Spring & Summer 2017 FOR ALUMNI & FRIENDS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY The Return of the Mitchell Cane New Sindecuse Exhibit $11.7 Million NIH Award A prized possession of Louis Mitchell (DDS 1884) is discovered in Paris and is now back where it started. Research Day 2017 Alumni Profile: Dr. Pete Kelly Dear Alumni and Friends: DEAN’S MESSAGE We are well into the University of Michigan’s Bicentennial celebration, a year-long festival of speakers, artistic performances and symposia that honors two centuries of world-class excellence in higher education. Like the greater university community, we at the School of Dentistry cherish our history. Even though the university had a 58-year head start on our founding in 1875, our 142 years are a remarkable history full of incredible stories. Some of those stories are highlighted in this issue of DentalUM, which introduces the new “Student Reflections” exhibit at the Sindecuse Museum of Dentistry. Meanwhile, our students, faculty, administrators and staff continue to record the school’s current history – the accomplishments that will fill our future history books. As I see their achievements up close on a daily basis, it gives me great confidence that the school is continuing its long and distinguished record of leadership in dental education and research. I am honored that I will be able to continue my role as Dean after the university provost and Board of Regents in March approved my second five-year term, through August 2023. I am as excited about my reappointment as I was about my initial appointment, and I remain committed to pursuing our shared vision of excellence in everything we do. That vision was supported in a major way in March when a regenerative medicine project led by Drs. David Kohn and William Giannobile received an $11.7 million award from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Inside we detail how our two faculty members will lead a national resource center investigating new ways to restore dental, oral and craniofacial tissues lost to disease, injury or congenital disorders. Also look for updates on our building renovation and popular new café, as well as our usual amazing mix of student, faculty, staff and alumni achievements. There are many! Kind regards…and Go Blue! Laurie K. McCauley, Dean William K. & Mary Anne Najjar Professor In this Issue The Mitchell Cane 4 More than 130 years after it was made, the senior cane of Louis J. Mitchell, Class of 1884, is back at the School of Dentistry. The wooden walking stick is etched with the names, initials and drawings of Mitchell and 46 other students. Read the fascinating tale of Mitchell, his world travels and how the cane was discovered in a Paris shop by a U-M alumnus. Faculty Profile Research Day 2017 11 18 University of Michigan School of Dentistry Alumni Society Board of Governors: Spring & Summer 2017 Volume 33, Number 1 DentalUM magazine is published twice a year by the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. Send comments and updates to: dentistry.communications@umich.edu or Director of Communications, School of Dentistry, Room 1218, 1011 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1078 9 DEI Day Awards Dean........................................................Laurie McCauley Writer & Editor............................................. Lynn Monson Designer.......................................................... Ken Rieger Photographers......................Per Kjeldsen, Lynn Monson, Celia Alcumbrack-McDaniel, Steve Davis Member publication of the American Association of Dental Editors The Regents of the University: Michael J. Behm, Mark J. Bernstein, Shauna Ryder Diggs, Denise Ilitch, Andrea Fischer Newman, Andrew C. Richner, Ron Weiser, Katherine E. White, Mark S. Schlissel, ex officio. Terms Expire 2017: Chair: Thomas Anderson, ‘89 DDS, Holland, Mich. Bridget Beattie-Smith, ’10 BSDH, ’13 MS, Monroe, Mich. Brian Cilla, ‘87 DDS, ’89 MS, Ada, Mich. Jori Lewis, ‘07 DDS, Clarkston, Mich. M.H. “Reggie” VanderVeen, ‘76 DDS, Grand Rapids, Mich. Terms Expire 2018: Dr. Michael Palaszek, ’82 DDS, Grand Rapids, Mich. Dr. Carl Pogoncheff, ’09 DDS, ’12 MS, Lansing, Mich. Dr. Jeffrey P. Halvorson, ’83 DDS, ’92 MS, Grand Rapids, Mich. Dr. Wes Schulz, ’72 DDS, Traverse City, Mich. Heather A. Bunce, RDH, ’11, BSDH, Chelsea, Mich. Terms Expire 2019: Dr. Steve Dater, ‘88 DDS, Belmont, Mich. Dr. Kevin Cook, ‘09 DDS, Livonia, Mich. Dr. Matthew Gietzen, ‘05 DDS, Ada, Mich. Dr. Sophia Masters, ‘85 DDS, Troy, Mich. Janet Cook, ’81 DH, Whitmore Lake, Mich Ex Officio Members: Laurie McCauley, Dean Richard R. Fetchiet, Executive Director, Alumni Relations and Development 22 Helping Kids Get Head Start Give Kids a Smile! Alumni Profile 27 30 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 Uni- versity 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 © 2017 The Regents of the University of Michigan Student Reflections New Exhibit Shines Light on Student Life Dozens of School of Dentistry artifacts and stories are featured in a new exhibit, Student Reflections: A Ret- rospective of Dental Education, that opened in January at the Sindecuse Museum of Dentistry. The exhibit was timed to coincide with the University of Michigan’s year-long bicentennial celebration in 2017. More than 12,000 students have received their DDS degrees since the school was founded in 1875. Every era of student life has had its individual quirks and traditions, yet much has remained consistent in dental educa- tion as it evolved over the decades. The new exhibit showcases changes in students, tools and technology on U-M’s journey from its pioneering early days to its standing today as one of the top dental schools in the world. 2 O’Dell and a freelance writer, Brynn Raupagh, have compiled a compelling variety of the many fascinating student stories tucked away in the 142-year history of the school. While many of the stories have been in the archives for a century or more, the researchers added new material by reaching out to alumni who shared memories and mementoes of a more recent vintage. The result is a wide-ranging collection of anecdotes, photos and historical items focused on a DDS student experience at once varied and consistent for nearly a century and a half. Dr. Travis Sterner shows the NERB prep kit he donated for the new exhibit. His 2005-era student photo is at left in the display case behind him. Here are a few of the stories in the exhibit: BOVINE PRANK In the early days of the “dental college,” it shared a former professor’s house on North University Avenue with students from another new addition to the growing university – the homeo- pathic college. Restricted to a schedule of who could use the building during which hours led to tensions, including the time that dental students stormed into a classroom and forcibly ejected homeopathic students. Revenge came in the form of a cow, given laxatives, being coaxed onto the second floor of the building. Before that mess of a disaster could happen, dental students discovered the cow and used a rope and pulley to lower her back down the stairs. LIKE FAMILY Bion Bates, a farm boy from Elsie, Mich., kept a diary when he came to U-M to train as a dentist in the Class of 1905. “Ours was a family brought into existence on the same day in September 1902,” he wrote. “We hailed from far and near, and though strangers at first, we soon worked and played and scrapped as real brothers should. Each day we became better acquainted, friendships strengthened.” GOLDEN AFTERNOONS Gold fillings were once the gold standard, as student Roy G. Hayward (DDS 1911) discovered when his daily routine fell into a pattern. In his morning clinic, he prepared dentures, crowns and bridges, but his afternoons were all about gold fillings: “from one o’clock on, it was gold foil, gold foil. I pounded enough gold foil to sink a ship.” THE FIRST GERMOPHOBES Our understanding of health and disease has come a long way since the early days of scientific research. One student recalled Dr. Frederick Novy, a medical school professor who taught microbiology to dental Spring & Summer 2017 Planning and research for the new exhibit began in 2014. As Museum Director and Curator Shannon O’Dell thought ahead to the new exhibit, there were lots of options for a theme. “The bicentennial was the motivation for deciding that we needed to do something that looked at the school’s history, but I wanted to approach it in a different way,” she said. “Rather than a history of the school from start to present, I wanted to focus on dental education and students. That’s how the school started out.” CHALK IT UP TO PROGRESS Today’s students can be thankful that the Dental Aptitude Test no longer includes a chalk-carving exercise, as it did from 1950 to 1972. To prove their manual dexterity, students were required to carve a piece of chalk to match a diagram. Faculty member Dr. Charles Beard remembers: “People would be working and the piece would fracture in half without warning. The person taking the test would think his career and life had just crumbled in his hands.” Dr. Jessica Rickert today (inset) next to her student photo in the new exhibit. students were kind, most were not. We often encountered prejudice, bias and even cruelty.” But like students before and since, she came to un- derstand the incredible responsibility DIFFICULT BUT FULFILLING – and great opportunity – of being It wasn’t until the late 1970s, with help a dentist. “As we students talked, it from the federal government’s Title became more and more obvious that IX, that the number of women in each we would hold the very health of our class began to grow substantially. patients in our hands, a huge respon- Dr. Jessica Rickert (DDS 1975) was sibility which I did not realize would be one of only six women in her class so weighty.” That realization prompted of 140 and the school’s first female her to learn as much as possible from American Indian graduate. Rickert her professors. Today, 42 years later, thought it important to share the unvar- Dr. Rickert is retired from private nished truth for the exhibit: “Although practice in Interlochen, Mich., but still a few professors, staff and fellow volunteers at The Society of American Indian Dentists. She looks back on the tough days of dental school through the prism of having improved the health of thousands of patients over the years. “I am proud to have been a pathfinder in the early 1970s. I know my efforts have made it much easier for female and minority dentists today,” she says. “I received an outstand- ing dental education that prepared me well to practice excel- Dr. Harold Morris, an adjunct professor in the Department of lent dentistry. I am Biologic & Materials Sciences, poses with the new exhibit, next to a large photo of himself working with a student in 1984. extremely proud to be an alumna. It’s been a greatly rewarding and fulfilling career.” TENNIS, ANYONE? Necessity is the mother of invention for dental students, too. Dr. Travis Sterner (DDS 2005) donated his NERB prep kit to the new student exhibit. It contained everything he needed for testing before the Northeast Regional Board of Dental Examiners, which required doing a bridge, temp, and endo fill, among other procedures. One prominent item in his kit is a large, yellow tube stamped “Racquet Ball Saver,” though Sterner calls it more generically a tennis ball saver. The two-piece device squeezes air out of the container to help preserve the bounce of tennis balls or racquet balls after they have been taken out of their original, pressurized containers. An enterprising dental student – no one seems to know who, when or where – discovered that the device helps keep air bubbles out of the acrylic used to make dental impressions, plus it supposedly helps the acrylic set faster. An older student recom- mended the device to Sterner. It must have worked: today he’s a successful dentist in Whitmore Lake, Mich., who has passed along his old dental school gear – and a trick of the trade – for future generations of dental students to muse and use. 2017 Spring & Summer students from 1886 to 1935. “Dr. Novy told us of so many ways – simple and accidental – in which we could become inoculated with a diseased germ, that it fairly made our hair stand on end,” the student wrote. “One was afraid to eat, breathe, or talk for fear of being infected with some hideous germ.” 3 The Mitchell Cane An 1884 artifact’s 130-year journey of mystery from Ann Arbor to the French Riviera and back In 1884, Louis J. Mitchell graduated from what was then the College of Dental Surgery at the University of Michigan. In his final year, he followed a collegiate tradition of the day and made a senior cane. He carved an ornate “L.J. Mitchell” at the top of a wooden walking stick and invited members of his graduating class and students in other medical-related fields to add their names. Mitchell and 46 others inscribed their names, initials, fraternity symbols and assorted artwork. 4 It seems likely that the cane accompa- nied Mitchell on his “intensive travels all over the world,” as his obituary in the British Dental Journal described his lifestyle. Various references show he traveled throughout Europe and to Tahiti, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, British Columbia and San Francisco in an era when dentistry wasn’t a lucra- tive career. Often his travels were tied to his role in promoting Delta Sigma Delta, the first dental fraternity in the world, which he helped found at U-M in 1882. If the record of his destina- tions and means of travel is curiously All 10 of the founders of Delta Sigma Delta in this photo signed the senior cane of Louis Mitchell, seated on floor at lower right. (Photo Courtesy of the U-M Bentley Historical Library) incomplete, a bigger mystery is the whereabouts of the cane from the time of Mitchell’s death, in 1939, until it was discovered by a U-M alumnus in a quaint shop in Paris 65 years later. That alumnus was Ann Arbor resident Steve Rosoff, a writer and editor who frequently traveled to Paris for the J. Peterman Company, a catalog of distinctive, eclectic vintage clothing and accessories. One day in 2005, Rosoff and his boss, out scouting for merchandise, stopped by a small cane shop in the Passage Jouffroy shopping arcade in the 9th Arrondissement. Among the hundreds of canes on display, Rosoff noticed a distinctive wooden one standing in a container with several others. He picked it up to discover carvings that seemed to indicate the University of Michigan and students from the 1880s. Could it really be? Did an Ann Arbor resident and U-M alumnus happen upon a rare, century-old university artifact in a small shop in Paris? The shop owner said he purchased the cane in 2000 from a dealer on the Côte d’Azur – the French Riviera – but he didn’t know much else about it. He was, however, firm on the price, which was considerably more than Rosoff could afford. Rosoff moved on with his busy life and mostly forgot about the cane even Spring & Summer 2017 Today, more than 130 years later, the cane is back where it started after a worldly journey that is a fascinating tale of serendipity and mystery. The cane is part of the new Student Reflections exhibit at the Sindecuse Museum of Dentistry. Museum Director Shannon O’Dell has pieced together parts of Mitchell’s life, but there are large gaps in his history as a dentist in London, England, who traveled the world and eventually retired and died in the wealthy enclave of Monaco, along the French Riviera. Rosoff recalls the conversation with a saleswoman this way: “I said to her, ‘You don’t happen to still have that Michigan cane?’ Her jaw dropped and she said, ‘How do you know about that?’ And I said, ‘Well, I’d seen it 10 years ago.’ And she said, ‘We abso- lutely have it.’ And this time it was in a drawer. It wasn’t on display. She had a long tray and she pulled it out.” As the surprise wore off, the delicious serendipity of the moment began to sink in. Two U-M alumni who live in Ann Arbor were examining, in a shop in Paris, a one-of-a-kind historical artifact that had been created at their university, in their town, more than a century before. They were holding in their hands, in 2015, the same piece of wood that 47 students had held in their hands in 1884. The trio of tourists discovered two details among the cane inscriptions that Tanis Allen described Rosoff, an experienced antique dealer, knew he should do due diligence to determine if the gallery’s price was reasonable in the esoteric world of antique cane collectors. So Rosoff and Allen and their nephew left the shop without the cane and returned home to Ann Arbor with a plan. An engraving of a tooth on the back of the top of the cane. as “really weird” coincidences: One of the students who signed the cane was “T. Allen” and another had included his hometown, Coldwater, which is the small Michigan town where Tanis grew up. “We’re looking at this cane like this is unbelievable,” Allen said. “We were just fascinated by it, just mesmerized by it. We felt like this is such a coincidental thing, such a convergence of forces.” The longer they looked at it, the more they knew what they wanted to do. “It would be nice to bring it home from there,” Allen said. “It didn’t belong there. It seemed kind of strange (for the cane) to be just sitting there, such a cool thing.” Although the cane was priceless in one sense, it had a very literal price set by the gallery owners. Not surprisingly, the price had gone up in the decade since Rosoff had first determined he couldn’t afford it. The saleswoman said the shop manager might be willing to negotiate a lower price, but first If the price could be bargained down a bit, they would purchase it and donate it to the university. Because the cane was signed by what appeared to be mostly U-M dental students, they would ask the School of Dentistry if it was interested. They had no idea there was a Sindecuse Museum of Dentistry, so they contacted the school’s devel- opment office, which steered them to O’Dell, the museum director. Not only would she love to have the cane, O’Dell told them, but a new exhibit was about to open that would be a perfect place for it. The existence of a museum in the exact place of the cane’s origin was another in a series of good omens that confirmed for Rosoff and Allen that, in an almost mystical way, they were meant to find and return the cane to the university. But could they afford it? Rosoff’s research into antique cane values was a case study for most historical artifacts: There’s a price range collectors currently will pay, but certain objects have such sentimental or historical value for a particular buyer that the object’s worth is simply how much that buyer is willing to pay. Another incentive for Rosoff and Allen – again, perhaps a bit mystically – is that Allen’s childhood best friend and college roommate is a dentist who earned her dental degree at U-M. Dr. Patricia Fuhst-Wylie (DDS 1988) prac- tices in Howell, Mich., and has been the couple’s dentist for many years. Rosoff and Allen decided that they continued 2017 Spring & Summer though he continued to visit Paris for his work and for vacations with his wife, Tanis Allen. During their most recent Paris vacation, in October 2015, the couple and their 13-year-old nephew, Cole, planned to visit an auction house that Rosoff had frequented for his former job. When they arrived, the auction house was closed for lunch, so they wandered around nearby shops to pass time until it reopened. Soon they found themselves standing in front of the cane shop. Cole was intrigued and wanted to go in, which led Rosoff to recount the Michigan cane story. It seemed unlikely that the cane would still be there, a decade after Rosoff first discovered it. Adding to the uncertainty, the shop owner had sold his enterprise to a company, Fayet, that makes canes. Would the Fayet Gallery, as it is now called, still carry antique canes or would it be more of a showcase for the company’s modern- day models? 5 The Mitchell Cane (Continued) would donate the cane to the School of Dentistry in honor of Fuhst-Wylie as a way to thank her for all the dental care they have received over the years. The couple’s commitment to purchas- ing the cane made for a relatively quick transaction by phone and email with the Paris gallery. After navigating the euro-dollar exchange rate, Rosoff agreed to pay $2,200 for the cane and the gallery would pay shipping costs. In December 2015, a few weeks after Rosoff and Allen returned from Paris, DHL Express delivered a long, sturdy mailing tube to their Ann Arbor home. The Mitchell cane had completed a 131-year journey and was back in the place where it had started. –––––––––––– In yet another remarkable coincidence – there are so many in the story of the Mitchell cane – Shannon O’Dell had already been researching Louis Mitchell several months before Rosoff contacted her about the cane. Her research for a U-M bicentennial history project about campus museums led her to fascinating find about Louis Mitchell and his older brother, William, also a U-M dentistry grad, Class of 1878. The brothers had donated 500 animal and human skulls to the School of Dentistry sometime around 1903, a nugget of history that would be useful for the new exhibit, O’Dell thought. When Rosoff contacted O’Dell about the cane in late 2015, she began to dig deeper. And she wasn’t the only one interested in the Mitchell brothers. The British Dental Association contacted O’Dell because it wanted a picture of William Mitchell. The association, which has a museum and publishes the British Dental Journal, was working on an article about the Mitchell Trimmer, a dentist’s instrument that William invented and is still used today. O’Dell went to the composite photo for the Class of 1878 but none of the students are identified by name, and she could find no other photos of William. O’Dell gave the British researchers the bad news, but continued to research the Mitchell brothers, particularly their involvement with Delta Sigma Delta, the world’s first dental fraternity, which needed to be part of the new student exhibit. Her research, often at U-M’s Bentley Historical Library, led her to two photos of William, which she sent to the British researchers. But it was Louis Mitchell that now captured her attention, because of the cane. She used university alumni records and fraternity files at the Bentley, and various online records such as census documents and steamship manifests, to gather a tantalizing but incomplete picture of his life. Louis Mitchell was born in 1863 in Kent, England, the youngest of three siblings with an older sister, Emma, between he and William. Their father James was a wheelwright. At some point prior to the 1870 U.S. census, the family immigrated to this country and settled near Columbus, Ohio. The census shows only four family 6 “L.J. Mitchell” is carved at the top of the cane in ornate letters that resemble Old English calligraphy. Centered just below the owner’s name is a larger and even more stylized “U of M” that dominates the top portion of what was designed to be the front. (See photo on magazine cover.) Randomly carved elsewhere along and around the nearly 3-foot-long cane are the names and initials of 46 classmates and friends of Mitchell. The image of a tooth on the back of the cane, at the top, gives a clue as to the professional interests of the signers, as do several imprints of the Greek letters for the dental fraternity Delta Sigma Delta. Last year, a team of dental students compared names and initials on the cane with university records from the 1880s in a surprisingly successful attempt to determine the identities of the cane signers. Twelve dental Note the word ‘Chums’ between Keefe and Cassidy. school classmates who graduated with Mitchell in 1884 are on the cane, along with several dental students from classes immediately before and after Mitchell’s class. There are several Medical School students, a pharmacy student and a homeopathic medicine student. The research revealed that 16 of the signers never graduated from U-M. The identities were easier to determine than might be expected from a piece of wood cluttered with all manner of carved autographs. For example, the cane entry “WL Campbell Joliett Ills” was easy to document as William Lee Campbell, who hailed from Joliet, Ill., and attended the dental school from 1882-83 (but did not graduate). “ELK” had to be Ezra Lincoln Kern, one of Mitchell’s dental classmates who graduated with him in the Class of 1884. “F.S. Owen Catawba Isld” was Frank Stiles Owen from Catawba Island, Ohio, who earned an MD in 1885. A few were more difficult: The only entry written in ink – “Foster” – may refer to Francis Albert Foster, who received an MD in 1885, or was it Irving Charles Foster, a med student from 1882-83? Another entry – “Hi Crew” – is more of a greeting, and “Cong” is unexplained. Spring & Summer 2017 Cane Carvings members: Mitchell’s mother, listed as a widow, and the children, ages 7, 12, and 16. Whether James died in England or after the family immigrated is not evident in the records O’Dell has examined. Ohio at that time was a center for the growing new profession of dentistry, O’Dell said, and only a few dental schools existed. After William came north to Ann Arbor to be trained as a dentist at U-M, his younger brother followed the same path. It appears both practiced dentistry in Ohio for a few years, then they decided to return to their native England. Records show Louis moved to London around 1890, and the brothers shared a dental practice at “39 Upper Brook St., London W.” After William died in 1914, Louis continued to practice there. One of the biggest of many unan- swered questions about the Mitchell brothers is their apparent wealth. A 1903 U-M alumni publication records their skull donation this way: “In this collection are the skulls, with teeth, of all the important animals, and of many races of men.” Were these animal skulls the trophies from big game hunts around the world? And wouldn’t a person require substantial means to acquire a collection of human skulls? Later records show that some of Louis’s world travels were for promoting Delta Sigma Delta, including a trip to Australia and New Zealand in 1929. He was First Grand Master of the European Continental Chapter, and O’Dell found references to Mitchell sponsoring and paying for fraternity- related banquets attended by more than 1,200 young men over several years in the early 1930s. And then there is Louis’s retirement to the Principality of Monaco. Not only did he live his final years in this haven for some of the world’s wealthiest people, but he also left what appar- ently was a substantial estate to form a charitable foundation that exists there to this day. O’Dell’s research turned up the Louis James Mitchell Foundation, also referred to as Foundation Mitchell. It was created in 1951, 12 years after Mitchell’s death at age 76 in 1939. A wealth management company that oversees the foundation has a short summary on its website. Noting Mitch- ell’s career as a dentist and retirement to Monaco, the site explains: “After enjoying a pleasant stay in Monaco, he wanted to express his gratitude to the Sovereign and the Monegasque population by donating his inheritance to a Foundation.” Foundation Mitchell explains at least part of what happened to Mitchell’s financial estate, but O’Dell has not found any clues about what happened to his physical possessions, including the cane. Neither Mitchell brother married, and O’Dell has yet to pursue the genealogy of their sister. Where was the cane from the time of Mitch- ell’s death in 1939 until someone sold it to the Paris shop owner in 2000? Did a distant family member or the Foundation Mitchell have it? Why did the owner not consider contacting U-M once they decided to sell the cane? Did the cane travel with Mitchell on his world tours? These are but a few of the questions O’Dell would like to answer some day, but further research will be time-consuming and expensive, particularly if it involves research in Monaco. In the meantime, the cane stands in a Sindecuse exhibit case, next to a photo with Louis Mitchell and nine of his fellow Delta Sigma Delta founders, all of whom signed the cane. They had carefully and artfully carved their marks, probably not thinking much about if or how long their handiwork would survive. It has survived beautifully, each inscription a confirmation of the life of someone now long dead – gone but not forgotten, still alive in the grain of a wooden cane. 2017 Spring & Summer Sindecuse Museum Director Shannon O’Dell holds the Mitchell cane on the day it was donated to the museum by Steve Rosoff and his wife, Tanis Allen. They purchased it in Paris and donated it in honor of their family friend and dentist, Dr. Patricia Fuhst-Wylie (right). It continues: “Dr. Mitchell’s desire was to distribute gifts to various charities on an ad hoc basis rather than in one block. Therefore, each Christmas, The Foundation Mitchell distributes 60 percent of its profits to needy seniors residing in the Principality of Monaco and its surrounding towns such as Cap d’Ail and Beausoleil. … Always accord- ing to the wishes of the Founder, the remaining 40 percent are distributed either to develop sportsmanship (or) to enable young people to accomplish a humanitarian project. Mr. Mitchell’s wishes have always been honored and the name of the generous British benefactor will remain associated to the various events organized by Louis James Mitchell Foundation.” 7 Board of Regents Approves 2nd Term for Dean McCauley The University of Michigan Board of Regents in February approved a second five-year appointment for Dr. Laurie McCauley as dean of the School of Dentistry. The reappointment, recommended by Interim Provost Paul Courant, is effective from Sept. 1, 2018, through Aug. 31, 2023. reappointment. Courant said McCauley has motivated and guided the school toward the goals in its strategic plan, and led the school through a national dental accreditation process that exceeded expectations in numerous key areas. He said she advocates for diversity and inclusiveness, and works with other health care deans to promote collaboration among campus units. Courant noted that the School of Dentistry is currently ranked No. 1 in the country and No. 2 in the world. Courant called McCauley “an engaged and visible leader.” He cited numerous areas of excellence documented during an extensive review for the “I am confident that she will continue to lead in ways that enhance the school’s excellence,” Courant said. McCauley is the William K. and Mary Anne Najjar Professor of Periodontics. She joined the school as a faculty member in 1992, and continues to conduct scientific research, clinical education and clinical practice. She also has an appointment as a professor in the Department of Pathology at the U-M Medical School. McCauley started her first five-year term as 14th dean and first woman to lead the School of Dentistry on Sept. 1, 2013. She holds five degrees from The Ohio State University: undergraduate degrees in dental hygiene and education, Doctor of Dental Surgery, Master of Science in dentistry and a PhD in veterinary pathobiology. School’s Building Project Advances The complex process of preparing specifications for a major renovation and addition to the School of Dentistry continues to move forward this summer. 8 SmithGroup is a Detroit-based company with planning and design experience in dental environments. It also has expertise with projects involv- ing clinical patient care and research The projected cost is $140 million. The project will be paid for with university and school resources, and with $30 million in state funds approved by the Michigan Legislature and Gov. Rick Snyder. The special needs clinic is being funded with a $2 million grant from the Delta Dental Foundation. A Facilities Planning Committee has been meeting for months to coordinate the myriad details of such a large project. School members are Dean Laurie McCauley; Erica Hanss, chief of staff; Mike Fox, director of budget- ing and financial planning; Dr. Steve Stefanac, senior associate dean and associate dean for patient services; Mike Folk, building manager; and faculty members Drs. Renny Frances- chi and Domenica Sweier. Represen- tatives from the Provost and University Architects offices are part of the group. As the project advances this summer, several additional working committees within the school will begin meeting to focus on details for areas such as clinics, students and education, research, administration and equip- ment selection. Meanwhile, construction is progressing this spring and summer on a Special Needs Clinic within the school’s Com- munity Dental Center in downtown Ann Arbor. The clinic, which should open in late summer, is being funded with part of the special needs grant from the Delta Dental Foundation until the permanent special needs clinic is finished as part of the main building renovation. Spring & Summer 2017 In the current schematic design phase, the architectural firm SmithGroup JJR is preparing plans that detail interior and exterior improvements. The finished design will be submitted to the U-M Board of Regents for approval, likely this fall. The project will then move into final design and the construction bidding phase. Construction will be coordinated to allow the school to continue its educational, clinical and research mission during the renovation, with completion expected as early as 2022. facilities. The original plan includes renovation of about one-third of the existing building and the addition of approximately 31,000 square feet that will allow the school to update patient care areas, add modern research facilities, and construct a much-needed clinic for patients with special needs. A celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Multicultural Affairs Committee was the backdrop as the school presented its annual Ida Gray Awards on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Day. Earlier, the school honored a longtime faculty member at the annual King’s Feast, organized by the U-M Student National Dental Association. DEI Day recognized the many MAC members and school administra- tors who have worked over the last two decades to create a welcoming atmosphere for the diverse community of students, faculty, staff and patients. Ida Gray Awards, named for the first African American woman in the country to earn a DDS when she graduated from the school in 1890, were presented to: From left: Carlotta Fantin-Yusta, Dr. Ken May and Teresa Patterson. Dr. Ken