Summer 2015 - Word of Mouth by Augusta University

GEORGIA REGENTS UNIVERSITY

MOUTH WORD OF

SUMMER 2015

COLLEGE of DENTAL MEDICINE

Globetrotting Faculty, Students, Alumni Forge Connections Worldwide

MOUTH WORD OF

GEORGIA REGENTS UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE of DENTAL MEDICINE Word of Mouth is produced biannually by the Georgia Regents University College of Dental Medicine in collaboration with the Division of Communications and Marketing.

SUMMER 2015

Opened Wide News at a Glance............................................................................ 2 Faculty Bites..................................................................................... 4

30 Dean Carol A. Lefebvre, DDS, MS Provost Gretchen B. Caughman, PhD

About the Cover: Globetrotting faculty, students, and alumni returned from their trips not only with memories, but with photos they shared with Word of Mouth, including images from Italy (cover and pages 8-11) and Thailand (page 12).

GRU Vice President Communications and Marketing Jack Evans College of Dental Medicine Communications Manager Donna Bellino Editor Christine Hurley Deriso

Mission of Mercy............................................................................. 5 ‘Making Somebody’s World a Better Place’ Student Bites.................................................................................... 6 Globetrotting................................................................................... 8 Faculty, Students, Alumni Forge Connections Worldwide Holistic Home................................................................................... 14 Whitefoord Clinic Addresses Gamut of Needs Jag20................................................................................................... 18 Three Alums Honored as Emerging Leaders Faculty Spotlight............................................................................ 20 Unprecedented Opportunties: Cutler Laying Groundwork to Enhance Faculty, Student Research

DESIGN & PRODUCTION P.J. Hayes Design

PHOTOGRAPHY Anthony Carlie Phil Jones David Russell

Student Voice.................................................................................. 24 A Concrete Difference Doing the Work............................................................................... 26 Distinguished Alumnus a Tireless Advocate for Patients

WRITER Christine Hurley Deriso Georgia Regents University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran status, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation in its programs and activities as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other application statutes and university policies. ©2015 Georgia Regents University

Reunited!............................................................................................ 28 Alumni Weekend a Bona Fide Blast Commencement 2015................................................................... 30 Class Notes....................................................................................... 32 Hinman Support.............................................................................. 33

gru.edu/dentalmedicine

from the

dean

Dr. Carol A. Lefebvre

Dear Readers, It’s not every day you get a hug and a kiss from two elephants in Thailand. That was among the countless unforgettable experiences of College of Dental Medicine students, faculty, and alumni who participated in various international trips recently. We are so pleased to invite you to join a few of them vicariously as we chronicle their travels in this edition of Word of Mouth. Whether the travel represented student exchange, continuing education, or volunteer dentistry, all of the participants cited transformational experiences that have forever broadened their worldviews and perspectives. I was among the travelers, so I can attest to the life-changing power of slipping out of one’s comfort zone and immersing oneself in a totally different culture. We are so happy to make these experiences available for many of our CDM community. We hope you enjoy “visiting” these exotic locales as much as we did. Education is a big part of our international offerings (both giving and receiving it), but another huge component is altruism: rolling up our sleeves for those less fortunate, wherever they may be. Yes, in some cases, this volunteerism takes place thousands of miles from home, but service opportunities are found in our own back yard as well, and we never hesitate to take advantage of them. The CDM community was well-represented in many recent volunteer efforts, including the Georgia Mission of Mercy and Give Kids a Smile Day. Read also about these closer-to-home initiatives in this edition of the magazine. Of course, our various spring festivities, including Commencement and Alumni Weekend, are highlighted in these pages as well. We are incredibly proud of our 76 new graduates, 51 percent of whom will go directly to residency programs. We wish them Godspeed as they embark on exciting new challenges representing our state, nation, and world as second-to-none oral health care providers. And we wish you the most restful and pleasant of summers. Happy reading! n

News at a Glance Massachusetts Volunteer Lauded for 15 Years of Service

dr. jane martone

“With no prior connection to GRU, she came to a continuing education course here and fell in love with the dental school, working with the residents for the past 15 years and traveling to the Augusta area as a volunteer.” –DEAN CAROL LEFEBVRE

Dr. Jane Martone thought she was attending a routine lecture March 15. But the College of Dental Medicine had surreptitiously arranged a gathering in her honor. Martone, who has volunteered her dental services one week a month for 15 years in the dental school’s Advanced Education in General Dentistry and General Practice Residency programs, had the AEGD/ GPR Resident Office named in her honor, thanks to approximately $30,000 in donations. The office is the first in the new dental building donated for a volunteer faculty member. Martone maintains a full-time practice in Westfield, Massachusetts, but flies to Augusta monthly on her own dime to roll up her sleeves as a volunteer. “It is certainly fitting that the resident office for the AEGD 2

and GPR programs be dedicated to Dr. Martone, as she is certainly dedicated to them,” said Dean Carol Lefebvre. “It is even more appropriate that the celebration took place on National Dentists Day.” Said Lefebvre, “If I could clone an adjunct clinical faculty member, it would have to be Jane. With no prior connection to GRU, she came to a continuing education course here and fell in love with the dental school, working with the residents for the past 15 years and traveling to the Augusta area as a volunteer.” The experience morphed immediately into a regular habit. “She stayed,” Lefebvre said, “at least one week a month, that is. And we’re glad she did. We are so grateful for all her years of service and look forward to 15 more!”

rewarding RETREATS Dr. Kevin Plummer, Interim Chairman of the Department of Oral Rehabilitation, received the 2014 Teaching Excellence Award at a daylong leadership retreat for College of Dental Medicine Associate Deans and Chairmen on Dec. 5. Faculty and staff retreats followed on Dec. 15 in the Harrison Commons. Other faculty recognized for outstanding contributions were Drs. Phil Baker, Drew Kious, Regina Messer, Jan Mitchell, Mark Peacock, and Fred Rueggeberg. At the staff retreat, Debra Richards, Operations Scheduling Coordinator supporting the Department of Oral Health and Diagnostic Sciences, received the Sherry Barnett Award in recognition of outstanding customer service to patients and colleagues.

