WORD of MOUTH LIBERTY Dental Plan, Senator Patricia Van Pelt Recognize College of Dentistry With Center of Excellence Award The University of Illinois at founding dentist, Dr. Amir Chicago College of Dentistry Neshat, “LIBERTY is committed was recognized with a Center of to providing quality dental Excellence Award by LIBERTY benefits with a focus on total Dental Plan and Illinois State body care that will lead to Senator Patricia Van Pelt happier and healthier lives for (D-5th) on Sept. 19 at the Illinois Medicaid members,” College, which is located in Dr. Neshat said. Senator Van Pelt’s district. “LIBERTY is only able LIBERTY Dental Plan is to administer quality oral a full-service dental benefits healthcare through our company that has been partnership with Illinois dental providing providers,” dental Dr. Neshat services to continued. Medicaid “We beneficiaries recognize across the that the best U.S. since patient care 2008 and in comes from Illinois since a network 2014, when of local the State dentists Dr. Robert Barish, UI Health Vice Chancellor of Illinois who have for Health Affairs; Dean Clark Stanford; authorized proven their Senator Patricia Van Pelt; and Judy Bowlby, the Medicaid LIBERTY Senior Manager of Government commitment dental to providing Programs, at the presentation of the LIBERTY Center of Excellence Award. managed appropriate care and timely program. care for the Liberty administers dental community they serve.” benefits for its Illinois medical Over the past three years, plan partners including LIBERTY has worked closely Harmony and NextLevel Health with community dentists who Plans. consistently have demonstrated Under the leadership of its their commitment and
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dedication to quality care and recognizes outstanding dental providers with its Center of Excellence Award. LIBERTY selects Centers of Excellence through a rigorous evaluation process that includes reviews of office safety and compliance, appropriate delivery of dental services compared to regional utilization patterns, high member satisfaction which leads to loyalty and continuity of care, access and availability of appointments, and low member grievances and complaints. Judy Bowlby, LIBERTY Senior Manager of Government Programs, and Senator Van Pelt, who is Chair of the Illinois Senate’s Public Health Committee and also is on the Oversight Committee for Medicaid and Managed Care, presented the Center of Excellence Award to Dr. Clark Stanford, Dean of the College of Dentistry and UIC Distinguished Professor; Dr. Robert Barish, Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs for UIC; and other University and College of Dentistry personnel. Dr. Stanford said, “The UIC College of Dentistry is honored to be recognized as a Center of Excellence by LIBERTY Dental Plan and Senator Van Pelt for our commitment and dedication to excellence in the delivery of oral healthcare to the underserved. This recognition is an affirmation of our commitment to Changing the Future of Oral Health. We are grateful for this recognition and for our faculty, students, and staff whose outstanding work have earned us this significant achievement.” “On behalf of our LIBERTY team, I wish to congratulate the UIC College of Dentistry and we look forward to a long and quality relationship to improve oral health and the lives of Illinois’s most vulnerable Medicaid population,” said Dr. Neshat. “Dental care is sometimes overlooked as a critical element in general physical health and wellness,” said Senator Van Pelt. “Having excellent resources like the UIC College of Dentistry providing dental services to Medicaid beneficiaries in the district ensures we can bring a healthier, better quality of life to all communities.” “Harmony Health Plan is proud to honor these outstanding dental providers,” said Chuck Beeman, president of Harmony Health Plan. “Preventive and maintenance dental care is a key element of an integrated health delivery system that helps our members live better, healthier lives.”
Word of Mouth University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry (MC 621) Room 404-A 801 South Paulina Street Chicago, Illinois 60612-7211 Phone (312) 996-8495 Fax (312) 413-2927 billbike@uic.edu
“Dental health plays an important role in the complete health of our members,” said Dr. Cheryl Whitaker, CEO of NextLevel Health. “The UIC College of Dentistry trains the next generation of dentists while playing the critical role of ‘dental safety net’ in the Chicago community.” The College serves as one of the largest dental Medicaid providers in the State of Illinois, providing 70,490 Medicaid appointments to patients enrolled in the State Dental Medicaid program a year. Total number of appointments for children on Medicaid (age 20 and under at time of appointment): 41,691. Total number of appointments for Medicaid patients 21 and older: 28,799. A total of 97.77% of the children treated at the College are on Medicaid.
