Fall 2022 Penn Dental Medicine Journal

ADVANCING DIGITAL DENTISTRY

ONGOING INITIATIVES IN EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND PATIENT CARE

KEEP PENN DENTAL MEDICINE ON THE LEADING EDGE OF DIGITAL DENTISTRY

On the Leading Edge

GREETINGS FROM PENN DENTAL MEDICINE. It is wonderful to be back in the midst of another academic year and all the activity that brings — this fall has been particularly busy and equally rewarding. A few days before this issue of the Penn Dental Medicine Journal went to press, after four years of self-study, we welcomed a team from the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) — here for the site visit to review the accreditation of our predoctoral program and six of our advanced dental education programs (Oral Medicine, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontics, Periodontics/Orthodontics, Orthodontics, and Endodontics).

This accreditation process, mandated by the U.S. Department of Education, occurs every seven years, when dental schools and dental-related programs in the U.S. go through a rigorous review by CODA to ensure they are continuing to meet the agency’s standards for fostering continuous quality improvement across all aspects of education, research, and clinical care, as well as administrative operations. I am so proud of the Penn Dental Medicine administrators, faculty, staff, and students for their tremendous work in making this visit a resounding success. At the final day of the site visit, the review team members indicated that their report contains no recommendations for the predoctoral and graduate programs and cited strengths in the School’s research operation, our commitment to education and care in the Philadelphia community, and the Foundational Research courses and faculty. The site team’s report will be reviewed by the Commission with a final determination of accreditation status made in Winter 2023.

The strength of our research enterprise is indeed evident across disciplines. In this issue, we highlight a clinical trial now underway to evaluate an ACE2 inhibitor-laced chewing gum that may help to reduce COVID-19 transmission (see page 20) and spotlight the significant growth of our clinical research through the support and development of our Center for Clinical and Translational Research (see page 30). The depth of student research was also on display at this year’s Research Day and ACCE Day (see page 35).

In addition, we are continuing to expand our reach in the community, serving persons with disabilities at Woods Services in Langhorne (see page 2), while also building skills among practicing clinicians to care for this population through an immersion program in partnership with the Delta Dental Foundation (see page 4). Plus, ongoing initiatives in the teaching and application of digital dentistry continue to keep us on the leading edge of the latest techniques and technologies in education and patient care (see page 12).

Vital to all we do is the support and engagement of our alumni. In FY2022, 1,202 donors made a gift to a Penn Dental Medicine Fund (see page 19) — thank you for your investment in the School’s mission and the many ways you continue to propel Penn Dental Medicine forward.

Stay well and stay connected.

Chewing

Curb COVID-19

A Chewing Gum Designed to Trap SARS-CoV-2 in the Saliva

Research Spotlight Translating Science to Practice

Alumni

Supporting Research, Mentoring School-wide

The Center for Clinical & Translational Research is Supporting, Advancing Clinical Studies Across Disciplines

PENN DENTAL MEDICINE JOURNAL: Vol. 19, No. 1 University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine www.dental.upenn.edu

Dean: Mark S. Wolff, DDS, PhD

Vice Dean of Institutional Advancement: Elizabeth Ketterlinus

Associate Dean for Leadership Giving: Maren Gaughan

Director, Publications: Beth Adams

Contributing Writers: Beth Adams, Debbie Goldberg, Christina Hernandez Sherwood, Katherine Unger Baillie

Photography: Mark Garvin, Eddy Marenco, Kevin Monko Office of Institutional Advancement: 215-898-8951

Penn Dental Medicine Journal is published twice a year by the Office of Communications for the alumni and friends of the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. ©2022 by the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania. All rights reserved. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Penn Dental Medicine. We would like to get your feedback — address all correspondence to: Beth Adams, Director of Publications, Robert Schattner Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, 240 South 40th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104–6030, adamsnb@upenn.edu

ONCAMPUS

SCHOOL NEWS IN BRIEF

Woods Services Partnership

Expands Community Care Sites

Penn Dental Medicine is expanding its outreach within the community through a new partnership with Woods Services, a Pennsylvania- and New Jersey-based nonprofit that serves children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and acquired brain injuries. Penn Dental Medicine residents and faculty will provide dental treatment to Woods clients and residents at its Langhorne, Pa.-based campus.

Woods’ existing dental care center is undergoing extensive renovations and will reopen as Penn Dental Medicine at Woods Mikey Faulkner Dental Care Center. Renovations to the care center are adding two operatories with state-of-the-art equipment (expanding from three to five), enhancing the waiting area and reception check-in, and migrating patient files into the electronic health record system utilized by Penn Dental Medicine. At press time, it was anticipated that the new center would open in early fall.

“We are thrilled to be expanding our service and care within the community through this Woods partnership,” says Penn Dental Medicine’s Morton Amsterdam Dean, Dr. Mark Wolff. “It not only allows us to help provide comprehensive care to the Woods clients, but also offers an invaluable setting for our students to gain experience caring for individuals with a wide range of disabilities.”

Faculty and postgraduate students within Penn Dental Medicine’s Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) program will provide

clinical care at the center. The AEGD residents and faculty began providing care at Woods this summer and into September aboard the PennSmiles mobile dental van.

“Penn’s personalized care and interdisciplinary team approach are perfectly aligned with Woods, as is its emphasis on preparing the next generation of dentists to care for patients with special needs,” says Tine Hansen-Turton, president and CEO, Woods Services. “This expansion of services will be less disruptive for our clients, further enhancing their quality of life.”

This new care center adds to Penn Dental Medicine’s ongoing community care programs, which also include dental centers at Mercy LIFE, serving seniors in West Philadelphia; Puentes de Salud, serving the Latino community in South Philadelphia; and the PennSmiles mobile dental bus, serving children within the Philadelphia School District and area community health centers. Work is also underway on another new Penn Dental Medicine community site – this one at the West Philadelphia PHMC Public Health Campus on Cedar, a partnership with Penn Medicine and the not-for-profit Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC). This care center is anticipated to open in early 2023; care will be provided by a mix of Penn Dental Medicine faculty, DMD students, and AEGD residents at a stateof-the-art, 11-chair facility.

“It offers an invaluable setting for our students to gain experience caring for individuals with a wide range of disabilities.”

— DR. MARK WOLFF

ABOVE (L to R): Andrew Guirguis, Taymiah Mahmood, and Bryon Hu, residents in the AEGD program, will be treating patients at Woods Services.

New Student Institute Designed to Support Wellness Launched with Class of 2026

This June, well before the Penn Dental Medicine freshman class would arrive on campus for orientation, the incoming Class of 2026 was invited to spend the day together virtually — meeting each other and getting an introduction to upperclassmen, faculty members, and the network of support staff and resources that would be available to them as new Penn Dental Medicine students.

“We strongly believe that the summer before the first year is a crucial time for incoming students,” says Margaret Yang, Penn Dental Medicine’s Director of Student Affairs and Engagement. “Research shows that students who have strong connections with other students, faculty, and staff tend to be less stressed.”

students shared their perspectives on the dental school experience, and the incoming class had the opportunity to get their questions answered.

While participation was optional, 139 students of the then 148-member class (two students were admitted to the

By the Numbers: Recent Grads & Incoming Students

60.4% CLASS OF 2022

OF THE 164-MEMBER CLASS OF 2022 WENT ON TO POSTDOCTORAL STUDY

26.2% entered specialty programs

34.2% entered AEGD or General Practice Residency

26.8% entered private practice

10.4% entered the military

2.4% other

CLASS OF 2024 PASS STUDENTS

52

FOREIGN-TRAINED DENTISTS (43 WOMEN AND 9 MEN) JOINED THE 2ND-YEAR CLASS IN JANUARY 2022 AS PART OF THE PASS PROGRAM

20 countries are represented in this 36th PASS class (Brazil, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordon, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syrian Arab Republic, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, and Yemen).

CLASS OF 2026 DMD STUDENTS

Yang explained they launched this “new student institute” this year as one of the added efforts to support student wellness. “From a wellness perspective, we are seeing that students who are in crisis often times felt that they were not well prepared for the rigor of dental school,” says Yang. “They didn’t know what to expect and what they could do to utilize the summer before their first year to better prepare themselves.”

The day’s program was designed to aid in that preparation. Yang, Dr. Uri Hangorsky, Associate Dean for Student Affairs, and Dean Mark Wolff introduced themselves and the support offered by the Office of Student Affairs and resources throughout Penn. A faculty panel presented on the first-year curriculum and expectations. A panel of second-year

class after the program) attended, and the program was well received. In a follow-up survey, 98% of respondents said this event was extremely helpful.

“We tested out this initiative as a one-day program, but we plan to expand on it and make it a much more involved program next year,” says Yang. “We are planning on a week-long virtual program next summer where, among other things, we will be putting together sample mini courses for students. We see this preparation as an important part of supporting their success as they start their dental education.”

ABOVE: The Class of 2026 was welcomed to the study of dental medicine at the White Coat Ceremony, held August 11. Most members of the class took part in the voluntary new student institute offered in June.

150

STUDENTS MAKE UP THE FRESHMAN CLASS, 97 WOMEN AND 53 MEN SELECTED FROM 2,210 APPLICANTS. THE OVERALL UNDERGRADUATE GPA OF THE CLASS WAS 3.77

26 states, the District of Columbia, and 10 foreign countries (Albania, Bangladesh, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, Indonesia, South Korea, Russia, and Taiwan) are represented.

30.7% of the class have a relative who is a dentist or other dental professional.

29 foreign languages spoken by members of the class (Albanian, Arabic, Armenian, Bengali, Cantonese, Chinese, Creoles and Pidgins French, Danish, French, Greek, Modern Gujarati, Hebrew, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Telugu, Urdu, and Vietnamese).

“Research shows that students who have strong connections with other students, faculty, and staff tend to be less stressed.”

— MARGARET YANG

ONCAMPUS Training Providers to Care for Persons with Disabilities

Another aspect of the program involves learning about care coordination from the Center for Persons with Disabilities’ patient navigator, who works with each patient or caregiver to learn about the patient’s needs and preferences, sensory challenges, transportation obstacles, and more to plan for the best possible visit.

Penn Dental Medicine is training dental care providers from throughout the country to deliver better care to persons with disabilities through an immersion program sponsored by the Delta Dental Foundation (DDF).

The program is part of Delta Dental’s Centers of Inclusive Dentistry (CID) initiative that aims to deliver high-quality dental treatment to people with disabilities at designated Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Practitioners from the participating FQHCs spend three days at Penn Dental Medicine’s Care Center for Persons with Disabilities

Personalized Care Suite, observing and learning about ways to improve the delivery of dental care to patients with disabilities. The immersion program launched in the spring, and to-date, five sessions have been presented with the sixth scheduled for November.

“We are thrilled to be helping to improve access to care through this initiative,” says Dr. Miriam Robbins, Director of the Penn Dental Medicine Care Center for Persons with Disabilities.

Dr. Robbins along with Dr. Alicia Risner-Bauman, Assistant Director of the Care Center for Persons with Disabilities, present the training sessions that are part of the program. Participants are introduced to a host of tools and techniques that support the care process — from mouth props and flavored nitrous oxide masks to yoga mats, pillows, and papoose boards.

“You don’t need a fancy piece of equipment,” says Dr. Robbins. “There are ways to position someone who can’t transfer from a wheelchair and you can even do an exam on the floor if necessary.”

An experience described by participants as one of the most valuable portions of the training was learning about protective stabilization techniques, such as papoosing (which many liken to being swaddled), by trying them out on each other. Attendees also observe procedures in operatories or via camera in a conference room, where they are able to ask questions and discuss case scenarios.

Delta Dental reports that there currently are 12 FQHC participating in its CID program, which in addition to this immersion training requires a series of free online continuing education credits through Penn Dental Medicine’s Persons with Disabilities Presentation Series. These FQHCs are reportedly sharing best practices, with a goal of creating a model that could be replicated nationwide.

Persons with Disabilities Presentation Series

Penn Dental Medicine has established this free online continuing education series to help practicing clinicians strengthen their skills in treating persons with disabilities.

www.dental.upenn.edu/disabilitiescare

Students Present on Care for Individuals with Disabilities at AADMD Conference

A group of Penn Dental Medicine students joined Dean Mark Wolff in presenting at the annual conference of the American Academy of Developmental Medicine & Dentistry (AADMD), discussing the services provided through the School’s Care Center for Persons with Disabilities and the educational experiences gained there in caring for this vulnerable population. The conference, Once Voice for Inclusive Health, was held in Orlando in June, prior to the 2022 Special Olympics US Games.

Continuing Education Portal

Dean Wolff and the students presented on the topic “Innovation in Education to Improve Oral Health for Persons with Disabilities.” Participating students included fourth-year students Brooke Talsania (D’23), Andrew Casey (D’23), and Danielle Silver (D’23), and third-year student Gabriella Ciancimino (D’24) – all of whom have been active members of the Penn Dental Medicine student chapter of AADMD. They spoke on different aspects of serving patients within the School’s Care Center for Persons with Disabilities. With the opening of the Care Center in 2021, DMD students at the School now gain significant hands-on experience managing patients with a wide range of disabilities.

The conference was reportedly the first time that the President of the American Medical Association (AMA) and the President of the American Dental Association (ADA) came together to discuss health inequities for individuals with disabilities.

Through Penn Dental Medicine’s Continuing Education Portal there is a full schedule of live virtual and online programming, including the regularly occurring lecture series from many of the School’s clinical departments.

Set up an account in the portal to register for the live lectures or to view archived lectures accessible at any time. Most continuing education credits through the portal lectures are free of charge. Create a portal account at www.dental.upenn.edu/cde_online.

View the full schedule of continuing education programming at www.dental.upenn.edu/cde

ABOVE (L to R): Students Brooke Talsania (D’23), Danielle Silver (D’23), Gabriella Ciancimino (D’24), and Andrew Casey (D’23) — all of whom have been active members of the Penn Dental Medicine student chapter of AADMD — presented at the AADMD annual conference in June, joining Dean Mark Wolff for a presentation on treating persons with disabilities.

Forging a Path in Dental Anesthesia

Sejal Menghani (D’23) knew in her teens that she wanted to be a dentist and was accepted into Penn Dental Medicine’s Bio-Dental Consortial Program, allowing her to complete her B.A. in biology and D.M.D. degree at University of Pennsylvania in seven years.

Although she previously envisioned herself pursuing a traditional dentistry path to a clinical specialty and private practice, she has found herself drawn to the emerging field of dental anesthesia over her time in dental school.

“Dental anesthesiology was not even on my radar until my second year when we had a dental anesthesiologist as a guest lecturer for one of our pharmacology courses,” recalls Menghani, whose interest in the field has only continued to grow since then. “The idea of using pharmacological intervention to alleviate pain and anxiety has always fascinated me.”

Over the past two years, she has pursued dental anesthesiology externships at medical centers in New York, Ohio, and Pittsburgh. She sought out shadowing opportunities with Penn Dental Medicine’s dental anesthesiologist, Dr. Man Ching Ho, Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry, who has become one of her mentors. Last year, Menghani founded and serves as President of the Penn Dentist Anesthesiologist Club for Students, which now has more than 65 members. She was one of two Penn Dental Medicine students who attended the American Society of Dentist Anesthesiologists annual conference in Atlanta last spring.

Engaged in community outreach and oral health promotion activities as well, Menghani sees dental anesthesiology as playing a crucial role in extending access to care.

“After getting direct experience with patients with extreme dental anxiety as well as special healthcare needs, I knew that one of my goals was to optimize the patient experience and increase access to care for those unable to be treated through traditional dentistry,” she says. “And after shadowing our in-house dental anesthesiologist in the pediatric clinic, I can see how dental anesthesiologists play such an important role in providing a safe and comfortable environment for patients, decreasing dental trauma, and enabling patients to establish a dental home.”

As part of the School’s First Five Community Health Honors Program, focused on oral health promotion for children five and under, Menghani saw first-hand how anesthesia can help young patients with severe anxiety, special needs, and conditions like early childhood caries that necessitate extensive dental treatment.

“I hope to one day be a part of this rapidly growing field that helps children and adults of all backgrounds feel safe during their journey to a healthy smile,” says Menghani.

STUDENT PROFILE: SEJAL MENGHANI (D’23)

“After getting direct experience with patients with extreme dental anxiety as well as special healthcare needs, I knew that one of my goals was to optimize the patient experience and increase access to care for those unable to be treated through traditional dentistry.”

— SEJAL MENGHANI (D’23)

RECOGNIZED FOR PROMOTING ORAL HEALTH

Menghani has participated in a wide range of academic, leadership, and community service opportunities at Penn Dental Medicine. During her experience with the Bridging the Gaps Community Health Internship Program, Menghani helped design an interactive curriculum promoting education and healthy lifestyles for K-to-5 students in West Philadelphia. She also served as Co-President and Fundraising Chair for the School’s Philadelphia Oral Cancer Walk & 5K and volunteered in the Penn Dental Medicine care center serving Afghan refugees.

In light of her academic record and co-curricular activities, Menghani recently was awarded a $5,000 scholarship from the Dental Trade Alliance Foundation for dental students who demonstrate academic excellence and a commitment to community service.

The award “validated all the projects I put so much of my heart and soul into,” Menghani says. “It definitely motivates me to continue working on these projects, reducing oral health disparities, helping those with special needs, and advocating for kids to receive early intervention.”

SUPPORTING PEERS

At Penn, Menghani also serves as a peer advisor in the Bio-Dental Program, providing younger students with the support she benefitted from earlier in her studies. It wasn’t easy to get through Penn undergraduate in three years, she says, but creating a community with other Bio-Dental students where students collaborate, figure out which classes to take, and check in with each other helped ease the way.

“When I was a freshman and sophomore, it was really cool to see someone in dental school living out the dream I wanted,” says Menghani, who plans to do a three-year residency program in dental anesthesia after she graduates. “And now I get to pay it forward.”

Dr. Nipul Tanna Named Associate Chair of Orthodontics

Dr. Nipul Tanna (D’90, GD’92, GD’10, GD’11), Associate Professor of Clinical Orthodontics at Penn Dental Medicine, has been named Associate Chair of the School’s Department of Orthodontics. His appointment to this new leadership post was effective June 1.

“Dr. Tanna brings a long history with the School and our Department of Orthodontics to this new position,” says Penn Dental Medicine’s Morton Amsterdam Dean, Dr. Mark S. Wolff. “The Department is growing with new programs and faculty, and he is uniquely qualified to help steer the Department in partnership with Dr. Chung.” Dr. ChunHsi Chung (D’86, GD’92), who has led the Department as Chair since 2011, continues in that role.

