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UW School of Dentistry
News & Events
Runners go for gold, get it
7/14/09
A School of Dentistry team entered the inaugural Rock 'n' Roll Seattle Marathon & Half-Marathon on June 27 and raised about $3,000 to be donated to the Access to Care Fund, which supports student volunteer activities. Getting an early jump on the race the day before are team members (from left) Dr. Bea Gandara, Graham Meng ('11), Adam Jensen ('10), Braden Griswold ('10), Justin Newberry ('10), Caroline Teel ('11), Danielle Stimson ('11), Jana Seaman ('11), Elissa Johnson ('10), Alana Hagney ('10), Maureen Craig ('11) and Dr. Sami Dogan.
Dr. John Ingle lectures faculty, students
7/10/09
Dr. John Ingle (left) chats with Dr. James Johnson, Endodontics Chair, while reviewing his notes.
Dr. John Ingle, who founded the Endodontics-Periodontics Department at the UW and authored one of endodontics' most influential textbooks, visited the UW campus on July 10 to discuss three rare syndromes and reminisce about his days as an endodontics student and UW faculty member.
Speaking to Dentistry faculty and students in the Foege Genome Sciences Building auditorium, Dr. Ingle reviewed Papillon-Lefevre syndrome, which is marked by palmar-plantar hyperkeratosis and periodontal damage; hereditary hypophosphatemia, a phosphate shortage that manifests itself dentally through oversized tooth pulp; and Ingle's syndrome, or alveolar osteoporosis and pulpal death associated with compulsive bruxism.
Dr. Ingle also regaled his listeners with tales of growing up in Colville, Wash., where he was born in 1919, recalling how his grandmother told him tales of the American Indian wars and being robbed by bandits on a stagecoach. He received his DDS from Northwestern University in 1942. After graduate dental school at the University of Michigan and service as an Army dentist in World War II, he practiced briefly with his father in Colville. Then in 1948, he came to the UW, where "I learned by the seat of my pants" as an assistant professor.
He launched the Endodontics-Periodontics Department in the 1950s; it eventually split into two in 1962. At the UW, Dr. Ingle also hired Dr. Saul Schluger, another iconic figure at SOD, and spent 16 years at SOD, where he helped train other key figures in endodontics such as Drs. Eugene Natkin, Gerald Harrington and James Steiner. Beginning in 1964, he served as professor and dean at the University of Southern California School of Dentistry for eight years. Afterward, he spent six years with the Institute of Medicine at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C.
One of his favorites memories was of sharing a flight with the late Walt Disney from Palm Springs to Los Angeles, during which the two talked about Disney's making of "Tommy Tucker's Tooth." Disney made the short 1922 silent film about children's oral health, which Dr. Ingle showed to his listeners, while he was still a struggling cartoonist in Kansas City. Payment for the film allowed Disney to settle debts and head for Los Angeles, where he launched his historic career in animation and moviemaking.
The author of six editions of Ingle’s Endodontics, Dr. Ingle has also published more than 75 articles and lectured around the world. He is a diplomate and founding member of the American Board of Endodontics and a diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology. He served as president of the American Association of Endodontists from 1966-67, and in 1999 received its highest honor, the Edgar D. Coolidge Award.
Dr. Beirne to leave OMS chair
7/7/09
Dr. O. Ross Beirne, chair of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery for the last 10 years, will relinquish his position but will remain on faculty, Dean Somerman has announced. Dr. Beirne expressed a desire to devote more time to teaching, patient care and research, and noted that he had imposed a limit of 10 years as chair when he assumed the post.
"While I regret that he is giving up his chair, I am delighted that we will still benefit from his talents and abilities," Dean Somerman said. "We are indeed fortunate to have people of Dr. Beirne’s caliber."
Dr. Beirne will continue as chair until at least this November, when the School of Dentistry will have its seven-year review by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.
"I have been fortunate to work with dedicated and exceptional faculty, staff, residents, and students," Dr. Beirne said. "I leave my position tremendously confident that the Department will continue to be recognized for innovation, far-reaching dissemination of knowledge, and high-quality service to the community and profession."
Funding opportunity
7/1/09
The Northwest Center to Reduce Oral Health Disparities is soliciting applications from UW faculty for a developmental research project(s) consistent with the overall theme of NCROHD. Applications may propose:
- Exploratory and developmental clinical research to inform subsequent R01 type research
- Collection of pilot or feasibility data for subsequent intervention research
- Planning of a future intervention study
Potential applicants should review the NCROHD’s conceptual model and focus on macro, community, interpersonal, and/or individual social or cultural determinants of oral health disparities.
Letter of Intent Due: Aug. 1, 2009
Application Deadline: Sept. 1, 2009
Starting Date: As early as Jan. 1, 2010
Period of Grant: 2 years maximum
Funding Limit: $200,000 total direct costs; 1-2 projects will be funded.
For more information, see the NCROHD Web site (http://depts.washington.edu/nacrohd/news_events) and the conceptual model of Patrick and colleagues (BMC Oral Health, 2006 6:[Suppl I]:S4) (http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6831/6/S1/S4).
