DentalUM Fall 2011

DentalUM magazine is published twice a year by the University of Michigan School of Dentistry.

Send comments and updates to: [email protected] or Director of Communications, School of Dentistry, Room 1218, 1011 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1078

Dean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peter PolveriniDirector of Communications . . . . . . Sharon Grayden Writer & Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jerry MasteyDesigner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Jung

Editorial Review Board: Member publicationDennis Lopatin - Chair of the AmericanRichard Fetchiet Association ofErica Hanss Dental EditorsLynn JohnsonSharon Grayden - ex officio

The Regents of the University: Julia Donovan Darlow, Laurence B. Deitch, Denise Ilitch, Olivia P. Maynard, Andrea Fischer Newman, Andrew C. Richner, S. Martin Taylor, Katherine E. White, Mary Sue Coleman, ex officio

University of Michigan School of DentistryAlumni Society Board of Governors:

Terms Expire 2012:Metodi C. Pogoncheff, ’76 DDS, Lansing, MIWayne Olsen (Chair), ’81 DDS, Traverse City, MISheree Duff (Secretary), ’80 BSDH, Grand Blanc, MIDavid O. Cramer, ’93 DDS, Grand Rapids, MIScott Schulz, ’96 DDS, Traverse City, MI

Student Representative: Anh Pham (D3)

Terms Expire 2013:Kathleen Early, ‘77 DH, Lakeland, MIKerry Kaysserian, ‘81 DDS, Traverse City, MIJeff Smith, ‘82 DDS, ‘85 MS, Grand Rapids, MIJerry Booth, ‘61 DDS, ‘64 MS, Jackson, MIJanis Chmura Duski, ‘89 DDS, Gaylord, MI

Terms Expire 2014:Frank Alley, ’81 DDS, Portage, MIMichael Cerminaro, ’86 DDS, Muskegon, MISondra Moore Gunn, ’78 DDS, ’80 MS, Ann Arbor, MIM.H. “Reggie” VanderVeen, ’76 DDS, Grand Rapids, MIJackie Solberg, ’86 DH, Grand Rapids

Ex Officio Members:Peter Polverini, DeanJanet Souder Wilson, ‘73 DH, Northville, MIAlumni Association LiaisonSteve C. Grafton , Executive Director, Alumni Assoc.Richard R. Fetchiet, Director of Alumni Relations, Development, and Continuing Dental Education

The University of Michigan, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University of Michigan is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, height, weight, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. Inquiries or complaints may be addressed to the Senior Director for Institutional Equity, and Title IX/Section 504/ADA Coordinator, Office of Institutional Equity, 2072 Administrative Services Building, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1432, (734) 763-0235, TTY (734) 647-1388. For other University of Michigan information call (734) 764-1817.

Copyright © 2011 The Regents of the University of Michigan

ach year I have the privilege of welcoming our D1 students on the first day of dental school. This annual event always reminds me that our students are part of

a very select group, attending one of the truly great dental schools, in one of the great universities of the world. T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f M i c h i g a n i s r e n o w n e d f o r i t s groundbreaking research, its unique educational programs, a n d p r e s t i g i o u s p r o f e s s i o n a l s c h o o l s . O u r s t u d e n t s experience what is perhaps the most progressive dental education program in the country. These eager minds are our future and we must encourage them and celebrate their journey. This new educational experience sets a very high bar. To be successful our students must be self-reliant, collaborative, and willing to explore and apply the science of dentistry and medicine much more deeply. The journey will not always be easy. Our students represent a new generation of health care providers and we will prepare them to deliver care based on early intervention and sophisticated diagnostics and therapies. We expect our students to explore the boundaries of the profession, explore new opportunities for professional practice and challenge existing paradigms with the intent of redefining the future of dentistry as a health profession. As future leaders some of them will formulate and influence oral health care policy at the regional and national level, or we may even find some of them leading teams of health care providers developing new strategies to improve oral health in global communities. Most importantly we expect that each aspiring dentist will espouse the highest standards of professionalism and commit to the well being of patients, in particular those individuals that are in most need of compassion and care.I know you join me in extending a warm welcome to the Class of 2015. Be mindful that these special individuals could have attended other dental schools and discovered what others have created. However, they chose Michigan and at Michigan we create what others will discover!

Sincerely,

Peter J. Polverini, Dean

Fall 2011 Volume 27, Number 2

D E A N ’ S M E S S A G E

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Looking for easy access to video content? Visit our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/umichdent

Upcoming CDE Courses

Delta Dental - Kenneth J. Ryan, DDS Memorial SeminarJanuary 11, 2012 Harold Crossley, DDS, MS, PhD

Avoid Liability: Know Your Patients’ Medication and Their Impact on Dental Treatment

Indications, contraindications, and side effects of the fifty most commonly prescribed medications.

25th Annual Review of the Biologic and Clinical Aspects of EndodontologyMarch 1-3, 2012 Neville McDonald, BDS, MS

A review of the biology and related scientific foundations of endodontilogy while maintaining a strong clinical perspective.

39th Annual Moyers SymposiumMarch 9, 2012 - PresymposiumMarch 10-11, 2012 - Symposium

CBCT in Orthodontics: Indications, Insights and Innovations

An objective cutting-edge forum on the indications for CBCT imaging in clinical orthodontics and research.

Enrich your practice, enhance your knowledge base. Our CDE program is a click away: http://dent.umich.edu/cde

FEATURES

1 Why I Stayed in Michigan ...or Not Recent dental graduates explain their decisions

5 Grand Rounds Encouraging critical thinking

7 Faculty Profile Dr. Nisha D’Silva

10 U.S. Army Surgeon General Impressed Praises students, faculty, technology

11 Grand Rounds

14 White Coat Ceremony

18 Graduation

27 Alumnus Profile Dr. George Yellich

DEPARTMENTS9 Faculty14 Students22 Research25 Dental Hygiene27 Alumni

C O N T E N T S :For more stories and the latest news go to Current News on our Web site: w w w. d e n t . u m i c h . e d u

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David Schoonover [DDS 2010] DeWitt, Michigan

David Schoonover said his decision to remain in Michigan after earning his DDS was “an easy one to make.” After graduation, he joined the dental practice run by his father, William (DDS 1977), and Mark Hostetler (DDS 1985). Andrew Schoonover (DDS 2005) is also a member of the practice in the DeWitt community of about 4,500 just north of Lansing. “Being close to my family and living in a town where everyone knows one another and looks out for each other was important to me,” he said. Schoonover said he and his wife, Holli, wanted to live in a community “where our children could have the same kind of experiences that we did when we were growing up. Combine that with working with three great mentors, and it was an opportunity that was too good to pass up.” During his predoctoral education, Schoonover said he and his classmates were told about many oral health care career options. “But as you consider your options, you have to know who you are and what you are called to do, before making your final decision,” he said. Schoonover advised dental and dental hygiene students to be open to career options and to network as much as possible before deciding. “It all comes down to the opportunity and knowing yourself. The fit has to be just right,” he said.

Erin Kloostra Johnson [DDS 2006, MS 2008] Spokane, Washington

“Had it been my decision alone, I would have stayed in Michigan and probably would have practiced in Grand Rapids,” said Erin Kloostra Johnson. “But since this was our decision, one that involved both myself and my husband, Bret Johnson (DDS 2006), we moved to Spokane, which is where his family lives. It’s worked for both of us.” After being an associate in a private practice for nearly two years, Kloostra Johnson opened a pediatric dental practice in May. She said a School of Dentistry graduate and colleague, Becky Van Gemert Coombs (DDS 2002), offered insights about the Spokane area market that eased the transition from being an associate to being an owner. “Dental students need to know what they will be getting into before graduating. If they don’t, things will be overlooked, and people will be frustrated,” Kloostra Johnson said. “No matter what their ultimate decision is, they must ask some hard questions when talking to others before making that final decision.” If dental students are thinking about becoming associates, those hard questions, she said, include asking the dentist that they may work for: How much do you make? What will I be paid? How is my compensation calculated? Is there an opportunity for ownership? What will be the terms of my contract? How much freedom will I have when treatment planning? How will disagreements be addressed with the staff? “Don’t be shy to ask the dentist you might work for to see financial statements for the past two or three years,” she said. “Also be sure to ask the dentist about his or her long-term plans for the practice.” Since graduation, Kloostra Johnson said she learned the importance of being flexible and keeping an open mind to new possibilities. “That’s what I tell my sister, Stephanie,” a fourth-year dental student, she said. “You can’t stay in one place because you liked it when you were growing up. You have to consider all your options, including the possibility of relocating, because you don’t know where your career opportunity will be.”

“Know what you’re getting into”

“Know what makes you happy”

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Thomas Guernsey [DDS 2006]Fostoria, Ohio Before earning his dental degree, Thomas Guernsey graduated with a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene, also from U-M, in 2002. “I never had any doubt that I would return to Fostoria after earning my dental degree,” he said. A town of 14,000 about 40 miles south of Toledo, Guernsey said, “it’s not just my hometown. My wife’s family lives here too.” Guernsey (pictured below at right with practice partner Dr. Erik Utz) said the knowledge and experience he gained in both the dental hygiene and predoctoral programs “prepared me exceptionally well for real-world dentistry, and that’s something dental and dental hygiene students should remember as they’re making their decision.” He said he felt confident with the knowledge and skills he acquired at U-M and would ultimately use, first, as an associate, and later as the partner in a private practice. “Two other dentists in Fostoria thought highly of our practice and referred patients to us before they retired,” Guernsey said. “Dental students should be honest with themselves, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses, before making final decisions about a career opportunity, whether it’s in Michigan, Ohio, or anywhere else,” he said. “Part of that self-assessment includes knowing whether they enjoy working in a big city or a small town, at a large practice or a small one, at a long-established practice or one that’s just getting started.” Regardless of what their decision is, Guernsey said “it’s going to be natural for graduating students to be a bit scared because they won’t have the safety net of a faculty member or dental school to guide them. But they will quickly realize that they received a great education at Michigan, that they are prepared, and that they can make a difference.”

“Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses”

Jared Van Ittersum[DDS 2008], Muskegon, Michigan After dividing his time between public health dentistry and running a private practice for two years after graduating from the School of Dentistry, Jared Van Ittersum is now running four private practices — two in Whitehall, one in Spring Lake, and the other in Muskegon, Michigan. “I couldn’t be happier with the way things have worked out.” A general practice dentist, Van Ittersum said, “my decision to remain in Michigan was easy to make because I grew up in the western part of the state, in Spring Lake, and my family lives in the area. It’s a great environment and a great place to raise a family.” “With many baby boomer dentists looking to sell their practices during the next five to ten years, dental students should keep their options open about where they want to practice after graduation, be it in Michigan or elsewhere,” he said. Since many graduates will choose to become an associate in a dental practice, Van Ittersum advised them to “build a solid financial track record” from the beginning. Speaking from personal experience, he said banks are still reluctant to lend because of the market crash in 2008. “But even if you’re considering becoming independent, lenders want to see that you can generate enough income to make sure that you can not only run a practice, but also repay what they loan you,” he said. Van Ittersum said he’s investing in technology at all of his offices. “You can’t be afraid to invest in your practice. You have to do it if you want to grow.”

“Keep your options open”


Justin Smith [DDS 2005]Arlington, Washington “I thoroughly enjoyed my four years at Michigan as a dental student, but since neither my wife nor I had any family in the Midwest, both of us were ready for a change,” said Justin Smith. After graduating from U-M, Smith moved to Chicago, where he met his wife, an endodontist, during his residency. He received a master’s degree in oral sciences and two years of advanced specialty training in pediatric dentistry at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Afterwards, the Smiths moved west in late 2007 and opened a pediatric dental practice about half an hour north of Seattle. “There was a business opportunity here because the area didn’t have a pediatric practice until ours was established,” he said. “I’m also a little closer to my family who live in Arizona, and the climate here is certainly milder compared to the Midwest,” he said with a laugh. “And it’s a great place to raise a family.” The Smiths are parents of a two-year-old girl and an eight-month-old boy. Before leaving Michigan, Smith said he investigated possibly becoming an associate at several dental practices in the state. “But the fit wasn’t good for me since part of my plan was to get into a dental specialty program,” he said. From his experiences, Smith said “it’s probably difficult, at best, to convince someone with no ties to Ann Arbor or Michigan to remain after receiving their dental degree.” However, he suggested one way to change that could be creating a program at the dental school where fourth-year dental students might work several hours a week at a practice that wants to hire associates. “That might convince some dental students to remain in Michigan. But, in the end, it’s all about a good fit, professionally and personally, and doing what you think will help you advance your career,” he said.

“It’s all about a good fit”

U-M Dentistry graduates...

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“Go where you think you will be the

happiest, and the rest will fall into place.”


Lindsey Wurtzel[DDS 2009], Ann Arbor, Michigan “I knew when I applied to dental school that I would want to practice with my dad after I graduated,” said Lindsey Wurtzel. Her father, Donald Wurtzel, earned his DDS from the U-M School of Dentistry in 1981. Her brother, Benjamin, joined the family practice in Ann Arbor after receiving his dental degree this spring. “I thought working with my father would be a great opportunity, and it has been,” she said. “I couldn’t ask for a better mentor. I’m learning more about dentistry and we frequently bounce ideas off of each other. All of that makes the partnership intellectually stimulating.” For dental students who are now thinking about what to do after graduation, Wurtzel advised them “to

consider all opportunities, whether those are in Michigan or elsewhere.” However, she also advised dental students, “a big part of knowing whether you should pursue a particular opportunity is to know exactly what it is that you want.” Although geography is one factor to consider, she said others include the economy of the area where the practice is located, the size of the practice, the technology that is being used, and who might be a mentor. “You have to be in a place where you will be happy and working with people you enjoy being with. I’m very fortunate to have the best of all possible worlds,” she said.

Brittany Mailloux-Kross [DDS 2010]Grand Haven, Michigan Originally from Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Brittany Mailloux-Kross said, “Because of the great education I received at Michigan, I felt that I was ready to go into a private practice after graduation.” Two factors influenced her decision to practice dentistry in Michigan. The first was a desire to be close to her family. The other was the attraction of the state’s natural resources. “Growing up on Lake St. Clair, I enjoyed outdoor activities, and I wanted to be in an area that offered outdoor recreation to relax and unwind,” she said. As she contemplated her decision that ultimately led to her working at the dental practice of Donald Wilton (DDS 1966), Mailloux-Kross said she remembered advice offered by Dr. Bill Piskorowski, director of the community outreach program. “He said, ‘know yourself, go where you think you will be the happiest, and the rest will fall into place.’ He was right,” she said. Mailloux-Kross said she would offer similar advice to those who are now contemplating what to do after graduation. “But you also need to know what your priorities are. Do you want to be close to your family? Would you enjoy practicing in a small town or a big city? Would you be happy in a small practice or a big one? These are some of the questions you must ask yourself. And you must be honest with yourself answering them.” Mailloux-Kross said, regardless of their final decision, dental students are in an enviable position. “As a dentist, you can go just about anywhere because your skills are portable. Having a dental degree from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry is a great advantage,” she said. “Michigan-trained dentists have a clinical skill level and educational background that is second to none. I’m grateful for my Michigan dental education.”

“Your skills are portable”


Scott Babin [DDS 2003]Seattle, Washington Scott Babin’s career path had taken some interesting twists and turns even before he earned his DDS from U-M in 2003. Inspired to practice public health dentistry while participating in the School’s community outreach program, Babin worked at the Northwest Michigan Community Health Agency in Manistee, Michigan, for about three years after graduation. “Doing that enabled me to reduce my student loan repayments by about $50,000,” he said. “But I really wanted to return to Seattle.” Babin drove to Seattle from Detroit in 1992 and held several different jobs in the area until beginning his pursuit of dentistry. During a lunch with his mother, stepfather, and their dentist in 1998, Babin received some straightforward advice. Discussing the various dental schools Babin applied to, the dentist, who

was not a U-M graduate, advised Babin, “If you want to practice dentistry anywhere in the world, go to Michigan.” “It was great advice,” Babin said, “I’m glad I listened. ” When he returned to Seattle in 2006, Babin worked for nine months with the Seattle-King County Health Department before purchasing his practice. “New patients mostly choose a dentist from an insurer’s provider list. Often, patients tell me that they picked me because I earned my dental degree from U-M.” For dental students who are considering what to do after graduation, Babin said, “I do not think their question should be, ‘Do I stay in Michigan or do I leave?’ You have to be open to all opportunities no matter where they are.” Before making a final decision, however, Babin advised students, “make sure you know what you’re getting into, whether it’s associating or purchasing an existing practice. Be thorough. Be patient. You’ve come so far already, earning your DDS from one of the top programs in the world. Then the hard work begins.”

Jemma Allor [DH 2000], Mt. Clemens, Michigan

“I never imagined living or working anywhere else. I grew up here, have family and friends in southeast Michigan and across the entire state. So after earning my bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene, it was a logical decision for me to remain in Michigan. I was never tempted to leave,” said Jemma Allor. Also influencing her decision, Allor said, was the opportunity to work for St. Clair Shores dentist, Michael Jennings (DDS 1977). A member of the School’s Alumni Society Board of Governors, Allor was at last fall’s meeting during the discussion about why some dental and dental hygiene students remain in Michigan after graduation while others leave. “I know from conversations I’ve had with dental and dental hygiene students that they consider the same factors I did when weighing their options about staying in Michigan or leaving,” Allor said. “For many, it’s not an easy decision to make,” she said. “But I would advise all of them to be proactive, join professional associations, and network to find the opportunity that’s right for them, because, in the end, they have to be comfortable with their decision.” Allor said besides being close to family, another benefit of remaining in Michigan has been the opportunity to serve on the Board of Governors and “attend outstanding continuing dental education courses taught by School of Dentistry faculty.”

“Be proactive”


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P R O F I L E

ow can I change that?”That was the question Dr. Nisha D’Silva said she always asked herself as a dental student after treating patients, many with oral cancer, who came to clinics for care at the University of Bombay, India. D’Silva still asks that question today.

But it’s not just as a clinician. It’s also as a researcher and teacher at both the U-M School of Dentistry and the Medical School.

“The Logic of Science” From an early age, D’Silva said she always enjoyed science, especially high school chemistry and biology. “I loved the logic of science,” she said. “Science fascinated me because it was precise.” I was interested in it long before high school,” she said. So after two years in college, the requirement to gain admission to a professional school in India, D’Silva applied for admission to the University of Bombay Dental School. “I was amazed to see what I could do as a dental student,” she said. “I was able to treat patients and educate them at the same time.” D’Silva said many of the patients treated were seeing an oral health care professional for the first time. “Many patients use ‘paan’,” she said, and paan is known to cause oral cancer. “Seeing so many patients with oral cancer, which has a poor prognosis, I began asking myself, ‘How could I change that’?” D’Silva said in her quest to get an answer to that question she was drawn to oral pathology. After earning her dental degree in 1987, D’Silva studied pathology at Indiana University’s School of Dentistry. “The pathology textbooks that I used as a dental student in India were written by faculty at I-U. That is where I wanted to be, learning more about the subject from people who wrote the book,” she said. Pursuing her master’s degree, D’Silva was also an associate instructor in the general pathology lab. The combination of research and teaching was an eye opening experience. “I discovered I loved doing both, because research and teaching enhanced my clinical skills and contributed to my knowledge of oral health,” she said. “But I realized that if I wanted to investigate the molecular mechanisms that led to the development of oral cancer, and to search for novel treatment targets, I would have to earn a PhD.” In 1990, she began working on her doctorate at the University of Washington in Seattle.

The Road to Michigan It wasn’t long before others began taking note of D’Silva’s research initiatives. In 1993, she was the first to receive the Warren Magnuson Scholarship that acknowledged both her academic and research excellence. Three years later, she won two Edward Hatton Awards, one from the American Association for Dental Research, the other from the International Association for Dental Research. “Winning both Hatton Awards was exciting because it affirmed for me that my career was on the right path. Even more amazing, was that I received both awards only eight months after I gave birth to our first son,” she said with a laugh. Dean Polverini, then chair of Oral Medicine, Pathology, and Oncology heard of D’Silva’s accomplishments and invited her for an interview. “I accepted his invitation to visit Michigan,” she said. “I liked the School of Dentistry and the people I talked to. Ann Arbor seemed to be a good place to raise a family.” She also thought Ann Arbor would allow her husband, Dr. Anthony D’Silva, to continue his career as a physician.

DDS-MSD-PhDAssoc iate P rofessor

Pe r i odont ics &Ora l Med ic ine


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“He was willing to move so my career could advance,” she said. “I was offered a position and accepted because the move offered the best of all worlds for all of us.”