A member of the School’s Orthodontics faculty since 2013, Dr. Tanna has directed the combined orthodontics and periodontics postdoctoral program since 2017. Dr. Tanna completed his postdoctoral training in both orthodontics and periodontics at Penn Dental Medicine in 2010 and was a senior research fellow in the Department of Periodontics from 2010 to 2015, earning his MS in Oral Biology in 2011. He is a Diplomate of both the American Board of Periodontology (2013) and the American Board of Orthodontics (2014).

Dr. Tanna began his dental career in restorative dentistry. Earning his DMD from Penn Dental Medicine in 1990, he went on to complete an AEGD residency at Penn Dental in 1992 after which he joined the School’s faculty practice as a general restorative clinician. He was part of the School’s Department of Preventive & Restorative Sciences faculty from 1994 to 1999, serving as a DMD program group leader for clinical instruction during that time. From 1999–2004 he was the Associate Director for a faculty practice site, Penn Dental at The Robert Schattner Center. He also held a Restorative faculty position from 2001 to 2005 before beginning his postdoctoral study in orthodontics and periodontics.

A highly regarded clinician and educator, Dr. Tanna was recognized with the Excellence in Clinical Instruction Award from the Penn Dental Medicine Department of Orthodontics in 2016, 2018, and 2021.

Dr. Nipul Tanna (D’90, GD’92, GD’10, GD’11)

Building Global Advisors

With the launch of the Center for Integrative Global Oral Health (CIGOH) last year — the School’s first policy center — Penn Dental Medicine is positioning itself to take the lead in transforming the way educators, practitioners, and policymakers address the challenges of achieving equitable oral health locally, nationally and around the globe. To help advance the work of CIGOH, one of the key priorities is building an Advisory Board of thought leaders across disciplines.

“Building a group of advisors that bring diverse perspectives and experiences is a critical step to move forward with our mission,” says Dr. Michael Glick, Executive Director of CIGOH. “We have been thrilled with members’ eagerness to be part of the Center and we are looking forward to working with this growing group of leaders.”

While Board development is ongoing, to-date the members include:

Hon. Steven L. Beshear, Former Governor of Kentucky

Dr. William Cheung (D’81, GD’82), Hong Kong, Emeritus Penn Dental Medicine Board of Advisors Chair

Dr. Lois K. Cohen, Consultant and Paul G. Rogers Ambassador for Global Health Research; Former Associate Director for International Health, NIDCR

Dr. Richard Cohen, President and Chief Executive Officer of Public Health Management Corporation

John D. Kemp, Esq., President and CEO of the Lakeshore Foundation

Global Lecture Series

Prof. Sir Michael G. Marmot, Director of the Institute of Health Equity, University College London

Dr. Garry Rayant (GD’77), Periodontist, Entrepreneur, and Philanthropist

Prof. Richard Watt, Co-Chair Lancet Commission on Oral Health; Professor of Dental Public Health, University College London

Bryant Welters, BlackIvy Group Associate, a development holding company in Ghana, Tanzania, and Kenya

Recent Recruit Dr. Kyle Vining

The Center for Integrative Global Oral Health (CIGOH) hosts an ongoing lecture series featuring leading researchers, policymakers, and advocates from across the globe, discussing topics that impact the future of oral health equity. A host of archived lectures are available online. Earn free continuing education credits listening to the past programs and learn more about the upcoming program of live lectures at www.dental.upenn.edu/cigoh_series

Adding to the depth of research at the dental medicine and engineering interface, Penn Dental Medicine welcomes Dr. Kyle Vining to the School’s faculty and its Center for Innovation & Precision Dentistry (CiPD). His appointment was effective July 1, 2022. Dr. Vining — Assistant Professor of Preventive and Restorative Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, and Department of Materials Science, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences — has his primary faculty appointment at Penn Dental Medicine and a secondary appointment at Penn’s School of Engineering.

“We are thrilled that Dr. Vining has joined us,” says Penn Dental Medicine’s Morton Amsterdam Dean, Dr. Mark S. Wolff. “With his combination of dental and engineering training and depth of research experience, he will play a vital role in the work and advancement of the CiPD and our goal of accelerating the development of new solutions and devices to address oral health needs.”

Dr. Kyle Vining

Dr. Vining, who holds a PhD in bioengineering from Harvard University (2020) and a DDS from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry (2014), comes to Penn Dental Medicine from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where he has been a postdoctoral researcher for the past two years. A primary focus of Dr. Vining’s research has been targeting mechanical regulation of tissue inflammation in bone marrow disease and head and neck cancer. He is also developing strategies to target inflammation and promote tissue repair and regeneration in oral and craniofacial diseases. Among his projects in the area of biomaterials development, he engineered a novel antimicrobial coating for titanium dental implants and developed a new polymeric dental material that supports differentiation and proliferation of dental pulp stem cells for regenerative dentistry applications.

Committed to teaching the next generation of clinician scientists, Dr. Vining was an active research mentor to both graduate and undergraduate students throughout his postdoctoral training. He is currently a Councilor in the Oral & Maxillofacial Research Group of the International Association for Dental Research and is a scientific peer reviewer for 13 journals, including the American Chemical Society journals and the Journal of Dental Research

Bequest Enhances School’s Art Collection

As a dental student, Penn Dental Medicine alumnus Dr. Aaron Hader (D’58) was fascinated by the extensive art collection in the southeast corner of the School’s first floor, which housed the Thomas Evans Museum from 1915 until the 1960’s. Visiting the museum fostered a lifelong love of art and inspired Dr. Hader to visit many of the world’s greatest museums, from the Louvre to the Hermitage, to galleries in England, Scotland, and many in the United States. It also inspired him to become a collector himself throughout his career as a general dentist in Northern New Jersey.

When Dr. Hader passed away earlier this year, Penn Dental Medicine became the beneficiary of his passion for art when he gifted the School more than a dozen pieces from his collection. Carefully selected to complement the Evans collection, the works are by artists from the French Second Empire period — the period when Thomas Evans lived in Paris and worked as the royal dentist to French Emperor Louis Napoleon Bonaparte along with many

other crown heads of Europe. The balance of Dr. Hader’s collection — which numbered more than 150 paintings and objects d’art — will be auctioned in the months to come, with the proceeds directed for the ongoing preservation of the various pieces on display at Penn Dental Medicine. His estate gift also includes a sizable monetary fund to support other priorities of the School.

In his bequest, Dr. Hader noted his “complete indebtedness to the School of Dental Medicine, which provided me the instruction to achieve economic success in my lifetime.” It is now Penn Dental Medicine that is indebted to this alumnus for enhancing the history of Dr. Thomas Evans through these works of art. The latest acquisitions from Dr. Hader are on display in the Dean’s Suite — all alumni are welcome to visit and view the collection.

Dr. Vining’s research has been targeting mechanical regulation of tissue inflammation in bone marrow disease and head and neck cancer.

ABOVE: The Cock Fight by Jean-Leon Gerome is among the works of art donated to the School through the bequest of alumnus Dr. Aaron Hader (D’58).

CiPD Welcomes Inaugural Class to Training Program

With one of its key missions to develop a new generation of scientists at the interface of dental medicine and engineering, the Center for Innovation & Precision Dentistry (CiPD) has selected its inaugural class of fellows for its new postdoctoral training program. The CiPD was awarded a $2.5 million T90/R90 grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) last summer to establish the program, this spring naming the first cohort of fellows that includes Dr. Justin Burrell, Dr. Marshall Padilla, Dr. Zhi Ren, and Dr. Dennis Sourvanos (GD’21, GR’22).

“We’re hoping this program will promote cross-pollination and create a culture between these two fields to help dentists develop innovative strategies with engineers,” says Dr. Michel Koo, Co-Director of CiPD, who launched CiPD in 2021 with Co-Director Dr. Kathleen Stebe of Penn’s School of Engineering and Applied Science. “We’re providing a platform for them to work together to address unmet clinical needs and develop careers in that interface.”

The NIDCR T90/R90 Postdoctoral Training Program aims to focus specifically on the oral microbiome, host immunity, and tissue regeneration, each of which ties into different aspects of oral health, from tooth decay and periodontal disease to the needs of head and neck cancer patients. To advance these areas, emerging approaches, from advanced materials, robotics, and artificial intelligence to tissue engineering, chloroplast- and nanoparticle-based technologies, will be leveraged.

All four members of this first class bring unique interests to the program. Dr. Burrell has focused his training and research to date on the nervous system and developing novel approaches to nerve repair and will be continuing work in this area with gingiva-derived stem cells. Dr. Padilla’s research focuses on developing new materials to enhance the efficacy and safety of biological therapeutics; he is working to develop lipid nanoparticles for treatment of oral cancer. Applying new nanotechnologies, Dr. Ren is working on understanding how bacterial and fungal pathogens interact in the oral cavity to form biofilms that cause severe tooth decay in toddlers. Dr. Sourvanos’ research interests have been focused on the clinical development of novel biotherapies for hard and soft tissue regeneration and he will be continuing his study of Low-Level Laser Therapeutics (LLLT), non-invasive growth factor upregulation, and tissue regeneration.

As part of the two-year training, each fellow will receive co-mentorship from faculty from each school in conjunction with a career development committee of clinicians, basic scientists, as well as engineers. These mentorships will be focused on research outcomes and readying participants to submit grants and compete for positions in academia or industry.

“We’re hoping this program will promote cross-pollination and create a culture between these two fields to help dentists develop innovative strategies with engineers.”

— DR. MICHEL KOO

ABOVE: The inaugural class of the CiPD’s NIDCR T90/R90 Postdoctoral Training Program (Dr. Zhi Ren, Dr. Dennis Sourvanos (GD’21, GR’22), Dr. Marshall Padilla, and Dr. Justin Burrell) with Dean Mark Wolff.

STUDENTPERSPECTIVE

VIEWS ON THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE

Creating a Space for Education on IDD in Orthodontics

By Rebecca Muller (D’23), Kristi Truong (D’23), Brooke Talsania (D’23)

Our third- and fourth-year rotations in Penn Dental Medicine’s new Personalized Care Suite expanded our understanding of what it means to treat a population that requires more specialized care. Treating individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their associated complex medical conditions requires additional, and often unconventional skills.

When working with people with IDD, these skills become essential to ensure successful patient care and a positive experience for the patient as well as their caregivers. These skills include maintaining flexibility with appointment times, utilizing and potentially modifying additional equipment and instruments, accommodating caregivers, and employing behavioral techniques. Most importantly, patience is extremely valuable when working with IDD individuals due to communication barriers and the need to often adapt.

From speaking to many patients and their caregivers, we came to understand how challenging it was for them to find providers who would treat them once they aged out of their pediatric dentists. Going a step further, we became interested in learning how to treat individuals with IDD in the field of orthodontics and how the dental specialties collaborate to treat these patients.

This past Spring, we created the Orthodontics & Special Needs Club. We invited a variety of dental specialists, including pediatric dentists, orthodontists, and orthodontic residents to discuss their treatment experiences with the IDD community. They shared cases, answered questions, and taught how to best treat these individuals from both a behavioral and dental perspective. Our goal with this organization is to promote advocacy and educate classmates and ourselves on the practicalities of treating patients with IDD. After

speaking with practicing orthodontists who specialize in treating the IDD population, we learned the creative tools they employ to best suit each patient's unique needs. For example, during their first visit to the office, there is often no treatment performed, just a simulated appointment to desensitize the patient to the new environment. By bringing in these specialists, including several Penn Dental Medicine alumni, this club has created conversations regarding the best way to manage and treat IDD patients, taking what we learn in the classroom and applying it to use in the Personalized Care Suite and our future dental careers.

Expanding our knowledge about the practicalities of treating the IDD population has been a meaningful step toward feeling prepared for clinical practice. By increasing student exposure to the possibilities of treatment modifications and patient management, we hope that students will become more open to treating IDD patients in the future regardless of whatever specialty they intend to pursue. We are currently planning a speaker series this fall for selective credit centered around the clinical workflow of treating this population. Our hope is that this club will continue to grow and engage the Penn Dental Medicine community in the future.

Penn Dental Medicine has been a great advocate for expanding the clinical education of its students to treat patients with IDD. We have benefited from the support of the faculty in the Personalized Care Suite, Penn Dental Orthodontic Clinic, and the Alumni Association who have connected us with incredible alumni who take the time to mentor, support, and nurture Penn Dental students. This endeavor has broadened our perspective toward treating this community with the hope that every patient with IDD has equitable access to the full range of specialty care while feeling seen and supported.

ABOVE (L to R):Rebecca Muller (D’23), Kristi Truong (D’23), and Brooke Talsania (D’23).

“Digital technology and techniques are transforming the profession. We are preparing our students for the dentistry of today — and tomorrow.”

— DR. MARKUS BLATZ

ADVANCING LEADERSHIP IN DIGITAL DENTISTRY

ONGOING INITIATIVES IN EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND PATIENT CARE KEEP PENN DENTAL MEDICINE ON THE LEADING EDGE OF DIGITAL DENTISTRY

JUST OVER TWO YEARS AGO, Penn Dental Medicine opened two stateof-the-art facilities that placed it squarely on the leading edge of the digital age of dentistry.

The Digital Design and Milling Center and the Center for Virtual Treatment Planning are the most visible successes of the School’s ongoing Digital Innovation Initiative, aimed at incorporating the latest in digital dental technologies and techniques throughout almost all areas of education, research, and patient care.

Today, the two Centers, located on the lower level of the Thomas Evans Building, serve as both the cornerstones and building blocks of Penn Dental Medicine’s commitment to the future of digital dentistry, as the School continues to enhance its global leadership and expertise in the field.

“Digital technology and techniques are transforming the profession,” says Dr. Markus Blatz, Professor and Chair of Preventive and Restorative Sciences, Assistant Dean for Digital Innovation and Professional Development, and a leader of the School’s Digital Innovation Initiative.

“We are preparing our students for the dentistry of today — and tomorrow,” Blatz says.

“The incorporation of digital dental technologies has been a great success story, ever since we made this our focus well over a decade ago.”

OPPOSITE, CENTER: The Digital Design and Milling Center, where the vast majority of indirect, single-unit restorations for patients within the School’s care centers are designed and milled.

The Digital Design and Milling Center and the Center for Virtual Treatment Planning provide a full range of state-ofthe-art digital technology and equipment that allow dental students and residents to digitally plan restorations, develop virtual treatment plans for complex cases, and manufacture restorations on-site.

Since the Centers opened, digital dental technologies have continued to become even more embedded school-wide, advancing the goal of the School’s Digital Innovation Initiative to open up new possibilities for teaching students, conducting research and continuing education, and delivering seamless and cutting-edge patient care.

BOTTOM, LEFT: The Center for Virtual Treatment Planning focuses on complex cases, creating a virtual patient to treatment plan.

LEADING WITH DIGITAL INNOVATION

Penn Dental Medicine’s leadership in digital dentistry was evident this past spring when deans and dental school leaders from across the country visited campus to tour the Digital Design and Milling Center and the Center for Virtual Treatment Planning and to discuss the role of digital innovation in education and research. The visit, hosted by Dr. Mark Wolff, Penn Dental Medicine’s Morton Anderson Dean, was planned in conjunction with the American Dental Education Association Annual Session, which was held in Philadelphia in March.

“We were able to share our digital innovation and how we successfully implemented key aspects in our programs and clinics,” says Blatz. “The acceleration of incorporating digital applications across clinical care and education at the School has exceeded expectations.”

Today, the vast majority of indirect, single-unit restorations for patients within the School’s care centers are designed and milled in-house in the Digital Design and Milling Center, which is headed by Dr. Julian Conejo, Assistant Professor of Clinical Restorative Dentistry and Director of Chairside Digital Dentistry. A key aspect of the successful digital transformation at the School has been a comprehensive faculty training program, developed and taught by Conejo, to ensure faculty members are well versed in the application and teaching of digital dental technologies.

Conejo foresees a future when the School will be alginate-free, referring to the material typically used to make dental impressions. Now, with 18 intraoral optical scanners deployed throughout the School’s clinical care centers, the School is continuing to move in that direction.

Trained in the use of digital technologies from the very beginning of their preclinical education, DMD students are required to complete a minimum number of CAD/ CAM fabricated restorations, and starting this academic year, they are learning how to manage complete denture cases digitally as well. All aspects are done digitally — from

the intraoral scan to the design and milling or use of printed materials to create the final denture.

“Creating dentures digitally is one of the fastest-progressing topics in our field, and there are several systems and new innovations on the market for using printed materials,” Blatz says. “We are evaluating several of those systems to find out which would be best for our patients.”

In the past two years, the School also has acquired four 3D printers, two of them in each of the Centers, which students use to print models from digital wax-ups, supplementing a long-standing collaboration with Penn Libraries Biotech Commons 3D printing service.

“Our goal is to ensure that our students have the skills and knowledge to prepare them for the future of dentistry,” says Michael Bergler, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Division of Restorative Dentistry, and

Director of the Center for Virtual Treatment Planning. Within his Center, he works with postdoctoral residents on complex cases with a focus on creating “a virtual patient” and employing virtual treatment planning software.

“Based on the data we can collect from a patient’s intraoral scans, cone beam tomography, and face scans, we are able to create a virtual patient on screen,” explains Bergler. “By superimposing all these data sets, residents can simulate different treatment protocols.”

“Virtual treatment planning is a more detailed way and a much more predictable way” of meeting patient needs, says Bergler, noting that since the Center’s launch in 2020, residents have excelled in using the software. The patient response has been positive as well.

“Seeing the plans on screen gives patients more security in going through the treatment process,” says Bergler. “It’s a winwin all around.”

“Based on the data we can collect from a patient’s intraoral scans, cone beam tomography, and face scans, we are able to create a virtual patient on screen.

— MICHAEL BERGLER

SMILE DESIGN: THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT

The thing about technology is it never stops moving forward, and keeping up requires the ability to stay at the forefront of evolving resources and applications. A new course introduced into the curriculum this past spring is designed to put second-year dental students in the mindset of doing just that as they prepare to begin seeing patients. The course — advanced restorative aesthetics — builds upon students’ preclinical education in dental aesthetics and digital dentistry, with an introduction to smile design apps on their mobile devices a key part of the class.

“The course is purposely offered just prior to the start of students’ clinical work so advanced aesthetics principles are part of what they carry with them throughout their clinical experiences,” says Blatz, who designed and teaches the course. “Through this course, students learn aesthetics not from looking at things and reading from a book, but by designing smiles within the apps in a 3D environment.”

