2008 Archives

January 29, 2008

News@TuftsDentalis distributed each month via e-mail to dental school faculty, staff, students and friends. We welcome suggestions, comments and story ideas. Contact Editor Mary-Ellen Marks at mary-ellen.marks@tufts.edu . Thank you!

The Little Engine That Could
In awarding a Gold Medal to Tufts Dental Medicine for periodical staff writing, one judge from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) called the magazine "the little engine that could."

The judges continued: "Indeed, this small-staffed, small-budget, low-press-run magazine made a big impression. Of note were 'My New Gums,' in which the writer described undergoing a new procedure in gum surgery; 'Franklin's Tooth,' highlighting the techniques used to attempt to learn whether an heirloom molar came from Benjamin Franklin's mouth; and 'Public Health Scourge,' about meth mouth and the role dentists play in detecting methamphetamine use in patients."

Commented one judge: "This is really a good magazine--very well-written with an admirable sense of mission. It doesn't try to do more than it should, and what it does is done with a great deal of professionalism and adroitness. Awfully good work on a limited budget, and major kudos to writer Jacqueline Mitchell."

The judges concluded: "This magazine's institution and its alumni must be pleased."

The Wishing Tree
The Tufts board of the American Student Dental Association, under the leadership of Tara Lindholm, D11, erected a Wishing Tree in the dental student lounge on the 7th floor during the winter holiday season. The tree contained "wishes" or presents that members of Project Place wanted to receive at their annual holiday party. Project Place is a nonprofit that offers job training, work experience, education, housing and support services for homeless men, women and children in the Boston area. The Tufts community was asked to participate either by selecting a "wish" off the tree and purchasing that wish or by making a monetary donation. The Tufts community was extremely responsive to this endeavor. Lindholm and her colleagues were able to deliver all of the "wishes"--;about 70 gifts--;before Project Place's holiday party. Staff at Project Place told Lindholm that this was the most successful holiday party they have ever had because everyone received their wish. Special recognition goes to David Shane, D11; Sarah Schlansker, D10; and Stuart McKenzie, D10.

Stanley Schwartz, D46, Professor Emeritus, Dies at 87
Stanley M. Schwartz, A44, D46, professor of oral diagnosis emeritus, passed away on January 17 at his home. Schwartz had been a member of the faculty since 1949, when he returned to the school after two years of active duty in the U.S. Navy. He retired in 1991.

He was a diplomate of both the American Board of Oral Medicine and the American Board of Forensic Odontology; he served as president of the latter in 1989. He was named forensic dental examiner for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for two consecutive seven-year terms (1976 to 1990), and was the first individual to hold that position.

Schwartz' former students recall a gifted and most beloved instructor who possessed a wealth of knowledge combined with a terrific sense of humor.

Accreditation Update
A Mock Accreditation Site Visit was held at the school January 8-10. The accreditation self-study documents have been printed and feature an exciting cover shot showing the evolution of the Dental Tower from its present status to the planned addition of five more floors.

Snow Emergency Protocol Reminder
The decision to close the Health Sciences Campus due to a snow emergency is made by the senior administration of Tufts University. Any snow-related closing of the Health Sciences Campus will be announced after 5:30 a.m. via the following sources: Announcements section on the Inside Tufts section of the university homepage ( ); calling 617.627.INFO (4636); Boston TV stations4, 5 and 7; and AM radio stations 680 and 1030. Faculty, staff and students should not expect to receive individual phone calls about any closing.

Robert Russell, Director of HNRCA, to Step Down
Robert Russell, director of the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts and professor at the School of Medicine and the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, has announced that he is stepping down from the directorship at the end of this academic year after more than 25 years of exemplary service to the HNRCA and the university. We congratulate Dr. Russell on the advancements and outstanding research performed at the HNRCA under his leadership.

Faculty News
Lokesh Suri (orthodontics) has been elected to serve as the Northeast representative on the Council of Scientific Affairs (COSA) of the American Association of Orthodontists for a two-year term. Suri also presented a poster at the North East Association of Orthodontists' Meeting in November 2007 on "A Cephalometric Evaluation of Anatomical Correlations between Cervical Vertebral Development with Facial Development."

February 27, 2008

News@TuftsDental is distributed each month via email to dental school faculty, staff, students and friends. We welcome suggestions, comments and story ideas. Contact Editor Mary-Ellen Marks at mary-ellen.marks@tufts.edu . Thank you!

Yankee Dental Congress 33 - TUSDM Well-Represented in Leadership Positions
The 33rd Yankee Dental Congress, held January 30 through February 3, was the first YDC to be held at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center in South Boston. Andrea Richman, D78, served as president, David Samuels, D87, served as vice president and general chair and Milton Glicksman, D65 as president-elect.

As Allied Scientific Chair, David Bardwell (prosthodontics and operative dentistry) coordinated the allied lectures and assembled the committee for this year's program.

The planning for this meeting began more than two years ago as the move to the new venue became a major undertaking. The program chairs were responsible for a smooth-running operation. They helped make sure speakers were accommodated and attendees were comfortable. Problem solving and complaints were taken care of immediately. Employees of the Massachusetts Dental Society and a huge staff of volunteers made this year's program a success. This year's YDC had more dentist attendees than the previous 32 sessions, and became the largest annual meeting in Boston.

Core committee leaders included Kevin Toomey D80, exhibits; Janis Moriarty D94, general arrangements; Shepard Goldstein D66, hospitality; Lisa Vouras D89, professional relations; James Kostas D89, registration; Daniel Varallo D93, signs and Steven Tonelli D80, special events.

Gerard Kugel, associate dean for research, was named Clinician of the Year at the Presidential Awards Ceremony and Reception on January 30. This award is given to an MDS-member dentist who volunteers for Yankee not only as a speaker but in other roles. Kugel also gave a presentation on "The Dos and Don'ts of Porcelain Laminate Veneers." Howard Mark D52 received the prestigious Etherington Award for service.

Other Tufts faculty who also gave presentations during the various lectures and workshops during the five-day event included:

• "Bulletproof Management of Advanced Periodontal Prosthetic Cases," Gianluca Paniz and Fabio Mazzocco (prosthodontics and operative dentistry) and "Complex Restorative Cases", Gianluca Paniz.
• "The Case of the Bitten Cheek: A Dental Malpractice Trial Demo," Lynn Solomon and Michael Kahn (oral and maxillofacial pathology) portrayed expert witnesses in a dental malpractice trial demonstration sponsored by the Eastern Dentists Insurance Company (EDIC). The course participants served as the "jury," and the verdict was in favor of the dentist defendant (shows what happens with a true jury of one's peers!)
• "Crown Lengthening" and "Implant Therapy and the RDH," Timothy Hempton (periodontology)
• Noshir Mehta (general dentistry), Gerard Kugel and Robert Chapman (prosthodontics and operative dentistry) were part of the panel of experts at the Occlusion Summit, which honored longtime faculty member Lloyd L. Miller, A54, D58, who died in November. Four hundred people attended the program, a collaboration between YDC and the Craniofacial Esthetics Institute at Tufts.
• Catherine Hayes (public health and community service) participated in two panel discussions that provided an update on the many significant changes taking place in the MassHealth system.
• "Thinking and Doing Oral Pathology," a workshop run by Michael Kahn (oral and maxillofacial pathology) that included demonstrations and participation in oral cancer screenings
• "Atypical Odontalgia: Tooth Pain in the Absence of Dental Pathology," a lecture by George E. Maloney (general dentistry) that reviewed trigeminal neuropathic pain, its pathogenesis, diagnosis and potential treatment
• "Peer Review-Your Complaint Department" and "GERD: Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease," lectures by David Leader (general dentistry)
• "Comprehensive Periodontal Instrumentation," Paul Levi (periodontology)
• "New and Improved Techniques in Removable Prosthodontics," Joseph Massad (prosthodontics)
• "The Role of Dentistry in Treating Sleep Apnea," David Rosen (periodontology)
• "Differential Diagnosis of Painful Oral Ulcerations," Lynn Solomon (oral and maxillofacial pathology)
• "Psychological and Psycho-pharmacological Variables That Affect Dental Treatment," Arthur Weiner (general dentistry)
• "Addicts, Psych Patients, Dentistry," Jeffrey Rosow (public health and community service)
• "Implant Dentistry Development and Future Focus," Roya Zandparsa (prosthodontics and operative dentistry)

The Tuft Dental Alumni reception at Yankee Dental, on Friday, February 1, was a huge success, with more than 1,000 alumni and guests in attendance. A wonderful addition to Yankee this year was the Tufts Alumni Lounge on the exhibit hall floor that gave alumni a place to relax, chat with classmates and grab a snack between courses. They also heard from A. Joseph Castellana, executive associate dean, who gave two presentations on the expansion project that will add five floors to One Kneeland Street. The First Tufts Gay and Lesbian alumni reception at Yankee took place on February 1.