Head and Neck Cancer Research Another important reason for wanting to be at Michigan, she said, was to have opportunities to collaborate with the head and neck cancer research team at U-M Hospital. D’Silva was the first director of the Tissue Core of the Head and Neck Cancer Specialized Programs for Research Excellence (SPORE). Funded by the NIH, the SPORE serves as a tissue database researchers use to gain a better understanding of genetic and molecular mechanisms that influence the behavior and growth of malignant tumors. One of D’Silva’s research initiatives at the School of Dentistry focuses on the study of a protein involved in promoting the growth of oral cancer cells. The protein, rap1, also induces the secretion of factors that promote invasion by cancer cells. Understanding how these processes evolve may one day lead to developing oral cancer treatments that are unique for each patient. She is also investigating biomarkers that may offer clues to the early detection of tumors and predicting their possible progression. “If caught early, as many as 80 to 90 percent of

lesions are treatable,” she said. D ’ S i l v a e n j o y s m e n t o r i n g postdoctoral, doctoral, dental, and undergraduate students in her laboratory. “I consider this a very important part of my work because it creates future generations of dentists and scientists,” she said. She also directs several courses and teaches both dental and dental hygiene students.

Leadership Training D’Silva’s achievements have been recognized throughout the School and nationwide. In 2004, she was selected by the American Dental Education Association to participate in its Leadership Institute. The 12-month program helps develop the nation’s most promising faculty to

become future leaders in dentistry and dental education. Last year, D’Silva was one of 54 women from across the country selected to participate in the prestigious Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM®), a program designed to increase the number of women in senior academic leadership positions. D’Silva said participating in both programs gave me a better understanding of organizational behavior. “These programs also gave me new insights into my personal and professional strengths and how I could use them to improve myself even more and also help the dental

school achieve its goals and objectives,” she said. She said those programs and the Essentials of MBA and Entrepreneurship she completed at the U-M Ross School of Business “have helped me immensely in my position as director of the division of oral medicine, pathology, and radiology within the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine.” Answering Her Own Question Looking back on her journey from dental school in India to the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, D’Silva said that what has been most rewarding for her “is being involved in all three areas – research, teaching, and clinical practice – and working with some truly amazing people.”

The three disciplines are connected, she added. “Research encourages further exploration and leads to new discoveries. Teaching gives me opportunities to pass along what I have learned and discovered to the next generation of students. And I continue to enjoy clinical work because that gives my research and teaching even more meaning.” Reflecting on her career, D’Silva said, “When I was a dental student, I never imagined I would be doing what I’m doing now.” She is also well on her way to answer that question she asked herself as a dental student – “How could I change that?”

Nisha D’Silva and Rajat Banerjee.

“Seeing so many patients with oral cancer, which has a poor prognosis, I began asking

myself, ‘How could I change that’?”


4 Faculty PromotedPromotions of four School of Dentistry faculty members were recently approved

D r . W i l l i a m G i a n n o b i l e , a professor of dentistry in the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine at the U-M School of Dentistry, is

the first recipient of a newly created award in periodontics that recognizes an indiv idual for outstanding achievements in the field. Giannobile received the Jan Lindhe Research Award in May in Gothenburg, Sweden during the third annual Jan Lindhe International Symposium on clinical periodontology and implant dentistry. The two-day symposium, Teeth or Implants – Evidence-Based Strategies in Treatment Planning, featured invited internationally renowned speakers, each representing different fields of expertise. Their lectures provided insights and analysis on decision making in treatment planning. Giannobile is the William K. and Mary Anne Najjar Professor of Dentistry. In addition to his extensive classroom, clinical, and research activities at the School of Dentistry and memberships in professional organizations, he is also editor-in-chief of the Journal of Dental Research, a monthly scientific journal of the International Association for Dental Research.

FACULTY

Giannobile First to Receive New Research Award

Tenure Track: U-M Regents approved the promotion of Yvonne Kapila, DDS, PhD to professor of dentistry with tenure, from associate professor of dentistry with tenure in the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine. Kapila has been with the University of Michigan School of Dentistry since 2004. Her research focuses on how the extracellular matrix regulates the life and death of cells in conditions such as inflammation, which is encountered in periodontal disease, and during the process of cancer progression in oral squamous cell carcinomas. She earned a bachelor’s degree in human biology from Stanford in 1986, a dental degree from the University of California-San Francisco in 1990, a certificate in periodontics from UCSF in 1994, and a doctoral degree, also from UCSF, in 1997. She recently accepted a leadership role directing global initiatives for the School of Dentistry and will work with the leadership team to develop a globalization strategy for the School.

Clinical Track:Carol Anne Murdoch-Kinch, DDS, PhD to clinical professor of dentistry from clinical associate professor of dentistry in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Hospital Dentistry. Appointed Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in June 2010, Murdoch-Kinch has been extensively involved in developing the School’s new curriculum, including its science foundation component.

Domenica Sweier, DDS, PhD, to clinical associate professor of dentistry from clinical assistant professor in the Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences, and Endodontics. Sweier teaches in the graduate and undergraduate dental clinics; directs the geriatric dentistry course for third-year dental and dental hygiene students; co-directs the infection and immunity course for first-year dental students; and lectures on caries risk management.

Research Track:Louise O’Brien, PhD, to associate research scientist from assistant research scientist with the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Hospital Dentistry. A faculty member with the School of Dentistry and the Medical School since 2006, O’Brien’s research interests include the neuro-behavioral consequences of sleep-disordered breathing in children and sleep in children with cleft palate repair, craniofacial anomalies, and Williams Syndrome.


three-star U.S. Army General, who is also that military branch’s Surgeon General and Commanding General of the Medical Command, was impressed with the students, faculty, and technology being

used in clinics at the School of Dentistry. Lt. General Eric Schoomaker, a Detroit native and U-M alumnus (BS 1970, MD 1975, PhD 1979) visited the School and recalled his experiences as a dental school patient as fourth-year dental student Jillian Dettloff demonstrated how some of the new technology is being used to enhance patient care. Dettloff and other dental students are using 3M’s Lava Chairside Optical Scanner in their all-ceramic dental restoration course. The digital impression-taking system and related technologies are preparing dental students for an increasingly technology-driven environment that is designed to increase the efficiency of clinicians and enhance the quality of care patients receive. Dettloff is the recipient of a Health Professions Scholarship from the U.S. Army that pays 100 percent of tuition to qualified students who pursue professional degrees from universities or colleges that have accredited medical, dental, veterinary, or similar programs. The scholarship also pays for a student’s books, equipment, and most academic fees. “This was my first presentation to a high-ranking officer,” Dettloff said. “It was a great honor and a once in a lifetime opportunity to be selected for the privilege of leading a tour of the U-M dental school for someone as esteemed as the Army Surgeon General.” Schoomaker recalled receiving care at the School when he was working on his bachelor’s degree. “I got great care here. In fact, I had my molars taken out in one of these clinics when I was a student,” he said with a smile as he talked to Dean Peter Polverini and Dr. Ronald Heys, director of the 2 Green Clinic. Near the end of his visit, Schoomaker commented about the military’s use of technology to provide oral health

care. “We are always cost conscious when it comes to using technology but quality care is our first priority,” he said. “Technology evolves, but my focus is finding the best people who have been trained to use the leading technology and who can handle a broad range of dental care issues. I am very pleased with Jillian Dettloff and others like her at the School of Dentistry. The Army is always looking for the best people, and she certainly is one of them,” he added. Commenting about Schoomaker’s visit, the Chief of the Army Dental Corps, Major General Ted Wong, said, “it’s not often the Army Surgeon General visits dental schools. I have been truly impressed with the dedication and talents of our new dental officers. It speaks highly of them and the dental schools who prepare them. Thanks for what you do at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry.” Dettloff, who graduates next May, will join the Army Dental Corps as a captain.

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Three-star General and U.S. Army Surgeon General Eric Schoomaker (left) observed Jillian Dettloff (D4) demonstrate the use of 3M’s Lava Chairside Optical Scanner with Dean Peter Polverini.


SCHOOL

ur goal is to get them thinking like dentists from the moment they arrive. Grand Rounds is one of the

programs our dental students encounter during their first week of classes, and it will continue throughout their four years of dental school,” said Dr. Dennis Fasbinder, clinical professor in the Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences, and Endodontics. Focusing on the Application of Information “We want students to develop critical thinking skills and exercise evidence-based decision making that will enhance their ability to develop and implement treatment plans when working with patients,” he said. Grand Rounds, Fasbinder emphasized, is designed “to focus on the application of the information students learn.” Since Grand Rounds links basic science and clinical science, it also requires students to gather credible information from reliable sources, evaluate it, and determine how the information can be applied in patient-specific cases. “This process is crucial to making good clinical choices and recommendations,” Fasbinder said. During the first Grand Rounds sesion in week one, students were asked to determine when it was appropriate to extract third molars and when patients should consider whitening their teeth. “These topics were chosen because the students themselves may already have had one of the treatments,” Fasbinder said. “The topics gave them an appreciation of the patient’s point of view as well.”

However, the Grand Rounds program is not limited to D1s. Second-, third-, and fourth-year dental students also participate. Dental Students Enthused “It’s a great concept and a great program,” said D2 Eric Mencarelli who participated in the first Grand Rounds program last summer. “It helps you develop your critical thinking skills and hones your decision making abilities,” he said. “You begin thinking like a dentist because, in many cases, you learn that there is not a single right or wrong answer to a problem or issue a patient faces.” Second-year dental student Derek Vinkovich agreed, adding, “Grand Rounds enables you to build the broad base of clinical and scientific knowledge you need to help a patient. By working in groups, you learn that there are different ideas or opinions about how to address a patient’s problem.” Mencarelli and Vinkovich said they benefitted from listening to the perspectives dentists and researchers from within and outside the dental school shared with their colleagues. “Having two people in the same profession, each with a different perspective on a topic, sends a positive message to dental students about how important it is for them to consider all sides of an issue before making a final decision,” Vinkovich said. Mega Grand Rounds Building on the success of Grand Rounds is Mega Grand Rounds. Mega Grand Rounds takes the Grand Rounds concept a step further to foster a collegial experience among students,

A Grand Idea...Grand Rounds, Mega Grand Rounds

Encouraging Critical Thinking

faculty, and practicing dentists in a group learning environment. The first Mega Grand Rounds course, State of the Art Diagnosis and Management of Oral Cancer, gave dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and other oral health care professionals the opportunity to participate with students in learning more about oral cancer. The second Mega Grand Rounds course, The Application of Digital Technology in Restorative Dentistry, featured uses of digital technology in dental practice. “The fact that you’re learning so much from experts at U-M and outside the university really broadens your horizons and expands your knowledge base,” Mencarelli said. Vinkovich agreed, adding, “you not only learn from what the experts have to say about a particular topic, you also learn from the way a question is asked.”

