of Pediatric Dentists, especially Dr. Jessica Meeske.

The journey started with a full day of resi-dent orientation on the nuances of how Congress functions and a discussion of the top issues debated on the Hill. Then we moved to a group advocacy presenta-tion skills activity that truly refined our abilities to articulate with legislators and their aides. Dr. Meeske, our table facilita-tor, provided a wealth of knowledge and help to each resident about how to inter-act with staff on the Hill or even their own state. The day’s journey was just a taste of the knowledge to come over the next few days.

The following day, all members of the AAPD convened for one of the most informative conferences I've attended. The Office of the Inspector General pre-sented a fascinating lecture on the struc-ture of Medicaid audits, evaluation and compliance, along with how they pursue discrepancies or violations of Medicaid billing. Again, I can't overstate how impressive and knowledgeable Dr. Meeske was as she spoke up several times pertaining to the issues Nebraska had suffered through with the Medicaid Recovery Audit Contractors (MRAC).

After learning how to avoid prosecution by the OIG, we moved on to additional presentations about the possible outlook of the future health care bills. We learned that a “skinny” version of the new bill would be released later that night. Following a long day of tips, tricks, talking points and updates, everyone retreated for dinner and a fundraiser with the newly appointed Rep. Drew Ferguson, a dentist from Georgia. The fundraiser was a whirl-

Dr. Anderson Goes to Washington Alumni in the news

ExplorerExplorerExplorerExplorerExplorerExplorerTHE UNMCTHE UNMCTHE UNMC

For Alumni and Friends of the UNMC Pediatric Dental Program

The streets of D.C were humming with the electric flow of lobbyists, lawyers, schoolchildren, members of Congress and pediatric dentists. The energy was contagious and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentists (AAPD) could not have picked a better time to initiate its new res-idents into the lobbying world.

Congress had just started debates and was planning new legislation for their repeal and replace of the Affordable Care Act. This allowed the AAPD an incredibly advantageous moment to interject its resi-dents and practicing pediatric dentists into the mix. Our message: Helping those in Congress understand our plight to help children across the country.

I am incredibly thankful to be the first UNMC pediatric resident to attend the AAPD Lobby Days. I could not be more grateful for the encouragement provided by the program and the financial assis-tance provided by the Nebraska Society

wind of meeting new faces, making new friends and learning about similar plights of others across the country. Before retir-ing for the night, Dr. Meeske walked me through the agenda for the following day and helped me refine talking points with the legislators.

The big day had finally come! The weather was impeccable, the Republicans had just released their pro-posals for the new health care bill and Vice President Mike Pence was on the Hill. The day could not have been more exciting! Dr. Meeske had fully prepared our schedule with the utmost efficiency and immense professionalism. I was amazed all day as she effortlessly explained the requests for legislation, deftly providing for our needs and the desire to help all children. The day was over just as quickly as it began. My watch read 10,000 steps and I felt like we had finished a marathon. It was time for some carbs!

My sincerest appreciation to the Pediatric Dental Residency program, UNMC, the Nebraska Pediatric Dental Society and Dr. Meeske for all of their time, talent and financial assistance to make the trip a valuable experience.

–Trey Anderson, D.D.S. . 

We love to hear from our alumni! Please send

accomplishments, updated practice announcements

and address changes to us! Contact info on page 2.

Spring 2017

Drs. Jessica Meeske and Trey Anderson

With the start of a new year, the UNMC Pediatric Dental Residency Program is collaborating with OneWorld Community Health Center to perform teledentistry screenings in four Omaha school-based health centers in high-poverty schools. The technology equipment was made available through a HRSA grant as an opportunity to promote interprofessional partner-ships in reaching underserved populations.

Each of the participating school-based health centers were equipped with a computer tablet and an intraoral cam-era. The technology utilizes a secure wireless internet connection and allows for direct interaction between a pediatric dentist, the mid-level provid-ers and the child.

To date, 26 children have received a dental screening using the teledentistry technology. Those who are identified with dental needs receive a note from the school-based health center along with suggestions of places to receive the appropriate treatment for that child. If there are barriers, the dentists and school-based health center providers work to find ways to overcome those barriers. The ultimate goal is to connect under-served children and their families with a dental home.

Colleen Murphy, APRN-NP at Liberty Elementary in Omaha, already sees the benefit of the teledentistry screenings.

I am so excited to be able to offer this service to our students,” Murphy said.

The vision is to have teledentistry tech-nology in eight school-based health centers by the beginning of next school year, August 2017.

– Tami Trewet-Sloop .

Teledentistry in Omaha

Spring 2017The Explorer

This newsletter is produced by the Pediatric Dentistry Section of the Department of Growth & Development of the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry.

Department Chair: Dr. Jillian Wallen

Program Director : Dr. Zach Houser

Editorial Assistant: Ms. Sandy Williamson

Editor:Ms. Sydnie Hochstein

Design & Layout, Co-editor:Mr. Kim R. Theesen

Principal Photography: Ms. Peggy Cain

For additional printed copies, submissions and ideas contact:Ms. Sandy Williamsonsandy.williamson@unmc.edu402.552.7267

UNMC College of Dentistry4000 East Campus Loop South Box 830740Lincoln NE 68583-0740

www.unmc.edu/dentistry

Brook Jobes, Director of Development1010 Lincoln Mall, Suite 300Lincoln, NE 68508402-458-1183, 800-432-3216brook.jobes@nufoundation.org

Make checks payable to “University of Nebraska Foundation.” Please specify: Pediatric Dentistry Development Fund #3099

Pediatric Dentistry Development FundWE NEED YOUR HELP!

