UTHSC College of Dentistry Magazine - Winter 2024

HELP SUPPORT THE DENTISTRY DEAN’S EQUIPMENT FUND

If the College of Dentistry is to successfully pursue its vision of clinical excellence, students must have access to the best equipment. The Dentistry Dean’s Equipment Fund is vital to ensuring the long-term viability of the college by helping us acquire and maintain state-of-the-art equipment for our students’ use. Donations will help the college address one of our top priorities – replacing dental chairs and updating operatories in the existing Dunn Dental Building predoctoral clinic. Please donate to the Dentistry Dean’s Equipment Fund at giving.uthsc.edu/equipment.

LEADERSHIP

Chancellor

Peter Buckley, MD

Dean

James C. Ragain, DDS, MS, PhD, FICD, FACD, FPFA

Executive Associate Dean

Kenneth Tilashalski, DMD, FAAOMP, DABOMP, FACD, FICD

Interim Associate Dean for Business and Financial Affairs

Blake Dingman, MBA

Associate Dean for Postgraduate Affairs

David R. Cagna, DMD, MS

Associate Dean for Faculty and Student Affairs

Mojdeh Dehghan, DDS

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Edward J. DeSchepper, MAEd, DDS, MSD

Interim Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs

Paul Luepke, DDS, MS, FACD

Associate Dean for Research

Interim Chair, Department of Bioscience Research

Doug Dixon, DMD, MSD, PhD, MaCSD

Associate Dean for Institutional Affairs

Mark Scarbecz, PhD

Assistant Dean for Community Oral Health and Outreach

Orpheus Triplett, DDS

Chair of the Moving Forward Committee

Adepitan Owosho, DDS

Chair, Department of Dental Hygiene

Lynn Samons Russell, RDH, BS, MEd, EdD

Chair, Department of Diagnostic Sciences

K. Mark Anderson, DDS, MS

Chair, Department of Endodontics

Harry Cosby, DDS, MS

Interim Chair, Department of General Dentistry

Joseph W. Parkinson, DDS, MPA, FAGD

Chair, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Jeffrey H. Brooks, DMD

Chair, Department of Orthodontics

Richard A. Williams, DDS, MS

Chair, Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Community Oral Health

Clarice S. Law, DMD, MS

Acting Chair, Department of Periodontology

Sidney Stein DMD, MS, PhD

Chair, Department of Prosthodontics

Audrey Selecman, DDS, MS

Vice Chancellor for Advancement

Brigitte Grant, MBA

Associate Vice Chancellor for Advancement

Bethany Goolsby, JD

Senior Director of Development – College of Dentistry

Tim Lanier

Associate Director of Development – College of Dentistry

Ariel O’Brien

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Alumni and Constituent

Engagement

Chandra A. Tuggle

Director of Alumni Programs

Terri Catafygiotu

Vice Chancellor for Communications and Marketing

Sally Badoud, MBA

Editor

Chris Green

Designer

Adam Gaines

Contributing Writers

Chris Green, Janay Jeans, Peggy Reisser, Abby Stanton

Photography

Caleb Jia

On the cover: New teaching spaces in the Delta Dental of Tennessee Building allow for more room to train future dentists.

available). Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at the Office of Equity and Diversity. E073401(016-240788)

From the Dean

Dear Alumni, Students, Faculty, Staff, and Friends,

Today, I share with you an inspiring tale of progress and achievement. We celebrate the remarkable advancements made by the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry. Over the years, our prestigious institution has not only embraced innovation and growth but has also expanded its reach to enhance oral health care across Tennessee.

First, let us applaud our College of Dentistry’s unwavering commitment to staying at the forefront of technology. In our ever-evolving world, the integration of state-of-the-art equipment and cutting-edge techniques is crucial for delivering exceptional dental care. The college has recognized this need and has made remarkable strides in incorporating new technology into its curriculum and clinical practices. From robot-guided implant surgery and CBCT units to intraoral scanners and advanced CAD/CAM systems, the students and faculty have access to the very best tools to provide precise diagnoses and efficient treatments. This commitment to innovation ensures that our dental graduates are equipped to tackle the challenges of the modern dental landscape. Moreover, the college has made significant progress in expanding its student body, thereby nurturing a new generation of dental professionals. I am proud to announce the dental class size has increased to 120 dental students, and the dental hygiene class size has increased to 48. This expansion allows for greater diversity and fosters collaboration among aspiring dentists and hygienists. By nurturing larger cohorts, the college promotes interdisciplinary learning, enabling students to develop a holistic understanding of oral health care and its impact on overall well-being. Furthermore, the increased class size represents our Healthy Smiles Initiative commitment to address the growing demand for oral health care professionals in our communities.

Equally noteworthy are our increased outreach efforts throughout the state. Recognizing the importance of accessible dental care, UT Health Science Center has strengthened its ties with local communities and established outreach programs that cater to underserved populations. These initiatives aim to bridge the oral health care gap and ensure that every Tennessean has access to quality dental services. Through extramural clinics and community partnerships, the college brings dental care to those who might otherwise go without. This outreach improves oral health and contributes to the overall well-being of individuals and communities. The impact of these advancements reaches far beyond the walls of the institution, transforming lives and communities throughout Tennessee.

As we reflect on the achievements of our college, let us acknowledge the collective dedication and hard work of its faculty, staff, students, and alumni. Together, we are shaping the future of dentistry and ensuring that a healthier, brighter smile will be within reach for all Tennesseans. May we continue to witness the College of Dentistry’s remarkable progress in the years to come.

From the Chancellor

When we cut the floss (a bright orange ribbon) on the new Delta Dental of Tennessee Building on the Memphis campus in April, we ushered in a new day for the oral health of the people of Tennessee.

More than a location for Tennessee’s future dentists to study and train, the building allows the College of Dentistry to expand its incoming classes and produce more dentists and dental hygienists for Tennessee. It also increases the college’s clinic space, where faculty care for patients, including those who are uninsured or underinsured or have special needs, and student and resident dentists observe and develop skills.

Even more than that, the building supports an ambitious collaborative effort by UT Health Science Center, Delta Dental, the state of Tennessee, and many other outstanding community partners, called the Healthy Smiles Initiative, to improve access to dental care across the state, particularly in rural areas, where there is great need.

Consider these statistics:

• U.S. News & World Report ranks Tennessee 43rd in access to dentists and 46th in adult dental visits.

• 26 counties have fewer than 20 dentists per 100,000 people.

• 86 counties are below the American Dental Association’s recommendation of 61 dentists per 100,000 residents.

• Tennessee will be 800-plus dentists short, as older licensed dentists retire over the next 10 years, according to estimates by the American Dental Association.

I am immensely proud our College of Dentistry, one of the oldest dental schools in the country, stands ready and able to help improve oral health from one end of the state to the other, and in doing so, improve the overall health of Tennesseans.

This aligns with our 2023-2028 Strategic Plan and its exciting vision statement - Healthy Tennesseans. Thriving Communities.

I am confident with your great support and dedication as our valued alumni, we can achieve this vision. I want to thank you for all you do for the college, and by extension, the people of Tennessee.

With enthusiasm and gratitude,

Peter Buckley, MD Chancellor

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

From the Alumni Board President

It has been a true blessing for me to have had this opportunity to serve as the president of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s College of Dentistry Alumni Association Board of Trustees at this time. Our outstanding Dean Jay Ragain was already in position and making positive changes to move our College of Dentistry back into the position of a national top dental school. When Chancellor Peter Buckley was named, we gained the campuswide respect so vitally needed. University of Tennessee President Randy Boyd made certain that statewide support was in place for us to have continued success. It seems that all I did was show up at the right time.

I have had the opportunity to visit many areas of our state to see how the expansion of our presence is progressing. Chancellor Buckley said, “Memphis is our home. Tennessee is our campus.” President Boyd said, “Everywhere you look, UT.” All of this is a reality. Beyond the excellent experiences of training in various areas of our state, it is necessary to have these expanded clinics to accommodate the increased class sizes. This also helps ease the problem of inadequate access to care experienced across so much of our state.

The opening of the new Delta Dental of Tennessee Building adjacent to our Dunn Dental Building has made it possible to expand clinics, labs, lecture rooms, and office space to allow our expanded classes to learn and train in the best facility possible. Dayna Myers, director of Admissions Administration and Advising, and the admissions staff are doing a fabulous job of reviewing applications and granting admission to the very best students. It is not an easy task. The quality of applicants is impressive. I have met with several college pre-dental study clubs. The members are bright and talented. If you are aware of a bright young person interested in dentistry, please send them in our direction.

Our faculty members continue to find new and innovative ways to educate and train these students. We have lost some favorite faculty, due to well-deserved retirement. Fortunately, we have been able to replace those seasoned rock stars with bright new rock stars. Newly named Executive Associate Dean Ken Tilashalski, DMD, and Associate Dean for Research Doug Dixon, DMD, met with the alumni board this summer. They are exceptionally talented and inspirational.

The alumni association holds its annual meeting in Memphis during the William F. Slagle Dental Meeting in early March each year. Please consider attending, so you can see firsthand what is taking place at our College of Dentistry.