Dr. Stephen Hsu, Professor of Oral Biology, has received an Innovation Award for his green tea research from Georgia Bio. Georgia Bio, founded in 1989, is a nonprofit organization promoting the interests and growth of the life sciences industry. Hsu’s research has uncovered multiple healing properties of the polyphenols in green tea, leading to his development of several green tea products for Camellix, LLC.

In the bag

new chairman named Dr. William “Andrew” Yeudall has been named Professor and Chairman of the Department of Oral Biology. Yeudall, who joined the faculty in July, previously served as Director of Basic Dental Science Education, Associate Professor of the Philip Institute of Oral & Craniofacial Molecular Biology, and Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Virginia Commonwealth University. He was Interim Director of the VCU Philips Institute and Interim Chairman of the Department of Oral & Craniofacial Molecular Biology from 2005-13. He earned bachelor’s degrees in biochemistry and dental surgery from the University of Glasgow and a PhD in molecular pathology from the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research in Glasgow. He completed a Fellowship in Oral Pathology from the Royal College of Pathologists.

Yeudall has secured multiple grants and has several National Institutes of Health-funded grants. He has written numerous research publications and helped develop Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-expressing cancer cells and a cell-nanoparticle hybrid vehicle for drug delivery at VCU. He taught at the University of Glasgow, University of Bristol, University of London, and King’s College in London before joining VCU in 2003. Yeudall is a member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the International Association for Dental Research, and the American Society for Microbiology. He is a founding Fellow of the International Academy of Oral Oncology and an Editor for Oral Oncology, PLoS One, World Journal of Clinical Oncology, Journal of Carcinogenesis and Mutagenesis, Scientifica, Frontiers in Craniofacial Biology, and the International Journal of Chronic Diseases.

faculty bites Dr. Weston “Jette” Fortson Jr., Assistant Professor of Orthodontics, has received the 2015 Excellence in Education Award from the Georgia Section of the Pierre Fauchard Academy.

AL-SHABRAWEY

Cutler

elsalanty

deleon

Dr. Kevin Frazier, Vice Dean of Administration, has been named President of the GRU chapter of Phi Kappa Phi honor society. Dr. Barry Hammond, Associate Professor of General Dentistry, is ChairmanElect of the American Dental Education Association’s Continuing Education Section.

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kalathingal

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Dr. Mohamed Al-Shabrawey, Associate Professor in the Department of Oral Biology, has received a Research Excellence Award from the Qatar Foundation for his research into the effects of a dietary supplement with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid on retinal recovery following traumatic optic neuropathy. The research is funded by GRU’s Culver Vision Discovery Institute. Dr. Christopher Cutler received the American Dental Education Association’s 2015 Gies Foundation Drs. Connie L. and Richard R. Drisko Scholar Award to attend its 2015-16 Leadership Institute. Cutler, Chairman of the Department of Periodontics and Professor in the Departments of Periodontics and Oral Biology, has also been named to the dual role of Associate Dean of Research (see page 20). Dr. Eladio DeLeon Jr., Program Director and Marvin C. Goldstein Chairman of Orthodontics, has been named President of the American Board of Orthodontics. DeLeon also serves as Interim Chairman of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Mohammed Elsalanty, Associate Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, has received an approximately $450,000 grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research to study the role of zoledronate in osteonecrosis. 4

Dr. Carole Hanes, Associate Dean for Students, Admissions, and Alumni, has been inducted into the GRU chapter of Phi Kappa Phi honor society. Dr. Sajitha Kalathingal, Associate Professor of Oral Health and Diagnostic Sciences, has been elected Secretary of the American Dental Education Association’s Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Section. Dr. Solon Kao, Assistant Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, has been named the College of Dental Medicine’s 2015 Outstanding Faculty Member. A graduate of the college’s Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Program, Kao now serves as its Assistant Director and directs the predoctoral local anesthesia course. Dean Carol Lefebvre has received a citation from the American Dental Education Association for significant contributions to dental education and the association. Dr. Regina Messer, Associate Professor of Oral Biology and Oral Rehabilitation, has been named Secretary of the GRU chapter of Phi Kappa Phi honor society. Dr. Cristiano Susin, Associate Professor of Periodontics and Orthopedic Surgery, has been inducted into the GRU chapter of Phi Kappa Phi honor society. Dr. Frank Tay, Chairman of the Department of Endodontics, has been inducted into the GRU chapter of Phi Kappa Phi honor society.

mission of mercy: ‘making somebody’s world a better place’ “People say they don’t notice, but they do.” That was the observation of a woman whose smile was restored during a recent Georgia Mission of Mercy. Dozens of GRU students, faculty, staff members, residents, and alumni volunteered for the event June 1820 in Perry, Georgia. The volunteer event, sponsored by the Georgia Dental Association, provided free dental care to 2,000 low- and noincome patients, raising awareness about access impediments to

she said, noting, “I’m going to use my new smile to make somebody’s world a better place.” In addition to treatment, patients and family members received education about the importance of oral health. The event also served as a venue to challenge Georgians to work together to improve oral health in the state. The volunteers included not only dentists and other oral health professionals, but lay volunteers who rolled up their sleeves for any needed assistance. Those volunteers included people

“We were so well represented, and everyone I spoke with raved about the quality and numbers of our students and residents who participated.” –DR. CAROLE HANES

oral health care. More than 100 dental chairs, treatment stations, a sterilization department, patient education station, computerized patient registration system, and other resources created a full-scale dental clinic for the event. The woman whose smile was restored had lost most of her teeth and had no other options for dental work. “I was so embarrassed,” she said. The dentures she received through the Georgia Mission of Mercy have transformed her life,

who have been served by Georgia Mission of Mercy in the past. For instance, one former patient found himself unemployable after losing many of his teeth in a motorcycle accident. He couldn’t afford treatment, so he credits Georgia Mission of Mercy with changing his life. “I wanted to do as much as I could to help everyone else,” he said. “I’m extremely grateful for what’s happening here.” “I couldn’t be any prouder of GRU College of Dental Medicine’s role in the weekend,” said College