Barbara Zickgraf (D3) and Dr. Mark Fitzgerald discuss the merits of digital dentistry during the November Mega Grand Rounds program.

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Stamm Appointed to StateDental Board

“I’m not the kind of person who likes to just sit back and watch. I like to jump in and get involved. So when I learned the State Board of Dentistry had an opening, I applied,” said Carol Stamm. Last June, Stamm, a clinic subjects coordinator for research in restorative dentistry in the Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences, and Endodontics, was appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder to a four-year term as the dental assistant representative to the Board. The Board regulates the practice of dentistry and investigates oral health care professionals reported to have violated regulations and codes of conduct and takes disciplinary action where indicated.

A registered dental assistant since 1998, Stamm began working at the School of Dentistry in 2005 coordinating clinical research studies in CRSE. She was president of the Michigan Dental Assistants Association from 2007 to 2008. Also appointed to the State Board for four-year terms were two School of Dentistry alumni, Drs. Kerry Kaysserian, (DDS 1981) and Craig Spencer (DDS 1981).

Fontana Chosen forLeadership Program

Dr. Margherita Fontana, an associate professor in the Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences and Endodontics, was recently chosen to participate in a prestigious national leadership program. Fontana is one of 54 women from across the country participating in the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM®)program for women. The program, now in its 17th year, focuses on preparing women for senior leadership positions at academic health centers. “I strongly believe ELAM provides a unique opportunity to effectively focus on developing my administrative and leadership skills,” she said. “I

will also endeavor to increase my knowledge of financial and budget management, learn best practices in leadership and learn how to negotiate and communicate. These are tools for a lifetime,” she continued, “which will help me become better prepared — from a personal, research, and service perspective — to develop solutions to problems that face dental education and the dental profession.”

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SCHOOL

e’re planting seeds early, when they are freshmen and

sophomores in high school, to get students thinking that going to college is something they can do, that it’s not an impossible dream,” said Dr. Marita Inglehart, associate professor of dentistry, as she talked about her visits to several Michigan high schools as part of a new University of Michigan program that encourages adolescents to consider and ultimately pursue higher education. If early responses are any indication, some students have expressed a desire to become oral health professionals. The program, Wolverine Express, features U-M faculty, staff, and students traveling to Saginaw, Jackson, Pontiac, Battle Creek, Benton Harbor, Muskegon, and Grand Rapids who talk to students from disadvantaged backgrounds about the benefits of higher education. Launched last fall by U-M’s Center for Educational Outreach, participants in Wolverine Express work with high school principals, counselors, and teachers encouraging them to emphasize to students what they need to do in high school to prepare for college. Dr. Kenneth May, associate professor of dentistry, and other participants in Wolverine Express, say many of the students they have talked to are often the first in their families to even consider going to college. “I talk about my background, growing up in rural Arkansas, and tell them, ‘Going to a college or university is doable and there are resources to help you’,” said May, who is also director of the School’s Office of Multicultural Affairs and Recruitment Initiatives.

“An Investment in Themselves” When the cost of attending a college or university comes up, May said he frames his response in a way most students have not considered. “I ask them, if they had the money, what kind of new automobile would they buy? After giving me their answers, I tell them that the new car loses value the moment it’s driven off the lot,” May said. “But I emphasize that if they earn a college degree, it is an investment in themselves, and that education is something no one will ever take away from them.” Inglehart agreed, describing in detail what they need to do in high school to prepare for college. “That includes studying hard to get good grades especially in science, math, grammar and composition; doing well on ACT and SAT tests; participating in extracurricular activities; volunteering in the community; and looking for

opportunities to make themselves more competitive,” she said. Kimberly Johnson, program coordinator of the School of Dentistry’s Health Careers Opportunity Program, said many students warm up to the idea of pursuing postsecondary education after she asks them to participate in a quiz. “I give them a list of famous people from all walks of life – politics, sports, entertainment – and ask them to match the names of the people with the college or university they attended,” she said. “When I tell them the results, I think that inspires some of them to seriously consider going to college.”

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Drs. Marita Inglehart and Kenneth May urge high school students to go to college.

Encouraging College , Oral Health Careers

Dental School Faculty Speaking at Inner City High Schools


STUDENTS

D1s Receive White Coats

first-year dental students were officially welcomed to the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and the dental profession during the School’s annual White Coat Ceremony at Rackham Auditorium on July 29.

Addressing the 52 men and 56 women who comprise the Class of 2015, Michigan Dental Association President Connie Verhagen (DDS 1986, MS 1988) said that becoming a dental student is “not just a turning point in your education, it represents the beginning of the transition from academic student to student clinician to dentist. As clinicians in training,” she said, you will face many challenges to overcome and skills to acquire.” Acknowledging that wearing the white coat “is a symbol of professionalism,” Verhagen said it also signifies to patients “that you will strive to regard them with the utmost respect, treat their problems to the best of your ability, and to listen carefully.” She advised students about the importance of “truly listening to your patients, not just hearing them. Of all the skills of a dentist, listening is probably the most underrated,” Verhagen said. “It’s not enough to hear the words. You must also listen for meaning, feelings, hidden questions, and listen to understand.” Reflecting on her experiences as a dental student at U-M, Verhagen told dental students “your academic career will involve more than attending class and taking exams. You will be building character and developing professional values and ethics. Respect and honesty,” she added, “are the two main components of professional ethics.” Verhagen urged dental students to get involved in outreach programs, clinics, and other opportunities, not just within the dental community, but the local community. “You can accomplish so much working with people one on one,” she said. After receiving their white coats, the new dental students recited an oath that they will again recite when they receive their dental degree in 2015. The oath for the D1s was written by fourth-year dental students who graduate next spring.

Michigan Dental Association President Dr. Connie Verhagen

Maggie Silvasi is helped into her white coat by D4 Chad Wert.

Dean Peter Polverini and first-year dental students

Celia Alcumbrack-McDaniel Call Photography

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STUDENTS

The U-M School of Dentistry has expanded its community outreach program in the Traverse City area and launched a new outreach program in the Thumb area of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. The efforts follow pilot programs earlier this year in Traverse City and Bad Axe showing a need for additional oral health care and a willingness among local providers to participate. U-M dental students began working with private practitioners, local health agencies, and community colleges in May to provide oral health care to the underserved and underinsured. These experiences complement other School of Dentistry outreach initiatives throughout Michigan.

Outreach Expands...More Sites, More Collaboration

Outreach participants (front L-R): Hillary Mendillo, Michael Lieberman, Jenna Comstock, and Lindsey Steele and volunteer dentists (back left) Daniel Madion (DDS 2001) and Craig Fountain.

Traverse City Four to five U-M dental students now spend three days a month in Traverse City working with 12 local dentists who have a long-term record of volunteering their time and services to provide dental care on behalf of the Traverse Health Clinic that serves low income, uninsured adults. During the eight-month program, dental students work two days in the office of Dr. Ronald Chao and one day at Grand Traverse Oral Surgery under the direction of Dr. Wayne Olsen (DDS 1981). Rene Louchart, Traverse Health Clinic dental director, said the need is critical. “More than 700 low-income residents came to the Traverse Health Clinic for oral health care last year compared to 450 a year earlier,” she said. “Our new arrangement with the U-M School of Dentistry and community dentists will benefit the underserved in this area who need that care.” Joining the U-M dental students and volunteer dentists are students in the dental assistant program at Northwestern Michigan College. The arrangement also enables registered dental hygienists, under terms of Michigan Public Act 161, to provide preventive care. Oral health care services provided include examinations, treatment plans, extractions, restorations, crowns, and dentures. Funding for the initiative is possible with gifts from the Les and Anne Biederman Foundation and

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Complementing the funding are the efforts of nearly 40 community dentists who, according to Louchart, donated approximately $200,000 of oral health care services last year.

Bad Axe In Bad Axe, three dental students are providing health care two days a week for seven months at the office of Dr. Michael Bills (DDS 2000). Three health departments in the area and several community dentists will be a part of the local effort. Each two-day session will include U-M student dentists and dental assisting and dental hygiene students from Baker College. Bills hopes the initiative will become a year round program with funding from health departments in a three-county area.

Initiative Lauded “It was the best learning experience I have had outside the dental school,” said Jenna Comstock, D4, following her outreach rotation in Traverse City. She said she especially enjoyed working in an oral surgery clinic. “My experiences in Traverse City have increased my confidence and ability to problem solve and will help me during my final year of dental school,” she added.

Widespread Interest “Our School’s community outreach efforts have attracted an incredible amount of attention and interest among U-M dental alumni. Other oral health care professionals across Michigan also desire to participate in the program,” said Dr. Bill Piskorowski, director of outreach and community affairs.


Five dental students and one dental hygiene student from U-M School of Dentistry were recently awarded scholarships from the Michigan Dental Association Foundation to help them defray the cost of their education. Recipients of the scholarships must be U.S. citizens, Michigan residents, and attend Michigan universities.

Dental, DH Students Receive ScholarshipsFrom Michigan Dental Association Foundation

Michigan Dental Association Foundation

MDA Foundation Scholarship recipients (L-R) Travis Mattson, Jennifer Broers, Steven Davis, Patricia Walch, and Michael Wierenga. Brent Medema (not pictured) .

Jennifer Broers, a third-year dental student from Alpena, Michigan, received a $2,000 Robert Mitus Award.

Steven Davis is a fourth-year dental student from Gladstone, Michigan, who received a $1,000 IFG Scholarship Award.

Travis Mattson, a third-year dental student from the town of Watersmeet in the western Upper Peninsula, received a $500 John G. Nolen Award.

Brent Medema, a third-year dental student from Portage, Michigan, received a $2,000 Robert Mitus Award.

Michael Wierenga, a third-year dental student from Grand Rapids, also received a $2,000 Robert Mitus Award.

Patricia Walch, a dental hygiene student from Chelsea, Michigan, received a $1,000 Robert Mitus Award.

