utsd summer eflash
TRANSCRIPT
In This Issue
White Coat Ceremonies Welcome New DDS, DH Students (/about/e-flash/index.htm#3059189a-8b7c-4151-8490-785669b8efa3)
UTHealth's Game Changer Initiative Matches Dr. Seybold's Gift (/about/e-flash/index.htm#47c71ae7-d5b5-43e8-94b0-a85c015101b0)
Summer Job Program Inspires Future Professionals (/about/e-flash/index.htm#21aca6c3-31cb-41ce-96c2-662952e267b0)
Endodontics Residents Bring Home Awards (/about/e-flash/index.htm#572a5a82-1a18-47cb-b591-5c000426a2e1)
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UTSD eFlash! is a publication of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School ofDentistry.
UTSD eFlash! for August 18, 2015
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UTSD eFlash! Archives (/about/e-flash/archive.htm)
After their White Coat Ceremony on Aug. 8, the DDS Class of 2019 gathered for a group photo on the front steps of TheUniversity of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston. See more photos at go.uth.edu/Flickr.
White Coat Ceremonies Welcome New DDS, DH StudentsThe University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston hosted white coat ceremonies for 40 new dental hygienestudents Aug. 7 and 101 new dental students Aug. 8, with both ceremonies held in The Denton A. Cooley, MD andRalph C. Cooley, DDS University Life Center. The ceremonies were sponsored by the UTSD Alumni Association, theUTSD Family and Friends Association and the American College of Dentists. The white coat ceremony symbolizes thestudents’ new role as health-care professionals.
Dean John A. Valenza, DDS, spoke on the diverse backgrounds of the new dental students and encouraged them towear their white coats “with pride” and to help the dental school “enrich the lives of others now and in the future.”
The dental Class of 2019 is 38 percent male and 62 percent female. They are alumni of 38 universities, with theUniversity of Texas at Austin, University of Houston, and Texas A&M University contributing the most students.
“Work together and celebrate your diversity,” said Valenza.
Associate Dean for Professional Development and Faculty Affairs Karen Novak, DDS, MS, PhD, was the keynotespeaker for the dental hygiene ceremony. She shared facts about the Class of 2017, which is comprised of three menand 37 women. The majority of the students were from Texas, she said, with others from Louisiana, Trinidad, Tobago,Utah and Indiana.
Novak said the white coat ceremony represents “hope, a bright future, and a rite of passage,” adding that those whowear the white coat are “professional, competent, and responsible.”
Houston dentist W. Kenneth Horwitz, DDS, of the Class of 1961, was the keynote speaker for the DDS ceremony. Hediscussed the professionalism and ethics expected of those who wear the white coats of health care. “The future ofour profession is in your hands. Treat it thoughtfully, and not without fear of making the wrong decisions. Trust yourinstincts,” he said.
Other speakers included UTSD Family & Friends Association Vice President Monica Grover and members RobinStephens and Miquette Uhrenholdt; UTSD Alumni Association President Victor Rodriguez, DDS ’95; PhilipPierpont, DDS ’77, associate dean for student and alumni affairs;Harold Henson, RDH, MEd, PhD, past president ofUT Houston Dental Hygienists’ Alumni Association; Dental Hygiene Program Interim Director Joanna L. Allaire, RDH,BSDH, MDH; and Nikola Angelov, DDS, MS, PhD, chair of the Department of Periodontics and Dental Hygiene.
Susan Seybold, DDS ’81, and husband Rhett Campbell haveseen their gift to the Department of Pediatric Dentistry matched100 percent through UTHealth’s Game Changers Initiative.
In both ceremonies, the students came forward to be helped into their white coats by family, friends or alumni.Afterwards, the dental students recited “The Dentist’s Pledge” and the dental hygiene students recited the “DentalHygiene Oath.”
By Ke'ara Hunt, School of Dentistry
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UTHealth's Game Changer Initiative Matches Dr. Seybold's GiftSusan Seybold, MPH, DDS, started her career in thebasement — literally.
As a student at The University of Texas Health ScienceCenter at Houston (UTHealth) School of Dentistry,Seybold was part of a class whose students —including the school’s current dean, John A.Valenza, DDS — began their training by studying inthe building’s basement.
“I loved dental school,” Seybold said. “I madewonderful friends and learned to be a good dentist.”
Even before training to become a dentist, Seyboldbegan her health career journey by earning an MPH atUTHealth School of Public Health. Her fatherencouraged her to consider dentistry as a service toothers.
“From the very beginning, he told me I could doanything I made up my mind to do, and to dosomething for the betterment of mankind was evenbetter,” she said.
Seybold graduated from the School of Dentistry in 1981. After earning her residency in pediatric dentistry she wentinto private practice.
“I really enjoyed the families that I helped take care of, and I felt as though they were like my family,” she said.
Seybold eventually left private practice join the faculty of the School of Dentistry. She relished teaching dental studentsto be thoughtful and compassionate, and to truly care about their patients. She also enjoyed opportunities to work withteams at other UTHealth schools to provide dental care for children with special needs, such as cleft palate.
After serving as chair of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Seybold retired in 2007. In May 2015, she and herhusband, Rhett Campbell, decided to give back to the school with a $50,000 endowed pledge — matched byUTHealth’s Game Changers Initiative (https://www.uth.edu/giving/game-changers.htm) for a total of $100,000 —insupport of the department’s educational, research and clinical priorities.
In addition to supporting the next generation of dental students, Seybold’s gifts honored her father, who passed awayin February 2015.
“He was an important person, a guiding light in my life, and I wanted to do something in his name,” she said.
It’s the way he taught her to live — to work for the good of mankind and lend a hand to those who follow her.
“So many people helped shape me into the dentist that I was and allowed me to have the career I had,” she said.“They were always helping me, and now it’s time for me to help someone else.”
For more information about the Game Changers Initiative and giving opportunities at the School of Dentistry, contactDevelopment Director Beth Wilson, 713-486-4023, [email protected](mailto:[email protected]).
