2009 Archives

January 30, 2009

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!

Dean's Town Meetings

Communication during the current economic climate is especially important, and so Dean Lonnie H. Norris has initiated school town meetings for all staff and faculty. The meetings are taking place on various days of the week to give everyone an opportunity to attend.

The town meeting agendas will cover the impact of the economy on the school's budget and ways the administration is addressing shortfalls; the status of the school's expansion project and an open question-and-answer period.

The next town meeting will take place on Monday, February 2, at noon in Merritt Auditorium.

Dean Norris began 2009 by initiating noontime meetings with faculty. Because many part-time and volunteer faculty work on various days of the week, meetings were set up Monday through Friday to accommodate their schedules.

Classmates Reach Out to One of Their Own

J.J. Brown, vice president of the Class of D12, and members of the classes of D11 and D12 organized a movie night to benefit first-year student, Catherine Dahl, who has a four-year-old son and was recently diagnosed with cancer. The two classes raised nearly $2,000, which they will use to provide services such as home grocery delivery, high-speed Internet for Catherine's West Roxbury home so she can access lectures and course materials, and a JumboCash account to purchase meals at the Food 4 Thought Café in theSackler Center. If you'd like to make a donation to the Dahl family, please email Jeffrey_J.Brown@tufts.edu.

February is Children's Dental Health Month

Massachusetts is celebrating Children's Dental Health Month in February as the Watch Your Mouth Campaign works to increase public awareness about the links between oral health and overall well-being. As part of the campaign, the organization Health Care For All will sponsor its Fourth Annual Oral Health Heroes event on Monday, February 2, to honor legislators and community members committed to promoting local and statewide solutions to dental decay, the most common chronic childhood disease.

Children miss roughly 51 million hours of school in Massachusetts each year as a result of oral health problems. For more information about the public awareness campaign, go to www.watchyourmouth.org/massachusetts.php.

SNDA Feeds the Homeless

The Tufts chapter of the Student National Dental Association cooked for the homeless community at the Heading Home shelter in Cambridge, Mass., on December 5. The students used the proceeds from their Halloween fundraiser to provide the food.

Dental Hoops Team Is #1

By Andy Ellis, D12

Beginning the year as a collection of first years from the underrepresented dental side of campus, the creatively named "Dentals" entered into the 2008 Boston Campus Intramural Basketball season as a true dark horse. However, this team of rookie sensations quickly bonded, and the resulting amalgamation of skills "caries-ed" the team to a 4-1 record heading into the playoffs.

Overcoming injuries and previous scheduling conflicts, the team was able to show up in full force for championship tournament play. After three hard-fought games, the Dentals erupted victoriously, extracting the medical school teams and claiming the illustrious Tufts Boston Campus Intramural Basketball Championship crown. The champions included Frank Lewicki, Andy Ellis, Nick DiNinno, Mike Ambra, Colin Pedersen, Andrew Lloyd, Tyler Fleming, Alyse Dason and Marina Stakes.

Faculty Notes

Maria Papageorge, D82, DG86, DG89, professor and chair of oral and maxillofacial surgery, has been accepted as a fellow of the 2009-10 ADEA Leadership Institute. She will join 21 of the nation's most promising dental educators as a part of the institute's tenth class. The four-phase program covers self-assessment, peer assessment, leadership and management theory, team building, analysis of issues critical to the dental health profession and higher education, administrative competency development, and other leadership application experiences.

Morton Rosenberg, D74, professor and director of anesthesia and pain control, contributed to a chapter titled "Neural Blockade of Oral and Circumoral Structures" in the fourth edition of the classic reference text on anesthesia, Neural Blockade in Clinical Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2009). Daniel Carr, adjunct professor of anesthesiology at Tufts School of Medicine, is one of the editors of the book.

Senior Promotions

Ralph Fowler, to clinical professor, prosthodontics and operative dentistry

Frank Odlum, to associate professor, general dentistry

Cynthia Yered, D90, to associate clinical professor, public health and community service

February 26, 2009

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!

Tufts Makes Its Mark at Yankee Dental

The School of Dental Medicine was well represented at Yankee Dental Congress 34, with alumni and faculty serving in leadership roles as well as giving presentations during the lectures and workshops.

Milton Glicksman, D65, is president of the Massachusetts Dental Society and David Samuels, D87, DG90, is president-elect. Kevin Toomey, D80, was general chair of the assembly.

Core committee leaders included Robert Amato, D80, DG83, (endodontics), exhibits; Anthony Giamberardino, D85, registration; Matthew Fantasia, D00, signs; Emina Zaganjori, D00, (endodontics), specialty relations; Debbie Eisen (prosthodontics and operative dentistry) and Janis Moriarty, D94, (general dentistry), program committee; Laura Glicksman D98, DG00, and Mary Jane Hanlon-Rogers, D97, women's conference; Mark Mizner, D80, special events; and Gennaro Cataldo, D67, general arrangements. Earle Simpson, D87, of the New Hampshire Dental Association, and Jeffrey Dodge, D86, of the Rhode Island Dental Association, served as presidents of the co-participating state dental associations.

Tufts faculty who gave presentations included:

• "Bioterrorism Today," Carolyn Cottrell (prosthodontics and operative dentistry)
• "Maximizing the World of Composites," Shradha Sharma (prosthodontics and operative dentistry)
• "Digital Recordkeeping at Tufts Undergraduate Clinic" and "Diagnosis and Treatment of Sjögren's Syndrome," David Leader, D85, (general dentistry)
• "Risk Management for Oral Surgery," Maria Papageorge, D82, DG86 (oral and maxillofacial surgery)
• "Removable Prosthodontics-Back to the Future: Old Techniques + New Materials = Predictability," William Lobel, D72, (general dentistry)
• "Oral Appliances for the Management of Obstructive Sleep Apnea," Leopoldo Correa (general dentistry)
• "High Fidelity Human Simulation in Medical Emergencies Utilizing the Sim Man Human Simulator," Morton Rosenberg, D74, (oral and maxillofacial surgery), with colleagues from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and the senior education specialist from Laerdal Medical Corp. This was the first time this technology has been demonstrated for a large group at a major dental convention.
• "The Do's and Don't of Porcelain Laminate Veneers: A Team Approach for the Staff," Gerard Kugel, D85, (prosthodontics and operative dentistry), and Ronald Perry (prosthodontics and operative dentistry)
• "Antibiotics & AHA Premedication Prophylaxis Update," Kanchan Ganda (public health and community service)
• "Differential Diagnosis of Facial Pain," Caroline Ceneviz (general dentistry), and George Maloney (general dentistry)
• "MassHealth Update," Catherine Hayes, D87, (public health and community service)
• "The Periodontal Co-Therapist: Contemporary Periodontology for the RDH" and "Crown Lengthening," Timothy Hempton (periodontology)
• "Implant-assisted Removable Dentures," Ali Muftu (prosthodontics and operative dentistry)
• "Complete Phase I Periodontal Therapy," Paul A. Levi, D66, DG71, and Ronald Fried, a Brookline periodontist
• "Management of Painful Oral Ulcerations," Lynn Solomon (oral and maxillofacial pathology). Solomon also served as the presiding chair for the presentation by Michael Siegel from Nova Southeastern University titled "Dermatology: In My Mouth?"

Also at Yankee Dental, Vangel R. Zissi, D62, DG66, clinical professor of endodontics and director of continuing education, received the International College of Dentists (ICD) 10^th annual Distinguished Fellow Award. Zissi became a fellow of the ICD in 1971, and by 2005 was president of its USA Section. He currently holds the positions of deputy registrar of the USA Section and deputy secretary general and councilman of the College at Large. In 1990, he received ICD's Spark Plug Award for "unselfish and dedicated service to the USA Section."

