6
INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH DAY Dear Ostrow Students and Colleagues, We are delighted to welcome you to the 2022 Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC Research Day. Throughout this pandemic we have been working together to continue to develop our innovative research programs at our school. This is one of the proudest days for me as a Trojan, as we come together to honor the exciting science being done by our remarkable students, staff, and faculty in Dentistry, Occupational Science, Occupational Therapy, Biokinesiology, and Physical Therapy who continue to rise to the challenge of breaking new ground at the frontiers of knowledge. As educators, it is so rewarding to share our knowledge with the next generation of students who share our passion for research. It is a rare privilege to be part of a community as dedicated to this endeavor as the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry. Each of our students, staff, and faculty embody USC’s collective commitment to our six unifying values: integrity; excellence; diversity, equity, and inclusion; well-being; open communication; and accountability. I am inspired by how our community has persevered and grown stronger as we have weathered the pandemic together. Research Day is a shining example of how USC provides a uniquely exciting environment in which to grow during this stage of your professional journey. Our leadership and faculty are strongly committed to providing the best possible training and opportunities, positioning you well to become leaders in your respective fields. In particular, we believe that educating students in the ethically and scientifically sound conduct and research will promote innovation and discovery, and ultimately make a strong positive impact on our society. We hope you enjoy this year’s issue of The Explorer. In the pages to follow, you will learn about the wide spectrum of research being conducted by your colleagues, alongside articles highlighting the accomplishments of some of our outstanding faculty members at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC. We are proud to present an exciting program for our Research Day and speakers who will cover a broad range of topics on how research innovation will change our lives. Please join me in congratulating all of our students and researchers on their successes over the past year as we come together to celebrate their efforts on Research Day. Fight on!
