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UW School of Dentistry
News & Events
Accreditation review visit ends on high note
11/20/09
The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) of the American Dental Association (ADA) concluded its on-site review at the School of Dentistry on Nov. 19 after a three-day visit.
The CODA review team will not issue its formal report for several months. However, the unofficial initial response was highly favorable, faculty members and administrators reported. No recommendations are expected to be issued for changes in the School's undergraduate and specialty programs, and the CODA reviewers also voiced their support for the School's new Oral Radiology specialty program.
"Our School came out shining," Dean Somerman said in an e-mail message to students, faculty and staff. "I know what a demanding process this has been for everyone -- faculty, staff and students. All of you deserve a huge thank-you. You have demonstrated once again why our School is outstanding."
UW Provost Phyllis M. Wise, who took part in a meeting with reviewers, told Dean Somerman, "It was clear that they were impressed by the material that you sent ahead of time and even more impressed by your comments, your leadership and the progress that the School of Dentistry has made since their last visit."
The CODA review, which takes place at dental schools every seven years (every five years for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery departments), includes visitors from other universities along with ADA staff. Preparation was exhaustive, with online and print documentation required for virtually every aspect of the School's operations. Part of the preparation includes a rigorous self-analysis and a self-study report. The report assesses the School's sponsorship, resources, curriculum, effectiveness, and its operational and student policies and practices. The site visit verifies the self-study report's information and determines whether the School meets accreditation standards.
The self-study document can be seen here (a UW Net ID log-in is required).
Provost meets with School's faculty
11/20/09
UW Provost Phyllis M. Wise met with School of Dentistry faculty at the South Campus Center on Nov. 20 to discuss the state and UW budget crunch, a new budget model and other issues.
Dr. Wise outlined the UW's plans to adopt ABB, or activity-based budgeting, by the beginning of the new fiscal year next July 1. The process, which has been adopted by several other major universities, differs from traditional budgeting, in which budgets are based on the previous year, then adjusted to reflect inflation, changes in revenue and other factors. Under ABB, all cost-incurring activities and their relationships to one another are analyzed and linked to strategic goals; then budget expenditures are determined on the basis of strategic needs. Among other things, ABB strives for more transparency in the budgeting process.
Dr. Wise also said that the declining level of state funding for higher education makes it critical for the UW to look to its other sources of revenue for the future. She stressed that the UW should take the long view, saying, "We should be figuring out where we want the UW to be in 20 years."
Dental Fears Research Clinic wins Gies Award
11/18/09
The School of Dentistry's Dental Fears Research Clinic has been named winner of a 2010 American Dental Education Association Gies Foundation Award for Innovation.
In a letter from Dr. Richard W. Valachovic, Gies Foundation president, the clinic was cited for "superior demonstration of outstanding innovation in support of global health and oral health education." The award, which came in the academic dental institution category, will be presented at a ceremony on Feb. 27 in Washington, D.C., during ADEA's 87th annual session.
The Dental Fears Research Clinic, which began in 1982, provides comprehensive care to dental-phobic patients, using behavioral therapy and medication, and also conducts research. In addition, the clinic plays a role in teaching dental students through required courses and rotations. Dr. Tar Chee Aw is director, with other providers including Dr. Peter Milgrom (director emeritus), Dr. Philip Weinstein and Dr. Lisa Heaton.
Commenting on the award, Dr. Aw said: "It takes a great team effort -- providers, psychologists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, office staff all contribute. We have a unique population of patients that requires a special level of care."
The Gies Awards, named after dental education pioneer William J. Gies, honor people and organizations exemplifying dedication to the highest standards of vision, innovation, and achievement in global oral health and dental education, research, and leadership.
Mentor Reception: An evening of camaraderie
11/14/09
Dr. Jim Ribary, the new president of the Washington State Dental Association, enjoys a moment with Class of 2011 President Oleg Shvartsur, whom he mentors, and student Nikki Young ('13) at the reception.
About 170 dental mentors and students gathered in the I Wing Rotunda on Nov. 13 for the annual Washington State Dental Association/Dental Alumni Association Mentor Reception. The casual reception, which featured food and drinks, gave students a chance to learn more about the mentor program and sign up for it. For those who already have joined the program, it was a chance to take a break from their hectic schedule at school and have some time with their mentors.
