Professional Documents
Culture Documents
DentalUM Spring/Summer 2012
DentalUM Spring/Summer 2012
DentalUM Spring/Summer 2012
DentalUM magazine is published twice a year by the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. Send comments and updates to: dentistry.communications@umich.edu or Director of Communications, School of Dentistry, Room 1218, 1011 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1078 Dean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peter Polverini Director of Communications . . . . . . Sharon Grayden Writer & Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jerry Mastey Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Jung Editorial Review Board: Member publication Dennis Lopatin - Chair of the American Richard Fetchiet Association of Erica Hanss Dental Editors Lynn Johnson Sharon Grayden - ex officio The Regents of the University: Julia Donovan Darlow, Laurence B. Deitch, Denise Ilitch, Olivia P. Maynard, Andrea Fischer Newman, Andrew C. Richner, S. Martin Taylor, Katherine E. White, Mary Sue Coleman, ex officio University of Michigan School of Dentistry Alumni Society Board of Governors: Terms Expire 2012: Metodi C. Pogoncheff, 76 DDS, Lansing, MI Wayne Olsen (Chair), 81 DDS, Traverse City, MI Sheree Duff (Secretary), 80 BSDH, Grand Blanc, MI David O. Cramer, 93 DDS, Grand Rapids, MI Scott Schulz, 96 DDS, 03 MS, Traverse City, MI Student Representative: Anh Pham (D4) Terms Expire 2013: Kathleen Early, 77 DH, Lakeland, MI Kerry Kaysserian, 81 DDS, Traverse City, MI Jeff Smith, 82 DDS, 85 MS, Grand Rapids, MI Jerry Booth, 61 DDS, 64 MS, Jackson, MI Janis Chmura Duski, 89 DDS, Gaylord, MI Terms Expire 2014: Frank Alley, 81 DDS, Portage, MI Michael Cerminaro, 86 DDS, Muskegon, MI Sondra Moore Gunn, 78 DDS, 80 MS, Ann Arbor, MI M.H. Reggie VanderVeen, 76 DDS, Grand Rapids, MI Jackie Solberg, 86 DH, Grand Rapids Ex Officio Members: Peter Polverini, Dean Janet Souder Wilson, 73 DH, Northville, MI Alumni Association Liaison Steve C. Grafton , Executive Director, Alumni Assoc. Richard R. Fetchiet, Director of Alumni Relations, Development, and Continuing Dental Education
The University of Michigan, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University of Michigan is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, height, weight, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. Inquiries or complaints may be addressed to the Senior Director for Institutional Equity, and Title IX/Section 504/ADA Coordinator, Office of Institutional Equity, 2072 Administrative Services Building, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1432, (734) 763-0235, TTY (734) 647-1388. For other University of Michigan information call (734) 764-1817. Copyright 2012 The Regents of the University of Michigan
CONTENTS:
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w w w. d e n t . u m i c h . e d u
FEATURES
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Faculty Profile
11 Alumnus Profile
Wayne Olsen
21 Social Media
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DEPARTMENTS
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Faculty Alumni Students Dental Hygiene Research
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About the cover: Against the backdrop of a Kenyan savannah stands a sculpture of a Maasai woman created by a local artisan. The entire sculpture is made of recycled materials that includes scrap metal for the head, limbs and gourd, and cowhorn for the body. This creativity helps provide a living and using recycled materials sustains earth-friendly art and culture.
Per Kjeldsen
When youre at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, our expectation is that you will do great things, says Dr. Yvonne Kapila.
Now, we are raising the bar. We will challenge our students and faculty to do greater things, not just in classrooms, clinics, and research laboratories here, but around the world. Named by Dean Peter Polverini as the new director of the Schools Global Oral Health Initiative last fall, Kapila has been collaborating, virtually nonstop since then, with many throughout the School and with others across U-M. Following numerous meetings and conversations, three core elements of the program have been established.
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As she conducts her not-in-the-laboratory research, Kapila is also considering how to meld the programs goals and objectives with Polverinis vision of having the Schools faculty and students become more engaged globally.
Core Guidelines
First and foremost, our students and faculty will participate in oral health care related activities in other parts of the world only if similar activities are unavailable at the University or elsewhere in this country, Kapila emphasizes. Second, the program builds on existing relationships that either the School or the University has with a similar institution, she adds. Finally, any exchange with another institution in another part of the world must be sustainable. Kapilas background has been helpful developing the program. Ive been doing a lot of research, she says with a smile, seeking information, reviewing and evaluating it, and talking to others here and elsewhere who have been involved with international programs.
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to have ample and robust opportunities to expand their international horizons, and to experience an education commensurate with those horizons.
Building on a Foundation
Kapila says the Schools efforts will be sharply focused, not broad based and will build on relationships already established in Ghana, Kenya, and Brazil. Its important to continue whats been started and return to countries where a foundation is already in place and build on those personal and professional relationships, she said. U-M has had longstanding relationships in Ghana that date to the 1980s. Dr. Lynn Johnson, the Schools assistant dean for Informatics and Innovation, has built upon those relationships. [See page 5.] Last summer, a group of dental students and faculty helped in a Kenyan village. [See page 6.] Two U-M dental students, Saroj Saha and An Nguyen, traveled to Brazil last year to observe different models of oral health care delivery. Four Brazilian dental students from Bauru came to U-M to attend classes and lectures, review research projects, and observe patient care provided in student and faculty clinics including periodontics, prosthodontics, operative dentistry, oral medicine, and orthodontics. In a blog, Saha described his experiences as amazing. He wrote, I was able to experience the value of our Michigan education. In my short time in Brazil, I was able to see the work of several of our professors being cited in their lectures.