Katherine Pelullo, RDH, was named Hygienist of the Year during the Presidential Awards Ceremony and Reception at Yankee Dental. Pelullo works for the dental school's Special Needs Community Dental Program.

The second annual Gay & Lesbian Alumni and Friends reception was held January 30 at the Westin Waterfront and was attended by 100 guests.

Student News from Yankee

James P. Murphy, D09, received the American College of Dentists Award at the annual luncheon at Yankee Dental on January 31. The award is given to a senior student identified by the school's administration as "most representative of the American College of Dentists' principles of high achievement, strong leadership and high ethical standards." Dean Lonnie H. Norris, DG80, attended the event and introduced Jim.

Todd Walker, D10, took "First Place" in the Predoctoral Student Poster Session with "Comparison of Total Etch, Self Etch and AIO Adhesives"

Yawen Peng, a third-year pediatric dentistry resident, was awarded "First Place" in the Postdoctoral Student Poster Session for "Oral Changes and Management in a Patient with Hepatoblastoma." Peng's mentors are Laura Camacho-Castro (pediatric dentistry) and Aaron E. Sheinfeld (prosthodontics and operative dentistry).

A Call to Action

On February 19, the Massachusetts Dental Society issued its "Call to Action: A Plan for Improvement to Oral Health of Massachusetts Residents by 2013." The major goals of the program are to increase awareness of the relationship of oral health to overall health, improve access to care and promote prevention to decrease the impact of health-care problems. Speakers at the event included David Samuels, D87, DG90, president-elect of MDS; Massachusetts Public Health Commissioner John Auerbach; James Hunt Jr., president of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers; State Rep. John Scibak (D-Hadley), a co-chair of the legislative Oral Health Caucus; and Dean Lonnie H. Norris, DG80.

An Alumna Makes History

Charlene S. Berkman, D78, has been elected the first woman president in the 102-year history of the Alpha Omega International dental fraternity. She practices general dentistry in Forest Hills, N.Y.

Black History Month Dinner

More than 100 Student National Dental Association (SNDA) members and guests attended the dinner on February 12 to commemorate Black History Month. Wanda Wright (public health and community service) was the keynote speaker. SNDA student co-chairs Aundrea Vereen and Albert Coombs, both D11, led the event. Faculty advisor Margaret Howard made introductory remarks and offered the prayer, and Dean Lonnie H. Norris welcomed the guests. Lee Gant did an outstanding job organizing the event. The university's Office of Institutional Diversity provided financial support and was represented at the event by Christy Galatis.

Faculty News

Joel Pearlman, D74, (public health and community service), who was instrumental in establishing Tufts Dental Facilities for Persons with Special Needs (TDF), received the Massachusetts Oral Health Hero Award at a ceremony at the State House on February 2.

Jonathan Garlick (oral and maxillofacial pathology) spoke at an NIH forum on "Decision Making in T1 Translational Research Workshop," held on February 10-11 to identify common problems encountered during the practice of translational research. As chair of the Translational Technologies and Resources Component of Tufts University's Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, Garlick presented a lecture on "Engineered 3D Tissue Models: Translational Tools in the Discovery Pipeline."

Senior Faculty Promotions

Ekaterini Antonellou to associate professor, prosthodontics and operative dentistry

Abhayjit Bedi to associate clinical professor, prosthodontics and operative dentistry

Michael Thompson to professor, general dentistry

March 31, 2009

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

Another Winning Edition of Bates-Andrews Research Day

Dear Tufts Dental Community,

Thank you all for supporting Bates-Andrews Research Day on March 11. It was a very successful event, and we want to acknowledge not only the winners listed below, but also all the students who participated and the many faculty who assisted with judging and mentoring our student researchers.

The commercial exhibitors provide funding for this event. We appreciate their support and thank everyone who visited their tables. The artwork that graced the halls this year was supplied by Tangy Person, dental practice administrator; Erin McManus, D09; and Yun Saksena, assistant clinical professor of prosthodontics and operative dentistry-thank you for that special touch. Special thanks go to our keynote speaker, Bruce Baum, D.M.D., Ph.D., D71, who gave an excellent presentation on "Why Research Should Matter to Dental Students." For more on his talk, go to http://tuftsjournal.tufts.edu/2009/03_2/briefs/02.

Congratulations to all the students and faculty for a job well done! Also congratulations to Steven Nguyen, D11, who won the Wii game console that was raffled off by the Patterson Dental Co.

Sincerely,

Eileen Doherty
Director, Pre-doctoral Student Research
and Coordinator, Bates-Andrews Research Day

2009 Bates-Andrews Day award recipients

• Oral Presentation by an M.S. Student:
  • First Place: Georgios Kanavakis, "Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Morphometric Occlusal Characteristics in Patients with Temporomandibular Disorders"
  • Second Place: Abeer Basunbul, "Effect of Fluoride Varnish on Enamel Demineralization around Orthodontic Brackets in vitro"
  • Third Place: Teppei Tsukiyama, "A Comparison between Asian and Caucasian Teeth Dimension/Size/Proportion in the Esthetic Zone"
• Best Postgraduate Poster Presentation: Leopoldo Correa, "Effect of Oral Appliances on 3 Measurements of Sleep Apnea"
  
• Best Scientific Research Presentation by a Senior (Andrews Society Award): Furkan Dogan Salam, IS09, "Integrin-blocking Antibodies Delay Keratinocyte Reepithelialization in a Human 3D Wound Healing Model;" faculty mentor: Jonathan Garlick
  
• ADA/Dentsply Student Clinician Award for Pre-doctoral Table Clinic:
  • Best Overall: Todd Walker, D10, "Comparison of Total Etch, Self Etch and AIO Adhesives;" faculty mentor: Gerard Kugel
    
  • Second Place (cash prize donated by Drs. Kane, Tesini, Soporowski): Rebekah Lucier, D11, "Alterations of Three-dimensional Human Tissue Equivalents by Tooth-whitening Agents;" faculty mentors: Christophe Egles, Susana Ferreira, Jonathan Garlick, Gerard Kugel
    
  • Third Place (cash prize donated by Drs. Kane, Tesini, Soporowski): William Stuart McKenzie, D10, "Anatomical Changes Following SARPE Procedure;" faculty mentors: Maria Papageorge, Lokesh Suri
    
• Research Committee Award for Basic Science Research: Farah Assadipour, D11, "Bioengineering Dental Microtissues in a Collagen-Matrigel Construct;" mentor: Pamela Yelick
  
• Massachusetts Dental Society and ASDA Public Health Award: Samantha Jordan, D11, "A Prospective Study of Tooth Loss and Cancer Risk in a Cohort of Male Smokers"
  
• Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU) Hilde Tillman Award: Rebekah Lucier, D11, "Alterations of Three-dimensional Human Tissue Equivalents by Tooth-whitening Agents"
  
• Procter & Gamble Traveling Fellowship Award: Catherine DeFuria, D12, "In vitro Microleakage Analysis of Bonded and Self-adhesive Cements;" faculty mentor: Ronald Perry
  
• Dr. Chad Anderson Family Award for Innovative Methodology and Research Design: Arman Samad-Zadeh, D11, "The Influence of Laser-textured Dentinal Surface on the Bond Strength;" faculty mentor: Gerard Kugel

Into the Clinics

The seventh annual Clinical Advancement/White Coat Ceremony for the Class of 2011 was held on March 21 at the Marriott Copley Place Hotel in Boston. Nearly 880 family members, faculty and staff celebrated the 154 students in the class as they moved to the patient-care phase of their dental education. Tufts Executive Vice President Patricia Campbell represented the University. Associate Dean Nancy Arbree was the presenter of the event that included opening remarks by Dean Lonnie H. Norris, Executive Associate Dean A. Joseph Castellana and Associate Dean Mark Gonthier. Associate Dean James Hanley led the class in reading the Oath of the Dental Student.  Presenters of the white coats included Associate Dean Gerard Kugel and Dr. Catherine Hayes.