By John Evans, UTHealth Office of Development
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Pictured from left are Senior Executive Assistant Sandra Miller; interns Angie Garza, Jarett Magee, Lauren Moran, La’Tisha Whiteand Clarissa Pinales; and Administrative Manager Kimberly Johnson. Photo by Ke’ara Hunt
Summer Job Program Inspires Future Professionals
Summer Job Program interns display their certificates and posewith Steering Committee members at the Aug. 13 reception inthe Cooley Conference Center. Photo by Ke'ara Hunt.
Five interns have completed the eight-week SummerJobs Program at The University of Texas School ofDentistry at Houston, gaining an inside look at what it’slike to work for an academic institution in the TexasMedical Center.
Angelique “Angie” Garza (Patient Care), JarettMagee (Research), Lauren Moran (Continuing DentalEducation), Clarissa Pinales (Technology Services andInformatics), and La’Tisha White (Endodontics andPeriodontics and Dental Hygiene) began their jobs inmid-June, working up to 32 hours per week whilegaining job skills and attending weekly professionaldevelopment seminars.
The Summer Job Program is guided by a SteeringCommittee chaired by Director of Administration Lynnette Lewis, MBA, and including UT Dentists ExecutiveDirector Diana Mosenge, MBA; Research Coordinator Auco Dang; Continuing Education Coordinator Yvette Haas;Senior Executive Assistant Sandra Miller and Administrative Manager Kimberly Johnson.
The committee suggests and arranged weekly enrichment seminars designed to “impart knowledge and skills to theinterns for their personal advancement,” said Johnson.
This year’s seminar topics included resume writing, Microsoft Office tutorials, participation in departmental andacademic meetings, use of the SkillSoft development series, customer service, making presentations, practicingprofessional etiquette, and mock interviewing.
Intern Angie Garza said she found the mock interviews particularly helpful. “I learned what interviewers are looking forin an employee and how there will always be different types of interviewers,” she said.
Fellow intern Lauren Moran said the seminars allowed the interns to “step out of our comfort zones to presentourselves as professionals in the business world.”
For the participating administrators, the decision to host an intern meant analyzing what tasks needed to be done, andwhy. In some cases, the interns provided extra support and coverage in the office, but some were assigned largeprojects to complete over the course of the summer.
“The interns are usually high school or college students,” said Research Coordinator Auco Dang, “so they pick upthings very quickly, are eager to learn and be successful in the Summer Job Program. It’s a beneficial experience forboth the department and the intern.”
Intern La’Tisha White said some of her biggest surprises about working at UTSD came in the “weekly trainingexperience” and she enjoyed receiving “additional knowledge and skills in a formal workplace environment.”
The program concluded Aug. 13 with a reception in The Denton A. Cooley, MD and Ralph C. Cooley, DDS UniversityLife Center, where each participant had a chance to talk about the summer’s experiences before receiving a letter ofrecommendation from the department supervisor and a certificate of completion signed by Dean John A. Valenza,DDS.
Garza, who plans to apply to dental school, said she hopes the internship with UT Dentists helped prepare her for acareer in dentistry and “what's to come afterward.” She encouraged future summer interns to “come in with an openmind and willingness to learn.”
In addition to gaining phone and email skills, the interns had to cope with navigating the School of Dentistry’s six-storybuilding, and the experience of commuting to the Texas Medical Center for work.
“I still get lost around campus, because there are so many hidden offices throughout the building,” Garza said.
Riding MetroRail in 100-degree weather was “quite the adventure,” but overall “a great learning experience,” saidMoran, who also recommended “bringing a blazer to look professional without risking hypothermia in your [air-conditioned] office.”
Intern Clarissa Pinales also had advice for office dress in Houston summer weather. “Keep a light sweater for thecooler indoor temperature and bring a pair of thin socks in case your feet get cold,” she said.
If funding permits, the Summer Job Program will be offered again in April 2016. Application information will be postedon the School of Dentistry’swebsite (https://dentistry.uth.edu/)in the spring.
By Ke'ara Hunt, School of Dentistry
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Award-winning endodontics residents at The University of Texas School of Dentistry (from left) include Drs. Sameer Jain, MarieMessing, Alexandra Garraton, Valerie Okehie and Will Pack
Endodontics Residents Bring Home AwardsSameer Jain, BDS, MS, an endodontics resident at The University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston, has beenselected as recipient of the 2015 Henry M. Thornton/SCADA Fellowship in the amount of $2,500 to help coverexpenses incurred during his advanced program in endodontics at UTHealth. The award will be presented during theupcoming ADA Annual Session SCADA Awards Program Nov. 7 at the Newseum in Washington, D.C.
It is the latest in a series of honors for UTSD’s Endodontics residents. At the American Association of EndodontistsAnnual Session in May, Marie Messing, DDS, received first place in Table Clinics, while Alexandra Garraton, DMD,won second place in the residents' Oral Presentations.
Drs. Will Pack and Valerie Okehie (third-year residents at the time), were also called onstage to be presented with a$2,500 check for the department in recognition of successfully hosting the Advanced Program in Clinical EndodonticsSymposium in 2014. Pack and Okehie chaired the 2014 APICES event in association with the American Association ofEndodontists.
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(https://dentistry.uth.edu/)
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In This Issue
New Confocal Microscope Aids Research at UTSD (/about/e-flash/index.htm?issue=8932&pubid=81a7abed-01be-4791-bd7c-5ba6fb824842#3a8c2ace-bbaa-4c26-8c46-2e7c17991ecc)
UTSD'S Ronald McDonald Care Mobile Visits Christus Back-To-School Health Fair (/about/e-flash/index.htm?issue=8932&pubid=81a7abed-01be-4791-bd7c-5ba6fb824842#502cf868-ef25-406a-ae72-b86069fd00e2)
Two From UTSD Awarded HDA Scholarships (/about/e-flash/index.htm?issue=8932&pubid=81a7abed-01be-4791-bd7c-5ba6fb824842#f8fc4792-edc3-4ffb-ad25-47a1db1114b9)
Faculty Members Complete Health Education Fellowship Program (/about/e-flash/index.htm?issue=8932&pubid=81a7abed-01be-4791-bd7c-5ba6fb824842#656ac764-7979-4296-9292-0ff6c2070412)
UTSD Student, Alum Volunteer at Ibn Sina Health Fair (/about/e-flash/index.htm?issue=8932&pubid=81a7abed-01be-4791-bd7c-5ba6fb824842#5ff12a7f-5a35-4f49-8533-77a34e88c28a)
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UTSD eFlash! for August 06, 2015
Endodontics resident Kian Nikdel, DDS, briefly explains how the School of Dentistry’s new confocal microscope works. Photo byKe’ara Hunt.