Student News from Yankee
Marjan Askari, D09, presented a poster of her summer research project on understanding the cellular basis for osteoclast formation in bone remodeling during a Yankee Dental session featuring postgraduates, dental students and dental hygienists from the Boston area. Marjan's poster was selected as tops in the dental student category, besting entries from the dental schools at Boston University and Harvard. She will receive a plaque and a $500 prize. The judging is based upon the quality of the poster, the student's oral presentation of the work and the responses to questions posed by the judges. Other Tufts contributors to Marjan's poster, titled "Development of Antibodies in Chickens to Elucidate the Complex Role of WW45 in Rankl-induced Osteoclast Differentiation," were Paul Leavis, a lecturer in the department of occupational therapy, and Paloma Valverde (general dentistry).

Michael Hull, D08, class president, received the American College of Dentists' Outstanding Student Leader Award at its luncheon February 2, held during Yankee Dental Congress.

International Food Fair
The International Food Fair was held on February 21st with representation from 18 countries around the world. Student organizations such as the Student National Dental Association (SNDA), the Muslim Student Dental Association (MSA) and South Asian Medical and Dental Association (SAMDA) were involved in planning and contributing food. We were fortunate to have over thirty students, as well as two faculty members, Luis Del Castillo and Diba Dastjerdi, contribute dishes. The event raised over $1000 to send to The World AIDS Campaign, an international charity chosen by the Food Fair's planning committee. Sonal Naik, D09 organized this event .

Black History Month Dinner
The Tufts chapter of the Student National Dental Association (SNDA) held its Black History Month Dinner on February 21st. The guest speaker was Marie "Betty" Jean-Mary, a member of the Class of D94. A native of Haiti, Jean-Mary immigrated with her family to the U.S. at age 4. Since her graduation from dental school she has made it part of her mission to educate adults on the prevention of tooth decay in children. Jean-Mary has developed a Boston neighborhood outreach program presentation titled, "How To Raise A Caries-Free Child".

Faculty News
Aidee Nieto Herman (periodontology) was a judge for the Health Careers Academy 12th annual Science Fair, held on February 4 at Northeastern University. The academy is a college preparatory high school for Boston students exploring careers in the health professions and related fields. Herman judged four posters of the 170 posters that were presented by students in grades 9-12. Fifty students from the academy visited the dental school's Simulation Clinic in summer 2007 and are part of the school's mentoring initiatives.

Virginia Karapanou (endodontics) had her article, "Interleukin-8 Is Increased in Gingival Crevicular Fluid from Patients with Acute Pulpitis," published in the February 2008 issue of the Journal of Endodontics.

Carole Palmer (public health and community service) has been appointed to the Board of Licensed Dietitians for the State of New Hampshire

Senior Promotions
Yong Jeong Kim to associate professor of prosthodontics and operative dentistry
Rory O'Neill to associate clinical professor of periodontology

March 27, 2008

News@TuftsDental is distributed each month via email to dental school faculty, staff, students and friends. We welcome suggestions, comments and story ideas. Contact Editor Mary-Ellen Marks at mary-ellen.marks@tufts.edu . Thank you!

Message from the Dean
With the start of April, we are beginning our vertical expansion project that will add five floors and 95,000 square feet to our building. We expect the construction will take place over the next 18 months. The new space will expand our patient clinics, classrooms, offices and research facilities. Using state-of-the-art green building standards, the new floors will include many windows and make the most of natural light.

Our larger space will allow us to build upon our long-standing tradition of offering dental care to residents of Chinatown and the larger Massachusetts community. In turn, students will benefit from additional space for clinical practice, a hallmark of the Tufts dental education. More than 19,000 patients pass through the School of Dental Medicine annually. The expansion of One Kneeland Street will better position us to deliver on our mission of service and will help increase access to affordable dental care.

In the coming months, you'll be hearing more about what to expect during the course of construction. For updates during the project, please visit our Web site at

I thank you in advance for your patience throughout this project and for your continuing dedication to Tufts Dental.
-Dean Lonnie H. Norris

Bates-Andrews Day 2008
Bates-Andrews Research Day, held March 12, was a very successful event. We want to acknowledge not only the winners, listed below, but also all the students who participated and the many faculty members who assisted with judging and mentoring our student researchers. The commercial exhibitors provide the funding for this event, so thank you to everyone who visited their tables. Special thanks go to our keynote speaker, Dr. Harry Selker, professor of medicine and director of the Clinical Research Program at the School of Medicine.

The winning researchers for the 2008 edition of Bates-Andrews Day are:

• First-Place Award for Oral Presentation by a M.S. student: Naif Bindayel, "The Association between Temporomandibular Disorders and Anterior Facial Height, in Saudi Population."
• Second-Place Award for Oral Presentation by a M.S. student: Mohammed Raghid Alolabi, "Accuracy of Photogrammetry in 3D Reconstruction of Teeth."
• Best Postgraduate Poster Presentation (tie): Dr. Khalid Al-Hezaimi (periodontics), "Clinical Evaluation of Novel Buccoadhesive Film Containing Ketorolac in Periodontal Surgery Pain Management," and Dr. Wesam Damanhouri (pediatric dentistry), "Evaluation of Microleakage between Partially Set Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) and Different Restorative Materials."
• Best Scientific Research Presentation by a Senior (Andrews Society Award): David Joey Chang, D08, "Effects of Mandibular Retro-Positioning, with or without Maxillary Advancement on Oro-Naso-Pharyngeal Airway and the Development of Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders."
• ADA/Dentsply Student Clinician Award for Best Overall Pre-doctoral Table Clinic: Todd Walker, D10, "Effect of Adhesive System and Composite Type on Dentin Bonds." Faculty mentor: Dr. Gerard Kugel.
• Second-Place Award for Pre-doctoral Table Clinic (cash prize donated by Drs. Jess Kane, David Tesini and Nancy Jo Soporowski): Samantha Jordan, D10, "A Role for Ralb in E-Cadherin-Deficient Cells during Squamous Cell Carcinoma Progression." Faculty mentor: Dr. Jonathan Garlick.
• Third-Place Award for Pre-doctoral Table Clinic (cash prize donated by Drs. Jess Kane, David Tesini and Nancy Jo Soporowski): Daliah Salem, D10, "A Comparative Assessment of Oral Health Status of Non-compliant Domestic Violence Patients." Faculty mentor: Dr. Kanchan Ganda.
• Research Committee Award for Basic Science Research: Paul Ala, D10, "3-D Chemical Cross-Linking Map of Yeast Cleavage/Polyadenylate Complex." Faculty mentor: Dr. Andrew Bohm, associate professor of biochemistry, Tufts School of Medicine.
• Massachusetts Dental Society and ASDA Public Health Award: Amanda Jones, D09, "A Comparative Assessment of Nutrition Risk Scores of Patients with Intimate Partner Violence History." Faculty mentor: Dr. Gulsun Gul.
• Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU) Hilde Tillman Award: Dean Tiboris, D09, "Dental Pulp Cell Gene Expression in Three-dimensional Mineralizing Cultures." Faculty mentor: Dr. Petros Damoulis.
• Procter & Gamble Traveling Fellowship Award: Matthew Wimmer, D09, "Shear Strength of Dental Composite versus Mineralized Silk-Based Biomaterial." Faculty mentor: Dr. Gerard Kugel.
• Dr. Chad Anderson Family Award for Innovative Methodology and Research Design: Richard Dickinson, D09, and Sarah Stipho, D08, "Compressive Modulus Testing of Mineralized Silk-based Biomaterial." Faculty mentor: Dr. Gerard Kugel.