May, associate professor in the Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences and Division of Prosthodontics. He was cited for his longstanding commitment to diversity in working with students, colleagues and patients. The nomi- nation included his clinic work with underserved populations, including Native Americans, and his mentor- ing of numerous minority student groups. He is also a past director of the school’s Office of Multicultural Affairs and Recruitment Initiatives. Teresa Patterson, a senior inven- tory control clerk in Dental Stores. She was lauded as someone who embodies the core values of the Ida Gray Award, contributing to a climate of care, acceptance and welcoming. One nominator called her “the most caring person at the Dental School.” Others said she seems like a family member and that her positive attitude transfers to those she helps in her job. Carlotta Fantin-Yusta, a third-year student. She has quietly but persis- tently taken on the role of making the school a better place, nomina- tors said. “She constantly works to create the climate of care and acceptance and welcoming that we’re celebrating today,” one of the nominators said. “It’s genuinely about creating an environment that is accepting of everyone, especially marginalized groups, and that’s the bottom line. Very, very admirable.” At the SNDA King’s Feast, about 90 members of the dental community gathered to hear a veteran civil rights activist, Hazel Whitney, and to honor a longtime faculty member, Dr. Emerson Robinson, at an event celebrating the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Robinson, who retired in 2003 but has remained active around the school, was feted as a role model for countless minority students and early-career faculty members he mentored over the 46 years he has been associated with the school. Dr. Ken May listed the many areas he was involved in, from committees on varied topics to professional organizations to his didactic and clinical instruction. His early career interest was in community dentistry, then he published in the area of prosthodontics. Later, he turned his research focus to sleep apnea and the use of intraoral appliances. School News SCHOOL RETAINS ITS HIGH RANKINGS For the second consecutive year, the University of Michigan School of Dentistry is rated as the top dental school in the United States and second in the world by an international publication that rates universities. U-M has been the top dental school in the U.S. in the QS rankings for the last three years. Last year it moved into the No. 2 spot internationally after being fourth in the world in 2015. The 2017 QS World University Rankings analyzed 46 specialties at about 1,100 institutions in 74 countries. The rankings are a publication of the British Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Company. The website is at www.topuniversities.com. U-M STAFFING AWARD GOES TO DH ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Lisa Dodge, a School of Den- tistry staff member who has been described as the heart of the Dental Hygiene program, was honored in February with U-M’s 13th annual Candace J. Johnson Award for Staff Excellence. Students, faculty and administrators of the Dental continued 2017 Spring & Summer DEI Day, King’s Feast Celebrate School’s Diversity 9 School News (Continued) Hygiene program praised Dodge for her devotion to constantly meeting the needs of the program, from the smallest daily details to the most important and time-consuming projects such as the complicated national accreditation process. The Provost’s Office created the award to recognize staff members on campus who have a positive influence in the workplace through their professional- ism and personality. PRYOR WINS UNIVERSITY DIVERSITY AWARD Tina Pryor, director of human resources at the School of Dentistry, received a Distinguished Diversity Leaders Award from the Univer- sity of Michigan in December. Pryor was one of 10 individuals and five groups to receive the award. It is sponsored by the Office of the Provost and University Human Resources to recognize staff members across the university who work toward achieving a welcoming, supportive and inclusive working environment. Individuals receive $1,000 for profes- sional development. to increase awareness of the dental school on campus, around the state and nationally through communications about students, faculty and research, and she supervised an update of the Dentalum magazine. Grayden also has extensive experience with the American and International Associations of Dental Research. She served on the IADR technology and membership committees and chaired the AADR Nominating Committee in 2011. Since 1985, she has contributed to 43 abstracts, presenting 24 of them at the annual sessions. She was one of the charter members of the IADR’s Education Research Group formed in 1997 and has served in all of the group’s officer positions. She has organized and participated in ERG symposia, workshops and annual session abstract review and program planning. Earlier this year, AADR rec- ognized Grayden’s significant contribu- tions by naming her a 2017 Fellow. Grayden and her husband, Steve Bayne, a professor of dentistry who retired last year, plan to split their time between homes in Ann Arbor and Key West, Fla. SCHOOL’S CAFÉ32 IS A HIT For the first time ever, the dentistry community doesn’t have to leave the building to track down coffee, lunch or snacks throughout the day. Café32, a collaboration with the university’s M Dining department, has been a new hub of activity since it opened in early February. Patients and their families, students, faculty and staff are keeping it busy from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. each week day. Food options include freshly packaged sandwiches, wraps, croissants and salads, along with two Soup of the Day selections. Fresh fruit, yogurt, chips, bagels and pastries are available. Drinks include several kinds of coffee and tea, bottled juices, soft drinks and fruit smoothies in a variety of flavors. The cafe is adjacent to the atrium of the Sindecuse Museum of Dentistry. 10 The school’s director of communications for the last eight years, Sharon Grayden, retired at the end of 2016. Grayden came to the school in 2006 from the Uni- versity of North Carolina School of Dentistry, where she was Director of Institutional and Community Relations and Director of Educational Develop- ment and Informatics. She started her academic career at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry as a faculty member in the Dental Hygiene Program. At Michigan, she worked Customers line up at Café32. A group of Dental Hygiene students have lunch at Café32. Spring & Summer 2017 COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR GRAYDEN RETIRES Faculty News Dentistry is changing as rapidly as the rest of the health care universe, but ultimately the singular focus of providers must remain the same – do what’s best for the patient. That was one of the themes explored by Dr. Peter J. Polverini as he delivered his Distinguished University Profes- sor lecture in March at the Rackham Graduate School. A professor and former dean of the School of Dentistry, Polverini discussed “Reimagining the Future of Dental Practice.” Polverini is the first dentistry faculty member to be named a Distinguished University Professor by the University of Michigan. Distinguished University Pro- fessorships were established in 1947 Polverini noted that all across the health care spectrum, dentists and doctors are navigating a web of new technology, new science, new treat- ment methods and new interprofes- sional collaboration at a rapid pace. He identified five areas where changes for dentists will be particularly significant: Care will become much more personalized. Technology innovations in the life sciences will revolutionize health care, particularly in the area of precision medicine. Teams of health care providers rather than individuals in solitary offices will treat patients. The scope of dental practice will be broader. Polverini is a professor of oral and maxillofacial pathology in the Division of Oral Pathology/Medicine/Radiology in the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine. He is also a professor of pathology at the U-M Medical School. Dentistry will focus much more on maintaining health rather than on disease management as is the case today. Edwards Installed as Hayward Endowed Professor Dr. Sean Edwards was installed in March as the first James R. Hayward Endowed Clinical Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Edwards is a clinical associ- ate professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery at the School of Dentistry and the U-M Medical School. Dr. Hayward was a renowned oral surgeon whose education and career at U-M spanned more than 40 years, from 1944 when he received his DDS until he retired in 1982. to recognize professors for exceptional scholarly or creative achievement, national and international reputation, and superior teaching skills. In consul- tation with their dean, each professor chooses a name for the distinguished professorship. Polverini is the Jonathan Taft Distinguished University Professor in honor of the first dean of the School of Dentistry when it was founded in 1875. In his installation lecture, Edwards emphasized the importance of mentor- ing, crediting the many doctors and professors who have steered his career by generously sharing their knowledge or giving him many types of advice based on their experiences. Surgical skills are obviously important, he said, but having the support of a broad network of personal and professional relationships is vital to individual growth and success. Both mentor and mentee benefit from the process, he said. Discussion of mentoring was a fitting tribute to Hayward, Edwards Dr. James S. Hayward (DDS 1973) of Marquette, Mich., said, because congratulates Sean Edwards for the professorship named Hayward’s lasting in honor of Hayward’s late father. legacy is as much Residency Program for the Department about his genuine care for his residents of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/ and colleagues as it is about his Hospital Dentistry. The renewable world-class skill as a surgeon. five-year Hayward Professorship Edwards is Chief of Pediatric Oral appointment was effective Sept. 1, and Maxillofacial Surgery and director 2016, and runs through Aug. 31, 2021. of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 2017 Spring & Summer Polverini Delivers Distinguished Professor Lecture 11 Faculty News (Continued) Faculty Participating in ADEA Leadership Institute Two faculty members are participating this year in the American Dental Education Association’s 2017-18 Leadership Institute. Dr. Tracy de Peralta, clinical associate professor in the Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences and Endodontics, was named a fellow in the institute early this year. Dr. Hera Kim- Berman, a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry and director of the Graduate Orthodon- tics Program, was named a Fellow last year and deferred her participation to this year. The ADEA also announced that de Peralta received the Dr. Anthony R. Volpe Scholar Award from the ADEAGies Foundation, which comes with a $25,000 award to be used for tuition and fees for the Leadership Institute. The 24 Fellows selected for the pres- tigious program meet several times during the year, starting in March. Their seminars focus on increasing their leadership skills in dental and higher education. Participants also complete a project that addresses a key issue in dental education. Two Faculty Join U-M Leadership Program Two School of Dentistry faculty members are among 17 educators from across U-M’s health sciences who have been selected for the second cohort of the university’s Interprofessional Leadership Fellows program. Drs. Diane Chang and Harneet Grewal will join the program that was launched in 2016 to create a collaborative culture and develop U-M faculty to teach in innovative learning environments. hospital dentistry. Grewal is a clinical assistant professor in orthodontics and pediatric dentistry who teaches in the undergraduate and graduate pediatric dental clinics at the school. Chang (DDS 2009) is an adjunct clinical lecturer in oral maxillofacial surgery and During the 18-month program, partici- pants work with academic and practice leaders at the university and national level. They attend one of several national Interprofessional Faculty Development Program workshops. American College of Dentists Inductees 12 Four faculty members and several alumni of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry were among those inducted last fall as Fellows into the American College of Dentists. Pictured are (from left): Dr. Brian Lang (DDS 1975) of Bloomfield Hills; Dr. David Golder (DDS 1984) of Mason; Dr. Stephen Meraw, an adjunct clinical associate professor in the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine who has a private practice in Warren and Grosse Pointe Woods; Dr. Tae Ju Oh (MS 2001), clinical professor of dentistry in the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine; Dr. Karen O’Rourke (DDS 1985) of Grand Rapids; Dr. Stephen Stefanac (MS 1987), clinical professor, senior associate dean and associate dean for patient services; Dr. Paul Krebsbach, former chair of the Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences and now dean of the UCLA School of Dentistry; and Dr. Kevin Cook (DDS 2009), an adjunct clinical assistant professor in the Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences and Endodontics who has a private practice in Ann Arbor. Spring & Summer 2017 CBDE Director Piskorowski Announces Retirement Dr. Bill Piskorowski, Assistant Dean for Community-Based Dental Education, announced that he will retire from the School of Dentistry, effective July 17. Piskorowski was appointed director of outreach and community affairs in 2006 and promoted to assistant dean for CBDE in 2012. His time overseeing the program was a period of remarkable growth, from four clinics with eight preceptors in 2006 to more than 30 sites and more than 115 preceptors today. That growth provided more opportunities for students and for treatment of underserved patients throughout Michigan. The number of graduates choosing careers in public health and community dentistry has increased significantly during Piskorowski’s tenure. CBDE is a model program that he promoted throughout Michigan and nationally, with several other dental schools now adopting its groundbreaking approach. Piskorowski began teaching at the school as an adjunct lecturer in 2001. He was named a clinical assistant professor in 2005 and a clinical as- sociate professor in 2012. He won the Clinical Instructor of the Year numerous times in those years. He previously was in private practice in suburban Detroit from 1979-2006. In 2013, Bill received the prestigious William J. Gies Award from ADEA for outstanding innovation by a dental educator for his CBDE work. In 2014, the Michigan Dental Association presented him with the Emmett C. Bolden Dentist Citizen of the Year Award. Later this summer, Piskorowski will join the UCLA School of Dentistry, as Associate Dean of Community- Based Dental Education with a goal of developing a community-based program at that school. Taichman Receives Research Mentor Award Dr. Russell Taichman was among seven University of Michigan faculty members recognized last fall for significant contributions to U-M’s research envi- ronment with a 2016 Distinguished Clinical and Translational Research Mentor Award. The award is sponsored by the Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research and the Office of Faculty Development at the U-M Medical School. Taichman, the Major Ash Collegiate Professor of Periodontics and Oral Medicine and Associate Dean for Research, was cited for “remarkable dedication to the scientific research careers of his students, fellows, and trainees.” Graduate students who nominated Taichman applauded his individualized mentoring approach for each student. “Dr. Taichman continuously encour- ages his mentees and peers to question results and place them within the functional context of clinical work with the highest regard to ethical considerations; these skills are not taught in a classroom, but developed over years under the guidance of a patient mentor,” said Dr. Ann Decker, a graduate resident in Periodontics and an Oral Health Sciences PhD student. School of Dentistry faculty member Dr. Lisa Kane (MS 2012) is the new president of the Michigan Section of the American College of Prosthodontists. She is the first woman to lead the Michigan affiliate of the organization. Dr. Kane is a clinical assistant professor in the Division of Prosthodontics in the Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences and a Diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics. In her new role, over the next two years she will organize and lead 80 members of the Michigan Section, which includes prosthodon- tists, graduate students, predoctoral students, certified dental technicians and academic alliance affiliates for non-prosthodontists who teach in prosthodontics programs more than half-time. Three other new officers of the Michigan Section have School of Dentistry ties. Dr. Chady Elhage (DDS 2011, MS 2014), a prosthodontist in Livonia, is the new vice-president. Serving as treasurer will be Dr. Gary Johnson (DDS 1971), a Lansing prosth- odontist who is an adjunct clinical professor in the Biologic and Materials Sciences Department, Division of Prosthodontics. Dr. Mimika Stefos (DDS 2012), an Ann Arbor prosthodon- tist and adjunct faculty member, will serve as board member at large. 