I am asking each of you to be an advocate for our College of Dentistry by supporting it with your goodwill and your financial assistance. Dental schools are the most expensive of all schools to operate. There are numerous ways that you can add your name to those already making contributions. It is a thank you for your education and an investment in the future of your chosen profession.

Thank you for allowing me to serve you.

BY THE NUMBERS

100%

Integrated National Dental Board Exam Pass Rate (2023)

35%

Graduates in 2023 (DDS and DH)

1,684

Increase in DDS students over last five years Volunteer hours

499

DDS and Dental Hygiene students (Fall 2023)

48

Dental Hygiene students in 2024 (Double the number in 2023)

82

Middle and high school students served by Give Kids a Smile 2023

132 5

Clinical Rotation Sites: Union City, Bristol, Chattanooga, Crossville, Knoxville

Delta Dental of Tennessee Building a New Day for Dentistry in Tennessee

On a Friday afternoon in mid-April, several hundred people gathered on the front steps of the new $45 million Delta Dental of Tennessee Building on the UT Health Science Center’s Memphis campus for a “floss cutting” and grand opening of the state-of-the-art building that is home to the College of Dentistry.

The building at 875 Union Ave. was almost a decade in development, design, and construction. State legislators, state officials, UT System President Randy Boyd, leaders of area hospitals and health care institutions, elected officials, business leaders, faculty, staff, and students joined the festive afternoon event.

“This is a great day for Memphis. This is a great day for the state of Tennessee,” said UT Health Science Center Chancellor Peter Buckley, MD. “Today is a dream come true. It is a transformation not just in the building and in the new training environment. It is a transformation that will benefit the health care of Tennessee.”

The 68,000-square-foot building increases space for training Tennessee’s dental workforce and expands facilities to treat patients from the Mid-South. The building supports the College of Dentistry in its $53 million Healthy Smiles Initiative to increase access to dentists and dental care across Tennessee.

The new building adjoins the existing Dunn Dental Building. Together, they make up the Delta Dental of Tennessee Oral Health Complex. The name of the new building and complex honors the outstanding support from Delta Dental of Tennessee and Philip Wenk, DDS, who retired as its chief executive on December 31. Dr. Wenk is a 1973 graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; the immediate past chair of the UT Foundation Board of Directors; the chair of the UT Health Science Center Advisory Board; and a 1977 graduate of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s College of Dentistry.

Delta Dental of Tennessee provided $6.3 million for construction costs and $1.4 million for equipment for the building. Generous support from the state and other donations ensured that the modern building is a reality.

“This event is even more than just the new building,” Dean Ragain said. “The Delta Dental of Tennessee Building represents our commitment to our students, patients, faculty, staff, and the entire state of Tennessee. Our mission at the College of Dentistry is to actively advance oral health care through excellence in education, innovation in research, skilled clinical care, and engagement and public service.”

He said the building plays an important role in fulfilling this mission. “In these new spaces, we will train students to provide the best clinical care possible to the citizens of Tennessee,” he said. “Our facilities will support faculty research. In our clinics, we will treat patients. This new building will be our home base for a statewide campus. This new building will support access to care all across our state, from the clinics here in Memphis to the farthest corners of Tennessee in Bristol and Kingsport, and to all the communities in between.”

The Delta Dental of Tennessee Building houses a clinic for patients with special needs; an expanded faculty practice for treating patients, including the uninsured and underinsured; and dental technique labs for firstand second-year students to hone their skills. The UTHSC College of Dentistry, the third oldest public college of dentistry in the country, trains 75% of Tennessee’s dentists. Dean Ragain said the additional space will allow the college to reach its eventual goal to expand its class size to 130 students over the next five years to meet the anticipated demand for dentists in Tennessee and the surrounding region, particularly in underserved rural areas. This goal is one key facet of the Healthy Smiles Initiative.

Delta Dental of Tennessee Building at a Glance

• 2 large seminar rooms

• 134 manikin stations in preclinical dental techniques laboratories for dental and dental hygiene programs

• Innovation lab (Space for manufacturers to showcase new products)

• 132 seats for students in large lecture auditorium

Healthy Smiles Initiative Progresses Toward Goal of Serving all Tennesseans

By Abby Stanton

When staff and faculty talk to dentists across the state, they hear a common refrain: “We need more dentists in our communities.” All but two of Tennessee’s 95 counties have a shortage of dentists and dental hygienists. As the state’s population continues to grow, this shortage will only cause more problems. The Healthy Smiles Initiative aims to help this issue.

Funded in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Health, the five-year, $53 million Healthy Smiles Initiative takes an ambitious, three-pronged approach to improving dental care in Tennessee. The college has sought approval to potentially increase to 130 students into its DDS cohort and 48 students in the dental hygiene program. To support the larger class sizes, the college is hiring 37 new faculty members and has raised the salary of current faculty to competitive market levels. Finally, the college is opening new clinics across Tennessee for student rotations.

With Healthy Smiles in its second year, the college has already made significant progress toward its goals. “We’re not just meeting our milestones,” Dean Ragain said, “we’re ahead of schedule.” In its next admissions class, the college will welcome 126 students into its DDS cohort. The dental hygiene program has received approval from the Commission on Dental Accreditation to add a spring cohort. With two cohorts starting each academic year, the two-year program will meet its target.

“Dental hygienists are critical to the oral health of our state, and there’s a shortage of qualified hygienists,” said Lynn Russell, RDH, EdD, chair of the Department of Dental Hygiene. “It’s also a meaningful and rewarding career. I’m proud that our program will be able to train more students to truly make an impact in Tennessee.”

Outside Memphis, the college is working to add more training sites throughout the state. Already, construction is underway for the Kingsport Dental Clinic of the Appalachian Highlands, which is planned to become a major training site, eventually housing up to 24 full-time third- and fourth-year students. New clinics are also being planned in Savannah and Pulaski, and college staff and faculty have taken multiple exploratory trips to plan for a community presence in these areas.

“These clinics provide hands-on training for students, but they also serve an important role in the health care of a community,” said Allen Stanton, administrative project

manager for the Healthy Smiles Initiative. “We spend a lot of time trying to figure out where our presence will be most impactful in the state.”

Each new clinic is the result of multiple partners, without which these projects would not be possible, Stanton said. “None of this would be possible without the support of the communities we’re building in. Our partners help bring these clinics to life, whether it’s through helping identify sites, planning for patient recruitment, or just helping us get our story out to the wider public. We couldn’t do this without community support.”

Cooperation and collaboration are words that are frequently shared in the Healthy Smiles Initiative. The college’s work is part of a larger, $94 million effort by the Tennessee Department of Health, which was authored by a working group comprised of experts from across the state. While the College of Dentistry has the most funds, Meharry Medical College and the Department of Health also play major roles in the effort to expand care. Like the College of Dentistry, Meharry Medical College is increasing its class size. Meanwhile, the Department of Health recently unveiled a new tuition repayment option for dentists serving in rural Tennessee. This loan repayment program will award up to $300,000 over three years for dentists accepted into the program, $50,000 over two years for dental hygienists, and $20,000 over two years for dental assistants. This loan program acts as an incentive to serve and work in rural communities. While roughly 70% of dentists in Tennessee are graduates of UT Health Science Center, only about 15% of those alumni practice in rural areas. Through clinical rotations, students will get an opportunity to experience caring for patients in a rural community. The loan repayment program will support students who might have otherwise sought out a higher paying practice in an urban or suburban area. The result is a stronger dental workforce throughout Tennessee, serving patients in the areas with the most need.

“Healthy Smiles is a strong team effort,” Dean Ragain said. “It really is the result of many institutions and individuals coming together to find a solution to a critical problem in our state.”

Kingsport Dental Clinic of the Appalachian Highlands Prepares for Fall 2024 Opening

By Abby Stanton

In October 2022, the College of Dentistry, East Tennessee State University, the City of Kingsport, and Ballad Health Systems signed an agreement that began a historic partnership to build a new training site in Kingsport. In the fall of 2024, the first phase of this partnership will come to fruition as students will begin rotating through the new Kingsport Dental Clinic of the Appalachian Highlands.

This clinic has two phases. In the first phase, the site will host two-week student rotations, allowing students to get hands-on experience while treating patients in the wider community. This will make it one of six location options for students’ rotations. Additionally, the clinic plans to begin an Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) program, with four to six residents each year. In phase two, the clinic will host full-time third- and fourth-year students. After completing their first two years in Memphis, students will have the opportunity to finish their programs in Kingsport.

Over the past year, the College of Dentistry, the City of Kingsport, and several other partners have been busy planning for this clinic, which has moved rapidly from an idea to construction. The clinic has received more than $1.75 million in donations from private corporate donors and expects to raise more funds to complete the renovations and equipment purchases. In March 2023, Delta Dental of Tennessee contributed a $250,000 gift. In October, partners celebrated an additional gift of $250,000 from BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. Stakeholders held a construction kickoff event on February 1st, with President Randy Boyd joining the celebrations. The construction, which is funded and managed by the Kingsport Economic Development Board, will renovate existing clinical space. New stateof-the-art equipment will be installed, matching the equipment installed in the college’s new Delta Dental of Tennessee Building in Memphis.