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.

Faculty, alumni and family members helped the students don the traditional white lab coat as part of the ceremony. This year, 12 family members who are Tufts Dental alums assisted in "coating" their children or siblings. The ceremony concluded with a luncheon at the hotel and tours of the dental school.

National Dental Student Lobby Day

Members of the Tufts chapter of the American Student Dental Association (ASDA) joined more than 300 other ASDA members in Washington, D.C., on February 11-12 for National Dental Student Lobby Day. ASDA representatives Joseph Carey, D09; TC Hardy, D09; Leila Roumani, D09; Andrew Danberg-Ficarelli, D10; and Rebecca Berry, D11, met with legislators from California, Massachusetts and Maine to discuss current issues in dental medicine.

Infection Control Symposium

The annual Risk Management, Safety and Infection Control Symposium was held on March 4 at the AMC Boston Common Theater. The guest speaker, Charles Gerba, the University of Arizona microbiologist, gave a presentation on "Reinventing Hygiene for the 21st Century." Kanchan Ganda (public health and community service) spoke about "Health Policies and Emergency Code Protocol."

Mission to Nicaragua

For the fourth consecutive year, David Paul (general dentistry) led the dental component of a Tufts University Medical-Dental team on a mission to Nicaragua, the most impoverished and underserved area in Central America. Three D09 students, Lauren Castro, Jeremy Louk and Ryan Stanger, were joined by Brad Fulkerson, D06, for the 17-day international community service learning experience from February 13 to March 1.

The team lived and worked in the small village of Tadazna, without any electricity, running water or bathroom facilities. They treated more than 300 patients and extracted almost 700 extremely decayed and infected teeth, without the aid of radiographs, suction or proper intraoral lighting. For the first time ever on a mission to Nicaragua, by the last day of clinic, every patient had been seen, and no one had to be turned away.

"Of the two or three trips I do each year, this is without question the most physically and mentally challenging," Paul said, "but the rewards for all involved are both unsurpassed and unforgettable. I am extremely proud of how hard these students worked and what this team accomplished."

VermontDentist Workforce Initiatives

Mark Gonthier, associate dean for admissions and student affairs, and Cynthia Yered, director of the dental school's Community Service Learning Externship program, were part of a forum on "Vermont Dental Workforce Initiatives: Developing Dental Residency and Externship Programs," held March 20 in Quechee, Vt. Gonthier and Yered were part of a panel that discussed opportunities for Vermont dentists to become involved in dental education as an instructor in a residency or externship program. The forum was sponsored by the Vermont State Dental Society.

Noteworthy

Nicole Cuoccio, D11, had her column titled "Avoiding Repetitive Stress Injuries" published in the March 2009 issue of the American Student Dental Association News.

Associate Dean Mark Gonthier presented a section program at the American Dental Education Association on March 15. Titled "Imagine Inclusion: Creating a Model for an Educational Community of Inclusion," Gonthier's co-presenters were John Zimmerman of Columbia University and Christine Clark of the University of Nevada.

Mary-Ellen Marks (dental administration) joined 32 of her colleagues from across the university in celebrating their 25^th year of service to Tufts during a luncheon that President Lawrence S. Bacow hosted at Gifford House, the president's residence, on March 24.

Morton Rosenberg (oral and maxillofacial surgery) addressed the American Student Dental Association (ASDA) at their annual meeting in Louisville, KY, March 26 & 27, on "The Role of Sedation and Anesthesia in Dentistry". He also conducted a breakout session for dental school representatives.

Lokesh Suri has been promoted to associate professor of orthodontics.

April 28, 2009

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

Undergrads Explore Dental Careers

The Dental Admissions Office hosted its sixth annual Tufts Undergraduate Open House, "Exploring a Career in Dentistry," on April 3. Twenty-seven Tufts students from the Medford/Somerville campus attended.

The prospective students were welcomed by Mark Gonthier, associate dean of admissions and student affairs, and Dean Lonnie H. Norris. Executive Associate Dean Joseph Castellana gave a presentation on the expansion project that will add five floors to One Kneeland Street. James Hanley, associate dean for clinical affairs, spoke to the students about the dental curriculum as well as the many advantages of a career in dentistry. Students also heard from Maureen Lombard, director of clinical affairs, regarding clinical operations at Tufts School of Dental Medicine. Faculty member John Morgan talked about public health and community service opportunities available to dental students.

Following a tour of the dental school hosted by current dental students who received their undergraduate degrees from Tufts, the visitors attended a reception in the seventh-floor student lounge where they met with leaders of student organizations at the school.

Schweitzer Fellows

Peter Franco, D10, and Sarah Schlansker, D10, were among seven Tufts University students who were named 2009-10 Boston Schweitzer Fellows, a program that gives them the opportunity to develop and implement service projects that will have a lasting impact on the health of underserved communities.

Franco and Schlansker will collaborate to provide pediatric dental care in underserved communities through the Massachusetts Mobile Access to Care (MAC) van, a program run by the Massachusetts Dental Society Foundation. They will develop a prevention curriculum to be used on the van, as well as forge a lasting relationship between Tufts dental students and the MAC van program.

Getting Greener

In celebration of Earth Day, the dental school implemented a new mixed recycling program. Now, instead of separating paper, plastics and cans into separate bins, all recyclable materials can be placed in one bin.

We hope this new, simpler method of recycling will increase participation by the Tufts dental community and reduce the amount of trash produced at One Kneeland Street each day.

Employee Recognition

The following dental school employees were recognized during Tufts University's Employee Recognition ceremonies in March:

10 Years of Service: Mary Kyle, Clinic Materials; Chun Cheung, Clinic Operations; Marilyn Peterson, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

15 Years of Service: Ange Brome, Information Technology; Robin Graham, Clinic Operations; Thomas Lloyd, Clinic Operations; Maureen Lombard, Clinical Affairs; Yukio Oishi Kudara, Prosthodontics and Operative Dentistry

20 Years of Service: Ellen Tomassini, Administration; Margie Sands, General Dentistry

25 Years of Service: Mary-Ellen Marks, Administration; Deborah Tigano, Public Health & Community Service

Home from Iraq

U.S. Army Capt. Jessica S. Herbert, D06, has returned from a six-month deployment to Iraq, where she was stationed at Camp Victory, which is part of the Victory Base Complex surrounding Baghdad International Airport.

Herbert was the dentist in charge at the Golby Dental Clinic, which served 13,000 U.S. and coalition soldiers, as well as civilian contractors. She also was the triage officer in charge of mass casualties at the Golby Troop Medical Clinic.

She is now stationed at Fort Riley in Manhattan, Kan., where she is working in the dental command.

Noteworthy

Nathan Birnbaum (prosthodontics and operative dentistry); Heidi Aaronson (prosthodontics and operative dentistry), C. Stevens and B. Cohen published an article titled "3D Digital Scanners: A High-tech Approach to More Accurate Dental Impressions" in the April 2009 issue of Inside Dentistry.