2017 Spring & Summer Kane Leads State Prosthodontics Section 13 Faculty Profile Marita Inglehart, Dipl. Psych., Dr. phil, Dr. phil. habil. Professor, Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine Those are a few of the dozens of topics that Inglehart has worked into pre- sentations for students over the years. Some are part of traditional classroom lectures, but often they are lunchtime Continuing Education courses or part of the school’s “Getting to Know You” brown bag series. Sometimes she presents the topics herself or enlists outside experts, but frequently she coordinates with faculty or students who can speak to a topic from their own experience. In a place filled with dentists and researchers focused on the life sciences, Dr. Marita Inglehart has found a niche at the School of Dentistry as the only faculty member from the behavioral sciences. 14 Learning about the diversity of future patients is not the only purpose of the sessions. The topics are just as important for informing students’ views about the many other communities they touch – classmates, faculty, staff, the university, the world. That part of her educational emphasis relates to Inglehart’s work with the school’s Multicultural Affairs Commit- tee. Inglehart has been with the group from its start 20 years ago, serving as co-chair for most of its history. Its mission is to create an atmosphere where students, faculty and staff “can interact and benefit in a supportive environment by promoting justice and by exploring and celebrating differ- ences and similarities.” In addition to organizing numerous events each year, the MAC also produces two or three issues of the Multicultural Mirror news- letter, which introduces the entering class of students and publishes articles tied to the many types of diversity at the school. Inglehart has been the de facto editor for many years. Through her research, lectures and award-winning mentoring, she’s made it her mission to impress upon students that their future patients will be as complicated and diverse as the general population. When the patient sits down in the dental chair, how should the dentist proceed if the patient is autistic? What if the patient’s religion restricts touching or eye contact between men and women? What if the patient suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder? What if the patient has a phobia about dentists or they fear needles? What if a young patient has been a victim of child abuse? Marita Inglehart talks with DH4 students Amy Ravenga (left) and Katie Szewczyk during Research Day. At right is Anne Gwozdek, a retired Dental Hygiene faculty member. Spring & Summer 2017 While dental students must know the science behind cavities and master the technical skills of crowns and root canals, Inglehart wants to make sure they also understand the many ways that psychosocial and behavioral factors affect a person’s oral health and especially their communication with patients. One of her presentations this spring was about mental health disorders, such as panic attacks, obsessive compulsive behavior and phobias. She referenced studies on how medical providers can attempt to put such patients at ease. That’s important, she said, because surveys show that about 6 percent of American adults have a dental phobia and another 30-40 percent fear going to the dentist. “Think about that,” she told students. “Six percent – about one in 20 of the adults in the U.S. – do not come to a dentist because they are so irrationally horrified even thinking about being in a dental chair. And think about what this does to these adults’ oral health.” Inglehart has co-authored about 100 publications in numerous academic journals. Some examples: The effects of anxiety and depression on healing and the perception of pain after peri- odontal surgery; educational experi- ences and attitudes of endodontics residents and faculty in providing care for underserved patients; and a project with school children in Flint, Mich., that found ways to increase the likelihood of parents bringing their children back for important follow-up dental care after the initial visit. Her national-level positions and honors include joining the Journal of Dental Education as the associate editor in 2011 and being named a fellow of the Association of Psychological Science in 2012. As much as she likes research, Ingle- hart’s enthusiastic tone rises a notch when she talks about teaching and mentoring students and junior faculty members. She teaches and co-teaches a variety of courses, including behav- ioral science and applied nutrition, for dental and dental hygiene students and for orthodontic residents. Her CV lists literally hundreds of students, both in dentistry and other university depart- ments, whom she has mentored, usually in connection with research projects. “I love to work with students. It is ex- tremely rewarding,” she says, emphasizing “extremely.” “You take somebody who comes with no clue Marita Inglehart poses with Jay Thakkar (D4), a student about research but is she mentored, during Research Day. interested in a topic. it was hard not to get excited about And you take them and what you were doing when she they learn how to write a proposal, how was involved.” to design a study and, in the end, when they finally publish, they are so proud. Dr. Carol Anne Murdoch-Kinch, It’s so wonderful.” associate dean for academic affairs, said the list of ways Inglehart has Her work as a mentor was honored impacted the school needs to include during Research Day in March when her work with school-wide cultural she was one of two faculty members to audits and countless projects with the receive the school’s first Distinguished Multicultural Affairs Committee. “She Faculty Research Mentoring Award. is a champion for diversity, equity and Dr. Susan Taichman, adjunct clinical inclusion for the LGBT community, as associate professor in the Department well as other under-represented groups of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, in dentistry,” Murdoch-Kinch said. nominated Inglehart, referring to her “She advocates tirelessly for under- as “an uber mentor” who sets the served and vulnerable populations standard for commitment, caring and of patients, such as poor children. In follow-through. “She has the wonderful addition, our prominence in dental ability to really help each person take a education scholarship is due in a large mere idea and create a solid research part to Marita and her efforts as a project out of it, often while winning mentor, author and editor. She is awards and publishing manuscripts,” truly amazing!” Taichman wrote. She said Inglehart’s mentoring style sends this message to Inglehart said working at the School of her mentees: “I will stay with you until Dentistry is rewarding to her on many the project is complete and you shine.” levels. “As a psychologist, I love to bring the patient-centered perspec- A former student’s endorsement is tive to the students,” she said. “As a typical of other testimonials in the person, I enjoy being part of a ‘little nomination. “Dr. Marita Inglehart village’ where people know each other is much more than a mentor,” the and talk with each other. And the student wrote. “She is an extremely favorite part of being an educator for accomplished researcher, a wealth of me is to see my mentored students knowledge, a cheerleader, a champion and junior faculty members grow into for multiple causes, and despite her professionals who value research and many positive attributes, one of the who are competent researchers and most humble people I have ever met. authors of publications.” … Her positive nature is infectious and 2017 Spring & Summer Inglehart said her empathy for people with special needs is probably related to growing up in her native Germany with a family member who had a disability. Inglehart went on to study psychology and education, earning undergraduate and advanced degrees from the University of Mannheim. She first came to the University in Michigan in 1984 as a visiting assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, and later was a senior research associate at the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching. Her first connection to the School of Dentistry came in 1990 when she was asked to teach a single behavioral science course similar to one she had been teaching at the U-M Medical School. By 1993, she was hired as an associate professor. Today she is a professor in the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine and remains an adjunct professor in the U-M Department of Psychology. 15 Regenerative Medicine Center Receives $11.7 Million NIH Award A new interdisciplinary health sciences resource center led by the School of Dentistry received an $11.7 million award in March from the National Institutes of Health to advance regenerative medicine. The center brings together scientists, engineers and clinicians from several U-M departments in collaboration with researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, Harvard University and private companies. They will investi- gate new ways to restore dental, oral and craniofacial tissues lost to disease, injury or congenital disorders. Tech- nologies advanced in these areas could lead to tissue engineering applications for other parts of the body as well. The research, funded by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, involves U-M collaborators from the Medical School, School of Public Health, College of Pharmacy, College of Engineering, the Office of Technology Transfer and the Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research. Other co-investigators are from the McGowan Institute at Pittsburgh and the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard. 16 The project directors and principal investigators at the School of Dentistry are Dr. David Kohn and Dr. William Giannobile. Kohn is professor in the school’s Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences and also is a profes- sor of biomedical engineering in the College of Engineering. Giannobile is the William K. and Mary Anne Najjar Professor of Dentistry and Chair of the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, and a professor of biomedical engineering in the College of Engineering. Drs. William Giannobile (left) David Kohn Kohn said this three-year phase will be a period of investigating many aspects of each project. “The purpose of the center is to vet technologies, and not only vet them scientifically but vet them clinically: Is this scaffold going to solve a compelling clinical problem? Vet them in terms of manufacturing: Can this be manufactured? Can it be manufactured to FDA standards? Vet them in terms of commercialization: Is anyone going to invest and buy this? We might prove in a small clinical study that something is effective, but it’s not going to get out to the masses unless a company or investors decide to pursue the technology. So we’re talking about vetting in all those different sectors,” Kohn said. Giannobile said U-M is uniquely positioned to lead the center. The funding application notes that U-M is the only university in the country with Top 10-ranked dental, medical and engineering schools on the same contiguous campus, which makes it easier for interdisciplinary collabora- tion in tissue engineering and regen- erative medicine. “There are so many excellent inde- pendent investigators here at U-M with individual grants and patents in regenerative medicine. We feel fortunate that we were able to coalesce many different groups from around the university that could really help spearhead regenerative medicine at Michigan with this type of larger, programmatic grant,” Giannobile said. “It’s oral, dental and craniofacial research, but certainly this will serve as a bridge to other parts of the body – the musculoskeletal system, bone regeneration, soft tissue, nerve, other structures – because what we learn in the all-important head and neck area will apply to other areas as well.” Regenerative medicine refers to research that integrates engineering and biology, seeking to regenerate damaged cells, tissues or organs to their full function, such as finding ways for the body to heal wounds faster or to repair bone that has been damaged. Research strategies can be material- based, cell-based and drug delivery, or combinations of those. Spring & Summer 2017 The center is named the Michigan- Pittsburgh-Wyss Resource Center: Supporting Regenerative Medicine in Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Technolo- gies. The three universities have com- mitted financial support in addition to the $11.7 million NIH award to create a project total of about $14 million. D’Silva Receives IADR Distinguished Scientist Award Dr. Nisha D’Silva received the 2017 Distinguished Scientist Award for Oral Medicine and Pathology Research from the Interna- tional Association of Dental Research in March. The award recognizes outstand- ing and sustained peer-reviewed research that has contributed to the understanding of the mechanisms governing the health and disease of the oral cavity and associated struc- tures, principally encompassing skin, bone, and the oral soft tissue. D’Silva is the Donald A. Kerr Endowed Collegiate Professor of Oral Pathology and Associate Chair of the Division of Oral Medicine, Pathology, Radiology in the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine. She is also an Associ- ate Professor of Pathology in the U-M Medical School and member of the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center. “We are very proud to see that Profes- sor D’Silva’s achievements have been recognized by the international dental research community,” said Dr. William Giannobile, chair of the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine. “Nisha epitomizes what it means to be a clinician-scientist as an outstand- ing oral cancer researcher while also contributing in major ways to our school’s oral and maxillofacial biopsy service. She is a highly dedicated teacher and serves as a wonderful role model to our students, young researchers and clinicians.” D’Silva’s research of head and neck cancer focuses on biomarkers and molecular mechanisms of tumor pro- gression and treatment resistance. She has published over 70 scientific papers and received national and international awards for her research, some of which is funded by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research at the National Institutes of Health. The award was presented during the combined annual sessions of the IADR and the American Association of Dental Research in San Francisco, Calif., in March. In related news, D’Dilva was elected by members of the AADR to a three-year term on the Publications Committee that oversees the Journal of Dental Research and other journals owned jointly by the AADR/IADR. D’Silva brings expertise as a translational sci- entist and as a reviewer of manuscripts and grants for numerous publications. D’Silva is president-elect of the Oral Medicine and Pathology research group, and is also a member of the Salivary Research group. Sponsored Research Awards > $50,000 (Aug. 1, 2016 – Feb. 28, 2017) NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH AWARDS FOUNDATIONS, INDUSTRY AND OTHER AWARDS Peter Ma: (R01) $3,032,309. Two-stage miRNA Delivering Scaffolds for Patient- Originated Cells to Regenerate Blood Vessels. Suncica Travan: Dexcel Ltd., $173,500. The Efficacy and Safety of Chlorhexi- dine Gluconate Chip (PerioChip) in Therapy of Peri-implantitis. Renny Franceschi (Co-PI with Mario Fabiilli, Department of Radiology, Med) Focused Ultrasound Surgery Founda- tion (FUSF), $100,000. Patterning of Bone Regeneration Via Ultrasound Activation of Heat Shock-Responsive Gene Switches. David Kohn: (Co-PI with Timothy Scott-Chemical Engineering) (R01) $1,376,588. Engineering Anti-Fragile Tooth/Restorative Interfaces. Willam Giannobile: The Forsyth Institute (from NIH), $139,933. Biomarkers of Periodontal Disease Progression - Additional Funds for Supplement 3. William Giannobile: Geistlich Pharma AG: Biomaterials, $90,000. GCF Biomarker Analysis in Periodontitis Patients Following Treatment with PerioSept Gel. Jian-Guo Geng: (UH2) $150,000. Recombinant Fc Chimeras of R-spondin 1 and Slit2 for Medical Countermea- sure of Chronic Radiation Syndrome. Lucia Cevidanes: Kitware, Inc. (from NIH), $134,339. Imaging Biomarkers of Subchondral Bone Texture in Osteoarthritis. 