Fry Foundation Provides Grant for Needs Assessment, Social Work Component in Pediatric Dentistry
The Fry Foundation has provided a $75,000 grant to the Department of Pediatric Dentistry for a dual purpose. One is for the department to perform a community needs assessment, to determine families’ requirements, wants, and barriers concerning pediatric dental care. The other
A Fry Foundation grant will help the Department of Pediatric Dentistry determine families’ requirements, wants, and needs concerning pediatric dental care. Dean and UIC Distinguished Professor Clark Stanford, DDS, PhD, Prosthodontics, Cmstan60@uic.edu Associate Dean for Advancement Mark J. Valentino mjv@uic.edu Editor-in-Chief William S. Bike billbike@uic.edu
Staff Janette Guzman, jguzman32@uic.edu; Bruno Mancari, bmancari@uic.edu; Jessica Mueller, jmuelle0@uic.edu; Ana Lisa Ogbac, aogbac1@uic.edu Design Kim Arias Design Production UIC Office of Creative and Digital Services
ISSN 1555-1520
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is to start a social work program known as “pCARES” (pediatric Counseling Advocacy Referral Education and Service) to support health equity and patients seen in the pediatric dentistry clinics. “The model was developed at the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine,” explained Dr. Marcio da Fonseca, Head, Pediatric Dentistry. “They have been very successful with it, and we are adapting it.” The grant’s Principal Investigators (PIs) are Dr. da Fonseca and Dean Clark Stanford. “Through a needs assessment, we will be better able to understand who the people are who come to see us, what their needs are in terms of dental care for children, and what barriers they have encountered in trying to find dental care in Illinois and in coming to us,” Dr. da Fonseca said. “We want to understand all that so we can serve them better.” The department will perform the needs assessment survey in conjunction with the UIC Survey Research Laboratory at the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs. A social worker will be hired “to help increase access to care for these families and to help them with any leads the social worker may have so there is no interruption of care, facilitating all the processes and helping these families go through the system,” Dr. da Fonseca said. “For example, we have a lot of immigrant families who may not understand how Medicaid works, so the social worker will help them apply for Medicaid and help them keep their insurance up to date.” The social worker will interview families to see what needs they have, and “faculty, residents, and dental students will be able to refer patients to them when they have needs with which the social worker can help,” Dr. da Fonseca said. UIC’s Jane Addams College of Social Work also will provide master’s level students doing field placement to work with the department’s social worker. “We are the largest provider of pediatric dental care in the State, so they will be very busy,” Dr. da Fonseca said. “They will help the families connect to the services they need in order to get them here.” And not only for oral healthcare, Dr. da Fonseca said, noting, “We want them to help families obtain medical care for children. That will be essential because we have a lot of families here who don’t have a medical home. We want to make sure the children receive holistic care.” The master’s level social work students will assist the lead social worker in interviewing and assessing families and connecting them with services they need. “It’s very unusual to have a social worker in dentistry,” Dr. da Fonseca said. “So we’re very excited; there is an enormous need for social workers here in the College. The populations that look for care in dental schools are often low-income, so they have a lot of barriers to accessing care. Social workers will be of tremendous help to them.” While Dr. da Fonseca and Dr. Stanford want the patients to benefit from the program, “we also want the
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dental students, the residents, and the faculty to learn how to work with a social worker,” Dr. da Fonseca said. “I think it will be very important for them to learn how the process works, and how important social work can be in a dental practice.” “We are pleased to be working in partnership with the College of Dentistry to provide services that enhance the health and well-being of children and their families,” said Dean Creasie Finney Hairston of the Jane Addams College of Social Work. “Collaborative models of health care and service delivery show much promise for addressing both individual needs and longstanding system issues. Students from social work, dentistry, and other health professions will also benefit from this model of interprofessional training.” The grant is for a one-year pilot program. Dr. da Fonseca and Dean Stanford plan on assessing the outcomes after that year. If the outcomes are good, they plan on applying for additional funding. Dr. da Fonseca noted that Dean Stanford plans on using pCARES as a pilot program, “to see how well we can integrate more social workers into the College to help our adult patient population as well. This is going to be very important for the College.” For more information about the Fry Foundation, log on to www.fryfoundation.org/. For more about the needs assessment and pCARES, contact Dr. da Fonseca, who also is a Chicago Dental Society Professor at the College, at marcio@uic.edu.