Funds for the Mitus Awards are made available from the family of Dr. Robert Mitus (DDS 1978), an honorary MDA past president who was a leader in efforts to establish the Michigan Dental Association Foundation in the late 1990s. A former past president of the West Michigan District Dental Society, he also served on the MDA’s Board of Trustees before he died in 1999.

The Nolen Award is named for the late Dr. John G. Nolen (DDS 1944) who was the MDA’s executive director for 21 years before he died in 2000.

The IFG Award is from the MDA’s Insurance and Financial Group which offers insurance coverage to dentists.


STUDENTS

Periodontics Resident Receives Chasens

Fellowship

A third-year resident in the School of Dentistry’s graduate periodontics program, Dr. Hsun-Liang (Albert) Chan, has received the Abram and Sylvia Chasens Teaching and Research Fellowship from the American Academy of Periodontology. The prestigious fellowship, only two are awarded annually, provides a monetary award of $15,000 to support the recipient’s teaching or research interests. “I chose to continue my dental education at the University of Michigan because of the periodontal program’s global reputation for strong didactic and clinical education, as well as its rich research resources,” said Chan. Chan was a visiting scholar with the School’s Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences from 2007-2008. He earned his dental degree from Taipei Medical University in Taiwan in 2003. Before coming to the U.S., he practiced dentistry with Taiwan’s coast guard for two years, was a general practitioner at a private practice clinic for a year, and was a resident at a hospital periodontal clinic in Taiwan for a year.

Lindsay Rayburn (D4) was named by the Amer ican A s s o c i a t i o n fo r D e n t a l Research to the prestigious Gert Quigley Fellowship. It helps dental, PhD, or dual degree students become familiar with federal budget, legislative, and regulatory issues that are important to dental research. She spent about eight weeks at AADR headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, working with the organiz at ion’s G o v e r n m e n t A f f a i r s Committee. She helped draft policy, position papers, and

testimony; educated members of Congress and their staff members about issues important to dental research; and participated in national coalition meetings. As a committee member for the next 12 months, Rayburn will also be a liaison to the National Student Research Group and attend fall and spring committee meetings in Washington, D.C. “I’m honored to be named a Quigley Fellow and excited for the opportunity to see how policies that affect our profession are developed by organizations that represent our interests,” Rayburn said. “I’m also looking forward to being the liaison to the National Student Research Group and all dental students to inform them of important actions taking place on our behalf and on behalf of our profession.” Rayburn has worked with Dr. William Giannobile, director of clinical research for the School of Dentistry’s Michigan Center for Oral Health Research, and has been extensively involved in research that includes biomarker and imaging technologies that evaluate the progression of bone destruction. She earned a bachelor’s degree in cellular and molecular biology and a master’s degree in clinical research, both from U-M. “Lindsay has been committed to MCOHR as both a pre-dental and dental student, and has been involved in some of the large saliva diagnostics studies that have demonstrated the ability of markers of oral infection to predict disease outcomes,” Giannobile said. “Her training in public policy, clinical research, and clinical dentistry make her uniquely qualified to represent the School of Dentistry as an AADR Quigley Fellow.”

Lindsay Raburn NamedPublic Policy Fellow

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The Class of 2011

113 DDS

37 BS - Dental Hygiene

30 MS - Endodontics - Prosthodontics - Restorative Dentistry - Orthodontics - Periodontics - Pediatric Dentistry

2 PhD - Oral Health Sciences

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Mirror. Explorer. Probe. Dental and dental hygiene students used all three instruments gaining experience in U-M School of Dentistry clinics. In commencement remarks, Prof. Pamela Zarkowski told graduates the three dental instruments could help them in other ways: their decision making, their interactions with their peers and patients, and their contributions to the profession. Zarkowski, a U-M School of Dentistry alumna (DH 1975), is vice president for Academic Affairs at the University of Detroit Mercy. She is a past president of the American Dental Education Association and has held leadership roles in other dental, dental hygiene, and dental education professional organizations. “I have used the mirror, explorer, and probe throughout my career,” Zarkowski said. “They not only helped me get started in the profession, but they also remain my basic tool kit.” Describing the mirror as “a small but very powerful tool,” Zarkowski told graduates “to use your internal mirror for self reflection so you don’t go down a track that violates your code of ethics or personal or professional standards.” She urged graduates to be explorers by being involved in professional associations, reading scientific literature, and staying current on issues that affect not just patient care, but also education and research. “When you explore, you collect data that is used to assist in sound analysis and making fact-based decisions.” The probe, another useful tool, “measures the progression of change,” she said. “It allows you to ask important questions and guard against becoming complacent.” However, because of the rapid pace of change and the discovery of new knowledge, Zarkowski said that what may be relevant today may not be so in the future. “Since standards of care and treatment evolve over time, you need to remain current about what the probe is measuring.”


STUDENTS

Listen to the remarks of graduation speakers and see

more photographs on the School of Dentistry’s Web site:

www.dent.umich.edu.Click the tab: Special Features

17 Alumni Hood Sons, Daughters

Sisters Evelyn and Victoria Lucas-Perry were hooded by their mother, Dr. Patricia Lucas (‘81). Dental student Ian Liskiewicz (above) was hooded by his father, Dr. Walter Liskiewicz (‘75) and mother, Dr. Constance Smith Liskiewicz (‘79).

Other dental students who were hooded by fathers included:• Douglas Cabell by Dr. John Cabell (‘80)• Andrew Dill by Dr. Kenneth

Dill (‘76)• Ryan Frederickson by Dr. Lee

Frederickson (‘69)• Adam Garfinkle by Dr. Lawrence

Garfinkle (‘83)• Jonathan Koenigsknecht by

Dr. Donald Koenigsknecht (‘78)• Ronald Leyder, Jr. by Dr. Ronald

Leyder, Sr. (‘81)• William Love V by Dr. William

Love IV (‘75)• Stephen Mancewicz by Dr. Gary

Mancewicz (‘76)• John McMahon by Dr. John

McMahon (‘82)• Ross Nelson by Dr. Dennis

Nelson (‘78)• Albert Pesis by Dr. Solomon

Pesis (‘80)• John Pogoncheff by Dr. Metodi

Pogoncheff (‘76)• Steven Schmid by Dr. Richard

Schmid (‘76)• Benjamin Wurtzel by Dr. Donald

Wurtzel (‘81)

Dental Class President’s Advice

In farewell remarks, dental class president Neha Shah (above, center) described their education as “an adventure full of highs and lows. But through it all, we persevered.” She advised against complacency and urged her colleagues to continue their pursuit of knowledge. “We are pioneers of a path well traveled,” she said and encouraged classmates to add to its breadth and depth with new discoveries.

Paul Gibbons Award toDr. Philip Richards

Class president Neha Shah said, “Dr. Richards (above right) was an exceptional mentor and guiding light in the complex world of periodontics.” Thanking students for the award, Richards expressed pride in the graduates’ collective accomplishments and his hopes that they will “remember and remain connected to their dental school extended family.” The award recognizes an instructor graduates consider the most influential during their time in the School’s predoctoral program. Gibbons was a nationally known expert in prosthetic dentistry and cleft palate treatment and surgery until his untimely death in 1964 at the age of 44.

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DENTAL HYGIENEDental Hygiene Graduates Earn New Honor for Community Service

A new honor was conferred upon every dental hygiene student that each wore proudly as they received a Bachelor of Science degree at graduation. All 37 graduates from either the entry-level or degree completion program wore red service cords. Conferred by the U-M Ginsberg Center, the red cords recognized graduates who have completed at least 135 hours of community service. According to Prof. Wendy Kerschbaum, director of the dental hygiene program, the 37 participated in 135 hours during their senior year alone. The red cords were presented to them during a luncheon in April that was hosted by the U-M Dental Hygiene Alumni Association and the Washtenaw District Dental Hygienists’ Society. At the luncheon several students also received awards for other achievements:• ElizabethBrownreceivedtheColgate Student Total Achievement Recognition

(STAR) Award.• KyleeBriedenreceivedtheHu-Friedy Outstanding Clinician Award.• GinaVidican received theJohnson & Johnson Professional Excellence in

Dental Hygiene Award.• PaulMackovjak received theWashtenawDistrictDentalHygienists’

Society’s Professional and Community Involvement Award.• KathrynBrownreceivedthePauline Steele Student Leadership Award.

DH students were recognized with national awards:• Heather Bunce received the AmericanAssociation of PublicHealth

Dentistry’s Dental Hygiene Community Dentistry and Public Health Student Recognition Award.

• ElizabethBrown,AnjaHoffstrom, andBrandi Johnson received theAAPHD’s First Place Student Merit Award.

• MirandaMarion,MichelleUekihara, and SabrinaWilliams receivedthe AAPHD’s Honorable Mention, Student Merit Award for Outstanding Achievement in Community Dentistry.

Outstanding Instructor Award to Kerschbaum

Graduating dental hygiene students presented the Outstanding Instructor Award to Prof. Wendy Kerschbaum, director of the dental hygiene program. Brandi Johnson, class president, said Kerschbaum consistently encourages achievement beginning with her initial call to dental hygiene students telling them they have been accepted into the U-M program.

Degrees to DH Online Students

The School of Dentistry awarded Bachelor of Science degrees for the first time to seven students who successful ly completed the Distance Learning Degree Completion Program. The seven joined 30 other on- campus dental hygiene students who also received bachelor’s degrees at graduation. Launched in 2008, the online program offered students with an associate’s degree or certificate an oppor tunity to earn the undergraduate degree without having to quit their jobs to take courses on campus. They can also study at times that are convenient for them.

Dental hygiene Degree Completion Program graduates (L-R): Allison Restauri, Elizabeth Farber, Ashleigh Colpetsir, Lindsey VandenBerg, Jennifer Smith, Allie Turnbull, and Lisa Hayes.

