculty Associates at the U-M School of Dentistry and the medical staff at the University of Michigan Hospitals. Since 2005, she has been a member of the U-M Health System’s Comprehensive Cancer Center’s head and neck oncology program.

Active in organized dentistry, Murdoch-Kinch has served in leadership roles including president of the Central Branch of the Detroit District Dental Society, councilor for the oral and maxillofacial radiology section of the American Dental Education Association’s Council of Sections, president of the Organization of Teachers of Oral Diagnosis, and director and secretary of the American Board of Oral Medicine. In 2008, Murdoch-Kinch was elected a Fellow of the American College of Dentists and also awarded a Fellowship by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Scotland. “I am deeply honored to have been selected to serve as associate dean for academic affairs, especially at this time of great challenge and opportunity for our School and our profession,” Murdoch-Kinch said. “I am looking forward to working with our faculty, students, and staff to help maintain our standards of excellence as we lead the profession in a new model of dental education.” Murdoch-Kinch succeeds Dr. Marilyn Lantz who was associate dean for academic affairs since 2000. Lantz continues to teach at the School of Dentistry as a professor of dentistry in the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine.

Per Kjeldsen


FACULTY

Dr. SharonBrooks...p r o f e s s o r o f d e n t i s t r y i n t h e Department Periodontics and Oral Medicine and associate professor of oral and maxillofacial radiology with the Department of Radiology at the Medical

School retired as an active faculty August 31 following a 37-year career at U-M. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at the School of Dentistry, accepting many challenges and responsibilities and feel like I made a contribution to my students, patients, and colleagues,” she said. “My greatest satisfaction came from addressing a problem and, in the process, trying to provide an enriching experience for students, especially in diagnostics where students learn the most by doing.” For many years, Brooks was the only oral and maxillofacial radiologist in charge of radiology education for dental and dental hygiene students. “If I didn’t know how to do something, I found out how and then did it. That included going back to school to get a degree in radiation protection (health physics),” she said. “I made myself an expert in my field and feel that I have been rewarded over and over again.” Away from the dental school, Brooks said she will become increasingly involved with local environmental groups, particularly the Huron River Watershed Council.

Dr.KennethStoffers . . . a clinical associate professor in the

Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences, and Endodontics, retired after 17 years at the School of Dentistry. Reflecting on his career at U-M that

began in the fall of 1993, Stoffers said he’s proudest of the three clinical foundations courses he worked on for second-year dental students. The clinical and didactic courses “had very clear performance objectives, clear and precise instructions, and a detailed explanation of what we expected,” he said. “The students liked knowing exactly what we expected.”

R E T I R E M E N T S

Stoffers, an Oregon native, is heading west. “I’m moving to Utah to be closer to three of my children in Salt Lake City, and two others, in Las Vegas and Los Angeles,” he said. Stoffers said his daughter who lives in Salt Lake City “is going to have twins, so she’s going to need some help,” he said with a smile. “I also plan to work at a public health dental clinic one day a week and spend two days helping individuals trace their genealogy at the Mormon Family Historical Library,” he said. “Ken loved his students and that is the thing about him I will remember the most,” said Dr. Stephen Bayne, CRSE chair.

Dr.WilliamO’Brien... was named professor emeritus by the

U-M Board of Regents and retired as an active faculty in April.

He earned a bachelor’s degree from The City University of New York in 1958, a

master’s degree from New York University in 1961, and his PhD from U-M in 1967. From 1961-1970, O’Brien was a faculty member at Marquette University where he served as chair of the Department of Dental Materials from 1967-1970. He joined the U-M School of Dentistry faculty as an associate professor in 1970 and was promoted to professor three years later. O’Brien’s research focused on the esthetic properties of restorative materials derived from composites and ceramics. He also studied how ceramics could be used as dental crowns and inlays to replace amalgam restorations. His work was funded for more than 30 years by federal agencies including the National Institutes of Health and its National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. He authored over 100 journal papers, contributed to several books, and recently published a 425-page basic and applied dental materials handbook, Dental Materials and Their Selection. He also holds four U.S. patents. O’Brien also earned awards and honors for his work, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Advisory Service Committee Award in 2007.

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MistrettaReceivesKerry-Manheimer Award

Dr. Charlotte Mistretta, associate dean for research and PhD training at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, has received the prestigious Kerry-Manheimer Award for her research in chemosensory sciences. The award is sponsored by the Monell Center, the world’s only independent non-profit scientific institute dedicated to interdisciplinary basic research on the senses of taste and smell to benefit individual health and well being. Presenting the award, Dr. Gary Beauchamp, the Center’s director, said, “Charlotte is the undeniable leader in advancing our understanding of how early taste development leads to and guides feeding, and hence, nutrition.” He said her work has led to a greater understanding of the central role that taste, especially the desire for sweet, salty, and fatty foods play in obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and some cancers. “Those who have followed Charlotte’s work on the physiology and molecular biology of taste development, and I include myself in that group,” he said, “owe her an enormous debt. She has led the way.”