In Memoriam: Dean Emeritus Erling Johansen
Dean Emeritus Erling Johansen, D49, died on February 29 in his native Norway after a long illness. He would have been 85 on April 8.

The longest-serving dental dean at Tufts, Johansen led the school from 1979 until he retired on July 1, 1995. He was named Distinguished Professor in 1994, received the Distinguished Service Award from the Tufts University Alumni Association, and in 1995, was named professor of general dentistry emeritus and dean emeritus. In recognition of Johansen's contributions to dental research and education, Dr. Edward Becker, D34, donated $1.65 million to establish the Dr. Erling Johansen, D49, Endowed Professorship in Dental Research, the first endowed chair in school history.

Johansen is survived by his wife, Inger, three sons and three grandchildren.

Health Mission Returns to Nicaragua
Dr. David Paul (general dentistry) returned to Nicaragua in February, this time leading a six-member oral health-care team from the School of Dental Medicine. Ten students and faculty from Tufts School of Medicine also joined the mission to provide care to people in the poorest country in the Americas.

In addition to Paul, the Tufts Dental team included Peter Phan, D07 (prosthodontics and operative dentistry); Brian Green, D08; Elizabeth Lee, D08; Marty Montgomery, D08; and Elizabeth Shenk, D09.

The team spent 12 days living and working without electricity, running water or bathroom facilities in the tiny village of Campo Uno. Each day started and ended with a 1.5-mile hike on mountain paths, through fields of grazing livestock, across streams and barbed wire fences. The Tufts contingent treated 175 surgical patients and extracted 455 teeth. They also performed hundreds of consults, cleanings and other preventative care. Paul said the goal of the missions is "to provide a unique and genuine learning experience for our students."

Into the Clinics
The sixth annual Clinical Advancement/White Coat Ceremony for the Class of D10 was held on March 15 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Boston. Approximately 600 family members, faculty and staff attended to celebrate the 159 students in the class as they moved to the patient-care phase of their dental education. Tufts Vice Provost Peggy Newell spoke to the gathering.

The annual ceremony formalizes and symbolizes the transition of pre-doctoral students from basic science, biomedical science and pre-clinical education to the responsibilities of delivering patient care in the school's clinics. Tufts faculty and alumni and family members helped the students don the traditional white lab coat as part of the ceremony.

This year, a record 18 family members participated in the white-coat ceremony, including Dr. Willliam Schlansker, D43A, who helped his granddaughter, Sarah Schlansker, don her white coat.

Class President Meghann Dombroski was coated by her husband, Aaron Dombroski, who was home on a 15-day leave from duty in Iraq, and received a standing ovation.

One Step Closer to Board Certification
All five third-year postgraduate prosthodontics residents successfully passed part 4 of the American Board of Prosthodontics exam. Part 4 is an oral exam that assesses candidates' knowledge of complete dentures. It is the final step in a resident's progression toward achieving diplomate status.

The milestone was reached by Hamilton Le, Maria Chartzoulakis, Athanasios Stratos, Hyejin Kwak and Moftah El-Ghadi.

The residents credit their success to the quality of the Tufts program and the leadership of Hiroshi Hirayama, Kiho Kang and Yong-Jeong Kim.

Faculty News
Nancy Johnson, a dental hygienist with the Tufts Dental Facilities for Persons with Special Needs, was named a Massachusetts Oral Health Hero during a ceremony at the State House in Boston on February 14. Also attending the event were Catherine Hayes, John Morgan, Aidee Herman, Natalie Hagel and Kathryn Dolan (public health and community service). Johnson is profiled at

Cheen Loo (pediatric dentistry) was selected as a finalist for the Healthy Smiles, Healthy Children Foundation research award competition. Loo submitted a manuscript and will deliver a 15-minute oral presentation on "Behavioral Guidance of Dental Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder" at the annual session of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry May 22-25 in Washington, D.C.

With colleagues from the University of Cincinnati, Morton Rosenberg (oral and maxillofacial surgery) directed a high-fidelity human simulation course on sedative and medical emergencies for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Anthony Silvestri (prosthodontics and operative dentistry) was honored for teaching excellence by the Class of D11 on March 14. In addition, Silvestri was interviewed for articles on wisdom teeth by U.S. News & World Report (February 25) and National Geographic (March).

Lokesh Suri and Parul Taneja (both orthodontics) published an article, "Surgically Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion: A Literature Review," in the February 2008 issue of the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics.

Student News
Benjamin Goldstein and Hubert Park, both D11, are recipients of the 2008 NIDCR Summer Dental Student Award and will spend the summer conducting research at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md. The awards are designed to give talented dental students hands-on research experience and exposure to the latest advances in oral health research.

William Stuart McKenzie, D10, and Elizabeth Escarria, D10, have been selected to receive ADA Foundation Minority Dental Student Scholarships for the current academic year.

April 29, 2008

News@TuftsDental is distributed each month via email to dental school faculty, staff, students and friends. We welcome suggestions, comments and story ideas. Contact Editor Mary-Ellen Marks at

Undergrads Explore Dental Careers
The Dental Admissions Office hosted its fifth annual Tufts Undergraduate Open House, "Exploring a Career in Dentistry," on April 4. Twenty-three students from the Medford/Somerville campus, ranging from freshmen to post-baccalaureate students, attended the event. Carol Baffi-Dugan, associate dean of undergraduate education, and Shirley Smith, associate director of pre-professional advising, both based on the Medford/Somerville campus, also attended.

Prospective students were welcomed by Mark Gonthier, associate dean of admissions and student affairs, and James Hanley, associate dean for clinical services. Nancy Arbree, associate dean for academic affairs, spoke to the students about the dental school curriculum as well as the many advantages of a career in dentistry. Students heard from Maureen Lombard, director of clinical services, regarding clinical shadowing opportunities at Tufts School of Dental Medicine. Faculty members Catherine Hayes and John Morgan talked about public health and community service opportunities available to dental students.

Following a tour of the dental school hosted by current Tufts dental students, prospective students attended a reception in the seventh-floor student lounge where Executive Associate Dean Joseph Castellana gave a presentation on the expansion project that will add five floors to One Kneeland Street.

International Student Class of 2010 Arrives
The Dental International Student Class of 2010 matriculated on April 15. The school received 110 applications for a class of 23 students.

The class of 16 women and seven men represent nine countries: Cameroon (1), China (2), Colombia (1), Egypt (1), India (14), Indonesia (1), Iraq (1), Moldova (1) and Poland (1).

New Head of Education, Outreach and Advocacy
Wanda Wright has joined the faculty in the Department of Public Health and Community Service. She leads the Division of Education, Outreach and Advocacy, overseeing all community outreach and education activities, and is an assistant professor in the department.

Wright has extensive experience in teaching, research and public health. She is a diplomate of the American Board of Dental Public Health and will work closely with department chair Catherine Hayes and other faculty in expanding the dental school's education, community outreach and research activities. She has expertise in health disparities and quality-of-life research. Her office is located in Room 757.

Faculty News
Barry Briss (orthodontics) is a contributing author for a new orthodontic textbook titled 2008 Mosby's Orthodontic Review.

Vasiliki "Vicky" Cartsos (orthodontics) was awarded an American Association of Orthodontists Full-time Faculty Award for Junior Faculty Development.

Jonathan Garlick (oral and maxillofacial pathology), director of the Division of Cancer Biology and Tissue Engineering, was the organizer and program chair of the annual Timberline Symposium on Epithelial Cell Biology. The theme of the four-day symposium, held in Mt. Hood, Ore., was "3D Tissue Biology: Human Stem Cells, Cancer and the Microenvironment." Garlick also presented a lecture on "The Many Microenvironments of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Progression."

