DentalUM Fall 2013

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FOR ALUMNI & FRIENDS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY

Dean Laurie

McCauley’s Focus

Moyers Symposium

40 Years of the

Celebrates 100 Years

Dental Hygiene

Graduation

2013

Fall & Winter 2013

Reaching Out

Connecting

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Dear Alumni and Friends:

I’ve been Dean of the School of Dentistry for a little more than 100 days and

I want to share highlights, note progress, and provide a glimpse forward.

Many people have asked what the Dean does on a daily basis. In my first

100 days I’ve met with several deans and faculty of other dental schools,

multiple University of Michigan officials and representatives from industry

and foundations. I have visited alumni in Philadelphia, Grand Rapids, Jackson,

Traverse City, Petoskey, Detroit, Flint, Lansing, California, and New Orleans,

and celebrated with many of you during our alumni reunion weekend here

in Ann Arbor.

I have learned much from our Alumni Society Board of Governors,

Campaign Committee members, our Endodontics Advisory Board, and

individual students, staff and faculty members. I’ve attended the U-M

“School for Deans” and the Provost’s Dean Orientation series. I’ve met the

U-M Health Sciences Deans and individually and collectively with our Chairs

and Deans here in the school. I’ve attended dental student lectures, visited

our pre-doctoral and graduate clinics, taught lectures and treated patients.

And beyond Dentistry, I attended football games and tailgates (admittedly

a new activity for me)!

During the first 100 days we assembled an outstanding strategic planning

committee and assembled a committee to inform the future of clinical

research in our school. We are in the midst of financial review of all of our

fiscal units. We have approved several faculty searches including a

Pre-doc-toral Clinic Director and a Director of Multicultural Affairs. We are engaged

as “Victors for Dentistry” in the University’s ambitious capital campaign.

It’s been a very busy three months! There certainly are challenges that all

of us in dental education are facing (e.g. rising debt burdens of our students

and increasing operational costs), yet the richness of our Michigan traditions,

the excellence of our faculty, students, and staff, and the potential for new

and invigorating endeavors are strong. The level of support that I’ve felt

over these past three months has come from every nook and corner of

our building and campus, as well as from you our alumni, from colleagues,

friends and family, throughout Michigan and the world. It is uplifting and

touching. I thank you so much for your ongoing support – it keeps me

highly optimistic about our future!

Kind regards…and Go Blue!

Dr. Laurie K. McCauley

Dean

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Fall & Winter 2013 Volume 29, Number 2 DentalUM magazine is published twice a year by the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. Send comments and updates to:

[email protected] or Director of Communications, School of Dentistry, Room 1218, 1011 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1078 Dean ...Laurie McCauley Director of Communications...Sharon Grayden Writer & Editor ... Jerry Mastey Designer ... Ken Rieger Editorial Review Board:

Dennis Lopatin - Chair Richard Fetchiet Erica Hanss

Sharon Grayden - ex officio

The Regents of the University:

Mark J. Bernstein, Julia Donovan Darlow, Laurence B. Deitch, Shauna Ryder Diggs, Denise Ilitch, Andrea Fischer Newman, Andrew C. Richner, Katherine E. White, Mary Sue Coleman, ex officio

University of Michigan School of Dentistry Alumni Society Board of Governors:

Terms Expire 2014:

Frank Alley, ’81 DDS, Portage, MI Michael Cerminaro, ’86 DDS, Muskegon, MI Sondra Moore Gunn, ’78 DDS, ’80 MS, Ann Arbor, MI M.H. “Reggie” VanderVeen (chair), ’76 DDS, Grand Rapids, MI

Jackie Solberg, ’86 DH, Grand Rapids, MI

Wayne Olsen, ’81 DDS, Traverse City, MI Scott Schulz, ’96 DDS, ’03 MS, Traverse City, MI Sheree Duff, ’80 BSDH, ’91 MS, Grand Blanc, MI Carl Pogoncheff, ’09 DDS, ’12 MS, Lansing, MI Michael Palaszek, ’82 DDS, Grand Rapids, MI

Steve Dater, ‘88 DDS, Belmont, MI Lawrence Duffield, ‘82 DDS, Birmingham, MI Matthew Gietzen, ‘05 DDS, Ada, MI Bruce Turpin, ‘80 DDS, Pontiac, MI Janet Wilson, ‘73 BSDH, Northville, MI

Ex Officio Members:

Peter Polverini, Dean

Steve C. Grafton , Executive Director, Alumni Assoc. Richard R. Fetchiet, Executive Director, Alumni Relations and Development

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

Dean Laurie

McCauley’s Focus

Dean McCauley will focus on

three major themes – reaching

out, connecting, and building –

as she begins her tenure as dean.

A Milestone...