New Confocal Microscope Aids Research at UTSDA new confocal microscope system at The University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston is advancing biologicalimaging by allowing researchers to examine even thick-tissue specimens in a quick and cost-effective way.
The Nikon C2+ confocal microscope (http://www.nikoninstruments.com/Products/Light-Microscope-Systems/Confocal-Microscopes/C2-Plus) arrived earlier this year and underwent a lengthy customization process thatis now complete. The microscope resides in the Research Office laboratory on the fourth floor of the UT Behavioraland Biomedical Sciences Building, adjacent to the School of Dentistry.
Researchers in the Department of Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences are already putting the new equipment to gooduse.
Assistant Professor Ransome V. van der Hoeven, PhD, employs the confocal microscope in his study of themolecular mechanisms by which the opportunistic pathogen E. faeca’lis can survive and cause persistent secondaryendodontic infections. Even after long periods of starvation, the bacterium can grow as a mono-infection in theabsence of other microorganisms in the root canal system.
The confocal microscope can scan multiple thin areas of the sample bacterium, then digitally combine the scans tocreate a three-dimensional image.
“It’s almost like a CT scan,” said Endodontics Resident Kian Nikdel, DDS, who described the new microscope(https://youtu.be/53hhZvXScJg) as a very useful tool and “a great addition to what we are doing” in research at UTSD.
In his research in the immunology of cells and molecules, Professor Yahuan Lou, PhD, appreciates the confocalmicroscope’s precise imaging. “You can see the specific changes without having to guess or estimate,” he said.
Having access to a confocal microscope system allows UTSD researchers to do procedures that were previously toodifficult or time-consuming, including time-lapse microscopy, observing three-dimensional structures such as biofilms,or viewing the colocalization (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colocalization) of protein.
With the confocal microscope, “We’re capable of integrating all kinds of information from the images,” said AssistantProfessor Junichi Iwata, DDS, PhD. “We’ve just started to enjoy this new innovative tool, and the future of research isclear at UTSD.”
For more information about the confocal microscope, contact Research Coordinator Gerald Bellot(mailto:[email protected]) at 713-486-4484.
By Ke'ara Hunt, School of Dentistry
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UTSD’s Ronald McDonald Care Mobile participated in the CHRISTUS Children’s Back-to-School Summer Bash on July 18.
UTSD'S Ronald McDonald Care Mobile Visits Christus Back-To-SchoolHealth FairThe University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston sent its Ronald McDonald Care Mobile to provide oralscreenings and oral hygiene instructions to nearly 50 children at CHRISTUS (http://www.christusfoundation.org/)Children’s Back-to-School Summer Bash 2015 on July 18.
The team from UTSD included faculty supervisors Maryam Tabrizi, DMD, and Community Outreach Director MargoMelchor, RDH, MEd; prosthodontics resident Joel Diaz, DMD; dental hygiene studentJerraca Reyes; staffers LeeLouis, Raven Landry and Dental Van Coordinator Pat Henshaw, CDA, RDA; and Beatrice Oyombe, a Texas A&MUniversity community Health intern. Parents received dental resources, educational materials and nutritional counseling to assist with obtaining optimumoral health. Apart from the dental screenings, children were also offered sports physicals, eye exams, back-to-schoolsupplies, and a chance to have their faces painted. Approximately 250 people attended the event.
For Landry, who works as a patient care coordinator at the School of Dentistry, it was her first time to volunteered with
the school’s Care Mobile — a pediatric dental clinic in a van donated by Ronald McDonald House Charities of GreaterHouston/Galveston, Inc (http://www.rmhcghg.org/).
“I truly enjoyed seeing the kids and parents appreciate the availability of dental check-ups,” said Landry. “As it was myfirst time volunteering with the dental van, everything was new to me, but beautiful and convenient. I think it’swonderful that UT extends the opportunity for staff to help with community projects. I can’t wait to sign up again.”
Melchor thanked the volunteers for participating.
“It was another great opportunity for UTSD to expand upon our partnership with CHRISTUS Foundation forHealthCare,” she said. “This type of event is an opportunity for UTSD to engage in oral health promotion and enablethe children to have a positive dental experience in ‘friendly’ environment.“The health fair is also a chance to develop and advance community partnerships, which benefits both the communityas well as the School of Dentistry,” she added.
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Barrera
Minavi
Two From UTSD Awarded HDA ScholarshipsThe Hispanic Dental Association (http://www.hdassoc.org/) and HDA Foundation(http://www.hdassoc.org/hda-foundation) have awarded scholarships to two University ofTexas School of Dentistry at Houston dental students. Alejandro Barrera will receive the 2015 Dr. Juan D. Villarreal Scholarship, while Brian Minaviwas chosen for a Procter & Gamble Scholarship.
“Each one of us can recall a time when support was needed during the process of becominga professional, whether financial or emotional,” said Sarita Arteaga, DMD, on behalf of theHDA Foundation. “The foundation is excited to continue supporting students as theyadvance in their careers with these scholarships, and we foresee their passion to continue toimpact the culture of dentistry.”
The HDA’s mission is to build healthier Hispanic communities, connect partners and developleaders who impact transformational strategies for education, scholarship and research.
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Dr. John Valenza, dean, congratulates UTSD faculty members for completing the Health Educators Fellowship Program.