of Dental Medicine Associate Dean Carole Hanes, who was among the volunteers. “We were so well represented, and everyone I spoke with raved about the quality and numbers of our students and residents who participated. The amount of unmet dental need was overwhelming, but so was the effort to help as many people as possible. We were supposed to stop taking in new patients at about 3 p.m. on Saturday, and I know that there were many still working at 5:30. I know we were all exhausted, but what a good kind of exhaustion it was!” Dean Carol Lefebvre concurred. “When we showed up at 5 a.m. Friday,” she said, “there were over 1,500 people in line who had begun lining up at 2 p.m. the day before in the heat to get in to be treated.” She and Associate Dean Philip Hanes provided triage while Dr. Carole Hanes and DeVona Eastman, a College of Dental Medicine Administrative Assistant, oversaw the dental student volunteers. Dr. Michael Pruett, Assistant Professor of Oral Rehabilitation and General Practice Residency Program Director, oversaw oral surgery and brought his entire class of residents to volunteer. “Listening to the patients complimenting the many volunteers who had helped them absolutely filled my heart and sometimes my eyes as well,” said Dr. Carole Hanes. Cherie Rainwater, a Georgia Mission of Mercy patient educator, added, “This is the way we give back. This is the way we enrich our lives, helping others have access to care. It’s hard to talk about without getting emotional. People are very thankful. It’s amazing what a healthy smile does for a person’s insides.”

STUDENT BITES

Best New Organization

Hispanic Association

The GRU chapter of the American Association of Public Health Dentistry, which provides affordable or free dental care to needy members of the community, has received the 2015 Ahoy Award for Best New Student OrganizationGraduate Level. The award was presented by the GRU Division of Student Affairs and Office of Student Life and Engagement. Cherie Murray is the chapter President, and Drs. Kate Ciarrocca and Ranjitha Krishna serve as faculty advisors.

The College of Dental Medicine has formed a GRU chapter of the Hispanic Student Dental Association. Rachell Velasco, a rising junior and President of the chapter, says the organization seeks to improve and promote the oral health of Hispanics living in the United States. Other goals are recruiting and retaining Hispanic dental students, participating in the Big Brother/ Sister programs, translating for non-English-speaking patients, and organizing intra- and extramural activities. Students and faculty of all ethnicities are welcome to join.

The Class of 2016 had a 100 percent first-time pass rate on the National Board Dental Examination Part I.

Honor Society Inductees

Seven dental students have been inducted into the GRU chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, the oldest and largest collegiate honor society. Inductees from the class of 2016 are Cameron Anderson, Alex Culberson, Wesley Gass, Mariesa Manente, Dexter Mattox, and Jennifer Ryan. The inductee from the class of 2017 is Adam Carraway. Also, nine students have been inducted into the Kappa Lambda Chapter of Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the national dental honor society. They are Brittany Bonds, Sara Boyles, John Ensley, Pom Itarut, Alie Kraft, India Lamothe, Bridget Lyons, Ben Martin, and Alena Reich, along with faculty members, Drs. Alan Furness and Regina Messer.

t S r i F g n i h S i Fin Bridget Lyons, a senior dental student, was the first woman to cross the finish line in the 2015 GRU Augusta Half Marathon. She beat her previous top time by two minutes, coming in at 1:16:16 to complete the 13.1-mile course in second place overall.

A Capitol Visit

Oral Cancer Walk

Twenty-four dental students trekked to the Capitol in Atlanta Jan. 12 to advocate for patients during the Georgia Dental Association Law Day. The students, accompanied by Dean Carol Lefebvre and Associate Dean Carole Hanes, met with Georgia legislators to voice their support for several issues, particularly regarding incentives for dentists to practice in medically underserved areas.

The Student National Dental Association and Herman Society sponsored the second annual GRU Oral Cancer Walk April 18 at the dental building. The event, intended to raise awareness of oral cancer, was followed by a health fair featuring free oral cancer, blood pressure, diabetes, and other health screenings for adults, along with a mobile playground and face-painting for children.

Legislative Liaison Abby Halpern (’18) has been appointed Legislative Coordinator for Districts 4 and 5 of the American Student Dental Association’s Council on Advocacy. The council represents dental students’ interests on legislative and regulatory issues impacting the dental profession.

Students recently presented the second annual Lessons in a Lunchbox program at Augusta’s Wheeless Road Elementary School. The presentation to 160 children was an oral health literacy program created by the Children’s Oral Health Institute targeting pediatric tooth decay. Lunchboxes were provided with a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and nutritional and dietary facts. The students represented the Student National Dental Association, the American Association of Public Health Dentistry, and Students United for America’s Toothfairy.

research scholars Travis Garnto (’17) and Alex Culberson (’16) have been named Mark Ritz Research Scholars by the Georgia Section of the Pierre Fauchard Academy. Also, Alyssa Martini (’16) received the academy’s 2015 National PFA Student Award.

Faculty, Students, Alumni Forge Connections Worldwide

Globetrotting

Training missionaries in the tropical downpours of Chiang Mai, Thailand . . . Setting up a MASH unit in rainforests . . . Propping a patient on bags of corn in the Ecuadoran mountains to perform dental care illuminated by a flashlight . . . Inhaling the aroma of lemon trees from the balcony of a 19th-century villa in Florence, Italy . . . Staring down at the Chinese city of Shanghai through the glass floor of the Oriental Pearl, some 200 feet above ground . . . These were among the once-in-alifetime experiences of several College of Dental Medicine students and faculty over the past few months.

Enhanced Appreciation Opportunities for international education and volunteerism have never been more abundant in the college than now, says Dean Carol Lefebvre. “We treasure the importance of global experiences, believing that students return from the educational trips with an enhanced appreciation of the international similarities of the dental profession and an elevated understanding of the cultures so different from their own,” she says. GRU dental student Andrea Pierce, who participated in a student-exchange program in China last year, concurs. “My China tour is truly one I will never forget,” she wrote in an essay detailing the trip, which included visits to Hong Kong, Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Beijing. It was in Hangzhou, for instance, that she observed hospital-based dentistry complete with a nascent immersion in implants and one-at-atime tooth extraction with doses of antibiotics both before and after the procedure. Study was interspersed with fun and cultural immersion, she says, including a toboggan ride down the Great Wall of China.