Per Kjeldsen
Dr. Yvonne Kapila and Jami Ballantine,D3, with Ballantines Kenya Summer Research Program poster presented at the annual Student Global Health Day sponsored by the U-M Center for Global Health.
positioned to add value to the Universitys efforts, as we move forward to, indeed, be in the lead.
Curriculum Considerations
What effect will the Global Oral Health Initiative have on students and the curriculum? Dr. Carol Anne Murdoch-Kinch, associate dean for Academic Affairs, says, We are working to ensure a rich learning experience with clearly defined outcomes for students who participate. Several factors, she says, must be considered. One is a students academic record. Students considering such an experience need to be in good academic standing, she says. In addition, the length of time a student is away from U-M and what is taught during the time he or she is away are other factors to be considered. Nonetheless, Murdoch-Kinch says the new program demonstrates the Schools commitment to preparing our students to perform effectively in a global community.
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The U-M Center for Global Health - A Valuable Ally As she develops the Schools Global Oral Health Initiative, Dr. Yvonne Kapila has an ally in Dr. Sofia Merajver, director of the U-M Center for Global Health. Established in the fall of 2009, the Center, which reports to the Provost, builds on the Universitys nearly 200-year legacy of education and research by creating and nurturing partnerships with colleges, universities, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations worldwide. Todays world is increasingly globally connected, and our graduates need to know the world, said Provost Philip Hanlon during an international affairs forum at U-M last fall. Merajver, a professor of internal medicine at the Medical School, has been the Centers director since January 2010. The University of Michigan name and its history of excellence open doors that allow the Center for Global Health to be engaged with others around the world, she said. Merajver said no assumptions are made when the Center begins collaboration in other parts of the world. We always ask, What is your biggest problem and how can we help you? Because of that approach, she said, U-M faculty and students often work outside of their comfort zone, which is wonderful, because thats the path that leads to discovery. In effect, we are pioneers because were creating a road map others can follow. Merajver said more than 300 U-M students and faculty are now involved in projects worldwide under the Centers auspices.
Dental students Ashley Green (left) and Jami Ballantine (center) help children at the Kithoka Primary School in Meru, Kenya learn how to use computers that were refurbished by the School of Dentistry. In the background is Dr. Yvonne Kapila.
The program also aligns our vision with the new curriculum that has been designed to prepare our students for leadership roles in the dental profession in Michigan, the U.S., and worldwide.
Funding
The Global Oral Health Initiative is funded from sources that include the School of Dentistry, the U-M Center for Global Health, the Medical Schools MCRiT program, the International College of Dentists, and private foundations, including the Dr. Dale Williams Family Foundation. L ast summer, for ex ample, funding from the International College of Dentists helped the School send two dental students to Brazil. Im always looking for ways we can fund our efforts in global programs, including approaching nonprofit organizations and applying for grants, Kapila says. This program will always be a work in progress. Thats as it should be because change is constant, especially in todays world.
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Dr. Lynn Johnson helped three dental students from Ghana (left to right) Esther Danquah, Martin Tetteh, and Sabina Parry learn more about dental education last fall at the School of Dentistry.
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Dental student Ashley Green talks to students at Gichunge Primary School about the importance of good oral health.
and faculty, and how technology is used in education and patient care. They were surprised to see every dental student at Michigan having access to computers in clinics and using them to obtain patient information. We have only about 250 dentists to help more than 25 million people in Ghana, Danquah said. Since we are pioneers at our dental school, were trying to learn as much as we can at Michigan to see if there might be ways we can use what we have learned here to help the people of our country. Tetteh and Parry said they were impressed with the Grand Rounds program that links basic science and clinical science, helps develop critical thinking skills, and uses evidence-based decision making to enhance patient treatment. However, the three dental students from Ghana said the benefits of coming to U-M were not limited to classrooms or clinics. Parry said while she was in Ann Arbor, I attended my first jazz concert at Hill Auditorium. It was great, she said with a smile.
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FACULTY
PROFILE
Per Kjeldsen
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Association for Dental Research, and was also a first-place winner in the American Academy of Periodontologys Bailant Orban Research Competition. That summer she began her postdoctoral work in cell biology, and was named an assistant adjunct professor of stomatology in the periodontology department at UCSF.
because my family, career, and our home were in California. But he urged me to keep an open mind and come with him to Michigan.