Orthodontics Continues WinningStreak

Prestigious Angle Research Prize Awarded for5th Consecutive Time to U-M Faculty Member

Orthodontics faculty members continue to enhance the School’s reputation for pioneering research that helps orthodontists improve the lives of their patients. During the past 10 years, a U-M orthodontics faculty member has received the prestigious Angle Research Prize each of five times it has been presented. Awarded biennially by the Edward Angle Research Foundation, the prize is given to the author or coauthor of the most outstanding research paper published during the previous two years in The Angle Orthodontist. In addition to these five consecutive awards, Dr. Sunil Kapila, co-authored a paper that received the first Angle Research Award in 1991. Kapila has chaired the School’s Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry since 2004. Dr. James McNamara, the Thomas M. and Doris Graber Endowed Professor of Dentistry, and Dr. Yan Gu, a visiting Scholar at the School of Dentistry and professor of orthodontics at Peking University, received the 2009 Edward H. Angle Research Prize earlier this year. Their paper, “Mandibular Growth Changes and Cervical Vertebral Maturation,” appeared in November 2007 issue of The Angle Orthodontist. This was the second time McNamara has received the award. He and three coauthors received the award in 2003. Other U-M School of Dentistry faculty orthodontists have received the award during the previous decade.

• 2007,Dr.R.ScottConley,clinicalassociateprofessor of dentistry, and coauthor Christopher Jernigan• 2005(tie):Dr.R.ScottConleyandcoauthorHarryLegan• 2003,Dr.JamesMcNamaraandcoauthorsDrs.Tiziano Baccetti, Lorenzo Franchi, and Christopher Cameron• 2001,Dr.S.JayBowmanandcoauthorDr.Lysle Johnston, Jr., professor emeritus of dentistry

“The very high proportion of Edward Angle Research Awards being awarded to U-M School of Dentistry faculty reflects their exemplary contributions to clinical research in orthodontics,” Kapila said. “I am very proud of the achievements of our faculty.”

BayneReceivesHonoraryDegreeinGreece Stephen Bayne, professor of dentistry and chair of the Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences and Endodontics, received an honorary doctoral degree from the University of Athens, Greece this spring. The award is the highest honor presented by the University which was founded in 1837. In its unanimous decision to grant Doctor Honoris Causa, the University’s senate cited Bayne (left) as “a distinguished scientist…who through outstanding work has bestowed praise and credit on the field of dentistry.”

Sharon Grayden


P R O F I L Everyone has at least one date in their lives they always remember, such as a birthday or a graduation. For Anne Gwozdek, it’s December 16, 1970. “That was a hallmark day of my life,” she says. “It was the day I opened a letter from the University of Michigan telling me I was accepted into the dental hygiene program. What seemed like my unattainable

dream was finally reached.” Growing up in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, Gwozdek enjoyed high school science courses and considered a career in science or nursing. Conversations with a family dentist and dental hygienist led her to consider a career in oral health. The oldest of four children, Gwozdek said her father, an accountant, and her mother, a homemaker, emphasized the importance of a college education. “I worked as a nurse’s assistant at a local hospital during the summer to help pay for my two years of schooling, which cost about four thousand dollars, a small fortune at the time,” she says. “But that was for everything, tuition, fees, books, and room and board.” Describing the dental hygiene curriculum as “intense,” Gwozdek says, “we were in clinics and classes eight hours a day, five days a week.” During her second year in the program, Gwozdek met senior clinic coordinator Wendy Kerschbaum who first offered clinical and professional insights. In retrospect, that was the beginning of a personal and professional relationship that has spanned more than three decades.

Lessons Learned…and Applied Before earning her certificate in 1973, Gwozdek was required to identify a patient’s health behavior that needed improvement. “The patient showed up, but, as it turned out, didn’t want to make changes that would improve his oral health,” she says. “I learned a valuable lesson from the experience – that the motivation for change is internal. A person must first make a commitment to want to do something if they want to change or succeed.” That lesson would be recalled years later when Gwozdek developed the School’s dental hygiene online degree completion program. After graduating from U-M, Gwozdek was recruited by Dr. Klaus Lang, who earned both a master’s degree and a certificate in periodontics from U-M in the 1970s, to work in Bern, Switzerland. When she returned to the U.S., Gwozdek said the experience she gained working in Switzerland enabled her to get a job as a dental hygienist at a private practice in Dearborn, a job she held for 16 years. During that time, she began considering returning to the classroom to earn a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene. But there were major roadblocks she had to deal with. “If I wanted to earn that degree, I had to be on campus full time. But that would require me to give up my job,” she says. “I didn’t want to quit working, so I looked at other options.” Gwozdek’s husband, Joe, encouraged her to pursue her dream. Recalling her fondness working as editor of her high school yearbook and newspaper, Gwozdek leveraged her interest in journalism and kept her daytime job. In 1992, she earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and public relations from Madonna University in Livonia, Michigan. “I wrote mostly about health care issues,” she says. “But I also gained classroom experience in something new at the time, desktop publishing. That was my introduction to technology.” Not long after receiving her bachelor’s degree, Gwozdek learned the Bulletin of the