Barry Briss (orthodontics) and Leslie Will (orthodontics) traveled to Dallas, Texas, in February to administer the American Board of Orthodontics 2009 clinical examination. As members of the American Association of Orthodontists' Council on Orthodontic Education, Briss and Will attended that annual meeting, held in conjunction with the American Dental Education Association Council on Education meeting in Phoenix, Ariz., March 14-16.

Roger Galburt (oral and maxillofacial surgery) has been appointed the new director of the Implant Center in the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Catherine Hayes (public health and community service) received the Distinguished Service Award, the highest award of the Tufts University Alumni Association, on April 4. Hayes earned her dental degree from Tufts in 1987.

In April, Timothy Hempton (periodontology) gave a presentation on "Contemporary Periodontology for the General Dentist," a two-day program for the New York State Academy of General Dentistry Master Track program. He also gave presentations on "Implant Dentistry and the RDH," "The Periodontal Co-therapist" and "Contemporary Periodontology for the General Dentist" at the Star of the South Meeting in Houston, Texas.

John Hsu (general dentistry) has been appointed to the Board of Registration in Dentistry for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. His term runs through January 2, 2014.

David Leader (general dentistry) was the guest speaker at the Scleroderma Spring Forum on April 26 at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. Leader is the Scleroderma Foundation's Doctor of the Year for 2008-09.

Athena Papas (public health and community service) was selected as the 2009 recipient of the International Association of Dental Research (IADR) Pharmacology-Therapeutics-Toxicology Research Award. Papas received the award during the IADR's 87th General Session & Exhibition in Miami, Fla., on April 1. One of the highest honors bestowed by IADR, the award is given for outstanding and sustained peer-reviewed research that has contributed to knowledge of the mechanisms and efficacy of drugs used in dentistry. Papas has had a distinguished research career in multiple areas of dental drug and device therapy. Her major focus has been as principal investigator on clinical trials involving various aspects of dry mouth (xerostomia), including drug therapy for patients with Sögren's syndrome, a disease that causes a person's immune system to attack and destroy the salivary glands.

Lokesh Suri (orthodontics) presented a guest research paper titled "Influence of Patient Head Positioning on Measured Axial Tooth Inclination in Panoramic Radiography" at the annual meeting of the Eastern Component of the Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontia in Newport, R.I., on March 28.

Morton Rosenberg (oral and maxillofacial surgery) has been appointed chair of the Sedation Committee of Tufts Medical Center, a primary teaching hospital of Tufts University School of Medicine. The committee is responsible for quality assurance, education, credentialing and policy for moderate sedation providers in all venues at the medical center.

June 5, 2009

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

Commencement 2009

The School of Dental Medicine awarded 181 D.M.D. degrees, including 23 to graduates of the advanced standing International Student Program and seven to those in the Faculty Track International Student Program, during commencement ceremonies on May 17. Also recognized were nine M.S. degree recipients and 60 candidates who were awarded postgraduate certificates of achievement in dental specialties. Nearly 100 dental school faculty members participated in the ceremony to celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2009.

During the all-university Commencement earlier in the day, Massachusetts Gov. Deval L. Patrick delivered the main Commencement address and received an honorary degree. "More and more families are working harder and still losing ground," Patrick told the graduates. "Dreams are broken. The poor are in terrible shape and have been for some while. But the difference is that now the middle class is one paycheck away, one serious illness away from being poor and deeply anxious about it. That is the world you are about to inhabit-a society in many ways in anguish and an economy in crisis," the governor said. "And I want you to embrace it because crisis is a platform for change."

Other honorary degree recipients included David W. Burke, A57, an accomplished figure in public service and television news; Leslie H. Gelb, A59, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and foreign-affairs expert; Sister Margaret A. Leonard, executive director of Project Hope; Patricia Q. Stonesifer, former CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; C. Megan Urry, J77, the Israel Munson Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Yale University; and Robert A. Weinberg, founding member of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research.

Best in Class

Six outstanding dental school faculty members have been recognized with teaching excellence awards:

• Michael Kahn (oral and maxillofacial pathology), Dean's Award for Excellence in Basic Science Teaching
• Charles Rankin, D79, DG86, D08P (endodontics), and Joanne Falzone (prosthodontics/operative dentistry), Dean's Award for Excellence in Pre-clinical Teaching
• Luis Del Castillo (prosthodontics/operative dentistry) and Philip Koralishn (prosthodontics/operative dentistry), Dean's Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching
• Robert Chapman, A63, D67, DG74 (prosthodontics/operative dentistry), Provost's Award for Outstanding Teaching and Service

OKU Convocation

Twenty-two students were inducted into the national dental honor society, Omicron Kappa Upsilon, at a ceremony on May 15 at the Radisson Hotel Boston. This year's guest speaker was Patricia Campbell, executive vice president of Tufts University. There was record attendance at this year's ceremony, which included 139 OKU alumni members, inductees and family.

The D09/IS09 student inductees are Tasnim S. Arsiwala, Marjan Askari,Young Joon Byun, Lauren Marie Castro, Kevin Kiyoung Chung, Andrew John Daly, Matthew G. Del Mastro, Soojin Jessica Eriksen, Rebecca M. Groves, Maulik Hasmukh Kotdawala, Douglas Peter Laliberte, Moonyung B. Lee, James Patrick Murphy, Joseph Emanuel Pechter, Kate Elizabeth Perham, Geetika Rastogi, Susan Rizk, Kyung Won Seo, Yasamin Tarassoli, Michael Addair Tarver, Brian Warner and Erik Kalani Wong.

Also at the ceremony, Rebekah Lucier, D11, received the Bates Day Research Award; Nicole Cuoccio, D11, received the OKU Annual Scholarship, and Mary (Katie) Talmo, D10, received both the Basic Science Award and the Dental Science Award.

This year's faculty inductees are Ralph Fowler, Kathryn Ragalis, James Hanley and Alfred Rich.

Homecoming and Reunion Weekend 2009

Homecoming and Reunion Weekend 2009 kicked off on May 1 with a Welcome Back Party at the University of Massachusetts Club, featuring a performance by the Beelzebubs, Tufts' oldest all-male a cappella group, and an opportunity for friends and classmates from graduating years ending in 4 and 9 to reconnect. More than 650 alumni and guests enjoyed the weekend, which featured school tours, continuing education classes, a tour of Fenway Park, a cooking class on crepes, class dinners, chocolate bar and a DJ and dancing.

During the continuing education portion of the weekend, lectures were given by Jeffrey Prinsell, D79, on "The Role of the Dentist in Snoring and Sleep Apnea" and Jonathan A. Garlick, head of the Division of Cancer Biology and Tissue Engineering, on "Stem Cells and the Future of Dentistry."

The Langham Hotel was host to the rest of the weekend's activities, including the Tufts University Dental Alumni Association's annual meeting and luncheon, when Norman Shepherd, D64, DG67; Ira Cheifetz, D74; and staff member Shannon Balletto were recognized for their dedication to the school and the dental profession. Tufts President Lawrence S. Bacow gave the keynote address.

On Saturday night, May 2, reunioners enjoyed a cocktail reception, class dinners, dancing and reminiscing. The weekend ended with brunch on Sunday morning.

The annual meeting of the American Association of Orthodontists was held in Boston during the same weekend as Homecoming.  Thus, Tufts Association of Orthodontists held an orthodontics alumni dinner at the UMass Club for over 100 guests.

