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First Caton Fellow
Dr. Fan Named First Caton Fellow
Jingyuan Fan, DDS, PhD with her mentor Jack Caton, DDS, MS (Perio ’73, MS ’73)
Her passion for research, treating patients and teaching is just one of the many reasons Jingyuan Fan, DDS, PhD was recently named the first Jack G. Caton Fellow.
“Dr. Fan is the best resident in our clinical program in both didactics and clinical performance,” said Jack Caton, DDS, MS, professor and chair, Eastman Institute for Oral Health’s Periodontics Division. “She is relentless in her clinical efficiency, tireless in didactic studies and is marvelous with patients, faculty, staff and her fellow residents.”
The Fellowship was established in 2008 to further Dr. Caton’s vision of academic excellence by providing a grant to one or more individuals committed to scholarly and clinical advancement in Periodontology. The recipient will be interested in pursuing an academic or administrative position related to the Periodontics specialty, and have experience in clinical, academic, administrative, and/or clinical research work in Periodontics.
“One of the important missions of Eastman Institute for Oral Health is to train the future leaders of dentistry,” said EIOH Director Eli Eliav, DDS, PhD. “This is the type of the award that is very effective in stimulating careers and to encourage people to consider full time academics.”
“This Fellowship provides another opportunity to foster expert educators, promote career development within the field of dentistry and support educational innovation and research,” Caton said. “Fellows will work closely with other faculty and staff to implement educational projects, learn educational theories, explore new teaching methods, and develop skills in educational research and curriculum innovation.”
A native of Wuhan, China, Fan’s love for translational science and teaching has grown more with each year since dental school, where she became very interested in biomedical science, specifically microbiology and immunology, and pursued a doctorate degree in oral biology.
She studied under the widely known Mark Herzberg, DDS, PhD, at the University of Minnesota, and gained more exposure to different types of research, including oral bacteria’s link to cardiovascular disease, and oral-biofilm formation.
Fan studied the link between oral bacterial-induced platelet aggregation and infective endocarditis. “Our lab in Minnesota found that a protein has a role in the pathogenesis of infective endocarditis,” noted Fan, “and can be a potential target for preventing and treating this type of heart disease.”
After finishing her PhD program in four years, she applied to Eastman Institute’s Periodontics program.
“Having published so many research articles, Dr. Caton is very well known, and I was nervous about interviewing. The program has such a good reputation and is known for being one of the most challenging,” said Fan, who felt very fortunate to have been accepted.
After teaching Chinese to international students in dental school, she found it fulfilling to help people to understand and
Alumni Friendships
and Support (l to r) Drs. Vivian S. Morad (Perio ’93), Jack Caton (Perio ’73, MS ’73), Mary Ann Lester (Perio ’94), Vivienne Allain (Gen Den ’90, Perio ’93), Jingyuan Fan, and Vivien Kwok (Perio ’05)
learn new things. She also served as a coinstructor for a couple classes to graduate students in Minnesota and really enjoyed it. “At Eastman, I have learned a lot from our faculty and senior residents,” she added. “My own personal experience as a student and periodontal resident has helped me understand the vital importance of mentorship.”
Fan credits Caton as being the best teacher and mentor she’s ever had.
“He always encourages our critical thinking and creativity,” she said. “He provides us with freedom to pursue our goals and work independently. Dr. Caton teaches us not just periodontics from textbooks and literatures, but also how to deal with some complicated real life situations. He is always happy to share his experiences with a sense of humor. We all love his contagious laughter.”
Carlo Ercoli, DDS, chair of EIOH Prosthodontics program and graduate of the Periodontics program, agrees with Fan. “He did a lot for all of us. Not only does Dr. Caton provide the very best training, but he always supports graduates with their future endeavors. He is held in very high regard by alumni and colleagues around the world.”
Ercoli (Perio ’12), along with Paul Romano, DDS (Perio ’97) and Bryan Frantz, DDS (Perio ’87) are leading the effort in providing this lasting tribute to him through the Caton Fellowship.
“Dr. Caton is truly a very special teacher, mentor and friend,” Frantz said. “Many of us have been influenced by him in our resident training, or through our involvement in dental organizations. His commitment to the field of periodontology and the international recognition and prestige he has achieved through his teaching style at Eastman Dental shall forever be a part of the academic, research and teaching environment.”
“One of the best things about Eastman is its great faculty,” said Remi Arseneau, DMD, (Perio ’12), who, after finishing the program, started his own practice in New Brunswick, Canada. “The Eastman program challenges its residents to become the top of their field. Such programs deserve our support and I am proud to contribute to the success of its best and brightest.”
Fan definitely qualifies as one of Eastman’s best and brightest. She has authored several research articles and a book chapter, earned several awards including the prestigious American Academy of Periodontology Foundation’s Educator Scholarship, The W.H. Bowen Award from the American Association for Dental Research, a Block Grant Fellowship at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and two Outstanding Student Awards from the Chongqing Medical University.
“Dr. Fan has made a great sacrifice to extend her education to prepare for a career in academics,” Caton continued. “She will be an outstanding role model because of her strong research background and outstanding clinical abilities.”
Jack G. Caton, Jr., DDS, MS,
has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to Periodontology during his 40-year career. He has served his profession as commissioner for the Commission on Dental Accreditation, and as director and chairman of the American Board of Periodontology. He is past president of the AAP and also served as secretary-treasurer and president of the AAP Foundation Board of Directors. His honors include The William J. Gies Award in Periodontology, the Gold Medal for contribution to the specialty of Periodontics from the American Academy of Periodontology, the 2008 Norton Ross Award winner for contribution to clinical research in dentistry, recognizing his 100+ published scientific articles and chapters on periodontal wound healing, animal models, diagnosis, and human clinical trials. Caton began teaching at Eastman following graduation and became program director in 1990. He earned his DDS from the Univ. of California, San Francisco and a U.S. Army certificate in Advanced General Dentistry. He also earned a master’s in Dental Science from the University of Rochester. He is also in private practice with fellow alumni Drs. Paul Romano and Timothy Blieden.