A brief program included remarks from Dr. Jim Ribary, president of the WSDA, who is an active mentor, along with Dr. Sue Coldwell, Associate Dean of Student Life and Admissions at the School of Dentistry. For more information about the mentor program, see the cover feature story in the current issue of the Dental Alumni News. Students who would like to join the program should contact Randy Newquist, Director of Dental Alumni Services, at randyn@u.washington.edu, or the WSDA's Wendy Wilson at wendy@wsda.org.
Dr. Berg named to new Hospital Affairs post
10/19/09
Dr. Joel Berg has been named to the new position of Associate Dean for Hospital Affairs at the School of Dentistry, Dean Martha Somerman has announced.
“In this new job, I hope to strengthen the working relationships between the School of Dentistry and the Puget Sound hospital community,” Dr. Berg said. “Especially in this economic environment, it’s critical that we find more efficient and effective ways of delivering care to our patients. At the same time, we want to make sure that our dentistry students and residents gain the full benefit of strong ties with the hospital community, so we can continue to give them the finest dental education possible.”
Dr. Berg said his first priority would be to meet with senior administrators of hospitals affiliated with the School of Dentistry to determine the most promising possibilities for improved collaboration.
Dr. Berg, who is Chair of Pediatric Dentistry, is the School's Lloyd and Kay Chapman Chair for Oral Health. He is also Director of Dentistry at Seattle Children’s hospital. He was elected secretary-treasurer of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry this year, and is scheduled to become AAPD president in 2012.
Dr. Berg is also director of the Early Childhood Oral Health program, whose new facility – the Washington Dental Service Building for Early Childhood Oral Health – is scheduled to open at Magnuson Park in September 2010. Expected to be one of the nation’s leading pediatric oral health centers, it is a joint venture between the School and Seattle Children's.
“I can’t think of anyone better than Joel Berg for this new position,” Dean Somerman said. “In all his work for the AAPD, ECOH, Seattle Children’s and our school, he has demonstrated a superb talent for building relationships throughout the health-care community. I believe that our patients and students will all benefit hugely from his skills and vision.”
Dr. Berg tells U.S. House panel about ABCD program
10/07/09
Dr. Joel Berg, Chair of Pediatric Dentistry, testified on the success of Washington state’s ABCD program on Oct. 7 before a U.S. House subcommittee in Washington, D.C.
In prepared testimony, Dr. Berg told the House members that in the last 10 years, the Access to Baby and Child Dentistry program has more than doubled the number of young Medicaid children in Washington who receive dental care.
“In addition, these ABCD patients have improved health, as they are more likely to seek care before oral health problems arise,” Dr. Berg told the panel, chaired by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio). The subcommittee is investigating obstacles to providing dental care to Medicaid-eligible children. Its parent committee, Oversight and Government Reform, is the House's principal oversight committee.
“The ABCD program is reducing overall dental costs,” Dr. Berg also told the panel. “Prevention is most cost-effective in infants during their first two years, and ABCD is making progress toward increasing the number of children who receive care before their second birthday: In 2008, nearly 22,000 children under age 2 -- 18.7 percent of eligible children -- received dental services. When the program was initiated, only 3 percent of eligible infants and toddlers received dental care.”
Dr. Berg also gave a brief history of ABCD, which was launched in Spokane in 1995, along with a description of how it works. ABCD, which has received national recognition, focuses on preventive and restorative dental care for Medicaid-eligible children from birth to age 6, with emphasis on enrollment by age 1. The program’s underlying assumption is that early dental visits have a positive effect on both parental and child behavior, and can thus help control dental caries and reduce the need for costly future restorative work.
Dr. Berg also described the role of the Washington Dental Service Foundation, which coordinates the program at the state level. The Foundation provides three-year local start-up grants so that outreach to families, case management, support services for the dentists and other critical activities are included.
A complete transcript of Dr. Berg's remarks is available at this link.
Dean Whiting wins Research Day competition
9/30/09
Dean Whiting ('12) was named winner of the ADA/Clinician Scholar Award at the Dental Student Research Competition held on Sept. 25 as part of Research Day. As a result of his selection by the
Research Advisory Committee and the UW Student Research Group, Whiting will represent the School of Dentistry in the national student research competition at the 2010 ADA
meeting.