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Dr. Lee Jameson Returns to College as Interim Head of Restorative Dentistry
Dr. Lee Jameson has returned to the College as Interim Department Head of Restorative Dentistry, following Dr. Stephen Campbell returning to the faculty after serving as Department Head since 1992. “I will provide transition leadership while a search committee reviews candidates for the next Head of the department,” Dr. Jameson explained. The College is engaging in a national search. “My goal is to promote the mission, goals, and high standards of the department and the College, as well as to provide a humanistic learning and workplace environment,” he noted. Dr. Jameson was a Clinical Professor of Restorative Dentistry at the College from 2007 to 2016. “It is great to return to the College and I thank everyone for your warm welcome back,” he said. Dr. Jameson earned his DDS, MS in Oral Biology, and Certificate in Prosthodontics from the Loyola University Chicago School of Dentistry. He is a Board Certified Prosthodontist. He was Dean of the Northwestern University Dental School from 1998 to 2001, after serving as the school’s Chair of the Department of Restorative Dentistry from 1992 to 1998. He had taught at the school since 1978.
Dr. Jameson was the Attending Prosthodontist at Hines Veterans Administration Hospital from 1978 to 1996, and is a former President of Xi Psi Phi International Dental Fraternity, the Odontographic Society of Chicago, the American Prosthodontic Society, and the American College of Prosthodontics. Dr. Jameson also had a private practice in Palos Heights, IL, from Dr. Lee Jameson. 1976 to 2016. “My wife, Loretta, and I have been married 43 years and we enjoy spending a lot of time being aunt and uncle to all of our nieces and nephews,” Dr. Jameson said, noting that Loretta Jameson is a retired dental hygienist and dental hygiene educator. “During my spare time I enjoy gardening, photography, genealogy, and tackling home improvement projects.”
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Sparky Award Winners Named; Nominate a Colleague
Several members of the College community were named Sparky D. Dragon UIC College of Dentistry Customer Service Award recipients over the last few months. They are Mickey Martinez, Dental Assistant III, Urgent Care Clinic Coordinator and Screening Clinic Coordinator; Milica (Mina) Golubovich, student; and DeVonna Purnell, student.
DeVonna Purnell with colleagues.
The award is presented to a person who shows excellence in care, concern, and support for patients, students, faculty, and Milica (Mina) Golubovich, with Dean alumni; a high Clark Stanford. degree of professional conduct; exceeds expectations; promotes the missions of the College; supports diversity; and treats people with great respect. To nominate a Mickey Martinez, with Dr. Danny Hanna. member of the College community for the Sparky Award, log on to https:// dentistry.uic.edu/sparky-award, or contact Janette Guzman at jguzma32@uic.edu. November 2018
Ambassadors Program Helps Patients, Pre-Dents
Patients are finding it a little easier to get around the College of Dentistry building thanks to members of the PreDental Club Ambassadors Program (PCAP). Ambassadors are undergraduate UIC Pre-Dental Club members who assist patients and visitors as they navigate the College of Dentistry building. They are able to answer questions and will escort them to the proper location for their oral healthcare, if needed. “Once the HVAC project started up again, there was a concern that patients would get lost or frustrated because of clinic relocations,” explained Dr. Darryl Pendleton, Associate Dean for Student and Diversity Affairs. “We wanted to answer patients’ questions as soon as they came into the building to create a customer-friendly atmosphere, given all the changes going on.” Dean Clark Stanford recalled the University of Iowa College of Dentistry having greeters during a construction phase; Dr. Pendleton’s office sponsors and runs the UIC Pre-Dental Club of undergraduates interested in dental school. So the College having Pre-Dental Club members serve as greeters was the result. “We’ve always had inquiries from pre-dental students wanting to spend time in the building, so we thought this would be an opportunity,” Dr. Pendleton said. Sabrina Ramahi of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences’ Neuroscience program is one of the Ambassadors. She said, “It’s nice that we get to become more familiar with the College itself, where things are, and what kind of services the College provides for actual patients.” The students are awarded points for participating in the Ambassadors program, and those earning the highest point totals at the end of the year are recognized by the club. Members apply for Ambassador posts, and they are vetted by Robin Waner, Director of Clinics. The program has “been fantastic,” Dr. Pendleton said. “The patients have an additional person to assist them. They don’t have to wait in a long line to get information on the first floor; if it’s a simple question, they can get their answer and get on their way.” Mejdee Younis of the College of Applied Health Sciences Kinesiology program noted that being an Ambassador gives students like him “a way to see what the life of a dental student is like.” “In this role, we’ve met a few dental students who have told us about their experiences here, so they showed me what to expect,” Ramahi said. The Ambassadors “see there are some very grateful patients and there are some frustrated patients,” Dr. Pendleton said. “In the winter, they learned that the first floor is cold and they started wearing thicker and thicker clothes.” For clothing, the College recommended UIC College of Dentistry polo shirts and khaki pants, and while at first the students expressed some reluctance, “by the end of the semester they were dressing with military precision
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According to architecture experts, swinging doors exchange up to eight times as much air as revolving doors. “Keeping the swinging doors closed in favor of using the revolving door also will cut down the College’s heating bills and reduce our carbon footprint,” Dr. Rowan added. “College administration and everyone who uses the lobby would like to thank everyone for keeping this in mind,” she concluded.