-Susan Ahearn

Graduation Dinner

The 16th annual Graduation Dinner was held for the Classes of 2009 on May 8 at the Westin Copley Place. The annual dinner continues to increase in popularity, with 460 students, faculty, staff and guests in attendance this year. Members of the Class of 2009 received 68 national and alumni awards during the event; two students in the Class of 2010 also received awards, and three faculty teaching awards were also presented.

Noteworthy

Laurence Barron, D74, has been promoted to associate clinical professor of prosthodontics and operative dentistry.

Abhayjit Bedi (prosthodontics and operative dentistry) has achieved diplomate status with the American Board of Prosthodontics.

Leopoldo Correa (TMD Division) was a guest speaker at the Clinica De Transtornos del Sueno (Sleep Disorders Clinic) at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (Mexico National University) in Mexico City on April 22, when he lectured about the role of dentists in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea with the use of oral appliances.

Aidee Herman (periodontology) led a team of 21 faculty members and students on a mission trip to Ecuador April 18-26. Team members included Paul Levi (periodontology) and his wife Patricia; Frank Shin (prosthodontics/operative dentistry); Matthew Navidomskis, D09; Ann-Marie Navidomskis; Monica Rancourt, D10; Leila Roumani, D09; Jinju Song, D10; Fernando Velasquez, D12; Jenna Khoury, D10; Nicholas Barone, D10; Aerwen Pollard, D10; Olivia Peiretti-Paradisi, D10; Geraldine Navarette, D10; Arlene Pimentel, D12; Michael Bohman, D10; Tracy Shaw, D10; Will Trahan, D12, and his father Daniel; and Robert Massimi. The team treated 261 patients at three different sites.

Michael Kahn (oral and maxillofacial pathology) was installed as vice president of American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology on May 19 during the organization's annual meeting in Montreal, Canada.

William Stuart Mackenzie, D10, and Morton Rosenberg, D74 (oral and maxillofacial surgery), published an article in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (67:1265-1268, 2009) titled "Iatrogenic Subcutaneous Emphysema of Dental and Surgical Origin: A Literature Review."

Kathleen T. O'Loughlin, D81, of Medford, Mass., has been selected by the Board of Trustees of the American Dental Association to serve as the ADA's executive director and chief operating officer. She began her new job on June 1. The ADA is the country's largest dental organization, and O'Loughlin is the first woman to hold the post.

Rory O'Neill (periodontology) was a keynote speaker at the Irish Dental Association's annual scientific meeting, held in Kilkenny, Ireland, April 22-25, when he gave presentations on "Periodontology from the Beginning to the Obama Period and Beyond" and on "Maintaining Implants."

Allison Piper, D11, received a journalism award at the annual session of the American Student Dental Association for "outstanding editorial."

July 1, 2009

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

Golden Crown Award Luncheon

Gerard Cedrone, administrative coordinator in Academic Affairs, and Daniel Gillard, a sterilization assistant in Central Sterilization, 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 14th 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. The school appreciates staff members' contributions to its mission.

About 100 staff members attended the Golden Crown luncheon on June 22 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, Kevin O'Dea, David Paul and Sherry Wilson-Johnson. Dean Lonnie H. Norris expressed appreciation to Ellen Tomassini for coordinating the luncheon.

Maine Alumni Reception

Dental Overseer Ann Donaldson graciously welcomed Maine alumni, students and prospective students into her home, Cool Water Farm, in Union, Maine, on June 20. Taking advantage of the Maine Dental Association meeting taking place in nearby Rockport the same weekend, more than 40 Tufts Dental alumni and friends attended the reception.

Dean Lonnie H. Norris welcomed everyone on behalf of the school, especially our newest alumni from the Class of 2009 and three incoming students in the Class of 2013. He took the opportunity to update the gathering on the expansion project that is adding five floors to the dental school building.

Mark Gonthier, associate dean for admissions and student affairs, discussed the dental school's commitment to address access to care in Maine and introduced faculty member Cynthia Yered, D90, associate clinical professor of public health and community service, who had been visiting externship sites throughout Maine the week prior to the reception.

A Long Career Honored

A retirement reception was held at Davio's restaurant in Boston on June 18 for Robert Chapman, A63, D67, DG74, professor and chair of prosthodontics and operative dentistry. Chapman is retiring in August after 35 years as a faculty member, including the last 12 as department chair.

Promotions

Mabi Singh, DI07, from assistant professor to associate professor, public health and community service

Karen Wallach, D85, from assistant clinical professor to associate clinical professor, general dentistry

Dawn West, from assistant professor to associate professor, public health and community service

Mark Your Calendar

July 1: End of scheduled program for Class of 2012. Summer recess begins for Class of 2012.

July 1: Registration/orientation for all advanced education and M.S. students.

July 3: Independence Day observed; School of Dental Medicine closed.

July 22: Executive Faculty Meeting, Becker Board Room, 3 p.m.

August 3, 2009

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

From the Dean

Another academic year has come to an end. Thanks for a rewarding and exciting year. With your commitment and resolve, we were able to remain fully operational while the project to add five floors to our building continued.

Our successes during the year are due in large part to the support of our alumni, faculty, students, staff and friends, who continue to work 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

Caring for the Chernobyl Children

Thirty-two children who continue to suffer health problems more than 20 years after the worst nuclear disaster in world history received care at Tufts School of Dental Medicine in July.

The pediatric dentistry department provided oral-health services through Chernobyl Children Project USA, the largest nonprofit in the country that provides medical treatment and respite care for children from Belarus, Russia and Ukraine who were affected by the nuclear power plant explosion in Ukraine on April 26, 1986. Elevated levels of radiation in the environment are still detected over 20 years later.

Each year children are brought to Tufts Medical Center and Tufts' pediatric dentists for care. Jessica Chiang, an instructor in pediatric dentistry, coordinated the oral-health care, which was provided by pediatric residents, with assistance from faculty, staff and pre-doctoral students.

Over two days on July 16 and 17, all 32 two children received a comprehensive exam, including radiographs and prophylaxis, and most of them spent a good half-day in treatment. Russian physicians who travel with the children assisted with language translation. Each child stays with a host family who assists with the medical and dental appointments.

The departments of oral surgery and endodontics also treated children with urgent needs. Tufts oral surgery chief resident Mario Lucca (with Richard Sorbera attending) removed a large benign tumor from the upper jaw of a 10-year-old boy.

The majority of the children continue to experience major health issues as a result of the disaster, including cancer; orthopedic, heart and eye conditions; kidney disease; thyroid problems; a failure to grow and hearing impairments.

Each year, more than 15 Boston-area hospitals donate more than $450,000 in medical services to the children. Since Chernobyl Children Project, USA was established in 1995, more than 1,500 children have received services.

Outreach to Prospective Students

On July 10, 35 under-represented minority students from the Brown University Leadership Alliance, the University of Massachusetts at Boston and the Yale University Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship visited the Boston health sciences campus to explore health science careers at Tufts. The School of Dental Medicine, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, School of Medicine and the Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences participated.

The students' home institutions included UMass Boston, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, Texas Tech University, Claflin University in South Carolina, Xavier University of Louisiana, University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chaminade University of Honolulu, Johns Hopkins University, University of California at Berkeley, Duke University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Tougaloo College in Mississippi and Fordham University.

At the School of Dental Medicine, Dean Lonnie H. Norris and Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs Mark Gonthier spoke to the prospective students during the lunch break.