2017 Spring & Summer International Recognition 17 Research Day 2017 ZEBRAFISH, MENTORING AND NEW BERRY AWARD TOP RESEARCH DAY A graduate student studying how zebrafish regenerate body tissues won a top award at the School of Dentistry’s 2017 Research Day, and the school presented two new awards for faculty mentoring and excellence in research. The annual event showcased the research of 100 dental and dental hygiene students in a poster presenta- tion session at the Michigan League. Exhibitors and sponsors from orga- nizations and companies related to dentistry also attended. Among the top awards this year: Ke’ale Louie, a joint DDS/PhD student, received the American Dental Associa- tion/Dentsply Award and the American Association of Dental Research Travel Award for his research on zebrafish. Louie, a first-year dental student, conducts his research at the Kellogg Eye Center under the joint mentorship of Dr. Alon Kahana in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science and Dr. Yuji Mishina in the School of Dentistry’s Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences. From left: Dr. Russell Taichman, associate dean for research; Joel Pluymert, regional manager for Dentsply Sirona; Ke’ale Louie, student recipient of the American Dental Association/ Dentsply Award; and Dean Laurie McCauley. may lead to targeted therapy that could improve regenerative treatment for volumetric muscle loss injuries. Zebrafish are an excellent model for investigating vertebrate embryogenesis and regeneration because adults can regenerate muscle, bone, retina, cardiac, and fin tissues. The ability of zebrafish to reprogram differentiated cells into proliferative progenitor cells may be a particularly important regenerative pathway, according to the study. Honghao Zhang, a researcher also mentored by Dr. Mishina, received the first-ever Janice E. Berry Prize for Excel- lence in Research. The family of Berry, a longtime U-M and dental school staff member who died in 2016, created the 18 From left: Dean Laurie McCauley; John Copley, husband of the late Jan Berry; Honghao Zhang, recipient of the first Jan’s Prize; Dr. Yuji Mishina; and Dr. Russell Taichman. $1,000 award to recognize a full-time researcher who may be currently experiencing a financial hardship. The applicant must have demonstrated excellence in research, teaching, mentoring, service and leadership. Zhang was cited for his organizational skills, research and publishing success, and committed mentoring of numerous students. Drs. Jan Hu and Marita Inglehart each received a Distinguished Faculty Research Mentoring Award after being nominated by students and colleagues. The new annual award recognizes faculty who impart their research knowledge and experience with students and scholars in areas of clinical, basic science and-or transla- tional research. Dr. Hu is a professor in the Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences and is the director of the Oral Health Sciences PhD Program. Dr. Inglehart is a professor in the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine and an adjunct professor in the Department of Psychology. Spring & Summer 2017 The study by Louie and his col- laborators, “Epigenetic Regulation of Myocyte Reprogramming During Craniofacial Muscle Regeneration,” Research Day opened with a keynote speaker, Dr. Maura Gillison, profes- sor of medicine, epidemiology, otolaryngology and the Jeg Coughlin chair of cancer research at Ohio State University. She presented a summary of her research into the role of human papillomavirus, or HPV, in head and neck cancer. ADA Dentsply Award AADR Travel Award Ke’ale Louie (D1). Mentor: Alon Kahana. “Epigenetic Regulation of Myocyte Reprogramming During Craniofacial Muscle Regeneration.” UNDERGRADUATE, DDS, DH, MS/CERTIFICATE Clinical Research and Public Health 1st Place: Rachel Bucceri, Lindsay Teeple, Laura Wilkins (DH4). Mentor: Susan Taichman. “Oral Hygiene Instruction Research.” 2nd Place: Nicole Pentis (D3). Mentor: Lucia Cevidanes. “Evaluating Dental and Craniofacial Bionetwork for Image Analysis’s Dissemination Efforts.” 3rd Place: Tylor Gauger (D4). Mentor: Peter Polverini. “Collabora- tive Care Models Between Oral Health and Primary Care Providers: A System- atic Review.” Basic Science 1st Place: Genevieve Romanowicz (D1). Mentor: David Kohn. “The Role of Collagen Cross-Links in Bone Mineralization.” 2nd Place: Alexandra Oklejas (Undergrad). Mentor: Jacques Nör. “Perivascular Niche and Self-renewal of Dental Pulp Stem Cells.” Nicole Pentis (D3) discusses her research project with Dr. Peter Polverini during Research Day. 3rd Place: Amol Shah (Undergrad). DENTAL HYGIENE PHD, POST DOC, STAFF 1st Place: Uzma Arif, Wala Musleh, Sarah Niazi (DH4). Mentor: Stefanie VanDuine. “The Prevalence of Race and Pregnancy Gingivitis.” Mentor: Brian Pierchala. “Biphasic Functions of Ret in the Development of the Peripheral Taste System.” Clinical Research and Public Health 1st Place: Bollamma (Tina) Puchi- mada (PhD). Mentor: Harneet Grewal. “Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS): A Case Report on Twins with Different Findings.” 2nd Place: Priscille de Dumast (Post-grad). Mentor: Lucia Cevidanes. “Deep Learning Neural Network for Osteoarthritis of the Temporo- Mandibular Joint 3rd Place: Tobias Fretwurst (PhD). Mentor: Rogerio Castillo. “Peri-implantitis-drives Macrophage Polarization.” Basic Science 1st Place: Megan Michalski (PhD). Mentor: Laurie McCauley. “Defective Efferocytosis (Apoptotic Cell Clearance) Leads to Osteopenia in Mice.” 2nd Place: Harleen Athwal (PhD). Mentor: Isabelle Lombaert. “The Role of SOX10 in Epithelial KIT + Salivary Gland Stem / Progenitor Cells.” 3rd Place: Rajat Banerjee (Faculty/ Staff). Mentor: Nisha D’Silva. “Suppres- sion of DMBT1 Promotes Invasion in Head and Neck Cancer.” 2nd Place: Chelsea Holladay (DH4). Mentor: Anne Gwozdek. “Assessment of Michigan’s Dentists’ and Dental Hygienists’ Perceptions Towards Obtaining Continuing Education Credits for Volunteering in Community Based Clinics.” Table Clinic Award: Danielle Dale, Kascey Kim (DH4). Mentor: Stefanie VanDuine. “Efficacy of an Oral Hygiene Regimen.” Mark Your Calendar! Alumni and friends are invited to join us for Research Day 2018 Wednesday, February 21 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Sponsored by the Office of Research 2017 Spring & Summer Research Day Awards 19 Research News World-class Researchers Set for First Kerr Symposium The emerging field of personalized medicine in oral, head and neck cancer will be the focus of the inau- gural Donald Kerr Symposium to be held June 15-16 at the School of Dentistry. The symposium will provide compre- hensive coverage of clinical topics and translational research in Oral Pathol- ogy and Oral Medicine. The slate of speakers are internationally recognized experts who have made important contributions to personalized diagnosis and treatment of patients with oral, head and neck cancer. The symposium, designed for health- care professionals and scientists, honors the groundbreaking research and leadership of Kerr, who was a member of the School of Dentistry and Medical School faculties for 40 years before retiring in 1977. He was widely recognized for his work in periodon- tology and oral pathology, along with development of special dental programs for oral cancer patients. The school plans to hold the Kerr Symposium every two years. “The field of personalized/precision medicine is a dynamic area of research and the assembly of speakers for this meeting is outstanding,” said Dr. William Giannobile, chair of the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine. “We appreciate the opportunity to honor the legacy of Dr. Kerr for his seminal contributions to oral pathology, periodontology and our school.” Dentistry faculty member Dr. Nisha D’Silva, who holds the oral pathology professorship named for Kerr, said he was well-respected over his long career and had the distinction of being president of the American Academy of Periodontology and president and co-founder of the American Academy of Oral Pathology. D’Silva, associate chair of the school’s Division of Oral Pathology/Medicine/ Radiology in the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, said speakers at the morning session will discuss molecular diagnosis and biomarkers of progression, while the af- ternoon session will cover personalized treatment. “The speakers are really some of the pre-eminent scientists and clinicians in their fields,” she said. “One of the most fascinating aspects is that the meeting highlights both the latest clinical development interventions and the science behind clinical interven- tions. The target audience is healthcare professionals and scientists.” A link to more information is available on the School of Dentistry website home page or at http://donaldkerrsym- posium.org. Faculty and students from the School of Dentistry received several awards and honors during the combined annual sessions of the International Association for Dental Research and the American Association for Dental Research in San Francisco, Calif., in March. 20 Dr. Lei is also an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at the U-M Medical School and a member of the U-M Compre- hensive Cancer Center. He is leading an interdisciplinary team of investiga- tors from the School of Dentistry, College of Pharmacy and Medical School to understand the mechanisms underpinning head and neck cancer immunogenicity. They have developed an innovative therapeutic vaccine to overcome head and neck cancer- related immune suppression. GIES AWARD The IADR/AADR William J. Gies Award for Biomaterials & Bioengineering Research was presented to several current and former researchers and current faculty affiliated with the lab of Dr. Brian Clarkson for their paper, Spring & Summer 2017 LISTER AWARD from around the world give an oral presentation in front of a panel of judges. As the first-place winner, Lei received $5,000 plus a $3,000 travel stipend. Speakers are from the U-M dental and medical schools, Ohio State University, the University of Chicago, the Univer- sity of Texas M.D. Andersen Cancer Center and the University of Pittsburgh. Topics include human papillomavirus, clinical stratification, cancer biology and immunotherapy. Faculty, Students Honored by Research Organizations Dr. Yu Leo Lei, assistant professor in the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, received the IADR Joseph Lister Award for New Investigators. Based on research originality and potential for public health impact, the award recognizes investigators in oral disease prevention or oral health promotion who are within 10 years of their first academic appointment. Eight finalists and longtime AADR member, making outstanding contributions to AADR and oral, craniofacial and dental research, and making outstanding achievement in AADR. Nicole Pentis (D3). TMD and Imaging Studies poster title: Evaluating Dental and Craniofacial Bionetwork for Image Analysis’s Dissemination Efforts. Mentor: Lucia Cevidanes. TRAVEL GRANTS RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS AADR Bloc Travel Grants pay for travel to the national conference for re- cipients whose projects are judged on originality of research design, innova- tions in technique and scientific merit. U-M recipients are: AADR Student Research Fellowships were created to encourage dental students living in the United States to consider careers in oral health research. Proposals are sought in basic and clinical research related to oral health. U-M winners are: Dr. Erin Ealba Bumann, a resident in the graduate program in pediatric dentistry. Developmental Biology Oral presentation title: TGF-ß Signaling in Neural Crest Affects Late-stage Mandibular Bone Development. Mentor: Vesa Kaartinen. Fatma Mohamed, a PhD candidate in Oral Health Sciences, won first place in the AADR Hatton Awards, Senior Division. Abstract Title: The Role of Discoidin Domain Receptor 2 in Craniofacial Morphogenesis. Authors: Fatma F. Mohamed, Abdulaziz Binrayes, Chunxi Ge, Nan E. Hatch and Renny T. Franceschi. Mentor: Renny T. Franceschi. The objective of the Hatton awards is to encourage outstanding young dental scientists to carry out research and present it at the the IADR General Session. Christopher Donnelly, dual degree DDS/Oral Health Sciences PhD student. Neuroscience: Neurobiology of Pain and Related Disorders poster title: The Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Ret Mediates Neuronal Cell Death. Mentor: Brian Pierchala. Joe Nguyen, dual degree DDS/Oral Health Sciences PhD student. Oral Cancer: Risk Factors and Mechanisms of Tumor Progression poster title: Mammalian EAK-7 is Required for mTORC1-mediated Proliferation and Migration in Human Cancer Cells. Mentors: Jacques Nör, Paul Krebsbach. Christopher Donnelly (D3). Title: Identification of a Non-Canonical Ret Signaling Pathway That Mediates Neuronal Death. Mentor: Brian Pierchala. William Thayer (D2). Title: Pursuit of Pharmacological Therapies for Eradicating Premature Suture Fusion in Crouzon Syndrome. Mentor: Nan Hatch. Neil Thomas (D2). Title: The Role of Autophagy in Craniofacial Bone Development. Mentor: Fei Lui. Megan Utter (D2). Title: Role of Discoidin Receptor 2 (Ddr2) in Control of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Fate. Mentor: Renny Franceschi. NEW AADR FELLOWS Nine faculty and staff members were inducted into the 2017 Class of the AADR Fellows Program during the conference’s opening ceremonies. The new Fellows are: Nisha D’Silva, Mar- gherita Fontana, Carlos González- Cabezas, Sharon Grayden, David Kohn, Jacques Nör. Peter Polverini, James Simmer and Russell Taichman. The Fellows program recognizes leaders and individuals who have served AADR in various ways through- out their careers, by being an active 2017 Spring & Summer HATTON AWARD “Autophagy Modulates Cell Miner- alization on Fluorapatite-Modified Scaffolds,” published in the Journal of Dental Research: Yunpeng Li, Ting Guo, Zhaocheng Zhang, Yujia Yao, Syweren Chang, Jacques Nör, Brian Clarkson, Longxing Ni and Jun Liu (corresponding author). The Gies Award is given for the best paper published in the JDR during the preceding year. 21 Dental student Katherine Frimenko explains her poster research topic, ‘Education about Eating Disorders: Dental Students’ Perceptions and Practice of Interprofessional Care’ during the third annual Health Professions Education Day in April. Frimenko received her DDS at spring commencement. DH Students Visit Schools To Help Kids Get Head Start Fourth-year dental hygiene student Laura Wilkins knows her work with pre-school children in the Head Start program is about more than just applying fluoride varnish to prevent cavities. “I think one of the most important roles that we play with the kids is just getting them acclimated to seeing a dental professional,” Wilkins said. “Some of these kids may never have gone to the dentist and making this a positive ex- perience can really make the difference in whether or not they continue with regular dental care later in life.” 22 Wilkins and four of her D4 classmates spent a morning in mid-March at the Beatty Early Learning Center in Ypsi- lanti. It’s one of five Washtenaw County schools that dental hygiene students visit as part of a program called Smiles for a Lifetime. It is administered through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services in collaboration with the Washtenaw Intermediate School District. The Public Dental Prevention Program, known as P.A. 161, certifies non-profits to organize dental hygienists to admin- ister preventive services to those most in need of oral health care. The School of Dentistry Dental Hygiene Program took over the program last fall from its founder, Karen Essell, an adjunct faculty member who directed it for 10 years. In its first year under the supervision of DH faculty member Darlene Jones, teams of DH students evaluated and applied fluoride to the teeth of more than 600 Head Start students in the county last fall, and then A girl enthusiastically returns a high-five offered by Sarah Niazi repeated the process after the exam was completed. for those students this and the children. “We don’t get very spring. Jones said she expects the much experience providing care to number of schools in the program to kids in our program, so I feel like our grow from five to eight in the next year. time here is super-beneficial to us,” she She said it is a valuable addition for said. “We learn how to be patient and the 24 fourth-year DH students who tolerant in a population we don’t have rotate through several community much experience with. Many of the clinics in southeast Michigan because kids get scared and nervous when they Smiles for a Lifetime is the only one see someone wearing a white coat, serving children. but it’s our responsibility to ease their anxiety and to show them that we are “The students get hands-on experi- here to provide the best dental care.” ence in working with children, and it’s a diverse group of children,” Jones said. Niazi’s trademark sign-off when she “They also get to work with so many finishes applying the fluoride is to different professionals – social workers, give each child a high-five hand slap, principals, teachers, speech therapists. which added up to about 100 during It’s so interprofessional and so valuable the March visit to the Beatty school. for the students to see these other “Overall, I love working with kids and professionals and work with them.” being able to provide care is truly rewarding,” she said. Rachael Bucceri (DH4) said it’s impor- tant to help the children feel safe with dental procedures by explaining, for example, that the strange masks and gloves worn by the DH