Faculty Members Complete Health Education Fellowship ProgramFive faculty members of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Dentistry havecompleted the 18-month Health Educators Fellowship Program (/about/administration/center-for-teaching-and-learning/). Kalu Ogbureke (/directory/profile.htm?id=6d1f5f2a-37cd-4782-96f0-ad3b76484859),BDS, DMSc, JD;Lincoln Edwards (/directory/profile.htm?id=5d26aaeb-cbeb-45cd-ac05-998f385b0306), DDS, PhD; Shelly Patel(/directory/profile.htm?id=919a0f51-2082-4747-9f15-f81a7c54dbe1), DDS; Rebeca Weisleder(/directory/profile.htm?id=1c1d552c-d31a-4c48-85d2-940f78ea483e), DDS; and Clark Whitmeyer(/directory/profile.htm?id=a04a6a88-aacc-4f21-a37d-d697381b8235), DMD, JD, received certificates commemoratingthe achievement.
The program is designed to expand the teaching skills of participating faculty and enhance UTHealth’s educationalmission. It draws on the collaborative relationships among the university’s Medical School, School of BiomedicalInformatics, School of Dentistry, School of Nursing and School of Public Health. The program accepts applicants everyother year.
Participants apply current education theory to educational practices, identify and reflect on their personal educationaland teaching philosophies, collaborate with fellow participants to identify common areas of interest, and develop aproject reflecting sound educational theory and practice that will benefit their personal careers.
For more information, contact Karen Novak (/directory/profile.htm?id=9254c260-d10b-4354-8c97-15f384723d02),DDS, PhD, associate dean for professional development and faculty affairs at the School of Dentistry.
By Rhonda Whitmeyer, School of Dentistry
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UTSD dental hygiene student Valerie Hernandez packs a gift bag at Ibn Sina Medical and Dental Clinic’s Health Fair in June.
UTSD Student, Alum Volunteer at Ibn Sina Health FairTwo dental hygiene volunteers from The University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston helped out at the June 27health fair at the newly opened Ibn Sina (http://ibnsinafoundation.org/) Medical and Dental Clinic on North ShepherdDrive. Dental hygiene student Valerie Hernandez and UTSD alumna Ushma Ramaiya, RDH, placed sealants on theteeth of prescreened patients, and also provided oral hygiene instructions.
The health fair began at 10 a.m. and wrapped up at 1 p.m., and in that short time at least 60 visitors learned properoral hygiene care and received toothbrushes, toothpaste and other dental aids for themselves and their families.
Many families with young children attended the event, and Hernandez said helping them learn oral hygiene at an earlyage “was very rewarding, because affordable dental care is difficult to find these days.
It was great working with the Ibn Sina Foundation, which offers these services at a discount for individuals who areuninsured or underinsured.”
Hernandez and Ramaiya are members of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (http://www.adha.org/) and theGreater Houston Dental Hygienists’ Society.
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(https://dentistry.uth.edu/)
UTHealth Home (https://www.uth.edu/) Emergency Information (https://www.uthealthemergency.org/)Web File Viewing (http://www.uthouston.edu/index/file-viewing-information.htm)
In This Issue
UTHealth's Game Changer Initiative doubles Hoopingarners' gift (/about/e-flash/index.htm?issue=8811&pubid=7148a38b-11be-4ec8-9307-02e6a70524c6#6142851e-afad-47be-95bf-786a29ff26bc)
SMDEP Gives Visiting Students a Look at Health Professions (/about/e-flash/index.htm?issue=8811&pubid=7148a38b-11be-4ec8-9307-02e6a70524c6#692554a7-ec0b-457f-8eb8-9736a16aad9b)
2015 Dean’s Excellence Awards Highlight Faculty Retreat (/about/e-flash/index.htm?issue=8811&pubid=7148a38b-11be-4ec8-9307-02e6a70524c6#493bba02-c4e3-49c9-a36f-a9be89cb091d)
Regents' Outstanding Teaching Awards Go to 10 from UTHealth (/about/e-flash/index.htm?issue=8811&pubid=7148a38b-11be-4ec8-9307-02e6a70524c6#55a08599-a9fb-4f93-ae3e-ae0f30026719)
UTSD Elective Explores Geriatric Oral Health Care (/about/e-flash/index.htm?issue=8811&pubid=7148a38b-11be-4ec8-9307-02e6a70524c6#1cc26d63-4581-4b7e-97e2-4d41111f246f)
Schweitzer Fellows at UTSD Work to Empower Vulnerable Communities (/about/e-flash/index.htm?issue=8811&pubid=7148a38b-11be-4ec8-9307-02e6a70524c6#ea6a26ae-b071-4938-9cdf-331d25a064b4)
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UTSD eFlash! for July 23, 2015
Dr. and Mrs. Charles Hoopingarner
UTHealth's Game Changer Initiative doubles Hoopingarners' giftThey say timing is everything, and that sentiment has never been more true than this year, when certain gifts to TheUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) are being matched for double impact.
You heard it right. UTHealth is offering to match donations made through its new Game Changers(https://www.uth.edu/giving/game-changers.htm) Initiative. To qualify for matching, the gifts must be between $50,000and $1 million and come from individual donors. It’s a program that makes a good investment even better. The mostrecent contributors to the program are Gayla and Charles Hoopingarner, DDS, who just gifted $50,000 to advance thefuture of general dentistry.
“In my 41 years of providing general dentistry care and education, I’ve seen massive changes in techniques, tools andunderstanding within our profession,” said Charles Hoopingarner, a Class of 1973 alumnus and clinical associateprofessor at UTHealth School of Dentistry. “We just wanted to be able to continue that progress.”
He added that the future of any field is determined by its educators staying educated, which makes him even moreexcited about what his and his wife’s gift will provide.
The Hoopingarners’ gift of $100,000 — since being doubled by Game Changers — will go specifically toward the TheRalph A. Frankson, DDS Professorship in General Practice, which funds educator development.
The Hoopingarners are proud to have taken part in the Game Changers Initiative and are encouraging others to do thesame.