Through dedicated staff and committed residents, all areas of the pediatric dentistry program are running smoothly. There is, however, a significant need for funding in order to provide enough support for an appropriate graduation dinner, updating equipment, meeting travel support for residents, and the alumni reception at the AAPD meeting. Contributions to the Pediatric Dentistry Development Fund (#3099) make these meaningful expenses possible. Please help us continue our traditional events and expand the educational experience for our residents by contributing. Thank you for your support!

The Explorer | 2

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Spring 2017 | 3

Children’s Dental Day 2017Children’s Dental Day was held February 3, 2017, at the College of Dentistry's Lincoln campus. Seventeen pedi-atric faculty, residents and staff members traveled to Lincoln to help provide dental care to many of the state’s low income and underserved children. In total, the college provided more than $140,000 in free dental services to 197 children.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry has been awarded a $4 million, 10-year contract from the state of Nebraska Oral Health Training and Services Fund to help increase the number of dental grad-uates practicing in rural Nebraska shortage areas and to increase oral health services for the citizens in Nebraska.

The contract's funding focuses on three key areas: schol-arships for rural graduates, an increase in patient services and access, and telehealth.

In addition to providing scholarships for graduating stu-dents who commit to practice in any designated dental workforce shortage area in Nebraska, the contract will also provide funding to increase the number of patients treated by faculty and students in all of our practice loca-tions across the state.

Finally, the teledentistry program expanded under this award brings expertise to children seeking care in the school-based health centers located within Omaha Public Schools, said Jillian Wallen, B.D.S., M.S., chair of the department of growth and development at the College of Dentistry.

“This unique program engages school nurses, health care providers and our residents and faculty in collaborative oral health care and increases access for those children who have previously not been able to establish a dental home,” Dr. Wallen said.

College of Dentistry awarded $4M contract

We had many outstanding applicants and interviewed 31 great candidates last fall. Match took place on January 30, 2017, and the following candidates will be moving to Omaha at the end of June:

Dr. Christopher Johnson: 2017 graduate of the School of Dentistry-University of Missouri; originally from Utah.

Dr. Tyler Johnson: 2017 grad-uate of the UNMC College of Dentistry; originally from North Dakota.

Dr. Claire Koukol: 2017 gradu-ate of the UNMC College of Dentistry; originally from Nebraska.

Dr. Katelyn Olenich: 2016 graduate of the UNMC College of Dentistry; originally from Nebraska.

Dr. Eric Phan: 2017 graduate of UTHealth School of Dentistry at Houston; originally from Texas.

The Class of 2019

Graduate Research ProjectsAs part of the UNMC Pediatric Dental Residency Program requirements, residents present their research projects at the AAPD Annual Session. The residents will also present these projects on June 15, 2017, at 7:00 p.m. at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center's Glow Auditorium. Alumni, faculty and staff are invited to attend.

Dr. Conner Christensen: Segmental Odontomaxillary Dysplasia: Critical Analysis and Report of Pathological, Clinical and Radiographic Presentation of Two Cases with Long-term Follow-up.

Dr. Hannah Greene: Survey of Dentists and Pediatric Hematologists Regarding Practice Approaches and Bleeding Risk Assessment for Common Dental Procedures Performed in Patients with Known Bleeding Disorders.

Dr. Stefanie Meek: Fusion of Mandibular Primary Lateral Incisors and Canines and the Implication it has for Permanent Lateral Incisors.

Dr. Scott White: Full Mouth Rehabilitation of Dentinogenesis Imperfecta Associated with Osteogenesis Imperfecta.

Conner Christensen Hannah Greene Stefanie Meek Scott White

COLLEGE OF DENTISTRY

This publicationis available online.

The Explorer | Spring 2017

Please visit unmc.edu\ dentistry and share this newsletter and other UNMC publications with friends and colleagues. Help us save on printing and postage by sending us your email address. You’ll be the first on your block to receive the next issue!

Department of Growth and DevelopmentPediatric Dentistry SectionP.O. Box 830740Lincoln, NE 68583-0740

April 21, 2017: Resident(s) to participate in NE Scifest Durham Expo

May 25-28, 2017: The Class of 2017, along with Drs. Houser and Skar, will attend the AAPD 70th Annual Session in Washington, D.C. The annual alumni reception will take place on Saturday, May 27, 2017, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in the National Harbor 12 room.

June 1-3, 2017: Western Dental Days

June 15, 2017: Class of 2017 Graduate Research Presentations at Children’s Hospital and Medical Center, Glow Auditorium, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Second-year residents will present their research pro-jects. Alumni, faculty and staff are invited to attend.

June 30, 2017: Class of 2017 Graduation Ceremony and Dinner

June 30-July 14, 2017: New Resident Orientation

Upcoming Events!

Birth Announcements!

The Meek Family - Kyle, Stefanie, and Mack (the furry one) - announce the arrival of Caroline Marie,

November 28, 2016, 1:31 a.m., 6 lbs. 10 oz., 19 ¾ inches.

Scott and Kelsey White announce the arrival of Briggs Maclane, January 15,

2017, 2:09 a.m., 6 lbs. 15 oz., 19.5 inches.