students protect the kids from germs. “It is also good because at first some of the children are scared and don’t want to open their mouths, but since all of their friends are doing it, they are able to see that it is not scary,” she said. Sarah Niazi (D4) said she likes the program because it helps both the dental hygiene students Rachael Bucceri applies flouride varnish to the teeth of a girl at the Beatty center. Spring & Summer 2017 Laura Wilkins examines a girl’s teeth as other students go about their classroom activities at the Beatty Early Learning Center. First Kelly Scholarships Awarded Dental Hygiene students Chelsea Holladay and Alice Ou have been awarded the first scholarships from the Dolores and Charles Kelly Endowed Hygiene Student Scholarship Fund. It was created last year with a $50,000 gift from the School of Dentistry alumni couple who live in Traverse City, Mich. Holladay is completing her Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene after earning an Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene degree at Lansing Community College in 2013. On track to graduate this December, Holladay plans to enter the Peace Corps. Once that commitment is complete, she will consider applying to the dental school at U-M or pursuing a master’s degree in public health. Ou came to the School of Dentistry in 2015 after earning bachelor’s degrees in general biology and psychology at Penn State University, and a master’s in physiology and biophysics from a From left, Martha McComas, clinical asst. professor; Stefanie VanDuine, adjunct clinical lecturer; Dental Hygiene Director Janet Kinney; Alice Ou; Chelsea Holladay; Jennifer Cullen, director of the Dental Hygiene Degree Completion Program; and Iwonka Eagle, clinical lecturer. joint program between George Mason and Georgetown University. She will graduate from the School of Dentistry with her bachelor of science in dental hygiene in May 2018. In presenting the awards, Janet Kinney, director of the Dental Hygiene program, thanked the Kellys for their gift, which will fund two $1,250 awards for DH students each year. The Kellys’ ties to the School of Dentistry date to the late 1940s when they met and married while students. Dee earned her bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene in 1951 and Chuck graduated with his DDS in 1953. Chelsea Holladay Receives CEW Scholarship Chelsea Holladay (RDH), a student in Dental Hygiene’s degree completion program, has been named an AAUW: Mary Elizabeth Bittman Scholar by the Center for the Education of Women at U-M. The Bittner Scholarship, which comes with an $8,000 award, was presented last fall as part of the 46th annual CEW Scholarship and Fellowship Awards. CEW was founded in 1964 to address barriers that keep women from successfully pursuing degrees and careers. CEW advances diversity and inclusion at the university by serving as a resource, voice, and advocate to empower women and nontraditional students. “This award has allowed me to focus more on my studies and less on making an income,” Holladay said. “With this award, I am able to pay for my 40-mile commute to school, health care coverage, and other expenses. This award has greatly contributed to my success as a student at U of M.” Klausner Scholarship Awarded to Elizabeth Pitts Elizabeth Pitts (RDH, BSDH 2012) is the 2016 recipient of the Christine P. Klausner Graduate Dental Hygiene Student Scholarship Award given by the School of Dentistry. The scholarship, which comes with a $1,000 award, is in memory of Christine Klausner, a faculty member for 13 years. Pitts is in the second year of the two-year online master’s degree program in dental hygiene. Upon completion of her master’s degree in August 2017, her goal is to be involved in dental hygiene education, with a focus on community and public health. Her master’s thesis focuses on follow- up care received by children ages 2-3 after initial emergency dental visits. Citing American Dental Association recommendations about the impor- tance of early-childhood dental care, Pitts hopes to identify patterns in the current health care system for young children that can lead to improvements in access to care. 2017 Spring & Summer Dental Hygiene News 23 Dental Hygiene News (Continued) DH Faculty Member Anne Gwozdek Retires Anne Gwozdek, clinical assistant professor in Dental Hygiene, retired from the School of Dentistry in December after holding a number of roles during the last 15 years. She was director of the Dental Hygiene Graduate and Degree Completion programs, and led the development of the online delivery options of each. Gwozdek (DH 1973) was in clinical practice before joining the school as an adjunct clinical lecturer in 2001. She was named director of the DH Degree Completion program in 2007 and director of the DH Graduate Program in 2013. In addition to her contributions in those areas, Gwozdek also worked closely with the U-M School of Social Work on oral health workforce models and access to care initiatives, along with the development of a Social Work course for entry-level DH students. to access U-M advanced education programs. “Our scope of practice has expanded as has our role in education, research, public health, government and administration,” she said. Dental Hygiene education has changed significantly during her time at the school, Gwozdek said, highlighted by the online learning opportunities that allow students around the country Spring & Summer 2017 “Working with the most wonderful team of faculty and students was the best part of my time at the school,” she said. “Together, we have been able to accomplish so much.” Teaching Time Cullen, a clinical lecturer, is now directing a program she completed during her dental hygiene educational path. After graduat- ing from the DH program at Ferris State University and working for 16 years in clinical practice, in 2012 she completed her bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene through the School of Dentistry’s E-Learning Degree Comple- tion Program. She went on to earn her master’s degree in Public Health with a certificate in health education and promotion from Benedictine University. The Degree Completion Program she directs can be completed either on-campus or online. Cullen’s professional interests include campus- community partnerships, especially programming that benefits older adults, on-line learning technologies, and program evaluation. Sheree Duff, adjunct clinical lecturer in Dental Hygiene, gives some up-close pointers to first-year DH student Jenica Brand as she examines a fellow student during a clinic session. 24 Furgeson, a clinical assistant profes- sor, joined the DH faculty in 2013. She earned her doctor- ate in health science from Nova South- eastern University; a master’s in DH from the University of North Carolina; com- pleted undergraduate DH studies at the University of Vermont; and earned a bachelor’s from Metropolitan State College in Denver, Colo. Her research interests include interprofessional education and collaboration, clinical research, and alternative workforce models. She practices dental hygiene in the Graduate Periodontics clinic at the school. Furgeson will direct the master’s program that allows students to earn the degree either on campus or online. Gwozdek’s retirement plans include travel and increased family time after she completes a few research projects and manuscripts. Furgeson, Cullen Appointed to Lead DH Programs With the retirement of Anne Gwozdek, the Dental Hygiene program has promoted Dr. Danielle Furgeson to Director of MSDH Program and Jennifer Cullen was hired as the Director of the Degree Completion Program. Riley Schaff – Research Pathway Directors Choice Award – Oral Presentation: “TLR4, NOD1 & NOD2 Mediate Immune Recogni- tion of Putative Newly Identified Periodontal Pathogens.” Mentor: William Giannobile. Brandon Churchman – Healthcare Delivery Pathway Directors Choice Award – Oral Presentation: “Prac- ticing Physicians Assistants’ and Faculty Members’ Knowledge, Edu- cation and Professional Behavior Related to Patients’ Oral Health: A Survey.” Mentor: Marita Inglehart. Anna Holden and Jacob Fischer – Healthcare Delivery Pathway Directors Choice Award – Table: “Second Look for Oral Radiology.” Mentors: Erika Benavides and Michael Hortsch. –––––––––––– From left, faculty members Dan Chiego and William Giannobile, student Riley Schaff and Dean Laurie McCauley. Tyler Eatchel – Leadership Pathway Directors Choice Award – Oral Pre- sentation: “Quantification of Lapses in Accepted Dental Protocols by Dental Professionals from a Human Factors Point of View.” Mentor: Mark Pinsky. From left, faculty members Domenica Sweier and Mark Pinsky, student Tyler Eatchel and Dean Laurie McCauley. Patrick Chuang – Leadership Pathway Directors Choice Award – Poster (tie): “Analyzing Dental School Websites Across the United States and Its Ease of Read for Patients with Limited English Proficiency.” Mentors: Domenica Sweier and Mark Pinsky. From left, faculty members John Hamerink and Howard Hamerink, student Brandon Churchman and Dean Laurie McCauley. Sheridan Kelley – Healthcare Delivery Pathway Directors Choice Award – Poster: “Assessing Perinatal Oral Health.” Mentor: Ruth Zielinski. Andrei Taut – Research Pathway Directors Choice Award – Poster: “Bone Tissue Engineering of Maxillary Sinus Bone Deficiencies Using Enriched CD90+ Stem Cell Therapy: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.” Mentor: Darnell Kaigler. Bryant Dudzik – Leadership Pathway Directors Choice Award – Poster (tie): “Dental Student At- tendance Investigation and Analysis at U-M SoD.” Mentors: Domenica Sweier and Mark Pinsky. Prior to the poster presentations, students and faculty gathered at Kellogg Auditorium for a keynote speaker, Dr. James Holloway, U-M’s Vice Provost for Global and Engaged Education, who discussed building leadership skills. Dr. Tracy de Peralta, director of the Pathways Program, thanked students, faculty and staff for their work in completing the Class of 2017’s Pathways projects. Other members of the steering committee are Dr. Carol Anne Murdoch-Kinch, associate dean for academic affairs; Drs. Howard Hamerink and John Hamerink, directors of the Healthcare Delivery Pathway; Drs. Domenica Sweier and Mark Pinsky, directors of the Leadership Pathway; and Dr. Dan Chiego, director of the Research Pathway. Staff members Charlene Erickson and Becky Flynn are the program coordinators. 2017 Spring & Summer As students in the Class of 2017 neared the end of their School of Dentistry path, they marked a significant milestone by presenting their research projects at the annual Pathways Day in March. About 100 students presented 66 posters and table projects as the culmination of their research for the school’s Pathways Program. The self-directed study program allows students to investigate areas of their choosing in research, leadership or healthcare delivery. The following students won awards, as judged by faculty, who serve as mentors for the students during their four-years of shaping and completing their projects: Seniors Present Variety of Pathways Day Projects 25 Student News Sergio Calleja Blanco Named Dow Sustainability Fellow Sergio Calleja Blanco was named to the 2017 Dow Sustainability Masters/Professional Fellows program at the University of Michigan. Calleja, a native of Chile, is in the Internationally Trained Dentists Program. He will graduate with the Class of 2018. U-M selects 40 graduate students and predoctoral scholars each year to participate in the Dow Fellowship from January through December. This year students from 12 U-M schools and colleges were chosen for their commitment to “finding interdisciplinary, actionable, and meaningful sustainability solutions on local-to-global scales.” Topics such as water, energy, transportation, climate change, food, health and human behavior can be the focus. Fellows participate in monthly seminars and an interdisciplinary team project. patients volunteer to be “on-call” for questions or problems that patients call in about. The idea is to reduce or eliminate the need for extensive travel by patients in a country where the geography often requires long trips and, thus, financial hardships for patients who must travel and-or be off work for their medical appointments. Before being admitted to the School of Dentistry, Calleja worked in Chile in private practice and in a government oral surgery program. He developed a telemedicine program in Chile with a website – Mejorate.com – that links patients in distant communities with doctors in major health centers. Doctors who have extra time between This is the second consecutive year that Dentistry has had a representative in the program, now in its fifth year; last year Shivani Kamodia was the first to be selected for the program. The fellowship comes with a $20,000 award to help support the student’s studies. Victors for Veterans Program Wins Tarrson Award A student project that provides dental care for underserved veterans has won a national award for the second time. Victors for Veterans received the 2016 Bud Tarrson Dental School Student Community Leadership Award from the American Dental Association Foundation. 26 At the time of the award application last year, V4V had treated 39 veterans, producing $204,978 in periodontal, restorative and corrective phase treatment, plus another $200,000 in oral surgery. Cassie Lee (D3), co-vice chairman of V4V, said low-income veterans living in the northern Michigan often have serious dental problems because they can’t afford care and-or the cost to travel to distant VA health care facilities. Bringing the care to them is immensely rewarding, she said. “They were the best patients I’ve ever had – just the nicest people,” Lee said. “They didn’t expect anything; they were just grateful. And they told the greatest stories.” An earlier version of the community- based dental education project, called Wolverine Patriot Project, won the Tarrson Award in 2013. It recognizes an exemplary volunteer community service project within the U.S. that is organized and-or conducted by dental students enrolled in an accredited predoctoral dental education program. Spring & Summer 2017 The V4V team includes D1 through D4 dental students who donate their time to plan treatment and provide dental services for disabled and homeless veterans around Traverse City, Mich. The program’s current home base is the dental clinic of Dr. Phillip Yancho (DDS 1985) in Traverse City. Yancho and numerous other dentists in that region help with the program. Yancho’s son, Joseph Yancho, is a current D3 and board member of V4V. Student’s Journey Now Includes National Scholarship Amir Aryaan, D4, was among 10 dental students from around the country to receive $5,000 scholarships from the Dental Trade Alliance Foundation and Robert J. Sullivan Family Foundation. The scholarship recognizes third- or fourth- year students who have demonstrated commitment to community service, academic excellence in dentistry and financial need. The award sponsors noted that Aryaan’s journey to the School of Dentistry started in Iran and took him through Germany and Canada “where he learned new languages, navigated new cultures and discovered a passion for dentistry. His career choice allows him to combine his love for fixing things, a desire to free people from pain, and an opportunity to help those that are less fortunate.” D2 Student Named Editor for National Publication Neil Thomas (D2) has been named contributing editor of the American Student Dental Association’s print publication, Contour, which goes to over 20,000 ASDA members 10 times a year. Thomas is responsible for development, design and delivery of the magazine. Contour reports on everything from the newest industry trends to student rights issues. Thomas will edit and write articles relating to the theme of each issue. The position runs for a 1-year term, through March of 2018. Thomas is also on the executive board as a co-editor of ASDA’s Michigan print publication, Incisal Edge. Give Kids a Smile! Smiles were the order of the day in April as children from around southeast Michigan came to the school for free dental examinations by dental and dental hygiene students under the supervision of faculty. The “Give Kids a Smile!”clinic is an annual event sponsored by the school in association with the American Dental Association, the Washtenaw District Dental Society and the Michigan Dental Association. More than 40 children ages 3-18 received basic exams, x-rays, cleanings, restorative work and a few extractions. About 90 students volunteered for the clinic. Faculty member Dr. Larry Salzmann examines a boy’s teeth as he consults with John Jurkas (D3). Students Shreea Handa (D3), left, and Manassi Vasavada (D3) pose with 6-year-old Layan Buttrus, who drew portraits of the students and herself while she waited during breaks in her treatment. Toothy, the School of Dentistry mascot, shares his oversized toothbrush with 6-year- old Sorena, one of the young patients in the waiting room. 2017 Spring & Summer 27 Six-year-old Hikari Fujii poses after her exam with student Lissandre Dufresne (D3) in front of one of the ocean-themed wall displays created by dental students. Sam Flores returns to the waiting room to show her mom, Alexandra Ramirez, her newly cleaned teeth. Watching is student Melissa Keil (D3), who performed part of Sam’s dental care. Homecoming Weekend 2016 Members of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry Class of 1966 were honored during Homecoming weekend, Nov. 3-5, with events that also recognized a former faculty member, an alumna with a long record of service to dentistry and a dental organization that has helped the school advance the profession. About 40 alumni who earned their DDS and Dental Hygiene degrees in 1966 returned for the presentation of their 50-year emeritus medallions and several other events: the school’s annual awards ceremony Friday afternoon, an alumni reception for class years ending in 6 and 1 on Friday evening, and the U-M vs. Maryland football game at Michigan Stadium on Saturday. DH class of 1966 DDS class of 1966 Dr. H. Dean Millard inducted into Hall of Honor The 2016 Hall of Honor Award was presented to the family of the late Dr. H. Dean Millard, who was a respected faculty member at the School of Dentistry for 37 years. Spring & Summer 2017 Tom Millard (right) accepts the Hall of Honor plaque in honor of his late father, H. Dean Millard, from Dr. Wayne Colquitt. emergencies and nasty surprises” later when treating their patients. That holistic approach to oral diagnosis is now commonplace, Colquitt noted. The Hall of Honor Award is pre- sented posthumously by the School of Dentistry’s Alumni Society Board of Governors to recognize and honor individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the profession of den- tistry. Nominees must be a graduate of the DDS, DH, MS or PhD programs, a faculty member or a research staff member. Since it was created in 2003, 48 people have been honored. 