Jerry Mastey

FACULTY

Director, Dental Hygiene Degree Complet ion

Program; C l in ical Lecturer, Per iodontics

and Oral Medic ine


Michigan Dental Hygienists’ Association needed an editor. She applied and was appointed to the position. Although she stepped down as editor after six years in 1998, Gwozdek continues to write for the magazine. The editor’s job gave her insights on a range of issues and led to Gwozdek being elected president of the Michigan Dental Hygienists’ Association in 1999. During her one-year term, she worked with Kerschbaum, her former clinic advisor, and others to help craft legislation that would allow dental hygienists to administer local anesthesia and nitrous oxide to patients. Dur ing a conversation with Kerschbaum about the legislation, Gwozdek said she learned about the possibility of becoming a part-time clinical instructor at the School of Dentistry. She seized the opportunity and began teaching part time without having to give up her position in a private practice in Canton, Michigan. “I discovered I enjoyed teaching much more than I thought I would,” she says. But there was an urge to return to the classroom once again, this time to earn a master’s degree. “As with pursuing the bachelor’s degree, I would have to make a full-time commitment, which meant I would have to leave private practice. It was a tough decision because I enjoyed my work,” she says. Gwozdek later discovered that the challenges she faced to earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree would become fundamental experiences that helped her develop a new approach to dental hygiene education at the School of Dentistry.

Steppingstones Since Eastern Michigan University in nearby Ypsilanti offered an online graduate program in education

technology, Gwozdek was able to continue working as a dental hygienist. She received a master’s degree in educational media and technology in 2007. Her burning desire to earn both a bachelor’s and master’s, support from Kerschbaum, ability to overcome obstacles, and commitment to private practice were qualities that made Gwozdek the ideal person to lead the team to develop an entirely new e-learning curriculum offered by the dental hygiene program at the U-M School of Dentistry. Launched in January 2008, the Degree Completion E-Learning Program

allows dental hygienists the opportunity to earn a bachelor ’s degree while remaining employed or keeping family commitments by completing coursework online. “I was in the right place at the right time. I knew from personal experience the online program would fill a great need,” Gwozdek says. “I was determined to see how I could harness my experiences to develop a program that could help others who wanted to keep their jobs but also wanted to earn a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene.” Helping to develop the online program was, as she described it, “a great team of dental hygiene and dental informatics faculty and staff. Nothing was done in isolation. This is proof that teamwork obtains the best results.” Distance was not an obstacle. “Online learning is a more dynamic process than being in a conventional classroom listening to a lecture,” Gwozdek says. “My role is that of a guide. I work with students many miles away and get

them actively involved in discussions and projects, not just with me, but with their colleagues. It’s worked out well.” In December 2009, seven students became the first to complete the e-learning curriculum and receive a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene. The success of the School’s online distance learning program caught the attention of the accreditation committee that visited the University of Michigan campus in 2009. In March, Gwozdek met with several faculty members and U-M administrators during the accreditation review to talk about the online program.

“Accreditation site visitors were very interested in what we are doing and how our program might be applied in other ways,” she says. In addition to teaching, Gwozdek is advisor to the Student American Dental Hygienists’ Association. “It’s been amazing to see the U-M chapter grow and to be able to work with so many dedicated students who bring so much energy to what they’re doing,” Gwozdek says. Reflecting on her achievements, Gwozdek says “I never thought so many marvelous opportunities would occur because I opened that letter. I have encountered some major roadblocks while pursuing my education, but I found ways to work around them,” she continues. “But it wasn’t until later that I realized that those obstacles were blessings in disguise. Without them, I wouldn’t have had the career that I have had, nor would I have been able to help as many in dental hygiene in these novel and thrilling ways.”

“My role is that of a guide. I work with students many miles away and get them actively involved in discussions and projects, not just

with me, but with their col leagues.”