A Fathers Pride
Those achievements helped me realize how determined I was and also helped me realize that I could successfully handle multiple projects simultaneously, Kapila said. Her success also affected her parents. I remember my dad, before he died, carrying my PhD thesis and showing it to his friends and others he met, she said with a smile. My mother didnt
periodontal disease before it occurs. During periodontal disease progression, there is both a loss of periodontal connective tissues and cell death in the periodontium that exacerbate the disease. Procedures we now use, such as radiographs or clinical measurements, tell us what has already happened. Were looking beyond that. What we want to do is try to predict possible disease progression, Kapila said. Looking back, she says that growing up in California has affected her life in other ways. As fortunate as we have been, we are always looking for opportunities to help those less fortunate in other parts of the world, Kapila said. I think that was one of the long-term results of my experiences at an AIDS clinic in Kenya in
Per Kjeldsen
I remember my dad, before he died, carrying my PhD thesis and showing it to his friends and others he met.
understand why he was doing that or what my work was about, but she was very proud of me. Kapila said she would have been happy to continue teaching and conducting research at UCSF and practicing part time. But in 2004, her husband, Sunil, received a phone call from the U-M School of Dentistry asking him if he might be interested in being considered as chair of the Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry to succeed the retiring Dr. Lysle Johnston. When Sunil told me about the call, he was excited, she said. But I wasnt. I told him that I wasnt anxious to move molecular biologist whose laboratory focuses on the process of cell death and how, in some circumstances, cancer cells defy this normal process and become more aggressive, ultimately leading to metastases. Her lab is trying to identify key markers in this process with the hopes of developing new therapies that target aggressive tumorigenesis. This is one of the aggressive properties of cancer that contributes to the poor survival rates of oral cancer patients, she said. Another research initiative seeks to determine if certain biomarkers can be used to predict the likelihood of 1987 when I was working on my dental degree. As she travels to India, Central America, and other parts of the world, Kapila says she sees how oral health care is provided. But I keep asking myself, how can I make a difference in the lives of these people? That reminds me of the questions I asked myself growing up in California. As the School of Dentistrys new director of Global Oral Health Initiative program, Kapila is determined to make a difference. Based on her achievements and ability to adapt, there is no doubt she will succeed.
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Giannobile New POM Chair
Dr. William Giannobile is the new chair of the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine. His appointment, effective March 1, was announced in February by Dean Peter Polverini. Giannobile, the William K. and Mary Anne Najjar Professor of Dentistry, has been director of the Michigan Center for Oral Health Research since 2003 and is also a professor of biomedical engineering at the College of Engineering. He earned his DDS and a masters degree in oral biology from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1991and a certificate in periodontology and Doctor of Medical Science from Harvard in 1996. He has been at the U-M School of Dentistry since 1998. An internationally recognized expert in using novel methods to stimulate periodontal tissue repair, Giannobile has been acknowledged for his work. Last fall, he was installed as the new president of the American Academy of Periodontology Foundation for a one-year term that expires in November. Since April 2010, he has been editor-in-chief of the Journal of Dental Research, a monthly scientific journal of the International Association for Dental Research, an organization with nearly 11,000 members worldwide. Dr. Giannobile brings a wealth of experience to this position and is ideally suited to lead and further expand the departments unique strengths in research, education, and clinical care, Polverini noted in his announcement. The department of more than 180 faculty, staff, and graduate students has been chaired by Dr. Laurie McCauley since March 2002.
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Dean Peter Polverini is welcomed into the Institute of Medicine by Dr. Harvey Fineberg, IOM president.
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ALUMNI RELATIONS
PROFILE
m impressed with the caliber of dental students from the U-M School of Dentistry. Their knowledge, professionalism, and openness to new ideas and ways of doing things is greater than it was when I was a dental student, said Dr. Wayne Olsen. And thats as it should be, because, from my experiences, you always want to be advancing, both professionally and personally. With the cost of his education paid for by the U.S. Army, Olsen earned his dental degree from U-M in 1981 and then spent seven years as a general dentist and 18 years as an oral surgeon in the military. During that time he completed his general practice residency in 1982 at Moncrief Army Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina, and his residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery in 1993 at the Eisenhower Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia. During his 25-year military career, Olsen also held multiple clinical and academic posts, including department chair and director of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Program at the Madigan Army Center in Tacoma, Washington, from 1999 to 2002. After retiring from the Army, Olsen joined a practice in Traverse City and later, in Alpena and Cadillac. A year before I retired, I met Drs. Royce Beers and Dave Howard and rediscovered how beautiful Traverse City is and the great people working and living there, he said. In addition to running the three offices, Olsen is a member of the Munson Medical Centers facial trauma team that is on call 24/7 and covers the northern half of lower Michigan and all of the Upper Peninsula.
Michigan Roots
Compared to when I was a student, there are many great opportunities for students after graduation, especially in private practice.
Born in Whitehall, Michigan, Olsen said his family moved frequently because his father was an executive with well-known retailer J.C. Penney. Growing up, I recall visiting Traverse City often and later thought that one day it might be a nice place to live, he said. But because of my dads job, we moved about every three years Michigan, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania. Looking back, that was great preparation for my career in the Army because I was transferred fifteen times before I retired, he said with a laugh. After receiving his bachelors degree in chemistry from the University of Toledo, Olsen said he considered four career options law, medicine, dentistry, or a PhD in chemistry. I chose dentistry because I remembered my family dentist telling me how much he enjoyed helping people. I thought that would be both gratifying and challenging, Olsen said.