28 Millard was the first person to receive a master’s degree in Oral Diagnosis and Radiology from U-M. He was a pioneer in advocating a more holistic approach to dental education and clinical practice, and emphasized the relation- ship between oral health and systemic health. He was a consultant for Project HOPE’s dental program and was a leader of the First World Workshop on Oral Medicine. Millard earned his DDS from U-M in 1952 and his master’s degree in 1956. Dr. Wayne Colquitt (DDS 1968, MS 1975) said School of Dentistry students during Millard’s tenure on the faculty no doubt remember filling out five pink pages of a form providing broad health background information for each of their patients. That sort of comprehen- sive assessment was a new emphasis at the time. While it may have been seen as laborious busywork by students, it signaled a transformation in health care that allowed dentists to “avoid Verhagen has been active in the Michigan Dental Association for three decades, serving as president from 2011-12, as a trustee from 2002-13 and in numerous other officer and commit- tee assignments. She’s accepted lead- ership roles in the Muskegon District Dental Society, the American and Michigan Academies of Pediatric Den- tistry, and many other organizations. She’s written on a wide range of topics for professional journals, and has been a panelist and speaker on numerous dentistry-related topics at seminars throughout Michigan and around the country. Dr. Josef Kolling (DDS 1981, MS 1984), said a statewide program that has benefited thousands of Michigan residents in the last several years would not exist if not for the leadership of Verhagen. He said she tirelessly advocated for the Mission of Mercy project started several years ago by the Michigan Dental Associa- tion. It provides free dental care to underserved patients at two-day clinics scheduled every other year at Dr. Connie Verhagen (center) is presented with the Distinguished Service Award by Dean Laurie McCauley and Dr. Josef Kolling. a different location around the state. This year, the third MOM organized 1,244 volunteers who provided nearly $1 million of free dental care to 968 patients – in two days. Inaugural ‘Partner’ Award: Delta Dental Foundation Foundation Director Teri Battaglieri said the organization is humbled and honored by the award. “We are proud of our long-standing relationship with the School of Dentistry and know that access to high-quality oral health care will be significantly improved for patients with developmental disabilities, cognitive impairments, complex medical problems and other vulnerabilities through the clinic we are helping to fund.” The DDF’s most recent $2 million gift will be used to build the Delta Dental of Michigan Integrated Special Care Clinic to serve dental patients with special needs at both the school’s Community Dental Center in downtown Ann Arbor and as part of the upcoming major renovation project at the school’s campus location. Until the permanent dental center is completed, the temporary clinic cur- rently under construction at the CDC will be funded by a portion of the $2 million gift. This clinic is expected to be operational by September 2017. Delta Dental Foundation Director Teri Battaglieri accepts the Partner in Leadership Award. In the background are Dean Laurie McCauley and Dr. Tom Anderson, chair of the Alumni Society Board of Governors. “The Delta Dental Foundation’s steadfast contributions have benefited faculty, students and staff in every corner of the School of Dentistry for many years,” said Dean Laurie McCauley. “We are grateful for their consistent support of our mission of advancing health through education, service, research and discovery.” Richard Fetchiet, executive director of alumni relations and development, said the School of Dentistry’s relation- ship with the Delta Dental Foundation is an example of the power of collabo- ration when major organizations work together toward a common goal. “Working together we can accomplish so much more,” he said. “This award was created to recognize those who have made a profound difference at our School of Dentistry over an extended period of time, and that’s certainly true of Delta Dental.” 2017 Spring & Summer The 2016 Distinguished Service Award was presented to Dr. Connie Verhagen (DDS 1986, MS 1988), a pediatric dentist who practices in Muskegon, Mich. Verhagen was cited for her “extraordinary level of commit- ment and leadership to dentistry over the last 30 years.” The School of Dentistry presented its inaugural Partner in Leadership Award during Homecoming Weekend to the Delta Dental Foundation for its long- standing connection with and generous support of the school’s mission. The foundation has provided nearly $3 million over the past five years for student scholarships, faculty support, scientific clinical research, community outreach programs, continuing education and many other projects and initiatives. Dr. Connie Verhagen Honored for Distinguished Service 29 Alumni Profile Marquette and the Kellys: A perfect match Pete Kelly was an Upper Peninsula boy who came to the University of Michigan in the early 1960s to study chemistry. During his junior year, he decided he’d rather be a dentist than a chemist. That meant following in the footsteps of his father George and older brother Michael, both of whom graduated from the U-M School of Dentistry, in 1940 and 1968, respectively. The youngest Kelly started his dental training with an interest in materials science, but eventually switched to periodontology. Along the way, he worked under some of the biggest faculty names in school history, includ- ing Drs. Floyd Peyton, Kamal Asgar and Sigurd Ramfjord. After Kelly earned his DDS in 1970 and MS in 1973, the next big decision was where to open a periodontics practice. 30 His brother joined their father’s practice in their hometown, but that’s a small place and returning there wasn’t really an option. Kelly learned that there wasn’t a periodontist anywhere in the Upper Peninsula – the closest one was in Green Bay, Wisc. His search led him to consider Marquette because of its central U.P. location along Lake Superior, but he worried whether Marquette’s population of only about 21,000 could support his practice. “I remember talking to Dr. Asgar about, geez, it’s a rural area, and at the time most periodontists were in more metropolitan areas. And he says, ‘Pete, you’re going to be fine wherever you go. Just go wherever you want to go. You’re going to be successful.’ ” Pete and Barb Kelly in their Marquette home. Dr. Asgar was prophetic, though it took a few years to confirm. Kelly and his wife, Barb, then a high school English teacher, moved to Marquette in 1973 with no business experience and no practice to take over. They rented an office in downtown Marquette and bought new dental equipment. With Barb acting as his receptionist, Kelly opened his practice and overnight became the U.P.’s only periodontist. Slowly but steadily, patients began arriving from all around the U.P. – Sault Ste. Marie, Houghton, Iron Mountain. “It was either Marquette or Green Bay,” Kelly says of the choice for patients in need of a periodontist. “Fortunately, a lot of them chose Marquette.” As his practice grew, Kelly and business partners purchased a historic downtown building – a former savings bank with a distinctive clock tower, built in 1891. Kelly moved his practice to the top floor where he, his staff and his patients have for decades enjoyed a stunning view of the Marquette harbor. That venture embracing the history of Marquette was just the start for the Kellys, who were awed by the incredible buildings and homes that lumber and steel barons built through- out Marquette a century before. The couple were soon deeply involved in The historic clock tower building in downtown Marquette towers above Pete Kelly. His dental office on the top floor is now the office of Dr. Steve Davis. Spring & Summer 2017 Growing up in Gladstone, in the center of the U.P. on the north shore of Lake Michigan, Kelly was the classic outdoorsman – boating, fishing, hiking, skiing, hunting – so the lure of return- ing to that beautiful natural habitat was strong. “You get that Upper Peninsula blood in you and it kind of stays in you,” he says. “And I really liked the people up there.” Barb helped found the Marquette Beautification and Restoration Com- mittee in their early days in Marquette. Among the many projects that she led was creation of a landmark flower garden stretching almost a mile along both sides of Highway 41 at the city’s main southern entrance. For the first three summers, until the committee could afford an automated watering system, the project’s official watering team was Barb and Pete. Nearly every summer evening after Pete returned home from the office, they would quickly have dinner and drive down to the Marquette Harbor. They would toss a fire hose into Lake Superior and pump water into three large tanks on a trailer. Barb would then drive alongside the flower beds while Pete was in the back of the rig watering the flowers. That sort of unassuming devotion to community has marked all the years of the couple’s time in Marquette. Today, as Pete completes his first full year of retirement, he and Barb are among the leading citizens of the city, well-known for promoting, preserving and celebrat- ing it. In 2013, the Michigan Historic Preservation Network presented the Kellys with a Lifetime Achievement Award, citing their 35 years of work with the preservation and economic revitalization of historic Marquette. The Kellys remain part of the fabric of the city and region. They are active boaters who have promoted boating safety for 40 years as members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. They ski regularly at Marquette Mountain, where Pete is a veteran timer for giant slalom races for high school, college and recreational league competitions. Pete and several friends, including other local dentists, have been avid fishermen and hunters over the years. Their sons John and Jim own a construction company in Marquette, which means the Kellys’ 1-year-old grandson also lives nearby. Given their love of the community and the good fortune of family and so many friends close by, the Kellys decided that they would not retire to warmer climes as many Up North residents decide. Instead of downsizing, they remodeled and expanded their home and say they plan to stay there forever. Like most dentists, as Kelly approached retirement he worried about what would happen to his practice. “You just don’t find periodontists to come to the Upper Peninsula all of the time,” he said. “You don’t put an ad in the local newspaper and get a bunch of resumes. That doesn’t happen.” A better plan, he knew, is to encourage bright high school and college students from the U.P. to choose dentistry as a profession, with the hopes that they, like Kelly, would be drawn back to Michigan’s north country to practice. That’s why he has contributed over the years to the Upper Peninsula Dental Student Scholarship Fund at the School of Dentistry. One of the students who received some of that scholarship money, Dr. Steve Davis, is now the new periodontist in town, gazing out over Marquette Harbor from Pete’s former office. Not only is Davis (DDS 2012, MS 2015) from the U.P., he is from Kelly’s hometown of Gladstone and shadowed Kelly’s nephew, Dr. Scott Kelly (DDS 1997), who practices there. Kelly served as a mentor when Davis was an undergrad at Northern Michigan Uni- versity in Marquette. “We jokingly say it took 42 years for Pete to find another left-handed kid from Gladstone, who went to Michigan for both dental and perio, to take over for him,” says Davis. Kelly said he has remained close to the School of Dentistry because he and Barb loved their time in Ann Arbor. He has served on three of the school’s capital campaign committees, and the Kellys are members of the university’s Presidential Society. While he’s focused especially on the U.P. scholarship fund, he’s concerned about the staggering debt for all dental students, often reaching $200,000 or $300,000 before any extra graduate study. “Any monetary help we can give these dental students is important,” he said. “After I graduated from dental school, over the years I just felt like I wanted to give back. They gave me a chance to have a lifestyle that I might not have had if I had not been a dentist. And so I always try to give back, either in service or monetarily, to help the dental school along.” 2017 Spring & Summer community betterment and historical preservation. In 1977, they put their money where their hearts were and purchased a 102-year-old house with walls made of 2-foot-wide sandstone blocks. 31 Pete and Barb Kelly at their home, built in 1875 with a recent addition. Giving Back is Important for Dr. Lisa Sostecke Dr. Lisa Sostecke of Rockford, Mich., has in the last few years distinguished herself as one of the School of Den- tistry’s most generous benefactors, with past gifts and future commitments now surpassing $3 million. making her gifts. “Lisa’s generos- ity is breathtaking, and the reasoning behind the gifts makes us even more committed to making sure we address the growing problem of student debt and our ability to sustain the diversity of our student body,” McCauley said. Sostecke (DDS 1978) has been a long-time contributor to the school, then took it to another level by adding a major planned gift to her estate. Sostecke says she has both pragmatic and sentimental reasons for such significant financial gifts. “I am concerned about the high cost of dental education,” she said. “I worry that the debt may prohibit or deter new graduates from starting a practice or buying an existing one. They might miss the rewarding opportunity of owning their own business.” Another factor is giving back, just as her parents and grandparents gave to her through their hard work and generosity after humble beginnings. “I was very fortunate that my parents were able to pay for my education,” Sostecke said. “My paternal grand- parents immigrated from Poland to Detroit around 1908, and my maternal grandparents had a farm in central Illinois. They lost the farm in the great depression and moved to Detroit. “Both of my parents worked hard to help themselves and, thus, to help me achieve anything I dreamed. Today it is so expensive that students who are not Richard Fetchiet, Executive Director of Alumni Relations and Development, said major gifts like Sostecke’s are vital if the school wants to continue attracting the best students, faculty and researchers. “We simply don’t receive enough funding from other sources, or enough fees from our services, to support every- thing we need to do. Donors like Lisa help us move forward as the leaders and best.” Dean Laurie McCauley (left) with Dr. Lisa Sostecke at an alumni dinner in Ann Arbor last fall. as lucky as me, either think they cannot afford dental school or assume a huge debt upon graduation.” Sostecke is particularly interested in helping female students, given that she went through the School of Dentistry well before women made up half the class as they do today. “Dentistry has enabled me to have a wonderful life, and it will be nice if I can help make it a little easier for other women to do the same,” she said. “My class of 1978 was unusual for the time as we had 28 females enrolled and we helped each other immensely throughout dental school.” Dean Laurie McCauley said she particularly appreciates the thoughtful approach that Sostecke has used in Sostecke’s contributions are part of the university’s Victors for Michigan capital campaign, which seeks to raise $4 billion by the end of 2018. She has qualified for one of U-M’s Tiffany-designed, Block M donor pins that recognizes leadership levels of giving by the university’s most generous benefactors. 