Timothy J. Hempton, Dimitrios Drakos, Vikram Likhari, James B. Hanley, Lonnie Johnson, Paul Levi and Terrence J. Griffin are the authors of "Strategies for Developing a Culture of Mentoring in Postdoctoral Periodontology," which appears in the May 2008 issue of the Journal of Dental Education.

Virginia Karapanou (endodontics) and Ekaterini Antonellou (prosthodontics) published an article titled "Autogenous Attachment Technique with Esthetics in Mind: A Trauma Management Case Report" in the winter 2008 edition of the Journal of the Massachusetts Dental Society.

Meletia Laskou (pediatric dentistry) has achieved diplomate status with the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.

Morton Rosenberg (oral and maxillofacial surgery) was a consultant to the Council on Dental Accreditation's first site visit to accredit a dental anesthesiology program at the University of Pittsburgh. He also presented an all-day program, "Anesthesia: Politics, Potpourri and Pediatrics," to the combined meeting of the Maryland Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and the Maryland Society of Dental Anesthesiology in Baltimore.

Lokesh Suri (orthodontics) received a 2008 Orthodontic Faculty Development Fellowship Award from the American Association of Orthodontists Foundation. Suri and Kristen Huber, a postgraduate student in orthodontics, published an article on "Eruption Disturbances of the Maxillary Incisors: A Literature Review" in the Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry.

Vangel Zissi (endodontics), D62, DG67, A02P, received the Tufts University Alumni Association's highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award, at a ceremony April 12 on the Medford/Somerville campus. In the citation read by Eric Gheewalla, A87, D91, DG93, a director of the Alumni Association, Zissi was recognized for devoting "a considerable part of [his] personal and professional life supporting [his] alma mater with kindness, teachings, mentoring, leadership and motivation."

Student News
Samantha Jordan, D10, has been selected for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute NIH Research Scholars Program. She will spend a year at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., participating in this prestigious research program.

May 29, 2008

News@TuftsDental is distributed each month via email to dental school faculty, staff, students and friends. We welcome suggestions, comments and story ideas. Contact Editor Mary-Ellen Marks atmary-ellen.marks@tufts.edu. Thank you!

Commencement 2008
The School of Dental Medicine awarded 173 D.M.D. degrees, including 14 to graduates of the International Student Program and four in the Faculty Track International Student Program, during commencement ceremonies on May 18. Also recognized were 10 master of science degree recipients and 48 postgraduate certificate of achievement candidates. Nearly 90 dental school faculty members participated in the ceremony to celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2008.

At the all-university commencement earlier in the day Meredith Vieira, Emmy award-winning journalist, co-anchor of NBC's "Today" show and a 1975 Tufts alumna, delivered the Commencement address. "What I've found," Vieira told the graduates, "is that all of us need to connect, we need to reach out to each other. It is the greatest gift that you can give to anybody and ultimately the most important gift of all..."

Best in Class
Six outstanding faculty members have been recognized with teaching excellence awards: Alvar Gustafson(anatomy and cellular biology), Dean's Award for Excellence in Basic Science Teaching; Charles Rankin, D79, DG86, D08P, (endodontics) and Anthony Silvestri (prosthodontics/operative dentistry), Dean's Award for Excellence in Pre-clinical Teaching; Marcelo Suzuki (prosthodontics/operative dentistry) and Aaron Sheinfeld (prosthodontics/operative dentistry), Dean's Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching; and Petros Damoulis (periodontology), Provost's Award for Outstanding Teaching and Service.

OKU Convocation
Twenty students were inducted into the national dental honor society, Omicron Kappa Upsilon, at a ceremony May 16 at the Radisson Hotel in Boston. This year's guest speaker was Jonathan Garlick, professor and director of the Division of Cancer Biology and Tissue Engineering.

The inductees are: Jennifer Blair, Charles Chung, Alison Gomes, Jennifer Hong, Sarah Hoye, Timothy Johnson, Amanda Kopacz, Arathi Kumble, John Lee, Cindy Leung, Jordan Lissauer, Claudia Maiolo, Keyur Patoliya, Nancy Perkins, Michelle Roberts, Young Stebbins-Han, Timothy Swing, Leyla Tabesh, Jade-Lin Wong and Nermine Zaki.

The faculty inductees are: Ayman Aboushala, William Lobel and Karen Wallach.

Also at the ceremony, Douglas Laliberte, D09, received the dental science award, and Marjan Askari, D09, and Moonyoung Lee, D09, received the Basic Science Award. Mary (Katie) Talmo, D10, received the OKU Annual Scholarship. Dean Tiboris, D09, received the Bates Day Research Award.

Graduation Dinner
The 15th annual Graduation Dinner was held for the Classes of 2008 on May 9 at the Westin Copley Place. Of the 168 graduating seniors, 156 attended the event. The annual dinner continues to increase in popularity with more than 450 students, faculty, staff and guests in attendance this year. Members of the Class of 2008 received 68 national and alumni awards during the event; two students in the Class of 2009 also received awards.

Homecoming and Reunion 2008
"Back to the Future!" Homecoming and Reunion Weekend 2008 was an overwhelming success, with over 550 alumni and friends attending events throughout the weekend. The festivities kicked off on Friday, May 2, with a "Time Flies" theme party at the Boston Harbor Hotel. Kanchan Ganda, J00P, M04P, professor of general dentistry in the Division of Medicine, and Teri-Ross Icyda, D78, J01P, A04P, D11P, both gave continuing education lectures at the school on Saturday morning, May 3.

During the annual Tufts University Dental Alumni Association Luncheon, David Harte, A75, D78, A02P, and Robert Hunter, D63, were presented with Alumni Association Awards, and Lee Ann Gant, associate director of records and student services, was presented with the 2008 staff award, all for outstanding service and dedication to Tufts University, the School of Dental Medicine, and the dental profession. Mark Feldman, D73, president of the American Dental Association and 35th reunion class co-chair was the keynote speaker.

The Langham Hotel hosted many of the weekend's events, including the class receptions and dinners on Saturday evening, when each reunion class presented Dean Lonnie Norris, DG80, with their class gifts. The highlight of the weekend was at the Saturday evening leadership reception, when Dean Norris was awarded the Tufts University Provost's Medal for exemplifying many of the values that Tufts seeks to instill in its students--;leadership, humanitarianism and passion.

Reunion gifts made this year to the Tufts Dental Fund reached almost $390,000. More than 350 alumni contributed. Two classes, D58 and D73, broke reunion records for giving. Awards for the largest five-year class gift (Golden Crown) and the most funds raised this year in reunion gifts for the Dental Fund (Cusp of Excellence) went to D83, and the highest rate of participation (Porcelain Bridge) went to D73.

Strong attendance and impressive fundraising made it a memorable weekend for all.

Sky-Breaking Ceremony
A sky-breaking ceremony was held May 2 to celebrate the School of Dental Medicine's project to add five floors to One Kneeland Street. Representatives from the university and the community attended. John Palmieri, director of the Boston Redevelopment Authority, gave the keynote address.

Humanitarian Mission to Peru
Aidee Herman (periodontology) led a team of 22 faculty members, students and dentists from the Massachusetts Hispanic Dental Association on a mission trip to Cusco, Peru April 12-20. Team members were: Charles Rankin and his wife Ingeborg, Melvin Miller and his wife Goretti, Hannah Beatty, Whitney Carraway and her mother Cheryl Carraway, Lauren Castro, David Gomez, Michael Hull, Susan Liem, Sara Macway, Claudiu Marin, Claudia Martinez, Nasem Mojarrad, Matthew Navidomskis, Jae Yeon Park, Demi Pirpiris, Nadia Pokrovskaya and Jon Rezaei.