Delta Dental of Tennessee presents a donation of $250,000 for equipment for the new clinic in Kingsport. UT Health Science Center Chancellor Peter Buckley, MD, third from left, and Delta Dental of Tennessee CEO Phil Wenk, DDS, second from left, joined representatives from Kingsport and other partners to mark the milestone.

In December, the college welcomed a new clinic director, John Royal, DDS ’85, who will help prepare the clinic for patients and students. Dr. Royal previously served as associate clinical professor and director of Community Service at East Carolina University. He worked in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, a community in the Blue Ridge Mountains sharing similar demographics to Kingsport and the surrounding communities. There, Dr. Royal supervised a 16-chair clinical facility, including students on clinical rotations and residents in AEGD programs.

Dr. Royal retired from the U.S. Army after more than 21 years of active service during which he directed AEGD programs, served as the executive officer of a 32-chair dental service company in Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and served as the senior leader for the Army’s only airborne and air assault dental service company.

“We are thrilled that Dr. Royal is joining us in this effort,” said Dean Ragain. “His experiences in dental education and clinical management as a professor, private citizen, and as a decorated U.S. Army officer will be invaluable in launching this clinic.”

While the clinic will operate as a training site for College of Dentistry students, its creation is possible because of the numerous community partners. “It’s been a relatively

smooth project,” said Allen Stanton, administrative project manager for the Healthy Smiles Initiative. “A highlight of the last year, personally and professionally, has been getting to know the city of Kingsport and all our partners. They make this project move forward.”

“This clinic is becoming a reality because of the unselfish and unwavering support of the people and institutions in Kingsport and the region,” Dean Ragain said. “This really is a model for what is possible when groups and communities come together in collaboration.”

Chris McCartt, city manager of Kingsport, has played a critical role in advancing the clinic. McCartt said the city has been working for over 25 years to provide higher education programming to Kingsport and the surrounding region. The Kingsport Dental Clinic of the Appalachian Highlands is a significant step in this process, with the important benefit of serving the dental needs of the region. This sort of collaboration, McCartt said, is in the DNA of the city. “Kingsport is a city that is built on and has successfully benefited from public/private partnerships since its formation over 100 years ago,” he said. “We believe this partnership will have a lasting impact and will, in time, serve as a model for others.”

Dean Ragain, second from left, receives a gift of $250,000 for equipment for the new clinic in Kingsport from BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee.

Dean’s Tenure a Lasting Legacy for College

By Abby Stanton

When James Ragain began his term as dean of the College of Dentistry, he recognized the wealth of potential that already existed in the institution.

“We have outstanding faculty and staff. I think I’m walking into a wonderful situation with that,” he said. “I think our students are outstanding, we have highly qualified students who are eager to learn, and certainly, last but not least, our alumni are fantastic. They’re there to support us and help in any way they can.”

In his five years at the helm, he has taken these resources and used them to improve oral health care across Tennessee.

Dean Ragain has been part of the College of Dentistry community for nearly 40 years.

Originally from East Tennessee, he entered the Navy Dental Corps upon completing his studies in the UT Health Science Center College of Dentistry in 1984. Former classmate Ed Reese, DDS, described him as “a serious student, but he enjoyed life. His love for the University of Tennessee was and is second to none. He was a committed student and family man. Jay demonstrated that not everything would be without failure, but those failures were an integral part of his success.” His commitment to hard work stayed with him after graduation and throughout his career. During his service in the Navy, he occupied various high-ranking roles in clinical dentistry and dental research in addition to holding multiple adjunct faculty positions. Notably, he oversaw the largest Operative Dentistry Department in the Navy at the Naval Recruit Training Center in Great Lakes, Illinois, and served as the commander of the Naval Dental Research Institute/Naval Institute for Dental and Biomedical Research for four years. Following his retirement from the Navy, he joined the faculty of the College of Dentistry.

During his Naval career, he became an active member of the College of Dentistry Alumni Board of Trustees, serving in various capacities and ultimately as president from 2012-2014.

Tim Lanier, senior director of Development for the College of Dentistry, lauded his faithful service as an alumnus. “Dean Ragain has been a wonderful conduit between our alumni and the College of Dentistry administration,” Lanier said. “He originally joined the Dentistry Alumni Board of Trustees as our military representative. Dean Ragain’s leadership skills were quickly recognized by the board, and he rose to the position of president.” These leadership skills were noticed by the search committee when the college selected him as the dean in 2018.

During his tenure as dean, he has pushed the college to new heights. In the past five years, the college has significantly increased the offsite rotation opportunities for students. With rotation sites now active in Crossville, Knoxville, Union City, Bristol, and Chattanooga, the opportunities for students to serve have more than doubled. This enriches the students’ exposure to various communities and spreads access to affordable oral health care to more Tennesseans.

The college has also maintained a reputation for academic rigor. Graduates in 2023 managed a 100% pass rate on the Integrated National Dental Board Examination and scored higher than the national average in the foundation areas of the exam. Additionally, the Doctor of Dental Surgery program has grown by 35%.

As part of the Healthy Smiles Initiative, which aims to improve access to oral health care across the state, the college has increased the size of its student body. Dean Ragain plans to retire this fall. “Dr. Ragain is a visionary leader,” said Dr. Ken Tilashalski, executive associate dean for the College of Dentistry. “His impact will leave a legacy that will positively influence the health of Tennesseans for generations.”

Dental Hygiene Alumnus Proud of Profession, Grateful for Doors it Opened

By Peggy Reisser

A Master of Dental Hygiene degree has been a ticket to see the world for UT Health Science Center College of Dentistry alumnus Lt. Cmdr. Demario Walls.

A clinical adjunct instructor in the College of Dentistry and 2017 graduate of the former master’s program in dental hygiene, Walls serves as a lieutenant commander in the United States Public Health Service.

For the past three years, he has been stationed as a pharmaceutical investigator with the Food and Drug Administration, traveling internationally to inspect manufacturers producing drugs intended for the U.S. market. Work destinations have included Brazil, India, Thailand, Ecuador, Peru, and Costa Rica.

While the trajectory of his career has taken him a long way from the dental office, Walls stays close to his roots in dental hygiene. He lives in Memphis with his wife and daughter, and several times a month, he instructs senior dental hygiene students in the College of Dentistry in the clinical aspects of the practice.

He credits his dental hygiene education with preparing him for excellence in the clinic and beyond. “I think it’s a great field to pursue,” Walls says. “It’s hard work. It’s a great education, and it also opened the door to a lot of opportunities.”

Walls recalls picking dental hygiene as a career while attending Overton High School in Memphis. “It was just fascinating,” he says. He took prerequisites at Tennessee State University and then came home to Memphis to attend Concorde Career College. There, he met Lynn Russell, RDH, EdD, who was the director of the dental hygiene program and is now the chair and graduate program coordinator for the Department of Dental Hygiene at UT Health Science Center.

Walls was going to school during the day and bartending and waiting tables at Colton’s Steakhouse in Olive Branch and the FedEx Forum for Memphis Grizzlies games. “I was behind the bar with my books open reading,” he says. “Every now and again, you see great potential in a student,” Dr. Russell says. “Such was the case with Demario. I knew he would excel. He has done great things and I expect he will continue to do so.”

Walls received an associate degree in dental hygiene from Concorde. He continued to pursue his education,

completing a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene from the University of Mississippi in 2014, a master’s in dental hygiene from UT Health Science Center in 2017, and a doctorate from the University of Virginia, Lynchburg.

“A master’s in dental hygiene expanded on more than just the clinical aspect of a dental hygienist,” he says. “When people think of a dental hygienist, they only think of cleaning teeth, but we function a lot more past just cleaning the teeth. We do a lot of administrative work and a lot of investigative work. When we review a medical history and then we see what the patient presents clinically, we get to connect the dots and get the bigger picture of this person’s health. The master’s program helped me think outside the box on what else I can do besides clinical work.”

Public health proved to be that what else in his life. Walls was commissioned in the United States Public Health Service in 2016.

He was stationed as a dental hygienist at the Federal Correction Institute, Memphis, where he worked for six years.

“Working with inmates, it’s just a scary situation, but I was always calm,” he says. “I’d see these guys with tattoos all over their face and everything, and the first thing they said, ‘I’m afraid of the dentist.’ Usually, it is the second or third time they’ve ever been in a dental clinic. So, it’s much-needed work, and they just always feel comfortable with me.”

In 2021, Walls received the Distinguished Service Award from the College of Dentistry for this work, as well as his national and international work providing dental hygiene services to the underserved.

He serves as the treasurer of the Memphis Dental Hygienists’ Association and the Tennessee Dental Hygienists’ Association. He encourages his students to join professional organizations for networking and professional growth.

At 35, he’s enjoying his work and teaching, but remains open to what the future brings. “This job with the FDA allows me to travel and see the world and take my family and do something exciting, so I don’t know what’s in the future yet.”

Dr. Les Binkley Demonstrates Dedication in All He Does

By Chris Green

Lesley Binkley, DDS, a UT Health Science Center College of Dentistry graduate and longtime faculty member, embodies a life of service, laughter, and generosity that extends far beyond the dental chair.