Students design smiles using sample cases built into the apps. As an educational tool, Blatz notes that the apps provide an interactive 3D platform for reinforcing the aesthetic parameters of tooth placement and discussing aesthetics concepts.

“Through a digital scan, the artificial intelligence within the smile design apps can almost instantaneously suggest what an ideal smile could look like,” explains Blatz. “From there, a clinician can modify and adjust it together with the patient to simulate the desired outcome and create a treatment plan.” The new course introduces students to this evolving clinical tool, which Blatz notes can be a valuable resource to practicing clinicians as a starting point for aesthetic treatment planning.

The course also places an emphasis on minimally invasive aesthetic restorations and adhesive dentistry, such as laminate veneers, bonded ceramic inlays and onlays, and resin-bonded bridges — other fast-evolving topics that go hand-in-hand with digital technologies, notes Blatz.

“Our goal is to ensure our students are well-reversed in the latest techniques, technologies, protocols, and materials to best serve their patients,” he says.

“Through a digital scan, the artificial intelligence within the smile design apps can almost instantaneously suggest what an ideal smile could look like.”

— DR. MARKUS BLATZ

OPPOSITE: Michael Bergler works with postdoctoral residents on virtual treatment planning.

TOP, BOTTOM: In a new advanced restorative aesthetics course, Dr. Markus Blatz, introduces students to a smile design app and uses it to reinforce the aesthetic parameters of tooth placement.

SHARING OUR EXPERTISE

Over the past two years, Penn Dental Medicine has significantly expanded online continuing education, sharing its expertise in digital dentistry with students, faculty, and dentists around the world. Programs such as the weekly “Excellence in Restorative Dentistry Online Lecture Series” feature international opinion leaders discussing new treatment protocols and technologies and Bergler developed a series of lectures on virtual treatment planning as well (view all online programs at www.dental.upenn.edu/cde_online).

In another new initiative, the Center for Virtual Treatment Planning launched a series of lectures this past spring that gives postdoctoral students in Prosthodontics and Periodontal Prosthesis the opportunity to present their virtual treatment planning cases through the School’s online continuing education portal.

Called the “Case of the Quarter,” it focuses on the students’ experiences using the latest digital technology to virtually plan restorative, implant and surgical treatments, and demonstrate protocols for workflows. The cases address a range of issues, including the collection of digital data, intraoral and facial scanning, creating a digital plan, and relating the form and functional goals of traditional treatment planning compared with the digital planning.

“The series gives the residents the opportunity to present to the outside community what they have accomplished and what we are doing as a school,” Bergler says. “It demonstrates the leading technology in this area and the predictable clinical outcomes virtual treatment planning produces.”

“Besides continuing education, the number of publications on digital dentistry from our centers has skyrocketed in the recent past. That, along with our enhanced presence on various social media platforms and at international meetings is enabling us to educate a global audience on new dental technologies,” adds Blatz. “And, as Editorin-Chief of the Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry, we dedicate a majority of articles and an annual thematic issue to this important topic.”

RESTORATIVE MICROSCOPY: ANOTHER TOOL IN PRECISION DENTISTRY

Complementing the use and advances in digital dentistry, students are now also learning how the magnification and illumination of dental microscopes can enhance precision in restorative care. For the first time this summer, rising second- and third-year Penn Dental Medicine students learned to refine composite and crown preparations in the preclinical simulation lab using high-powered dental microscopes. This restorative microscopy course was launched “to teach students the value of precision dentistry using the dental microscope,” says Dr. Alan Atlas, Clinical Professor of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics and Director of Restorative Microscopy, who has headed this initiative. “Students have enthusiastically embraced it.”

According to Atlas, it is the only curriculum-based course in restorative microscopy being taught at any dental school worldwide, and is another example of how Penn Dental Medicine is at the forefront of preparing students for the future of dentistry. The restorative microscopy course, officially part of the first- and third-year curriculum, will

continue to be conducted in the summer session within the preclinical simulation lab.

The School currently has three clinical dental operating microscopes for training in the lab, one in the periodontal clinic, and two in the general restorative clinics with plans for five more to be added there within the next year.

The impact of working with microscopes was reinforced in a recent study led by Atlas that compared the marginal gaps of preparations for CAD/CAM crowns finished using loupes at 3x magnification versus dental microscopes with 10x magnification.

“The results showed that the marginal fit was significantly better with preparations done with the dental microscope,” Atlas says of the study, published in May in The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry.

“Ultimately,” adds Atlas, “we're teaching our students a philosophy of care that emphasizes obtaining the best outcomes for our patients.”

ABOVE: DMD students are now learning to use a dental microscope in restorative care with a microscope course now part of the first- and third-year curriculum.

RESEARCH LEADING THE WAY TO A DIGITAL FUTURE

There is little doubt that digital technology will play an outsized role in the future of dentistry, and research at Penn Dental Medicine is helping to determine what that future may look like. Companies in this realm continue to turn to Penn Dental Medicine for feedback on both dental materials and CAD/CAM equipment and software that is moving the field forward.

Consider the day when a robot guided by digital data could prepare a tooth for restoration; it may not be that far off. Blatz is currently collaborating with a European company to soon begin clinical and laboratory testing to provide feedback on just such a robotic system. “This would revolutionize how we do things,” says Blatz.

There is also research underway to gauge the accuracy of artificial intelligence (AI) programs in reading and evaluating radiographs. AI-powered technology helps to improve diagnostics and treatment by identifying possible issues in the radiograph and helping to ensure the clinician doesn’t overlook something. If that information is combined with other health data, Blatz says, “we can funnel this information with the help of AI to come up with more consistent, more calibrated, and more patient-centered treatment plans.”

In the Center for Virtual Treatment Planning, current research with industry partners includes testing 3D printing of ceramics and other new materials as well as a new printing technology that could print multiple materials and multiple colors within the same restoration. “Right now, we can only print one material at a time,” Bergler says. “Combining materials could add a whole new dimension on how to fabricate final restorations in the future.”

A professional metrology software for 3D evaluations and measurements was recently acquired to increase the quality and possibilities for new research projects, adds Bergler.

And in the Digital Design and Milling Center, where new zirconia materials and digital implantology have been a primary focus of clinical and laboratory research, students

and postdoctoral residents are also becoming more involved in projects. This summer, the Center hosted its first predoctoral intern as part of the School’s Summer Research Program. Matthew Lee (D’25) worked with Conejo on a pilot study that compared fullarch abutment-level implant impressions with different intraoral scanning methods.

“As we approach the statistical analysis phase of the study, it is great to see how technology is making full-arch implant impressions easier,” Conejo says. The study was accepted for a poster presentation at the Greater New York Dental Meeting in November, which Lee will present.

Also advancing the School’s depth of research in the area of CAD/CAM ceramics over the past two years was the recruitment of Dr. Yu Zhang, adds Blatz. Joining Penn Dental Medicine in 2020, Zhang, Professor in the Department of Preventive & Restorative Sciences, has an international reputation for

his work to enhance the strength, durability, and aesthetics of dental ceramics.

“Our goal is to help advance the profession with solid evidence-based techniques and technologies,” stresses Blatz. “So in all we do, our main focus is to use technology to better serve our patients based on their specific and individual needs.” n

“Our goal is to help advance the profession with solid evidence-based techniques and technologies. Our main focus is to use technology to better serve our patients.”

— DR. MARKUS BLATZ

ABOVE: This summer, Dr. Julian Conejo worked with Matthew Lee (D’25) in the Digital Design and Milling Center on a study comparing intraoral scanning methods as part of the School’s Summer Research Program.

ALUMNI GIVING & ENGAGEMENT

A YEAR IN REVIEW | FY2022 ALUMNI GIVING

The support and engagement of alumni, friends, and partners continues to sustain our students, the patients we serve, and ongoing research across disciplines. Thank you for your investment in the work we do — it is an incredible testament to your belief in the School’s mission, and we are so grateful for the many ways you continue to propel Penn Dental Medicine forward. We are pleased to share these philanthropic highlights from FY2022 and invite you to view the full 2022 Alumni Giving Report online, www.dental.upenn.edu/report.

1,202 DONORS made a gift to a Penn Dental Medicine fund

24

$569,711 DOLLARS raised for the Penn Dental Medicine Annual Fund, which supports the daily operations essential to training the next generation of proud Penn dentists

NEW SEATS taken in Cheung and Corby Auditoriums through the Take a Seat initiative

$14.25M DOLLARS committed to programs supporting Penn Dental Medicine’s mission of transforming global oral health and well-being through exceptional clinical care, innovation, education, and research

9 ALUMNI SCHOLARS FUNDS established to support students of all backgrounds pursuing their dream of a career in dental medicine

JOIN US

TAKE A SEAT

ALUMNI made their first gift to the School

Alumni and friends have named almost 200 seats in the Cheung and Corby Auditoriums at $1,000/seat. Take a seat by visiting www.dental.upenn.edu/takeaseat.

ALUMNI SCHOLARS PROGRAM

Support a predoctoral or postdoctoral student in financing their education through the establishment of an Alumni Scholar. With a minimum annual commitment of $2,500, alumni can sponsor a student and follow his/her progress. To learn more visit www.dental.upenn.edu/alumnischolars.

HIGHEST CLASS PARTICIPATION of members supporting philanthropic priorities at Penn Dental Medicine

1971 & 1981 7

85 71

NEW ESTATE GIFTS received in support of priorities like scholarship and unrestricted aid, including two historic gifts from the estates of Carol Corby Waller, CW’58, (in memory of her father, Arthur Corby, Class of 1917) and Aaron Hader, D’58

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SOCIETY members recognized for their leadership in unrestricted support, including 10 Young Alumni members

ANNUAL GIVING

Essential support for the School’s highest priorities comes from donations made to the Penn Dental Medicine Annual Fund every year. These funds are critical to the School’s success in adapting programs to stay at the forefront of the profession or address unforeseen needs.

EXPLORE WAYS OF GIVING

Learn more by visiting www.dental.upenn.edu/giving.

“I’m hoping that if this is effective and safe it will be the beginning of several other oral delivery drugs using this platform.”

— DR. HENRY DANIELL

CHEWING TO CURB COVID-19

A CHEWING GUM DESIGNED TO TRAP SARS-COV-2 IN THE SALIVA USING

DR. HENRY DANIELL’S PLANT-BASED PLATFORM BEGINS CLINICAL TRIAL

A RECENTLY LAUNCHED CLINICAL TRIAL AT PENN will evaluate a unique chewing gum designed by Penn Dental Medicine’s Dr. Henry Daniell to trap SARS-CoV-2 in the saliva, potentially blocking transmission of COVID-19 from one person to another.

The trial will recruit participants from a pool of Penn Medicine employees whose responses to the PennOpen Pass screening system indicate that they may be battling a COVID-19 infection. Those who enroll in the clinical trial will be given a packet of a dozen experimental tablets of gum. Each morning, they will pop one in their mouth — and start to chew.

TOP, ABOVE:

The cinnamon-flavored gum is designed to do far more than freshen breath. Thanks to innovations emerging from Daniell’s lab, the gum contains plant-derived material genetically engineered to contain ACE2, a protein found naturally in human blood and saliva. The ACE2 receptor is found on human cells and is bound by SARS-CoV-2 virus during infection. In experimental models, chewing the gum released the embedded ACE2, blocking the interaction of the chewer’s own ACE2 receptor and the viral spike protein.

In effect, the gum is designed to trap and neutralize SARS-CoV-2 in the saliva and, ideally, diminish the amount of virus left in the mouth. It is hoped that less virus would mean a lower likelihood of passing the infection on to others.

Daniell and colleagues are also working on another gum, containing a different protein, that could target a broader range of respiratory viruses, including influenza.

“I’m hoping that if this is effective and safe it will be the beginning of several other oral delivery drugs using this platform,” says Daniell, W. D. Miller Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Basic and Translational Sciences.

Findings from a preclinical study of the gum’s efficacy in neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus in patient samples, published in the journal Biomaterials in July, showed it could reduce viral load to nearly

OPPOSITE: Dr. Henry Daniell, W. D. Miller Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Basic and Translational Sciences.

The gum tablets containing ACE2, produced using Daniell’s platform in which plant material is bombarded with the DNA of target proteins, coaxing the plant chloroplasts to take up the DNA and begin growing the proteins. The plant material is then freeze-dried and ground, and in this case, delivered by the chewing gum.

undetectable levels. The results supported an application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for an Investigational New Drug, which went into effect in May and paved the way for the launch of the clinical trial.

The technology behind this experimental treatment has moved from the laboratory bench toward the beginning of clinical experimentation, all within Penn Dental Medicine, a first for the School. The partnership with colleagues from Penn Medicine enables the launch of the first-in-human clinical trial.

“This technology may have the ability to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and the flu as well as make it safer for dentists and other healthcare providers to provide care to patients who we know are infected,” says Dr. Mark Wolff, the Morton Amsterdam Dean of Penn Dental Medicine, who was also a coauthor on the Biomaterials study.

A NOVEL CONCEPT FOR HALTING DISEASE TRANSMISSION

For years, Daniell has used his patented plant-based platform to generate a range of biomolecules with both therapeutic and commercial potential. By bombarding plant material (in this case lettuce) with the DNA of target proteins, they coax the plant chloroplasts to take up the DNA and begin growing the proteins. The plant material, freeze-dried and ground-up, could be used as a means of delivering the protein. Prior to the COVID19 pandemic, one of the proteins his lab had explored was ACE2, originally with a view toward evaluating its impact on pulmonary hypertension.

As the pandemic began, ACE2 began receiving significant attention for a different reason: its receptor provides the docking station for the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. Suddenly, Daniell’s work had found a new

potential application: as a trap for the virus that causes COVID-19.

Daniell had already been working on protein drug delivery via a chewing gum, and, given that the SARS-CoV-2 virus replicates in the salivary glands, delivering ACE2 to the mouth with a gum appeared to him to be a potentially powerful approach.

Another coincidence augmented the potential of the “viral trap” approach. During infection, not only does the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein bind to the host cell’s ACE2 receptor, but two other co-receptors on the virus, known as GM-1 receptors, facilitate the binding process. CTB, a protein that Daniell had already been evaluating in his ACE2 biotherapeutic, turns out to also bind GM-1, thus serving as an additional lure in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

In a Molecular Therapy paper published in November 2021, Daniell and colleagues showed in preclinical studies that a chewing gum containing CTB and ACE2 could reduce SARS-CoV-2 viral loads in saliva obtained from COVID-19 patients under experimental conditions. The Biomaterials paper extended that work, using samples from the delta and omicron waves of the pandemic to demonstrate that the gum could neutralize these strains under these same in vitro conditions as well.

The latter publication also went beyond COVID to consider how such a gum might potentially block a broader cross-section of viruses, including those that do not rely on the ACE2 receptor to enter cells.

“I was very keen on developing this chewing gum delivery system to trap many different oral viruses,” says Daniell, “and was looking for a way to broaden the approach.”

To do so, Daniell and colleagues developed a gum containing a different protein, called FRIL, which is found naturally in the plant Lablab purpureus, also known as the Lablab or hyacinth bean. While the spikeACE2 receptor interaction is specific to coronavirus, FRIL binds to molecules called complex-type N-glycans, which are found on a broader spectrum of viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses.

The research team used two different assays to evaluate the in vitro performance

“This may have the ability to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and make it safer for healthcare providers to provide care to patients who we know are infected.”

— DR. MARK WOLFF

of the FRIL and CTB-ACE2 chewing gums; one, a microbubbling test developed by the Perelman School of Medicine’s Dr. Ping Wang; the other, an electrochemical sensing test invented by Dr. Cesar de la Fuente of Penn Medicine and the School of Engineering and Applied Science. Both tests confirmed that the gum could significantly reduce viral levels in patient samples.

PUTTING THE GUM THROUGH ITS PACES

Throughout the stages of evaluating the gum, Daniell and Penn Dental Medicine colleagues have worked in close collaboration with researchers from around Penn, particularly in the Perelman School of Medicine, enabling the work to take on special relevancy in the context of the evolving COVID pandemic. In addition to Wang and de la Fuente’s testing platforms playing a role in evaluating the technology, Dr. Ronald Collman, a Professor of Medicine, helped collect COVID-positive samples with which to test the gum. Dr. Frederic Bushman, a Microbiology Professor, sequenced the viral samples to determine which strain of SARS-CoV-2 they represented. And Penn Medicine infectious disease specialists Dr. Pablo Tebas and Dr. William Short are the lead investigators for the phase 1/2 clinical trial with the Perelman School of Medicine serving as the regulatory sponsor.

The trial aims to enroll 40 participants. Each will receive gum tablets to chew and tubes for collecting saliva over the course of three days. The plant material for the trial is being produced and grown at Fraunhofer, a research and development organization, before being further processed at Penn Dental Medicine, using freeze-drying and grinding machines that meet FDA regulations to ready it for incorporating into gum tablets.

“Each day participants will chew four tablets of gum, and take eight samples of saliva, before and after chewing,” says Daniell. “On the fourth day, they’ll come to the clinic, chew a final tablet of gum, and get an examination, record their symptoms, and submit their samples.”

The phase 1/2 trial will be used to ensure the gum is safe to use. Each of the participants’ saliva samples will undergo multiple PCR tests to quantify the level of virus present.

A TOOL IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CONTAGION

With the gum, Daniell hopes to develop a tool that can complement others, such as vaccines and antivirals, to make a further dent in this pandemic — and perhaps future ones. He points out that the gum represents the first Investigational New Drug submission for a human therapeutic protein drug that does not require a cold chain or protein purification. Eliminating the protein purification step — made possible because of the protein being grown in plants — reduces costs dramatically. And being shelf-stable means the gum could more easily reach remote and less developed areas of the world without needing refrigeration or special handling.

To one day reach this scale, Daniell has partnered with Penn Center for Innovation (PCI) and its PCI Ventures to spin out this technology into a Penn startup company. PCI Ventures works directly with researchers to help form and launch new startups based

on Penn technologies. Michael Poisel, who manages PCI Ventures, says Daniell’s desire for broad and global accessibility has been a primary motivation behind the development of the gum and other products — from their initial promise in the lab to the clinical trial ongoing today.

“One of the exciting things about the technology is the potential to help people in countries that don’t have the resources to benefit as broadly from the current vaccines and other therapies,” Poisel says. “Henry is really focused on making sure we can offer this in a cost-effective manner so the gum, once FDA approved, could be distributed as widely as possible and benefit as many people as possible.” n

By

—

Katherine Unger Baillie

“I was very keen on developing this chewing gum delivery system to trap many different oral viruses and was looking for a way to broaden the approach.”