The team visited Casa del Aguila, an orphanage in Cusco, where they treated 161 children and 79 adults. Treatment included oral diagnosis, prophylaxis, sealants, extractions, composites and amalgams and pulpotomies. The group also visited Machu Picchu, known as the Lost City of the Incas. It was built around 1450, but abandoned a hundred years later, at the time of the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire.

Comings and Goings
Petros Damoulis, director of advanced and graduate studies, will be leaving the dental school on May 30 to return to his native Greece. Paul Stark (general dentistry) will become acting director of advanced and graduate studies.

Stark, a biostatistician, received his bachelor's degree from Cornell University and his master's and doctoral degrees from Harvard University. He has been conducting clinical research for more than a decade. Stark has been teaching the biostatistics courses at the school for three years and prior to that taught in the Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences since 2002. He has also served on more than 40 master's thesis committees.

Asian Cancer Awareness Day
Aidee Herman, Smile Squad members Michael Brown, D09; Joseph Pechter, D09; Eileen Saunders, D11, and Lee Tran, D09, and Hispanic Dental Association members Vanessa Hazbun, D09, and Michael Bohman, D10, participated in an oral cancer screening at Tufts Medical Center on April 26. The team saw 40 patients, eight of whom were diagnosed with oral lesions and referred for biopsies.

Faculty News
StanleyAlexander (pediatric dentistry) gave a presentation at the Alumni Dinner Meeting at Stony Brook University on May 17. His topic was "Thirty-five Years of Change in a Pre-doctoral Orthodontics Program."

Laura Camacho-Castro (pediatric dentistry) lectured on "Dental Management of Children with Autism" at the Second International Dental Congress at King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on March 13.

Arthur Weiner, D58 (general dentistry) celebrated the 50th anniversary of his graduation from dental school. Weiner, Paul Stark (general dentistry) and Dilshan Gunawardena, D08, published an article titled "Patient-perceived Anxiety Levels Associated with Use of Selective Serotonin and Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors" in the spring 2008 issue of the Journal of the Massachusetts Dental Society.

Senior Promotions

Petros Damoulis to professor of periodontology
Steven Scrivani to professor of general dentistry in the Craniofacial Pain Center
Pamela Yelick to professor of oral and maxillofacial pathology

July 30, 2008

News@TuftsDental is distributed each month via email to dental school faculty, staff, students and friends. We welcome suggestions, comments and story ideas. Contact Editor Mary-Ellen Marks atmary-ellen.marks@tufts.edu. Thank you!

Note from the Dean

Another academic year has (nearly) come to an end. Thanks for a rewarding and exciting year, including a successful accreditation process and the start of our school expansion project. Our successes during the year are due in large part to the support of our alumni, faculty, students, staff and friends, working together to meet the goals outlined in our strategic plan. I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone and wish you a wonderful vacation. I look forward to seeing you in September, re-energized for the new academic year.

--;Lonnie H. Norris, Dean

"Topping Off" Ceremony

The structural steel "topping off" ceremony for the school's five-story expansion was held on July 17 at the Washington Street staging area for the project. Faculty, staff, students, alumni, university leadership and the construction team were invited to sign a painted steel beam as a commemorative piece of the expansion. "The broad scope of signers reflects the unity and pride in enhancing the facility for the future," Dean Lonnie H. Norris said.

The topping off marks a significant milestone in the construction schedule because it is the last beam placed on the steel framework. The beam was placed three weeks ahead of schedule.

Distinction Awards

President Lawrence S. Bacow hosted the inaugural Tufts Distinction Awards ceremony at the Granoff Music Center on the Medford/Somerville campus on June 3 to honor exceptional members of the Tufts community.

More than 200 nominations were received, and 13 awards were given in four categories. Four members of the Tufts Dental community were recognized: Aidee N. Herman, associate clinical professor of periodontology, received the Bridge Builder Award, for bringing out the best in others; the Extra Mile Award, for exceptional customer service, went to Mark Gonthier, associate dean for admissions and student affairs, and Robin Graham, dental practice administrator; and Danny Dicicco, senior IT support specialist, received the Unsung Hero Award, for accomplishing the extraordinary, every day.

Charles Rankin, professor of endodontics, represented the school on the Awards Committee. Congratulations to all members of the planning/selection committee for this most successful event and to all of the award recipients.

Golden Crown Award Luncheon

Marjana Braho, dispensary assistant, and Christine Robertson, administrative assistant to Executive Associate Dean Joe Castellana were chosen by their colleagues to receive this year's Golden Crown Award for outstanding performance by a staff member. The criteria for the award, now in its 13th year, includes expertise, exceptional interaction with others, continuous improvement, resourcefulness and results and leadership.

The dental school and its satellite facilities employ about 200 non-faculty staff members. Whether supporting students or faculty or maintaining the facility, each staff member, in his or her unique way, makes an important contribution to the school. The administration, at both the school and university levels, recognizes the value of each individual and demonstrates appreciation of staff members' contributions to the school's mission through a benefits package, annual merit increases and years-of-service awards.

About 100 staff members attended the Golden Crown luncheon on June 27 in the Becker Alumni Center--;another way the school thanks all staff for their service. Serving on the Golden Crown Committee are Janet Markell (chair), Maureen Lombard, Tanya Lungelow, Mary-Ellen Marks, Kevin O'Dea, David Paul and Sherry Wilson-Johnson.

DI2010 Clinical Advancement Ceremony

The Dental International Class of 2010 Clinical Advancement Ceremony was held on July 23, formally celebrating the 23 students' transition into the clinical phase of their program. More than 80 faculty, family and friends attended.

Dean Lonnie H. Norris , Associate Dean James Hanley, and faculty members Robert Doherty and Iqbal Singh gave introductory remarks and welcomed the class into the clinic. The ceremony was followed by a class photo and luncheon. Luz Marina Jutras, DI10, and her husband, David Jutras, donated a cake, decorated with Jumbo, the Tufts mascot, and the flags of each student's home country.

Associate Dean Mark Gonthier made closing remarks and acknowledged Carrie Garinger, assistant director of student services, for organizing the event.

New Director of Advanced and Graduate Education

Paul Stark (general dentistry) has been appointed director of Advanced and Graduate Education, succeeding Petros Damoulis, who returned to his native Greece.

A biostatistician, Stark earned his bachelor's degree from Cornell University and his master's and doctoral degrees from Harvard University. He has been conducting clinical research for more than a decade. Stark has been teaching the biostatistics courses at the dental school for three years and prior to that had taught in the Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences since 2002. He has also served on more than 40 master's thesis committees.

Juarez Mission Trip

The Tufts Christian Medical Dental Association (CMDA) combined forces with Life Challenge International, a nonprofit charitable organization, in delivering dental health care to needy men, women and children from Juarez, Mexico, and surrounding mountain areas during spring break in April. Nineteen Tufts volunteers were involved in the mission, including students Michael Allison, Nicholas Bland, Angela Choi, Debby Derisse, Timothy Hardy, Stephanie Lee, Ashleigh Lane, Susanna Mitchell, Antoinette Ramdath, Jason Raynor, Emily Smith, Elizabeth Shenk (student leader), Michael Tarver, Soojin Park and Leah Younis, and faculty members Frank Chow, Kathleen Coyne, Wai Kee Lee and Frank Shin.

The team completed a number of fundraising efforts to subsidize the trip, including school-wide raffles and sales of Tufts University School of Dental Medicine fleece jackets. The students and faculty delivered services to approximately 600 people, from prevention and restorative work to oral surgery. On their only day off, the students continued working to squeeze patients in before and after their only excursion.

Faculty Notes

J. Michael Hall has joined the department of oral and maxillofacial pathology as an assistant professor. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry in 1980, and after completing a general practice residency at the VA Medical Center in Oklahoma City, he practiced general dentistry for four years. Hall completed a three-year program in oral and maxillofacial pathology at Emory University School of Dentistry in 1987. Hall recently earned a master's degree in bioethics and medical humanities from the University of South Florida's College of Medicine. He has held academic positions at the University of Saskatchewan, the Medical College of Georgia and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Hall is a diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and a fellow of the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. He has published in the medical and dental peer-reviewed literature on a variety of pathology subjects and remains active in research, with a special interest in bone tumors of the jaw. His office is in the oral pathology suite, Room DHS-646B.