For more information or to make a gift with extra impact, contact Development Director Beth Wilson [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or 713-486-4380.
By Erika E. Hayes for the School of Dentistry
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SMDEP Gives Visiting Students a Look at Health ProfessionsThe 2015 Summer Medical and Dental Education Program hosted 79 new faces throughout The University of TexasHealth Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Dentistry and Medical School this year.
Seventy-nine undergraduate college students visited UTHealthSchool of Dentistry and Medical School this summer to learnabout health professions. More photos at go.uth.edu/Flickr.
SMDEP students visit the Museum of Fine Arts,Houston for an “Art of Communication” class.Photo by Ke’ara Hunt. More photos atgo.uth.edu/Flickr.
The six-week academic enhancement program servesundergraduate college students from minority groups,rural areas and economically disadvantagedbackgrounds who are interested in medicine, dentistryor other health professions. This year, 59 pre-med and20 pre-dental students were selected to participate outof 524 total applicants.
From May 26 through July 1, the SMDEP studentslived in dormitories at Rice University, ate with Memorial Hermann Hospital meal tickets and traveledby foot or UT Shuttle to classes on the UTHealthcampus in the Texas Medical Center. The studentsattended courses in science and math, as well asclasses on personal finance, stress management and wellness,study skills and cultural competency.
The students also visited The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston(http://www.mfah.org/)(MFAH) for the”Art of Communication”course. For hands-on learning, the students spent time in clinicalsettings, shadowing physicians, dentists and other healthprofessionals at work.
Thanks to a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation(http://www.rwjf.org/), aside from travel costs the program was freeto the students, who received biweekly stipends during their stay.
Dr. Karen Novak of the School of Dentistry serves as the SMDEPprincipal investigator and program director. Dr.Philip Pierpont andDr.Andrew Harper are co-directors of the program — Pierpont forthe School of Dentistry and Harper for the Medical School.
For the School of Dentistry, Janis Smith served as the SMDEP coordinator, and Nicole Chapman served as supportstaff. For the Medical School, Dr. Latanya Love assisted with student affairs, and Dr. John Foringer and MarcelleHamburger assisted with the Art of Communication course at MFAH.
UTHealth students who served as mentors and tutors included Alejandro Barrera, Roberto Benavides Jr., TanyaSue Maestas and Ruby Pena, all from the School of Dentistry; and Emmanuel Achilike, Sara Coverdale, ChigozieDike, Michael Giglio and Jonathan Mondragon, all from the Medical School. Mondragon was the 2015 lead tutor.
Martha Robertson of San Jacinto College served as the curriculum director. Courses were taught by Professor SusanStarr (anatomy and physiology), Professor Frank Richardson (microbiology), Dr. J.P. Anderson (statistics), ProfessorChristopher Wild (organic chemistry), and Dr.Walter Thompson (physics).
MFAH University Programs Specialist Kelley Magill, PhD, and Public Programs Coordinator Jay Heuman alsoassisted with the Art of Communication course.
UTHealth's SMDEP concluded July 1 with a graduation ceremony in The Denton A. Cooley, MD, and Ralph C. Cooley,DDS, University Life Center. Before the ceremony, students gave presentations on various medical and dentalobjectives, including malpractice tort reform, team-based health care, and managing patient fear and anxiety. Many ofthe scholars’ families and friends were in attendance.
From left: Drs. June Sadowsky, C.D. Johnson, Ryan Quock,Karen Novak, Harold Henson, Kalu Ogbureke, Shelly Patel andNina Leifeste. Drs. John Klein and Giancarlo Romero are notpictured.
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2015 Dean’s Excellence Awards Highlight Faculty RetreatThe University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houstonhas awarded 2015 Dean’s Excellence Awards to 10faculty members nominated by their peers as havingmade valuable contributions to the school in the areasof scholarship, teaching, discovery, application,voluntary service, or mentoring. The awards werepresented at the annual Faculty Retreat, held this yearat The Denton A. Cooley, MD and Ralph C. Cooley,DDS University Life Center.
The 10 automatically become members of the Dean’sAcademy of Distinguished Educators, in addition toreceiving cash awards and certificates. The honoreesinclude:
DEAN'S EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR THESCHOLARSHIP OF APPLICATIONJune M. Sadowsky (/directory/profile.htm?id=4d7f4269-d8c8-4fad-b035-4ab824cbdbaa), DDS, MPHAssociate Professor and Dentist GeriatricianGeneral Practice and Dental Public Health DEAN'S EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP OF DISCOVERYJohn R. Klein (/directory/profile.htm?id=0e6fe80b-07c9-4e0b-9ef2-4445f84fe790), PhDProfessorDiagnostic and Biomedical Sciences Kalu U.E. Ogbureke (/directory/profile.htm?id=6d1f5f2a-37cd-4782-96f0-ad3b76484859), BDS, DMSc, JD, MScProfessor and ChairDiagnostic and Biomedical Sciences DEAN'S EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP OF TEACHINGHarold A. Henson (/directory/profile.htm?id=a4939a13-0565-45aa-8a34-fc5266f1eec1), RDH '95, MEd, PhDAssociate Professor, Periodontics and Dental HygieneDirector, Center for Teaching and Learning
Karen F. Novak (/directory/profile.htm?id=9254c260-d10b-4354-8c97-15f384723d02),DDS, MS, PhDProfessorAssociate Dean for Professional Development and Faculty Affairs
Shalizeh "Shelly" A. Patel (/directory/profile.htm?id=919a0f51-2082-4747-9f15-f81a7c54dbe1), DDSAssistant ProfessorRestorative Dentistry and Prosthodontics
Ryan Quock, (/directory/profile.htm?id=8f0966d2-23e2-433a-8476-b34c177bde2f)DDS '05Associate ProfessorRestorative Dentistry and Prosthodontics
Dr. Koeppen
Regents' Outstanding Teaching Awards are UTSystem's highest honor for faculty.