Ambassadors Mejdee Younis and Sabrina Ramahi help out a visitor to the College.
and displaying their ID tags. They really got into it.” Both Younis and Ramahi feel that the Ambassador program has strengthened their desire to go to dental school, and will help them in their future dental careers. “I think it will better prepare us for dental school and what to expect,” Younis said. “If we go to dental school here at UIC, we will already know all the ins and outs of the building. And I’ve met faculty and learned more about research here, too.” The Ambassador program also requires participants to volunteer for additional College-related activities, such as going to elementary schools to provide oral health information. Younis explained that the program “has gotten us closer to our fellow Pre-Dental Club members because we communicate about the program and become friends.” He noted that he has had one particularly interesting recurring experience as an Ambassador. “Every Wednesday morning an older gentleman walks in here and asks us, ‘Where’s the apples?’” Younis said. “It gives me a laugh every time.”
Use Revolving Door, Keep Lobby Warm
As the weather turns colder, College of Dentistry personnel entering and exiting on Paulina Street are asked to remember to use the revolving door instead of the swinging doors. “We need everyone to pull together to keep the lobby space warm for patients, visitors, and registration staff,” said Dr. Susan Rowan, Executive Associate Dean and Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs. “Use of the swinging doors not only lets in the cold, but wind, precipitation, dust, and noise, too.” Courtesy Andrew Shea 6
Endo Resident Dr. Helen Yang Writes Book to Ease Dental School Application Process
Dr. Helen Yang, an endodontics resident at the College, has written and edited a new book to help pre-dental students on their quests to dental school, titled Your Essential Guide to Dental School Admissions: 30 Successful Application Essays and Collective Wisdom from Young Dentists. Dr. Yang earned her DMD at Harvard School of Dental Medicine, where she served a term on its admissions committee during fourth year of dental school and volunteered as a college pre-dental advisor. Each of the four chapters covers a different key aspect of getting accepted into dental school. They are: Assemble an outstanding application; Write a winning personal statement; Ace the interviews; and Map Dr. Helen Yang and her book your road to dental for easing the dental school school. application process. Dr. Yang and her collaborators describe a holistic strategy for a winning dental school application, one that highlights intangible personal qualities as much as tangible numbers and achievements. The second half of the book is devoted to crafting a compelling personal statement, because “the personal statement of all the things in the application plays such a big role in making the applicant seem like a real human being,” Dr. Yang said. In this section, 30 dental students and recent grads with diverse backgrounds share the unedited personal statements they used to successfully gain admission. The book showcases helpful essay examples of what works and offer expert feedback on why they worked. Your Essential Guide to Dental School Admissions is available on Amazon.
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Pediatric Dentistry Alumna Dr. Brittaney Hill Becomes Faculty Member at College
restaurants, attending sporting events, and spending time with family and friends.”