Wherefore Art Thou? Her classmate, India Lamothe, likewise accumulated a lifetime of memories during her recent student-exchange experience in Italy. Highlights included visits to Juliet’s balcony in Verona and the Peggy Guggenheim Modern Museum of Art in Venice. Rides on trains, gondolas,

and a water taxi to Switzerland provided sweeping vistas and breathtaking sights. “I felt like I was in a scene straight out of a movie [in Switzerland],” Lamothe wrote in an essay. “There were beautiful green trees covering the mountains, clear skies, and snow-capped mountains off in the distance. I had to catch my breath a few times because what I was seeing right before my eyes seemed absolutely unreal.” Like Andrea, she noted several differences between dentistry in America and abroad. In Italy, for instance, dentists complete a longer course of dental school than Americans but don’t require an

undergraduate degree. India also was surprised at a dental school in Trieste to see dental students performing endodontics on posterior teeth “since we are limited to anterior teeth and premolars.” This kind of exposure is precisely the goal of the College of Dental Medicine Student Exchange Program, according to Dr. Franklin Tay, Chairman of Endodontics and Director of the program. And opportunities are growing. The college recently received a $3,750 grant from the International College of Dentists-USA Section Foundation for the program. “We have exchange programs with schools in China, Egypt, France, Italy, and Saudi Arabia, and are working on a new program with a dental school in Ecuador,” Lefebvre says.

CE Among the Florentines International educational opportunities also are offered through continuing education. For instance, Dr. Jan Mitchell, Associate Professor of Oral Rehabilitation, recently organized a continuingeducation course in Florence, Italy. “I was in the Navy for 26 years and lived in Italy for three years,” says Mitchell, noting her enthusiasm to share her love of the country with her colleagues. “I wanted to be an art history major but couldn’t figure out how to make a living at it, so now I visit there often for fun.” Combining the fun with a continuing-education course, she says, was nothing short of exhilarating. “It was all very well-planned,” says Dr. Kate Ciarrocca, Assistant Professor of Oral Rehabilitation, who served as an instructor for the course along with Mitchell and Department of Oral Health and Diagnostic Sciences Chairman Scott De Rossi, Ciarrocca’s husband. “It never felt touristy. We felt like we were living among the Florentines. It was great.”

Their 12 students, who included both dentists and dental hygienists, received instruction on topics including complex medical management and prevention. “We focused on a general, broad-based sampling,” Mitchell says. “The courses were very well-received.” Says De Rossi, “We held classes in the mornings and had excursions in the afternoons,” including cooking classes and museum visits.

Scouting Out Locations “It was a different model than the typical continuing-education course,” Mitchell says. “Instead of everybody staying in a single hotel, for instance, several of us rented flats. Some of the participants thought in advance the trip would be too pricey, but I made a real effort to plan things out and let people know how to make the trip at a reasonable cost.” Lefebvre, who was among the attendees, is encouraging Mitchell to pursue similar opportunities for international continuing education. “I’m already scouting out locations in London for next year,” Mitchell says. “This is a way to connect with alumni in a very different, personal way.” Speaking invitations offer still more opportunities for GRU faculty to spread their expertise worldwide. For instance, Dr. Ulf Wikesjö, Professor of Periodontics and Oral Biology, discussed bone tissue engineering at the Grenoble Institute of Technology in Grenoble, France, recently and attended a meeting of the Nobel Biocare Annual Expert Advisory Board in Feusisberg, Switzerland.

Culture Shock Of course, dentists’ most valued resource is their clinical skill – and that asset, too, is put to excellent use throughout the globe. College of Dental Medicine faculty, students, and alumni frequently participate in mission trips and other volunteer

efforts in underserved areas of the world. Vice Dean Kevin Frazier, for example, has climbed the mountains of Ecuador and ventured deep into tropical rainforests, among other locales, to treat some of the globe’s neediest citizens. “You’re literally setting up little MASH units and improvising, providing care for people who have no options besides you,” he says. Frazier, who majored in anthropology as an undergraduate, enjoys not only serving others, but learning from their cultures. “I’d never been out of the country until I became a dentist,” he says. “I enjoy seeing different parts of the world. Every culture has value, and it’s up to you as the visitor to appreciate and respect it.” He also broadened his experiences by seeing the results of various lifestyles on oral hygiene – rampant tooth decay in Haiti, for instance, due to extensive consumption of sugar cane, and tooth wear in Ecuador stemming from a coarse natural diet. continued

Exponential Impact

Dr. Kevin Plummer and wife Connie see the sights from a lofty vantage point in Thailand.

Frazier shared his skills in a different way when he traveled to Chiang Mai, Thailand, this past spring for the 35th annual Christian Medical and Dental Associates’ Continuing Medical and Dental Education Conference. Serving as a teacher this time rather than a clinician, he acknowledges it felt odd to board a plane without medications and dental instruments. But as he worked alongside Department of Oral Rehabilitation Interim Chairman Kevin Plummer in providing continuing education to missionary dentists, he realized he was rolling up his sleeves in an equally important way. “Instead of delivering treatment, I was teaching providers new and efficient ways to treat patients,” he says. And he cheerfully adds that the trip was not without its exotic touches. “I got a little nervous when two elephants wrapped their trunks around me to give me a hug and a kiss,” he says with a laugh. Plummer noted his delight that the experience enabled him to spend quality time with his wife, Connie, who as the children’s minister of Augusta’s Warren Baptist Church, provided programming for the missionaries’ children. “Connie’s professional world and mine don’t often collide,” he says, “and they did on this trip.

We worked with the children in the mornings, then I’d give continuing-education lectures in the afternoons.” Dr. Van Haywood, Professor of Oral Rehabilitation, has participated in three of the Thailand trips and one in Greece. He muses that international travel somehow makes the world both bigger and smaller simultaneously. For instance, he served on a mission trip with Dr. Kent Brantley, an American aid worker who recently made international headlines while recovering from Ebola after contracting the disease in Liberia during the deadliest outbreak in history. Haywood says he and wife Angie have made lifelong friends through their Christian Medical and Dental Associates volunteerism. “You see some of the same faces, so it becomes a homecoming, a spiritual retreat,” he says. “These kinds of experiences are a reminder of how blessed we are to live in this country and how noble missionaries are.”