DENTAL HYGIENE

“High rates of decay were found among the incarcerated,” Stiles said. Much of the decay, she noted, was due to easy access to junk food. Limited access to suitable oral health care among the nearly 60 juveniles being held in detention compounded the problem. Stiles spent three weeks teaching oral health care to residents and spent four weeks working with administrators, a nutritionist, and meal planners “to create healthy alternatives to decay-promoting snacks” that would improve the oral health of the juveniles being detained as well as those who worked at the facility. Stiles also compiled a list of dental care providers in Grand Rapids and western Michigan that juveniles could see for follow-up care. “I discovered that one of the constant challenges the Kent County Juvenile Detention Center faces is locating dentists who will treat juveniles after they have been released,” she said. Most of the juvenile detention residents have only Medicaid dental coverage, but few oral health care providers in the Grand Rapids area accept those patients. “One of my goals was to develop a list of dental care providers who accept state sponsored insurance plans in the area so residents and their parents had the names and office addresses of those providers,” she added. “I’m pleased with what’s been achieved,” Stiles said. “I wanted to create a program that could help immediately and also be sustainable longer term. Working together, we have been able to offer healthy alternatives to decay promoting snacks at least one day per week and provide juveniles and their parents with a list of oral health providers they can contact if they wish to seek care after they have been released.”

(left to right) Dr. Susan Taichman, Tanzeela Rashid, Michelle Washburn, and Brittany Forga

Jerry Mastey

National Recognition for U-M Dental Hygiene Students

Four University of Michigan School of Dentistry dental hygiene students received nationalawards for their innovativepublichealth initiatives in twoMichigancommunities.TheawardswerepresentedinAprilbytheAmericanAssociationofPublicHealthDentistryduringtheNationalOralHealthConferenceinSt.Louis.

Major Barriers to Care Noted Fourth-year dental hygiene students Michelle Washburn, Brittany Forga, and Tanzeela Rashid won a First Place Student Merit Award for their work detailing several factors that affect how often a parent or guardian takes a child to the Washtenaw Children’s Dental Clinic in Ann Arbor for basic and follow-up oral health care. Located in the old Mack School Building, the nonprofit clinic provides preventive and restorative dental care to low-income Washtenaw County children from preschool to 18 years of age who are not covered by private insurance or Medicaid. Washburn said their survey of nearly 200 adult caregivers who have children in three elementary schools in the Willow Run School District revealed “that both reliable transportation and distance are major barriers parents or guardians face that prevent them from taking their children to the clinic to receive the oral health care they need.” Oral Health at Juvenile Detention Center Veronika Stiles received a Second Place Student Merit Award for her seven-week program that evaluated the oral health needs of residents at the Kent County Juvenile Detention Center in Grand Rapids. A registered dental hygienist, Stiles was one of seven who was the first to receive a bachelor’s degree last December after successfully finishing the School of Dentistry’s Degree Completion E-Learning Program. The online curriculum requires each dental hygiene student to work with an organization in his or her community to develop an oral health promotion program.


Dental Hygiene Students Recognized for

Leadership Roles

Three University of Michigan School of Dentistry dental hygiene students have been honored for their leadership as student members of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA). Third-year dental hygiene student Kathryn Brown and Allison Restauri, a student in the Degree Completion E-Learning Program, participated in the American Dental Hygienists’ Association’s annual session in Las Vegas in June. The two were selected for an essay each wrote about qualities a student should possess to be a district student delegate. Brown, chosen to be a student delegate, and Restauri, selected as an alternate student delegate, represented students from 35 dental hygiene programs in District Five which includes Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. The two also attended the District Five conference in Indianapolis in March in preparation for the annual ADHA session in June. Brown and Restauri met ADHA delegates and trustees to learn more about proposed new or revised policies and bylaws. Fourth-year dental hygiene student Amy Parks, U-M SADHA vice president, was selected by the University’s Office of Student Leadership and Activities as an Outstanding Student Leader at U-M for 2010. She organized and directed a project that involved 87 of her dental hygiene classmates who made oral health care bags for patients at the Rainbow Rehabilitation Center in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Parks launched the project after her sister, Patty, was involved in an automobile accident, sustained brain and spinal cord injuries, and needed help maintaining her oral hygiene.

Christine Farrell (left), learns more about the School’s Online Degree Completion Program

from its director, Anne Gwozdek (right).