Center Contacts: Colleen E. Huebner, PhD, MPH (colleenh@u.washington.edu) or Peter Milgrom, DDS (dfrc@u.washington.edu).
Rothwell Awards go to Drs. Nash, Verhoef
6/15/09
From left: Dr. Douglas Verhoef, Dr. Brent Nash, Dr. Patricia Rothwell and Dr. John Townsend gather after the presentation of awards to Drs. Verhoef and Nash.
Dr. Brent Nash and Dr. Douglas Verhoef received the Bruce R. Rothwell Distinguished Teacher Award at the conclusion of a faculty retreat June 15. Established in 2001, the award honors faculty members who have made significant contributions to the teaching program in the School of Dentistry. It commemorates Dr. Bruce R. Rothwell, a former chair of Restorative Dentistry and chief of service of dentistry-oral surgery at the UW Medical Center who died in 2000 at the age of 52. The award was established by his widow, Dr. Patricia Rothwell, and friends and colleagues.
Dr. Nash, who retired last year, spent 50 years as an affiliate faculty member in Prosthodontics after earning his DDS at the UW. Known as an advocate for students and a trusted counselor, he was honored by the Class of 2008, which included his 1958 class portrait with its own class picture.
Dr. Verhoef is Director of Clinical Restorative Dentistry for third- and fourth-year dental students, and has received several “outstanding teacher” awards. He has been a reviewer for the editorial board of The Journal of Operative Dentistry since 2001. He is a Fellow in the American College of Prosthodontists, and a member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Honor Society.
The awards were presented by Dr. Patricia Rothwell, who is also a dentist, and Dr. John Townsend of Restorative Dentistry.
Faculty retreat held
6/15/09
Dean Martha Somerman chats with Dr. Tim DeRouen during a break at the faculty retreat.
School of Dentistry faculty, staff and students received an update on budget issues, accreditation and other matters during the School's annual faculty retreat on June 15 at Foege Auditorium. Dean Martha Somerman and Assistant Dean Jean Garber outlined the situation facing the school in the wake of major budget cuts, which will sharply curtail the school's ability to bring in new faculty and researchers and will also pose a test for staff, whose ranks will be thinner. In addition, a 50 percent university-mandated reduction in endowment distribution through fiscal year 2013 will significantly affect faculty, students and development and program funds.
The retreat also featured a review by Dr. Tim DeRouen, Executive Associate Dean, of the School's preparation for this year's accreditation review. Dr. Dan Chan, Associate Dean for Clinical Services, outlined progress made to enhance the School's comprehensive clinical care, with input from Dr. Ed Truelove, Oral Medicine chair, and Dr. Ricardo Schwedhelm of Restorative Dentistry. Dr. Wendy Mouradian, Associate Dean for Regional Affairs, reviewed the RIDE program and showed brief clips of students from an upcoming video about RIDE, while Dr. John Evans of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery discussed steps to improve training in ethics and professionalism.
Benefit lecture raises endowment funds
6/12/09
From left: Dean Martha Somerman joins Dr. Dave Mathews, Dr. Vince Kokich, Dr. Frank Spear and UW President Mark Emmert at the benefit lecture in Seattle's Benaroya Hall on June 12.
A benefit lecture by three noted School of Dentistry alumni attracted more than $166,000 in direct contributions and pledges, plus thousand more from lecture fees, on June 12. Drs. Vince Kokich, Dave Mathews and Frank Spear, who have lectured on interdisciplinary dentistry around the world for 25 years, gave the lecture to help establish an endowment for a new part-time visiting faculty position at the School that would help faculty sharpen their teaching skills. Aside from the funds pledged or contributed at the event, the three lecturers had already planned to donate the fees from the all-day presentation at Benaroya Hall. During the lecture, they also announced that they would pledge $100,000 toward the endowment. At the lecture, Dean Martha Somerman applauded the trio's generosity and hailed their contribution as a significant step in establishing a new standard of instruction at the School. In addition, the lecture featured a dramatic surprise visit by University of Washington President Mark Emmert, who thanked the lecturers and attendees for their commitment and support.
Graduation Day for Class of 2009
6/6/09
Class of 2009 graduates attend their hooding ceremony at Meany Hall.
Dr. J. Martin Anderson gives the keynote speech.
Members of the School of Dentistry’s Class of 2009 received their doctoral hoods at graduation ceremonies on June 6 at the University of Washington’s Meany Hall. Fifty-five class members were invested with hoods. Another 32 postdoctoral training candidates were to receive their advanced degrees separately. Keynote speaker Dr. J. Martin Anderson of Restorative Dentistry faculty addressed the themes of personal responsibility and unstinting work. “Excellence is not an easy road. It is a road of diligence, hard work and personal responsibility,” he said. At the start of the program, Dean Martha J. Somerman saluted the graduates, saying that they had taken major steps toward becoming “master clinicians.” Class President Parker J.C. Haley also delivered brief remarks. After the hooding ceremonies, a reception followed in the Meany Hall lobby.