Anne Gwozdek


Future Plans: Dental Class of 2011Of the 113 graduatesof the Class of 2011 45 percent plan to stay in Michigan. • Private Practice/ General Practice/

Associate . . . . . . 45%• General Practice Residency . . . . . 19%• Specialty Training . . . . . . . 11%• AEGD . . . . . . . . . . 9%• Military . . . . . . . . 5%• Community/ Public Health . . . . 4%• FQHC . . . . . . . . . . 4%• Unsure . . . . . . . . . 3%

STUDENTS

Amira May, Victoria Lucas-Perry, Evelyn Lucas-Perry, Shana Francois, and Andrea Salazar

All photos Per Kjeldsen

Dental student Joyce Bellamy sang the National Anthem

Reciting the professional standards oath

Aisha Akpabio after being hooded

Daryl Kwan, Ki Wan Kim, Ross Ryan, and Doug Cabell

Goran Topalo wasn’t shy about his emotions after he was hooded


RESEARCH

Researchers Inject Nanofiber Spheres Carrying Cells into

Wounds to Grow TissueBy Laura Bailey, U-M News Service

For the first time, scientists have made star-shaped, biodegradable polymers that can self-assemble into hollow, nanofiber spheres, and when the spheres are injected with cells into wounds, these spheres biodegrade, but the cells live on to form new tissue. Developing this nanofiber sphere as a cell carrier that simulates the natural growing environment of the cell is a very significant advance in tissue repair, says Peter Ma, professor at the U-M School of Dentistry and lead author of the paper published online on April 17 in Nature Materials. Co-authors are Xiaohua Liu and Xiaobing Jin. Repairing tissue is very difficult and success is extremely limited by a shortage of donor tissue, says Ma, who also has an appointment at the U-M College of Engineering. The procedure gives hope to people with certain types of cartilage injuries for which there aren’t good treatments now. It also provides a better alternative to ACI, which is a clinical method of treating cartilage injuries where the patient’s own cells are directly injected into the patient’s body. The quality of the tissue repair by the ACI technique isn’t good because the cells are injected loosely and are not supported by a carrier that simulates the natural environment for the cells, Ma says.

Peter Ma One of World’s Top 100Materials Scientists

A U-M School of Dentistry researcher has been named one of the world’s Top 100 Materials Scientists, and the only one from a dental school anywhere in the world. Dr. Peter Ma, the Richard Kingery Endowed Collegiate Professor in the Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences, ranked 76th among the world’s top materials scientists whose published research papers were among the most frequently cited by peer researchers worldwide between 2000 and 2010. The rankings were based on the average number of citations per paper that were referenced by researchers. The results were published by Thomson Reuters, a global information company. “I was surprised to learn I was on the list,” Ma said. “In fact, I didn’t know anything about it until some of my colleagues in other parts of the world sent e-mails to me offering their congratulations.” Ma said that for a biomaterials researcher on the list, and being the only one from a dental school anywhere in the world, “speaks highly of the support I have received from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry.” Ma’s research focuses on developing materials that have dental and medical applications. Some of these materials, such as those used in restorative dentistry, are developed to directly replace the structure and function of damaged or diseased tissues or organs. Some are developed as scaffolding (matrix materials) for cells to grow on and develop into new tissues. As new tissue develops, the special materials (scaffolds) degrade and resorb, leading to completely “natural” tissue replacement and/or regeneration.

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RESEARCH

Research Day 2012

Alumni, Friends, Faculty, Staff, Students Invited

Martha Somerman, DDS, PhD, who began her duties as director of the National I n s t i t u t e o f D e n t a l a n d Craniofacial Research in August, will be the keynote speaker at the School of Dentistry’s annual Research Day program on Wed., Feb. 22, 2012.

Somerman was a member of the School of Dentistry’s faculty from 1991 to 2002 and chair of the Department of Periodontics, Prevention, and Geriatrics before becoming dean of the University of W a s h i n g t o n S c h o o l o f Dentistry in 2002.

Poster presentat ions by s t u d e n t s a n d g r a d u a t e students will take place at the Michigan League following her remarks.

chool of Dentistry researchers believe they know why prostate and breast cancer usually recur in the bone. Dr. Russell Taichman, senior author of a new study that appears online in the Journal of

Clinical Investigation, investigated possible interrelationships in stem cell development, cancer cell proliferation, and bone biology. Once in the niche, the cancer cells stay dormant and when they become active again years later, that’s when tumors recur in the bone. The implication is that this may give us a window into how dormancy and recurrence take place. Taichman and a team of researchers looked in the bone marrow and found cancer cells and hematopoietic stem cells next to one another competing for the same place. The finding is important because it demonstrates that the bone marrow niche plays a central role in bone metastasis – cancers that spread into the bone—giving researchers a new potential drug target. Drugs could be developed to keep the types of cancers that likely recur in the bone from returning, Taichman said. For example, these drugs could either halt or disrupt how the cancer cells enter or behave in the niche, or keep the cancer cells from out-competing the stem cells. Cancer cells act a lot like stem cells in that they must reproduce, so the U-M research group hypothesized that prostate cancer cells might travel to the niche during metastasis. One of the jobs of the niche is to keep hematopoietic stem cells from proliferating – which may be the case for cancer cells, as well, the researchers found.

Are Bones a Conduit for Certain Cancers?By Laura Bailey, U-M News Service

“The next step is to find out how the tumor cell gets into the niche and becomes dormant, and exactly what they do to the stem cells when they are there.”

Dr. Russell Taichman

Dr. MarthaSomerman


Per Kjeldsen

n assistant professor in the Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry at

the University of Michigan School of Dentistry is one of 12 researchers nationwide to receive a prestigious award that will enable her to pursue cutting-edge biomedical applied research that has the potential to benefit children’s health. Dr. Nan Hatch will receive $100,000 in research suppor t annually for the next three years from The Hartwell Foundation to investigate the role tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase may play in the development of craniosynostosis.

What It Is Craniosynostosis is relatively common, affecting about one in 3,000 children. It’s been associated with a myriad of problems and is a significant biomedical burden for afflicted children and their parents. As a child is born, the soft spot or sutures at the top of the head allow the skull bones to slide over one another. Following birth, the skull bones normally slide back and the child’s skull and brain continue growing. At birth, a child’s brain is about 25 percent of its adult size. As the child continues to grow and develop, the skull normally expands to accommodate that growth. In craniosynostosis, however, the skull bones fuse prematurely. While the brain continues to grow, the skull does not, exerting pressure on the brain. Mental retardation and other problems then occur.

Dr. Nan Hatch Receives Major Award for Children’s Research

In an attempt to remedy the problem, bones in the skull are broken to allow for growth and expansion. However, children with craniosynostosis often need four or five surgeries by the time they are 18. The physical, emotional, and financial stresses take a toll on children and their parents.

Searching for Nonsurgical Treatment Option “Our research is trying to show that pharmaceutical control of an enzyme whose activity is essential for bone mineralization, alkaline phosphatase, can prevent craniosynostosis,” Hatch said. “If successful, our results will lead to the first and only nonsurgical treatment option for infants and children with craniosynostosis, and an enormous improvement in the quality of life for these patients.” Hatch earned her DMD from Harvard in 1999, received an orthodontic certificate from the University of Washington in 2003, and went on to complete a PhD in molecular and cell biology in 2005. She joined the U-M School of Dentistry as a post-doctoral fellow and, in 2007, won two first place Hatton Awards in both the American and International Association for Dental Research competitions for her research on fibroblast growth factor signaling in bone mineralization and craniofacial development. In 2008, she won the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research Harold M. Frost Young Investigator Award. Dr. Sunil Kapila, chair of the Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, lauded Hatch for being awarded the prestigious and highly competitive grant from The Hartwell Foundation. “This award and Dr. Hatch’s previous accomplishments are well deserved and recognize both her achievements and her future promise to biomedical sciences in craniofacial anomalies,” he said. “I believe her proposed studies could provide novel treatment strategies for non-invasive treatment of children with craniosynostosis, offering hope to them as well as their families.”


he School of Dentistry’s dental hygiene program presented its Outstanding Alumna Award to Sheree Duff (DH 1980), associate dean of Dental Science Programs at Baker College in Auburn Hills, Michigan. She received the award this spring for her contributions to the dental

hygiene profession. After receiving her bachelor’s degree, Duff worked in a periodontal practice as a dental hygienist and later worked in the periodontal practice of her late husband, Dr. Benson Duff (DDS 1980). After receiving her master’s degree in health care administration from Central Michigan University in 1991, Duff accepted an administrative position at Mott Children’s Health Center in Flint where she helped run the dental department. Later, when Baker College of Port Huron created its dental hygiene and dental assisting programs, Duff became the program’s founder and its first director in 1995. Ten years later, when the college announced plans to establish similar programs at the Auburn Hills campus, Duff took on that job, designed a fully accredited dental assistant program, and was then named associate dean of the dental science programs. Duff has been active in the Michigan Dental Hygienists’ Association and its St. Clair and Oakland district chapters. In 2002, she was awarded the St. Clair County Dental Hygiene Society’s Hygienist of the Year Award. Last summer she received the Sunstar/Registered Dental Hygienists’ Award of Distinction. Duff is also a member of the School of Dentistry’s Alumni Society Board of Governors. Recently, she initiated the Benson Duff Endowed Graduate Periodontics Scholarship to honor the memory of her husband who died in 2008.

DENTAL HYGIENE

Sheree Duff (right) and her mother, Elva Brownell, hold the Outstanding Alumna Award Duff received this spring.

Ann

e G

woz

dek

Five Inducted into Dental Hygiene Honor Society

Five women were inducted into the Nu Chapter of the national dental hygiene honor society, Sigma Phi Alpha, this spring. The honor society acknowledges scholastic achievement and also encourages professional accomplishment and service in dental hygiene to enhance the profession’s role in oral health care. The School of Dentistry’s Nu Chapter annually elects senior students on the basis of scholarship, service, leadership, and potential for professional growth. Inducted this year were Kathryn Brown, Patricia Walch, and Allison Restauri, dental hygiene students. Also inducted were Becky Lewis and Anne Gwozdek. Lewis was selected as an honorary member for her outstanding educational contributions and community service to the dental hygiene profession. As dental clinic coordinator at the Hope Clinic in Ypsilanti, Michigan, she schedules rotations for dental hygiene students. Lewis is also the Clinic’s fundraiser and dental assistant. Gwozdek, a U-M faculty inductee, is the director of the School’s Dental Hygiene Degree Completion Programs.

Outstanding Alumna Award to Sheree Duff

U-M Sigma Phil Alpha inductees were (L-R): Kathryn Brown, Patricia Walch, Allison Restauri, Becky Lewis, Anne Gwozdek.Photo courtesy of Anne Gwozdek


Dental Hygiene Students WinNational Awards

Three U-M School of Dentistry dental hygiene students received a first place national award for their project that explored the roles of health, community gardening, and proper nutrition. Three other dental hygiene students received an honorable mention for their initiative that investigated reasons local dentists have been unable to volunteer at a local children’s dental clinic. Both awards were presented in April during the American Association of Public Health Dentistry’s National Oral Health Conference in Pittsburgh.