Dr. Binkley has practiced periodontics in Memphis for the last 45 years, but his roots in Tennessee run even more deeply than that. He was born in Maryville and raised in Cheatham County, where his father was the county sheriff. He often compares his hometown to Mayberry and his experiences growing up to the idyllic life of Opie. He spent much of his childhood working on the family farm, but an accident that sent him to the dentist redirected his path from the fields to dentistry.

“The dentist in my hometown had a lot to do with it,” he said. “I liked him when he treated me, and the dentist’s office was cool, air-conditioned, and better than bailing hay.”

Before delving into the world of dentistry, Dr. Binkley graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, with a degree in food technology. He even played a role in history by running the first batch of Gatorade while working for Stokely-Van Camp in Newport, Tennessee. After graduating, he married his college sweetheart, Nancy Boggan, and the couple has celebrated 53 years of marriage.

Dr. Binkley’s journey into periodontics began during his time at the College of Dentistry, where he worked on a research project with professors Jim Ross, DDS, and Jim Kimmelman, DDS. This experience fueled his passion for periodontics, leading him to The Ohio State University for further training in the specialty, along with a master’s degree in nutrition.

When he returned to Memphis, he joined the College of Dentistry faculty, initially teaching full time. After opening a private practice, he stayed on the faculty part-time, driven by his love for both periodontics and teaching.

“Les is a born teacher,” his wife said. “When our children were growing up, he kept a whiteboard behind the couch. When they would ask me a question, I would tell him the answer, but when they would ask daddy a question, he would pull out the whiteboard and start drawing. And they would all shake their heads, but he just is a teacher.”

Since closing his practice in 2019, Dr. Binkley is again a full-time faculty member in the college, serving as the

director of Laser Dentistry and Undergraduate Periodontics. His engaging laugh and stories, coupled with a genuine sense of humor, make him a beloved instructor and colleague.

“My favorite thing about teaching, I think, is the relationship with the students. I enjoy transferring the information that I’ve got in my head to their heads. And, you have to like what you’re doing, because if you like what you’re doing, they’re going to try to do the same thing,” Dr. Binkley said. “I enjoy the faculty, too. They’re enjoyable people to work with. Most of the faculty here are people I taught over the years, and going from teacher-and-student to now teacherand-teacher has really been fun.”

He has been at the forefront of laser dentistry since he first became dedicated to it. He has studied and taught the subject across the U.S. and around the world, published eight articles, and has been involved in several other periodontics research projects. He has also given dozens of presentations and taught nearly 1,000 hours of continuing education courses.

“He’s smart and he works hard,” Dr. Binkley’s wife said. “I think part of that is his background coming up on the farm. His father expected him to work hard, so I think that has a lot to do with it.”

Beyond his professional life, Dr. Binkley has been an active participant in various community organizations. He served on the UT Knoxville Board of Athletics and acted as president of the local UT Knoxville alumni chapter and the Big Orange Club. Alongside his wife, he has been active in the Memphis Dental Society and the Alliance to the Memphis Dental Society, and the couple played a role in establishing the dental exhibit Smiles, Inc., at the Children’s Museum of Memphis.

Dr. Binkley’s dedication extends to his faith and community involvement. Through the years, he has served as a leader in Bible Study Fellowship, taught Sunday School, and attended mission trips to teach dentistry in Honduras, the Dominican Republic, and Romania.

Having raised three children and now kept busy by six grandchildren, one can accurately describe Dr. Binkley as a family man. A dedicated father, he spent much of his time

“My favorite thing about teaching, I think, is the relationship with the students. I enjoy transferring the information that I’ve got in my head to their heads. And, you have to like what you’re doing, because if you like what you’re doing, they’re going to try to do the same thing.”

- Dr. Les Binkley

coaching his sons in baseball and basketball while they were growing up. He would also take his daughter on monthly dates, which his wife referred to as one of his greatest joys.

The Binkleys have been generous supporters of the College of Dentistry for many years. A testament to their impact on their community, their family, and the profession is the college’s Dr. Lesley H. Binkley, Jr., and Nancy Binkley Scholarship Endowment, established in 2019 by their daughter Beth in collaboration with alumni and friends. This endowment reflects the Binkleys’ commitment to training the next generation of dental professionals interested in periodontics.

“We hope (the endowment) will enable students who are interested in periodontics to attend and give them some financial support while they’re going through the program here. We hope that it will also inspire them to stay in Tennessee,” Mrs. Binkley said.

Dr. Binkley’s legacy is one of time generously given—to his family, church, alma mater, the students he teaches, and anyone fortunate enough to cross his path. His story is a tapestry of dedication, laughter, and a love for the state he proudly calls home.

If you would like to make a gift to support the Dr. Lesley H. Binkley, Jr., and Nancy Binkley Scholarship Endowment, please visit giving.uthsc.edu/binkley.

“I had a really great orthodontist, and I was able to see how much more confidence you can get from having a smile that you like and just see how you can change someone’s perspective on themselves.”

– Molly Ramsey

Fourth-year dental student

Photo by Stephen Ray

Inspired by Rural Upbringing, Student Aims to Lower Hurdles as Small-Town Dentist

By Chris Green

Growing up in rural northeast Tennessee, fourth-year dental student Molly Ramsey was used to the hourlong car ride to see her dentist. She says her home of Hancock County has no private practice dentist, and although a dentist occasionally visits the local health department, most residents are forced to trek for regular care.

“You have to go at least 40 minutes to an hour to a neighboring town to go to the dentist, and if you have to go to a specialist, then it could be as much as an hour and a half to two hours,” she says. “Then, there’s the problem of being able to take off work, and people do not have a lot of money where I grew up, so you see a lot of dental problems as a result.”

Wanting to eliminate barriers those in her rural community face when accessing care, and wanting to follow in the footsteps of her siblings who have medical careers, Ramsey began considering going into a health care field. Her experience having braces helped narrow her focus to dentistry.

“I had a really great orthodontist, and I was able to see how much more confidence you can get from having a smile that you like and just see how you can change someone’s perspective on themselves,” she says.

Ramsey further learned of the difference she could one day make when she started shadowing a dentist. “There was one patient who stuck out to me,” she says. “She had a lot of anxiety about coming to the dentist, and she was telling me that this was the only dentist that she feels comfortable coming to. She had a lot of trust in him, and I thought that was really special, how you can establish that relationship with your patients.”

After completing her undergraduate degree at Lincoln Memorial University, less than an hour from her hometown of Sneedville, Ramsey looked into the UT Health Science Center College of Dentistry, hoping to stay in Tennessee for affordability. She was further drawn by the warmth she felt from the faculty when she visited the campus for her interview.

“The faculty just wanted to get to know you. It wasn’t anything stressful. It was just a very welcoming environment, so that was the big seller,” she says.

As she winds down her time in the College of Dentistry, Ramsey says the familial atmosphere has continued to grow among the faculty and her fellow students. “Anytime you have any sort of misunderstanding about lecture material, or if you just want to talk about life outside of school, or get advice on practicing one day, the faculty are always happy to help,” she says. “As for us students, we have a lot of camaraderie within the class and even with the other classes. As a fourth-year, it’s really fun to talk to the younger students and bond over the experience because we’ve all been there. We all have the same goal of becoming a dental professional someday, and so there are all these commonalities between us.”

In her time as a student, Ramsey has learned the importance of serving the community. Since her undergraduate years, she has volunteered at Remote Area Medical clinics, helping to provide free medical, dental, and vision services to underserved and uninsured individuals. She has also seen the impact of the affordable dental care the College of Dentistry offers, and she hopes the college’s new clinic partnership in Kingsport, the Kingsport Dental Clinic of the Appalachian Highlands, will make a difference for people in the region where she grew up. Once it opens in mid-2024, the clinic will see patients who may not be able to afford dental care somewhere else. Ramsey says she will hold onto her community-centered mindset after she graduates in May and moves back close to home. While many other dentists are drawn to the benefits bigger cities offer, Ramsey is eager to get to work in a rural area, hoping to eventually own a practice and be a much-needed pillar in a smalltown community.

“A dentist who works in a smaller area or a rural area is very well known in the community, and that’s great because you can become very integrated into that community,” she says. “You’re treating generations of the same family—the parents, the grandparents, the kids—and I think that’s something really special.”

D4 Student Mentors Pre-Dental Students through YouTube

By Janay Jeans

It was expected that Stephen Ray would follow in the footsteps of his father, Len Ray, DDS, who graduated from the UT Health Science Center College of Dentistry in 1979. His fascination with seeing his father provide dental care and his experience assisting at a dental clinic confirmed his love for dentistry.

“He was in the first class that went into the Dunn Building when it was opened. My first memory of him in dentistry was when I was losing my baby teeth, and I remember he would come home with a little packet of instruments and topical anesthetic, and he would pull our baby teeth, and I thought it was the coolest thing ever,” Ray said. “Once I got old enough to explore my options for a career, I had to decide if this was for me, and the way I discovered it was through a Remote Area Medical Clinic.”

Ray, from Nashville, earned a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in Biology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He assisted a fourth-year dental student at a Remote Area Medical clinic in Gray, Tennessee, and felt exhilarated by the dental care he witnessed. “I’ll never forget, I called my parents right when I got out from that clinic and I said, ‘I actually really want to be a dentist. I want to start tomorrow.’”