Honors and Awards assembly
6/5/09
Dan Bakko receives the Washington State Dental Association's Fourth Year Award from Dr. David Houten, WSDA president.
Graduating student Dan Bakko and Restorative faculty member Dr. J. Martin Anderson received awards from the Washington State Dental Association at the School of Dentistry’s annual Honors and Awards assembly on June 5 in Hogness Auditorium. Bakko, who affixed “Dr.” to his name at the next day’s Hooding Ceremony, received the WSDA’s Fourth Year Award for character, leadership and high scholastic achievement. Dr. Anderson received the WSDA Faculty Award for his contributions to the School and to the WSDA.
In addition, Janet Romero of the Class of 2013 received the Washington Dental Service Foundation’s Burton H. Goodman Presidential Scholarship, a four-year award annual given to an incoming student. The WDS Foundation recently reconfigured the award, establishing an endowment that will allow it to be made in perpetuity.
Following is a complete list of awards:
Academy of Dental Materials Award: Andrew Heidergott
Academy of Dentistry for Persons with Disabilities Award: Daniel Bakko
Academy of Operative Dentistry Award: Julie Fuller
Academy of Osseointegration Outstanding Dental Student in Implant Dentistry Award: Laura Bruya
Alaska Native Dental Student Scholarship: Rolanda Ward
Alpha Omega Scholarship Award: Angela Dunn
American Academy of Dental Practice Administration Award: Jenne Stabbert
American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry Award: Ross Austin
American Academy of Gold Foil Operators Achievement Award: Angela Dunn, Laura Bruya
American Academy of Implant Dentistry Dental Student Award: Briel Loiseau
American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Award: Jason Dashow
American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Award: Steven Kwan
American Academy of Oral Medicine Award: Rebecca Esterly
American Academy of Orofacial Pain Outstanding Senior Award: Lindsey Green
American Academy of Periodontology Award: Joanna Lin-Yao Sun
American Academy of Periodontology Faculty Award: Dr. I-Chung “Johnny” Wang
American Association of Endodontists Award: Brandon Yamamura
American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Dental Implant Student Award: Jason Dashow
American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Dental Student Award: Peter Gauger
American Association of Oral Biologists Award: Steven Kwan
American Association of Orthodontists Award: Adam Welmerink
American Association of Public Health Dentistry Award: Michael Lee
American College of Dentists F. Burns Guthrie Memorial Scholarship: Angela Dunn
American College of Dentists Ferrier Memorial Prize: Briel Loiseau
American College of Dentists Outstanding Leadership Award: Sara Cassidy
American College of Prosthodontists Undergraduate Achievement Award: Daniel Bakko
American Student Dental Association Award of Excellence: Christy Jen
American Student Dental Association Faculty Award: Dr. Beatrice Gandara
Award for Excellence in Prosthodontics: Briel Loiseau
Ben and Betty Zukor Scholarship: Justin Newberry
Brian Toolson Endowed Scholarship for Excellence in Removable Prosthodontics: Kyle Ettinger, Casey Gamache, Lee Knight
Bryan and Linda Edgar Scholarship: Richard Baldwin
Carr-Downing Smiling DDS Scholarship: Eric Cadwell
Charles V. Callihan Memorial Scholarship: Blake Hillstead, Roderick Kim
Certificate of Merit/American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Predoctoral Student Award: Michael Lee
Charles L. Bolender Prosthodontic Award: Daniel Bakko
Dennis P. Duskin Inspirational Award: Jason Dashow
Dental Alumni Association Scholarship: Jace Beattie, Heather Biles, Diana Cortes, Fesaha Gebrehiwot, Richard Hompesch, Adam Jensen, Elissa Johnson, Elizabeth Kim, Christopher Leyster, Kate Makienko, Patty Martin, Minh-An Nguyen, Aaron Shearman, Oleg Shvartsur, Joseph Stout, Igor Tikhonov, Daniel Tremblay, Robert White, Austin Wisecup, Seung Yu
Dentsply Student Clinician Program Award: Austin Wisecup
Dr. Jack E. Nichols Award for Leadership: Parker Haley
Dr. Tony Michael Ponti Memorial Scholarship: Lee Knight
Donald E. Compaan Service Scholarship: Troy Robeck
Eleanor Bushee Senior Dental Student Award: Sara Cassidy
Hanau “Best of the Best” Prosthodontic Award: Daniel Bakko
Hospital Dentistry Award: Rebecca Piha
International College of Dentists Dr. Frank Burns Guthrie Memorial Scholarship Award: Elizabeth Kim, Karl “Kipp” Pennau
International College of Dentists Student Leadership Award: Andrew Heidergott
International Congress of Oral Implantologists Award: Laura Bruya
Jack Nicholls Clinical Research Award: Casey Gamache
John C. Kois Prize in Restorative Clinical Dentistry: Angela Dunn
Johnny N. Johnson Student Government Leadership Award: Sara Cassidy
Kirby and Erna Speyer Memorial Scholarship: Cam Do, Sheila Farahani
Mark and Barbara Walker Endowed Scholarship: Craig Smith
Maurice J. Hickey Scholarship: Al Abu, Phillip Cronin, Anthony Gardiner, Ara Ghandhari, Corbett Haas, Robert Piñon, Rick Raney, Jason Tanguay