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During his days as a dental student at Michigan, Olsen said he always enjoyed the classes taught by Dr. Jack Gobetti. You knew the moment you set foot in his classes Jack was passionate about dentistry and teaching. He cared about his students. He cared about his patients. He was a great role model, Olsen said. The two maintain frequent
Eisenhower Medical Center. It was a very demanding program, he said, but it led to further professional growth that allowed me to help my patients even more than what I could as a general dentist. That drive for professional and personal growth is something Olsen said he constantly emphasizes to U-M dental students who travel to the Traverse
12 local dentists as a part of the Schools community outreach program. During their rotations, dental students work one day in Olsens office and two days in the office of Dr. Ronald Chao providing care to low income, uninsured adults.
Giving Back
Mentoring dental students is one way Olsen said he enjoys giving back to the School of Dentistry for his education. Especially gratifying, Olsen said, is when dental students he mentors follow up with an e-mail or telephone call to let him know about something going on in a classroom or clinic they think might be of interest. I was thrilled to receive an e-mail from a dental student who blogged about his experiences during the summer in the Traverse City area, he said. Another is serving on the Schools Alumni Society Board of Governors and participating in organized dentistry at local, state, and national levels. Ive been involved in organized dentistry, including eight years as a Michigan Dental Association delegate, but being on the Board of Governors is a great opportunity to learn, first hand, what is going on at the School and to talk to the students and be their advocate, he said. This is an exciting time to be a dentist and to study dentistry at the University of Michigan, Olsen said. I know theres a lot of gloom and doom in the media, but, from my perspective, I think its just the opposite. Compared to when I was a student, there are many great opportunities for dental students after graduation, especially in private practice. They should be excited, he continued, because theres not a better career than dentistry, and not a better place to practice than Michigan.
Dr. Wayne Olsen, second from left, mentors U-M dental students during their rotation at the Traverse Health Clinic.
contact. I still talk to Jack at least once a week to let him know how Im doing and to get his ideas and opinions on cases Im handling.
Army Dentistry
As he was completing his dental studies at Michigan, Olsen said Drs. Andy Koran and Lee Pratt urged him to enter the graduate prosthodontics program. But I couldnt, Olsen said. I was an Army scholarship student, so I was required to repay the loans for my education with a four-year stint in the military. Olsen said that as a general practice dentist in the Army, he became interested in oral surgery. So he enrolled in and completed his oral and maxillofacial surgery residency at the
City area to participate in the Schools outreach program. The outreach program in this area has expanded into a year-round program that involves the entire community, Olsen said. Dr. Bill Piskorowski, director of the Schools community outreach program, is a natural leader who worked with everyone area dentists, local health agencies, and other groups and got them excited about the possibilities of what we could do, working together, to enhance access to care in the Traverse City area, Olsen said. Because the expanded program benefits students and local practitioners, the community is better off because of it. Last May, U-M dental students began spending three days a month in the Traverse City area working alongside
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Jerry Mastey
Dr. James
Remembering
World renowned oral surgeon Dr. James Rogers Hayward died May 20 in Naples, Florida. He was 91. During a distinguished career at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and the Medical School, Dr. Hayward trained 83 residents in oral surgery and was known as an extraordinarily gifted surgeon who demanded knowledge, preparation, and excellence in clinics and classrooms. The son of a dentist, Dr. Roy G. Hayward (Class of 1911), James R. Hayward earned his DDS from the U-M School of Dentistry in 1944 and a masters degree in oral surgery three years later. In 1943, he married Dr. Jane Slocum, a U-M dental graduate. A clinical instructor as a graduate student, Dr. Hayward was later an assistant professor who taught at the School of Dentistry while maintaining a private practice in Detroit. During the Korean War, he headed oral surgery and assisted in the facial restoration of wounded soldiers with the U.S. Army Dental Corps in Colorado Springs. Following the death of Dr. John Kemper, the Schools chair of the Department of Oral Surgery, Dr. Hayward was invited to become department chair in 1952. Four years later, he became a professor of dentistry and in 1963, a professor of dentistry in surgery at the Medical School. He directed oral and maxillofacial surgery in the Department of Hospital Dentistry at the University Hospitals and the Cleft Palate Project. Throughout his career, Dr. Hayward helped develop oral surgery training standards and served as president of various oral surgery academies, associations, and boards. He published more than 175 journal articles, book chapters, and a textbook. Dr. Hayward retired in 1982 but continued working part time as an oral surgeon with his former resident, Dr. Peter Mestnik, in Marquette, Michigan during the summer and at the VA Hospital in Ft. Myers, Florida during the winter. He also participated in medical mission trips to perform cleft lip surgeries to help children. His last visit to U-M was in June
R. Hayward
1920-2012
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In Memoriam
46 Dr. Robert Lathrop June 8, 2011 Anchorage, Alaska 51 Dr. William L. Easley April 15, 2011 Grand Rapids, Michigan 51 Dr. Doyle Hendricks November 20, 2011 Adrian, Michigan 52 Dr. Bruce D. Jones September 13, 2011 Grosse Ile, Michigan 53 Dr. Vince Greeson April 21, 2012 West Stockbridge, Massachusetts 73 Dr. Stephen Beeker October 21, 2011 Traverse City, Michigan Dr. Kazumasa Kaya (DDS 1958, MS 1965) He was an instant friend to everyone he met. He had a twinkle in his eye and a giggle that was unforgettable, said one about Dr. Kazumasa Kaya, who died April 10, 2012 in Ann Arbor. He was 80 years old. An adjunct faculty member who assisted in the Schools Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinic, Dr. Kaya was named director of the predoctoral oral and maxillofacial surgery teaching program in 1982. In 1988, graduating dental students presented him with the Paul Gibbons Award for outstanding teaching. In 1993, he was selected by third-year dental students as the Outstanding Instructor of the Year.