In addition to his father, several members of his family share a passion for health care. His younger brother is in his second year pursuing veterinary medicine at UT Knoxville, and his brother-in-law, Drew Schneider, DDS, graduated from the College of Dentistry in 2019. Ray chose UT Health Science Center not only for the legacy, but also to stay close to his home.

When he visited UT Health Science Center as an undergraduate to learn more about the admissions process, he remembered feeling at home and welcomed by Dayna Myers, RDH, MDH, director of Admissions Administration and Advising.

“She could not have been more welcoming to me. She gave me a tour and met one-on-one with me for about 45 minutes and talked to me about the college and the admissions process,” he said. “I was stunned by how much attention she gave me, and it’s funny because in the four years I’ve been here, I have seen her do that with countless other students. She’s a great liaison, I think, for the school and really bridges the gap for pre-dental students getting into dental school.”

Ray produces videos on his YouTube channel, “Stephen P. Ray,” to provide informative and engaging content for future and current pre-dental students. His channel has reached 1 million views with more than 14,000 subscribers and 176 videos covering topics including study and time management tips, dental school supplies, the dental admission test, day-in-the-life in dental school, and others.

“I started making videos at a young age and it’s always been something I’ve enjoyed. When I was a pre-dental student, I had my brother-in-law, of course, but I didn’t have a lot of connection to dental school. I didn’t really know what to expect. So, one of the goals with the channel was to make sure that if there’s someone out there who doesn’t have a personal friend who can give them that experience, you can be that person for them and help them through the process,” he said.

It is not only his hobby, but also a way to mentor others in preparing for dental school.

“It’s been so rewarding to see countless students come out and show their appreciation for what I’ve done, and it’s been humbling. I never expected to impact lives with the videos, and I think I have in a variety of ways, and I am thankful for that and blessed to see how it’s grown,” he said. “YouTube isn’t my career. I’m not in a position where I have to rely on it for an income. It gives me the opportunity to just use it as a passion and the two goals, inform and entertain.”

He also helped create a video for the college’s Moving Forward committee during his first year. The committee focuses on building an inclusive culture in the college. Looking back on his experience in the college, he said he will miss the friends he has made and the faculty he has learned from. He also credits one of his mentors, Thomas Patterson, DDS, assistant professor in the Department of General Dentistry, for impacting his development in dentistry and in life. In addition, he recalls his experiences of treating patients in the clinic as rewarding.

“As a third-year dental student, I was able to do a cosmetic case where we cemented multiple crowns in the maxillary anterior region, and it completely changed the way the patient’s smile looked,” he said. “When I saw the final photos of the post-op, I was shocked at the work, and it made me realize that this is something I will be

doing for the rest of my life. I love it. Everything we have learned can combine to treating a patient holistically; you’re not just looking at the color of the crown, you’re looking at the health of the mouth overall.”

His goals after graduating include working at his family’s dental practice in Ashland City, Tennessee, and potentially expanding their practice. “My objective is to put my heart

and soul into one practice, I want to serve one community in one building, and build it into the best practice it can be. That’s going to be a lifelong process,” he said. “So, the objective is to get out of school, learn, make sure I’m doing dentistry well, treating people the right way, start building towards the future, and hopefully, I will document the process.”

First-year Dental Student Shares Art of Dentistry on TikTok

By Janay Jeans

Karsen Springfield always had a strong interest in art and science. She was inspired to pursue dentistry by her parents, who are graduates of the UT Health Science Center College of Dentistry. Now a first-year dental student, she is sharing her perspective of the artistry in dentistry on social media. Her father, Felix Springfield, DDS, graduated in 1991, and her mother, Adeline Prophete, DDS, MPH, graduated in 1992. “My dad was also really good at art, so I think the talent trickled down,” Springfield said. “I had a really cool biology teacher at St. Mary’s Episcopal School that I loved so much, I would go home and do the science experiments that we did in class. So, I thought, ‘I like science and art, maybe it’s dentistry,’ and it was the only thing that blends my two interests.”

Springfield, from Memphis, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Christian Brothers University. She was attracted to UT Health Science Center College of Dentistry to remain close to home and because of the help she received from Dayna Myers, RDH, MDH, director of Admission Administration and Advising in the college.

“At CBU, I was in Beta Beta Beta Honor Society, the biological honor society. For my sophomore year and junior year, I was the pre-health chair and senior year, I was the vice president, and we did a lot of communications with different professionals in the health care field. Dayna Myers would come, and I always made sure to go to the College of Dentistry and I wanted to show interest, and Dayna helped me throughout my whole process,” she said. “I emailed other schools that I applied to and none of their admissions people ever responded to me. I thought, ‘She’s so personable.’”

Now, she is documenting her experiences in dental school on her TikTok account, “Karrrsen,” with videos practicing dental wax-ups, studying in the dental technique lab, giving informational advice about dental school and the Dental Admissions Test, and other topics including recipes and crafts. She currently has more than 32,000 followers, and her first dentistry video of using a waxing block to create carved teeth out of wax gained 15 million views.

Springfield said it is not only something that she enjoys and helps reduce stress, but it is also a way for her to extend information to others who are interested in pursuing dentistry but may not have access to advice or resources.

“I did have a lot of guidance. Of course, my parents have been through the process, but I never thought, ‘OK, maybe

someone has absolutely no idea how to even start,’ so I thought I will start posting more advice about how to get in and what we’re doing throughout the day-to-day,” she said. “Just making sure that people who look like me or people who might not be as fortunate as I was to be handed so many resources to get where I am, can still have a fighting chance. And, I also like to post content that relates to people.”

Springfield recalls a discussion about her studies with her uncle, who is the chief executive officer of the Haitian Christian Mission, a nonprofit organization that empowers and builds better communities in Haiti through education, health care, evangelism, and sustainability. “My mom, she’s Haitian, her whole side of the family, her dad who passed away a couple of years ago, him and his wife, my grandma, they were both pastors and they started the Haitian Christian Mission. It’s blown up so big, they have surgery centers, dental clinics, and things like that,” she said. “And my uncle will tell me, ‘All we do is extractions and fillings because we don’t have all the equipment to do other complex things.’ I thought, ‘Wow, it never crossed my mind,’ but I did know that at UTHSC we have a lot of technology that even other dental schools in the states don’t have.” She has also noticed many comments from viewers wondering whether dentistry would be their chosen field, and realized some people may not know there is an artistic component to the profession.

“I think if more people knew that, then it could be better for our field in general, because there’s so many people that would be so good at this, but maybe they don’t want to pursue it because they don’t really know what it’s all about,” she said.

Springfield, who is studying to become a general dentist, is also involved in organizations, including the American Student Dental Association, and she was selected to serve as a D1 representative at the association’s District 4 Annual Conference in Nashville in January. She was also recently elected to serve as treasurer on the D1 class executive board. She is a member of The Thrive Project, a new student organization that focuses on the overall well-being of student dentists, and recently served in a winter clothing donation event at the Memphis Union Mission. She is also a member of the Student National Dental Association and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

CoD Welcomes Dr. Ken Tilashalski as Executive Associate Dean

Kenneth Tilashalski, DMD, joined the College of Dentistry September 1 as executive associate dean. Prior to joining the UT Health Science Center, Dr. Tilashalski, known as Dr. T, served as the associate dean of Academic Affairs at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, a position he held for more than 12 years. “We are thrilled to have Dr. Tilashalski join our college’s leadership team,” said Dean James Ragain. “Ken will serve primarily as our chief operating officer. He will be bringing years of experience and strong leadership to our college.” In addition to his academic leadership, as a diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Dr. Tilashalski is an internationally recognized master clinician in oral pathology, a fellow of the American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists, a curriculum consultant for the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), past president of the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Phi Phi Chapter National Dental Honor Society, and a recipient of the Most Excellent Fellow Award from the Alabama Dental Association.

Gruber Named Director of University Dental Practice

Albert Gruber, DMD, MPH, is transitioning from his role as professor in the Department of General Dentistry to become director of University Dental Practice. Before joining the college, Dr. Gruber served in the Army for 29 years. Along with his dental degree from Southern Illinois School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Gruber also holds a Master of Public Health from Columbia Southern University. He brings a strong background of clinical experience and leadership to the role. We look forward to seeing what the faculty practice can accomplish in the future as an important service to our community and as a way for our faculty to continue their own practice of dentistry.

Selecman Named Interim Chair of Prosthodontics

As of October 2023, Audrey Selecman, DDS, is serving as interim chair of the Department of Prosthodontics, replacing David Cagna, DMD. Dr. Cagna will continue in his work as associate dean for Postgraduate Affairs and overseeing the Prosthodontics Postdoctoral Program. Dr. Selecman has worked alongside Dr. Cagna for three years and has served as vice chair of the department since 2019. Dr. Selecman began her education at Maryville College and joined UT Health Science Center to complete her Doctor of Dental Surgery, Master of Dental Science, and her prosthodontics training. She joined the faculty in 2007 and has held many positions over the years.