Northwest Dentists Insurance Company Endowed Scholarship: Russell Johnson
Omicron Kappa Upsilon Certificates of Recognition: Whitney Bator, Daniel Bickel, Blake Davis, Ambre Ehlert, Christopher Kleist, Daniel Schruth, Casey Gamache, Kyle Ettinger, Lee Knight, Minh-An Nguyen, Austin Wisecup, Jace Beattie, Richard Hompesch, Elizabeth Kim, Kate Makienko, Craig Smith, Rob White
Omicron Kappa Upsilon Scholarship Awards: Daniel Schruth, Daniel Bickel, Casey Gamage, Kyle Ettinger, Craig Smith, Richard Hompesch
Omicron Kappa Upsilon Membership: Angela Dunn, Adam Welmerink, Laura Bruya, Sara Cassidy, Colby Eckland, Karl “Kipp” Pennau, Daniel Bakko
Omicron Kappa Upsilon William H. Kramer Award: Casey Gamache
Pacific Continental Bank Scholarship to Address Oral Health Disparities: Azmera Solomon
Permanente Dental Associates Recognition Award: Terence Adler, Liberty Franklin, Joel Saulter, Mark Schutte, Timothy Richardson
Pierre Fouchard Academy Dental Student Award: Diana Cortes
Pierre Fauchard Academy Dental Student Scholarship: Matthew Epstein
Pierre Fauchard Academy Senior Student Award: Adam Welmerink
Psi Omega Scholarship: Brittany Bensch, Elena Borodyansky, Alexandria Brent, Brianne Butler, Ashley Choi, Matthew Epstein, Tyler Lee, Ly Nguyen, Ann Schefter, Kevin Sweeney, Tory Sylvestrin, David Ta, Adam Vawter, Jake Weissman, Dean Whiting
Quintessence Award for Clinical Achievement in Periodontics: Meghan Crawford
Quintessence Award for Clinical Achievement in Restorative Dentistry: Sara Cassidy
Quintessence Award for Research Achievement: Steven Kwan
Randle L. Carr Memorial Scholarship: Jason Tanguay
Research Advisory Committee Student Recognition: Brittany Bensch, Emily Chu, Maureen Craig, Casey Gamache, Ara Ghandhari, Roderick Kim, Chris Leyster, Graham Meng, Nicole Murray, Linh Nguyen, Alice Nunes, Oleg Shvartsur, Jana Seaman, Eli Thornock, Austin Wisecup
Research Advisory Committee Travel Award: Emily Chu, Ara Ghandhari
Restorative Dentistry Award for Excellence in Fixed Prosthodontics: Briel Loiseau
Richard Rotter Scholarship: Michael Holm
Robert H. Johnson Scholarship: Kyle Vessey
Ronald G. Fitzer Memorial Scholarship: Troy Robeck
Seattle Pediatric Dentistry Study Club David B. Law Award: Christy Jen
Stephen M. Talbot Memorial Scholarship: Mikaely Moore
Student Council Student Recognition Award: Lindsey Green
Washington Association of Women Dentists Award: Sara Cassidy
Washington Academy of General Dentistry and William Howard Student Competition Award: Colby Eckland (first place), Daniel Bakko (second), Jason Tanguay (third), David Stevens (fourth), Jason Bressler (fifth)
Washington Academy of General Dentistry Appreciation Award: Phillip Cronin
Washington Academy of General Dentistry Award: Angela Dunn
Washington Chapter of the Academy of General Dentistry Service Award: Phillip Cronin
Washington Dental Service Foundation Burton H. Goodman Presidential Scholarship: Janet Romero
Washington State Dental Association Faculty Award: Dr. J. Martin Anderson
Washington State Dental Association Student Award: Daniel Bakko
Western Society of Periodontology Award: Colby Eckland
CLASS OF 2009 AWARDS
Full-Time Faculty: Dr. J. Martin Anderson
Part-Time Faculty: Dr. Bill McHugh
Staff: Carol Brown
CLASS OF 2010 AWARDS
Full-Time Faculty: Dr. Douglas Verhoef
Part-Time Faculty: Dr. Bill McHugh
Staff: Marlene Snyder
CLASS OF 2011 AWARDS
Full-Time Faculty: Dr. Dolphine Oda
Part-Time Faculty: Dr. Sang Bae, Dr. Scott John Neuhaus
Staff: Bill Leow, Jeff Croom
CLASS OF 2012 AWARDS
Special Recognition: Matthew Salton
Full-Time Faculty: Dr. John Wataha
Part-Time Faculty: Dr. Chris Lewis
Staff: Carol Brown
SOD in the news: April, May
6/1/09
RIDE’s T-733 distance-learning classroom featured in University Week, April 9; UW Daily, April 29
Addition of dental clinics to RIDE network in Spokane Spokesman-Review news brief, April 15
Rob Piñon is SOD's first Pacific Continental Bank diversity scholar, in University Week, April 30
Benefit lecture by Drs. Kokich, Mathews and Spear in University Week, May 21
ECOH “wall-breaking” in University Week, May 21
Honors at OKU banquet
5/29/09
Seven graduating School of Dentistry students were inducted into the Omicron Kappa Upsilon dental honorary society at its annual banquet on May 26. They were Angela L. Dunn, Adam D. Welmerink, Laura J. Bruya, Sara E. Cassidy, Colby A. Eckland, Karl E. Pennau and Daniel W. Bakko. Dr. Andy Marashi was also inducted as a faculty member. In addition, $1,000 scholarships were awarded to each of the top two students in first-, second- and third-year classes. Daniel G. Schruth and Daniel L. Bickel were the first-year recipients; Casey S. Gamache and Kyle S. Ettinger were the second-year recipients; and Craig L. Smith and Richard W. Hompesch III were the third-year recipients. Casey Gamache also received the Dr. William S. Kramer Award, which includes a $500 scholarship. All scholarship money is donated by community dentists and SOD faculty who are members of OKU.