Clinical Advancement Ceremony

The Clinical Advancement Ceremony for the international Class of 2011 was held on July 22, formally celebrating the 17 students' transition into the patient-care phase of their D.M.D. program. Nearly 100 faculty, family and friends attended.

Dean Lonnie H. Norris, Executive Associate Dean A. Joseph Castellana, 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. Associate Dean Mark Gonthier gave the closing remarks and acknowledged Carrie Garinger, assistant director of student services, for her outstanding efforts in organizing the event.

JP Morgan Corporate Challenge

Seven dental school employees participated in the annual JP Morgan Corporate Challenge on June 25. The challenge is a worldwide series of 3.5-mile races for groups of full-time employees from organizations within the public and private sectors. The program promotes health and fitness within the workplace, fosters goodwill and camaraderie among co-workers and demonstrates a commitment to the community.

Tufts Dental staff and faculty participants included Gillian Anzivino, Jaclyn Barry, Melissa Bradbury, Danielle Christie, Carrie Garinger, Mark Gonthier and Michael Thompson. The team's slogan was "Brushing Away the Competition."

New Staff Person

Please welcome Paula Furlan to the Tufts Dental community. Paula joins us as the Director of Clinic Business Operations. In this role, Paula will be responsible for overseeing the business & financial operations of the pre and post doctoral clinics.

Paula comes to us with 20 years experience in health care practice management and administration. In previous positions at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston Medical Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Children's Hospital, Paula worked with practitioners and administrators to enhance operations, streamline business processes, increase patient volume, and assure patient satisfaction.

Please take a minute to stop by her office (402) to meet her.

Reminder: Annual Faculty Orientation

The upcoming mandatory annual Faculty Orientation session will held on Tuesday, September 8, 2009 from 8:30am to 12:00 Noon. We are making quite a few changes to our Orientation Program this year. The first change to let you know about is that this year we will be holding our Orientation on the 7th floor of the Dental School Building in Merritt Auditorium. The second change is that each group attends for one hour only:

PLEASE NOTE: ALL FACULTY, YEAR 3 (D'11), YEAR 4 (D'10), AND AGE STUDENTS MUST ATTEND THEIR ORIENTATION PROGRAM AT THEIR SCHEDULED TIME NOTED BELOW:

YEAR 3 (D'11): 9:00AM-10:00AM

YEAR 4 (D'10): 10:00AM-11:00AM

FACULTY, AGE STUDENTS & STAFF: 11:00AM-12:00Noon

LUNCH: 12:00Noon-1:00PM

LOCATION: MERRITT AUDITORIUM

Though similar to past orientations, this year's will be a little different in that we have decided to plan a slightly different program for each session. Once it has been finalized and confirmed we will send you a copy of the agenda and a schedule for the morning.

Another new change you may have noticed is that we will be providing lunch to all attendees from 12:00 Noon -1:00pm. Please enjoy this time to enjoy one last "summer social" before beginning the new academic year.

Your attendance at our Orientation is essential as it gives us the chance to update you on the changes taking place within our community as the new academic year begins. CE Credit will be provided for all faculty members.

September 30, 2009

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

International Tufts Periodontal Alumni Conference

The 4th International Tufts Periodontal Alumni Conference was held on September 11 with the main theme, "The Building Blocks of Periodontology." The Tufts periodontal alumni and current faculty who presented nine lectures related how they used information and skills gained from their postdoctoral training to practice and teach the techniques of modern-day periodontology. For some, it was not just techniques that they learned in their training, but the research they rely on to make diagnosis and treatment-planning decisions.

More than 250 participants attended the conference, which featured 21 exhibitors. Dean Lonnie H. Norris opened the session, and participants had the opportunity to tour the new continuing education suite and periodontal clinic that are part of the project to add five floors to the dental school building. At an international alumni party, Terrence Griffin, D71, DG75, chair of periodontology, presented awards to six outstanding Tufts periodontal alumni for their service to Tufts and their contributions to periodontal education and to the specialty. The recipients were: Violeta Arboleda, DG51, a former faculty member at Tufts; Mark Hirsh, DG68, a dental overseer and former faculty member; Max Perlitsh, D56, DG65; Gerald Shklar, G52; Jerome Smulow, G61, DG64, former chair of the department; and Esther Wilkins, D49, DG66, a clinical professor.

This was the first conference held in the United States. Previous conferences took place in Athens and in Barcelona.
--Paul A. Levi. Jr., D66

Family Welcome Day

The eighth annual Family Welcome Day was held on September 1 at the Emerson College Cutler Majestic 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; James Hanley provided an introduction to the clinical experience; Catherine Hayes talked about community and public health initiatives; and Vangel Zissi brought greetings from the Alumni Office. After the morning assembly, guests enjoyed lunch at the Courtyard by Marriott on Tremont Street.

At the conclusion of lunch, the new students were brought to the Posner Auditorium to register for classes and attend orientation sessions, while their parents and family members enjoyed campus tours and participated in a parent-to-parent panel discussion, which featured parents and a spouse of currently enrolled students as well as a 2009 alum, four course directors and Dean Lonnie H. Norris. The day concluded with a reception in the new park on the health sciences campus.

More than 500 attended, including new students, family members, administrative staff, dignitaries and orientation volunteers (a record 52 this year).

TMD Faculty are Editors of Comprehensive Guide

Noshir Mehta, George E. Maloney, Dhirendra S. Bana and Steven J. Scrivani have edited a new book Head, Face and Neck Pain Science, Evaluation, and Management: An Interdisciplinary Approach (Wiley-Blackwell, August 2009).

This is the first comprehensive guide to explore the interrelationships among head, face and neck pain. The book draws on international experts who offer the latest research and treatment information for a range of professional and academic audiences, including physicians, dentists, medical and dental students, neuroscientists and others interested in pain management.

Mehta directs the Craniofacial Pain Center at Tufts School of Dental Medicine, and Maloney and Scrivani are faculty in general dentistry. Bana, a faculty member at Tufts School of Medicine, is a physician with the John R. Graham Headache Center at Faulker Hospital.

Wide Open Tournament

The 27th annual Wide Open Golf and Tennis Tournament was held September 23 at the Pine Hills Golf Club in Plymouth, Mass. The tournament has raised more than $255,000 for the Dental Alumni Association Student Loan Fund since its inception. Co-chairs of this year's event were John Millette, D91, and Derek Wolkowicz, D97, DG00.

The Student Loan Fund is especially important in a down economy to reduce student indebtedness.

Humanitarian Mission Trip to Haiti

Aidee Herman (periodontology) led a delegation of 19 volunteers on a humanitarian mission to Haiti from August 11 to 17. The group included faculty member Scott Lightfoot (periodontology) and dental students Todd Walker, D10; Sheina Jean-Marie, D12; Rebecca Hawley, D10; Allison Piper, D11; Athina Mantzouranis, D11; Marina Stakes, D12; Helena Kilic, D11; Sheila Soroushian, D11; Ninus Ebrahimi, D10; Ann Thompson, D10; Christopher Peterson, D11; Monica Rancourt, D10; and Taoheed Johnson, D11. The team provided dental care for 900 patients, including the mayor of Port au Prince, Jean-Yves Jason.

Faculty Recognition Luncheon

More than 200 guests attended the School of Dental Medicine's tenth annual Faculty Recognition and Service Awards Luncheon on August 7 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; Robert Chapman gave the faculty toast, and Associate Dean Nancy Arbree served as emcee.