Whiting's winning entry, "Effects of Implant Angulations on Retentive Characteristics of Stud Attachment," evaluated retentive characteristics and morphological changes of a stud attachment system for implant-retained overdentures after cyclic loading onto implant abutments. The study was supported by the UW Dental Alumni Association and School of Dentistry Restorative Department Spencer Fund 65-4909.
Others receiving recognition were finalists Emily Chu, Blake Davis, Ambre Ehlert, Atriya Salamati and Bryan Swanson.
NICDR's Pamela Robey headlines Research Day
9/25/09
SURF summer research participant Fedora Katz of Ortho discusses her research project.
Dr. Pamela G. Robey, chief of the Craniofacial and Skeletal Diseases Branch of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, kicked off the School of Dentistry's annual Research Day on Sept. 29 with an overview of skeletal stem cells.
Speaking to faculty and students at the Health Sciences Center, Dr. Robey (at left) traced development from fertilized egg to adult stem cell, and reviewed skeletal stem cell origins and the cells' degree of similarity and dissimilarity. She also focused on issues such as the evolution of pericytes as local tissue progenitors and discussed fibrous dysplasia at some length.
After Dr. Robey's lecture came talks by Dr. Carol B. Ware of Oral Biology on stem cell resources and research at the UW, and Dr. Morayma Reyes of theUW School of Medicine on dental pulp stem cells.
Later in the morning, participants in the SURF summer research program, other students, faculty, staff and residents gave poster presentations at South Campus Center. A full program can be seen on the Office of Research's Web page.
Staff Appreciation Day recognizes key contributors
9/25/09
Kimberly Powell of Oral Medicine shows off her Distinguished Clinical Staff Award after being presented with it by Dr. Ed Truelove, Chair of Oral Medicine.
Several School of Dentistry staff members were honored with Staff Appreciation Awards for going above and beyond the call of duty in a ceremony at South Campus Center on Sept. 25.
Awards went to:
- Jennifer Grant, Assistant to the Dean (Distinguished Administrative Staff)
- Kimberly Powell, Patient Services Specialist Supervisor in Oral Medicine (Distinguished Clinical Staff)
- Leng Quach, Machinery Mechanic in Clinical Services (Distinguished Clinical Staff)
- Moira Ullberg, Dental Assistant in Endodontics (Distinguished Clinical Staff)
- Brian Foster, Research Scientist in Periodontics (Distinguished Research Staff)
Awards were given based on contributions to the School of Dentistry's success, considering factors such as creativity, responsiveness, dedication, contributing to a positive work environment, and grace under pressure. Award nominees were also recognized.
Dr. Izutsu stepping down as Chair of Oral Biology
9/14/09
Dr. Kenneth T. Izutsu, who has chaired Oral Biology since 1997, will step down on Oct. 1. He has been recommended for Professor Emeritus standing and will continue to pursue his current research on salivary biomarkers for graft-versus-host disease.
“These will be very hard shoes to fill,” said Dean Somerman. “Ken Izutsu has been a strong, steady leader in Oral Biology, and we will miss him greatly as Chair. Oral Biology is at the forefront of our research efforts, and our consistent success in attracting grant funding over the years is just one indicator of how capably he has served the School.”
The School of Dentistry ranks third among all U.S. dental schools this year in funding by the National Institutes of Health, and has ranked among the top five for the last several years.
“I have chosen this time to retire so I can spend more time with my family,” Dr. Izutsu said. “I also hope to do some documenting of family history.” In addition to continuing his current research, he said he will also help formulate new proposals.
Two School of Dentistry faculty members will share Dr. Izutsu’s duties in the wake of his departure. Dr. Tom Morton of Oral Biology and Oral Medicine, who has been Chair of the School’s Faculty Council, will now become Acting Chair of Oral Biology. Dr. Sue Herring of Orthodontics will serve as Acting Vice Chair and will guide strategic planning in research directions and development. She will also assist Dr. Richard Presland, who will remain as the Graduate Program Director, in helping to coordinate research opportunities for graduate students.
“I would like to thank Tom and Sue for their dedication to the department and the School in accepting these appointments,” said Dr. Izutsu in a message to the department. “These appointments make me extremely optimistic for the future of the department.”