Dr. Truelove wins WSDA post
5/29/09
Dr. Edmond Truelove, Chair of the Department of Oral Medicine, has been elected to a three-year term in the 2009 Washington State Dental Association’s House of Delegates. The WSDA has been one of the voices of dentistry in Washington state since its inception in 1887.
Bensch is ADA delegate
5/29/09
SOD student Brittany Bensch was selected as an Alternate Delegate to the 2009 American Dental Association’s House of Delegates during the ADA’s annual session in Honolulu last fall. She will be one of five dental students representing the American Student Dental Association on the ADA House floor.
School's budget cut 10 percent
4/29/09
The School of Dentistry will absorb a 10 percent permanent reduction in its budget during the coming 2009-10 fiscal biennium, according to Dean Somerman. The budget cut, necessitated by the Washington Legislature’s reduction in funding for the UW, was handed down by UW Provost Phyllis Wise on April 29 after meetings with each UW academic unit, the Senate Committee on Planning and Budgeting, the University Budget Committee and others. Cuts ranged from 9 percent to 14 percent for academic units. The School of Dentistry will receive a one-time temporary allocation of about $250,000 to offset some of the impact on educational programs, Dean Somerman said. She also noted that Jean Garber, the School’s Assistant Dean for Finance and Administration, will meet with department chairs and associate deans to finalize budget cuts. Questions about the cuts should be directed to Assistant Dean Garber at jgarber@u.washington.edu.
Dean's Club honors alums, students
4/29/09
Dr. Bryan Edgar and Dr. Linda Edgar receive their Honorary Lifetime Member Award
from Dr. Susan Hollinsworth, president of the Dean's Club Board of Trustees.
(Photos by Gavin W. Sisk/University of Washington)
Dr. Carrie York and Dr. Ed Dolan present the Distinguished Alumnus Award
to Dr. James C. Steiner.
Dr. Hollinsworth presents the Jack E. Nichols Student Leadership Award
to Parker Haley.
The School of Dentistry's Dean's Club honored three alumni and two students on April 25 at its 25th-anniversary dinner at McCaw Hall. Dr. Bryan Edgar ('76)and Dr. Linda Edgar ('92) received the 2009 Dean's Club Honorary Lifetime Member Award in recognition of their efforts as donors, fund-raisers and affiliate faculty members. Dr. James C. Steiner ('66 MS Endo), the school's retired Associate Dean for Services and Admissions, received the 2009 Distinguished Alumnus Award. Parker Haley, president of the Class of 2009, received the Jack E. Nichols Student Leadership Award, while fourth-year student Sarah Cassidy, president of the Student Council, received the Johnny N. Johnson Student Leadership Award. A crowd of more than 200 people enjoyed live music before and after dinner, dancing, and a special performance by the UW Men's Glee Club. Attendees also watched a new video supporting the Dean's Club fund-raising mission.
Runners, support sought
4/28/09
The School of Dentistry running team seeks participants and support for the inaugural Seattle Rock and Roll Marathon/Half Marathon on June 27. The school's Access to Care team will field entries in the full and half-marathon races, hoping to raise $300 per runner to support oral health education, prevention and treatment for community residents who have limited or no access to dental care. Register here for the race as an individual runner. To receive weekly e-mail updates on training, group runs and volunteer opportunities, e-mail Adam Jensen (Class of 2010) at adamgjensen@gmail.com. Visit here to donate and support the team's goals.
Oda wins UW teaching award
4/8/09
Dr. Dolphine Oda of the School of Dentistry has been named a 2009 winner of a University of Washington Distinguished Teaching Award. She is one of seven UW faculty members to receive the coveted award this year. Dr. Oda, a Professor of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, will be honored along with the other winners at a special recognition ceremony at 3:30 p.m. June 11 in Meany Hall, with a reception to be held afterward in the foyer. The ceremony is free and open to the public. In addition, University Week will publish a special issue profiling all the winners on June 4, and an article on Dr. Oda will appear in the next edition of SOD’s Impressions online newsletter.