Dr. Brittaney Hill, who earned her Pediatric Dentistry certificate and MS in Oral Sciences from the College in 2017, has returned as a full-time Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Hill also earned a Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Administration as part of a federal Health Resources and Services Administration training grant-supported collaborative program between the College’s Department of Pediatric Dentistry and the UIC School of Public Health. She received her BS in Biological Sciences Dr. Brittaney Hill. from Xavier University in New Orleans, LA, and her DDS from Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry in Nashville, TN. “My clinical responsibilities include supervising dental students and residents in the pre-doctoral and postdoctoral clinics while they provide patient care, as well as supervising residents during their operating room cases,” Dr. Hill explained. “I will also have the opportunity to provide didactic instruction and to serve on resident research committees.” She noted that she hopes “to become a part of the department’s many successful efforts aimed at training dental students and residents in the field of Pediatric Dentistry,” Dr. Hill said. “I am very interested in providing dental students with an educational experience that enables them to feel comfortable treating children within the scope of their dental practice. Training dental students, who will become general dentists comfortable treating pediatric dental patients, is what excites me most.” Dr. Hill expressed her gratitude “for the opportunities that have been afforded to me by the College throughout my residency matriculation and now as a junior faculty member,” she said. “Throughout my journey I have had the opportunity to pursue a career in public health, as well as gain valuable experience within the academic realm. “While pursuing my MPH degree, my interest in oral health disparities was solidified,” Dr. Hill added. “I look forward to establishing a long-lasting career within the field of public health, dental advocacy, and academia.” Dr. Hill also works in private practice in Chicago, IL, and Calumet City, IL. “I enjoy engaging in community outreach, especially in minority and underserved communities,” she noted. “Since I have been the beneficiary of a great deal of mentorship throughout my life, mentorship is one of my passions. I am excited about returning the favor to other young people.” In her spare time, Dr. Hill said, she enjoys “trying new November 2018
Dr. Betti Shahin, DMD-AS Alumna, Returns as Faculty Member
A former DMD-Advanced Standing student has returned to the College to teach them. Dr. Betti Shahin, who earned her DMD from the College earlier in 2018, now is a Clinical Instructor for the Department of Restorative Dentistry. Dr. Shahin earned her Belgian dental degree in 1997; a Degree in Postgraduate Dental Studies in periodontics, diagnosis, and business management in dentistry in the United Kingdom in 2007; and an MSc in orthodontics in the UK in 2011. “I am responsible to teach the Advanced Standing students in the preclinical sessions on how to detect a caries lesion, how to remove it, and to prepare a suitable cavity and to restore either with a resin composite restoration or an amalgam restoration,” she explained. “I teach my students how to learn to have the right ergonomic posture and to properly use their dental instruments and armamentarium,” Dr. Shahin continued. “I specifically sit down with them and spend time finding out about their visual aim and manual dexterity and I advise them to correct any shortcomings that I discover.” In the future, in preclinical digital dentistry sessions, she will teach students how to use a digital scanner and how to design and fabricate indirect restorations. She supervises students in the Vivaldi Clinic and practices general dentistry in the faculty dental practice. Dr. Shahin’s goal is successful students. “I endeavor to build up the confidence of my students in Dr. Betti Shahin. both diagnosis and treatment,” she explained. “I love the positive reinforcement method of education. Each individual is unique in learning; I explore different methods of teaching the individual in order to prepare my students for their duties in the clinic.” As a student herself, she won the College’s Sparky D. Dragon Customer Service Award in December. In her spare time, Dr. Shahin spends time with her children, Jeremiah, 11, and Jessica, 5. “My son was born in Great Britain and is very kind-hearted and excels in math and science,” Dr. Shahin said. “My daughter was born in Chicago and is very sociable, loves swimming, and she excels in learning different languages. We travel whenever we have the chance.” Dr. Shahin also noted that she likes reading comic books and watching old British comedy films. “I like true and genuine laughter, and that is what I pursue in life,” she concluded.