DEAN'S EXCELLENCE AWARD IN MENTORINGCleverick D. "C.D." Johnson, (/directory/profile.htm?id=ad1237c3-35d6-4a04-9172-c663866bff3c)DDS '86, MSDirector, Urgent Care ClinicProfessor, General Practice and Dental Public Health DEAN'S EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR VOLUNTEER FACULTYNina Leifeste, (/directory/profile.htm?id=12319504-1761-43c1-aee8-f2e12ff9aa85)DDS '88, '89Clinical Assistant ProfessorGeneral Practice and Dental Public Health
Giancarlo Romero, (/directory/profile.htm?id=df1794e2-70d0-43c8-b32d-a42d4b082a18)DDS, MSD '98Visiting ProfessorRestorative Dentistry and Prosthodontics
By Rhonda Whitmeyer, School of Dentistry
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Regents' Outstanding Teaching Awards Go to 10 from UTHealthTen faculty members at The University of Texas Health Science Center atHouston (UTHealth) — including Raymond G. Koeppen(/directory/profile.htm?id=49595593-c1b0-4048-bcb0-99261b670b7f), DDS, MS, MBA, of the School of Dentistry — have beenrecognized for teaching excellence by The UT System Board of Regents.
Koeppen is an associate professor and chair of the Department of RestorativeDentistry and Prosthodontics. He holds the Yun J. Ahn and Song Ahn, DDSProfessorship in Implant Dentistry.
The Regents' Outstanding Teaching Awards(http://www.utsystem.edu/teachingawards/) recognize faculty members atthe nine academic and six health institutions in UT System who havedemonstrated extraordinary classroom performance and innovation ininstruction.
The awards include a $25,000 monetary award andunderscore the Regents' commitment to ensuring the UTSystem is a place of intellectual exploration and discovery,educational excellence and unparalleled opportunity. Inaddition to Koeppen, the other honorees for 2015 fromUTHealth include:
Andrew Bean (https://gsbs.uth.edu/faculty/faculty-directory/faculty-profiles.htm?id=1346145), PhD,professor, neurobiology and anatomy, Medical School;associate dean of graduate education, Graduate School ofBiomedical Sciences (GSBS) at Houston
George Delclos(https://nursing.uth.edu/directory/profile/index.htm?
profileinode=9da12939-3757-4791-94b3-bf69b73825ee), MD, MPH, PhD, professor of epidemiology,human genetics and environmental sciences, School of Public Health; medical director, UT HealthServices
Herbert DuPont (https://gsbs.uth.edu/faculty/faculty-directory/faculty-profiles.htm?id=1346639), MD,director, Center for Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health; Mary W. Kelsey Chair in the MedicalSciences, UTHealth; GSBS faculty
Michael Lorenz (https://med.uth.edu/mmg/faculty/michael-c-lorenz/), PhD, associate professor,microbiology and molecular genetics, Medical School; GSBS faculty
Pedro Mancias (https://med.uth.edu/pediatrics/faculty/2280/), MD, associate professor,pediatrics; assistant dean for diversity and inclusion; assistant dean of admissions and student affairs;Medical School
Christine Markham, (https://sph.uth.edu/tprc/2011/11/30/christine-markham-phd/) PhD, associateprofessor, health promotion and behavioral sciences; associate director, Center for Health Promotion andPrevention Research; School of Public Health
Joanne Oakes, (https://med.uth.edu/emergencymedicine/faculty/joanne-l-oakes) MD, associateprofessor, emergency medicine; assistant dean, educational programs; Medical School
Evan Pivalizza, (https://med.uth.edu/anesthesiology/faculty/evan-g-pivalizza/) MBChB, professor andvice chairman, academic affairs, Department of Anesthesiology; Medical School
Han Zhang (http://nba.uth.tmc.edu/resources/faculty/members/zhang.htm), MD, associate professor,neurobiology and anatomy, Medical School.
“These awards are the highest honor UT System bestows upon teaching faculty,” said UTHealthPresident Giuseppe N. Colasurdo (https://www.uth.edu/president/), MD. “These 10 recipientsrepresent the very best in health care education. We are truly fortunate to have such talented andcommitted educators serving the students of UTHealth.”
Regents Chairman Paul Foster (https://www.utsystem.edu/board-of-regents/current-regents/paul-l-foster) also praised the educators and noted UT System's commitment to quality. "With a total award ofmore than $1.9 million this year, no other university system in the nation is making this kind of aninvestment in rewarding outstanding faculty."
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UTSD Elective Explores Geriatric Oral Health CareBefore an audience of faculty, staff and classmates earlier this summer, University of Texas School ofDentistry at Houston students described their spring-semester experiences with “Service LearningOpportunity: Geriatric Oral Health Care Needs in the Community (DBEC 2202),” an elective course andfellowship extension for second- and third-year dental students.
Associate Professor June Sadowsky, DDS, MPH, leads the course with assistance from “student faculty”
UTSD dental student Chad Fruithandler talks with a Houstonwoman who volunteered to work with dental students taking theelective course "Geriatric Oral Health Care Needs in theCommunity."
Dental students (from left) Sarah Arafat, AustinAnderson, and Alex Barrera showcase dentalsupplies for the geriatric volunteers.
who have already taken the course. This spring,third-year students MaryGlasheen andFrancisco Nieves fulfilled thatrole, accompanying second-year students onsite visits.
The students worked in groups at threelocations:
-- Bellerive Senior Living in Houston: MarianChen, Mayleen Lee, Tomas Tran-- Lyerly Apartments in Houston: AustinAnderson, Sarah Arafat, Alex Barerra-- Telephone Road Apartments inHouston: Natalie Carrizales, ChadFruithandler, MaryamKhazaeizadeh and Justin Odette.
Over the course of the semester, all of thestudents met several times to have anunderstanding of the course objectives. Thestudent groups visited their assigned geriatric communitiestwo to three times for approximately four hours per visit.
The students surveyed geriatric volunteers at each facilityand learned that a large percentage were battling specificoral hygiene issues, such as dry mouth (resulting frommedication), cracked or missing teeth, and gum sensitivity.