Dr. Izutsu said he took special pride in developing the School of Dentistry’s Ph.D. program into a major national and international training program for dental educators. He expressed his appreciation for the support the program received from Dean Somerman and the entire School of Dentistry faculty, as well as UW faculty in bioengineering and medicine.
Dr. Izutsu received his B.S. in physics in 1964, and his Ph.D. in physiology and biophysics in 1970, both from the UW. He started in Oral Biology as a research associate in 1971, and after appointments as Research Assistant Professor and Research Associate Professor, became Research Professor in 1985. Since 1980, he has held a joint appointment in Oral Medicine.
He has been on the editorial board of the Journal of Dental Research, president of the Salivary Research Group of the International Association of Dental Research, a director of the American Association of Oral Biologists, a member of the American Association of Dental Research Fellowship Committee, and a member of two National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research Study Sections in addition to twice chairing an NIDCR Special Emphasis Panel. In 1985, he was named an honorary member of the Omicron Kappa Upsilon dental honorary society.
Dr. Izutsu, whose work has won more than 30 research grants, has published widely in peer-reviewed journals. He has also been a reviewer for the Archives of Oral Biology, Journal of Dental Research, Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine, Journal of Investigative Dermatology, American Journal of Physiology, Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology, Special Care in Dentistry and for Oral Diseases. He also served as the examiner for an X-ray Microanalysis Ph.D. candidate at the Wenner-Gren Institute at the University of Stockholm.
In addition to his service as Chair of Oral Biology, he has been Oral Biology’s Graduate Program Coordinator, research faculty representative and member of the School of Dentistry Faculty Council, chaired the School’s Appointment, Promotion and Tenure Committee and was director of a major School of Dentistry research training grant from 1985 through 2007. He has also served on the UW Faculty Senate.
“I believe the Oral Biology program is in good hands for the future with Tom Morton and Sue Herring, along with our wonderful staff -- Eileen Kakida, Jennifer Kohn and Rosale Meriales,” Dr. Izutsu said.
Volunteers provide dental services to homeless
9/14/09
Assisted by volunteer Louise Cooley, Dr. Jeremy Horst cares for a patient at Qwest Field Plaza.
UW School of Dentistry faculty, students and staff, along with other dental volunteers, helped deliver dental services to people who attended a huge health fair at Seattle’s Qwest Field Plaza on Sept. 11.
Norma Wells, Associate Professor and Director of Dental Hygiene in Dental Public Health Sciences, who is supervisor of the UW Oral Health Collaborative, led the dental team. More than 1,200 people turned out for the nearly daylong Community Resource Exchange, which was organized by United Way of King County. The annual event delivers free health, counseling and other services to homeless people and their families.
Professor Wells led a contingent that included Dr. Jeremy Horst, a Ph.D. candidate in oral biology, and dentists Padma Rageer and Prameela Vennapulala of India, who are candidates for a certification program at the School of Dentistry. Dental services were provided in the plaza and at a Medical Teams International mobile dental unit just outside.
Other team members included Dr. Jan Bridge, a Seattle internist; dental assistants Mary Ferrer of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Mary Phelps and Sunny Kim; dental hygienists Patty Plank of the Oral Health Collaborative and Stephanie Ross; pre-dental students Ani Begun and Phi Phan; and School of Dentistry applicants Colin Dole of Washington State University and Eileen Huynh of the UW; and Beverly Walker, a private-practice office manager for Dr. Mitch Hungate of Renton. Volunteer dental hygienist Tim Miller led a second team in the mobile unit, providing anesthesia and restorative services in addition to support for the dentists.
Gov. Christine Gregoire opened the Community Resource Exchange on Friday morning and returned in the afternoon to meet with volunteers, including the Oral Health Collaborative team.
Research Day set for Sept. 25
9/10/09
The School of Dentistry's annual Research Day will take place on Friday, Sept. 25 from 8:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Guest speaker will be Pamela Robey, PhD, Branch Chief, Craniofacial and Skeletal Diseases Branch, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), National Institutes of Health. She will speak on "Skeletal Stem Cells: The Cause and the Cure"at 8:30 a.m. in Health Sciences T-625.
Other lectures will continue in T-625 until 10:50 a.m., with poster presentations in South Campus Center Room 316 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For details, along with a summary of speakers and poster presentations, visit the Office of Research Web site.