Give Kids a Smile 2023

Give Kids a Smile was a big success in February 2023. The college partnered with Freedom Preparatory Academy for the fifth year in a row to provide free dental screenings and care to 82 children. The total value of the care provided was $29,365. Dental students not only provided free care, but the event also gave the Freedom Prep students a chance to learn oral hygiene practices and a glimpse into the opportunities for a career in the dental profession.

Student Wins Research Award

During this past year’s Hinman Student Research Symposium, second-year dental student, Jonathan Harber won a Basic and Translational Research Award. His project, titled “Effect of Fluoride on Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells,” was directed by Rajasingh Johnson, PHD, professor in the Bioscience Research Department. Harber said, “I was blown away by the amount of research being done around the country by dental students like me. I really enjoyed my time visiting, talking, and meeting fellow students.”

Dixon Named Associate Dean of Research

Doug Dixon, DMD, MSD, PhD, MaCSD, has been appointed associate dean of Research. Dixon began his dental education at the University of Pittsburgh and continued his periodontal training at the University of Washington, receiving a PhD in oral biology in 2005. He then began his service in the Army periodontics program, which culminated in his appointment as the clinic commander and chief of periodontics at the United States Military Academy West Point Clinic. In 2014, he retired from the military after 20 years of service and served at the University of Washington as director of Graduate Periodontics. He joined the UT Health Science Center College of Dentistry in 2020 and immediately began making positive contributions. Research is a vital component of the education of our students, and Dr. Dixon shares that passion. He is committed to applying research findings to improve patient care. His numerous publications show a consistent commitment to advancing his field. In his new role,

Halloween 2023

The College of Dentistry went all out for Halloween 2023. The various clinics banded together to bring several different themes to life. Costumes included popular characters and famous movies. The entire orthodontic clinic dressed as Guy Fieri, host of the popular Food Network show, “Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.” Their commitment garnered the star’s attention and earned them a shout-out on his social media.

Congratulations to Our 2023 Graduates!

The College of Dentistry’s 2023 Spring Commencement Ceremony was held May 9 at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Memphis. Chancellor Peter Buckley, MD, conferred the degrees, and Lisa Piercey, MD, former commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Health, delivered the keynote address.

DOCTOR OF DENTAL SURGERY

Lawson Drew Akens

Lauren Elizabeth Allen

Nathaniel Altman

Alexis Kathryn Balisterri

Reid Christopher Barton

James Christian Beckner

Julianna Marie Boskus

Sarah Christina Brown

Joshua Lee Capwell

Lindsey Elizabeth Cash

Yeo Grace Choi

Chandler Ann Petty Cole

Jared M Cooper

James Dylan Day

Elizabeth Dial

Oliver Ray Dozier

John Phillip Duncan

Jason Kyle East

Katherine Eisberg

Hayden Thomas Ellis

Elvys Ferrufino-Mejia

Allyson Lynne Fesmire

Augustus William Fischer

Jordan Taylor Gall

Kale Wesley Garner

Kirollos Gerges

Mark Eason Gilbert

Ty Alexander Green

Frank Duncan Griffin

Arielle Kelley Hall

Ali Ahmad Hamade

Jordan Michael Harbison

Megan Elise Harris

William Edward Harris

Robert Andrew Heck

Troy Hippensteel

Nathan Daniel Hopkins

Jon Aaron Howell

Charles Samuel Hughes

John Thomas Isbell

Jacob Jeansonne

Benjamin Frank Jones

Jamielynn Jiyi Jung

Marim Kamel

Jihoon Kim

Annabel Capley Kisling

Michael Jerold Koen

Sarah Kathryn Kutas

Zachary Paul Larson

Ashley Lynn-Louise Lash

Mia Su’kole Lewis

Britten Marie Lovelace

Summer Chase Lowery

Sharon Mainya

Aaron Thien Tuong Manela

Kayla Ann McCormack

Jacob Wagner Mitchell

Dennis Gilberto Molina

Lovell Jason Morris

Carter Sean Mullins

Patrick Byrne Nabholz

Alison Michelle Neel

Layla Norbash

Nicholas Chase Odum

Ravi Sanjay Patel

Swetaben Ashokkumar Patel

Jacob Hill Perry

Matthew Steven Phillips

Sarah Kathryn Pierce

Geoffrey Alexander Pippin

Hannah Elizabeth Poarch

Samuel B Posze

Jake Thomas Ramsey

Alexander Bedford Rodgers

Jason Ross

John Allen Ross

Meraj Amin Sayyed

Connor Shelton

Bryan Wontaek Shin

Phillip Shockley

Logan Joe Smith

Jacob Tant Stinson

Victoria Ann Stromberg

Kindal Renee Tatum

Eliza Vanderpool Taylor

Kelly Rachel Teer

Baylor Terrell

Tanner Lee Trent

Quy Cong Van

James Bryce Warner

Angela Y Washington

Chandler Allen Williams

Caleb Matthew Winkler

James Wayne Wisener

Jordan Taylor Wong

Morgan Brittany Yamek

Shehla Yousuf

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN DENTAL HYGIENE

Aseel Alqirem

Briana Alston

Faviola Alvarado

Catherine Anne Bishop

Sarah Bosworth

Kaitlyn Hart Caldwell

Melody Elizabeth DeMoulin

Emily Marie Dewitt

Camryn Olivia Durham

Ganan M Esmail

Angie Harri

Alexandrea Grace Hurt

Sarah Khalil

Carlie G Klepzig

Lydia Elizabeth Lumley

Anna L McClung

Michaela Renea McNatt

Taylor Ashton Moore (Newman)

Nirali Mahesh Patel

Arkel D Peete

Jeri Breane Raines

Sheridan Noel Redmond

Skylar Ann Robbins

Huda Wael Salem

Anna Elizabeth Slye

Audrey Rose Smith

Baylee Paige Smith

Shaina Gabrielle Smith

Lauren Elizabeth Taylor

Aaliyah Threlkeld

Regan Elizabeth Watson

Monica Megumi Wilemon

Annsley Faith Williams

Allyson Grace Young

2023 CoD Scholarship and Award Winners

The College of Dentistry would like to thank all our scholarship donors and offer our congratulations to all the recipients of scholarships and awards.

AMERICAN FAMILY DENTISTRY SCHOLARSHIP

Katherine Eisberg – D4

Meraj Amin Sayyed – D4

DR. JAMES T. ANDREWS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Danielle Schaeffer – D3