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Experienced Faculty Member Dr. Robert Bara Joins Department of Restorative Dentistry
An experienced faculty member at Advocate Christ Medical Center and the Loyola University Chicago School of Dentistry, Dr. Robert Bara, has joined the College’s Department of Restorative Dentistry as a Clinical Assistant Professor. Dr. Bara plans on educating students “grounded on evidence-based dentistry to ensure that the student understands the latest concepts in providing sound clinical care.” He looks forward “to be able to share my years of experience of private practice and of educating students, guiding them to understand that they are treating a complex Dr. Robert Bara. organism which must be treated with not only scientific knowledge, but empathy as well,” Dr. Bara said. “The whole of the person must be considered in all treatments, not just a tunnel-vision of the oral cavity.” Dr. Bara also hopes to develop students’ communication skills to help “make the patient feel that he or she is important” and to make students “able to effectively communicate with other healthcare professionals.” Also, he would like to smooth students’ transition from the “preclinical didactic environment to a real life clinical environment, completely developing and applying their newly acquired skills, and to impress the fact that having knowledge is key to our existence and advancement,” Dr. Bara said. “Knowledge seeks more knowledge,” Dr. Bara noted. “The UIC College of dentistry is a venue which can be instrumental in allowing our knowledge to blossom if we follow its lead in the nurturing environment it provides.” Dr. Bara earned his BA in Liberal Arts & Sciences from UIC in 1976 and his DDS from Loyola in 1989. He worked as an Academic Computing Specialist at Loyola from 1983 to 1987, and after graduating from dental school served as a Clinical Assistant Professor for Loyola’s School of Dentistry until the school closed in 1993. He has been an adjunct faculty member at Advocate Christ Medical Center since 1993. Dr. Bara has a wide variety of outside interests. “Working my way through undergraduate and professional school, I became experienced in many fields due to the wide range of jobs I held,” he noted. “I love gardening, hiking, welding, plumbing, and fitness,” Dr. Bara said, noting he also is a church organist and choir director. “I have installed industrial boilers and heaters, and have even been a firefighter. These 8
experiences might seem so far away from the discipline of dentistry, but in reality have connections which one must experience in order to realize their relevance.” He is very active in organized dentistry, and is Mediator and Mediations Chair for the Chicago Dental Society Englewood Branch. “The mediations committee offers an opportunity for patients and doctors to come to agreement over misunderstandings or disputes which might otherwise result in litigation,” Dr. Bara said. Emergency Medical Services also is an interest, and he is a licensed paramedic and teaches EMS at Advocate Christ Medical Center. “The EMS component of my life fits in very well with dentistry, as I am interested in dentistry’s role and responsibility in mass disaster identification and preparedness.” In his community, he has been President of the Friends of McKinley Park Library since 1991, and managed the park’s nature sanctuary for 15 years. He and his wife, Annamarie, reside near McKinley Park, and his private practice is in the area as well.
Dr. Nicholas F. Callahan Joins OMFS
Dr. Nicholas F. Callahan brings a wealth of education to his new role as Assistant Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS). He earned his BS in biochemistry from Trinity College, Hartford, CT; an MPH and DMD from the University of Pittsburgh; his MD and general surgery internship certificate from the State University of New York in Brooklyn; his certificate in OMFS from the Kings County Hospital Center in Brooklyn; and a Fellowship in head and neck oncology and microvascular surgery from the University of Maryland in Baltimore. Previously, he has taught at Trinity College, Kings County Hospital Center, the University of Maryland, and the R.A. Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. Dr. Callahan is “involved in all aspects of the residency program training program, with a particular interest in the management of head and neck cancer patients and the reconstruction of traumatic defects,” he said. “I will also Dr. Nick Callahan. be involved in clinical and translational research. I also hope to be involved with mentoring of dental students who have an interest in OMFS.” Maxillofacial trauma and head and neck oncology are two of Dr. Callahan’s interests. “I hope to expand the treatment of head and neck cancer patients here at UIC,” he said. “Myself and Dr. Michael Markiewicz [Assistant Professor] will be able to work together, allowing us to begin reconstruction while we are still removing the tumor, which will lead to less time in the operating rooms for our patients.”
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At the College, Dr. Callahan is pleased that he can provide state-of-the-science care to patients, “offering them the latest in technology such as robotic surgery and complex computer planning for oncologic and microvascular reconstruction,” he said. “We can use these techniques to provide complete reconstruction for these patients, replacing bones, soft tissue, nerves, and teeth.” Dr. Callahan noted that, “UIC is already one of the leaders in the OMFS world and I hope that my addition will allow us to continue to grow, and to create more opportunities to expand our head and neck cancer and reconstruction program both clinically and academically.” When not working, Dr. Callahan enjoys being “an avid triathlete; I’m particularly a fan of cycling.” He also enjoys traveling with his wife, Ann Wiringa, a PhD student in epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh, and enjoying fine wines and whiskeys. The couple has two rescue greyhounds, Scatter and Winnie.