Dr. Berg brings ECOH message to Peru
8/26/09
Dr. Joel Berg, Chair of Pediatric Dentistry, began a visit to Peru on Aug. 20 to share insights into pediatric oral health. Dr. Berg, who was accompanied by Pediatric faculty member Dr. Ana Lucia Seminario, made the visit at the invitation of Peru's first lady, Pilar Nores. A global health care advocate, she became interested in the Early Childhood Oral Health program while speaking in Seattle this year. At that event, she met Dr. Berg, Dr. Seminario and Dr. Mariella Garcia, another Pediatrics faculty member. Drs. Seminario and Garcia are both from Peru.
While there, Dr. Berg is accompanying Ms. Nores on visits to villages in the Andes and sharing ideas about how ECOH's models of delivering care might be adapted by Peru. In addition, Dr. Berg is lecturing before the Peruvian Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the Society of Pediatric Dentistry in Cusco. He has been blogging about his trip at http://uwecoh.blogspot.com/.
Dean, Seattle dental leader discuss issues
8/17/09
Dean Martha Somerman met with Dr. Christopher Pickel, president of the Seattle-King County Dental Society, on Aug. 17 to discuss access-to-care efforts and other issues of mutual concern. During lunch on the UW campus, Dr. Pickel and Dean Somerman also explored areas in which the Society and the School of Dentistry could broaden their collaboration, such as student externships with local dentists. Dr. Pickel is an alumnus of the School of Dentistry, where he earned his DDS in 1988.
White Coat Ceremony held for Class of 2011
8/15/09
Dr. Dolphine Oda assists Ara Ghandhari ('11) with her white clinical coat as Dean Martha Somerman looks on.
Fifty-one members of the Class of 2011 formally marked the start of their clinical training at the School of Dentistry’s fifth annual White Coat Ceremony in a packed Hogness Auditorium at the UW Health Sciences Center on Aug. 15.
Students received their white clinical coats and, led by Class President Oleg Shvartsur, repeated a pledge to commit themselves to the pursuit of excellence in all their academic and professional endeavors. Faculty members Dr. Dolphine Oda and Dr. Andy Marashi assisted in the presentation of coats.
Dr. John Wataha, Chair of Restorative Dentistry, delivered keynote remarks. “You are at a crossroads,” he told the students. “Use this transition as a time to learn.”
He went on to say: “You will make mistakes – it’s part and parcel of practicing dentistry. It’s not a failure; it’s a failure only if you fail to grow from it. … Learn to make a habit of excellence -- it’s a discipline, a process, a passion. Many people will try to impose standards on you, but the real standards that matter come from inside.”
Dr. Wataha also urged students: “Respect the sacred trust between you – the clinician – and the patient.” He told students they would see unsettling things with patients, but added: “My advice is not to judge too quickly. … Keep your word to your patients if you want to keep their trust. … Be equitable with patients.”
And, he concluded, “Beware of temptations that will erode your integrity.”
Dean Martha Somerman opened the ceremony by welcoming students, their families and friends. “I want to offer my congratulations for all your achievements during your first two years at our School,” she said. “Now it’s time for you to build on that foundation, and take the next step toward becoming master clinicians -- clinicians who seek out new challenges to improve the quality of care for your patients.”
Dr. Ed Dolan, President of the UW Dental Alumni Association, which sponsors the ceremony, also congratulated the students. A reception followed the ceremony in the Health Sciences Center lobby.RIDE delivers student orientation
8/11/09
The Regional Initiatives in Dental Education (RIDE) program kicked off its orientation for a new cohort of eight students at the program's Riverpoint Campus in Spokane on Aug. 10. It marked the start of the second year for RIDE, which operates in conjunction with the UW School of Medicine's regional WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho) program. Students spend their first and fourth years at Riverpoint, where they study alongside medical and dental hygiene students. They spend second and third year at the School of Dentistry in Seattle.
Welcoming students Monday were Dean Martha Somerman and Dr. Wendy Mouradian, Associate Dean of Regional Affairs and RIDE. "We have a huge problem with access to care, and you're going to be part of the solution," Dean Somerman said. Students also heard from Dr. Pete Eveland, Associate Dean for Student Affairs at the UW School of Medicine; Dr. Sue Coldwell, Dentistry's Associate Dean of Student Life and Admissions; and Dr. Art DiMarco, RIDE Director at Riverpoint.