David Leader (general dentistry) received the Scleroderma Foundation's Doctor of the Year Award in recognition of his advocacy work in making the public aware of the disease, which is chronic and characterized by excessive deposits of collagen in the skin or other organs. He received the award during the foundation's National Patient Education Conference, held July 26-27 in Manhattan Beach, Calif. Leader serves on the foundation's Medical Advisory Committee; has delivered talks on oral health and scleroderma at the foundation's last five national conferences, including the 2008 session, as well as at Yankee Dental Congress, and has written about scleroderma for the foundation and the Massachusetts Dental Society.

September 30, 2008

News@TuftsDental is distributed each month via email to dental school faculty, staff, students and friends. We welcome suggestions, comments and story ideas. Contact Editor Mary-Ellen Marks atmary-ellen.marks@tufts.edu. Thank you!

Memorial Service for Dean Emeritus Erling Johansen

More than 150 family members, friends, former colleagues and alumni attended a memorial service for Dean Emeritus Erling Johansen, D49, on September 26 in Merritt Auditorium. The event was a celebration of "a life well lived."

Dean Johansen passed away on February 29 in his native Norway. Tufts President Lawrence S. Bacow expressed appreciation to the Johansen family for the dean's 16 1/2 years of service to the school and the university. Provost Emeritus Sol Gittleman also offered a tribute from the university and shared recollections of working with Johansen, the longest-serving dental dean at Tufts. Associate Dean Emeritus Jay Stinson, Associate Dean Gerard Kugel, D85, MG93 and Steven Tonelli, D80, provided personal remembrances of Dean Johansen. The dean's son, Erling T. Johansen, provided his family's perspective on life with the dean. Dean Lonnie Norris acknowledged that Dean Johansen's vision and commitment to high educational standards, research and alumni relationships were the foundation for the School's continued growth. A reception followed in the Becker Alumni Center.

Family Welcome Day

The 7^th annual Family Welcome Day was held August 26 at the Shubert Theater. Tufts President Lawrence S. Bacow brought greetings from the university to the entering students and their families. Nancy Arbree gave an overview of the academic program; Gerard Kugel gave an introduction of student research opportunities, and Catherine Hayes talked about community and public health initiatives. Due to the popularity of the event, it was moved to the Shubert Theater this year, and the morning assembly was held there, after which guests enjoyed lunch at the Courtyard by Marriott on Tremont Street.

Then the new students went on to register for classes, while their parents and family members enjoyed campus tours and participated in the first-ever parent-to-parent panel discussion, which featured two sets of parents of currently enrolled students as well as four course directors and one clinic administrator. The day concluded with a reception in Posner Hall.

More than 450 attended, including new students, family members, administrative staff, dignitaries and orientation volunteers (a record 42 this year).

Toast to Tufts

The annual Toast to Tufts donor and volunteer recognition event was held September 5 at the Ritz-Carlton, Boston Common.

Approximately 250 guests attended the event, which is an opportunity for the school to express appreciation to donors, volunteers and others who have assisted with advancement initiatives. A highlight of the evening was the awarding of the Dean's Medal to Thomas F. Winkler III, A62, D66, D10P, a university trustee, chair of the Board of Dental Overseers and a clinical professor of endodontics. The Dean's Medal honors those who have demonstrated loyalty, generosity or service and who exemplify the ideals Tufts seeks to instill in its students.

Faculty Recognition

More than 200 guests attended the School of Dental Medicine's eighth annual Faculty Recognition and Service Awards Luncheon August 1 at the Boston Harbor Hotel. The event recognizes the entire faculty for their contributions to the school and specifically honors faculty with awards for years of service at five-year intervals. Retiring faculty members are also recognized.

Dean Lonnie H. Norris gave the welcoming remarks; Executive Vice President Patricia Campbell brought greetings from the University; Thomas F. Winkler III, A62, D66, D10P, a Tufts trustee and chair of the Board of Overseers to the dental school, gave the faculty toast, and Associate Dean Nancy Arbree served as emcee.

Special recognition was given to Louis Farrugia on the occasion of his retirement from the university.

Those honored at this year's luncheon included:

Five Years: Endodontics - Steven Kaminsky; General Dentistry - Emad Abdallah, Lainie Andrew, Leopoldo Correa, Edward Fidrocki, Marcello Melis, Steven Scrivani, and Driss Zoukhri; Orthodontics - Lokesh Suri and Leo Spyrou; Periodontology - Sonia Divney, Patricia Cohen and Paul A. Levi Jr.; Prosthodontics and Operative Dentistry - Barry Bessler, Luis del Castillo, Nitin Khankari, Aaron Sheinfeld and Henry Talberth; Public Health and Community Service - Kallen Hull.

Ten Years: General Dentistry - Frank Odlum and Paul Trombly; Prosthodontics and Operative Dentistry - William Lacroix, William Lobel, Joseph Massad and Dongwoo Park; Public Health and Community Service - Kathleen O'Loughlin and Gina Terenzi.

Fifteen Years: General Dentistry - Richard Allen, Ronald Kulich and Kathryn Ragalis; Orthodontics - Lisa Giarrusso; Periodontology - Rory O'Neill; Prosthodontics and Operative Dentistry - Carolyn Cottrell, Flaviano DiFalco, Donald Hanson, Hiroshi Hirayama and Yin Hsu.

Twenty Years: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery - Christopher Maller; Pediatric Dentistry - Laura Camacho Castro; Prosthodontics and Operative Dentistry - Carol Blanchard, Darryl Lung, Burton Ogata and David Russell.

Twenty-five Years: Endodontics - Robert Amato; Prosthodontics and Operative Dentistry - Norman Hammer.

Thirty Years: Endodontics - Clifton Grayer; Orthodontics - Peter Cressman and Robert Wilson; Prosthodontics and Operative Dentistry - Herbert Hau.

Thirty-five Years: Endodontics - Thomas Winkler III; Prosthodontics and Operative Dentistry - William Heggerick.

Forty Years: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery - Shibley Malouf; Orthodontics - Melvin Brockman.

Forty-five Years: Orthodontics - Norman Diamond.

This year, for the first time, basic science faculty were recognized for their service to the School of Dental Medicine: Karina Meiri (anatomy), 5 years; Carol Kumamoto (microbiology), 15 years; Peter Brodeur (pathology), 20 years; Larry Feig (biochemistry), 20 years; Alvar Gustafson (anatomy), 30 years; Stanley Jacobson (anatomy), 35 years; and Paul Leavis (occupational therapy), 35 years.

Save the date for the 2009 luncheon, which will be held on Friday, August 7.

Faculty Notes

Robert Chapman, A63, D67, DG74, professor and chair of prosthodontics and operative dentistry and director of informatics, was elected chair of the executive board of the Consortium for Oral Health Related Research at its annual meeting in San Francisco in July. The consortium, comprising 22 dental schools in the U.S., Canada and Europe, was initiated by Tufts School of Dental Medicine in February 2007, and the number of schools has doubled since its inception. The goals of the consortium are to share data from electronic health records and teaching information. Paul Stark, director of advanced and graduate education at Tufts School of Dental Medicine, was named head of the research division of the consortium at the same meeting.

Wide Open Tournament

The 26th annual Wide Open Golf and Tennis Tournament was held September 22 at the Mount Pleasant Country Club in Boylston, Mass. The tournament has raised more than $240,000 for the Dental Alumni Association Student Loan Fund since its inception. Co-chairs of this year's event were John Millette, D91, and Cherie Bishop, D94.

Komen Race for the Cure

More than 60 runners and walkers from Tufts Dental participated in the 2008 Komen Race for the Cure on September 7, raising more than $3,000 in the fight against breast cancer. Top finishers for the Tufts Dental Team in the 5K race included: Michael Brown Dowling, D09, 17:01 and 5th overall; Nathan Clem, D11, 17:38, 6th overall; Nicholas Gordon, D12, 19:11, 19th overall; Liz Turner, D11, 19:38, 26th overall; and Derek Nobrega, D12, finished the course in 20:49 for 41st overall. Twelve Tufts Dental runners finished in the top 100.