DH Alumna New Michigan Oral Health Program Director

Christine Farrell, a registered dental hygienist who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in dental hygiene from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry in 1981, has been named director of the Oral Health Program for the Michigan Department of Community Health. The appointment was announced June 1 by Jean Chabut, director of the state’s Public Health Administration. Employed by the State of Michigan as a policy specialist in the Medicaid program for 22 years, Farrell supervises a five-member staff that is responsible for an array of statewide oral health care and education programs. These include community outreach initiatives, the Cavity Free Kids Head Start oral health curriculum, the SMILE! Michigan dental sealant program, the Dental Treatment Fund for the Developmentally Disabled, the Volunteer Dental Program, and other programs. She will also represent the department as a liaison providing direct consultation to agencies and organizations on a range of oral health access issues. Active in local, state, and national levels of dental hygiene and public health since earning her bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene, Farrell was president of the Michigan Dental Hygienists’ Association (1993-1994) and editor of the Bulletin of the Michigan Dental Hygienists’ Association (1998-2001). She served a three-year term on the School of Dentistry’s Alumni Society Board of Governors (1996-1999), including a two-year term as secretary. Farrell also served four terms on the ADHA’s Council of Public Relations (2000-2004), was ADHA delegate chair (2008-2010), and was national chair of the Medicaid/State Child Health Improvement Program (2004-2007). In addition to her professional activities, Farrell continued her education and earned a Masters of Public Administration from U-M-Flint in 2006. “My education at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry opened so many doors for me,” she said during a visit to the School in late May. “The classroom and clinical education from Wendy Kerschbaum, Karen Ridley, and other instructors was outstanding and helped me realize that there were opportunities for me as a dental hygienist that I probably would not have even considered,” Farrell said. “My outreach and research experiences were especially valuable. They were steppingstones that helped me to see the big picture, a skill that I have used throughout my career.”


Nör, Krebsbach Receive MajorAwardsatIADR

wo School of Dentistry researchers received major awards for their work during the International Association of Dental Research’s annual meeting in Barcelona, Spain, in July. Dr. Jacques Nör, professor in the Department of Cariology,

Restorative Sciences, and Endodontics, received the William J. Gies Award for his research article published in 2008 in the Journal of Dental Research. Nominations for the award were made last year. The paper, Effect of PTK/ZK on the Angiogenic Switch in Head and Neck Tumors, detailed how the drug, PTK/ZK, developed by Novartis/Schering Plough, blocks a critical pathway for head and neck tumor angiogenesis, the vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) pathway. “This drug was well tolerated and can be administered orally, suggesting that it can potentially be used for an extended period of time,” Nör said. “We envision a future in which patients with head and neck tumors will receive continuously low doses of a drug that is effective to prevent head and neck cancer recurrence and metastasis while showing minimal or no side effects.” Dr. Paul Krebsbach, chair of the Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences, received the Basic Research in Biological Mineralization Award. The annual award is designed to stimulate, encourage, and recognize basic research in biological mineralization. Krebsbach, the Dr. Roy Roberts Professor of Dentistry and professor of biomedical engineering, was recognized for his work identifying and characterizing important genes in tooth development as well as developing technologies to address bone tissue engineering in clinically relevant animal models.

RESEARCH

Landmark Dental School Study Uses

Genetic Test to Help Predict Gum Disease

By Laura Bailey, U-M News Service

T h e U - M S c h o o l o f Dentistry recently signed an ag reement w i thInterleukinGenetics Inc.toconductwhatmaybethe largest clinical study to date using genetic testingtoassess the riskfor gum disease. The studywas scheduled tobegin in September and is expected to be completed by the middle of next year. Dr. William Giannobile, professor of dentistry and director of the School’s Michigan Center for Oral HealthResearch,willleadthe study for U-M.

“It’s an exciting study because it’s a way touse genetic testing to personal ize a dental treatment plan and the f r e q u e n c y o f d e n t a l care visits of patients as it relates to oral care,” he said. “It’s away tocustomize patient care.”

Jerry Mastey

for more on these stories visit Current News at www.dent.umich.edu


or the past decade, Dr. George Taylor and his research team have been investigating possible two-way relationships between diabetes and periodontal disease. Both diseases are common and thought to be biologically linked.

Twenty-four million Americans ages 20 and older, have diabetes. Between 2002 and 2020, the size of the population with diabetes is projected to increase by 44 percent, according to government statistics. In 2007, the American Diabetes Association estimated the total economic cost of diabetes was $174 billion. Medical expenditures comprised $116 billion of that amount. The other $58 billion, the Association noted, were indirect costs brought about by increased absenteeism, reduced productivity, and disease-related unemployment disability. With that in mind, Taylor, a professor of dentistry in the Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences, and Endodontics, and a professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, has been searching for answers that would help patients with periodontal disease and diabetes reduce the financial and other disease-related burdens. Taylor and his research team—Drs. Wenche Borgnakke, Michael Manz, and Tammie Nahra—are looking at several possible connections between periodontal disease and diabetes.One of Taylor’s NIH/NIDCR-funded epidemiological studies

is investigating bi-directional relationships between periodontal disease and diabetes

complications in the U.S. population, and in older adults. Data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Sur vey (NHANES III), NHANES 1999-2004, and the Department of Veterans Affairs

Normative Aging Study/VA Dental Longitudinal Study (VANAS/DLS)

are being used in the analysis. These data sets will be

used to help determine if periodontal disease

i s a s s o c i a t e d with systemic complications o f d i a b e t e s , g l u c o s e tolerance and

glycemic control and diabetes-related medical utilization. Data will also be used to determine if diabetes is a risk factor for periodontal disease incidence, severity, and progression.