The results confirmed the “immense need” for more dentaleducation in the geriatric community, said dental studentAlex Barrera.
In their presentations, many students expressedamazement that the older adults lacked significantknowledge about basic dental care, resulting in poor oralhygiene. Common concerns also included how to pay fordental work and how to arrange transportation to and fromdental appointments.
UTSD’s Geriatric Oral Health elective course provides a way for the volunteers to learn about dental care,through group and one-on-one sessions with the dental students. The program builds a relationship oftrust between the students and the geriatric volunteers, which encourages the volunteers to seek andreceive oral and dental care. For their part, the students gain hands-on experience outside theclassroom, in a social setting they might not otherwise encounter.
The course will be offered again in the fall and spring. Fall semester registration is from Aug. 10-21, butAug. 10 also opens registration for the spring 2016 course. For more information,[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]), 713-486-4064.
2015 Schweitzer Fellows from UTSD include (from left) dentalstudents Tanya Sue Maestas and Brittany Tran, and dentalhygiene student Nkiru Vance.
By Ke'ara Hunt, School of Dentistry
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Schweitzer Fellows at UTSD Work to Empower Vulnerable CommunitiesUniversity of Texas School of Dentistry atHouston students Tanya Sue Maestas(http://asfhg.org/2015/06/tanya-sue-maestas/), Brittany Tran(http://asfhg.org/2015/06/brittany-tran/) andNkiru Vance(http://asfhg.org/2015/06/nkiru-vance/) wereselected for the 2015-16 class of AlbertSchweitzer fellows for the Houston-Galvestonarea.
The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship of Houston-Galveston is a nonprofit organization, housed atBaylor College of Medicine, that offers graduate students the opportunity to design and implement ahealth-related, 200-hour, year-long community project that provides direct service to an underservedpopulation. Students are paired with mentors, field experts, and community sites to meet vital localhealth needs, with an immediate and lasting impact in the Houston-Galveston area.
Maestas, a second-year dental student, is working with the Texas Children’s Obstetrics and GynecologyServices to educate pregnant women on the importance of oral hygiene for their children. She aims tohelp reduce the number of oral ailments that children suffer each year.
Tran, also a second-year dental student, is working to empower Bhutanese and Burmese refugees atEpiphany Community Health Outreach Services (ECHOS) through oral health education and bymotivating refugee adolescents to pursue higher education.
Vance is a senior dental hygiene student working with the Boys and Girls Club to educate low-incomeelementary school children on oral health care and careers in dentistry. She hopes to help improve theoral health practices of future generations, ultimately decreasing the occurrence of oral health disparitiesin low-income communities.
Since 2008 nearly 100 Albert Schweitzer Fellows in Houston-Galveston have completed projects in areassuch as HIV/AIDS care, homeless support, oral health, nutrition, refugee health, mental healthawareness, mobile health clinics, smartphone health apps, family and teen support groups, healthcareeducation and more.
ASFHG is under the new leadership of Executive Director Gabrielle Hansen, PhD, who said she is“thrilled to be part of such a wonderful mission and delighted to facilitate links between local communityagencies and these enthusiastic fellows.
“You only have to meet one of our fellows to truly understand that one person can really make adifference. These young people are incredibly inspiring,” she said. “All Houstonians should be proud ofthe difference our young citizens make. Hear their stories and feel good about the future of Houston.”
Beginning in September, ASFHG will be recruiting Houston/Galveston-area graduate students in all fieldsfor the 2016-17 fellowship. For more information, contact [email protected](mailto:[email protected]), 713-798-1045, or visit www.asfhg.org(http://www.asfhg.org/) or the group’s Facebook page.
The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship of Houston-Galveston is sponsored by the Houston Endowment, theFrees Foundation, the Simmons Foundation, CHI St. Luke's Health and our many individual donors.
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(https://dentistry.uth.edu/)
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In This Issue
$3.7 Million NIDCR Grant to Fund Search for Dental Quality Measures (/about/e-flash/index.htm?issue=8736&pubid=ca01dbad-6a64-4e6c-8b6f-cc204e2b7f3a#c7284bc1-a7ad-4986-8357-bbc2693fa6e0)
SAVE THE DATE: Ice Cream 'Scream-Out' July 14 (/about/e-flash/index.htm?issue=8736&pubid=ca01dbad-6a64-4e6c-8b6f-cc204e2b7f3a#bd8b9cbe-1689-4c10-823d-d0ef08cb41f2)
HSDA Staffs Colgate’s Dental Van for Houston Visit (/about/e-flash/index.htm?issue=8736&pubid=ca01dbad-6a64-4e6c-8b6f-cc204e2b7f3a#598e34ae-83ae-4951-91c0-95cda825f9c6)
Canvas Replacing Blackboard; Training Available (/about/e-flash/index.htm?issue=8736&pubid=ca01dbad-6a64-4e6c-8b6f-cc204e2b7f3a#d060c5db-1e37-4fa9-a8ce-d1925ca49b6f)
P.E.D.S. Members Teach Oral Health at Local School (/about/e-flash/index.htm?issue=8736&pubid=ca01dbad-6a64-4e6c-8b6f-cc204e2b7f3a#ff6034b7-d858-4631-89ea-76b7bfa129d9)
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UTSD eFlash! for June 22, 2015
$3.7 Million NIDCR Grant to Fund Search for Dental Quality MeasuresThe National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) has awarded nearly $3.7 million forclinical informatics research at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth)School of Dentistry, in collaboration with Harvard University School of Dental Medicine.
The R01 grant, "Implementing Dental Quality Measures in Practice," will be funded over five years for atotal of $3,692,153.
Principal investigators include Muhammad F. Walji (/directory/profile.htm?id=bb78ab84-57bd-4ab5-b0c4-72bf32d40298), PhD, associate dean for technology services and informatics and associateprofessor in the Department of Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences at UTHealth School of Dentistry;and Elsbeth Kalenderian (http://hsdm.harvard.edu/faculty/detail/elsbeth_kalenderian), DDS, PhD,chair of the Department of Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology, chief of quality for Harvard DentalCenter, and associate professor of oral health policy and epidemiology at Harvard University School ofDental Medicine. Director of Dental Public Health Ana Neumann, (/directory/profile.htm?id=11412a15-c9af-4f70-bb0c-83401949a4e0) DDS, PhD, of UTHealth School of Dentistry, is a co-investigator in thisresearch.