First Place Anja Hoffstrom, Brandi Johnson, and Elizabeth Brown won first place for their study that assessed the results of a community garden project at the Huron Valley Boys and Girls Club.

Honorable Mention Miranda Marion, Michelle Uekihara, and Sabrina Williams received an honorable mention for their project that investigated the barriers that prevent dentists in the Ann Arbor area from volunteering at the Washtenaw Children’s Dental Clinic (WCDC).

DH Group Gives Its Allfor Team Klausner

The experience was better than anyone imagined. A group of more than 120 students, faculty, and staff with the University of Michigan School of Dentistry’s dental hygiene program recently participated in the Relay for Life, a university-wide fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. The dental hygiene group paid tribute to Christine Klausner, a beloved faculty member who lost her battle to ovarian cancer last September at the age of 60. To honor her memory, the group included their team name, “Smile for Life.” But they took it a step further and added “Team Klausner.” During the April 9 and 10 event, oral health kits, that included oral hygiene care supplies, were sold. Information about oral cancer was also distributed. When the two-day event ended, Team Klausner raised $7,038 and placed the group in the top seven percent of fundraisers university-wide. The amount was 40 percent higher than the original $5,000 goal.

Klausner Family Participation “The two-day experience was very special because it gave all of us an opportunity to connect with Chris and her family,” said Anne Gwozdek, one of the faculty members who participated. Members of Klausner’s family joined dental hygiene students, faculty, and staff, including her husband, Dr. Leo Klausner, sons Kyle and Kent, their wives, and grandchildren. Christine’s siblings, Connie and Steve, also joined.

Receiving First-Place Awards from the American Association of Public Health Dentistry were (left to right) dental hygiene students Anja Hoffstrom, Brandi Johnson, and Elizabeth Brown. With them is their faculty mentor, Anne Gwozdek.

Faculty, staff, students, family, and friends of Chris Klausner participated in the annual Relay for Life earlier this year on the U-M campus.

Anne Gwozdek


ALUMNI

o this day, I am grateful for the education I received at the University of Michigan. That’s why I’m trying to give something back to the School of Dentistry by staying involved,” said Dr. George Yellich.

Earlier this year, Yellich finished serving a second three-year term on the School’s Alumni Society Board of Governors. Now he is serving an eight-year term on the Chalmers J. Lyons Academy’s Board of Directors. Lyons and several of his oral surgery residents founded the Academy in 1927. They would meet in Ann Arbor to discuss cases with him and each other. A successful oral surgeon with offices in San Jose and Santa Cruz, California, Yellich is also a recruiter who talks to students at local high schools in California about the benefits of a University of Michigan education. During those appearances, and on other occasions, Yellich expresses appreciation for his U-M education and talks about how his life has changed and his career has flourished. Growing up in Melvindale, Michigan, Yellich said he considered a career in engineering or medicine when he was in high school. But he decided to pursue dentistry after conversations with his family’s dentist. “That dentists could help so many patients in so many different ways appealed to me. So, too, did the fact that dentists didn’t have to be on call 24/7 like physicians,” he said with a chuckle. Accepted into dental programs at both U-M and the University of Detroit, Yellich said he never had any regrets about choosing Michigan. “The high quality of education and the outstanding instructors I had enabled me to be in such a rewarding profession,” he said. Among the instructors Yellich mentioned were Drs. Gerry Charbeneau, Charles Cartwright, Fred Kahler, William Kotowicz, and Charles Kelsey. It was during the second year of his dental education at Michigan that Yellich said he decided to become an oral surgeon. “That seemed to be an exciting dental specialty because you were working with patient tissues,” he said. “It also seemed to have a medical angle to it as well, which was something that also intrigued me.” With the desire to become an oral surgeon, Yellich said he attended as many oral surgery procedures as he could, both at the dental school and at U-M Hospital.

“I feel good about being involved with the University of Michigan

School of Dentistry . . . I have a strong sense

of pride and a desire to see its tradition of excellence continue.”

P R O F I L E


another trait Hayward demanded from his residents, Yellich said. “He constantly emphasized how important it was to display a high degree of compassion every time you talked to your patients. When you did that, Dr. Hayward would tell us, you would become an even better practitioner because that helped you to connect with your patients.”

Giving Back to Dentistry and U-M That demand for excellence has benefitted Yellich professionally throughout his career. A member of numerous professional organizations, including the California Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Yellich is also a past president of the Northern California Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Board certified in oral and maxillofacial surgery, Yellich served as an OMS examiner for six years. He has lectured on oral health care topics and also traveled with a group from San Diego to perform cleft palate surgeries in Mexico. He served two terms on the Alumni Society Board of Governors (2005-2008 and 2008-2011). In 2006, he was invited

The Influence of Dr. James Hayward Reaching the goal of becoming an oral surgeon was temporarily deferred. After earning his dental degree in 1972, Yellich served with the U.S. Navy for two years as a dentist in San Diego. “Like many of my classmates, I went into the service after graduating,” he said. “I worked with three other dentists

at the naval base, and had a little more oral surgery experience than they did, so they had me work on some of their patients. That fueled my desire to earn a degree in oral surgery and specialize after my service was over.” Yellich applied for admission to the oral surgery program at Michigan, was accepted, and received both a master’s degree and certificate in oral and maxillofacial surgery in 1977. Yellich said his three years as a resident, under the direction of Dr. James Hayward, chair of the department, had a profound impact. “Dr. Hayward was a demanding instructor. He paid attention to everything, especially the way you handled a patient’s tissues. You learned very early to do so with extreme care, otherwise you heard about it.” Compassion toward patients was

to join the Lyons Academy Board of Directors. Dr. Chalmers Lyons founded the oral surgery training program at Michigan in 1917 and chaired the program until his death in 1935. He also established the largest cleft lip and palate practice in the country. Yellich said he enjoys returning to Michigan. “Having grown up here, I was very receptive to the idea of returning to

Michigan to attend summer meetings of the Lyons Academy on Mackinac Island. My wife and young son and daughter also accompany me and enjoy themselves,” he said. “This is a vacation our family looks forward to every year and this past summer was no exception,” he said. “I feel good about being involved with the University of Michigan School of Dentistry in these different ways,” Yellich said. “I have a strong sense of pride and a desire to see its tradition of excellence continue.” In 2006, a substantial gift to the School from Yellich helped establish the Dr. James Hayward Professorship in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. “I want my gift to honor a truly outstanding instructor and role model,” he said. “In fact, I still receive handwritten Christmas cards from him every year and stay in touch as time allows.”

Jamie Luria (DDS 2009) and George Yellich

“ I ’m try ing to give

something back to the

School of Dentistry by

staying involved.”


ALUMNI

U-M Dental Students, Alumnus

Team Up in Hondurashree dental students who graduated from the U-M School of Dentistry in May said they won’t forget providing dental

care in Honduras during their spring break. Stephen Mancewicz, Jon Hekman, and Julia Latham spent four days in the village of Tocoa near the Caribbean Sea, about 135 miles northeast of the nation’s capitol, Tegucigalpa. “We did a little of everything, but mostly restorations and extractions,” said Mancewicz, who accompanied his father, Gary Mancewicz (DDS 1976). Working with Honduran dentists, the group treated between 750 and 800 patients, some as young as three or four years old. A school auditorium served as an open-air clinic and opened each morning at eight o’clock. “Some patients told us they were up at five o’clock so they could get to the clinic for treatment,” Hekman said.

“Up to one-third of the patients said this was the first time they were being examined by a dentist,” Latham said. She added that many children had significant decay from drinking sugary water that was readily accessible.

Students Gain Confidence The dental students said their experiences helped them when they returned to the School of Dentistry. “I gained a lot of confidence helping so many in a short amount of time,” Hekman said. Latham agreed, adding, “It was very rewarding to be able to treat so many patients and to see how grateful they were for our services.” Mancewicz said time management in this setting “was definitely a good way to get ready for my board examinations. I think I did more fillings in four days than I did all semester,” he said with a smile. Gary Mancewicz said it was his

fifth mission trip to a Third World country. “Every one of them has been so rewarding. But this one was special,” he said, “because I was able to work with my son and mentor other students as we provided dental care to so many.” Praising the students for their enthusiasm, he added the dental students not only had to work efficiently, but also had to learn how to improvise with available dental tools and materials. “I told the students that dentistry is a very gratifying profession because you can relieve pain and put a smile on faces, and that’s something you can’t put a price tag on,” he said. Reflecting on his experiences with the dental students and his education at the School of Dentistry in the 1970s, Mancewicz said, “I was glad to see that their training is as good now as it was when I was a student at Michigan.”

Dental students Julia Latham, Stephen Mancewicz, and Jon Hekman accompanied School of Dentistry alumnus Dr. Gary Mancewicz (DDS 1976) to Honduras earlier this year to provide oral health care.

Gary Mancewicz

Gary Mancewicz

Julia Latham extracts a patient’s tooth.


Jack Bates (DDS 1941) of Grand Rapids, Michigan, who turned 94 in June, recently bought a new laptop and is learning to use an upgraded version of Microsoft’s operating system. “I’m glad I retired my six-year-old computer and now have a laptop,” he wrote. In July he flew to Seattle to be with his son and caught a salmon while fishing.

James S. Hayward (DDS 1973) of Marquette, Michigan, says he is still working three days a week at the public health clinic in Marquette and plans to continue doing so for another year. “I miss the days when U-M senior dental students and residents were rotating in our clinics,” he wrote. “Those were the best years of my practice experience.”

Marvin Sonne (DDS 1973) on the left, of Farmington Hills, Michigan, received the Lifesaver Award from the Ann Arbor chapter of the American Heart Association in October for saving the life of a Bay City, Michigan man during the U-M-Notre Dame football game a month earlier. Also honored was a nursing supervisor from the Bay Medical Center who was nearby and assisted, Jan Tardiff. Dr. Al Dodds of the Michigan Heart Association presented the award.

McClellan Conover (DDS 1977) of Burton, Michigan, was inducted into the American College of Dentists during the ACD’s Annual Session and Convocation

in Las Vegas. Membership in ACD, the oldest national honorary organization for dentists, is by invitation only. ACD’s mission is to advance excellence, ethics, professionalism, and leadership in dentistry.