Lifelong Memories India, the foreign-exchange student, also carries memories that enhance not only her appreciation of whom, but a forever-magnified perspective of the world. “I have a better understanding of how dental students matriculate through school and find comfort in knowing they have some of the same struggles and accomplishments as I do at GRU. At the end of the day, we are all pursuing the same goal of helping our community and educating our patients on oral health care. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to have such a memorable trip and lifelong memories.” n

International travel isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just a one-way street. Several student ambassadors from Zhejiang, China, were among the far-from-home visitors to the College of Dental Medicine recently. 13

Holistic Holistic Home Home Whitefoord Clinic Addresses Gamut of Needs

Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s note: This is the second in a series highlighting community-based dental rotation sites for seniors.

The patient whose family is reeling from a recent suicide . . . or whose child has just been diagnosed with asthma . . . or whose husband recently lost his job . . . These arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t typically topics of discussion in a dental office. But nothing about Dr. Karyl Pattenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s job is typical. And that suits her just fine.

continued

“W

e’re a patient-centered medical home,” notes Patten, Dental Director of Whitefoord Inc. Atlanta. “The patients aren’t just stopping in for oral health. It’s so comprehensive; we’re addressing all their needs.”

Whitefoord was established in 1995 to serve some of Atlanta’s neediest citizens. Dr. George Brumley, a now-deceased Atlanta pediatrician and philanthropist, wanted to bring health care directly to children. He and his former Emory University student, Dr. Veda Johnson, “made a crucial connection between health and academic success: healthy children stayed in school and achieved more,” according to the Whitefoord website (whitefoord.org). The two

dr. karyl patten

established an in-school health center serving the Whitefoord Elementary School District in southeast Atlanta. The program was so successful that it grew exponentially, soon spawning a child development program, after-school program, and a community-based Family Medical Center in the Kirkwood neighborhood. The synergistic components of the program result in holistic service to one of Atlanta’s neediest

populations. “The mission is to empower the community through all aspects of health care so they can reach their full potential,” says Patten, who earned her dental degree from Meharry Medical College and a Master of Public Health degree from Emory University. And area residents aren’t the only ones being empowered. Whitefoord serves as a public health clerkship for Georgia Regents University dental students, offering those completing the rotation a healthy dose of experience treating a medically underserved population. The dental clinic treats patients of all ages on a sliding-fee scale. “We offer services including filings, prosthodontics, and extractions,” says Patten, who has served as the Director of the clinic for 12 years. “We also address factors such as lifestyle and diet. We address every need that we see.” Whitefoord’s health educator reinforces her efforts on an ongoing basis, and the lessons start early. “Even if they have just two teeth, I like to see our patients as early as possible,” Patten says. “It gets them used to the environment.” She enjoys giving the GRU students a small taste of the experience. “Working with the students is one of the best parts for me,” Patten says. “I work with them one on one, so we spend a lot of time together. I think the rotation gives them an opportunity to see health care in a public health light. They see people of modest means who often have extensive dental needs. It’s a different culture for them.” Says Patten, “They hit the ground running. They stay busy – they’ll say, ‘I didn’t know I could see so many patients in one day’ – but they seem to really enjoy it. They get involved with the patients as much as I do. They see that their services are needed.” Patten expects only the best from GRU. “I love it when they come,” she says. “I like their outlook; I like their energy. They’re extremely well-trained students.” n

Milestones Milestones 1995 Whitefoord Inc. established

1998 Child development, after-school, and summer enrichment programs launched 2000 Selected as the site location for an Intel Computer Clubhouse 2003 In-school health centers add dental services for children and adults 2004 Receives United Way Community Impact Award 2005 DuPont Ave. renamed George W. Brumley Way 2006 Accredited by National Association for Education of Young Children for Child Development Program 2007 Receives Atlanta Public Schoolsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; A+ Award for Innovation 2012 Opens first community-based Family Medical Center

Three College of Dental Medicine alumni, two of whom are also on the faculty, are among GRU’s 2015 Jag 20. Jag 20 honorees are alumni under age 40 who have made a significant impact in their career, community, and alma mater. Recipients, nominated by peers and selected by the GRU Office of Advancement, were recognized during GRU’s Alumni Weekend (see page 28). The dental alumni included in the group are Drs. Allison Buchanan, Kara Moore, and Rhoda Sword.

Buchanan (’05), Assistant Professor of Oral Health and Diagnostic Sciences in the College of Dental Medicine, completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry program in Richmond, Virginia, and earned a certificate and master’s degree in oral and maxillofacial radiology from the University of Texas Health Science Center. She has implemented digital and three-dimensional imaging as well as new teaching methodologies into the dental radiology course, which she directs. “Her exceptional initiative and versatility in teaching in diverse courses to predoctoral dental students, dental hygiene students, postdoctoral residents, and clinicians are reflected in the consistent and highly favorable evaluations by students, peers, and continuing education participants,” Dean Carol Lefebvre and Associate Dean Carole Hanes wrote in a nomination letter. Buchanan was named the 2013 Outstanding Faculty Member by the International College of Dentists. She is a member of the American Dental Education Association and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology. She researches different facets of radiology. “We are confident she will continue to grow professionally and contribute to the college, university, and her profession at the highest levels,” her nominators wrote.

Moore (’05) owns Gray Dental Associates LLP in Gray, Georgia, and recently opened Wrightsville Family Dental as the sole dental office in Johnson County, Georgia. “The city [Wrightsville, Georgia] is made up of a diverse rural population that is in great need of affordable dental services in their community,” Moore wrote. “I have teamed up with Community Health Care Systems, a local federally qualified health center, to start a practice that will offer both a standard dental office setting as well as a day devoted strictly to the underserved population and offering dentistry on a sliding-fee scale to help those who cannot financially afford care.” She also co-founded Compassionate Mobile Dentists of Georgia LLP, treating special-needs patients statewide with two partners. Moore chairs the Jones County Board of Health and received the Jones County News Best Dentist Award in 2012, 2013, and 2014. “I am very thankful for the opportunities which dentistry has allowed me to be a part of,” she wrote, “and I look forward to where it takes me in the future. Wrote her nominators, Lefebvre and Hanes, “We are overwhelmed by what she has already accomplished, even more so when we realize that, in addition to the many activities in which she participates, she speaks of her role as the mother of two young children as her number-one priority.” Sword (’03), Assistant Professor of Oral Rehabilitation in the College of Dental Medicine, ran a private practice in general dentistry in Evans, Georgia, for six years before joining the faculty. She is a member of the Pierre Fauchard Academy, the Georgia Dental Association, the Augusta Dental Society, and the American Dental Education Association. She is President of the College of Dental Medicine Alumni Association and Secretary of the institution-wide GRU Alumni Association. “Dr. Sword received numerous awards for her service and academic success while in dental school,” wrote her nominators, Lefebvre and Hanes. “Clearly, even while a dental student, others recognized Dr. Sword’s commitment to outstanding service.” She directs the dental anatomy and occlusion course. Wrote her nominators, “She makes herself available to all students, especially those who face particular challenges as they begin to develop the manual skills so essential to dentistry.” n