The award recipients were:

Five Years of Service: Paul Kwan (anatomy & cellular biology), Barbara Kay (general dentistry), Jonathan Garlick (oral & maxillofacial pathology), Mahmoud El-Hadidy (oral & maxillofacial surgery), Richard Liu (prosthodontics & operative dentistry), Sanaz Danesh (prosthodontics & operative dentistry), Maria Gonzalez (prosthodontics & operative dentistry), John Reever (prosthodontics & operative dentistry), David Solomon (prosthodontics & operative dentistry) and Kevin Toomey (prosthodontics & operative dentistry)

Ten Years of Service: William Cooke (general dentistry), Tony Woo (oral & maxillofacial surgery), Richard Doff (periodontology),and from prosthodontics & operative dentistry, Ekaterini Antonellou, Pasquale Calvani, Nopsaran Chaimattayompol, Ki-Ho Kang, Yong Jeong Kim, Philip Koralishn, Linda Marinello, Konstantinos Michalakis, Ali Muftu, Shubha Nanda, Eduardo Olegario and Sheldon Sullaway

Fifteen Years of Service: Ayman Aboushala (endodontics), Virginia Karapanou (endodontics), Tracy Maloney (orthodontics), Stuart Gould (pediatric dentistry), Robert DeFrancesco (prosthodontics & operative dentistry), Steven Eisen (prosthodontics & operative dentistry), Stephen Hsu (prosthodontics & operative dentistry) and Jose Segura (prosthodontics & operative dentistry)

Twenty Years: Richard Shea (general dentistry), David Cabeceiras (orthodontics) and Debbie Eisen (prosthodontics & operative dentistry)

Twenty-five Years: David Hern (prosthodontics & operative dentistry) and Gary Warrington (pediatric dentistry)

Thirty Years: David Rosen (periodontology)

Thirty-five Years: Leslie Miller (endodontics), Edward D'Eramo (oral & maxillofacial surgery), Anthony Silvestri (prosthodontics & operative dentistry) and Athena Papas (public health & community service)

Forty Years: Harold Kaplan (orthodontics) and Carole Palmer (public health & community service)

Special Recognition: Robert Chapman, chair, Department of Prosthodontics & Operative Dentistry, on his retirement after 35 years of service.

Appreciation was expressed to Christine Robertson for coordinating the event.

SNDA Dinner
The second annual Student National Dental Association (SNDA) alumni-student dinner was held on September 18 in the seventh-floor student lounge. Dean Lonnie H. Norris and Associate Dean Mark Gonthier brought greetings to the group. Tufts Dental alumni who attended included Herb Bennett, D04; Ericka Lowe Bennett, D04; Joyce Gitangu, D08; Jasmin Henville, D07; Elon Joffre, D05, DG08; Uchenna Nweze, D08; Grace Odimayo, DI03; and Eric Thomas, D91.

Alumni talked with current students about the transition from dental student to practitioner, the experience of running a private practice, the value of community service and avenues of continued professional development.

Interim Chair of Prosthodontics and Operative Dentistry

Hiroshi Hirayama has been appointed interim chair of prosthodontics and operative dentistry while the search continues to fill the post following the retirement of Robert Chapman. It is anticipated that the position will be filled by January 1, 2010.

Hirayama has headed the Division of Graduate and Postgraduate Prosthodontics for more than 15 years and has served as director of esthetic dentistry since 2004.

Promotions

David Bardwell to clinical professor, prosthodontics and operative dentistry

Nopsaran Chaimattayompol to clinical professor, prosthodontics and operative dentistry

Yun Saksena to associate clinical professor, prosthodontics and operative dentistry

October 30, 2009

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

A Night at the Museum
The Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, N.H., was the setting for an alumni event on October 28. David Stahl, D51, hosted a preview of the exhibition "Evolution of a Shared Vision: The David and Barbara Stahl Collection," a collection of prints and drawings the couple assembled over 50 years. Dean Lonnie H. Norris and Executive Associate Dean A. Joseph Castellana gave the 50 attendees an update on the school's vertical expansion project.

Over the decades, the Stahls acquired between 400 and 500 prints, according to exhibition curator Kurt Sundstrom. "Evolution of a Shared Vision" highlights just over 100 of them. The collection includes works from the early part of the 20th century, especially German Expressionist prints, including pieces by George Grosz and Max Beckmann, and the social realism of Americans such as Edward Hopper, Reginald Marsh and John Sloan. The show also includes works by Rembrandt, Piranesi, Whistler and Picasso.

"The art collection is very impressive," Dean Norris said. "However, just as impressive is Dr. Stahl's extensive knowledge about each artist, the details and influences of each piece and his recollection of the decision-making process involved in acquiring each piece."

Stahl practices in Manchester, N.H. His wife, a longtime professor of biology at Saint Anselm College, died in 2004. As the pre-dental advisor at Saint Anselm, Barbara Stahl had established a well-respected relationship with the Admissions Office at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.

"Evolution of a Shared Vision" runs through January 3, 2010, at the museum, 150 Ash Street in Manchester. For more information, go to www.currier.org.

Research News
Jonathan Garlick (oral and maxillofacial pathology) was featured in a story in the undergraduate student newspaper the Tufts Daily on October 7. The article, titled "Tufts' Garlick Leads Stem Cell Breakthrough," discussed his research team's success in growing three-dimensional tissues from human embryonic stem cells.

Todd Walker, D10, received a first-place award in clinical research for his project, "Comparison of Total Etch, Self-Etch and AIO Adhesives," which he presented at the ADA/Dentsply Student Table Clinic Competition earlier this month in Hawaii. Associate Dean for Research Gerard Kugel was his mentor.

Athena Papas (public health and community service) gave a presentation on "Oral Rinse Formulation of P552-02 Is Not Orally Bioavailable in Subjects with Primary Sjögren's Syndrome" at the 10th International Symposium on Sjögren's Syndrome, which took place in Brest, France, on October 1-3.

Victor Saulnier Passes Away at 84
Victor Saulnier, G74, former associate clinical professor of oral and maxillofacial radiology, died on October 3. He was appointed to the faculty in 1966 at the rank of instructor in the former Department of Social Dentistry after receiving his D.D.S. from McGill University that same year. After earning his M.S. degree from Tufts in 1974, with a concentration in radiology, he transferred to the former Department of Radiology as an assistant professor. He retired from the dental school in 2005 after nearly 40 years of teaching. Saulnier was well known for his earnest desire to share his knowledge of radiology.

TDF Retreat
An all-day Tufts Dental Facilities (TDF) statewide meeting was held on October 23 at the Doubletree Hotel in Westborough, Mass. The meeting agenda was planned by Darren Drag, D00, (public health and community service), clinical director of TDF. His leadership during these challenging economic times was acknowledged.

Faculty and staff from the eight clinic sites come together once a year to participate in a continuing education program and discuss ideas and TDF-wide operations. Paul Vankevich, D81, (general dentistry) lectured on "The Diagnosis, Management and Prevention of Regressive Alterations of Tooth Structure (Dental Caries, Trauma, Erosion, Abrasion, Attrition and Abfraction): Implications for the Treatment of Special Needs Dental Patients"; Julia Leonard gave a Human Resources overview; Stephen Larson presented an OSHA review/training, and Drag updated the gathering on TDF operations. Dean Lonnie H. Norris, Executive Associate Dean Joseph Castellana and public health and community service department chair Catherine Hayes made remarks.

AAWD Participates in Breast Cancer Walk
The Tufts chapter of the American Association of Women Dentists participated in the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk on October 4. All proceeds from the organization's annual bake sale were donated to the walk.