— DR. HENRY DANIELL

OPPOSITE, ABOVE: An FDA-approved freeze drier (opposite) and grinding machine (above) within the Daniell lab at Penn Dental Medicine ready the ACE2 plants for incorporating into the gum tablets.

ACADEMICUPDATE

DEPARTMENT/FACULTY NEWS & SCHOLARSHIP

BASIC & TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCES

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

A selection of recently published (Apr.-Aug. 2022) work by department faculty (indicated in bold).

Alawi F The value of mentorship Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol 2022 Aug;134(2):119. doi: 10.1016/j. oooo.2022.05.009.

Ashshi R, Alawi F, Omolehinwa TT (Co-author Dept. of Oral Medicine), Graillon N, Shanti RM. Immediate impact of dental prophylaxis and oral hygiene improvement on multifocal pyogenic granulomas: a case report Quintessence Int. 2022 Apr 5;53(5):432-435. doi: 10.3290/j.qi.b2793229..

Chompunud Na Ayudhya C, Ali H. MasRelated G Protein-Coupled Receptor-X2 and Its Role in Non-immunoglobulin E-Mediated Drug Hypersensitivity Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2022 May;42(2):269284. doi: 10.1016/j.iac.2021.12.003.

INTERVENING IN BONE LOSS

A study from the lab of Dr. Sheri Yang identified a new role for a protein that keeps osteoclasts — the cells that break down bone — in check, and may guide the development of new therapies to counter bone loss. See the following article:

Daniell H, Nair SK, Shi Y, Wang P, Montone KT, Shaw PA, Choi GH, Ghani D, Weaver J, Rader DJ, Margulies KB, Collman RG, Laudanski K, Bar KJ. Decrease in Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme activity but not concentration in plasma/lungs in COVID-19 patients offers clues for diagnosis/treatment Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev. 2022 Sep 8;26:266278. doi: 10.1016/j.omtm.2022.07.003.

Daniell H, Nair SK, Guan H, Guo Y, Kulchar RJ, Torres MDT, ShahedAl-Mahmud M, Wakade G, Liu YM, Marques AD, Graham-Wooten J, Zhou W, Wang P, Molugu SK, de Araujo WR, de la Fuente-Nunez C, Ma C, Short WR, Tebas P, Margulies KB, Bushman FD, Mante FK (Co-author Dept. of Preventive & Restorative Sciences), Ricciardi RP, Collman RG, Wolff MS (Co-author Dept. of Preventive & Restorative Sciences) Debulking different Corona (SARS-CoV-2 delta, omicron, OC43) and Influenza (H1N1, H3N2) virus strains by plant viral trap proteins in chewing gums to decrease infection and transmission Biomaterials. 2022 Jul 18:121671. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121671.

INFLAMMATION, BONE MARROW

A study from the lab of Dr. George Hajishengallis demonstrates that an association between conditions such as severe gum disease and arthritis is traceable to the bone marrow. See the following article:

Li X, Wang H, Yu X, Saha G, Kalafati L, Ioannidis C, Mitroulis I, Netea MG, Chavakis T, Hajishengallis G Maladaptive innate immune training of myelopoiesis links inflammatory comorbidities Cell. 2022 May 12;185(10):1709-1727.e18. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.03.043.

Hajishengallis G, Chavakis T. Inflammatory memory and comorbidities Clin Transl Med. 2022 Jul;12(7):e984. doi: 10.1002/ctm2.984.

Hajishengallis G Interconnection of periodontal disease and comorbidities: Evidence, mechanisms, and implications Periodontol 2000. 2022 Jun;89(1):9-18. doi: 10.1111/ prd.12430.

Hajishengallis G, Li X, Divaris K, Chavakis T. Maladaptive trained immunity and clonal hematopoiesis as potential mechanistic links between periodontitis and inflammatory comorbidities Periodontol 2000. 2022 Jun;89(1):215-230. doi: 10.1111/prd.12421.

Hajishengallis G, Chavakis T. Mechanisms and Therapeutic Modulation of NeutrophilMediated Inflammation J Dent Res 2022 Jul 4:220345221107602. doi: 10.1177/00220345221107602.

Kajikawa T, Mastellos DC, Hasturk H, Kotsakis GA, Yancopoulou D, Lambris JD, Hajishengallis G C3-targeted host-modulation approaches to oral inflammatory conditions Semin Immunol 2022 Jun 9:101608. doi: 10.1016/j. smim.2022.101608.

Lazki-Hagenbach P, Kleeblatt E, Ali H, Sagi-Eisenberg R. Spatiotemporal Patterns of Substance P-Bound MRGPRX2 Reveal a Novel Connection Between Macropinosome Resolution and Secretory Granule Regeneration in Mast Cells Front Immunol. 2022 Jun 28;13:892239. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.892239.

Li Y, Yang S, Liu Y (Co-author Dept. of Preventive & Restorative Sciences), Yang S Deletion of Trp53 and Rb1 in Ctskexpressing cells drives osteosarcoma progression by activating glucose metabolism and YAP signaling MedComm (2020). 2022 Apr 22;3(2):e131. doi: 10.1002/ mco2.131.

Deepak V, Yang ST, Li Z, Li X, Ng A, Xu D, Li YP, Oursler MJ, Yang S IFT80 negatively regulates osteoclast differentiation via association with Cbl-b to disrupt TRAF6 stabilization and activation Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2022 Jun 28;119(26):e2201490119. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2201490119.

Irwandi RA, Chiesa ST, Hajishengallis G, Papayannopoulos V, Deanfield JE, D’Aiuto F. The Roles of Neutrophils Linking Periodontitis and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Diseases Front Immunol 2022 Jul 7;13:915081. doi: 10.3389/ fimmu.2022.915081.

Li Y, Yang S, Liu Y (Co-author Dept. of Preventive & Restorative Sciences), Qin L, Yang S IFT20 governs mesenchymal stem cell fate through positively regulating TGF-β-Smad 2/3-Glut1 signaling mediated glucose metabolism Redox Biol 2022 Aug;54:102373. doi: 10.1016/j. redox.2022.102373.

Li Y, Yang S, Liu Y, Yang S Mice with Trp53 and Rb1 deficiency in chondrocytes spontaneously develop chondrosarcoma via overactivation of YAP signaling Cell Death Dis. 2022 Jun 27;13(6):570. doi: 10.1038/ s41419-022-04916-4.

Li Y, Yang ST, Yang S Trp53 controls chondrogenesis and endochondral ossification by negative regulation of TAZ activity and stability via β-TrCP-mediated ubiquitination Cell Death Discov. 2022 Jul 12;8(1):317. doi: 10.1038/s41420-022-01105-2.

Li X, Yang S, Yuan G, Jing D, Qin L, Zhao H, Yang S Type II collagen-positive progenitors are important stem cells in controlling skeletal development and vascular formation Bone Res. 2022 Jun 23;10(1):46. doi: 10.1038/s41413-022-00214-z.

Li Y, Yang S, Yang S Verteporfin

Inhibits the Progression of Spontaneous Osteosarcoma Caused by Trp53 and Rb1 Deficiency in Ctsk-Expressing Cells via Impeding Hippo Pathway Cells. 2022 Apr 16;11(8):1361. doi: 10.3390/cells11081361.

Lobato Gómez M, Huang X, Alvarez D, He W, Baysal C, Zhu C, Armario-Najera

V, Blanco Perera A, Cerda Bennasser P, Saba-Mayoral A, Sobrino-Mengual

G, Vargheese A, Abranches R, Abreu

IA, Balamurugan S, Bock R, Buyel JF, da Cunha NB, Daniell H, Faller R, Folgado

A, Gowtham I, Häkkinen ST, Kumar S, Ramalingam SK, Lacorte C, Lomonossoff GP, Luís IM, Ma JK, McDonald KA, Murad A, Nandi S, O’Keefe B, OksmanCaldentey KM, Parthiban S, Paul MJ, Ponndorf D, Rech E, Rodrigues JCM, Ruf S, Schillberg S, Schwestka J, Shah PS, Singh R, Ma L, Chen C (Co-author Dept. of Oral Surgery), Liu D, Huang Z, Li J, Liu H, Kin Kwok RT, Tang B, Sui B, Zhang X, Tang J, Mao X, Huang W, Shi S, Kou X. Apoptotic extracellular vesicles are metabolized regulators nurturing the skin and hair Bioact Mater. 2022 May 11;19:626-641. doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2022.04.022.

Nuth M, Benakanakere MR, Ricciardi RP Int J Oncol. 2022 Apr;60(4):41. doi: 10.3892/ijo.2022.5331.

Roy S, Alkanfari I, Chaki S, Ali H Role of MrgprB2 in Rosacea-Like Inflammation in Mice: Modulation by β-Arrestin 2 J Invest Dermatol. 2022 May 26:S0022202X(22)00403-1. doi: 10.1016/j. jid.2022.05.005.

Teles F, Collman RG, Mominkhan D, Wang Y (Co-author Dept. of Periodontics) Viruses, periodontitis, and comorbidities Periodontol 2000. 2022 Jun;89(1):190-206. doi: 10.1111/prd.12435.

Williams DW, Hajishengallis G, Moutsopoulos NM. Regional specification of oral mucosal immunity Sci Immunol 2022 Jun 24;7(72):eabp8632. doi: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abp8632.

Yuan G, Yang S Effect of Regulator of G Protein Signaling Proteins on Bone Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022 Apr 29;13:842421. doi: 10.3389/ fendo.2022.842421.

Yuan G, Fu C, Yang ST, Yuh DY, Hajishengallis G, Yang S RGS12 Drives Macrophage Activation and Osteoclastogenesis in Periodontitis J Dent Res. 2022 Apr;101(4):448-457. doi: 10.1177/00220345211045303.

Yuan G, Yang S, Yang S Macrophage RGS12 contributes to osteoarthritis pathogenesis through enhancing the ubiquitination Genes Dis. 2021 Aug 26;9(5):13571367. doi: 10.1016/j.gendis.2021.08.005.

ENDODONTICS

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

A selection of recently published (Apr.-Aug. 2022) work by department faculty (indicated in bold).

Aminoshariae A, Azarpazhooh A, Diogenes AR, Fouad AF, Glickman GN, He J, Kishen A, Letra AM, Levin L, Setzer FC, Tay FR, Hargreaves KM. Insights into the April 2022 Issue of the Journal of Endodontics J Endod. 2022 Apr;48(4):427-429. doi: 10.1016/j. joen.2022.02.014.

Aminoshariae A, Azarpazhooh A, Fouad AF, Glickman GN, He J, Kim SG, Kishen A, Letra AM, Levin L, Setzer FC, Tay FR, Hargreaves KM. Insights into the July 2022 Issue of the Journal of Endodontics J Endod. 2022 Jul;48(7):837-839. doi: 10.1016/j.joen.2022.06.001.

Aminoshariae A, Azarpazhooh A, Fouad AF, Glickman GN, He J, Kishen A, Letra AM, Levin L, Setzer FC, Tay FR, Kim SG, Hargreaves KM. Insights into the June 2022 Issue of the Journal of Endodontics J Endod. 2022 Jun;48(6):685-687. doi: 10.1016/j.joen.2022.04.013.

Aminoshariae A, Azarpazhooh A, Diogenes AR, Fouad AF, Glickman GN, He J, Kishen A, Letra AM, Levin L, Setzer FC, Tay FR, Hargreaves KM. Insights Into the May 2022 Issue of the JOE J Endod 2022 May;48(5):569-571. doi: 10.1016/j. joen.2022.03.007.

GETTING TO THE ROOT

In a proof-of-concept study, researchers show that microrobots can access the difficult to reach surfaces of the root canal with controlled precision, treating and disrupting biofilms and even retrieving samples for diagnostics. See the following article:

Babeer A, Oh MJ, Ren Z, Liu Y (Co-author Dept. of Preventive & Restorative Sciences), Marques F, Poly A, Karabucak B, Steager E, Koo H (Co-author Dept. of Orthodontics/Divs. Pediatrics/Community Oral Health). Microrobotics for Precision Biofilm Diagnostics and Treatment J Dent Res. 2022 Aug;101(9):1009-1014. doi: 10.1177/00220345221087149.

Hegde V, Mujawar A, Shanmugasundaram S, Sidhu P, Narasimhan S, Setzer FC, Nagendrababu V. Prevalence of dens invaginatus and its association with periapical lesions in a Western Indian population-a study using cone-beam computed tomography Clin Oral Investig. 2022 Jun 1. doi: 10.1007/ s00784-022-04545-3.

Poly A, Marques F, Lee J, Setzer FC, Karabucak B. XP-endo Finisher effectively reduces hard-tissue debris accumulated in root canals with isthmus after preparation with a reciprocating file system Aust Endod J. 2022 Aug 18. doi: 10.1111/ aej.12676.

Setzer FC, Kratchman SI. Present status and future directions: Surgical endodontics Int Endod J. 2022 Jun 7. doi: 10.1111/ iej.13783.

Yu YH, Kim M, Kratchman S, Karabucak B Surgical management of lateral lesions with intentional replantation in single-rooted mandibular first premolars with radicular groove: 2 case reports J Am Dent Assoc. 2022 Apr;153(4):371-381. doi: 10.1016/j.adaj.2021.09.012.

ORAL MEDICINE

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

A selection of recently published (Apr.-Aug. 2022) work by department faculty (indicated in bold).

Brennan MT, Treister NS, Sollecito TP, Schmidt BL, Patton LL, Lin A, Elting LS, Helgeson ES, Lalla RV. Dental Caries Postradiotherapy in Head and Neck Cancer. JDR Clin Trans Res. 2022 Apr 11:23800844221086563. doi: 10.1177/23800844221086563. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35403479.

Brennan MT, Treister NS, Sollecito TP, Schmidt BL, Patton LL, Lin A, Elting LS, Hodges JS, Lalla RV. Tooth Failure PostRadiotherapy in Head and Neck Cancer: Primary Report of the Clinical Registry of Dental Outcomes in Head and Neck Cancer Patients (OraRad) Study Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2022 Jun 1;113(2):320330. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2021.11.021.

ACADEMICUPDATE

Lalla RV, Treister NS, Sollecito TP, Schmidt BL, Patton LL, Helgeson ES, Lin A, Rybczyk C, Dowsett R, Hegde U, Boyd TS, Duplinsky TG, Brennan MT. Radiation therapy for head and neck cancer leads to gingival recession associated with dental caries Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 2022 May;133(5):539-546. doi: 10.1016/j.oooo.2022.01.016.

Lin A, Helgeson ES, Treister NS, Schmidt BL, Patton LL, Elting LS, Lalla RV, Brennan MT, Sollecito TP The impact of head and neck radiotherapy on salivary flow and quality of life: Results of the ORARAD study Oral Oncol. 2022 Apr;127:105783. doi: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2022.105783.

Lobbezoo F, Aarab G, Kapos FP, Dayo AF, Huang Z, Koutris M, Peres MA, Thymi M, Häggman-Henrikson B. The Global Need for Easy and Valid Assessment Tools for Orofacial Pain J Dent Res 2022 Jul 26:220345221110443. doi: 10.1177/00220345221110443.

Mahajan R, Kulkarni R, Stoopler ET Gastroesophageal reflux disease and oral health: A narrative review Spec Care Dentist 2022 May 23. doi: 10.1111/scd.12726.

Mupparapu M. Treat the patient - not charts, images, or lab results Quintessence Int. 2022 Jun 20;53(7):565-566. doi: 10.3290/j.qi.b3094971.

Nadella S, Mupparapu M, Akintoye SO Risk of developing spontaneous MRONJ in fibrous dysplasia patients treated with bisphosphonates: a systematic review of the literature Quintessence Int. 2022 Jun 20;53(7):616-623. doi: 10.3290/j. qi.b3082785.

Stoopler ET, Kulkarni R, Riegel R (Co-author Dept. of Oral/ Maxillofacial Surgery), Sollecito TP, Alawi F (Co-author Dept. of Basic & Translational Sciences) Chronic lip swelling J Am Dent Assoc. 2022 May;153(5):480-483. doi: 10.1016/j. adaj.2021.03.001.

Thayer TN, Wahlert L, France K Pandemic-driven changes in the scope of dental practice: Ethical implications J Am Dent Assoc. 2022 Jun 23:S00028177(22)00280-X. doi: 10.1016/j. adaj.2022.05.006.

Xu F, Pushalkar S, Lin Z, Thomas SC, Persaud JK, Sierra MA, Vardhan M, Vasconcelos R, Akapo A, Guo Y, Gordon T, Corby PM, Kamer AR, Li X, Saxena D. Electronic cigarette use enriches periodontal pathogens Mol Oral Microbiol. 2022 Apr;37(2):63-76. doi: 10.1111/omi.12361.

ORAL SURGERY/ PHARMACOLOGY

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

A selection of recently published (Apr.-Aug. 2022) work by department faculty (indicated in bold).

Arora P, Li W, Huang X, Yu W, Huang R, Jiang Q, Chen C Metabolic Reconfiguration Activates Stemness and Immunomodulation of PDLSCs Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Apr 6;23(7):4038. doi: 10.3390/ijms23074038.

De La Guerra JA, Kufta K, Shanti R, Panchal N Enlargement of Inferior Alveolar Nerve Canal and Mental Neuropathy Associated With B-Cell Lymphoma: A Case Report and Literature Review J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2022 Apr 15:S02782391(22)00334-2. doi: 10.1016/j. joms.2022.04.006.

He P, Francois K, Missaghian N, Le AD, Flynn TR, Shanti RM. Are Bacteria Just Bystanders in the Pathogenesis of Inflammatory Jaw Conditions? J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2022 Jun;80(6):10941102. doi: 10.1016/j.joms.2022.03.012.

He P, Zhang Q, Motiwala FI, Shanti RM, Chang BM, Le AD Potential application of dental stem cells in regenerative reconstruction of oral and maxillofacial tissues: a narrative review Front Oral Maxillofac Med. 2022 Jun;4:14. doi: 10.21037/ fomm-21-10.

Li W, Huang X, Yu W, Xu Y, Huang R, Park J, Moshaverinia A, Arora P, Chen C Activation of Functional Somatic Stem Cells Promotes Endogenous Tissue Regeneration J Dent Res. 2022 Jul;101(7):802-811. doi: 10.1177/00220345211070222.

Nguyen RM, Rekawek P, Jazayeri HE, Wang TT, Panchal N Mentorship Is Critical for Successful Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Student Research J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2022 May 26:S02782391(22)00411-6. doi: 10.1016/j. joms.2022.05.007.