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

Unprecedented Opportunities Cutler Laying Groundwork to Enhance Student, Faculty Research

Dr. Christopher Cutler has had his eye on research since undergraduate school. “I earned my bachelor’s degree in microbiology, and even after I got my dental degree, I always gravitated back to the laboratory,” says Cutler, Chairman of the College of Dental Medicine Department of Periodontics and the college’s newly named Associate Dean for Research.

utler, who has both a dental degree and PhD in experimental pathology, considers his current position the perfect culmination of his aspirations. “I’m very excited about all the opportunities at GRU,” says Cutler, who served on the Stony Brook University faculty before joining GRU four years ago. He has hit the ground running, already overseeing the reinvigoration of a College of Dental Medicine student research group; the opening of a research office on the fifth floor of the dental building, staffed by Marlena Smith, Research Operations Coordinator; and the recruitment of a biostatistician to support research efforts. The biostatistician, Wonsook Yoo, will supplement

the efforts of Stephen Looney, Professor of Biostatistics, and will be housed primarily in the Institute of Public and Preventive Health. “I hope to improve the outcomes for faculty and students in their research efforts, primarily by increasing and improving the research infrastructure and the support services available to faculty, students, and residents,” Cutler says. “We want to increase the number of grants submitted, grants funded, and papers submitted and accepted. We also aim to increase overall student research.” An important part of this initiative is the introduction of a Clinical Research Faculty Development Program, in which Dr. Cristiano Susin and Angela Steen will guide interested junior faculty through a yearlong immersion in research skills. “Many of our faculty come to us with really strong clinical credentials but not a lot of experience conducting clinical research,” Cutler says. “We are helping them understand how the process works.” continued

dr. christopher cutler

“Dr. Cutler is a leader in research and education and a valued adviser to our students. As a mentor, he takes particular pride in his track record of inspiring students to pursue careers in dental academics and research. This is evident by the number of former students who are now fulltime faculty at dental schools nationally and internationally.”

s Cutler oversees these efforts, he will also continue his own studies, including the development of new diagnostic technology for periodontal disease (a collaboration with the Georgia Institute of Technology) and National Institutes of Health-funded study into the role of dendritic cells and T cells in periodontal disease. The research, which has been featured in the Journal of Immunology, builds on the finding that “periodontal disease is more than just an inflammatory disease,” Cutler says. “It’s caused by a disruption in immune homeostasis that seems to be caused by one of the bacteria that infects the oral mucosa. The bacteria invade dendritic cells, seemingly causing defects in the cells’ ability to function in alerting the immune system.” His understanding of the process could lead both to prevention and treatment that can actually reverse the damage. Such advances will be a boon not only to oral health, but to overall health, Cutler stresses. “Some effects of periodontal disease are systemic,” he says. “We find these bacteria in the placenta of pregnant women, in the brain, in the atherosclerotic plaques of patients with cardiovascular disease . . . How do they get from point A to point B? We think they may be carried by these immune cells.” Cutler also is excited about related findings in the field. “Many researchers are trying to tease out the genetic component to the disease,” he says. “There have been some efforts to look at defects in the interleukin 1 beta gene. The host’s genes definitely determine how you react to the bacterial plaque that lines the gums. Such people are very reactive and even with ideal oral hygiene will get the disease. Others are highly resistant.” Of course, lifestyle and environmental factors are highly significant as well, he says. For instance, “smokers get the disease earlier and more severely than non-smokers. And patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes have much more severe disease, and at an earlier age, than average.” His research, and projects like it, should address all these issues, and many more, improving periodontal health while helping people retain their teeth throughout their lives — a significant factor in overall health and quality of life. Cutler applauds Dean Carol Lefebvre’s commitment to advancing research in the college, a commitment that has laid the groundwork for the existing initiatives and many more to follow. Says Cutler, “She’s been extremely supportive in all my efforts.” Lefebvre says she is privileged to support the efforts of Cutler, who has served as Interim Associate Dean for Research since July 2013. “Dr. Cutler is a leader in research and education and a valued adviser to our students,” she says. “As a mentor, he takes particular pride in his track record of inspiring students to pursue careers in dental academics and research. This is evident by the number of former students who are now full-time faculty at dental schools nationally and internationally.” n

–DEAN CAROL LEFEBVRE

Cutler at a Glance Family: Wife Joan (a retired registered nurse), two children Education: DDS degree and PhD in Experimental Pathology, Emory University; postdoctoral fellowship in anaerobic microbiology, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit #3 in Cairo, Egypt; postdoctoral training in dendritic cell biology, Baylor Institute for Immunology Research Professional background: Cutler taught periodontics at the University of Texas-Houston, Baylor University-Texas A&M before joining Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine as Associate Dean for Research. He joined the GRU faculty in 2011. Awards: n 1987 National Research Service Award from the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research n 1989 Balint Orban Award from the American Academy of Periodontology n 1990 Edward Hatton Award from the American Association of Dental Research n 1999 inaugural Clinical Sciences Research Award from the International Academy of Periodontology n 2008 Bernard S. Moskow International Lecturer in Periodontology, Columbia University n 2015-16 American Dental Education Association Leadership Institute Fellow n Inaugural ADEA/ADEAGies Foundation Drs. Connie L. and Richard R. Drisko Scholarship

STUDENT VOICE

A Concrete Difference Michael E. Ridlehoover Class of 2017

“A world where everyone has a decent place to live.” –Vision of Habitat for Humanity International Over nine days in April, our team of 11 – six students from the GRU College of Dental Medicine, two Summerville Campus faculty members, and three GRU alumni traveled to El Salvador to build a home for a family in need. Planning for the trip took the better part of a year, and after finalizing recruiting, logistics, and finances, we were eagerly anticipating our departure for a week of hard work. Landing at lunchtime on a Saturday, we were immediately immersed in El Salvador’s culture. Our guide, Emilio, took us to a local eatery to sample the traditional pupusa, a thickened tortilla filled with beans and cheese. That evening, we attended our in-country orientation, where we learned that over 1 million Salvadoran families are either homeless or living in overcrowded shacks made of plastic or metal. Families have been displaced for decades due to natural disasters and violence. Few can afford to acquire land or finance a home, necessitating the solutions provided by Habitat.