SOD in the news: March
4/8/09
Dr. Joel Berg quoted on children’s dental health in Newcastle News, March 6
Dr. Sue Coldwell’s research on children’s craving for sweets, in Science Daily March 20, BBC News March 24, HealthDay.com March 25 (and picked up by Yahoo! News), Perfumer & Flavorist March 25, Daily Mail March 25, Confectionary News March 26, Chemical and Engineering News March 30
Dr. Lisa Heaton on dental fears, on KCPQ, March 28
Kois delivers Jones Lectureship
Dr. John C. Kois (second from right) receives a certificate
of recognition from Dr. Ed Dolan, UW Dental Alumni
Association president, who is accompanied by Dr. David Houten (left),
president of the Washington State Dental Association, and
Dr. Dexter Barnes, chair of the Dean Jones Lectureship Committee.
(Photo by Gavin W. Sisk/University of Washington)
3/30/09
Nearly 800 people attended the 39th Dean Ernest M. Jones Memorial Lectureship at UW's Meany Hall on March 27 as Dr. John C. Kois presented a program titled "New Challenges in Treatment Planning: A Paradigm Shift." Dr. Kois, who practices prosthodontics in Tacoma, received his DMD from the University of Pennsylvania. He holds an MSD and Certificate in Periodontal Prosthodontics from the UW School of Dentistry, where he is an affiliate professor in the Graduate Restorative Program. More than 200 people at the lecture also attended a luncheon on campus, during which SOD Dean Martha Somerman delivered an update on recent SOD accomplishments. The lectureship is named for SOD's first dean.
Student wins policy externship
2/27/09
First-year SOD student Brittany Bensch has been selected as a Washington, D.C. National Health Policy Extern by the American Student Dental Association.
Bensch, 24, will work at the American Dental Association offices in Washington, D.C., from June 15 to July 10, conducting research on national health policy. The student association is an affiliate of the ADA.
“This student was chosen from a competitive field of extremely qualified national candidates and will play an important role in achieving the association’s goals for the coming year,” wrote ASDA Executive Director Nancy R. Honeycutt in a letter announcing the appointment.
Bensch was one of eight students selected for externships. She and another student will work in Washington, D.C., while the other six will work in Chicago, where ASDA is based.
Bensch, who is from Tacoma, attended undergraduate school at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn.
Deans, students visit legislators
2/17/09
Top SOD administrators and students met with key legislators in Olympia on Feb. 13 to urge continued support for the school amid the state’s worsening budget crisis.
Dean Martha Somerman and Associate Deans Daniel Chan and Wendy Mouradian met with legislators including Sen. Rodney Tom, vice chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, and Sen. Chris Marr of the Senate Health & Long-Term Care Committee. The deans also called on Rep. Eileen Cody, chair of the House Health Care & Wellness Committee, who spoke briefly at a breakfast preceding the legislator visits.
The Dental Action Day activities were organized by the Washington State Dental Association, which also enlisted 15 UW Dentistry students to visit legislators. WSDA officials and private dentists also joined the effort.
The meetings came amid word that the state’s budget deficit for the 2009-11 biennium, which had been forecast at about $6 billion earlier, was now expected to reach $8.5 billion or more.
Dr. Truelove appears in NY Times
2/3/09
Dr. Ed Truelove, SOD Chair of Oral Medicine, was featured in a New York Times story on Feb. 3 about oral cancer screening tests and devices. The story explored a debate over the effectiveness of the devices, which use rinses, dyes and different types of lights to detect abnormal cells. It cited Dr. Truelove's study of the effectiveness of a scanning device called the VELscope, and quoted his view that a low-cost screening test could be useful for people at increased risk of oral cancer.
Pre-doc clinic featured on KOMO4 News
1/30/09
Dr. Daniel Chan, Associate Dean for Clinical Services, and the SOD pre-doctoral clinic were featured on KOMO4-TV News on Jan. 23. Reporter Connie Thompson's "Problem Solvers" team visited the clinic to show viewers how they could save money on their dental treatment while receiving top-flight care. To see the video, click on this link, then click on the "Watch the story" link.
SOD in the media: January
Dental Fears clinic in Seattle Metropolitan magazine, January issue (also on Fox Q13 in December)
Dr. Joel Berg featured in Scholastic Parent & Child magazine, January issue
Dr. Wendy Mouradian and national pediatric oral health summit featured in American Association of Pediatrics News, January issue
Dean Somerman on KOMO-AM discussing tooth regeneration, Jan. 6
SOD Best of 2008 in University Week, Jan. 8
Ortho wire sculpture contest in University Week, Jan. 15
Dr. Daniel Chan and SOD pre-doctoral clinic featured on KOMO4 News, Jan. 23
Chan, Coldwell receive WDS appointments
12/9/08
The Washington Dental Service (WDS) and the School of Dentistry have announced two key academic appointments. The selection committee for the WDS Endowed Chair in Dentistry has recommended the appointment of Dr. Daniel Chan to that post, and Dr. Susan Coldwell was named the new Washington Dental Service Endowed Professor, The WDS chair had been held by Dr. Jim Steiner, who retired from SoD in November. The position reflects a commitment by WDS to excellence in oral health care, research in practice administration, and education at the pre-doctoral, post-doctoral, and practitioner levels.