Saraghi M, Hersh EV Articaine: an update on its benefits and risks Gen Dent. 2022 May-Jun;70(3):13-16. PMID: 35467537.

Stanbouly D, Takshyn A, Stanbouly R, Ratliff J, Giannakopoulos H When disaster strikes in the ring: a 20-year study of head and neck injuries secondary to boxing Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2022 Jul;60(6):755-760. doi: 10.1016/j. bjoms.2021.09.013.

SHAPESHIFTING MICROROBOTS BRUSH, FLOSS

In a proof-of-concept study, researchers show that a hands-free system could effectively automate the treatment and removal of tooth-decaycausing bacteria and dental plaque. See the following article:

Oh MJ, Babeer A, Liu Y (Co-author Dept. of Preventive & Restorative Sciences), Ren Z, Wu J, Issadore DA, Stebe KJ, Lee D, Steager E, Koo H Surface Topography-Adaptive Robotic Superstructures for Biofilm Removal and Pathogen Detection on Human Teeth ACS Nano. 2022 Jun 28. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.2c01950.

Theken KN, Hersh EV Over-the-counter and under the radar: Improving safety and effectiveness of nonprescription analgesics J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 2022 Jul-Aug;62(4):909-910. doi: 10.1016/j. japh.2022.03.008.

Zhang Q, Burrell JC, Zeng J, Motiwala FI, Shi S, Cullen DK, Le AD. Implantation of a nerve protector embedded with human GMSC-derived Schwann-like cells accelerates regeneration of crush-injured rat sciatic nerves. Stem Cell Res Ther 2022 Jun 20;13(1):263. doi: 10.1186/ s13287-022-02947-4.

Zou Y, Huang D, Jiang Q, Guo Y, Chen C. The Vaccine Efficacy Against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis Front Public Health 2022 Jul 13;10:940956. doi: 10.3389/ fpubh.2022.940956.

ORTHODONTICS

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

A selection of recently published (Apr.-Aug. 2022) work by department faculty (indicated in bold).

Ito T, Sims KR Jr, Liu Y (Co-author Dept. of Preventive & Restorative Sciences), Xiang Z, Arthur RA, Hara AT, Koo H, Benoit DSW, Klein MI. Farnesol delivery via polymeric nanoparticle carriers inhibits cariogenic cross-kingdom biofilms and prevents enamel demineralization Mol Oral Microbiol. 2022 Jul 20. doi: 10.1111/ omi.12379.

Jailani A, Kalimuthu S, Rajasekar V, Ghosh S, Collart-Dutilleul PY, Fatima N, Koo H, Solomon AP, Cuisinier F, Neelakantan P. Trans-Cinnamaldehyde Eluting Porous Silicon Microparticles Mitigate Cariogenic Biofilms Pharmaceutics. 2022 Jul 7;14(7):1428. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14071428.

Lee KJ, Jeon HH, Boucher N, Chung CH Transverse Analysis of Maxilla and Mandible in Adults with Normal Occlusion: A Cone Beam Computed Tomography Study. J Imaging. 2022 Apr 5;8(4):100. doi: 10.3390/jimaging8040100.

Li C, Jiang W, Chen SC, Borenstein K, Tanna N, Chung CH, Moon W. En-Mass Retraction of Maxillary Anterior Teeth with Severe Proclination and Root Resorption-A Case Report Diagnostics (Basel). 2022 Apr 22;12(5):1055. doi: 10.3390/ diagnostics12051055.

Miao Y, Chang YC (Co-author Dept. of Periodontics), Tanna N, Almer N, Chung CH, Zou M, Zheng Z, Li C Impact of Frontier Development of Alveolar Bone Grafting on Orthodontic Tooth Movement Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022 Jun 30;10:869191. doi: 10.3389/ fbioe.2022.869191.

Qali M, Tanna N, Chung C Periodontal considerations in orthodontic treatment: Hard and soft tissue grafting. Clinical and Investigative Orthodontics . 2022 Aug 29;81(1):1-11. Available from: https://doi. org/10.1080/13440241.2022.2041357

Syverson A, Li C, Zheng Z, Proskurnin E, Chung CH, Zou M. Maxillary sinus dimensions in skeletal class II population with different vertical skeletal patterns Clin Oral Investig. 2022 Jul;26(7):5045-5060. doi: 10.1007/s00784-022-04476-z.

Xu X, Ha P, Yen E, Li C, Zheng Z. Small Leucine-Rich Proteoglycans in Tendon Wound Healing. Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle). 2022 Apr;11(4):202-214. doi: 10.1089/wound.2021.0069.

PERIODONTICS

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

A selection of recently published (Apr.-Aug. 2022) work by department faculty (indicated in bold).

Albuquerque-Souza E, Sahingur SE Periodontitis, chronic liver diseases, and the emerging oral-gut-liver axis Periodontol 2000. 2022 Jun;89(1):125-141. doi: 10.1111/prd.12427.

Albuquerque-Souza E, Crump KE, Rattanaprukskul K, Li Y, Shelling B, Xia-Juan X, Jiang M, Sahingur SE TLR9 Mediates Periodontal Aging by Fostering Senescence and Inflammaging J Dent Res. 2022 Aug 2:220345221110108. doi: 10.1177/00220345221110108.

Bleyan S, Huwais S, Neiva R Osseodensification Effective for Immediate Molar Replacement Compend Contin Educ Dent. 2022 JulAug;43(7):444-452. PMID: 35790481.

Daniele LL, Han JYS, Samuels IS, Komirisetty R, Mehta N, McCord JL, Yu M, Wang Y, Boesze-Battaglia K (Co-author Dept of Basic & Translational Sciences), Bell BA, Du J, Peachey NS, Philp NJ. Glucose uptake by GLUT1 in photoreceptors is essential for outer segment renewal and rod photoreceptor survival FASEB J. 2022 Aug;36(8):e22428. doi: 10.1096/fj.202200369R.

de Carvalho Formiga M, Grzech-Leśniak K, Moraschini V, Shibli JA, Neiva R Effects of Osseodensification on Immediate Implant Placement: Retrospective Analysis of 211 Implants Materials (Basel). 2022 May 15;15(10):3539. doi: 10.3390/ ma15103539.

Karateew ED, Neiva R, Pohl S, Martin R, Gluckman H. A Biologic Perspective on the Use of Partial Extraction Therapy in Implant Dentistry Compend Contin Educ Dent 2022 Jul-Aug;43(7):410-416; quiz 417. PMID: 35790477.

Kim M-Y, Siddiqi A, Raynor W, Case M, Chang Y-C, Werner T, et al. Effects of Proton, Photon, and Combined Radiotherapy on 18F-FDG Uptake in the Maxillary Sinus of Head and Neck Cancer Patients Journal of Nuclear Medicine. 2022 Jun 1;63 (Issue supplement 2).

Magic M, Zupanek G, Lazic Z, El Chaar E Primary stability of Trabecular Metal implant in comparison to fully threaded implants: in vitro study simulating immediate implant placement J Oral Implantol. 2022 Jul 26. doi: 10.1563/ aaid-joi-D-21-00034.

Mukit T, Shah S, Raynor W, Chang Y-C, Werner T, Alavi A. Cocaine Abuse and Bruxism: Temporal Mandibular Joint Evaluation using FDG-PET/CT Journal of Nuclear Medicine. 2022Jun1;63(Issue supplement 2).

Neiva R, Bhide V. Double-up Technique for Correction of Ridge Contour Deficiencies Compend Contin Educ Dent. 2022 JulAug;43(7):434-442. PMID: 35790480.

Neiva R Enhanced Tissue Quality Result of Evolution of Biomaterials in Implant Dentistry Compend Contin Educ Dent 2022 Jul-Aug;43(7):454-455. PMID: 35790482.

TEACHING AWARDS

The Class of 2022 recognized faculty with the annual teaching awards, presented as part of the Senior Farewell in May. This year’s recipients included: Dr. Roopali Kulkarni (D’19, GR’19, GD’21), Instructor of Oral Medicine, the Earle Bank Hoyt Award, presented for excellence in teaching to a Penn Dental Medicine graduate who is a full-time junior faculty member; Dr. Frank Smithgall (C’79, D’83), Clinical Associate Professor of Restorative Dentistry, the Robert E. DeRevere Award, presented for excellence in preclinical teaching by a part-time faculty member; Dr. Elliot Hersh, Professor, Dept. of Oral & Maxilliofacial Surgery/Pharmacology, the Basic Science Award, presented for excellence in teaching within the basic sciences; Dr. David Nepa, Clinical Associate in the Dept. of Preventive & Restorative Sciences, the Joseph L. T. Appleton Award, presented to a part-time faculty member for excellence in clinical teaching; and Art Kofman, C.D.T. Director of Laboratory Affairs and the Office of Laboratory Affairs Supervisor, the Senior Outstanding Teaching Award, presented to a faculty/staff member who has gone beyond the scope of his/her responsibilities to significantly impact the class’s education.

Neiva R, Neiva BT, Neiva GF. Rationale for Implant Site Preservation with Absorbable Bone Scaffolds. Compend Contin Educ Dent. 2022 Jul-Aug;43(7):420-423; quiz 424. PMID: 35790478.

Neiva BT, Neiva GF, Neiva R Lasso Guided Bone Regeneration Technique for the Management of Implant Fenestration Defects Compend Contin Educ Dent 2022 Jul-Aug;43(7):426-432. PMID: 35790479.

Wang Y, Chen CY, Stathopoulou PG, Graham LK (Co-author Dept. of Leon Levy Dental Medicine Library), Korostoff J, Chen YW. Efficacy of Antibiotics Used as an Adjunct in the Treatment of Periimplant Mucositis and Peri-implantitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants. 2022 Mar-Apr;37(2):235-249. doi: 10.11607/ jomi.9220.

Yue C, Cao J, Wong A, Kim JH, Alam S, Luong G, Talegaonkar S, Schwartz Z, Boyan BD, Giannobile WV, Sahingur SE, Lin Z. Human Bone Marrow Stromal Cell Exosomes Ameliorate Periodontitis. J Dent Res. 2022 Aug;101(9):1110-1118. doi: 10.1177/00220345221084975.

Zirakchian Zadeh M, Asadollahi S, Kaghazchi F, Raynor WY, Mehdizadeh Seraj S, Werner TJ, Seierstad T, Korostoff J, Swisher-McClure S, Alavi A, Revheim ME. Prognostic significance of conventional and volumetric PET parameters with and without partial volume correction in the assessment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma Nucl Med Commun 2022 Jul 1;43(7):800-806. doi: 10.1097/ MNM.0000000000001573.

PREVENTIVE & RESTORATIVE SCIENCES

NEWS/ACHIEVEMENTS

The Academy of Dentistry International (ADI) named Dr. Michael Glick ADI International Dentist of the Year for 2021 (presented this year due to pandemic). The award honors career contributions to dentistry, international education, and service.

Dr. Rochelle Lindemeyer received the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry 2022 Distinguished Service Award

Dr. Yu Zhang was named to the 2022-23 cohort of Penn Fellows, one of 16 midcareer faculty members selected this year from throughout Penn for this honor.

Alves LMM, Rodrigues CS, Vardhaman S, Saunders C, Schneider JM, Lawn BR, Zhang Y Exploring Ductility in Dental Ceramics J Dent Res. 2022 Jun 10:220345221100409. doi: 10.1177/00220345221100409.

Atlas AM, Behrooz E, Barzilay I. Can bite-force measurement play a role in dental treatment planning, clinical trials, and survival outcomes? A literature review and clinical recommendations. Quintessence Int. 2022 Jun 20;53(7):632-642

Atlas AM, Janyavula S, Elsabee R, Alper E, Isleem WF, Bergler M, Setzer FC (Co-author Dept. of Endodontics) Comparison of loupes versus microscope-enhanced CAD-CAM crown preparations: A microcomputed tomography analysis of marginal gaps J Prosthet Dent 2022 May 25:S0022-3913(22)00225-6. doi: 10.1016/j.prosdent.2022.04.008.

Badr Z, Culp L, Duqum I, Lim CH, Zhang Y, A Sulaiman T. Survivability and fracture resistance of monolithic and multi-yttria-layered zirconia crowns as a function of yttria content: A mastication simulation study J Esthet Restor Dent 2022 Jun;34(4):633-640. doi: 10.1111/ jerd.12907.

studies: current state and suggestions for improvement J Clin Epidemiol 2022 Jun 24;150:25-32. doi: 10.1016/j. jclinepi.2022.06.010.

Conejo J, Santos T, Tikreeti A, Atria PJ, Blatz M The Computer Aided Design/press technique: Fabrication of zirconia-reinforced lithium disilicate restorations for treatment of extensive noncarious cervical lesions J Esthet Restor Dent. 2022 Jul;34(5):763768. doi: 10.1111/jerd.12882.

Crawford BA, Hillier A. Assessing the experience of dental students with an asynchronous online course about racism, cultural competence J Dent Educ. 2022 Apr 26. doi: 10.1002/jdd.12943.

Crawford BA, Yu CC, Graciani NR Diabetes and Oral Health [Internet]. Impacto. 2022 Aug 12. Available from: https://www.impactomedia.com/region/ diabetes-and-oral-health/

Dhall A, Ramjee R, Oh MJ, Tao K, Hwang G A 3D-Printed Customizable Platform for Multiplex Dynamic Biofilm Studies Adv Mater Technol. 2022 Jul;7(7):2200138. doi: 10.1002/admt.202200138.

Ma KS, Wang LT, Blatz MB Efficacy of Adhesive Strategies for Restorative Dentistry: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis of Double-blind Randomized Controlled Trials Over 12 Months of Follow-up J Prosthodont Res. 2022 Jun 10. doi: 10.2186/jpr. JPR_D_21_00279.

Ozer F, Patel R, Yip J, Yakymiv O, Saleh N, Blatz MB Five-year clinical performance of two fluoride-releasing giomer resin materials in occlusal restorations J Esthet Restor Dent. 2022 Aug 7. doi: 10.1111/ jerd.12948.

Tampi M, Carrasco-Labra A, O’Brien KK, Velandia-González M, BrignardelloPetersen R. Systematic review on reducing missed opportunities for vaccinations in Latin America Rev Panam Salud Publica 2022 Jun 21;46:e65. doi: 10.26633/ RPSP.2022.65.

Teicher, R, Henschel, M The dentist as the gatekeeper of systemic health: A case report Spec Care Dentist. 2022 Jan 22; 42: 437- 441. https://doi.org/10.1111/ scd.12695

Dr. Markus Blatz (left above), has been elevated to a Fellow within the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry (AAED). Fellowship recognizes members’ speaking and scholarly activity as well as their contributions as an educator and their service to the profession and the AAED. Dr. Blatz currently serves as Associate Editor of the AAED’s Journal of Esthetic & Restorative Dentistry.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

A selection of recently published (Apr.-Aug. 2022) work by department faculty (indicated in bold).

Abad-Coronel C, Atria PJ, Romero Muñoz C, Conejo J, Mena Córdova N, Pendola M, Blatz M Analysis of the mesh resolution of an .STL exported from an intraoral scanner file J Esthet Restor Dent 2022 Jul;34(5):816-825. doi: 10.1111/ jerd.12889.

Baker D, Giuliano KK, Thakkar-Samtani M, Scannapieco FA, Glick M, Restrepo MI, Heaton LJ, Frantsve-Hawley J. The association between accessing dental services and nonventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia among 2019 medicaid beneficiaries Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. 2022 Jul 11:1-3.

Berenblum JR, Schlesinger KT, Aigbokhan IO, Wolff MS, Gluch JI Penntorship: The value of mentoring during a pandemic. J Dent Educ. 2022 Apr 13. doi: 10.1002/ jdd.12930.

Bozogullari HN, Citir Yucel H, Ustun O, Akan T, Ozer F The effect of nonthermal argon plasma surface treatment on the fracture resistance of monolithic zirconia restorations containing tetragonal and cubic grains J Oral Sci. 2022 Apr 1;64(2):124128. doi: 10.2334/josnusd.21-0446.

Carrasco-Labra A, Devji T, Qasim A, Phillips M, Johnston BC, Devasenapathy N, Zeraatkar D, Bhatt M, Jin X, Brignardello-Petersen R, Urquhart O, Foroutan F, Schandelmaier S, PardoHernandez H, Vernooij RW, Huang H, Rizwan Y, Siemieniuk R, Lytvyn L, Patrick DL, Ebrahim S, Furukawa TA, Nesrallah G, Schunemann HJ, Bhandari M, Thabane L, Guyatt GH. Serious reporting deficiencies exist in minimal important difference

Giuliano KK, Baker D, Thakkar-Samtani M, Glick M, Restrepo MI, Scannapieco FA, Heaton LJ, Frantsve-Hawley J. Incidence, mortality, and cost trends in nonventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia in medicaid beneficiaries, 2015-2019 Am J Infect Control .2022 June 19.

Glick M, Carrasco-Labra A Screening testing in health care: Getting it right J Am Dent Assoc. 2022 Apr;153(4):365-370. doi: 10.1016/j.adaj.2022.01.002.

Hwang G In it together: Candidabacterial oral biofilms and therapeutic strategies Environ Microbiol Rep. 2022 Apr;14(2):183-196. doi: 10.1111/1758-2229.13053.

Ito T, Sims KR Jr, Liu Y, Xiang Z, Arthur RA, Hara AT, Koo H (co-author Dept. of Orthodontics/Divs. Pediatrics, Community Oral Health), Benoit DSW, Klein MI. Farnesol delivery via polymeric nanoparticle carriers inhibits cariogenic cross-kingdom biofilms and prevents enamel demineralization. Mol Oral Microbiol. 2022 Jul 20. doi: 10.1111/ omi.12379.

Lang S, Hao J, Mante F, Pavelic K, Ozer F The effect of zeolite incorporation on the physical properties of silver-reinforced glass ionomer cement J Mater Sci Mater Med. 2022 Apr 11;33(4):38. doi: 10.1007/ s10856-022-06659-2.

Tsujimoto Y, Fujii T, Tsutsumi Y, Kataoka Y, Tajika A, Okada Y, Carrasco-Labra A, Devji T, Wang Y, Guyatt GH, Furukawa TA. Minimal important changes in standard deviation units are highly variable and no universally applicable value can be determined J Clin Epidemiol 2022 May;145:92-100. doi: 10.1016/j. jclinepi.2022.01.017.