The next day, we ate a traditional Salvadoran breakfast – rice, beans, fruit, and coffee – then toured downtown San Salvador. Sites included the cathedral of the recently beatified Archbishop Oscar Romero and the Monument to Truth and Memory, a landmark depicting the country’s history accompanied by a wall etched with the names of those who died in the civil war that crippled much of the country during the 1980s. We then traveled to Habitat headquarters to meet our partner family. We met the Habitat staff and anxiously waited for the family, who was taking the long trek by public bus. At long last, they arrived – Doña Ana and her three youngadult children, Jocelyn, Carlos, and Javier. Excitement filled the room as we introduced ourselves, and each of the family members welcomed us and thanked us for coming. We learned that Ana is a single mother whose two sons were forced to drop out of school to support the family. Monday, our first day at the build site, we arrived to find a bare patch of dirt with the beginnings of a rebar foundation. We got right to work. We spent the week completing the foundation with rebar, transporting piles of gravel and sand, mixing an inconceivable amount of concrete and mortar, pouring the foundation, and laying row after row (after row) of bricks. On evenings and weekends, we fully enjoyed Salvadoran culture and the dynamics of the group. Among our adventures were visits to markets, hiking to the crater of a volcano, visiting Mayan ruins,

touring a coffee plantation, and ziplining in the mountains. While our primary objective was building the home, the balance of work and play made the trip that much more enjoyable. Friday, our last day on the build site, was bittersweet. We built until lunchtime, and by this point, we had finished roughly half the structure of the house. The remainder would be completed by the site contractor along with Carlos and Javier. In the afternoon, the Habitat staff threw us a farewell celebration filled with dancing, eating, and fellowship. We shed tears of joy for the work we accomplished and the incredible friends we made, along with tears of sadness over our departure. Each member of the family took turns thanking us for coming, but the sincere gratitude they displayed throughout the week meant more than any words could convey.

Michael Ridlehoover (middle row, second from left) with his fellow volunteers and the family receiving the new house.

With sore muscles and distinct tan lines, we journeyed back to Augusta. We were all ready to be home, but none of us wanted to say goodbye to the family or leave the house unfinished. Most people wouldn’t dream of spending a summer break doing strenuous manual labor in a tropical climate, but after our experiences, we all considered ourselves blessed to have been given the opportunity to make a concrete difference in the lives of those who needed it most. n

For more information about Habitat for Humanity® or to support Ridlehoover’s next volunteer team, contact him at mridleh2@gru.edu.

Doing the Work Distinguished Alumnus a Tireless Advocate for Patients Dr. Richard Weinman laughs that he spent the first decade of his dental career without a single computer in the building. “Now, there’s not a room without one, except the bathrooms,” he says, reflecting on the vast changes that have unfolded throughout his 38year career as a general dentist in Atlanta. Weinman (’76) has not only witnessed those changes, he’s helped bring them about. Along with staying on the cutting edge of his profession for the sake of his patients, he advocates for patients everywhere through extensive participation in organized dentistry. His efforts were honored during Georgia Regents University’s Alumni Weekend in April, when he was named the College of Dental Medicine’s 2015 Distinguished Alumnus. “Richard is a shining example of dentists who immerse themselves in

advancing oral health care through advocacy, volunteerism, and an ongoing commitment to making the profession the best that it can be,” says Dean Carol Lefebvre, citing Weinman’s membership in the Hinman Dental Society, the Pierre Fauchard Academy, the International College of Dentists, and the American College of Dentists, among many other organizations. He is a past President and Honorable Fellow of the Georgia Dental Association. Few things are more important to Weinman than promoting good dentistry, a passion born in his youth. “I like working with my hands and working with people,” he says. “My uncle was a dentist, and he was a very kind, gentle man. That carried a lot of appeal.” Weinman earned his undergraduate degree from Tulane University, then enrolled at GRU (then the Medical College of Georgia). He looks back fondly 26

on his years as a dental student. “Dental school was hard work, but it was great,” he says. “[Founding Dean Judson] Hickey created an atmosphere that made it a great experience. It was never adversarial. My classmates and I really bonded. The faculty made us comfortable; you never felt abandoned. You could always go to your professors.” After graduation, Weinman joined his uncle’s practice. “We practiced together about eight years, then he retired and I bought a practice (Buckhead Dental Associates PC) and went from there,” Weinman says. His wife, Becky, began her career as a dental hygienist but joined her husband’s practice after earning her own dental degree. She’s now retired, but during her career, Weinman says, “there were decisions we had to make as a team, and we worked well together. She’s a great listener and spent a lot of time with her patients. She worked with lots

of dental-phobic patients and did a lot of pro bono work, particularly for battered women and domesticviolence cases.” Husband and wife continue to volunteer at the not-for-profit Ben Massell Dental Clinic, which serves Atlanta’s neediest dental patients at no charge. They also work with the GRU dental students who complete rotations at the clinic. “It’s a good way for students to round out their education,” Weinman says. “We usually see a lot of advanced dental disease there since many of the patients couldn’t afford to have work done previously.” Undergraduates interested in dentistry also shadow Weinman in his private practice. He enjoys helping open their eyes to the myriad possibilities in present-day dentistry. “We do things today that I couldn’t have imagined in dental school; they weren’t even on the horizon,” says Weinman, citing advances including all-digital X-rays and digital impressions. As the technology has changed, he says, so have people’s mindsets regarding oral health. “People have gone through the transition of realizing they can keep their teeth throughout their lives,” he says. “Just look at the whole evolution of cosmetic dentistry, for instance. We can repair damage and make people look great. That sort of thing just wasn’t available when I began my career. To make somebody look good and function well – to restore their confidence, potentially make them more employable, keep them eating well – it’s just tremendously satisfying.” Weinman’s services in addition to general dentistry include implants, veneers, crowns, and bridges. His partner, Dr. Jason Myerson, performs general dentistry as well as minor orthodontics, and their associate, Dr. Shannon Thorsteinson, offers services including general dentistry, oral surgery, and implant placement. “We can take care of a lot of needs in our office,” Weinman says, “but we have