Others taking part in the orientation included Dr. Jim Sledge, Regional Clinical Director for the program; Dr. Richard McCoy, Professor Emeritus of Restorative Dentistry; Dr. John Evans, Clinical Associate Professor of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery; Colette Loiacono, RIDE Operations Manager; Geri Scott, Eastern Washington University Director of Student Services; Dr. Linda Higley, RIDE Counselor; Dr. Bea Gandara, Clinical Associate Professor of Oral Medicine; Dr. David Pitts, RIDE Director of Educational Technology; and other staff from Seattle and Riverpoint.
The orientation included a discussion of professionalism and ethics by Dr. Evans, a course schedule overview, and a student panel discussion. All WWAMI-RIDE students also received new stethoscopes in a presentation attended by family and friends. The day concluded with a barbecue picnic.
Other activities were planned for orientation week: a team-building river-float event on Tuesday, and student immunizations, financial aid meetings, library orientation and ICM (Introduction to Clinical Medicine and Dentistry) orientation on Wednesday.
Endodontics symposium held at UW
8/11/09
Dr. Gerald Glickman (left), president of the American Association of Endodontists, pauses with Dr. James Johnson, School of Dentistry Endodontics Department Chair, and Dr. Natasha Flake, Assistant Professor and lead organizer of the 2009 APICES gathering.
More than 200 people, including about 150 endodontics residents from around the U.S., gathered at the UW on Aug. 7-9 as the School of Dentistry hosted the Advanced Programs in Clinical Endodontics Symposium (APICES). Held annually at rotating locations around the country, APICES began in 2004 as a nonprofit activity for endodontics residents, allowing them to attend educational presentations and pursue networking opportunities.
Dr. Natasha Flake of the UW Department of Endodontics organized the conference at the UW with the help of department residents Matthew Brunson, Fergus Duddy, Dustin Gatten, Steven Kwan, Michael Marcello, David Mortenson, Amanda Ngan, Avina Paranjpe, Brandon Seto, Matthew Tomala, Anne Wiseman and Brandon Yamamura. She was also assisted by Dr. James Johnson, Endodontics Chair, who was a visible and active presence during the weekend. He and faculty member Dr. Patrick Taylor both serve on the certifying board of the American Association of Endodontists (AAE).
AAE President Gerald Glickman, who preceded Dr. Johnson as Endodontics Chair at the UW, addressed the symposium on Saturday. He outlined the AAE's public awareness campaign, which emphasizes outreach to general dentists and the dynamics of patient referrals. Dr. Glickman, who now chairs the endodontics department at the Texas A&M University/Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, also discussed access to care and AAE's plans to take a more proactive stance on the issue.
School of Dentistry Dean Martha Somerman welcomed attendees at an opening-night reception and barbecue, saluting endodontics for the way in which it has embraced new technology. In addition to lectures, other activities during the weekend included vendor exhibits and a Saturday-night dinner and "casino" social event at the Space Needle
"APICES is for the residents to be educated about the AAE," said Dr. Johnson. "It's a great opportunity."
Oral health leaders meet at UW
8/7/09
Dr. Joseli Alves-Dunkerson and Dr. Edmond Truelove at the start of Thursday's meeting.
Washington state oral health educators and leaders met at the University of Washington's South Campus Center on Aug. 6 to discuss elements of the state's Oral Health Workforce Report. The attendees' input will help develop the state's Oral Health Strategic Plan.
The meeting included discussions of "Integrating Education and Community Action for Oral Health" and "Collaborative Strategies for State Oral Health Plan: Big Picture and Common Issues." Attendees also received an overview of state oral health data.
"Our goal is to develop a strong cooperative relationship between all oral health educational programs in the state so that we can speak to issues of dentistry and oral health in a strong, unified voice," said Dr. Edmond Truelove, chair of the SOD Department of Oral Medicine and one of the meeting's leaders. "We also want to establish communication between the various programs to foster common training opportunities as well as patient care activities."
Along with Dr. Truelove, Dean Somerman and several other faculty members attended. The meeting was organized by Dr. Joseli Alves-Dunkerson, manager of the Washington State Oral Health Program.