Initial Results An important preliminary finding is a statistically significant association between the severity of a periodontal disease and the number of diabetes complications. Those in the highest quartile of periodontal disease severity, for example, are 1.7 times more likely to have one or more complications of diabetes than those with the least severe periodontal disease. These results indicate, at minimum, periodontal disease should be considered as a risk indicator (and potentially a risk factor) in designing future investigations in which diabetes complications are considered as outcomes. These results also provide population-based, observational epidemiological evidence to support previous findings associating periodontal disease with complications of diabetes in more restricted, less representative populations.

Treatment and Medical Costs In another study, funded by the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Corporation, and Delta Dental Foundation, the Taylor team is investigating the link between periodontal treatment and medical costs for individuals with diabetes. A 2009 analysis of 21,807 adults with diabetes who were enrolled with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan from 2005 to 2007 found support for the hypothesis that seeking and receiving periodontal treatment could lead to lower medical care costs for adults with diabetes. Taylor and his researchers discovered that routine, non-surgical periodontal treatment decreased diabetes-related medical care costs by more than 10 percent annually. Medical cost savings were up to 20 percent lower for cardiovascular disease treatments and more than 30 percent lower for those being treated for kidney disease. For patients with diabetes and congestive heart failure, the cost of medical care was 40 percent lower. “Overall,” Taylor said, “Our research is exciting in its scope and its possibilities. We may discover new insights about the interrelationships between oral and systemic health that ultimately lead to new policies that will affect how oral health care is delivered to patients.”

Diabetes and Periodontal Disease: What Connections? What Impact on Health Care Costs?


RESEARCH

American Association for Dental ResearchMarch 3-6, 2010, Washington D.C.AADR/Johnson&JohnsonHealthcareProductsHattonAwardsCompetitionSenior Category(1st Place) Chad Novince, 7th year DDS/OHS PhD Student (Dissertation Advisor: Laurie McCauley), Proteoglycan-4, a Novel Immunomodulator of Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) Anabolic Actions (Chad also competed at the International Association for Dental Research, IADR/Unilever Hatton Awards Competition, July 14-17, 2010 in Barcelona, Spain) (DE021298)

Yuhe Lu, OHS PhD Student (Dissertation Advisor: James Simmer), Phenotypic Rescue of Enam Knockout Mice by an Enamelin Transgene (DE11301)

Junior CategoryKathryn Ritchie, 3rd year DDS/OHS PhD Student (Pre-candidate Advisor: Yvonne Kapila), Nisin, a Bacteriocin and Food-Additive, Suppresses OSCC in vitro/in vivo (DE007057)

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA)National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research,NIHIndividual Awards include a stipend, tuition, health insurance, travel support, and other fellowship expenses.

F30 Award supports predoctoral trainees in combined DDS/PhD and other dual doctoral degree programs. It is the expectation that this award will increase the number of future investigators with clinical knowledge and skills in basic, translational, or clinical research.

Chad Novince, 7th year DDS/OHS PhD Student (Dissertation Advisor: Laurie McCauley), Proteoglycan-4: A novel protein regulating skeletal actions of parathyroid hormone (DE021298)

Christina Scanlon, 5th year DDS/OHS PhD Student (Dissertation Advisor: Nisha D’Silva), Head and neck cancer: role of NFATc2 in GALR2-mediated tumor progression (DE021293)

F32 Award supports postdoctoral trainees at academic institutions to broaden their scientific background or extend the potential for research in health-related areas.

Elizabeth VanTubergen, 5th year OHS PhD Student (Dissertation Advisor: Nisha D’Silva), The role of tristetraprolin in head and neck cancer progression

Oral Health SciencesPhD Program

Presentations and Awards

Barbour Scholarship – Rackham Graduate SchoolIn 1914 Levi L. Barbour established a scholarship at the University of Michigan for women from the area formerly known as the Orient. Recipients are women of the highest academic and professional caliber. Areas of study include modern science, medicine, mathematics and other academic disciplines and professions critical to the development of their native lands. The scholarship provides stipend, tuition and health insurance.

Sudha Krishnamurthy, 6th year OHS PhD Student (Dissertation Advisor: Jacques Nör), Endothelial cell and stem cell crosstalk in head and neck cancers(DE19279)

OHS PhD GraduationsZhao Lin, OHS PhD Student (Dissertation Advisor: William Giannobile), Defended his Dissertation in April, 2010 and the PhD Degree was conferred in August 2010. Thesis title: The Function and Regulation of LIM Domain Mineralization Protein (LMP) in Periodontal Ligament Progenitor Cells. Dr. Lin is currently pursuing a Master’s Specialty in Periodontics at Harvard School of Dental Medicine. (DE013397)