Samir Patel, D10; Michael Butera, D10; and Liz Turner, D11, organized the Tufts team.

October 31, 2008

News@TuftsDental is distributed each month via email to dental school faculty, staff, students and friends. We welcome suggestions, comments and story ideas. Contact Editor Mary-Ellen Marks atmary-ellen.marks@tufts.edu. Thank you!

Humanitarian Mission Trip to Haiti

Aidee Herman (periodontology) led a delegation of 15 volunteers on a humanitarian mission to Haiti from in August. The group included faculty members Carolyn Cottrell (prosthodontics and operative dentistry) and Scott Lightfoot (periodontology); dental students Lee Tran, D09; Dong Soo Hong, D09; Meredith Jones, D09; Samantha Jordan, D10; Monica Rancourt, D10; Ngoc Nguyen, D10; Chelsea Wilson, D10; and Allison Piper, D11; and dental staff members who are natives of Haiti, Ernst Milfort, Renald Joseph and Lysia Osias.

The team was in Haiti from August 18 to 25. On their first day, the three Tufts faculty members lectured at the Dental School of Port au Prince. The team provided dental care for 761 patients at three community health centers.

Dental Student Wins Research Award

Todd Walker, D10, received a second-place award for his research on "Effect of Adhesive System and Composite Type on Dentin Bonds" at the 2008 ADA/Dentsply Student Clinician Research Program during the American Dental Association's annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas, earlier this month. The Student Clinician Research Program provides the opportunity for one student from each accredited dental school in the United States and Puerto Rico to receive an expense-paid trip to participate in the ADA's Scientific Session and to compete for awards. Walker was selected to attend the ADA session because his project won the Best Overall Pre-doctoral Table Clinic Award at the School of Dental Medicine's annual Bates-Andrews Student Research Day last March. His research mentor for the project was Gerard Kugel, associate dean for research and professor of prosthodontics and operative dentistry.

Web Expertise

Noshir Mehta (general dentistry) was invited by Google to write knowledge-based position papers on four areas in dentistry. You can check them out at the following links:

Tooth Pain

http://knol.google.com/k/noshir-mehta/tooth-pain/iQYfUduC/CE-dcg#

Mouth Guards

http://knol.google.com/k/noshir-mehta/mouth-guards/C67L8ZO-/qJX4VA#

Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMJD)

http://knol.google.com/k/noshir-mehta/temporomandibular-joint-disorders-tmjd/Zg0l2KRp/I4z7SA#

Bruxism

http://knol.google.com/k/noshir-mehta/bruxism/D3iAfFNV/kRAr4Q#

Faculty News & Notes

Nathan Birnbaum (prosthodontics and operative dentistry), Aidee Herman (periodontology) and Eric Weinstock (general dentistry) were inducted into the American College of Dentists during the annual meeting of the American Dental Association earlier this month in San Antonio, Texas.

Kanchan Ganda (public health and community service) has published her first book, Dentist's Guide to Medical Conditions and Complications (Wiley-Blackwell 2008).

Jonathan Garlick (oral and maxillofacial pathology) attended a roundtable discussion hosted by the NIH Office of Portfolio Analysis and Strategic (Roadmap) Initiatives. The discussion focused on the new NIH funding program known as "Transformative R01s," which will allow highly creative, out-of-the-box projects to be supported in any area of research that falls within the NIH mission, including 3-D tissue models, one of Garlick's areas of expertise. Other areas of research that will be considered under the Transformative R01 program include: understanding and incentivizing behavior change; functional variation in mitochondria; transition from acute to chronic pain and the formulation of novel protein capture reagents. The roundtable panel included 12 scientists with broad experience in the area of in vitro engineered tissues who provided perspective on strategies to illuminate potential transformative research in this field.

Walter H. Meinzer II (periodontology) was awarded diplomate status by the American Board of Periodontology at its recent meeting in Dallas. Meinzer was also appointed Director, TUSDM Periodontal Clinic Administration, effective October 1, 2008.

Leslie Will (orthodontics) was a guest lecturer in the department of orthodontics and maxillofacial orthognathics at the Tokyo Medical and Dental University on September 29. Her topic was "Enhancing Patient Care with Cone Beam CT." Will also was a visiting professor in the department of orthodontics at Khon Kaen University Faculty of Dentistry in Khon Kaen, Thailand, in early October. She spent several days lecturing on orthognathic surgery and growth and development.

Senior Faculty Promotions

Noshir Mehta, promoted to associate dean for international relations

Robert Amato, promoted to clinical professor of endodontics

November 25, 2008

News@TuftsDental is distributed each month via email to dental school faculty, staff, students and friends. We welcome suggestions, comments and story ideas. Contact Editor Mary-Ellen Marks atmary-ellen.marks@tufts.edu. Thank you!

Message from the Dean

Due to budgetary concerns through out the world, and in particular, the effect of the economy on the budgetary status of the school, regretfully the Dental School's annual holiday lunch, scheduled for December 19, has been canceled.

President Bacow will host a holiday reception for this campus in the Dental School's seventh-floor Student Lounge on Wednesday, December 10, from 3 to 5 p.m. You are all invited. Please bring one canned food item to be donated to the Greater Boston Food Bank. Foods high in protein, such as tuna, peanut butter and beans, are especially needed.

I do thank you for all of your loyalty, understanding and continued dedicated service to the school, and wish you the best during these most challenging times. I look forward to better times in the future to reinstate events to recognize your loyalty and contributions.

--Lonnie H. Norris

Gavel Medal Winners

Esther Wilkins, D49 (periodontology), was honored with the 2008 Gavel Medal at the 15^th annual Dr. J. Murray Gavel Clinical Research Lecture, held November 3 at the Forsyth Institute. The Gavel Medal "commemorates the achievements of a medical or dental researcher, educator or practitioner who has made lasting and innovative contributions to mankind. The recipient also represents the qualities on which Dr. Gavel stood."

Dean Emeritus Erling Johansen, D49, also received the medal posthumously, and Dean Lonnie H. Norris accepted it on behalf of Tufts Dental School.

A Pioneer in Community Health

Richard Ferraro, D62, has been honored by the Oral Health Foundation for his role in establishing the nation's first dental clinic in a community health center--;a concept that began in 1967 at the Columbia Point Community Health Center in Dorchester and was quickly replicated across the United States.

Long before access to care became a priority for the dental profession, Ferraro was the first to provide underserved communities with comprehensive oral health services and emergency treatment in what is now known as the Geiger-Gibson Community Health Center in Dorchester. The pioneering community heath center was founded in 1965 by Count Gibson and Jack Geiger, both faculty members at Tufts School of Medicine, in response to President Lyndon Johnson's "War on Poverty." They established a second community health center in rural Mound Bayou, Miss.

Ferraro "not only provided a model for providing critical, comprehensive care but also encouraged hundreds of dental students and dentists to move into urban communities to treat vulnerable populations," said Dennis Leonard of Delta Dental of Massachusetts, which funds the Oral Health Foundation. Ferraro was the first to incorporate oral health records into medical records, establishing a critical link between oral health and overall health.

U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., wrote, "It was Dr. Ferraro's compassion that drove him to create the clinic in the face of overwhelming odds. It was his compassion that helped him see that oral health is fundamental to a person's dignity and sense of self-worth. Through the force of Dr. Ferraro's compassion and conviction that health care is a fundamental right for all people, thousands of people today receive high quality dental care at community health centers across the country."

David Russell Steps Down As Associate Dean

After 20 years of dedicated service to the school, David Russell, D87, M03, stepped down as associate dean for clinical affairs on November 15. He has made this difficult decision in order to pursue other endeavors.