Dental school graduates Lt. Brett Walcott (DDS 2007) and Capt. Donald Worm (DDS 1988) (above) had something to cheer about when the University of Michigan football team beat Virginia Tech 23-20 in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans in early January. The two are stationed in Afghanistan helping that countrys medical providers create a healthcare system for the countrys military. The new U-M fan, in the center, is Dr. Abdul Sultani with that countrys national army.
Adam Garfinkle (DDS 2011) is one of the first new residents in the general practice residency program at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital in Pontiac, Michigan. The director of the program is Dr. Craig Spangler (DDS 1979). Clinical director is Dr. Nisha KapoorYusaf (DDS 2000). After having closed in 1988, the facilitys dental clinic opened last summer to provide a full range of dental services to needy children, uninsured adults, and people with disabilities.
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The U-M Singing Friars
Weekend 2011
Dr. Yvonne Kochanczyk said even though she was the only female in the Dental Class of 1961, the guys were very pleasant to me when I was a student. Im happy to see them again.
Graduates of the Dental and Dental Hygiene Classes of 1961 returned to Ann Arbor last fall for three days of Homecoming Weekend activities at the School of Dentistry and elsewhere on the U-M campus. On Thursday, October 27, 40 dental and 15 dental hygiene graduates received an emeritus medallion and pin marking the golden anniversary of their graduation from the School of Dentistry. The widows of three DDS alumni Mrs. Joseph Cohen, Mrs. James Cox, and Mrs. Alan Welty were invited by the Class of 1961 to receive the medallion and pin on behalf of their deceased husbands. Dr. Jerry Booth, a Class of 61 honoree and member of the Schools Alumni Society Board of Governors, said, the three were excited to be included in the ceremony. Afterwards, there was a tour of the Schools preclinical laboratories, class photos were taken, and all participated in the Hall of Honor and Alumni Awards Luncheon and Induction Ceremony. Fridays Morawa Lecture on infection control practices was presented by Dr. John Molinari. That evening, more than 250 graduates and spouses from dental and dental hygiene classes who graduated in years ending in 1 and 6 attended the Homecoming Gala at the Michigan League.
School of Dentistry alumni and guests rise to their feet as they sing The Victors in the Grand Ballroom at the Michigan League.
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Scott Soderberg
Steven Upton (right) received a replica of the plaque now on the Schools Hall of Honor that acknowledges the work of his father, the late Dr. L. George Upton, from Dr. Joseph Helman.
Dr. Connie Verhagen, president of the Michigan Dental Association and School of Dentistry alumna, presented the Distinguished Service Award to Dr. Joe Kolling.
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Profound gratitude...
Thats the feeling expressed by School of Dentistry dental students who have received scholarships from the Roberts Family Foundation. All say the annual awards, whose amounts range from $1,500 to $10,000, are easing their financial concerns and, in turn, allowing them to better focus on their education. Since 2007, the needbased scholarships have been awarded to dental students with preference given to permanent State of Michigan residents, according to Dr. Marilyn Woolfolk, assistant dean for Student Services. Created from the estate of Dr. Roy (DDS 1932) and Mrs. Natalie Roberts, the Roberts Family Foundation is a major U-M benefactor and significant donor to the School of Dentistry. During each of the past two years, the Foundation has awarded more than $100,000 to dental students, based on financial need, from its Endowed and Expendable Scholarship Funds.
I have been so humbled and honored by the generosity of the donors. It has made me realize just how lucky I am to be a part of the U of M School of Dentistry community. This extraordinary gift has inspired me to one day give back to the School and students.
Megan Gipson, D4
Hometown: Linden, Michigan
I will be forever grateful for the generosity that has been shown to me. This scholarship has made me a better student. Because some of my financial burdens have been lifted, I am able to focus more time and energy on my studies so that I can become a better dentist.
Leslie McGarvey, D2
Hometown: Southampton, Pennsylvania
Receiving the scholarship has eased the transition from having a steady income to being a full-time student. It also means Michigan values me as a non-traditional student. The scholarship has also validated my decision to leave the auto industry, where I conducted environmental audits worldwide for a well-known automaker for five years, to pursue a dental career.
Laura Lungu, D2
Hometown: Marysville, Michigan
After our family emigrated from Romania to the U.S. in search of a better life, my parents sacrificed immensely so I could have opportunities, such as a higher education, that they did not have. In addition to easing financial burdens, this scholarship reflects my dedication to academic success and that my community service is recognized and appreciated.
Miran Ho, D4
Hometown: Provo, Utah
The scholarship has helped ease my financial burdens so I can focus on learning dentistry and raising a family.
Taylor Usitalo, D2
Hometown: Lake Linden, Michigan
With the stress of daunting debt looming over my head, its nice to know the Roberts family is caring and generous in helping me to relieve that stress so I can be more focused on my schoolwork and patients.
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Bryton Mansfield, D2
Hometown: Adrian, Michigan
Any support while in dental school is uplifting and encouraging. The Roberts Scholarship has helped to eliminate some of my concerns about my finances while Im in school so I can better focus on my studies.