Dr. Mohammed Elnagar Joins Orthodontics Faculty
Dr. Mohammed Elnagar has joined the Department of Orthodontics as a Clinical Assistant Professor. He works in the department’s postgraduate clinic, teaching and lecturing especially in the areas of 3-D imaging, digital orthodontics, skeletal anchorage, surgical orthodontics, and orthognathic surgical cases. “I advise and direct graduate students in their clinical education, and perform research mentorship,” Dr. Mohammed Elnagar. Dr. Elnagar said. “I am director for the orthognathic conference and for the orthodontics seminars course, and practice in the orthodontics faculty practice clinic.” He noted that he hopes to live up to “the legacy of UIC orthodontics, and make it one of the best programs in terms of education, clinical training, and research.” After earning his DDS, Dr. Elnagar performed a General Practice Residency, and earned a Certificate in Orthodontics and a Master’s degree in Dental Science. His PhD work was a clinical trial that involved different protocols of boneanchored maxillary protraction for treatment of Class III patients, in addition to evaluation of the treatment outcome using 3-D digital technology. His work was selected to be on the cover of the November 2016 issue American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics (AJODO). Dr. Elnagar’s research projects have November 2018
involved the treatment of dentofacial deformities, skeletal anchorage, 3-D imaging application in dentistry, dental monitoring, teledentistry, the bioprogressive philosophy, and alveolar cortical plate response to orthodontic tooth movement. He has published many articles and presented his work in many national and international meetings. Dr. Elnagar holds a black belt in karate. Besides the martial arts, in his spare time he noted that he likes biking, traveling, and being with his family.
Drs. Ravindran and Gajendrareddy Earn NIH Regenerative Med Grant
Dr. Sriram Ravindran, Assistant Professor, Oral Biology, and Dr. Praveen Gajendrareddy, Associate Professor, Periodontics, have earned a National Institutes of Health R01 grant of approximately $2 million in funding over five years from the National Institutes of Health to develop a better way to regenerate bone or tissues that have been lost to disease or injury. Currently, most treatments rely on the use of growth factors or other chemical agents to stimulate stem cells, which have the ability to grow into any type of cell in the body, to regenerate what has been lost. But this approach has many limitations, such as side effects and uncontrolled abnormal growths due to dosing and toxicity, which have caused complications and prevented regulatory organizations from approving the treatments for use in humans. “We need a replacement for growth factor-based interventions so that we can reduce side effects and advance these therapies to the bedside,” said Dr. Ravindran. “We need therapies that better mimic the body’s natural processes, so the body is better able to tolerate treatment.” Dr. Chun-Chieh Huang, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Oral Biology, contributes extensively to the research, and Dr. Lyndon Cooper, Associate Dean for Research and Head, Oral Biology, also is a co-investigator on the grant.
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Contact Gary Komar of Draper and Kramer Mortgage Corp. for details: 312-286-8896, gary.komar@dkmortgage.com. NMLS: 207353. Co. NMLS: 2551. Equal Housing Lender. (FA)
Deaths
Janis Hayden, retired Business Administrative Associate for the Department of Restorative Dentistry, passed away peacefully on Sept. 8, at her home at the age of 72. “Janis so deeply cared about all of us and we have missed her greatly,” said Dr. Stephen Campbell, Professor, Restorative Dentistry. “She was a close personal colleague and confidante. “She supported all of us in the department Janis Hayden. and UIC College of Dentistry. She managed to keep a smile with everything she did and we all so deeply appreciated her caring, sense of humor, and trust.” Mrs. Hayden is survived by her husband, Bill; children Emily (Kevin) Cragg, Sarah (Adam) Gojdas, and Mary Hayden; and several grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation (UMDF). Lucy A. Pillinger, 77, former dental assistant at the College, passed away peacefully at her home in Elmhurst, IL, on July 31. She was a longtime member of the Tri-County Dental Assistants Association. She is survived by a sister, Carol P. Daw and her husband, Paul, of Boulder, CO; a sister-in-law, Barbara B. Pillinger, of Madison, WI; three nephews, and four grandnephews. Gifts may be made in Lucy’s memory to The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, IL 60532, or via www. mortonarb.org. Dr. Mark Wilton, who was the first official Head of the Department of Oral Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, has passed away in Porlock, Somerset, England, where he had lived for many years. The department was formed in 1984 with the merger of the Departments of Oral Pathology, Oral Diagnosis, and Radiology. Dr. Rhonna L. Dr. Mark Wilton. Cohen was the first Acting Head, and Dr. Stanley J. Gerson the second Acting Head, before Dr. Mark Wilton took over. Dr. Wilton was recognized internationally for his research into the immunological response to bacteria involved in periodontal diseases. Before becoming Head of OMDS, he held positions in the Department of Oral Immunology and Microbiology at Guy’s Hospital, London, and the Medical Research Council Dental Research Unit at the London Hospital Medical School. Subsequent to leaving the UIC College of Dentistry, he became Head of the Department of Adult Health at the School of Dentistry, University of Cardiff, Wales. He is survived by his former significant other, Dr. Joy Bampton, who had been a post-doc at the College. Dr. Wilton and Dr. Bampton had three daughters, Eve, Fay, and Lily; he also is survived by two sons. Condolences may be expressed to joylucybampton@gmail.com.