Logan Smith – D4

Kelly Teer – D4

BATEMAN FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP

Katrina Eccles – D3

Jake Ramsey – D4

DR. AND MRS. LOWELL DALE BLEVINS SCHOLARSHIP

Summer Lowery – D4

Dennis Molina – D4

DORIS COSTELLO BOWYER MEMORIAL LEADERSHIP AWARD

Julianna Boskus – D4

DR. AND MRS. NOAH DAVID BRITTON SCHOLARSHIP

Kerusso Pooley – D1

DR. ANDREW M. BURTON III SCHOLARSHIP

Patrick Nabholz – D4

DR. JOHN T. (JACK) CAMP SCHOLARSHIP

Aaron Aucker – D2

Kohl Blickenstaff – D3

Jacqueline Ellis – D2

Charles Hughes – D4

Jacob Stinson – D4

James Warner – D4

BRENT R. CARMONY, MS, DDS, SCHOLARSHIP

Chandler Cole Petty – D4

HAROLD CLOOGMAN, DDS, SCHOLARSHIP

Sarah Balsley – D1

James Beckner – D4

Sarah Brown – D4

Chad Couch – D2

Lauren Estes – D3

Jackson Fain – D2

Robert Heck – D4

Rexxford Hurley – D2

Mark Pozega – D3

Moly Ramsey – D3

Andrew Robbins – D3

Oliver Taylor – D3

Jordan Thompson – D3

Brianna Weber – D3

DR. WILLIAM LEE AND BONITA R. CRABTREE SCHOLARSHIP

Oliver Dozier – D4

Jacob Mitchell – D4

Sidney Wilkins – D4

DELTA DENTAL OF ARKANSAS SCHOLARSHIP

Alexis Balisterri – D4

Ericka Lee – D3

Kynnedy Willson – D3

DELTA DENTAL OF TENNESSEE SCHOLARSHIP

Mahmuda Akter – D3

Bennett Fry – D2

Ty Green – D4

Michael Koen – D4

Geoffrey Pippin – D4

Rebecca Reed – D3

Mia Isabel Rodriguez – D2

Jordan Thompson – D3

Nisha Zaver – D2

DENTAL SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT AWARD

Paxton Evans – D2

Kaylie Jerrolds – D2

Rebecca Medlin – D2

David Payne – D2

Allison Samisch – D2

DENTISTRY STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP

Alexander Rodgers – D4

DINSMORE SCHOLARSHIP

Ashley Lash – D4

DR. WINFIELD C. DUNN SCHOLARSHIP

Geoffrey Pippin – D4

Tyler Rettke – D1

Muhamed Sakaan – D3

E. MAC EDINGTON, DDS, AND LINDA KAY EDINGTON SCHOLARSHIP

Jacob Foncea – D3

WILLIAM J. EELLS, DDS, SCHOLARSHIP

Mahmuda Akter – D3

Lindsey Cash – D4

Ike Irvin – D1

Brynne Lytle – D2

ELIZABETH CLUB SCHOLARSHIP

Madison Craig – D3

DR. R. O. AND FANNIE B. FORD SCHOLARSHIP

Austin Gelinas – D1

Tina Le – D1

DR. KENNETH L. FRAME AND SARA JO FRAME-MAZUR SCHOLARSHIP

Lauren Allen – D4

Ty Green – D4

Ravi Patel – D4

HELEN FLANAGAN FRY SCHOLARSHIP

Andrew Byram – D3

Rebecca Reed – D3

DR. AND MRS. K. MICHAEL GARRETT SCHOLARSHIP

Benjamin Walker – D2

GENTRY FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP

Andrew Robbins – D3

DEAN JAMES T. GINN SCHOLARSHIP

Michael Koen – D4

DR. JOSEPH W. GRAHAM, SR. SCHOLARSHIP

Sarah Brown – D4

Abigail Vondran – D3

GUTHRIE FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP

Nathaniel Altman – D4

Carter Mullins – D4

DR. AND MRS. F. PAYNE HARDISON AND DR. MARK HARDISON SCHOLARSHIP

Todarius Morris – D3

DR. EARL O. HENRY SCHOLARSHIP

Nathaniel Altman – D4

HIGGINBOTHAM FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP

Caleb Winkler – D4

THOMAS P. HINMAN MEETING SCHOLARSHIP

Danielle Schaeffer – D3

DR. AND MRS. NORRIS HOWELL SCHOLARSHIP

Abbey Hassell – D1

DR. BOB AND KATHY JOLLY SCHOLARSHIP

John Woodard – D1

JOSEPHINE CIRCLE SCHOLARSHIP

Victoria Hockaday – D3

Suzy Jo – D1

DR. GERALD R. KARR FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP

Nicholas Merwin – D3

Katherine Delpriore – D2

DR. DEBRA GRAY KING SCHOLARSHIP

Swechha Shrestha – D3

DR. W. C. “DUB” LADY SCHOLARSHIP

William Clark – D1

Keaton Parr – D2

Eliza Taylor – D4

LEADING WITH GOOD HANDS SCHOLARSHIP

Sarah Kutas – D4

DR. DAVID LIBBY AND FAMILY & DR. MEL COLLAZO AND FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP

Callie McIntire – D3

Shelby Schultz – D3

MATONE FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP

William Caraway – D3

MCCORD FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP

Joseph Julian – D3

Baylor Terrell – D4

O. D. AND RUTH MCKEE SCHOLARSHIP

Maggie Eslinger – D1

Jordan Gall – D4

DR. AND MRS. JAMES P. MCLEMORE, JR. SCHOLARSHIP

Anna Horn – D2

Sarah Pierce – D4

WILL MCPHERSON, DDS, SCHOLARSHIP

Jason East – D4

DRS. JOE AND CHRIS MILLER SCHOLARSHIP

Layla Norbash – D4

DR. JOE AND PAT MOSIER SCHOLARSHIP

Morgan Yamek – D4

DR. MIKE AND STACEY MYSINGER SCHOLARSHIP

John T. Isbell – D4

BEVERLY AND DR. TOM NASH SCHOLARSHIP

Elvys Ferrufino-Mejia – D4

DR. AND MRS. THOMAS ONSTOTT SCHOLARSHIP

Britten Lovelace – D4

DR. R. MALCOLM (MIKE) OVERBEY SCHOLARSHIP

Foster Hudsmith – D3

Mia Lewis – D4

Ericka Mathis – D3

Gustavo Morrice – D1

DR. RUSH ABBOTT AND JULIA ROBERTSON PEACE SCHOLARSHIP

James Beckner – D4

DR. MAURICE E. PETROVSKY SCHOLARSHIP

Hannah Poarch – D4

PEDIATRIC DENTAL ASSOCIATES AND ORTHODONTICS

SCHOLARSHIP

Kelly Teer – D4

REDWINE-MITCHELL SCHOLARSHIP

William Harris – D4

Matthew Phillips – D4

SECOND DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY SCHOLARSHIP

Korin Kaczocha – D3

Joshua Young – D1

SINQUEFIELD FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP

Phillip Shockley – D4

SLAGLE FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP

Claire Mangrum Meeks – D3

Swetaben Patel – D4

Thao Phan – D3

Kristie Wise – D3

DR. H. CLIFTON SIMMONS III, DDS, SCHOLARSHIP

Parker Saunders – D2

Rylee Smith – D3

DR. ROY M. SMITH SCHOLARSHIP

James Day – D4

DR. BUFORD AND LYNDA SUFFRIDGE SCHOLARSHIP

Quy Cong Van – D4

James Wisener – D4

TENNESSEE DENTAL ASSOCIATION

FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP

Kolby Gregory – D2

CECILY W. TIPTON SCHOLARSHIP

Lauren Hopper – D2

Joseph Julian – D3

Jared Quave – D2

Haley Richardson – D3

UT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ANDY HOLT SCHOLARSHIP

Ravi Patel – D4

Tyler Rettke – D1

Sa’ad Sarraj – D2

Danielle Schaeffer – D3

UT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP

Mitchell Jackson Noblin – D1

John Woodard – D1

DANIEL J. VINCENT, DDS, SCHOLARSHIP

Dana Gerler – D1

DR. AND MRS. THOMAS N. WEEMS SCHOLARSHIP

Lexi Agee – D3

Jordan Broadwater – D2

Marisa House – D2

David Norris – D3

Swetaben Patel – D4

Gary Stillwell – D2

Shelby Story – D2

Zachary Williams – D2

DEAN JACK WELLS, DDS, SCHOLARSHIP

Taylor Savage – D2

DR. ROBERT N. WILSON SCHOLARSHIP

Jason Ross – D4

Phillip Shockley – D4

Bryan Truong – D3

XI PSI PHI FRATERNITY SCHOLARSHIP

Danielle Schaeffer – D3

2024 ALUMNI AWARDS

The College of Dentistry Alumni Association annually presents alumni awards during the College of Dentistry Alumni Weekend and William F. Slagle Dental Meeting. These awards were created to give special recognition to graduates who have distinguished themselves in their dental practices, their professions, and their communities.

Honored this year at the 2024 Alumni Awards luncheon are Gerald R. Karr, DDS ’74, MS ’76; Henry E. McKay, III, DDS ’90; and Whitney Howerton, BS ’10, MDH ’16, RDH.

Outstanding Alumnus Award

The highest award given by the Alumni Association recognizes a graduate of the College of Dentistry and member of the profession of dentistry who has distinguished himself/herself in community service, leadership, teaching, research, and/or service to the university. This year, two outstanding professionals share this distinction.

Gerald R. Karr, DDS

Dr. Gerald (Jerry) Karr grew up in Knoxville and received his undergraduate education at East Tennessee State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in biology in 1970. He received his DDS degree from the UT Health Science Center’s College of Dentistry in 1974 and his MS in orthodontics in 1976. Following his orthodontic residency, he entered the U.S. Air Force, serving as an orthodontist to three air bases in Germany. Upon returning to civilian life, Dr. Karr entered private practice in Clarksville, Tennessee, where he practiced until his retirement in 2018.

Although primarily a clinician, Dr. Karr has been very active in professional organizations and volunteer dental missions. As a member of the American Dental Association and the Tennessee Dental Association (TDA) for 50 years, he has served in numerous positions. His service at the TDA included positions as trustee of the TDA board, editor of the Journal of the TDA, vice president, and six consecutive years as speaker of the House of Delegates.

He is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, a fellow of the American College of Dentists, a fellow of the Pierre Fauchard Academy, and a fellow of the International College of Dentists (ICD). As an ICD fellow, Dr. Karr has held the offices of vice regent, regent, vice president, and in 2021 he was elected president of the USA section of the ICD. He still serves the lCD as a trustee of the USA Section Foundation, where he is currently chair of the fundraising committee.

Dr. Karr is a recipient of the Tennessee Dental Association Fellowship Award and the Tennessee AGD Humanitarian Award. The ICD has also recognized him with a Presidential Citation, the Regents Award, and the Past President’s Award.

For over 20 years, Dr. Karr and his wife have served on mission trips to Honduras, Brazil, Ghana, China, Romania, and India. He has served as chairman of the board of Good Samaritan Clinic, an NPO serving the poor of Clarksville and surrounding counties.

Being grateful for all the opportunities his education has offered, Dr. Karr and his wife have endowed four collegiate scholarships including two for students at the College of Dentistry.

Dr. Karr states that his faith and his family are the most important part of his life. He is devoted to his church where he is a charter member and serves as an elder. Sandra has been his devoted wife for over 55 years. They have three children and seven grandchildren.