Jerry Mastey
Mariya Volvovsky, D2
Hometown: Farmington Hills, Michigan
The scholarship has helped me finance my dental education. It gives me constant motivation to do my best and apply myself.
Elena Petrova, D2
Hometown: New York, New York
Im honored to receive the Roberts Scholarship. It has given me a great opportunity to work with Drs. Marita Inglehart and (Ninna) Maria Regina Estrella and treat children with special health care needs.
Kyle Gies, D4
Hometown: Au Gres, Michigan
The scholarship has allowed me to focus on academics and not worry about the mountain of debt I am accumulating. Im extremely fortunate to receive this scholarship and proud that it was awarded to me as a resident of a one-stoplight town with less than 500 people.
Jocelyn Carroll, D1
Hometown: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Im honored to be awarded a Roberts Scholarship. It is a blessing to have the opportunity to become a part of the dental community and to receive their support.
Brandon Larkin, D2
Hometown: Flint, Michigan
I greatly appreciate receiving the Roberts Scholarship. It has significantly helped me meet some of my dental school expenses, including books, equipment, and scrubs.
Daniel Hammaker, D4
Hometown: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
The Roberts Scholarship has allowed me to worry less about groceries, gas, and other things which, in turn, has relieved me of some stress during a very stressful two years.
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ALUMNI RELATIONS
Jerry Mastey Scott Soderberg
Special Fund
Dr. Laurie McCauley, former chair of the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, said, This special fund will support graduate students in oral pathology, oral medicine, and/or oral radiology and provide them with opportunities to engage in professional organizations, attend meetings, and offset the expenses of their graduate education. Reflecting on Brooks career at the School of Dentistry, McCauley added, Dr. Brooks has given so much to this institution and to the students she has worked with during her 37 plus years on the faculty. This fund will continue to provide valuable experiences for students while honoring her dedication and commitment to our profession. School of Dentistry alumni can enhance the new fellowship with a gift to the Periodontal Fund for Excellence and specifying their gift be applied to the Sharon Brooks Endowed Fellowship.
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BALLOT
Vote for 4 dentists: Dr. Michael Crete Dr. Joe Erdman Dr. Wayne Olsen * Dr. Carl Pogoncheff Dr. Michael Palaszek Dr. Scott Schulz * Vote for 1 hygienist: Sheree Duff *
*Incumbent
Sheree Duff* RDH, MS, is a 1980 graduate of the U-M dental hygiene
Dr. Joe Erdman (DDS 1982) is a member of WMDDS, MDA, and ADA. He
has been involved in the Russell W. Bunting Periodontal Study Club, American Association of Cosmetic Dentists, the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation, and the American Association of Dental Editors.
worldwide clinical and academic assignments as an oral surgeon and dental educator. A past president and current MDA delegate for the Resort District Dental Society, Dr. Olsen is also an executive committee member with the Michigan Oral Surgery Association and an adjunct professor of oral surgery at U-M. He practices in Traverse City, Cadillac, and Alpena.
Dr. Wayne Olsen* (DDS 1981), served in the U.S. Army for 25 years with
Dr. Carl Pogoncheff (DDS 2009; MS 2012) has a private practice in Lansing
and is a faculty member at the School of Dentistry. A member of the MDA, ADA, Academy of Sports Dentistry and American College of Prosthodontists, Dr. Pogoncheff recently served a three-year term as regional representative for the ACP resident/fellows committee.
Envelope with your ballot must be postmarked by August 1, 2012. Please mail your ballot to: University of Michigan School of Dentistry 540 E. Liberty, Suite 204 Ann Arbor, MI 48104-2210
Dr. Michael Palaszek (DDS 1982) has served on the Peer Review Committee of the West Michigan District Dental Society and currently serves secretary for the Kent County Dental Society. He is also on the Board of the West Michigan Dental Foundation. Dr. Scott Schulz* (DDS 1996) served four years in the U.S. Navy Dental Corps before returning to U-M to receive a masters in orthodontics in 2003. A board certified orthodontist with offices in Traverse City and Charlevoix, Dr. Schulz is an active member of the ADA, MDA and the AAO. He was an officer with the Resort District Dental Society for seven years and board member of the Great Lakes Association of Orthodontics for three years. He is a Specialty Examiner for the Michigan Board of Dentistry.
*Incumbent
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Social Media
Hillary Mendillo
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dental students produced a video, Composite, a dental parody set to the tune of a popular music video, Dynamite. After creating their video, the dental students posted it on YouTube where it has been viewed more than 12,000 times.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ Umichdent Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/ umdent/ Blog: www.WolverineBites.org iTunesU: www.dent.umich.edu/ media/itunes/index.html UmichDent YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/ umichdent Web: http://dent.umich.edu/ academicaffairs/
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its like to be in a particular class, some of the challenges they face, or anything they choose to comment on, she said. Currently, four dental students and two dental hygiene students are blogging for the School. Since it was launched in late 2010, AlcumbrackMcDaniel said the Wolverine Bites Web site was visited more than 14,000 times. Of the 50 or so blogs posted, the most popular are those describing what its like to be a dental student. Blogging and other social media are new and exciting opportunities for students and the dental school, she
Blogging and other social and exciting opportunities the dental school.