32 Managing the Medically Compromised Patient in the Dental Office - June 9, 2017 - Presenters: Drs. Wayne and Andrew Olsen - Location: Washtenaw Golf Club, Ypsilanti, Mich. (Part of Alumni & Friends Golf Classic) Advanced Periodontal Implant Surgery: A Practical Training Course - August 8-12, 2017 - Presenters: Drs. Hom-Lay Wang, William Giannobile, Tae-Ju Oh and Albert Chan - Location: U-M School of Dentistry School of Dentistry Homecoming Lectures 1. How Crown Lengthening Enhances Restorative Results 2. Managing Periodontal Disease in a Predictable and Minimally Invasive Way - Sept. 15, 2017 - Presenter: Dr. James Kohner - Location: U-M School of Dentistry Using Modern Material Science & Technology to Enhance Restorative Success for Indirect Restorations - Oct. 6, 2017 - Presenter: Dr. Sabiha Bunek - Location: Sheraton Hotel, Novi, Mich. For more information, please visit www.dent.umich.edu/cde or contact CDE at 734-763-5070 or email cde.umich@umich.edu. Spring & Summer 2017 Upcoming 2017 Continuing Education Courses Why We Give… The Drs. Abbott DIANA: My dental class (1978) was admitted right after Title IX went into effect. We had 28 women in our class of 150, which was unheard of at the time. Some of the older professors were not sure how to treat women as dental students, and I think we all felt the need to go above and beyond to prove we were worthy of our position in the class. I am ever grateful to the University of Michigan for being on the forefront of women’s equality and admitting so many of us that year. BRUCE: The person who was the driving force and who carried much respect was the chairman of the Periodontics Department, Dr. Sigurd Ramfjord. I did not consider him a mentor, but as a professor who demanded a great deal of work and who set the standard for learning the literature about the science and practice of periodontics. The mentor we could more easily talk to and express feelings to was Dr. Raul Caffesse, the head of Graduate Periodontics. This close relationship immensely helped me as I progressed through the program. DIANA: I had so many fantastic instructors and there are not many days at the office where I do not think of at least one of them. I think the prevail- ing message from all of my professors at U-M was to uphold the highest standards of clinical excellence and personal integrity. Their advice was: Always put your patients’ best interest first. ALWAYS. instead of setting up their own private practices or buying existing practices. The ability to own your own practice and be your own boss is one of the main reasons den- tistry is continually listed as one of the most desirable pro- fessions in America. As a profession we need to evaluate what can be done to reduce the cost of Dr. Bruce H. Abbott and Dr. Diana Wolf Abbott dental education as well as support future dentists through BRUCE: The Michigan Longitudinal scholarships. This is why we decided to Study results were published during fund the Abbott Scholarship and would my time at Michigan, which provided a encourage others to do so as well. more scientific approach to the treat- ment of periodontal disease. I always BRUCE: What prompted me to give appreciated that the teaching brought to the university at this time was a more science into my thinking about recognition of what the U of M School clinical practice. There were quite a of Dentistry provided me for my future few major names on the faculty in the practice of periodontics, and that I school, and especially in my depart- wanted to see and enjoy this gift each ment, who all contributed to how I year. Dental school is a very intense, tried to conduct myself during my difficult and, now, expensive endeavor. years of practice. Most students and graduates all had great and some negative experiences. DIANA: The high cost of dental educa- It is such a bond that we all have, tion is very concerning, as it limits a that I would encourage graduates to new dentist’s choice upon graduation. remember what the school did for In order to repay huge loans, we are them, which may motivate more seeing many young dentists step into graduates to give back. salaried positions in corporate dentistry VICTORS FOR DENTISTRY WE WANT TO KNOW YOUR STORY! WHY DO YOU GIVE TO THE SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY? Please contact us and share why you support the School of Dentistry. SODalumnirelations@umich.edu School of Dentistry | Office of Development and Alumni Relations | 540 E. Liberty, Ste. 204 | Ann Arbor, MI 48104 2017 Spring & Summer One of the school’s endowed DDS scholarships was funded by a gift from Dr. Diana Wolf Abbott (DDS 1978, MS 1986 orthodontics) and Dr. Bruce H. Abbott (MS 1977 periodontics) of Bloomfield Hills, Mich. Diana has an orthodontics practice in Rochester Hills and Bruce is retired from his peri- odontics practice in Sterling Heights. Following are some of the Abbotts’ dental school memories and reasons for giving back, in their own words. 33 34 The Dental Assisting National Board, the national certification board for dental assistants, has elected Dr. Joanne Dawley (DDS 1980) as chair of its Board of Directors. Dr. Dawley joined the board in 2011 and is serving her second three-year term. She also serves on the Board of Trustees for the DALE Foundation, the official DANB affiliate that provides continuing education resources to dental professionals. Dawley has a practice in Southfield, Mich. She has been active in the American Dental Association at the national, state and local levels for 25 years. In 2008, she was elected president of the Michigan Dental Association. She is a member of numerous professional and honorary dental organizations, and has received numerous awards, including the Detroit District Dental Society’s 2008 Leadership and Service Award. Dr. James Dost (DDS 1975), who practices in Greenwood Village, Colo., was appointed to the Colorado State Dental Board in January by Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper. The board makes rules and regulations, examines and licenses dentists and dental hygienists, and conducts hearings regarding the suspension or revocation of licenses. Dost’s term runs through Jan. 1, 2020. with the EFDA. In 2011, the Dental Lifeline Network, which provides free dentistry for the underserved, gave Shea its Humanitarian Award as Missouri Volunteer of the Year. He has been president, vice president and secretary-treasurer for the Greater St. Louis Dental Society, and has served on its foundation’s Board of Directors. Dr. Edward Lynch (DDS 1985) of Rapid, City, S.D., is president-elect of the South Dakota Dental Association. He chairs the organization’s Insurance Committee and also serves on several others, including Executive, Personnel, Budget and Finance, and Annual Session Planning. Dr. David “Chas” Jensen (DDS 2010) acquired the practice of his childhood dentist, Dr. Robert Mette (DDS 1982), in downtown Rockford, Mich., last fall. Jensen credits Mette with his decision to enter dentistry. Jensen began asking questions during his childhood dental visits, and later, as a high school student, he shadowed Mette while considering career options. The practice is now called Rogue River Family Dental. Dr. Joseph F. Shea (MS Prosthodontics 1989) received the Gold Medal Award from the Greater St. Louis Dental Society in January. Shea is a prosthodontist in private practice in Sunset Hills, Mo., and an instructor with the A.T. Still University Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health. He has been active for many years in numerous dental education initiatives in Missouri. He serves as chairman of the Prosthodontic Peer Review Committee and is head of the licensing committee for Prosthodontics for the Missouri Dental Board. He has been the lead trainer for eastern Missouri for the state’s Expanded Function Dental Assistant program since 2006, and in 2012 received two awards from the Missouri Dental Association for his work Dr. Guo-Hao “Alex” Lin (MS perio 2016) in December received the Dr. D. Walter Cohen Teaching Award from Carestream Dental and the American Academy of Periodontology Foundation. The annual award, with a prize of $10,000, recognizes a dentist who is beginning his or her career as a periodontal educator. Lin is an assistant professor of surgical sciences at the Marquette University School of Dentistry. His research focuses on evidence-based dentistry and implant- related clinical studies. Two members of the DDS Class of 1948 – Dr. Eric Billes (left) of West Bloomfield, Mich., and Dr. Bob Kempski of Grand Rapids – got Spring & Summer 2017 Dr. Robert M. Trombly (DDS 1984) has been appointed dean of the Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health on the Mesa, Ariz., campus of A.T. Still University. Since 2015, he has been associate dean for clinical education at the school. He previously held positions at the University of Colorado School of Dentistry, the Western University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine and the University of Detroit School of Dentistry. He also holds a law degree from the University of Denver School of Law. Alumni News Nearly 60 percent of the school’s 9,270 DDS and dental hygiene alumni live in Michigan. Here’s a look at the 2016 numbers in Michigan and the next dozen states with the most alumni. Which state has the least? North Dakota with just one. Rhode Island with 5 and Nebraska with 6 are also a bit lacking in a “Go Blue!” dental support network. MI 5,429 CA 501 WA 160 CO 153 AZ 140 TX 194 IL 283 NY 117 OH 203 VA 116 NC 176 GA 129 FL 460 Source: U-M Office of University Development together for a two-man 68th class reunion last fall at Zehnder’s restaurant in Frankenmuth. Billes reports that the class had well-attended reunions every five years, primarily at the Ann Arbor home of classmate Dr. Jerry Charbeneau, through their 60th in 2008. Over time, and after the death of Charbeneau, attendance dwindled, but in 2013 Billes and Kempski agreed to meet annually as long as they could. As in previous years, Billes said the two reminisced about “our travails with Whitman, Moyer, Schultz, Faust and Dorothy Hard.” Also attending were Billes’ wife Doris and Kempski’s daughter, Marilyn Collins, whose husband, Dr. Tom Collins, is a 1978 DDS alum. Dr. Niraj R. Patel (DDS 2008) has purchased the practice of a retiring dentist in Morganton, N.C. Patel told the local newspaper that he wants to replicate the longstanding patient loyalty that Dr. Perry Beeson developed over 36 years. “I really want to focus on the patient care and their experience here,” he told the News Herald. “Practices like this are really hard to come by.” The DDS Class of 1955 celebrated 61 years as it held its annual reunion in October at the Gandy Dancer Restaurant in Ann Arbor. Pictured above are, front row, from left: Ron Huey, president; Cliff Heller and Franziska Schoenfeld. Back row, from left: Roger Sullivan, Jack Humm, Dave Stulberg, Ray Hagan, Don Wingard, Bruce Billes, Niles Holland, and Ted Harrison. Dr. J. Brett Mangum (DDS 2001), owner of and principal dentist at Mangum Dental, a family dentistry practice in Prescott and Bagdad, Ariz., conducted a seminar on “Ethics in Dentistry” at the fall conference of the Arizona Dental Association in Tucson. His presentation focused on the ethical issues that dentists face in their everyday practice, including decisions regarding treatment recommendations for patients, insurance coverage and associated fees for patients, advertising and promotions, and continuing education. Helene Bednarsh (DH 1974) of Sharon, Mass., was recognized as an emeritus 40-year member of the American Public Health Association at its annual meeting in Denver last fall. continued 2017 Spring & Summer SoD Almanac Alumni Hot Spots Across the U.S. 35 Alumni News (Continued) Board of Governors Members of the School of Dentistry Board of Governors were photographed at a meeting this spring at the school. They are: front row, from left: Matthew K. Gietzen, Janet G. Cook, Thomas E. Anderson (Chair), Joelle “Jori” Lewis, Sophia P. Masters. Back row, from left: Wesson “Wes” Schulz, Carl M. Pogoncheff, Michael S. Palaszek, Brian L. Cilla, Jeffrey P. Halvorson. Not pictured: Bridget Beattie-Smith, M.H. “Reggie” VanderVeen, Heather Bunce, Steve Dater, Kevin Cook. Vote for four dentists and one dental hygienist who will serve three-year terms beginning Sept. 1, 2017. Find more info on the candidates at http://bit.ly/BOGballot2017 ALUMNI SOCIET Y BOARD OF GOVERNORS ELECTION BALLOT 36 Vote for 1 hygienist: Dr. Tom Anderson* (DDS 1989) Holland, Mich. Ashley N. Hubbard, RDH, (BSDH, 2012) Monroe, Mich. Dr. Brian Cilla* (DDS 1987, MS 1989) Grand Rapids, Mich. Mona Riaz (BSDH 2012) Ann Arbor, Mich. Dr. D. Andrew Lewis (DDS 1998) Seattle, Wash. Dr. Jori Lewis* (DDS 2007) Grand Blanc, Mich. Dr. Lisa K Wendling (DDS 1993, MS 1996) Flint, Mich. *Incumbent Candidate bios can be reviewed at http://bit.ly/BOGballot2017 The envelope with your ballot must be postmarked by August 15, 2017. Please mail your ballot to: University of Michigan School of Dentistry 540 E. Liberty, Suite 204 Ann Arbor, MI 48104-2210 Spring & Summer 2017 Vote for 4 dentists: In Memoriam Dr. Eric Appleberry (MS periodontics, 1975), 75, a former adjunct faculty member at the School of Dentistry, died Jan. 18, 2017. After his graduate residency, he transitioned to private practice full-time in Ann Arbor and later Southgate, Mich. When he was paralyzed by a spinal cord injury in 1998 and could no longer practice, he found other ways to contribute to his profession. He reviewed articles for the Journal of Periodon- tology, volunteered as a member of the Dean’s Faculty at the School of Dentistry and served on the U-M Medical School’s Institutional Review Board. “He was greatly valued by our students for his consistent dedication to our graduate seminars, topics on dental occlusion, and for his love for wanting to give back to the graduate program,” said Dr. William Giannobile, chair of the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine. In 2011, graduate periodontics students gave him the Outstanding Faculty Award. Dr. Carl Misch, 69, who served as an adjunct professor at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, died Jan. 4, 2017. Misch worked in what was at the time the periodontics/geriatrics department. He was a prosthodontist recognized internationally for his clinical and academic contributions to the field of implant dentistry. In addition to private practice in Dearborn and Birmingham, Mich., for more than 30 years, he held positions at the dental schools of the University of Pittsburgh and Temple University. 1952 Dr. Aris Hoplamazian Jan. 10, 2017 Boca Raton, Fla. 1952 1960 Dr. Charles Cartwright MS Operative Dentistry April 11, 2017 Petoskey, Mich. 1961 Dr. Gerald ‘Jerry’ Boerman Feb. 5, 2017 Green Valley, Ariz. 1961 Dr. James B. Overfield Feb. 10, 2017 Warren, Mich. 1980 Capt. Marc M. Waterman Oct. 12, 2016 U.S. Navy, retired, California School of Dentistry Homecoming Weekend Send us Your News! THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 We want to hear from you. Send us news about your achievements, awards or honors. Dental and DH Classes of 1967 Emeritus Events Location: Rackham Building FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 Reception for DH, DDS and MS classes ending in 2 & 7 (1962, 1967, 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012) Location: Michigan League SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 U-M football game vs. Air Force Location: Michigan Stadium Time: TBA For more details: Alumni section of School of Dentistry website – www.dent.umich.edu Or contact Gretchen Hannah at 734-615-2870 or yankleg@umich.edu Contact: SODalumnirelations@umich.edu University of Michigan School of Dentistry 1011 N. University Ann Arbor, MI 48109 2017 Spring & Summer 1947 Dr. Arthur C. Ophoff Nov. 5, 2016 Bend, Ore. 37 1011 N. University Ave. | Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1078 Address Service Requested 2017 Alumni Events School of Dentistry Homecoming Weekend THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 Dental and DH Classes of 1967 Emeritus Events Location: Rackham Building Golf Classic FRIDAY, JUNE 9 Alumni & Friends Golf Classic and Optional CE Washtenaw Golf Club, Ypsilanti, Michigan FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 Reception for DH, DDS and MS classes ending in 2 & 7 (1962, 1967, 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012) Location: Michigan League SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 ADA Annual Session FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20 U-M Alumni Reception at the annual session of the American Dental Association Atlanta, Georgia U-M football game vs. Air Force Location: Michigan Stadium Time: TBA For more details, check the alumni section of the School of Dentistry website at http://bit.ly/SODAlumni or contact Gretchen Hannah at 734-615-2870 or yankleg@umich.edu. STAY CONNECTED! Be sure to visit www.dent.umich.edu for the latest updates of School of Dentistry news and events.