Vining KH, Marneth AE, Adu-Berchie K, Grolman JM, Tringides CM, Liu Y, Wong WJ, Pozdnyakova O, Severgnini M, Stafford A, Duda GN, Hodi FS, Mullally A, Wucherpfennig KW, Mooney DJ. Mechanical checkpoint regulates monocyte differentiation in fibrotic niches Nat Mater 2022 Aug;21(8):939-950. doi: 10.1038/ s41563-022-01293-3.

Zaror C, Carrasco-Labra A Assessing the Quality and Usefulness of Economic Evaluation in Oral Health: A Practical Approach for Clinicians In: Zaror C, Mariño R, editors. Introduction to Economic Evaluation in Oral Health Care [Internet]. Cham: Springer International Publishing; 2022 p. 163-81. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-96289-0_11

FACULTYPERSPECTIVE

VIEWS ON DENTAL TOPICS & TRENDS

AI: The Next Digital Revolution in Oral Healthcare

Digital technologies, especially computerassisted design and manufacturing (CAD/ CAM) have revolutionized clinical dentistry and dental laboratory technology, providing numerous advantages over conventional methods. While these technologies focus more on restoration manufacturing, novel developments, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) are geared toward all stages of patient treatment, starting with diagnostics and treatment planning. AI “combines computer science and robust datasets to enable problem-solving.” AI-supported tools are already part of daily life in the form of targeted advertising, face recognition, autonomous driving, voice assistants, virtual reality and simulation systems, and robotics.

In dentistry, areas of interest for AI include image analysis, data synthesis and prediction, evidence-supported treatment planning and delivery, and patient communication.1

AI-supported 2-D and 3-D image interpretation software in dental radiology automatically detects common pathologies, such as caries, periapical lesions, and bone loss but also inadequate restoration margins and other abnormalities. Current AI-supported radiograph interpretation tools are as or even more accurate than interpretation by practitioners. In addition, they facilitate generation of comprehensive and systematic reports. These may include information about necessary treatment, progression of pathologies, and quality of care. Large group practices and health insurance providers already employ such for automated quality control and detection of inadequate treatment.

Three-D analyses of intraoral scans, face scans, photos, tomograms, and other images are widely used for digital smile design, surgical, orthodontic, and prosthodontic treatment planning as well as restoration design and fabrication.

Electronic health records and data from diagnostic tests, prior treatment, and insurance claims facilitate better understanding of oral healthcare in general, but also of each

individual patient. Consequently, treatment can be more personalized, precise, and preventive based on the patient’s condition and needs. Applications on mobile devices recording health and fitness data, dietary habits, and toothbrushing behavior already collect and analyze such data to provide personalized guidance and encourage participation.

In addition to synthesizing patient data, risk factors, and treatment patterns, AI facilitates integration of external evidence-based information, for example, from clinical guidelines and standards of care, to improve standardization and calibration among providers. AI-supported treatment planning tools can, therefore, support evidence-based patient-centered care, prevent subpar or excessive treatment, and improve cost effectiveness. They can also improve interprofessional communication, for example by automatically triggering referrals to a specialist when needed. AI also supports patient communication, especially in preventive care and post-treatment maintenance. Continuous monitoring allows for regular feedback and patient engagement.

In a broader view, data-driven tools help expand community and public dental

health services through closer linkage and data exchange between service centers, improving access to care to the underserved. Standardized oral health indicators and comprehensive reporting of services and outcomes will provide a more detailed view of the public’s oral healthcare needs and the effectiveness of the services provided. Comprehensive data-driven analyses will guide future public health efforts and policies in an effective and sustainable manner.

AI functions mentioned above provide a large pool of information for research and targeted data extraction. Such research includes broad-based evaluation and comparison of treatment outcomes and influence of individual factors on clinical success of certain interventions. Challenges to effectively use AI in dental research are related to breaking up dental data silos and pooling of data from multiple sites. Application of AI in healthcare is not without threats, especially related to protection of personal patient information. Governmental agencies and lawmakers have been rushing to identify such threats and develop guidelines and policies for proper and ethical utilization of AI in the medical fields.

Finally, AI-powered technologies are already widely employed in dental education, such as 3-D smile design and simulation software as well virtual simulation tools to practice manual skills. And in clinical dentistry, robotics will soon be employed for tooth preparations and surgical interventions with an accuracy that may challenge or even supersede human capabilities.

Several groups at Penn Dental Medicine are engaged in the application and development of AI tools in clinical dentistry, research, and education as AI is, without a doubt, the next revolution in digital dentistry. In many areas, the revolution has already started.

1. Schwendicke F, Blatz MB, Uribe SE. Artificial intelligence for oral and dental care, public health, dental education and research. FDI Working Group AI in Dentistry Whitepaper, 2022.

Contributed by Dr. Markus Blatz, Professor and Chair, Dept. of Preventive & Restorative Sciences

“I think the most important aspect of having the Center is to be able to mentor and start training the next generation. So this is what we want to do — to push our brilliant junior faculty.”

— DR. PATRICIA CORBY

SUPPORTING RESEARCH, MENTORING SCHOOL-WIDE

WITH A GROWING TEAM, THE CENTER FOR CLINICAL & TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH IS SUPPORTING THE ADVANCEMENT OF CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDIES AND MENTORING ACROSS DISCIPLINES

IN 2019, DR. PATRICIA CORBY JOINED PENN DENTAL MEDICINE in the newly created role of Associate Dean for Translational Research with the goal of helping to develop a robust clinical research program at the School through the creation of the Center for Clinical and Translational Research (CCTR).

Eagerly taking up the task, Corby is doing just that. Under her leadership, there has been exponential growth in three short years – virtually unimpeded by the pandemic. Today, the CCTR is managing more than $21 million in clinical grants for projects across disciplines, while supporting principal investigators and mentoring junior faculty and students to excel as clinician scientists.

“With the right support and nurturing service provided by the Center’s staff, faculty and student engagement with the Center has exploded,” says Corby, Associate Professor of Oral Medicine, who led clinical research operations at New York University College of Dentistry and NYU Langone Health before coming to Penn Dental Medicine. “It has been a whirlwind of activity.”

It was just a month after Corby’s one-year anniversary in this role that the pandemic shuttered most activity in March 2020, but not that of the CCTR. It kept going, and even more significantly, it kept growing. In fact, fiscal year 2021 (July 2020–June 2021) was the largest growth period to date with a total of more than $5.5 million in new clinical grant awards within the year.

“When the pandemic hit, we never stopped,” says Corby, who at the time was in

the midst of her own NIH-funded study (the ARMOR trial) looking at a targeted oral care intervention to improve oral health and prevent toxicities in patients undergoing radiation or chemoradiation for head and neck cancer. With newly adopted safety protocols in place and a valiant corps of trained clinical staff, they continued to see research participants, while also supporting faculty and students to help keep their research activities moving forward. “I am very fortunate for having a wonderful team that gives so much for the betterment of our program,” says Corby.

In June 2020, the CCTR moved from temporary quarters to its home on the third floor of the School’s Robert Schattner Center – the hub of activity for the CCTR with dental bays for seeing participants in active trials, a wet lab, and research pharmacy room, along with the CCTR team offices.

Today, the Center for Clinical and Translational Research is managing more than $21 million in clinical grants for projects across disciplines.

OPPOSITE: Dr. Patricia Corby, Associate Dean for Translational Research, with Dr. Eugene Ko, who she recently added to the CCTR team as Deputy Director of Clinical Operations.

A SUPPORT, SERVICE CENTER

Providing centralized support to Penn Dental Medicine researchers who conduct human subjects research, the services of the CCTR span the full spectrum of a study, from project conceptualization to closeout. Corby explains that a key focus for her and Director of Clinical Research Operations and Compliance Marta Gabinskiy, who has worked with Corby for the past 10 years, is supporting faculty in producing impactful and relevant grant proposals through the eye of potential funders.

“We do a lot of support on the grant side, adding another level of review,” says Corby, who has more than 20 years of experience designing and running high-impact clinical and translational research projects from various funding sources, such as NIH, foundations and the pharmaceutical industry. “We don’t change the ideas, as they are unique of each investigator, but we know

what reviewers and the NIH expect, so we help put the grants in the context and format they want to see to improve the likelihood of awards. I also believe we can only succeed with this mission with a strong faculty-service orientation and expert staff and systems that can make it as easy as possible for faculty to submit proposals, win the ever-increasing competition for grant funding, and comply with federal and sponsor regulations.”

“Since starting the Center, we have worked with most departments in the school,” adds Corby. “Even our basic scientists are seeing that they can do something translational and are starting to incorporate human subjects into their research.”

“Translational research must be interdisciplinary, and every study that we place, we look for collaborations,” continues Corby. “We have successfully partnered with schools and centers across Penn.” Collaborations have included studies with Perelman School of Medicine, Abramson Cancer Center, Penn Nursing, Penn Center for AIDS Research, Penn Engineering, Penn Vet, and the Wharton School.

GROWTH THROUGH MENTORSHIP

While encouraging all faculty to push the boundaries to find new and useful applications for their work, Corby believes that mentoring junior faculty is foundational to building a strong clinical research program at the School and has made that a priority in her work.

“I think the most important aspect of having the Center is to be able to mentor and start training the next generation,” says Corby. “So this is what we want to do — to push our brilliant junior faculty. Many times you just need to give them one small opportunity, and if they know how to take that and grow, they are going to flourish.”

Corby currently mentors nine junior faculty — all of whom have active pilot projects with some also working on funded trials as co-investigators and others beginning trials of their own. As part of that mentorship, Corby helps junior faculty identify collaboration opportunities with senior investigators who have NIH-sponsored studies and are willing to provide the right mentorship.

ABOVE: Members of the CCTR team in one of the clinical bays where they see trial participants.

THE NEXT STEP

One of Corby’s mentees and a former co-investigator on her ARMOR trial — Dr. Eugene Ko — now has the opportunity to pay it forward as part of the CCTR team. This summer, following a national search of candidates, Ko was chosen to fill the newly created position of Deputy Director of Clinical Operations. In this leadership role — a next step to support the continued growth of clinical research activities — Ko will focus on mentoring students involved in research through the CCTR and provide oversight to the portfolio of clinical studies conducted at the center.

“We have grown so much with the mentorship of student research,” says Corby. “In addition to our DMD students and postdoctoral residents, the School has a growing number of master’s programs and all these students are engaged in research.”

With Ko’s appointment, the CCTR will begin to build a new arm of mentorship for these student investigators on clinical and translational projects. “Eugene is a tremendous addition,” says Corby.

An Assistant Professor of Clinical Oral Medicine at Penn Dental Medicine since 2018, Ko’s own research is centered on the advancement of oral health through translational research and novel medical devices and technologies. He is currently leading two projects. In his FIRE Trial — a collaboration with The Wharton School that just recently opened for enrollment — Ko is testing the efficacy of a smartphone app to assess realtime chronic pain data in burning mouth participants.

“A major problem with chronic oral pain disease, including burning mouth, is that we rely on patient memories to recall their pain experiences over long periods of time,” says Ko. “Our project will capture pain as it happens, which can lead to a better universal definition of burning mouth syndrome and improved understanding of when and how often pain occurs.”

Ko is also working on a medical device project co-sponsored by Penn Health Tech and the School’s Center for Innovation & Precision Dentistry to develop new solutions

STUDIES ACROSS DISCIPLINES

So what are the studies that makeup the current portfolio of clinical projects at the School? Presently, the Center for Clinical and Translational Research (CCTR) is involved in active clinical research projects across disciplines, ranging from oral/systemic health topics, cariology, HIV, cancer, and pain management to studies focused on medically complex individuals and improving oral health for persons with disabilities. Along with NIH- and industry-sponsored studies, internal pilot studies have been funded by departments within the School, the Office of the Dean, and other schools and centers across Penn.

Here are some of the current NIH-funded clinical research projects:

The OHART Study

PI: Dr. Temitope Omolehinwa, Dept. of Oral Medicine

Co-Is: Dr. Patricia Corby, Dr. Sunday Akintoye, Dept. of Oral Medicine; Dr. Vincent Lo Re, Penn Center for AIDS Research; Dr. Doug Schaubel, Perelman School of Medicine

A collaboration between dental and medical experts, this prospective study will identify oral-systemic non-AIDS-associated comorbid diseases (non-infectious diseases) in a large population of HIV individuals. The goal is to determine key oral health manifestations associated with the development and severity of these diseases. A better understanding of the interplay between oral and systemic inflammation can inform clinicians about novel preventive treatments aimed at reducing inflammation among people living with HIV.

The Rembrandt Study

PI: Dr. Laurel Redding, Penn Vet Co-I: Dr. Yu Wang, Dept. of Periodontics, Dr. Patricia Corby (mentor)

This collaborative study with Penn Vet is an observational study of patients who will be receiving dental implants. The purpose is to determine whether owning a pet changes the disruption and recovery of a person’s microbiome after they have received antibiotics for a dental implant. The hypothesis is that pet owners may benefit from having more resistance to developing a common infection caused by C. difficile, which is a bacterium that causes an infection of the colon.

Bariatric Study

PI: Dr. Dana Graves, Dept. of Periodontics

A collaboration with the Bariatric and Weight Loss Surgery Program at Penn Medicine, the purpose of this study is to determine whether diabetes alters the subgingival microbial composition and/or bacterial RNA expression by comparing bacteria obtained from diabetic and nondiabetic individuals undergoing bariatric surgery.

Gum Inflammation Trial

PI: Dr. Dana Graves, Dept. of Periodontics

This study is investigating how periodontitis (typically non-painful chronic inflammation of the gums around the tooth that can lead to bone resorption and tooth loss) and peri-implantitis (typically non-painful chronic inflammation of the gums around the dental implant that can lead to bone loss and loss of the implant) affect the outer layer of the gums compared to normal tissue.

RESEARCHMENTORING

for feeding devices in infants with cleft palate, who require specialized bottles. In collaboration with Penn Engineering, his Baby Seal project is designing an adaptor that converts any regular bottle into a specialized one.

For Ko, he was attracted not only to the responsibilities and opportunities of this new role, but also to the nimble environment he observed within the CCTR. “I was impressed with how incredibly responsive the Center was during the height of the pandemic,” recalls Ko. “While we were adjusting to the novel concept of ‘social distancing,’ the staff at the Center was figuring out how to continue the ongoing clinical studies, which still had to be in person.”

STUDIES ACROSS DISCIPLINES

A selection of some of the current projects that have industry support or are internally funded:

The HUM Brush Study

PI: Dr. Katherine France, Dept. Oral Medicine; Co-Is: Dr. Eugene Ko, Dr. Patricia Corby

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the experience children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder Level 1 or 2 have using a smart/interactive toothbrush. The HUM Kids toothbrush connects to an interactive game on a phone or tablet, which guides the child’s brushing. This study will document children’s and caregivers’ experiences using the toothbrush.

Pain Management in Implant Patients

PIs: Drs. Elliot Hersh and Katherine Theken, Dept. of Oral Surgery/Pharmacology

This double-blind pilot study will evaluate the anti-inflammatory and pain management effects of an over-the-counter (OTC) regimen of naproxen sodium (Aleve) versus acetaminophen in patients receiving dental implants. It will also confirm that naproxen sodium in the OTC dosage range is a good alternative to immediate-release opioid formulations, which are subject to misuse, abuse, and diversion in this patient population.

Pediatric Toothpaste Study

PI: David Hershkowitz, Div. of Restorative Dentistry

“To see the energy and momentum of the Center made me enthusiastic to join the team,” he continues. “Plus, to be working with Pat as a colleague and ongoing mentor is an invaluable opportunity to learn.”

For Corby, the addition of Ko will allow her to devote more time to supporting faculty in developing new projects and pursuing funding with the goal of continuing to help take clinical research to new levels.

“We can only be successful, if we continue to secure new grants and explore novel areas of research,” she says. “We need the evidence that clinical research provides to improve the care we deliver to our patients. That’s how we continue to grow as healthcare providers.” n

This study will test how effective a new toothpaste is in reducing cavities. The toothpaste contains arginine, an essential amino acid that is naturally found in saliva and produced by the human body. The study will compare regular fluoride toothpastes to the arginine toothpaste.

Early Fungal Infection & Cavities

PIs: Dr. Yuan Liu, Dept. of Preventive & Restorative Sciences; Dr. Brian Fisher, Perelman School of Medicine (mentor); Dr. Patricia Corby (mentor)

This is an observational study to evaluate the association between early oral Candida infection (oral thrush) and dental caries in infants. The purpose is to determine if children diagnosed with oral thrush in the first year of their life are at higher risk of developing dental caries later.

The Role of Dentists in Vaccination

PI: Dr. Katherine France, Dept. of Oral Medicine

This study aims to determine patient attitudes around the role of the dentist in vaccinations for both COVID-19 and human papilloma virus (HPV). By comparing attitudes and awareness of patients concerning the vaccines, the aim is to further understand the ways that dentists can play an important role in public health, including through vaccination campaigns and also understand patients’ willingness to be vaccinated by dental professionals.

Povidone-Iodine Oral Rinse Study

PI: Dr. Patricia Corby

This povidone-iodine oral rinse study is testing whether a mouth rinse containing povidone-iodine reduces the amount of the Covid-19 virus in the mouth.

Periodontal Disease and Vascular Calcification in Undiagnosed type II Diabetes Mellitus

PI: Dr. Adeyinka Dayo, Dept. of Oral Medicine; Dr. Patricia Corby (mentor)

The hypothesis of this exploratory study is that periodontal bone loss and circumferential and/or linear patterns of medial arterial calcification (a condition characterized by the presence of diffuse calcium deposits along the medial layer of the arterial wall) detected by cone beam computed tomography can serve as a marker of undiagnosed/progressive T2DM.

“To see the energy and momentum of the Center made me enthusiastic to join the team. Plus, to be working with Pat as a colleague and ongoing mentor is an invaluable opportunity to learn.”

— DR. EUGENE KO

RESEARCHSPOTLIGHT

TRANSLATING SCIENCE TO PRACTICE

2022 Research Awards

Penn Dental Medicine spotlighted the depth of the School’s research activities with two days of programming this spring – presenting the inaugural Advances in Clinical Care and Education (ACCE) Day and Research Day 2022 on May 12 and 13, respectively. In addition to faculty presentations and invited speakers both days, there were 94 research poster presentations by students and junior investigators on ACCE Day and 71 on Research Day from which the following awards were presented.