Yuhe Lu (Dissertation Advisors: Jan Hu and James Simmer), defended her Dissertation in August, 2010 and conferred the PhD degree in December 2010. Her thesis title was: Determining the Structural and Functional Characteristics of Enamelin in Enamel Formation. Dr. Lu is currently pursuing a Master’s Specialty in Orthodontics at Boston University School of Dental Medicine. (DE11301)

Individual Fellowship Award winners (left to right), Elizabeth Van Tubergen, Chad Novince, Christina Scanlon

Pat Schultz


ALUMNI

Amy Coplen (MS, dental hygiene, 2009), won a first place award in the recent DENTSPLY-American Dental Hygienists’ Association’s Student Graduate Clinical Research Program. Her research focused on the knowledge dental hygiene students have about genetics. Coplen, who teaches dental hygiene at Pacific University in Oregon, will present her poster at the ADA’s annual session in October in Orlando, Florida.

Frank Orlando (DDS 2005) of New York, New York, received a Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry in July and a Fellowship in the International Congress of Oral Implantologists in January 2009.

David Jacobson (DDS 1988) was recently awarded 1st Prize for his large panel, “The Peony Garden, Nichols Arboretum,” in the annual juried Delphi Stained Glass Show in East Lansing, Michigan. His creation was displayed at the G r a n d V a l l e y Artists Gallery in Grand Rapids. “This was my first official foray into ‘the real art world’,” said Jacobson, who was director of the School of Dentistry’s Patient Admitting and Emergency Services (PAES) Clinic for 15 years. Jacobson, who has been creating stained glass windows and lamps on commission for more than 30 years, said his goal “was to make something as complex and full of nuance as a Tiffany window, but on a very small scale. There are approximately 5,000 pieces in the panel, including one that’s about two by three millimeters.”

Sheree Duff (DH 1980) of Auburn Hills, Michigan, was among eight dental hygienists from the U.S. and Canada

Drs. Don Vanitvelt (MS Ortho ‘71), John Sivertson (DDS ‘71, MS Perio 1974), and Jay Werschky (DDS ‘76) were part of a UM Alumni Travel Tour to China and Tibet. They are pictured here as U-M ambassadors with their M flag in front of the Portola Palace in Lhasa, Tibet.

who received the 2010 Sunstar/RDH Award of Distinction this summer. Duff, associate dean of the Dental Science Programs at Baker College in Auburn Hills, was recognized for her work founding two dental hygiene programs and two dental assisting programs. A member of the School of Dentistry’s Alumni Society Board of Governors, Duff initiated the Benson Duff Endowed Graduate Periodontics Scholarship named for her late husband, Dr. Benson Duff who earned his DDS from U-M in 1980 and a master’s degree in periodontics in 1988.

Ronald Paler (DDS 1961) of Brighton, Michigan, recently received the Michigan Dental Association’s highest honor, the John G. Nolen Meritorious Award, for his contributions to dentistry. For 40 years, he has been active in the MDA, the ADA, and the Detroit District Dental Society. Since 2002, Paler has been president of the Michigan Dental Association Foundation. He also is a deputy regent of the International College of Dentists.

Jerry Booth (DDS 1961, MS 1964) of Jackson, Michigan, was featured in the Jackson Citizen Patriot newspaper on May 21 as he marked the end

of a 45-career in dentistry. Booth is a member of the School of Dentistry’s Alumni Society Board of Governors. He was chief of surgery at Foote Hospital in Jackson, chaired the hospital’s finance committee, serves on the finance committee of the Jackson Community Foundation, and was active in numerous professional organizations, including serving as president of the Michigan Society of Oral Surgeons and the Dental Society. In 2007, Booth and his wife, Jacquelyn, made a “significant gift” to the U-M School of Dentistry “to insure that our gift will sustain a number of programs at the School of Dentistry,” he said.

The University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry is naming an endowed chair in its Department of Pediatric Dentistry for Richard Mathewson (DDS 1959).


Christine Klausner (1950-2010)

Christine Klausner, a c l inical associate professor of dentistry in the Department of Periodontics and Oral

Medicine, died September 5th. She was 60. A member of the POM faculty since 1997, Klausner’s primary responsibility was coordinating the entry-level dental hygiene preclinic curriculum and directing the course for second-year dental hygiene students that prepared them for patient care. She also taught in the School’s E-Learning (online) Degree Completion Program, the Internationally Trained Dentist Program, the DDS periodontal foundation courses, and was course director for dental hygiene biomaterials. Her research focused on educational methods, genetics, and diabetes. “We all remember Chris for her spontaneous smile, positive attitude, and compassion for others,” said Wendy Kerschbaum, director of the dental hygiene program. “Her commitment to dental hygiene and to students was recognized by everyone who knew her.” Klausner was one of 52 licensed dental hygienists from the U.S. invited by the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and the People to People Citizens Ambassador Program to travel to Russia and Poland during the summer of 2007. In a 2008 interview she said, “I saw some major differences in how the professions of dental hygiene and dentistry are practiced there, compared to this country. In those countries, dental hygiene is still in its infancy…so it was an exciting opportunity for me and others to share our knowledge with oral health care professionals from that part of the world.” Lisa Dodge, POM student administration assistant, said, “Chris was a gift to everyone and we will miss her very much.”