2024 ALUMNI AWARDS (CONT.)

Outstanding Alumnus Award

Henry E. McKay, III, DDS

Dr. Henry McKay grew up in Grenada, Mississippi, and obtained his undergraduate degree in Mathematics from the University of Mississippi in 1986. As a student in the UT Health Science Center’s College of Dentistry, he was active in the student dental association and was an American Student Dental Association national officer. After graduating with his DDS degree in 1990, Dr. McKay completed his oral and maxillofacial surgery internship and residency at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville and his facial cosmetic surgery training at Northwest Hospital and Medical Center in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. While there, he was heavily involved in several dental implant research projects and served on the resident organizational committee that founded the Resident Organization of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons in 1994. He is co-founder of Alabama Oral and Facial Surgery in Birmingham, Alabama, and has been in private practice for over 28 years. He is a member of the College of Dentistry Alumni Board of Trustees and has served as chairman of the Student Recruitment Committee for three years. During this time, he is credited with introducing robotics to the school, which allowed the college to be only the third dental school in the world to have robotics in their curriculum.

Dr. McKay has been actively involved in missions for most of his life, working on construction projects and Christian educational ventures in Honduras, Belize, and Guatemala. As a deacon at Briarwood Presbyterian Church, he led a dental team, largely comprised of students, to Nicaragua to offer his surgical skills to the underserved residents there. These projects exposed the students in the group to the field of dentistry as they trained and worked as dental assistants. Many of them have now become dentists. As an extension of these efforts, Dr. McKay and his business partner at Alabama Oral and Facial Surgery, Dr. Christopher Rothman, have mentored more than 50 high school and college students in their offices. Over 98% of these students have pursued careers in their respective health care professions.

Dr. McKay continues to practice in Birmingham, where he is a board member of High Five Healthcare, a multi-award-winning company and one of the fastest growing health care companies in the Southeastern United States. He has been married to his wife, Sara Lynn, for 32 years and they have two sons, Hal and Luke.

Recent Alumna Award

This award recognizes an outstanding graduate within the last 15 years whose achievements have been significant to the UT Health Science Center, to the general welfare of his/her community, and to his/her profession.

Whitney Howerton, BS, MDH, RDH

L. Whitney Howerton, MDH, RDH, has been making waves since graduating with a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene from UT Health Science Center in 2010, followed by a master’s in dental hygiene in 2016. She has held multiple leadership roles on local, state, and national levels, including two consecutive terms as president of the Tennessee Dental Hygiene Association from 2014-2016.

These roles led to a desire to not only continue clinical practice but also explore additional leadership and career opportunities outside of the operatory. While never losing her clinical roots, Howerton transitioned into a full-time faculty role in a local dental hygiene program teaching both clinical and didactic courses, including local anesthesia; head, neck, and dental anatomy; special patient care; and advanced instrumentation. Educational instruction built the foundation for her to launch a robust continuing education program for a leading dental manufacturer. Through this program, Howerton developed and delivered innovative content to thousands of dental hygiene students and dental professionals both domestically and internationally.

Howerton is a past recipient of the prestigious Esther Wilkins Future Leader Award presented by the American Dental Hygienist Association. She also received the Outstanding Dental Hygiene Student Mentor Award and the Outstanding Dental Hygienist Award from the Tennessee Dental Hygiene Association. She has featured articles in Access and Dimensions of Dental Hygiene, presented on national stages at numerous colleges and state associations, and served as a guest on dental podcasts. Howerton holds an adjunct faculty role in the UTHSC Department of Dental Hygiene, where she has supported students’ clinical development since 2016. She volunteers at the Mid-South Mission of Mercy’s annual event and holds leadership positions in the Memphis Dental Hygiene Association and Tennessee Dental Hygiene Association. Additional volunteer roles include the University of Tennessee Health Science Center Liaison Committee in 2011-2013, as well as representing Tennessee as the Tennessee Head Start/Early Head Start ADHA Liaison for the National Institute of Health-Oral Health Initiative in 2012-2016.

Howerton currently leads dental education for Walmart Health. In her role of senior manager of Clinical Education, she supports the Walmart Health mission to provide accessible, convenient, and quality care, and develops and delivers training programs to the full suite of Walmart Health’s dental teams across the U.S.

Thank You to Our Legacy Society Members!

Dr. and Mrs. Danny Adkins

Dr. Ruth E. Bailey

Dr. and Mrs. J. Newsom Baker

Dr. David E. Barto* and Mrs. Carol S. Barto

Dr. Jeannie Beauchamp

Dr. H. Alan Belinky

Dr. and Mrs. Lesley H. Binkley, Jr.

Estate of Gladys C. Bowyer

Dr. William R. Breeding

Dr. Carl F. Brown, Jr.* and Mrs. Linda Meltzer Brown

Estate of John T. Camp

Estate of Harold Cloogman

Dr. and Mrs.* William O. Coley, Jr.

Dr. William Max Couch, Sr.

Estate of Mrs. Lynne Craver

Dr. Jack N. Denton

Dr. and Mrs. Scotty A. Devine

Estate of Dr. Charles Edrington

Estate of Dr. Russell O. and Mrs. Fannye Ford

Estate of Mr. Robert C. and Mrs. Maud Fox

Dr. John A. Gholson III

Drs. Joe C. and Barbara Harris

Estate of Robert Henderson

Dr. and Mrs. Fred C. Heros

Dr. and Mrs. J. L. Hochstedler

Estate of Billy S. Howard

Dr. Stueart L. Hudsmith, Jr.

Dr. and Mrs. James H. Hutson, Jr.

Estate of Dr. John Jacoway

Dr. and Mrs. Brett J. Jaffrey

Dr. J. Dale and Mrs. Rebecca S. Kennedy

Estate of Dr. Lawrence Tennyson Kennedy, Jr.

Estate of Myra Key

Dr. Sarah E. Martin

Estate of Wayne L. McCulley

Dr. and Mrs. James W. McDaniel

Dr. and Mrs. John W. McElhiney

Estate of Dr. James P. McLemore, Jr.

Estate of R. Gary Moser

Estate of Sam D. Mount

Estate of Dr. John S. Nelson

Estate of Percy Nordlinger

Dr. and Mrs. Christopher Andrew O’Rourke

Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Overbey, Jr.

Dr. and Mrs. Tommy W. Page

Dr. and Mrs. Rush Abbott Peace

Estate of Maurice E. Petrovsky

Dr. Terryl A. Propper

Dr. and Mrs. James M. Pyle III

Dr. and Mrs. Morris Robbins

Dr. and Mrs. Robert W. Rockefeller

Dr. Alice Roemer-Toarmina

Dr. Judith A. Ross

Estate of Sam G. Sanders

Dr. and Mrs. Stephen M. Sawrie

Estate of Charles A. Scott Jr.

Dr. William F. Slagle

Dr. and Mrs. Millard B. Smith

Estate of Dr. Roy M. Smith

Dr. Ron and Doretha Staples

Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Frederic Starck

Dr. Robert C. Stetzel, Jr.

Dr. and Mrs. Buford J. Suffridge, Jr.

Estate of Dr. Mary Beth Throneberry

Dr. David A. Tipton

Dr. James L. Vaden

Dr. and Mrs. William Thomas Veal, Jr.

Dr. and Mrs. Kirby P. Walker, Jr.

Dr. William Earl Webb

Estate of Dr. Faustin Weber

Estate of Dr. and Mrs. Thomas N. Weems

Dr. Rosie Richmond Whalum

Ms. L. Adine Wheeler

Dr. and Mrs. Martin C. Wilhelm

Mrs. Debbie Wilhoit and Dr. Gary Wilhoit*

Dr. and Mrs. Michael D. Wooten

Estate of Richard Workman

Estate of Frances Farr Young

Empowering the Dental Team

The 2024 William F. Slagle Dental Meeting is set for March 8-10 at the Hilton Hotel – East Memphis, 939 Ridge Lake Boulevard.

Last year, we remembered the past, embraced the present, and remained steadfast to our commitment to shaping the future of dentistry. Our nationally recognized speakers and faculty provided informative lectures to the entire dental team and refueled their passion for the oral health of our community. The highlight of the 2023 Slagle weekend was the “Wild Wild West” Welcome Party on Friday night, where we enjoyed Southern hors d’oeuvres and the groovy sounds of the Dentones as we danced the night away!

This year, we plan to Empower the Dental Team, honor deserving alumni members, and enjoy a Hawaiianthemed Welcome Party!

For more than 25 years, the William F. Slagle Dental Meeting has been held in Memphis, offering entertainment, camaraderie, and continuing education opportunities for dentists, hygienists, and assistants.

Sponsored by the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry and the College of Dentistry Alumni Association, the mission of the Slagle Meeting is to advance the delivery of quality dental care by providing the dental team with educational opportunities.

For more information, visit slagledentalmeeting.com.

2023 Golden Graduate Homecoming

UT Health Science Center Celebrated Golden Graduate Homecoming October 25-29 in Memphis. Alumni from four colleges, including 15 dental graduates and one dental hygiene graduate, attended the event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their graduation. The participants were greeted Wednesday at the historic Peabody Hotel, followed by dinner on campus at the Mooney Library. The alumni and their guests enjoyed breakfast together Thursday morning, and then headed to the Memphis campus for individual college open houses and lunch followed by their Golden Graduate Homecoming ceremony. The celebration continued Thursday evening with the Golden Graduate dinner at the Peabody and concluded Friday morning with a farewell breakfast, allowing for individual class reunions the rest of the weekend.