70s and still provide meaningful content to the dental and medical communities. The Schools use of social media has expanded to include a presence on Facebook with nearly 2,500 fans and a Flickr site with School-related photos. Dental and dental hygiene students have been blogging regularly for two years at Wolverine Bites where they describe daily life at the School of Dentistry and events inside and outside the classroom. A blog, which combines the words Web and log, is a contemporary version of a personal diary. Blogs i n c l u d e a p e r s o n s t h o u g h t s , ideas, opinions, observations, and commentar y on a wide range of subjects, issues, and events and often include photos, videos, and links to other posts and Web sites. School of Dentistry bloggers have written about subjects ranging from their experiences in the classroom and clinic to participating in outreach. They also have offered advice for prospective dental students, including how to prepare for interviews. Blogging is a way for students to reach out and tell friends, other students , prospective students , parents, alumni, and even prospective employers about their experiences as a dental or dental hygiene student, what said. I dont think anyone knows at this time what the ultimate potential of these new forms of communication will be. But its important the School of Dentistry use social media more.
School Bloggers
According to Celia AlcumbrackMcDaniel, editor of Wolverine Bites in the Office of Student Services, both dental and dental hygiene students were asked to volunteer to write blogs about their experiences for Wolverine Bites. [See p. 24]
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Nate Poel
media are new for students and
Twitter, and other social media sites. This includes discussions between you and your patient, he said. Sharon Grayden, communications director, said social media tools are great resources that make it possible for us to connect and interact with individuals in ways we were not able to in the past. She said that as more users adopt these tools, there is the expectation the School of Dentistry will respond. Our challenge, she continued, is to manage our social presence to meet those expectations knowing we will have to invest to support the technology. Managing the Schools social presence will also include constant monitoring of Facebook posts and responding, when necessary; updating blogs and creating new ones; and posting new photos relevant to particular topics.
For some dental and dental hygiene students at the School of Dentistry, blogging is a new experienceand one they say they enjoy. I havent blogged before, nor did I ever imagine myself as a blogger, but this seemed like an amazing opportunity to be a voice of the dental school for prospective students, said fourth-year dental student Steve Davis who said he volunteered because he wanted to give insights about what life is like as a dental student. His sentiments were shared by Barbara Zickgraf, a third-year dental student. I thought it would be a good experience for me to step out of my comfort zone and try something new, she said. I think the blog is a great way for potential students to really see what the School of Dentistry is about from a students perspective. Several students said blogging offers an opportunity to reflect on their classroom and clinical experiences. Self-reflection is a large benefit of blogging, said secondyear dental student Nate Poel. Blogging not only allows me to share my experiences, but has become a checkpoint that allows me to reflect, evaluate, and proceed in a new direction, if necessary. Poel said blogging can become even more valuable if prospective students contact the bloggers and ask questions about what they have read. Jeannette Young (D3) said she has received comments from family and friends about her blogs. Their interest in what Im doing and their feedback was heartwarming, she said. I love that we can share our thoughts almost immediately, and that social media offers opportunities for anyone to participate. Because blogging is a new experience for some students, writing about a topic takes some thought and time. Hillary Mendillo (D4) said the process can take one to two hours, from start to finish. Before starting dental school, I wrote and enjoyed it. I saw blogging as an opportunity to continue writing and give prospective students an opportunity to gain a better perspective of what its like to be a dental student at Michigan. Fourth-year dental hygiene student Elizabeth Easter said blogging was a new experience for her. In one blog about mentoring a group of Ypsilanti High School students on Saturday mornings, she said she hopes her blogs will make others, such as these high school students, aware of possible careers in oral health care.
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STUDENTS
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I had some pressing medical matters that needed attention. I took his suggestion to heart and made an appointment with my physician in Adrian. Sandy, his wife, thought the physician visit was overdue. I suspected something was wrong for some time, she said. Glen wasnt the same the entire summer. He wasnt doing the outdoor work he enjoyed doing, and he seemed to tire rather easily. A business broker who travels extensively across Michigan, Glen enjoyed working outdoors frequently to exercise and relieve stress.
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Time was not on Toadvines side. His father died when he was 47. His fathers father (grandfather) died at age 54. Bad genes run in my family, he said. Im 56 and was running about two miles every other day until three years ago to try and stay healthy and manage stress. Toadvine said he hoped the bypass surgery could have been performed at U-M Hospital. But since his physician and cardiologist are in the same network, he didnt have the luxury of more time to go through getting more referrals and scheduling additional appointments.
What happened made me realize that I couldnt continue to keep putting fatty substances into my body and expect to live a long life, he said. I have been blessed to have had a fortunate recovery, a wonderful wife, and am thankful Steve made the decision he did and encouraged me to see my physician. As he talked about his decision in the Schools dental clinic, Nichols said, I dont feel like a hero. But if I had not taken Glens blood pressure and cleaned his teeth as I was scheduled to, he probably would not have seen his physician and the outcome may have been totally different. Nichols said he hopes to return to Mesa, Arizona to practice general dentistry when he graduates next year. However, his initial career path was not dentistry. He was a loan officer in Arizona and was working on a business degree at Arizona State University but changed his plans after two years of study. A friend who was in pre-dentistry was telling me about how much fun he was having helping others, so I thought Id give the pre-dent program a try. Im glad I did. Glen Toadvine is glad too. By the way, he returned to the School of Dentistry to get his teeth cleaned on Valentines Day.