AADOCR Student Research Day Award

The AADOCR Student Research Day Award, funded by the AADOCR, is designed to recognize the best presentation at an academic institution’s research day competition. The award consists of a complimentary meeting registration and a monetary award of $500 to assist with travel to the 2023 AADOCR/CADR Annual Meeting & Exhibition in Portland, OR in March. The Awardees will also be highlighted in the General Session & Exhibition Program Book and AADOCR website.

AWARDEE/PROJECT FACULTY ADVISOR

Sara Steinbaum (D'22): Patient Attitudes Regarding the Role of the Dentist in Vaccination for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

Student Competition for Advancing Dental Research and its Application Award

Dentsply Sirona and the American Association for Dental, Oral, Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) have joined forces to co-sponsor the Student Competition for Advancing Dental Research and its Application, formerly known as the Student Clinicians of the American Dental Association (SCADA).

AWARDEE/PROJECT FACULTY ADVISOR

Drs. Patricia Corby, Katherine France, and Roopali Kulkarni, Dept. of Oral Medicine

Xuejing Xu (D'24): In-vitro Strength Degradation of In-house Two-step Sintered High-strength 3-Yttria-Partially Stabilized Zirconia

Dr. Yu Zhang, Div. of Restorative Dentistry

RESEARCHSPOTLIGHT

Penn Dental Medicine AADOCR Travel Award

The AADOCR Travel Award program was launched by Penn Dental Medicine in 2014 to advance student/junior investigator research, providing funds toward their travel to the annual AADOCR meeting where awardees have the opportunity to present their work. A panel of faculty judges selected recipients at Penn Dental Medicine’s Research Day and ACCE Day 2022. The following awardees will attend and present their research at the 2023 AADOCR/CADR Annual Meeting & Exhibition in Portland, OR, in March 2023.

DMD STUDENT AWARDEES

AWARDEE/PROJECT FACULTY ADVISOR

Julia Jeong (D'23): Current Understanding of Sensory Hypersensitivity Relationship with Oral Hygiene in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Yilan Miao (D'23): Effect of Dietary Sugars on Cross-Kingdom Biofilm Interactions in Saliva and Biofilm Formation

Anwar Radwan (D'24): Damage Tolerance of Novel Two-Step Sintered High-Translucency Zirconia

Akhil Ramani (D'24): Effect of Experimental Biomimetic Primer on Dentin Bond Strength Under Wet Conditions

Benjamin Shelling (D'24): Fusobacterium nucleatum Triggers Senescence Phenotype in Gingival Keratinocytes

Drs. Patricia Corby and Katherine France and Michelle Shuster, Dept. of Oral Medicine

Dr. Hyun (Michel) Koo, Dept. of Orthodontics, Divs. of Community Oral Health and Pediatric Dentistry

Drs. Mark Wolff and Yu Zhang, Div. of Restorative Dentistry

Drs. Markus Blatz and Fusun Ozer, Div. of Restorative Dentistry

GRADUATE DENTAL EDUCATION STUDENT AWARDEES

AWARDEE/PROJECT FACULTY ADVISOR

Abdulrahman A. Almalki (GD’22): Full Mouth Rehabilitation with Palatal Augmentation Prosthesis (Pap) for a Head & Neck Cancer Patient Underwent Glossectomy and Radiotherapy

Zhaoxu Chen: SCA1+ oral fibroblasts are the major source of CCL2 but not CXCL1 and CCL7

Andres Davila (GD’23): Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid Management through Telemedicine During the Covid-19 Pandemic (Co-Author: Eman Alamodi, GD'24)

Dr. Myung (Brian) Chang, Dept. of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery/ Pharmacology, Div. of Restorative Dentistry

Dr. Kang Ko, Dept. of Periodontics

Dr. Esra Sahingur, Dept. of Periodontics

JUNIOR INVESTIGATOR AWARDEES

AWARDEE/PROJECT

Alaa Babeer (GD'22): A New Clinical Use of an FDA Approved Catalytic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Endodontic Treatment

Smruti Nair (GD’24 ) and Yuwei (Amy) Guo (GD’23): Debulking SARS-COV-2 and Influenza virus strains by viral trap proteins in chewing gums to decrease infection and transmission

Gundappa Saha: Deciphering Functional Underpinnings of IL-22 in Periodontal Health

FACULTY ADVISOR

Dr. Hyun (Michel) Koo, Dept. of Orthodontics, Divs. of Community Oral Health and Pediatric Dentistry

Drs. Henry Daniell and Robert Ricciardi, Dept. of Basic & Translational Sciences

Noor Kutkut (GD'22): Complete Digital Workflow: Fully Guided Implant Surgery and Immediate Load for Partially Edentulous Maxilla

Bradley Lander (GD’23): Retrospective Analysis of Factors Related to the Clinical Outcome of Alveolar Ridge Augmentation Using Guided Bone Regeneration

Sonaj Vardhaman: Controlled Damaged Tolerance of Various Classes of CAD/CAM Dental Ceramics

Drs. Roopali Kulkarni, Thomas P. Sollecito, Eric T. Stoopler and Takako Tanaka, Dept. of Oral Medicine; Dr. Michael B. Salin, Innovative Implant and Oral Surgery

Dept. of Preventive and Restorative Sciences

Drs. Yu-Cheng Chang and Rodrigo Neiva, Dept. of Periodontics

Dept. of Preventive and Restorative Sciences

Dr. George Hajishengallis, Dept. of Basic & Translational Sciences

Independent Research Award

AWARDEE/PROJECT FACULTY ADVISOR

Brenda Yeung (D’23): Characterization of Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Findings in an Orthodontic Cohort (Co Author: Zaara A. Baig, D'22, GR'22)

Excellence in Penn Dental Medicine Honors Award

Dr. Adeyinka Dayo, Dept. of Oral Medicine

Excellence in Community Oral Health Scholarship Award

AWARDEE/PROJECT FACULTY ADVISOR

Julia (Minjung) Kim (D’24): I Am Enough: A Campaign to Empower Marginalized Women of Philadelphia Experiencing Period Poverty

Hilary Wong (D’24): Educators for Education: Empowering Adolescent Juvenile Philadelphia Youth through Job Readiness, Health Education, and Career Development

Rachel S. Hoagburg (D’22): Philly Phaces: A Closer Look at Craniofacial Care in Dentistry

Dr. Joan I. Gluch, Div. of Community Oral Health

AWARDEE/PROJECT FACULTY ADVISOR

Brenna Harrington (D’22) and Tahina Mukit (D’22): Clinical Case Report of Adult Lingual Frenectomy with Er: YAG Laser

Sanghamitra Suman (D’22): A Rare Case of Transmigratory Maxillary Canine Crossing the Mid-Maxillary Suture in an Orthodontic Patient

Sage M. Kelner (D’23): Nutritional Sciences Honors Informational Newsletters

Dr. Yu-Cheng Chang, Dept. of Periodontics

Dr. Mel Mupparapu, Dept. of Oral Medicine

Dr. Kathleen Boesze-Battaglia, Dept. of Basic & Translational Sciences and Matthew Whipple, Div. of Community Oral Health

Acadental Scholarship Fund Award

Dr. Joan I. Gluch, Div. of Community Oral Health (Community Preceptor: Anthony Singleton, WorkReady, Educators for Education)

Drs. Kenneth Kent and Joan I. Gluch, Dept. of Preventive & Restorative Sciences, Div. of Community Oral Health

The Acadental Scholarship Fund at Penn Dental Medicine was established to provide financial support to second-, third- or fourth-year dental students in the School with consideration for students who present accomplishment in innovation and entrepreneurship for better dental education. The scholarship was awarded through the inaugural ACCE Day program last May, which recognized scholarship in community service, educational initiatives, and advances in clinical care.

AWARDEE/PROJECT FACULTY ADVISOR

Julie Berenblum (D’23) and Jenna Panek (D’23): Parent Receptiveness to Nutrition and Systemic Health Advice from Dental Professionals

Deanne Walleart, Dr. Joan I. Gluch, and Tatyana Straus, Div. of Community Oral Health

Joseph and Josephine Rabinowitz Award for Research Excellence

The Joseph and Josephine Rabinowitz Award for Excellence in Research was designed to help Penn Dental Medicine faculty undertake pilot projects that will enable them to successfully apply for extramural sources of funding. Designed through the lens of a researcher, this ongoing grant evaluates research proposals for their scholarly merit, creativity and innovation; the significance of the research in advancing scientific knowledge; the prospects for future extramural funding; the availability of alternate funding sources; and in the case of junior faculty, evidence that the applicant will be working as an independent investigator and forwarding of the School’s research objectives. Launched in 2002, this award was endowed through the generosity of the late Dr. Joseph “Jose” Rabinowitz, an active member of the School’s biochemistry faculty for 29 years, and his wife, the late Dr. Josephine “Josy,” a fellow Penn alum.

2022 RABINOWITZ AWARD RECIPIENTS

Flavia Teles, DDS, MS, DMSc

Associate Professor, Dept. of Basic & Translational Sciences

Integrating Omics-Data via Deep Learning to Predict Periodontitis Progression

Periodontitis is the most common cause of tooth loss among U.S. adults. Further, it increases the risk for systemic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular, and respiratory diseases. Thus, early identification of periodontitis and of high-risk individuals is critical. However, there are no practical means of doing so. In this project, metagenomic sequencing will be used to determine the subgingival microbiome of patients with severe periodontitis presenting advanced disease progression. Then, artificial intelligence approaches will be employed to devise biological disease classifications and predictive models of clinical outcomes by integrating existing longitudinal immunological, clinical, and demographic data with the microbiological information. Results from this project will support future NIH grant applications aimed at understanding, identifying, and predicting high risk for periodontitis and developing more precise and efficient approaches for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

Yuan Liu, DDS, MS Research Associate, Div. of Restorative Dentistry Association between Early Candida Infection (Oral Thrush) and Severe Early Childhood Caries

Severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) is a major public health problem characterized by dysbiotic oral microbial burden leading to a persistent and virulent biofilm on the teeth of toddlers that causes rampant tooth decay as well as hurts general health. Emerging clinical evidence has spotlighted the potential role of Candida albicans in S-ECC. Furthermore, our retrospective study revealed that oral thrush (oropharyngeal candidiasis or OPC) detection in toddlers less than 12 months of age was strongly associated with the development of dental caries. However, only cross-sectional human studies have been performed thus far. Longitudinal studies are warranted to better assess the causal association between OPC and S-ECC in toddlers to determine the fungal role in caries. To address this, the proposed research will be focused on conducting a two-year prospective longitudinal study to (1) investigate the association between early OPC and the onset and severity of S-ECC in a cohort of infants, and (2) evaluate the influence of OPC on the functional plaque microbiome of infants.

ABOVE: Dr. Dana Graves, Dr. Esra Sahingur (left-right), and Dr. Kathleen BoeszeBattaglia (far right) with the 2022 Rabinowitz Award winners Dr. Yuan Lin and Dr. Flavia Teles and Lois Rabinowitz Lamond (center).

ALUMNIHIGHLIGHTS

PROFILES, GATHERINGS & ENGAGEMENT

SCHOLARSHIP HONORS CAREER,

With a friendship lasting over 60 years — from high school to Penn and beyond — there aren’t many ways that Herb Sachs (W’69, PAR’96, PAR’00) can surprise Penn Dental Medicine alumnus Dr. Vince Mannino (C’69, D’73). But he managed to do just that for Mannino’s 75th birthday.

“Herb invited me to lunch on campus; he said there was a new restaurant called ‘Wolff’s Café’ near the Dental School,” Mannino says. “When we got to the courtyard, there was a tent set up, and I saw my family — even my son, who lives in Chicago. It was quite a shock.”

That wasn’t the only surprise in store. During the lunch, Penn Dental Medicine’s Morton Amsterdam Dean, Dr. Mark Wolff, informed him that Sachs had created the Vincent J. Mannino, D.M.D. Endowed Scholarship in his honor.

“The original thought was to make this gift for Vince’s retirement,” says Sachs. “But he’s so dedicated to his patients, none of us know when that will be — not even him.

DEDICATION OF ALUMNUS VINCE MANNINO (C'69,D'73)

“Vince always goes the extra mile to do the best possible job for the patient. Good enough is not in his vocabulary, which is why my family has trusted him with our dental care for decades,” continues Sachs. “I hope the next generation of Penn Dental students — and Mannino Scholarship recipients — will adopt that mentality in their careers.”

Student aid is one of Penn Dental Medicine’s top priorities, recognizing that expanding educational access means more than just tuition reduction. “Scholarships and fellowships have an outsized impact, beyond the beneficiary,” says Dean Wolff. “When quality education and training is more accessible to a wider range of students, they can practice in communities where access to oral health services is lacking or cost-prohibitive.”

Over a career spanning a half-century, Mannino has taken more than six years of

continuing education and cultivated a clientele that is like a second family. “Among the staff, and even some patients, we refer to him as ‘Dr. Dad,’” says Stephanie Mannino, who serves as Vince’s office manager. “He’s such a giving and generous person, and this scholarship is a great way to honor him.”

“I’ve always set out to practice ideal dentistry,” Mannino says. “That doesn’t mean the most high-end services; it means providing the best and most appropriate care for patients, without compromise.”

“Dentistry is a very rewarding career, where you can do a lot of good for your patients,” Mannino adds. “Student aid makes the opportunity to study at Penn more available to people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to. The fact that Herb thought to attach my name to a scholarship is very humbling.”

ABOVE: The Mannino and Sachs families joined Dean Mark Wolff for a tour after a lunch celebrating the establishment of the Vincent Mannino Scholarship at Penn Dental Medicine — (L to R) Paul Mannino, Stephanie Mannino, Susan Mannino, Vincent Maninno, Herb Sachs, and Susan Sachs.

Alumni Profile: Dr. Daniel Richardson (D’02) Sharing the Rewards of Giving Back

With a thriving oral and maxillofacial surgery practice and three school-age daughters at home, Dr. Daniel Richardson (D’02) doesn’t have much free time. But when he was invited to join the Penn Dental Medicine Dean’s Council last year, Richardson was glad to accept. “Penn has always had a special place in my heart,” he says.

As a member of the Dean’s Council — and the group’s only oral and maxillofacial surgeon — Richardson is part of an external advisory board that consults with Penn Dental Medicine administration on topics that range from professional development and volunteer recruitment to fundraising.

“The purpose of the Dean’s Council is to be an ear for Dean [Mark] Wolff,” Richardson says, “and to keep your finger on the pulse of what’s out there.”

Richardson says he has delighted in the opportunity to interact with Dean Wolff and Penn Dental Medicine faculty, as well as former classmates who are also part of the Council. “It has put me more in touch with the school itself — the advances, the changes in the clinics, the programs, the student

admissions,” he says. “It has given me the opportunity to be more exposed to the inner workings of Penn.”

Richardson was just 20 years old when he enrolled at Penn Dental Medicine more than two decades ago and recalls finding a supportive community of faculty that helped him make the most of his Penn Dental Medicine experience. Even more importantly, he found his life partner here as well. As a second-year student, Richardson was asked by the admissions office to show a new dental student, a Los Angeles native and Columbia University graduate named Shanta Williams, around Philadelphia. Richardson and Williams married in 2001.

Richardson, who had wanted to be a surgeon since early childhood, discovered the

world of oral surgery when he participated in the Careers in Dentistry program at Loma Linda University while in college. “I found it unique that you get a dental degree and medical degree,” Richardson says he recalls thinking at the time. “It was something different.”

Richardson applied to Penn Dental Medicine as an early applicant, even before graduating from Oakwood College (now Oakwood University) in Alabama. “Penn had a great reputation for producing specialists,” he says. Richardson notes he was especially inspired to pursue a specialty in oral and maxillofacial surgery by then-Penn Dental Medicine Dean Dr. Raymond Fonseca, who is an oral surgeon.

After completing dental school, Richardson pursued his postdoctoral training in oral surgery at Harvard University, earning his medical degree there and completing his oral and maxillofacial surgical internship and residency at hospitals in Boston. A fellowship at the Posnick Center for Facial Plastic Surgery honed his specialty in dento-skeletal deformities.

Richardson opened his private practice, the Richardson Center for Oral and Facial Surgery, outside Baltimore, Maryland, in 2009. Dr. Shanta Richardson (D’03) has a private practice in pediatrics — Shiny Chompers Pediatric Dentistry — about seven miles north.

“It has put me more in touch with the school itself — the advances, the changes in the clinics, the programs. It has given me the opportunity to be more exposed to the inner workings of Penn.”

— DR. DANIEL RICHARDSON

ABOVE: Dr. Daniel Richardson (D’02) and his wife, Dr. Shanta Richardson (D’03).

After joining the Dean’s Council, Richardson says he learned about the Penn Dental Medicine Alumni Scholars program, in which alumni can fund scholarships to support current students. The Richardsons established a scholarship this year.

SUPPORTING THE NEXT GENERATION

Through the Alumni Scholars program, either a DMD student or postdoctoral resident is selected as the beneficiary of the scholarship throughout his/her studies at Penn Dental Medicine with the alumni donors able to meet the recipients and follow their progress while at the School.

“My wife and I both got scholarships to go to Penn,” says Richardson. “Being minority students and having the chance to change our lives through education has been a great opportunity. If we can provide that to another dental student, we are honored to do so.”

The couple hope to contribute to the scholarship fund annually, Richardson adds, and to inspire their classmates to join them. “We have the opportunity to provide support because of the careers we now have as a result of our Penn Dental education,” he says. “It’s about giving back.”

ALUMNI SCHOLARS PROGRAM

To learn more about the Alumni Scholars Program, contact Sarah Burton-Flynn, sburton@upenn.edu.

www.dental.upenn.edu/alumnischolars

Class of 2022 OKU Inductees

Penn Dental Medicine’s ETA Chapter of the Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society (OKU) welcomes its newest members, inducted from the Class of 2022 in May. New inductees are selected based on scholarship, exemplary traits of character, and potential qualities of future professional growth. The new OKU members from the Class of 2022 include:

Alisa Lee

Kailin Baechle

Kevin Franz

Phyllis Immitti

Cristina Sanchez.

Kylie Schlesinger

Kate Trieschman

The faculty inductee this year was Dr. Temitope Omolehinwa, Assistant Professor of Oral Medicine.

Usama Al Abdullah

ABOVE: Members of the OKU Class of 2022 inductees with Dr. Olivia Sheridan.

ALUMNIHIGHLIGHTS

ALUMNI WEEKEND

This May, Alumni were welcomed back to the School (in-person!) for Alumni Weekend 2022 and five-year milestone reunions for classes ending in “2” or “7.”