William Hoffmann ( D D S 1 9 8 1 ) o f M i n n e t o n k a , Minnesota, received the Minnesota Dental Association’s highest award, the Guest of

Honor, during its annual meeting in St. Paul in May. He was lauded for providing oral care services to the poor and homeless in Minnesota, Guatemala, and Haiti and was also recognized for increasing the number of volunteer dentists providing oral health care at community clinics and homeless shelters in the state.

Lynne Moseley, of Beverly Hills, Michigan (right) and Patty McGarry, of Fenton, Michigan (left), both graduates of the Dental Class of 1985, participated in the U-M Women’s Football Boot Camp in June. Under the direction of head

football coach Brady Hoke, they joined 300 other women in the all-day event that raised more than $100,000 for the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center. Moseley, director of oral oncology at the Karmanos Cancer Center in the Detroit Medical Center, said, “After the camp, I

didn’t think I would ever recover from the pain in muscles I never knew I had.”

Steven Davenport, o f S p r i n g A r b o r, Michigan (DDS 1997), recently published a novel about a boy separated from his fat h e r d u r i n g a n

attempted kidnapping of the youngster. As he returns home, the youngster encounters scary creatures as he travels though ancient kingdoms and strange lands. Davenport dedicated the book, A Father’s Love, to his father, Dr. Edward Davenport (DDS 1963, MS 1965), who was a pediatric dentist in Jackson for 37 years.

David M. White (DDS 2003) of Reno, Nevada , recently received the ADA’s 2011 Golden Apple A w a r d f o r N e w Dentist Legislative

Leadership. The award was presented during the group’s annual New Dentist Conference in Chicago in June.

E v e l y n L u c a s -Perry (DDS 2011) has been re-elected as a vice president to the American Dental Education Association’s Board

of Directors. She is one of 11 members, and the only one from the U-M School of Dentistry, on the organization’s Board. Lucas-Perry, who is also pursuing a master’s degree in public health, was elected to a second one-year term as ADEA Vice President for Students, Residents, and Fellows during the organization’s annual session in March.

NEWS

Troy Wollenslegel


In Memoriam’40 Dr. L.W. Peterson October 14, 2011, Chesterfield, Missouri

’43 Dr. Jane Slocum Hayward January 24, 2011 Naples, Florida

’45 Dr. Edwin V. Wight September 2, 2011 Clinton, Michigan

’53 Dr. Bruce W. Squiers March 9, 2011 Rohnert Park, California

’55 Dr. John “Jack” M. Leitch July 16, 2011 Salem, South Carolina

B o a r d o f G o v e r n o r sN O M I N AT I O N F O R M Dr. John English Gifts $25,000 to Endodontics

The School of Dentistry’s Graduate Program in Endodontics has received a $25,000 gift from the estate of Dr. John English who earned his dental degree from U-M in 1966 and a master’s degree in endodontics in 1972. The Grand Rapids endodontist, who practiced for about 40 years before he retired, passed away June 5. Dr. English’s daughter, Brenda Dunham, said, “the things that were dear to my father, he held close to his heart, and his days at Michigan were among those.” Dunham said her father returned to U-M every year for Homecoming Weekend activities. “Dad may have had an influence on my brother, Eric, because he graduated with a dental degree from Michigan in 1993.” Richard Fetchiet, director of alumni relations, development, and continuing dental education, said, “I always enjoyed spending time with Dr. English. He was a good friend of many at the School, and his commitment to endodontics is reflected in his generous gift.” Stephen Bayne, chair of the Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences, and Endodontics, said, “Dr. English was an ardent supporter of the School and its endodontics program. He is a good example of the reason why the endodontics program at Michigan has flourished for such a long time.”

L ook i ng fo r L e ade r s !A l umn i S oc i e t y Boa r d o f Go ve rno r sHere’s your chance to make a difference. In September 2012, five persons will be elected to the School of Dentistry’s Alumni Society Board of Governors. The group will include four dentists and one dental hygienist. All will serve a three-year term. If you are interested in serving, or if you would like to nominate someone, complete this form and mail or e-mail the information. If more than 10 individuals are nominated, the Board’s nominating committee will select a representative slate. If you have any questions, please contact Carrie Towns (734) 764-6856 or by e-mail: [email protected].

I nominate: ____________________________

Class Year(s): ___________________________

Address (if known): ______________________

2nd name: _____________________________

Class Year(s): ___________________________

Address (if known): ______________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

Nominations will be published in the Spring & Summer 2012 issue of DentalUM. We request a brief biography (45 words or less) for each nominee. If you nominate yourself, please send your biography with your nomination. If you are nominating a colleague, we will contact the nominee to confirm the nomination and request a biography.

NOTE: Due to space limitations, all biogra-phies must be 45 words or less. CVs cannot be accepted.

Mail or e-mail your information to:Carrie Towns ([email protected])Office of Alumni RelationsUniversity of Michigan School of Dentistry540 E. Liberty, Suite 204Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Nominations must be received at the School of Dentistry by January 13, 2012.

ALUMNI

For more on this story visit Current News at www.dent.umich.edu

DentalUM magazine is published twice a year by the University of Michigan School of Dentistry.

Send comments and updates to: [email protected] or Director of Communications, School of Dentistry, Room 1218, 1011 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1078

Dean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peter PolveriniDirector of Communications . . . . . . Sharon Grayden Writer & Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jerry MasteyDesigner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Jung

Editorial Review Board: Member publicationDennis Lopatin - Chair of the AmericanRichard Fetchiet Association ofErica Hanss Dental EditorsLynn JohnsonSharon Grayden - ex officio

The Regents of the University: Julia Donovan Darlow, Laurence B. Deitch, Denise Ilitch, Olivia P. Maynard, Andrea Fischer Newman, Andrew C. Richner, S. Martin Taylor, Katherine E. White, Mary Sue Coleman, ex officio

University of Michigan School of DentistryAlumni Society Board of Governors:

Terms Expire 2012:Metodi C. Pogoncheff, ’76 DDS, Lansing, MIWayne Olsen (Chair), ’81 DDS, Traverse City, MISheree Duff (Secretary), ’80 BSDH, Grand Blanc, MIDavid O. Cramer, ’93 DDS, Grand Rapids, MIScott Schulz, ’96 DDS, Traverse City, MI

Student Representative: Anh Pham (D3)

Terms Expire 2013:Kathleen Early, ‘77 DH, Lakeland, MIKerry Kaysserian, ‘81 DDS, Traverse City, MIJeff Smith, ‘82 DDS, ‘85 MS, Grand Rapids, MIJerry Booth, ‘61 DDS, ‘64 MS, Jackson, MIJanis Chmura Duski, ‘89 DDS, Gaylord, MI

Terms Expire 2014:Frank Alley, ’81 DDS, Portage, MIMichael Cerminaro, ’86 DDS, Muskegon, MISondra Moore Gunn, ’78 DDS, ’80 MS, Ann Arbor, MIM.H. “Reggie” VanderVeen, ’76 DDS, Grand Rapids, MIJackie Solberg, ’86 DH, Grand Rapids

Ex Officio Members:Peter Polverini, DeanJanet Souder Wilson, ‘73 DH, Northville, MIAlumni Association LiaisonSteve C. Grafton , Executive Director, Alumni Assoc.Richard R. Fetchiet, Director of Alumni Relations, Development, and Continuing Dental Education

The University of Michigan, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University of Michigan is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, height, weight, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. Inquiries or complaints may be addressed to the Senior Director for Institutional Equity, and Title IX/Section 504/ADA Coordinator, Office of Institutional Equity, 2072 Administrative Services Building, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1432, (734) 763-0235, TTY (734) 647-1388. For other University of Michigan information call (734) 764-1817.

Copyright © 2011 The Regents of the University of Michigan

ach year I have the privilege of welcoming our D1 students on the first day of dental school. This annual event always reminds me that our students are part of

a very select group, attending one of the truly great dental schools, in one of the great universities of the world. T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f M i c h i g a n i s r e n o w n e d f o r i t s groundbreaking research, its unique educational programs, a n d p r e s t i g i o u s p r o f e s s i o n a l s c h o o l s . O u r s t u d e n t s experience what is perhaps the most progressive dental education program in the country. These eager minds are our future and we must encourage them and celebrate their journey. This new educational experience sets a very high bar. To be successful our students must be self-reliant, collaborative, and willing to explore and apply the science of dentistry and medicine much more deeply. The journey will not always be easy. Our students represent a new generation of health care providers and we will prepare them to deliver care based on early intervention and sophisticated diagnostics and therapies. We expect our students to explore the boundaries of the profession, explore new opportunities for professional practice and challenge existing paradigms with the intent of redefining the future of dentistry as a health profession. As future leaders some of them will formulate and influence oral health care policy at the regional and national level, or we may even find some of them leading teams of health care providers developing new strategies to improve oral health in global communities. Most importantly we expect that each aspiring dentist will espouse the highest standards of professionalism and commit to the well being of patients, in particular those individuals that are in most need of compassion and care.I know you join me in extending a warm welcome to the Class of 2015. Be mindful that these special individuals could have attended other dental schools and discovered what others have created. However, they chose Michigan and at Michigan we create what others will discover!

Sincerely,

Peter J. Polverini, Dean

Fall 2011 Volume 27, Number 2

D E A N ’ S M E S S A G E

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Upcoming CDE Courses

Delta Dental - Kenneth J. Ryan, DDS Memorial SeminarJanuary 11, 2012 Harold Crossley, DDS, MS, PhD

Avoid Liability: Know Your Patients’ Medication and Their Impact on Dental Treatment

Indications, contraindications, and side effects of the fifty most commonly prescribed medications.

25th Annual Review of the Biologic and Clinical Aspects of EndodontologyMarch 1-3, 2012 Neville McDonald, BDS, MS

A review of the biology and related scientific foundations of endodontilogy while maintaining a strong clinical perspective.

39th Annual Moyers SymposiumMarch 9, 2012 - PresymposiumMarch 10-11, 2012 - Symposium

CBCT in Orthodontics: Indications, Insights and Innovations

An objective cutting-edge forum on the indications for CBCT imaging in clinical orthodontics and research.

Enrich your practice, enhance your knowledge base. Our CDE program is a click away: http://dent.umich.edu/cde

DentalUM Fall 2011

Documents

Transcript of DentalUM Fall 2011