2nd Place
The U-M HSDA received a second-place award during the Orgullo poster competition which showcased the community service efforts of the local chapter. Presenters included Edward Heath (D2), Jacqueline Mendoza (D2), and Diana Maldonado (D3).
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not an individual one. Because of the continuous progress the dental hygiene program has made, we are nicely positioned to meet the current and future trends in oral health and education. She cited the degree completion and graduate programs as examples. Since they are now offered in an online format, dental hygienists can advance their education without needing to relocate or give up employment. She also cited the involvement of entry-level students in research and community service activities. These are taking place at unprecedented levels and receiving local and national attention and awards for projects and publications, Kerschbaum said. A committee is searching for a successor. Dr. Paul Edwards, clinical associate professor in the Depar tment of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, chairs the search committee. Other members are Anne Gwozdek, Karen Ridley, Lisa Dodge, Jean Klark, and Drs. Berna Saglik, Nikki Sweier, and Hector Rios. Kerschbaum said she hopes that a new program director is named before the start of the academic year later this summer. Thats always a busy time of year. Having a new person on board would allow for a smooth transition, she said. But I still will be here teaching until the end of the year and will help, if asked. Asked about her future, Kerschbaum said shes not making any big plans or moving from the Ann Arbor area. It will be nice to see members of my family and my husbands family, work on my vegetable and f lower gardens and, yes, even mow the lawn, she said with a smile.
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Dental hygiene faculty members who will teach the online masters degree are (front row, left to right): Anne Gwozdek, Janet Kinney, and Susan Taichman and (back row) Karen Ridley and Wendy Kerschbaum.
Jerry Mastey
A new online learning program leading to a Master of Science degree in dental hygiene will be offered by the University of Michigan beginning in September. The program, offered by the Rackham School of Graduate Studies in conjunction with the School of Dentistry, will be a two-year, six-semester program totaling 36 credit hours. Prof. Wendy Kerschbaum, director of the dental hygiene curriculum, said the new online masters degree program builds on the success of the Schools E-Learning bachelors degree completion program launched in January 2008. The online bachelors program gave us a solid foundation that helped us to develop the masters program, she said. In addition, the online masters program is consistent with U-M President Mary Sue Colemans challenge to us as educators to be innovative in our approach to education.
Karen Ridley, an assistant professor of dental hygiene and director of the online masters program, said, todays students are looking for new, nontraditional ways of advancing themselves personally and professionally. This program offers the same content as our on-campus program. But how that information is delivered to students will be different. Students will register for six contiguous semesters and take six credit hours of courses each semester. The online program will begin with a three-day on-campus orientation in July. Students will meet our dental hygiene faculty members who will teach the 12 courses and also meet their colleagues, Kerschbaum said. Meeting their online colleagues face to face is an important part of developing a sense of community. Dr. Carol Anne Murdoch-Kinch, associate dean for academic affairs, said, The new online masters program, which was rigorously reviewed by the Rackham Graduate School, shows how creative and innovative our dental hygiene faculty are in developing new ways of learning and reaching potential students. She added the new program will provide opportunities for qualified candidates to receive a University of Michigan education that will prepare them to become future leaders in dental hygiene education. For additional information about the Master of Science degree in dental hygiene online program, contact program director Karen Ridley: kjr@ umich.edu.
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RESEARCH
Photo courtesy of U-M College of Engineering
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Using a microprocessor to develop a smart palatal expander would represent a colossal shift in treatment because expanders that have long been used to help cleft palate patients develop the palate in only one direction left to right. The microprocessor Nervina envisions would measure data about the forces affecting palatal development in all directions: left and right, up and down, and backwards and forwards. Nervina received funding from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to conduct pioneering research that could ultimately lead to the development of a device where low power circuits sense the magnitude and direction of forces and transmit patient-specific data to orthodontists. The biology of each child is different, so you would get very individualized results from each child who would have one of these implanted, she said.
inside the device. That would enable an orthodontist to measure the degree of stresses, where they occur, and then adjust the expander to create the best possible result, she said. A s principal investigator for the cleft palate technology project, Ner vina will work with the U-M Medical Innovation Center and the Pediatric Device Medical Institute in Roanoke, Virginia. The Institute is a consortium of childrens hospitals that includes U-Ms C.S. Mott Childrens Hospital.
#1 in NIDCR Grants
The U-M School of Dentistry is once again ranked first among dental schools nationwide in grants awarded by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research during the federal governments 2011 fiscal year (Oct. 2010 through Sept. 2011). The School was awarded $11.27 million for the 12-month period by NIDCR. The amount continues the Schools longterm history of being among the top five in the country receiving NIDCR funding. (See chart.) Dean Peter Polverini said funding to support research and discovery at the School of Dentistry is an imperative. Our ongoing leadership in dentistry and dental education is reflected in the confidence NIDCR has in us, our scientists, and the work they do to advance the science of dentistry and promote discoveries to improve oral and general health.
#3
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AWARDS
Grand Prize
ADA DENTSPLY Award Alexandra Forest (D2, Mentor: Russell Taichman) Targeting the Hematopoietic Stem Cell Niche in Bone-Metastatic Prostate Cancer