Alumni Events

SENIOR FAREWELL

In recognition of the Class of 2022’s transition from predoctoral students to members of the Penn Dental Medicine Alumni Society, the Office of Institutional Advancement hosted the annual Senior Farewell at The Bellevue Hotel.

SPECIAL COMMENCEMENT

On May 22, a long-awaited University Commencement ceremony to recognize Penn’s Classes of 2020 and 2021 was held. Following the ceremony on Franklin Field, members of the Dental Classes of 2020 and 2021 gathered back at the School to celebrate with family and reconnect with classmates.

CLASSNOTES NEWS FROM FELLOW ALUMNI

1950s

Dr. William Ryon (D’53) says he is living a happy life in a retirement village in Gainesville, Fla., with his wife, Mary, and they spend a lot of their time traveling. At 94, he says he is happy to connect or hear from any of his Xi Psi Phi Fraternity brothers or any other classmates from the class of 1953.

1960s

Dr. Edward Cooperman (D’62) says he is enjoying life in Florida with his three children, eight grandchildren, and two great grandchildren and has been playing in, and winning, local tennis tournaments.

Dr. Steven Langsam (D’68) continues to practice after 54 years, while also living on and maintaining a farm in New Jersey for rescued horses and goats.

1980s

Dr. David Stall (D’83) and his wife, Judy, have become grandparents in 2022 — twice. They welcomed Scarlett Walsh in January and Tessa Stall, at the end of March. The two cousins met for the first time this past June.

Dr. Alisa Kauffman (D’85) recently took her house call practice national. Her Geriatric House Call Dentistry practice is now in 10 cities across the U.S. and is continuing to grow.

Dr. Jay Arlick (D’85) recently retired after selling his Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery practice. He and his wife, Debbie, relocated to Massachusetts where they get to spend plenty of time with their three kids and grandchildren.

Dr. Alan Chenman (D’87) recently completed terms as Trustee of the New Jersey Dental Association, Delegate to the ADA, Chairman of Peer Review for Atlantic and Cape May Counties, and President of the Atlantic Cape May Dental Society. He continues to work in private practice with fellow alumnus Dr. Henry Salama (D’81, GD’86)

Dr. Claude Springer (D’54) recently turned 92 years old thanks to good health and a half-hour walk each morning with his wife of 16 years.

Dr. Bernard Zeldow (D’56) established the first oral microbiology research laboratory at the University of Washington School of Dentistry in the department of Endodontics, and he recently received the title of Professor Emeritus from Washington. He established an endodontics practice with fellow Penn Dental graduate, Dr. Matthew Mandel (D’68) and said he is grateful for having such an exciting and fulfilling career. He thanks Penn Dental for enabling him to have such a gratifying professional career, and wants to congratulate Penn’s new president, Liz Magill, who was his grandson’s Law Professor at Stanford University.

Various members of the Penn Dental Hygiene Class of 1966 met up at the Eastern Shore in May 2022 for their 55/56 Reunion.

1970s

Dr. Robert Martin (D’72) recently retired after practicing Pediatric Dentistry for 36 years in New Jersey. He relocated to California and said he is enjoying his retirement by playing golf, volunteering, and playing duplicate bridge.

Dr. Douglas Peterson (D’72, GD’76, GR’76) was recently awarded the King James IV Professorship by the Royal College of Surgeons/Edinburgh. In addition, he was also named Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (FASCO) — the first dental degree recipient of that honor.

Dr. Richard Brogadir (D’73) recently sold his practice of 43 years and is now working two days a week in a group practice. He says he loves being a part of a group practice that it’s his dream job.

Dr. Michael Carol (D’86) recently got married in May of 2022 to his wife, Sharon.

1990s

Dr. Jay Selznick (D’90) is happily living life in Nevada and has been there for the past 27 years. He says he is very happy in his practice and is proud to be a Penn Alum! He is enjoying skiing, biking, and climbing in his free time.

Dr. Daniel Gesek (D’81) recently received the Florida Dental Association (FDA)’s Dentist of the Year Award. He also was named the 2022–2023 Secretary of the FDA, which will lead him to becoming president of the association in 2026.

Dr. Sandra Grzyicki (DH’79, D’97) recently relocated her practice to Main Street in Paoli, Pa., after practicing for the past 18 years.

2000s

Dr. Caroline González (D’04) recently got married and is now Dr. Caroline Berman.

Dr. Katherine France (D’16, GR’16, GD’18), and her husband, Rogan Magee celebrated their wedding in April 2022, writing, “After two pandemic delays, we were honored to have a great Penn Dental contingent come together on a beautiful day.” Front row: Eugene Ko, Roopali Kulkarni (D’19, GD ’21), Second row: Adeyinka Dayo, Takako Tanaka, Mel Mupparapu, Zesheng Chen (D’16), Peter Mailhot (D’17), Rogan Magee, Katherine France, Kristianne Macaraeg Kracke (D’17, GD ’19), JV Kracke (D’17, GD ’19), Alicia Risner-Baumann, Miriam Robbins, Kim Strauch, Maria Kujolic, Back row: Eric Stoopler, Tom Sollecito, David Maciborski (D’16), Heather Lenker (D’16), Elizabeth Freund Perone (D’16), MaryJane Anderson (D’16)

2020s

Call for Alumni Board Nominations

The Board welcomes the following alumni who joined the Committee as of July 2022:

Abdalla Asi, D’22 | Jacksonville, FL

Carolyn Izu Bergmann, D’83 | Palm Desert, CA

Andrew Henry, D’12, M’15, GD’18 | Boston, MA

Donna Jankiewicz, D’88 | Malvern, PA

Roopali Kulkarni, D’19, GR’19, GD’21 | Philadelphia, PA

Nimesh Patel, D’09 | Dallas, TX

Lindsay Pfeffer, D’08, GR’08 | San Diego, CA

The Alumni Society Executive Committee seeks nominations of interested alumni to advance the interests of Penn Dental Medicine and to promote good fellowship among members of the School community. All Penn Dental Medicine alumni are invited to be part of the Alumni Society Executive Committee. Alumni who are formally nominated will run for open positions in the spring and, if elected, serve a three-year term beginning July 1. For more information or to submit a nomination, please visit www.dental.upenn.edu/alumnisociety Join

Annual Alumni Ski Trip

March 8–12, 2023

Manor Vail Lodge | Vail, CO

Relax and enjoy the beautiful mountains of Colorado, while making lasting connections and earning 10 continuing education credits.

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER: www.dental.upenn.edu/ski2023

Dr. Joon Park (D’14) recently became a dad. He and his wife recently welcomed their new little girl, Ava.

Dr. Priyadarshini Agrawal (D’15) was recently appointed to the position of Dental Director of a community clinic in Northern California.

Dr. Uchenna Ndukwe (D’22) was recently awarded the Dr. Jeanne Craig Sinkford Student Leadership Award from ADEA.

INMEMORIAM

REMEMBERING MEMBERS OF THE PENN DENTAL MEDICINE COMMUNITY

Marie English Cotter (DH’47) Stratford, CT May 31, 2022

Jeffrey M. Shubach (D’51) Ithaca, NY May 17, 2022

Joseph S. Bienstock (D’52, GD’54) Clearwater, FL July 17, 2022

Thomas A. McManus, Jr. (D’54) Rumson, NJ May 29, 2022

Mary Jane. Winchester (DH’54) Lenexa, KS

February 23, 2022

J. Dale Graham (D’57) Durham, PA May 18, 2022

Lawrence Scharff (D’57) Boynton Beach, FL February 11, 2022

Patricia Worth Petrie (DH’57) Salisbury, MD February 18, 2022

Vincent M. Funaro (D’58) Alstead, NH August 18, 2022

Aaron M. Hader (D’58) Clifton, NJ April 10, 2022

Richard M. Kotler (D’59) Sandy Springs, GA July 26, 2022

David F. Lawlor (D’60) Alstead, NH August 18, 2022

Richard W. Mayne (D’66) Baldwinsville, NY March 5, 2022

Colonel Ronald G. Sarg (D’70) Dover, DE July 22, 2022

Jeffrey M. Kahn (C’71, D’74, GD’75) Broomfield, CO May 15, 2022

Franklyn J. Saracino, Jr. (D’72) Venice, FL

November 8, 2021

Samuel W. Feinstein (C’72, D’76) Greenwich, NJ April 14, 2021

David H. Bower (D’73) Nottingham, PA

January 19, 2022

Ronald A. Budnikas (D’73, GD’75) Vestal, NY

August 7, 2022

Richard Stanley Tobey, Jr. (D'75, GD'80, GR'81) Kent County, MD

August 26, 2022

Stephen E. Shpeen (D’81) Voorhees, NJ

April 19, 2022

Robert J. Connelly, Jr. (D’82) Eggertsville, NY

November 4, 2021

Bentley (Ben) A. H. Merrick (D’88) Burlington, VT

July 2, 2022

Saul Torres (D’03) Tampa, FL July 27, 2022

Stephanie K. Bomar (D’04) Fairfax, VA

June 11, 2022

2022–2023CALENDAR

UPCOMING EVENTS & PROGRAMS

OCTOBER

OCTOBER 21

CDE: Quarterly Combined

TMJ Lecture Series

Live Webinar

OCTOBER 25

CDE: Levy Dental Medicine Library

Lecture Series: Dr. Frank Heynick

Live Webinar

OCTOBER 28

CDE: S. Gary Cohen Conference

Series: Dr. Manuel de la Cruz Gutierrez

Live Webinar

OCTOBER 28

Ortho Alumni Day

Philadelphia, PA

OCTOBER 28

American Academy of Periodontology (AAP)

Alumni Reception

Phoenix, AZ

DECEMBER

DECEMBER 1

CDE: Case of the Quarter: Dr. Albert Robles

Live Webinar

DECEMBER 5

CDE: Penn Orthodontic Department

Lecture Series: Dr. Jenny Chung

Live Webinar

DECEMBER 8

CDE: Dr. Rodrigo Neiva presents

The Chair’s Lecture Series: Dr. Robert Levine

Live Webinar

FEBRUARY

FEBRUARY 6

CDE: Penn Orthodontic Department

Lecture Series: Dr. Steven Wang

Live Webinar

MAY

MAY 1

CDE: Penn Orthodontic Department Lecture Series: Dr. Arnold Malerman

Live Webinar

MARCH

MARCH 6

CDE: Penn Orthodontic Department

Lecture Series: Dr. Monica Li

Live Webinar

MARCH 8–12

CDE: Penn Dental Medicine

Alumni Ski Trip

JANUARY

JANUARY 9

CDE: Penn Orthodontic Department

Lecture Series: Dr. Yanheng Zhou

Live Webinar

JANUARY 20

NOVEMBER

NOVEMBER 3

CDE: Dr. Rodrigo Neiva presents

The Chair’s Lecture Series: Dr. Michele Perelli

Live Webinar

NOVEMBER 3

American College of Prosthodontists Alumni Reception

Austin, TX

NOVEMBER 7

CDE: Penn Orthodontic Department

Lecture Series: Dr. Guy Coby

Live Webinar

NOVEMBER 28

Greater NY Alumni Reception

New York, NY

CDE: Quarterly Combined TMJ Lecture Series

Live Webinar

JANUARY 21

CDE: Florida

West Palm, FL

JANUARY 22

West Palm Beach Alumni Brunch

West Palm Beach, FL

Vail, CO

MARCH 16

AADOCR/CADR Annual Meeting & Exhibition, Alumni Reception

Portland, OR

APRIL

APRIL 3

CDE: Penn Orthodontic Department Lecture Series: Dr. Helen Jeon

Live Webinar

APRIL 21–22

CDE: International TMJ

Interdisciplinary Research Meeting

Philadelphia, PA

APRIL 22

American Association of Orthodontics (AAO) Alumni Reception

Chicago, IL

MAY 4

American Academy of Oral Medicine (AAOM) Alumni Reception

Savannah, GA

MAY 4

American Association of Endodontics (AAE) Alumni Reception

Chicago, IL

MAY 9

Senior Farewell

The Bellevue, Philadelphia

MAY 12–13

Alumni Weekend

Penn Dental Medicine

MAY 15

Commencement

Irvine Auditorium

MAY 27

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Alumni Reception

Orlando, FL

JUNE

JUNE 5

CDE: Penn Orthodontic Department Lecture Series: Dr. Nipul Tanna

Live Webinar

JULY

JULY 31–AUGUST 5

5th Penn Periodontal Conference

Philadelphia, PA

PENN DENTAL MEDICINE ALUMNI SOCIETY 2022-2023 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Scott Chanin, D'83 President

Alyssa Greenberger, D'02 Vice-President

Members-at-Large

Deena Alani, D'13

Abdalla Asi, D’22

Pam Alberto, D'80

Judy Bendit, DH'81

Carolyn Izu Bergmann, D’83

Larry Chacker, D'85

Sooji (Cindy) Choi, D'20

Gail Spiegel Cohen, C'76, D'80

Milan Doshi, D'07

Lee Durst, D'83

Keith Dunoff, D'84

Caryn Siegel Finley, C'95, D'99

Katherine France, D'16, GR'16, GD'18

Joel Frankel, C'02 D'06

Andrew Fraser, D'16

Maria Perno Goldie, DH'71

Wendy Halpern, D'99, GD'02, GD'03

Andrew Henry, D’12, M’15, GD’18

Stephen Howarth, D'16

Ken Ingber, D'71

Donna Jankiewicz, D’88

JV Kracke, D'17, GD'19

Daniel Kubikian, D'01, GD'04, GD'05

Roopali Kulkarni, D’19, GR’19, GD’21

Bernard Kurek, D'73, WMP'03

Kristen Leong, C'16, GED'20, D'21

Bret Lesavoy, D'19

Rachel Levarek, D'11

Mel Mupparapu, D'96

Ngozi Okoh, D'12

Nimesh Patel, D’09

Lindsay Pfeffer, D’08, GR’08

Morrie Rosen, D’92

Steven Ryoo, D'20

Trevan Samp, D'14

Lisa Schildhorn, DH'75

Shabnam Sedaghat, D'06

Neel Shah, D'21

Janet Shear, D’22

Josh Simpson, D'16

Matt Sones, D'12

Ann Eshenaur Spolarich, DH'82

Ben Truong, D'19

Gary Wegman, D'83

Michael Yasner, C'79, D'83, GD'84, GD'86

Brigitte White Zinkovic, CGS'04, D'07

BOARD OF ADVISORS

David Tai-Man Shen, DMD, D’79, GD’81, Chair

Nancy L. Baker, Esq.

Stanley M. Bergman, Emeritus

Dirk Brunner, MSC, MBA

Julie Charlestein

William W. M. Cheung, DMD, D’81, GD’82, Emeritus

Joanne Chouinard-Luth, DMD, D’79

Terry Dolan, DDS, MPH

Matthew J. Doyle, PhD

Patrik Eriksson

Allen Finkelstein, DDS

Ruchi Goel, WG’04

C. Mitchell Goldman

Steve Kess

Anne Koch, DMD, D’77, GD’93

Haruo Morita

Vincent Mosimann

Joan O’Shea, MD

Daniel W. Perkins

Garry Rayant, DDS, GD’77

Maria Ryan, DDS, PhD

Tony Saito, DMD, D’95

Ken Serota, Esq.

Alfred L. Spencer, Jr.

Larry Turner, Esq.

Robert Zou, WG’94

Ex Officio Members

Martin D. Levin, DMD, D’72, GD’74, Chair, Dean’s Council

Scott Chanin, DMD, D’83, President, Alumni Society

DEAN’S COUNCIL

Martin D. Levin, D’72, GD’74, Chair

Robert Brody, C’80, D’84

Stefani Cheung, C’08, D’11

Egidio Farone, D’84

Charlene Jennings Fenster, DH’75

Joseph P. Fiorellini

Howard P. Fraiman, D’91, GD’93, GD’94

Joseph E. Gian-Grasso, C’67, D’71

Jeffrey N. Grove, D’04

Elliot Hersh

Anil J. Idiculla, C’98, GD’06

Meetu Kohli, D’02, GD’05

Brian Lee, D’00, GD’04

Daniell J. Mishaan, D’03

Saul M. Pressner, D’79

Daniel Richardson, D’02

Howie Rosa, D’82

Louis Rossman, D’75, GD’77

Derek Sanders, D’06

Gail E. Schupak, D’83

Tara Sexton, D’88

Robert Stern, D’87

Susan Stern, C’77, D’81

Arnold Weisgold, GD’65

PDMJ ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Beth Adams

Director of Publications

Dr. Faizan Alawi

Associate Professor, Basic & Translational Sciences

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Dr. Markus Blatz

Professor of Restorative Dentistry

Chair, Department of Preventive & Restorative Sciences

Sarah Burton Flynn

Director of Strategic Development & Alumni Relations

Maren Gaughan

Associate Dean for Leadership Giving

Dr. Joan Gluch

Division Chief and Professor of Clinical Community

Oral Health, Associate Dean for Academic Policies

Dr. Dana Graves

Professor, Department of Periodontics

Vice Dean for Research and Scholarship

Elizabeth Ketterlinus

Vice Dean of Institutional Advancement

Dr. Robert Ricciardi

Professor, Acting Chair, Department of Basic & Translational Sciences

Susan Schwartz

Director of Career Services

Dr. Thomas Sollecito

Professor of Oral Medicine

Chair, Department of Oral Medicine

INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

Elizabeth Ketterlinus, ekett@upenn.edu

Vice Dean of Institutional Advancement

Maren Gaughan, gaughan@upenn.edu

Associate Dean for Leadership Giving

Sarah Burton Flynn, sburton@upenn.edu

Director of Strategic Development & Alumni Relations

Lindsay Murphy, lhonzak@upenn.edu

Associate Director of Annual Giving

Jennifer Pacitti, jpacitti@upenn.edu

Special Events Coordinator

Domenic Gaeta, dtgaeta@upenn.edu

Development Coordinator

Beth Adams, adamsnb@upenn.edu

Director, Publications

Pam Rice, pamrice@upenn.edu

Senior Director of Continuing Education

Julia Zhu, hezhu97@upenn.edu

Continuing Education Program Coordinator

Office of Institutional Advancement: 215–898–8951

The University of Pennsylvania values diversity and seeks talented students, faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds. The University of Pennsylvania does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected class status in the administration of its admissions, financial aid, educational or athletic programs, or other University-administered programs or in its employment practices. Questions or complaints regarding this policy should be directed to the Executive Director of the Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Programs, Sansom Place East, 3600 Chestnut Street, Suite 228, Philadelphia, PA 19104–6106; or (215) 898–6993 (Voice) or (215) 898–7803 (TDD).