David has been a part of our school since 1983, when he enrolled in our D.M.D. program. He joined our faculty in 1988 as a clinical instructor in the former Department of Restorative Dentistry. He was promoted to assistant clinical professor in 1990; joined our full-time faculty in 1992 as an assistant professor and was promoted to his current rank of associate professor in 2001.

A gifted teacher, one of David's earliest accomplishments was the establishment of the Preceptor Program in which students making slow progress in the clinic are given one-on-one supervision until their skills and speed improve. This well-recognized program received national attention via poster presentations and ADEA publications so that other schools might use it as a model.

David also displayed leadership ability early in his dental career. In 1991, he was appointed assistant director of clinical affairs and was promoted to director of clinical affairs in 1992. He was promoted to assistant dean of clinical affairs in 1995 and to associate dean of clinical affairs in 2002.

David is a founding and original member of the CMG, with Noshir Mehta and Robert Chapman. He also had leadership roles in the design and implementation of the Group Practice System, and then coordinated its transition from 10 practices to eight practices, overseeing, with Mehta, the hiring of practice coordinators.

To enhance his professional development, David applied for and was selected as a Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellow in the office of U.S. Sen. Orrin G. Hatch during the 1999-2000 academic year. In that role he helped ADEA and our school with numerous governmental issues at the federal and state levels. David also was a key member of the three CODA accreditations in 1994, 2001 and 2008, serving as co-coordinator of the latter.

As associate dean for clinical affairs, David was involved in designing and implementing the school-owned instrument and central sterilization system; development of the Axium electronic patient health record and coordination of digital radiography throughout the school.

David was also chair of the standing committees on Patient Care and Quality Assurance as well as on Risk Management, Safety and Infection Control. At the university level, he served on the University Benefits Advisory Committee.

David will maintain a part-time faculty appointment at the school as course director of Oral Diagnosis and Treatment Planning.

Search Under Way for Chair of Prosthodontics and Operative Dentistry

After 35 years on the faculty and 12 years of leadership as chair of the Department of Prosthodontics and Operative Dentistry, Robert Chapman will be stepping down at the end of the 2008-09 academic year.

An ad hoc committee has been formed to recommend qualified candidates with exceptional credentials to fill the position of department chair. The final appointment decision will be made by Dean Norris, based on the recommendation of the committee and the candidate's compatibility with the overall mission of the school.

Those serving on the ad hoc committee to evaluate and recommend candidates are: Committee Chair Noshir Mehta, associate dean for international relations and professor and chair, general dentistry; Nancy Arbree, associate dean for academic affairs and professor of prosthodontics and operative dentistry; James Hanley, associate dean for clinical services and associate professor of periodontology; Gerard Kugel, associate dean for research and professor of prosthodontics and operative dentistry; Joanne Falzone, associate clinical professor of prosthodontics and operative dentistry; Hiroshi Hirayama, professor and division head, postgraduate prosthodontics; and Aaron Sheinfeld, assistant professor of prosthodontics and operative dentistry.

If you know of any qualified individuals whom you would like the committee to consider, please contact the chair of the Ad Hoc Committee, Noshir Mehta, in confidence.

Faculty News and Notes

Barry Briss (orthodontics) attended the inaugural meeting of the Joint Cephalometrics Experts Group, of which he is a member, at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, on November 21-23. The group's mission is to map out a plan for the transition from 2D cephalometrics to 3D cone beam imaging for assessment of orthodontic outcomes, as well as diagnosis and treatment planning.

December 17, 2008

News@TuftsDental is distributed each month via email to dental school faculty, staff, students and friends. We welcome suggestions, comments and story ideas. Contact Editor Mary-Ellen Marks atmary-ellen.marks@tufts.edu. Thank you!

Message from the Dean

The holiday season is officially here, and we are keeping busy with travel, gathering with family and friends, shopping and sending greetings and, of course, waiting in traffic or shoveling snow. In all of this holiday rush, I hope each of us finds time to reflect and be grateful for all we have in our lives and in our nation. I hope each of us also finds time to share our blessings with others and offer encouragement and support when needed. In this challenging economic climate, I am proud of your commitment to work together to achieve successful outcomes. Wishing you peace, happiness and fulfillment in the New Year.

--Lonnie H. Norris

Walter Askinas Honored at Nova

S. Walter Askinas, Tufts Dental's executive associate dean emeritus and professor of restorative dentistry emeritus, was named the first professor emeritus at Nova Southeastern University on December 7 during Nova's 6^th annual Faculty Appreciation Brunch. Associate Dean Mark Gonthier represented Tufts senior administration at the event and spoke about Askinas' contributions to and legacy at Tufts.

Askinas served on the Tufts faculty from 1983 to 1997, and upon his retirement, an endowed Senior Award, the Dr. Walter Askinas Senior Prize Fund for Integrity and Citizenship, was established. After he left Tufts, Askinas joined the Nova faculty as chair of the department of restorative dentistry.

A Roundtable Discussion

Associate Dean Mark Gonthier participated in a roundtable discussion panel on "The Impact of Dental Schools on the Future Delivery of Dental Care" on December 13 at the Northeast Delta Dental Conference Center in Concord, N.H. The panel explored the role of existing and proposed dental schools in New England on access to care for residents of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. The keynote speaker and moderator was Sam Low, associate dean for continuing education and strategic partnerships at the University of Florida School of Dentistry. Other panelists were Jeffrey Hutter, dean of Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine; Stephen DuLong, associate dean for clinical services at BU; Chester Douglass, chair of the department of oral health policy and epidemiology at Harvard University; and Robert Faiella, first district trustee of the American Dental Association. Over 50 leaders in the dental profession from the Northeast area were in attendance and engaged in a stimulating question and answer session.

Research Opportunities for Dental Students

On December 10, two Tufts Dental students and an alumnus spoke about their research experiences at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Md.

Edward Lahey, D00, participated in the Clinical Research Training Program after his third year of dental school, from 1998-99. After graduating from Tufts, he went on to complete the six-year M.D. Oral Surgery Program at Harvard/Massachusetts General Hospital, where he now serves as an attending on a part-time basis. Samantha Jordan, D11, is in the midst of a yearlong research training program sponsored by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute/NIH Research Scholars Program, and Hubert Park, D11, participated in the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) summer program this year.

All three of these programs attract applications from the best and brightest students in the country. We are very proud of our students who have been accepted for these prestigious research experiences, and we encourage current students to consider applying.

Garlick to Co-teach University Seminar

Jonathan Garlick, director of the Division of Tissue Engineering and Cancer Biology, will team with colleagues from the schools of Arts & Sciences and Engineering and the university chaplain to offer a University Seminar titled "Stem Cells and Society: The Future of Global and Personal Health" in Spring 2010.

Founded a year ago by Provost Jamshed Bharucha, the University Seminars bring together faculty and students from all Tufts' schools and campuses for interdisciplinary courses that link scholarship to civic engagement by focusing on issues of national or global importance. The seminars are open to undergraduates and students in Tufts' graduate and professional schools.

Garlick will develop and teach the seminar with Sheldon Krimsky, professor of urban and environmental policy and planning; David Kaplan, professor and chair of biomedical engineering; and the Rev. David O'Leary, university chaplain and professor of religion. The seminar will provide a dynamic forum for students to explore how societies and individuals can balance their desire for progress in personal health with their respect for religious, cultural and societal views that impact the application of human stem cells.

For more information about the University Seminar program, go to http://provost.tufts.edu/1172048132183/Provost-Page-prov2w_1174562916192.html.

Diplomates in Prosthodontics

Six faculty members in the Division of Postgraduate Prosthodontics are new diplomates of the American Board of Prosthodontics: Yong Jeong Kim, Mario Gatti, Takayoshi Suda, Gianluca Paniz, Hamilton Le and Mofta El-ghadi. Congratulations to all.

New Associates

Tufts Dental Associates is pleased to announce the addition of three faculty members to the Faculty Practice: Yong Hur, Hamasat Gheddaf Dam and Viviana Avila-Gnau.

Senior Promotions

David Paul, to Associate Professor, General Dentistry

Samuel Shames, to Associate Clinical Professor, General Dentistry