On October 20, the Tufts chapter held the first of its Mentoring Series dinner meetings. Lisa Vouras, D89; Ann Kirk, D06P; Elissa Heard, J71, D76; and Barbara Kay, D71, D10P, led a panel discussion on associating, owning a practice and being women in dentistry. All speakers run successful dental practices in Massachusetts. The dinner was sponsored by Kay, who won the Lucy Hobbs Taylor/Woman Dentist of the Year Award at the AAWD's annual meeting in Hilton Head, S.C., in June.

ADEA Fall Meeting
Associate Dean Mark Gonthier attended the ADEA Fall meeting for Admissions, Financial Aid and Student Affairs officers, held in Dallas October 21-24. Gonthier and colleagues from NYU and SUNY Stony Brook gave a presentation on behalf of ADEA's Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA). Titled "Including Everyone!", the session explored the needs and expectations of LGBT students in U.S. dental schools and how the ADEA-GSA is reaching out to student members.

ACD President-elect
Tufts University Trustee and Dental Overseer Thomas F. Winkler III, A62, D66, D10P, (endodontics) assumed the position of president-elect of the American College of Dentists during the ACD's annual meeting in Hawaii in October. The ACD is the oldest national honorary organization for dentists.

November 25, 2009

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

Vertical Expansion Celebration
Nearly 1,200 members of the Tufts community participated in the celebration of the vertical expansion of the dental school on Friday, November 20. The program was held on the 10th floor at One Kneeland Street, and because of the extraordinary response to the event, flat-screen monitors were set up in satellite sites to handle the overflow crowd. The theme for the evening was "Let's celebrate tonight and enjoy the view," a reference to the floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the five-story addition with natural light.

The Boston Chinese Freemasons Athletic Club performed the tradition Chinese lion dance to bring good fortune to those who enter the building.

Dean Lonnie H. Norris, presented the Dean's Medal, the school's highest honor, to three individuals in recognition of their generosity and commitment to the $68 million expansion project: Louis Fiore, D62; Suzi Osher, the widow of Alfred Osher, DG62; and Mark Gonthier, associate dean of admissions and student affairs, who led countless tours of the construction site and kept the school's 800 students apprised of the progress on the 18-month construction project.

The dean also presented citations to Boston Redevelopment Authority Director John Palmieri; Robert Quigley of ARC/Architectural Resources Cambridge, architect for the project; Tom Goemaat, CEO of Shawmut Design and Construction, which built the addition; Executive Associate Dean A. Joseph Castellana and John Roberto, Tufts University's vice president of operations. Maria Gove Tringale, the dental school's director of development and alumni relations, and Celeste Mahoney, the university's director of special events, were also recognized.

In his remarks, Tufts President Lawrence S. Bacow took a moment to tip his hat to the architects and construction workers "who do not get enough credit for the work that they do." He compared the expansion of an occupied building in the middle of downtown Boston to "assembling a Swiss watch, in a ship, in a bottle."

The formal program also included a showing of a seven-minute video about the expansion titled "Documenting a Defining Moment": http://giving.tufts.edu/campaign/dentalvei.html.

Tours and receptions on floors 11, 12 and 14 of the new space followed the program, and a dinner-dance for donors to the project was held on the 15th floor.

Jessie Gideon Garnett, a Trailblazer in Dentistry
The legacy of Jessie Gideon Garnett, D19, the first female African-American graduate of Tufts Dental School and the first African-American woman dentist in Boston, was celebrated at a ceremony at St. Mark Congregational Church in Dorchester on November 15.

Dean Lonnie H. Norris, Student National Dental Association members Aundrea Vereen, D11, chapter president, and Albert Coombs, D11; Katrina Moore, director of the Tufts Africana Center; and Pearl Robinson, associate professor of political science in Tufts' School of Arts and Science, attended.

Born in Nova Scotia, Garnett moved to Boston as a teenager and attended Girls High School before entering Tufts Dental School. She practiced dentistry in Roxbury for nearly 50 years before retiring due to arthritis in her hands. Garnett died in 1976 at the age of 79.

The ceremony was well-attended by members of her family, including her daughter, Ella I. Garnett, who shared her perspective of Garnett as a mother and community leader.

The ceremony was coordinated by The Heritage Guild Inc., which was founded in 1975 by 15 African-American women in Boston to recognize and document the contributions of African Americans to Boston history. Drawing on the scholarship and resources of its members, the guild identifies Boston homes associated with African-American men and women of historical significance and honors them by placing plaques at the sites.

Policy Change Affects Dental Licensure in Massachusetts
At its November 18 meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Dentistry was assured by the Western Regional Examination Board (WREB) that a score of three (3) out of five (5) on the operative, endodontic and patient assessment sections of the WREB clinical examination meets the Massachusetts requirement for a passing score of 75% in each section.

The board has voted to accept 3.0 as a passing rating for the operative, endodontic and patient assessment sections of the WREB, retroactive to January 1, 2009, when this scoring method was adopted by the WREB for these sections of its clinical examination.

The board continues to require that applicants submitting WREB scores also submit proof of successful completion (75%) of the NERB Diagnostic Skills Exam (the DSE, formerly known as DSCE).

Hispanic Dental Association Activities
On October 5, Aidee Herman, principal investigator and associate clinical professor of periodontology, and co-authors Todd Walker, D10, and Samantha Jordan, D11, presented their project, "Improving Oral Health in Haiti: Preliminary Assessment Strategies for Implementing Guidelines for an International Salt Fluoridation Project," at Tufts' Research Day on Global Health and Infectious Disease, held at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging on the Boston campus.

At the annual meeting of the Hispanic Dental Association in Houston, Texas, in October, Herman, faculty advisor for the Tufts student chapter of the HDA, presented "Giving Kids a Smile." Elizabeth Escarria, D10, president of the student chapter; Michael Bohman, D10, vice president; and Geraldine Navarrate, D10, class representative, gave a poster presentation on the 15th anniversary of the Tufts chapter.

Herman was also a speaker at the Sixth New England Regional Minority Health Conference, held in Providence, R.I., on October 16. She participated in a panel on "No Tooth Left Behind."

Faculty Notes
On September 19 at Fort Devens, Mass., John Hsu, DI84, a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve who commands the 455th Medical Company (Dental Service), presented the Meritorious Service Medal to his former teacher, Robert Doherty, also a lieutenant colonel in the Reserves, who is director of the International Student Program at Tufts Dental School. Doherty was honored for his service from 2000 to 2009 with the 455th Medical Company. The medal is in recognition of "outstanding meritorious service during missions to Operation Walking Shield and several missions overseas to treat our active duty military personnel and outstanding treatment of our service men and women while deployed. LTC Doherty's exemplary professionalism and clinical skills as a dentist were significant in accomplishing all the medical missions tasked."

Lynn Solomon, associate professor of oral and maxillofacial pathology, and Morton Rosenberg, D74, professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery, presented a full day program honoring Esther Wilkins, D49, DG66, at the 3rd Annual Esther Wilkins Symposium held at the Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene and the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences on November 21. Topics presented included "Oral Cancer: The Role of the Dental Hygienist" and "The Dental Team Approach to Managing Medical Emergencies." Wilkins, a clinical professor of periodontology, trained as a hygienist at Forsyth before entering Tufts. She is the author of the book known as "the bible of dental hygiene," Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist (Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins), now in its tenth edition.

Medha Singh, DG04, DG05, assistant professor of public health and community service, was inducted as a fellow in the International College of Dentists during ICD's annual meeting in Hawaii in October.