“I am deeply honored to accept this endowment,” Dr. Chan said. “I thank the leaders in Washington Dental Service and our University for the opportunity. The extra resource is critical especially in this time of budget crisis.” Discussing his vision for the chair, Dr. Chan said: “My immediate plan is to reorganize the pre-doctoral dental practice management course and move it earlier in the curriculum. The reorganization will allow the students more time to think and plan about their future and act accordingly. With the help of the endowment, we can invite more external speakers and incorporate new projects to help the students get a taste of the real business world.
“The longer-term plan is to have an annual continued education program focused on practice management and geared towards new graduates and practitioners. Dental management is changing at a very fast pace and we as a profession must learn to cope with the many new challenges. “I thank my predecessor and the wonderful staff here at the School of Dentistry for laying down the solid groundwork, and I look forward to a fruitful relationship with Washington Dental Service.”
Dr. Coldwell’s post focuses on excellence in oral health care, research in issues associated with improving oral health disparities, and education at the pre-doctoral, post-doctoral and practitioner levels. It was previously held by Dr. Douglass Jackson, who left SoD in July to become chief of the new Center for Diversity and Health Equity at Seattle Children’s hospital.
“Across the nation, untreated dental caries remains a significant problem in children aged 2 to 5 years,” Dr. Coldwell said. “Our state has been a leader in addressing the needs of this population through the Access to Baby and Child Dentistry program.” The program is funded by grants from the Washington Dental Service Foundation, the Department of Social and Health Services, and through the efforts of local dental societies and the University of Washington.
Dr. Coldwell added: “In collaboration with the Northwest/Alaska Center to Reduce Oral Health Disparities and the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, I have been working with other researchers and students to evaluate additional strategies aimed at increasing the use of preventive dental services by young children. We recently completed an evaluation of an oral health program implemented during well-child checks in a large, community health center. Currently, we are assessing the needs for an intervention delivered by oral health professionals to address food insecurity at a dental clinic for low-income children in Seattle. The Washington Dental Service Endowed Professorship will facilitate this and future studies of novel approaches to addressing oral health disparities. In addition, the Professorship is supporting efforts to increase the geographic, economic, and racial diversity of our dental students through dental pipeline efforts throughout our region.”
Professor Emeritus Benjamin C. Moffett is mourned
11/13/08
Professor Emeritus Benjamin C. Moffett, a highly regarded orthodontics faculty member at the School of Dentistry for more than 30 years, died Oct. 1 at the age of 84 after a long illness.
A resident of Kenmore, he was born in Spring Lake, N.J. Dr. Moffett served in the Army Signal Corps in Europe during World War II, and during his UW service from 1954 to 1983 held university and community administrative posts and received numerous awards. He received his B.A. from Syracuse University in zoology and a Ph.D. from New York University in anatomy.
In addition to his tenure at the UW, he also held faculty appointments at the University of Alabama Medical Center, Wayne State University College of Medicine, the University of Nijmegen in the Netherlands, and the Medical University of South Carolina. He was named Professor Emeritus at the UW in 1993.
He held memberships in the American Association of Anatomists, International Association of Dental Research, International Society of Craniofacial Biology, and the Alabama Society of Medical History, the last of which he served as president. His honors include the Jerome Schweitzer Research Award from the New York Academy of Prosthodontics and honorary faculty membership in the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Honor Society.
Dr. Moffett is survived by his wife, two brothers, three children and two grandchildren.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Ben Moffett Award, UW Orthodontic Alumni Association, P.O. Box 31553, Seattle, WA 98103. The award goes to orthodontic graduate students for research and travel.
Summit on Children’s Oral Health
More than 100 participants convened in Chicago on Nov. 7-8 for the first national summit on children’s oral health convened by a major medical organization. SoD Associate Dean Dr. Wendy Mouradian, director of the Regional Initiative in Dental Education program, co-chaired the summit, which was staged by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The event drew representatives of medical and dental organizations, policy experts and leading oral health researchers, who discussed the progress made in meeting recommendations of the 2000 Surgeon General’s report on oral health and the National Call to Action to Promote Oral Health. The summit received coverage by the Chicago Tribune in health reporter Judith Graham’s "Triage" blog.
State of the School
10/28/08
Saying, “This is no time to accept the status quo,” Dean Martha Somerman affirmed the UW School of Dentistry’s mission of social responsibility and patient care, progressive oral health training and research leadership in her annual State of the School speech on Oct. 28. In a 50-minute talk to dental school faculty, staff and students, the dean reviewed the school’s strategic plan and vision as it confronts a worsening national economy, reduced state funding and spreading budget cuts.