2010 WREB exam dates shifted
8/1/09
The 2010 Western Regional Examining Board examinations have been moved up to dates before the School of Dentistry's annual commencement, Dean Somerman has announced. The new dates are:
May 26: WREB staff arrives
May 27: Orientation
May 28-31: Clinical exams
Dean Somerman expressed her thanks to the Clinical Services staff who worked with the Examining Board to make the changes.
Presenters at Pacific Northwest Dental Conference
7/24/09
A team of School of Dentistry faculty members presented clinical innovations at the School at the Pacific Northwest Dental Conference in Seattle on July 23. Presentations included:
- Dr. Tim DeRouen, Executive Associate Dean for Research & Academic Affairs, on clinical research findings in the Northwest PRECEDENT practice-based research program
- Dr. Hai Zhang, Assistant Professor of Restorative Dentistry, on promising developments in biomimetic restorations
- Dr. Greg King, Professor of Orthodontics, on improving access to dental care
- Dr. Mats Kronstrom, Associate Professor of Restorative Dentistry, on treatment options with implant-supported prosthodontics
- Dr. Ana Lucia Seminario, Acting Assistant Professor of Pediatric Dentistry, on the true morbidity of dental caries
- Dr. Dan Chan, Associate Dean for Clinical Services, on updates in light curing systems
- Dr. Linda LeResche, Professor of Oral Medicine, on gender and hormonal effects on facial pain
In addition, recent graduate Colby Ecklund ('09), this year's UW Howard Prize winner, gave a presentation titled "Severe Wear: A Different Way to Repair".
Dr. Sheldon Rovin, former SOD Dean, dies at 76
7/22/09
Dr. Sheldon Rovin, who was Dean of the School of Dentistry from 1973 to 1977, died on July 11 from cancer at his home near Philadelphia. He was 76.
Dr. Rovin, who was an emeritus professor at the University of Pennsylvania, was former chairman of the department of dental-care systems at the Penn dental school. He was also director of the health-care executive management programs at the Wharton School of Business and director of Penn's Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics.
Before becoming the Dentistry dean at the UW, he was professor and chair of the Department of Oral Pathology at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry, where he was a founding faculty member. He was also professor of General Pathology at Kentucky’s medical school, and was a diplomate of the American Board of Oral Pathology. The Detroit native received his DDS and a master's in pathology from the University of Michigan, where he met his future wife.
Dr. Rovin, whose career included cancer research, wrote more than 90 articles and book chapters and nine books. The health-care management programs he directed at Penn included one for hospital pharmacy executives and one for nurse executives, which he initiated.
After retiring nine years ago, he continued to consult and write, and published three books: Medicine and Business: Bridging the Gap and, with Russell Ackoff, Redesigning Society and Beating the System: Using Creativity to Outsmart Bureaucracies. He was also an accomplished woodworker, crafting all the furniture for his and his wife’s home early in their marriage.
Dr. Rovin is survived by his wife of 52 years, Nancy Gold Rovin; daughters Suzan and Lisa; a son, David; two sisters; and two grandsons. Private services were held.
(Photo and portions of this obituary appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer)
WSDA president visits school
7/17/09
Dr. David Houten and Dean Somerman tour the School of Dentistry clinics.
Dr. David Houten, President of the Washington State Dental Association, received an update on School of Dentistry activities during a day-long visit July 17 with Dean Somerman and other top School officials.
Dr. Houten received a tour of the School from Dean Somerman and also met with Dr. Dan Chan, Associate Dean of Clinical Services; Dr. Wendy Mouradian, Associate Dean of Regional Affairs; Dr. Sue Coldwell, Associate Dean of Student Life and Admissions; Christina Harrison, Associate Dean of Advancement and External Affairs, and Jean Garber, Assistant Dean of Finance and Administration.
In addition, Dr. Houten heard an update on the School's new comprehensive care clinical model from Dr. Chan and Dr. John Wataha, Chair of Restorative Dentistry. Dr. Houten and the associate deans also heard a briefing on health care reform legislation by student Brittany Bensch ('12), who was a National Health Policy Extern in Washington, D.C., for the American Student Dental Association this summer.
Dr. Houten concluded his visit by sitting in on Dean Somerman's research lab meeting.