“

Dental school is a lot like sports: there are a few gifted people who take to it very naturally, then there are the majority, the ones who achieve what they achieve through hard work and practice. That’s how dental school is: It’s a matter of pushing yourself and doing the work.

a very close relationship with our specialists. A good career is knowing your limitations. I’m lucky to be in Atlanta where we can refer easily.” Practicing in Atlanta also gives Weinman easy access to the Georgia Legislature, where he frequently advocates for dental patients. “I spend a lot of time at the Capitol,” he says. “I try to emphasize that if we don’t make dentistry accessible and affordable on the front end, patients will end up in the emergency room with advanced problems that are so much more expensive to treat.” Weinman is gratified that his alma mater serves the state’s needs so well as Georgia’s sole dental school. He is a member of the dental

Dr. richard a. weinman and Wife, Becky.

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school’s Alumni Association and was very involved in raising funds for the new building. “I got hard hat tours starting when it was an open structure up to the finished product,” he says. “It’s just been amazing.” The most exciting aspect of the new facility, he says, is that his son, Paten, will soon be a student there. His advice? “I told him to expect to work hard,” Weinman says. “Dental school is a lot like sports: there are a few gifted people who take to it very naturally, then there are the majority, the ones who achieve what they achieve through hard work and practice. That’s how dental school is: It’s a matter of pushing yourself and doing the work.” n

Reunited! Alumni Weekend a Bona Fide Blast The College of Dental Medicine Classes of 1975, 1985, 1990, 1995 and 2005 were reunited during GRUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2015 Alumni Weekend April 23-26. Events in addition to the reunion dinners included a faculty and staff art sale, a walking tour of the J. Harold Harrison, M.D. Education Commons, a campus bus tour, a continuing-education course, and a lecture by Captains Gene Kranz and James Lovell, astronauts on the Apollo 13 mission. College of Dental Medicine alumni classes held a challenge prior to the weekend to see which class could raise the most money for scholarships. The Class of 1975 rose to the top, donating $1,900 of the total $6,000 raised. n

DR. JAMES CRAY

photos: david russell

Seventy-six GRU dental students, 51 percent of whom will go on to residency programs, earned their degrees May 8, joining the ranks of 2,330 dentists who have earned their degrees since the College of Dental Medicineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inception in 1969. Said Dean Carol Lefebvre, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We wish a fond farewell to those moving on to start their practices or begin residencies elsewhere, and we look forward to welcoming back in July those accepted into CDM residency programs.â&#x20AC;? n

Congratulations, grads!

y carlie

photos: anthon

At the Senior Awards Ceremony, the Class of 2015 made a gift of $10,000 to the CDM, designated to be used as an emergency fund for students in crisis. Class President Songkhla Venza presented the award to Dean Carol Lefebvre (right) and Associate Dean Carole Hanes.

CLASS NOTES Dr. James Cassidy Jr. (’83) has been named to the Bibb County Community Board of Directors. Cassidy has practiced in Macon, Georgia, since 1983. Dr. Thomas Godfrey (’93), Atlanta, has been reappointed by Gov. Nathan Deal to the Georgia Board of Dentistry.

Dr. Ezat Mulki (’05), a board-certified pediatric dentist, has opened Villa Rica Pediatric Dentistry in Villa Rica, Georgia. Dr. James Maina (’13) has opened Acworth Station Dental Care, a fullservice, state-of-the-art family dental practice in Acworth, Georgia.

Dr. Stephanie Steckel (’94) is President of the Mid-Atlantic Society of Orthodontists (maso.org) and will host the Annual Session in Wilmington, Delaware. The theme for the meeting is “Smiles are Forever.” She practices in Dover, Delaware, at Orthodontics on Silver Lake.

In Memoriam Dr. Robert L. Gordon (’73), a member of the inaugural College of Dental Medicine class, died May 31. He practiced dentistry in North Augusta, South Carolina. Survivors include his wife, Cynthia.

Got news? Give us a shout. Christine Hurley Deriso, Editor cderiso@gru.edu, 706-721-2124

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Hinman Support Hinman Support Hinman Support

The Hinman Dental Society has donated $250,000 to the College of Dental Medicine to enhance its educational endowment. The society already endows the Thomas P. Hinman Chair in Restorative Dentistry, currently held by Dr. Gerard Chiche, Director of the Center for Esthetic and Implant Dentistry. The educational endowment will provide perpetual funding to enhance education, ensuring the availability of funds for technological advances. “The Hinman Dental Society and Thomas P. Hinman Dental Meeting have given so much to the College of Dental Medicine,” says Dean Carol Lefebvre. “Truly, it would be difficult to provide the level of education we do without their support. We are so grateful for this ongoing and overwhelming vote of confidence in our ability to advance oral health care statewide and beyond.”

The donation was presented at the 2015 Thomas P. Hinman Dental Meeting. The meeting also included scholarship presentations to four members of the class of 2016: Cameron Anderson, Alex Culberson, Mariesa Manente, and Jennifer Ryan. The scholarships reward leadership potential, academic excellence, and professionalism. Earlier in the year, the society dedicated $200,000 for 20 scholarships – five to each of the four classes. Several faculty and residents also gave lectures and presentations during the meeting, covering topics including implants, dental trauma, tetracycline stains, peri-implantitis, and more. n

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SUMMER 2015

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WORD OF

Dental students, along with faculty and volunteer alumni, helped treat more than 80 students from Richmond Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rollins Elementary School and CSRA EOA Head Start Program during Give Kids a Smile Day Feb. 6. The event, held in coordination with the American Dental Association national program, provides screenings, treatments, and education to children who may lack access to dental care. The College of Dental Medicine has participated since the programâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inception in 2003.

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