“It’s a tough time,” Somerman said. But she said it was still crucial for the school to address the issue of unequal access to medical care. Somerman talked of a failing national health care system and noted that in fiscal year 2008, the School of Dentistry has already delivered $2.4 million in uncompensated patient care. The dean said addressing the growing disparities in oral health and in access to care among underserved U.S. populations will pose a major challenge.
The dean briefly discussed several major initiatives by the school, including the Early Childhood Oral Health (ECOH) program. The $18 million program, which is being funded without state aid, is aimed at infants and toddlers. With the help of a $5 million grant from Washington Dental Service (WDS) and the WDS Foundation, ECOH plans to open a 28,000-square-foot treatment facility at Warren G. Magnuson Park in September 2010. Somerman also cited the Regional Initiative in Dental Education (RIDE), a new program that rotates dental students into training alongside students in other health professions. The program got underway in August with the enrollment of eight new dental students at the Riverpoint campus of Washington State University Spokane.
Along with RIDE, the dean outlined four other major areas of emphasis for the coming year:
- Comprehensive care, with a task force on implementation to be chaired by Dr. Daniel Chan, the school’s newly appointed associate dean for clinical services
- Building a financial reserve
- Developing infrastructure and facilities
- Accreditation, with a site visit planned for 2009
The dean said no accreditation difficulties were anticipated. Instead, she challenged faculty and staff to view the process as a chance to evaluate and improve the school’s programs. Somerman discussed the makeup of the school’s student body, noting continuing efforts to enroll more students from underrepresented minorities. “We have to create an environment at the school that’s welcoming to a diverse way of thinking,” she said. “I think there are still a lot of growing pains, and I think we can do a better job.” After a brief review of current research at the school, Somerman said that she expects 2008 year-end funding totals to increase from 2007. But challenges exist here too, she said, citing a 10 percent cut in noncompetitive funding renewal.
Critical funding needs will include faculty recruiting support, infrastructure, and unrestricted operational support, she said. Somerman highlighted the recently concluded Campaign UW drive, which raised more than $22 million for the School of Dentistry. The gifts, which brought in more than $500,000 in matching UW funds, helped create the following:
- A new chair
- Three new professorships
- A new endowment for faculty development in Restorative Dentistry
- A permanent fund for clinical research
- The Bruce R. Rothwell Distinguished Teacher Awards
See Dean Somerman’s State of the School talk on video
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Dental Ethics Lecture: David Nash
10/24/08
Dr. David A. Nash, a noted advocate of dental ethics reform, urged a more patient-focused philosophy in a talk on Oct. 24 before about 60 people in Foege Auditorium on the UW campus. Dr. Nash, delivering the School of Dentistry’s Scholars in Dentistry Ethics Lectureship, said a shift to a more business-oriented model has helped erode dentistry’s sense of purpose, and he challenged the profession to seek a wider social mission. His talk, which was also sponsored by the American College of Dentists, was titled “A Larger Sense of Purpose: Dentistry and Society.” Dr. Nash said dentistry should reaffirm two important principles: Patients are an end in themselves, not merely a means to an end; and the profession is responsible for ensuring access to oral care for all members of society.
Noting the debate in the health professions over the importance of empathy in patient care, he said two factors are diminishing dentistry’s sense of purpose: a concept of dentistry as a business rather than a profession, and the neglect of many people who are in need of oral health care. Dr. Nash is William R. Willard Professor of Dental Education and Professor of Pediatric Dentistry and Professional Ethics at the University of Kentucky’s College of Dentistry.
Watch video of Dr. David A. Nash’s lecture
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Dental Camp 2008
10/27/08
Marisol Benitez, a junior at Sunnyside High School in Yakima County, prepares an impression.
(photo by Gavin Sisk/UW Health Sciences)
Twenty-one high-school students from the Yakima Valley area sampled the oral health profession on Oct. 25 at the School of Dentistry’s annual Dental Camp. During a half-day session in the school’s Simulation Laboratory, students made plaster casts and wax-ups under the direction of Dr. Douglass Jackson and 13 other volunteer instructors. The volunteers included SoD students, dental hygiene students from Seattle Central Community College, and dental assisting students from Seattle Vocational Institute. The camp, jointly sponsored by SoD, Washington Dental Service Foundation and Yakima Valley ConneX, seeks to increase minority representation in the oral health field and also spark wider student interest in math and science.
SOD protein research featured
10/13/08
The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research Web site has featured a study outlining a new computational approach to protein function analysis. SOD researchers Dr. Jeremy Horst, a DDS/PhD student in Oral Biology, and Dr. Ram Samudrala, adjunct associate professor in Oral Biology and associate professor of Microbiology, were part of a five-member team whose work was published Sept. 26 in the journal PLoS Computational Biology. The researchers devised a meta-functional signature (MFS), which quantifies the functional importance of amino acid residues on the basis of sequence conservation, evolutionary conservation, structural stability and amino acid type.