Classifieds Financing
Home financing for dentists: qualifying medical professionals may require little or no money down or no mortgage insurance.
November 2018
Insurance
You are not a benchmark. And at the Dentists Insurance Company, we won’t treat you like one because we are not like other insurance companies. We were started by, and only protect, dentists. A singular focus that leads to an unparalleled knowledge of your profession and how to best protect you in it. Apply today at tdicsolutions.com/newgrad. Call (800) 733-0633. (FA, FCRD) Treloar & Heisel Inc. Financial Services for the Dental and Medical Professional. Disability income plan; business overhead expense insurance; disability buy/sell; long-term care. 1 (800) 345-6040, treloaronline.com. (FA)
Positions/Practices/Space Available
A “Positions/Practices Available” page is on the College’s website at http://dentistry.uic.edu/alumni/career_postings/. Check it out for listings of jobs that are available, and for notices of practices that are for sale. For adding or subtracting listings from this website, contact William S. Bike at billbike@uic.edu.
Come join the professionals at ProCare Dental Group PC. Generous compensation, contemporary facilities, flexibility,
autonomy, premier locations, continuing education, professional camaraderie. Part-time and full-time positions available. (847) 621-7229. (FDT)
Full-time dentists wanted—Chicagoland offices.
Gain lots of experience in a digital, chartless office while treating everyone from kids to seniors. Excellent income. Hit the ground running without waiting to build your own clientele. We love to help train new dentists. Recent graduates welcomed. Sign-on bonus and guaranteed base rate. Malpractice insurance paid. Free CE offered. Please email resume to director@ allstardentalclinic.com. (FA permanent)
Part-time pediatric specialists wanted. Chicago and suburb locations. Generous per diem compensation. Half- or full-day every week or every two weeks. Flexible schedule. Digital/chartless offices. Malpractice insurance paid. New pedo specialists welcome. Email director@allstardentalclinic.com. (FA permanent) Oral surgeon residency opportunity. Family Dental Care
is expanding and seeking oral surgeon residents. Currently six locations and growing. Our partners earn at the top 1% of dentists. Come and talk to them. Highly competitive salary. Latest technology including digital x-rays, microscopes, CEREC, CBCT, LANAP with specialists on staff. Full or part-time positions available. Very busy quality-oriented practice. Recent graduates welcome. (773) 978-7801 (ask for Peter) or email personnel@ familydentalcare.com. www.familydentalcare.com. (FA permanent)
Outstanding opportunity. Family Dental Care is expanding
and seeking general dentists, specialists and residents. Currently six locations and growing. Our partners earn at the top 1% of dentists. Come and talk to them. Highly competitive salary. Latest technology including digital x-rays, microscopes, CEREC, CBCT, LANAP with specialists on staff. Full or part-time positions available. Very busy quality-oriented practice. Recent graduates welcome. (773) 978-7801 (ask for Peter) or email personnel@ familydentalcare.com. www.familydentalcare.com. (FA permanent)
Word of Mouth
11
You are not a benchmark.
You are also not a sales goal or a quota or a statistic. You are a dentist. And if you’re looking for a company that understands that distinction, we’d like to introduce ourselves. We are The Dentists Insurance Company, TDIC. We only protect dentists and are relentless in our pursuit of innovative ways to protect you, your first year in the profession and every year after. Take our New Dentist Program.
New Dentist Program $0 Professional Liability insurance for your first year.* 45% discount in your second year and 25% in your third. Guidance through our Risk Management Advice Line. Five-minute short form and e-signature make the online application process a breeze. Apply today at tdicinsurance.com/newgrad * First year TDIC Professional Liability coverage rates are $0 in IL. Rates depicted are for new and never practiced dentists, licensed within the last twelve months and are valid for $1M/$3M coverage amounts. Rates increase until a mature policy is reached.
Protecting dentists. It’s all we do.
®
800.733.0633 | tdicinsurance.com
Word of Mouth
November 2018