Walji said the new funding supports the development of dental quality measures and allows 11organizations to compare performance and pool data from electronic health records (EHR) across sites.
Despite all the money Americans spend on oral health, “There’s little understanding of the return interms of quality,” Walji said. “What percentage of children at high risk for caries receive preventivefluoride treatment? How many patients diagnosed with periodontitis receive periodontal maintenance at
least every six months?”
The research team will use EHR data to collect quality measures, assess the relationship between themand long-term outcomes, and then compare the measures across geographical sites. Other keycollaborating institutions include the University of California-San Francisco School of Dentistry andWillamette Dental Group.
Walji and Kalenderian are also leading an NIDCR-funded effort to create a database of dental adverseevents as a way to better understand and document patient safety issues.
By Rhonda Whitmeyer, School of Dentistry
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SAVE THE DATE: Ice Cream 'Scream-Out' July 14
In observance of July as National Ice Cream Month, Dean John Valenza, DDS, will host the annual“Scream-Out Ice Cream Party” from 11:30 to 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 14 in The Denton A. Cooley, MDand Ralph C. Cooley, DDS University Life Center. The event is for faculty, staff, residents and students ofthe School of Dentistry. (Valid UTHealth badges are required).
For the first time, the Scream-Out will serve Dreyer’s ice cream instead of Blue Bell.
Guests may have two scoops in either cup or waffle cone, choosing from butter pecan, chocolate,strawberry, Grand Vanilla or Cookie Dough. Optional toppings will include chopped peanuts, M&Ms,cherries, sprinkles, chocolate or caramel sauce, and whipped cream.
For more information, contact [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]).
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Hispanic Student Dental Association member Paola Salazar was among volunteers providing care when Colgate’s mobile dentalvan visited Houston June 13.
HSDA Staffs Colgate’s Dental Van for Houston VisitDental student Alex Barrera, community chair of the Hispanic Student Dental Association (HSDA) at The University ofTexas School of Dentistry at Houston, organized the school’s participation when Colgate’s mobile dental van visitedHouston in June.
In partnership with the Hispanic Dental Association (HDA), Colgate’s Bright Smiles, Bright Futures® mobile dental vanhas been providing bilingual learning materials and free dental screenings to children in the Houston, Los Angeles,Miami and New York metro areas throughout the month, reaching out to more than 11,000 children.
In Houston, the van visited Fiesta Stores on Spencer Highway and Wirt Road on June 13. HSDA members whoparticipated included Barrera, Brian Minavi, Paola Salazar, Patricia Lopez, Virginia Velez and HSDA Faculty AdvisorMargo Melchor, RDH, MEd, who is a past president of both the national HDA and the Houston chapter. Also inattendance was volunteer faculty member and HDA Past President Victor Rodriguez, DDS.
Barrera said it was a rewarding experience to be able to serve the Hispanic community of Houston alongside officersof the Houston Hispanic Dental Association, including the current president, UTSD alumna Lisa Trevino, DDS.
“By just providing simple dental screenings, we were able to influence many families and remind them of the importantrole oral health plays in their children's lives," he said.
Due to factors such as language barriers and lack of awareness about proper dental hygiene, a large percentage ofU.S. Latinos tend to experience poor dental conditions and difficulty in accessing oral health education. Colgate's OralHealth Month aims to empower these consumers by providing the oral health tips and information they need.
Karla Martinez — a Colgate spokesperson and Spanish TV personality — joined families during the Oral Health Monthevents in Houston.
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Help is available for faculty members moving their courses from Blackboard to Canvas. Visit Go.uth.edu/CanvasSignUp to makean appointment for assistance.
Canvas Replacing Blackboard; Training AvailableBeginning this fall, The University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston will officially use the Canvas(https://www.uth.edu/canvas/index.htm) learning management system — replacing Blackboard.
Richard “Hal” Halpin (/directory/profile.htm?id=fd843b5f-28bf-46ba-97e4-7c5e2c5582bf), educational technologymanager at the School of Dentistry, said Canvas offers many benefits over Blackboard, including ease of use,multimedia integration, mobile friendliness, better integration of third-party content, performance, and compliance withaccessibility standards. Instructors will retain read-only access to Blackboard course materials, as all courses will betaught in Canvas.
Self-paced training for Canvas is provided online for students and instructors, and workshops and one-on-one supportsessions with the School of Dentistry’s Learning Management System Advisory Team are also available. [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or [email protected](mailto:[email protected]) for more information.
By Ke'ara Hunt, School of Dentistry
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Dental students from UTHealth School of Dentistry delivered a lesson on oral health at Schochler Elementary School in May
P.E.D.S. Members Teach Oral Health at Local SchoolStudents from the Pediatric Education Dental Society (P.E.D.S.) of The University of Texas School ofDentistry at Houston visited Schochler Elementary School in May to teach first-graders about oral health.Dental students Mary Becker, Adrien Lewis, Jenni Laurence, Courtney Cunningham andElizabeth Scott participated in the service event. The volunteers taught the students about brushing,flossing, visiting the dentist and eating healthy foods.
“Volunteering at Schochler was so much fun! The kids were engaged and very receptive to ourpresentation. It was a great way to end the semester,” said Cunningham.
The mission of P.E.D.S. is to encourage and promote the pursuit of excellence in pediatric dentistry. Theobjectives of this student association are to raise awareness about the importance of children’s dentalcare beginning as early as possible and to work to fulfill this need through service projects.
UTSD students interested in joining should contact P.E.D.S. President Mary Becker [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])or faculty sponsor and Department ofPediatric Dentistry Chair Gary Badger, DDS, at [email protected](mailto:[email protected]).
The School of Dentistry is part of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).
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