In Memoriam

Dr. L. George Upton(1940-2010)

G e o r g e U p t o n , a f a c u l t y m e m b e r with the School ’s Department of Oral

and Maxillofacial Surgery and Hospital Dentistry for 40 years, died June 24 after a courageous battle with lymphoma. He was 69. Upton was regarded by his family, friends, and colleagues as a skilled surgeon and academician and a caring and compassionate human being. He was also an avid outdoorsman, often dividing his leisure time among the Michigan woods, rivers, and tennis courts. He was a recognized expert on the management of temporomandibular disorders and TMJ conditions. Dr. Joseph Helman, chair of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, remembers Upton as “an individual we admired, someone we looked up to for advice and words of wisdom, and a role model for all of us. He was a pillar of our profession, a leader, and an honest and loyal friend.” In 2010, the Alumni Society Board of Governors awarded him the Distinguished Service Award for his contributions to the profession. The U-M Regents named Upton professor emeritus of dentistry and associate professor emeritus of oral surgery. They lauded his achievements emphasizing that he “played a major role in orthognathic surgical corrections of facial bone deformities at the University of Michigan Health System for over 25 years.” Regents also noted Upton’s service as surgical director of the TMD Orofacial Pain Clinic, chief of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Section at the Ann Arbor Veteran Affairs Medical Center, and co-director of the cleft palate team and the dentofacial program.

’44 Dr. L. Dale Lambert May 13, 2010 Springfield, Illinois

’50 Dr. Fred William Kahler, Jr.’53 MS, operative dentistry May 17, 2010 Ann Arbor, Michigan

’50 Dr. Edward Vandermade’67 MS, prosthodontics September 11, 2010 Ft. Myers, Florida

’52 Dr. Stewart C. Arft’76 MS, oral diagnosis and radiology September 11, 2010 Ann Arbor, Michigan

’52 Dr. Richard L. Barnes July 12, 2010 Scottsdale, Arizona

’55 Dr. Leo Wasserberger’59 MS, orthodontics September 21, 2010 Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

’56 Dr. Donald W. Peterson July 20, 2010 Ann Arbor, Michigan

’62 Dr. Daniel Soloko July 31, 2010 Holly, Michigan

’81 Dr. Shirley Dozier-Kern October 24, 2010 Southfield, Michigan

’86 Dr. Michael G. Nassar September 21, 2010 Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Research Day 2011Alumni, friends, faculty, staff, and students are invited to attend . . .

Tuesday, February 15 • 1:00 PMRoom G390

Keynote Speaker: Kenneth Yamada, MD, PhDChief, Laboratory of Cell & Developmental BiologyNati0nal Institutes of Health/NIDCR

New Dimensions and Dynamics in Cell Migration and Morphogenesis Poster presentations by students and graduate students will be held at the Michigan League immediately following the keynote address. All are encouraged to visit the poster presentations.

Looking For Leaders!Alumni Society Board of Governors I nominate: _______________________________________

Class Year (s): _____________________________________

Address (if known): __________________________________

______________________________________________

2nd name: _______________________________________

Class Year (s): _____________________________________

Address (if known): _________________________________

______________________________________________

Nominations will be published in the 2011Spring & Summer DentalUM. We request a brief biography (45 words or less) for each nominee. If you nominate yourself, we encourage you to send your biography with your nomination. If you are nominating a colleague, we will contact the nominee to confirm the nomination and request a biography.

Note: due to space limitations in the magazine all biographies should be 45 words or less. CVs cannot be accepted.

Mail or email your nomination information to:Carrie Towns ([email protected])Office of Alumni RelationsUniversity of Michigan School of Dentistry540 E. Liberty, Suite 204Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Nominations must be received at the School of Dentistry by January 15, 2011.

Board of GovernorsNomination Form

Here’s your chance to make a difference. In

September 2011 five members will be elected

to the U-M School of Dentistry’s Alumni Society

Board of Governors. The group will include

four dentists and one dental hygienist. All

will serve a three-year term. This is a perfect

opportunity for you to become involved with

the School, build relationships with students,

faculty, and staff, and perform a worthwhile

and satisfying public service. If you’re interested

in serving, or if you would like to nominate

someone, complete the form on the right and

mail or email the information to us. In the event

more than 10 individuals are nominated, the

Board’s nominating committee will select a

representative slate.

Questions: Contact Carrie Towns at 734-764-6856 [email protected]

dentalum fall 2010

Documents