40 years of

the Moyers

Symposium

Graduation 2013,

White Coat,

Awards

Faculty Profile

Dr. Mark Fitzgerald,

DDS, MS

Alumnus Profile

Raymond Maturo,

DDS, MS

Discoveries

and Awards

Dental Hygiene

Celebrates

100 Years

Member publication of the American Association of Dental Editors

In this Issue

2

6

24

14

28

20

22

In this issue you will meet Dr. Laurie McCauley and learn about her priorities for the School as she begins her tenure as dean. You will also find interesting stories

about the recognition and awards bestowed on faculty, staff and students. Be sure to visit www.dent.umich.edu for up to the minute access to

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Fa ll & W in te r 2 013 XX

Dr. Laurie McCauley is focusing on

three major themes as the new dean of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry.

“I am reaching out to connect — with our alumni, our faculty, our staff and our students — so we can all work together to build on our School’s heritage of excellence in education, patient care, research and community-based dentistry,” she says. “These efforts, both within and outside the School, will be paramount as we work to advance the profession of dentistry in general and academic dentistry in particular.”

Following a national search, McCauley became the first woman and the 14th person to become dean since the

School opened its doors in 1875. She began serving a five-year term as dean on September 1.

Days earlier, McCauley sent a School-wide e-mail saying, “becoming dean is like a dream come true. I am honored, humbled and so grateful to have this opportunity. I look forward to working with all of you.”

REACHING OUT,

CONNECTING

McCauley’s efforts to reach out and connect with individuals and groups were extensive when she was a depart-ment chair. They became even more wide-ranging in March after being named dean. She has been reaching out and connecting, meeting regularly with faculty, staff as well as the School’s alumni.

During the spring and summer, while on sabbatical at Harvard, McCauley

met with School of Dentistry alumni in New England.

In October, she was in Jackson to present a continuing education

program, met with alumni in Traverse City and spoke to the

Kent County (Michigan) Dental Society. Later that month, she was a delegate to the ADA’s annual session in New Orleans. In November, she addressed the Flint Rotary Club.

“Reaching out and connecting with faculty, staff, students, alumni, dental

organizations and others are impor-tant in building our future. We all

have to pull together and move in the same direction,” she says. An avid rower, McCauley is speaking both figuratively and

literally when she talks about pulling together.

She often rows on the Huron River with her husband, Jessy

Grizzle, a professor at the

U-M College of Engineering. A member of the Ann Arbor Rowing Club, she also works out with teams of four or

eight rowers.

“When everyone is in synch and pulling together, it’s amazing what can be achieved as a team,” she says. “For the School of Dentistry to continue being successful, all of us will have to work together toward common goals.”

A MICHIGAN

“WOW!” MOMENT

A registered dental hygienist who graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in education from The Ohio State University in 1980, McCauley earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree, once again graduating cum laude, from OSU in 1985.

“Working part-time as a dental hygienist helped me pay for some of my dental education,” she said. “It also sparked my interest in periodontics.” Initially, McCauley planned to return home and work in private practice. But her career path changed in dental school when a classmate talked about his desire to teach dentistry. “I began thinking that teaching was a new option, a new career opportunity to investigate,” she said. “I embraced the idea.”

A major turning point in McCauley’s life occurred in 1984 when she attended a regional conference of the American Association of Dental Schools.

The conference was held on the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor. 2 Fa ll & W in te r 2 013

When everyone is in synch and

pulling together, it’s amazing

what can be achieved as a team.

For the School of Dentistry

to continue being successful,

all of us will have to work together

toward common goals.

– Dean Laurie McCauley

Dean Laurie McCauley’s Focus –

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“That was my ‘Wow!’ moment,” McCauley said with a smile. “I was impressed with Michigan and its dental school and the collegiality of academic dental colleagues. I thought academia would be a great career and one that would combine my background in edu-cation and dentistry. But I had no idea I would be at U-M a few years later.” McCauley earned a master’s degree in dentistry in 1988 and a PhD in veterinary pathobiology in 1991, from OSU. She also taught periodontics, conducted research, and treated periodontal patients at a private practice in Marysville, Ohio. In 1992, Dr. Martha Somerman and Dean Bernie Machen invited McCauley to the School of Dentistry and later asked if she was inter-ested in advancing her career at U-M. Somerman, who chaired the School’s Department of Periodontics, Preven-tion and Geriatrics at the time, now directs the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Machen is president of the University of Florida in Gainesville.

“I thought the University of Michigan School of Dentistry was the place to be given my strong interest in periodon-tology and bone biology,” McCauley said. “The School was, and still is, a very resource-rich environment. The School’s emphasis on collaboration was another important factor in my decision.”

IMPRESSIVE RECORD

OF ACHIEVEMENT

McCauley’s achievements during more than 20 years at Michigan have been impressive.

She built her academic career on a foundation of clinical teaching, clinical practice and scientific inquiry, and has risen through the academic ranks to the position of full professor at both the School of Dentistry and the Department of Pathology at the U-M Medical School.

In 2002, she was named the William K. and Mary Ann Najjar Professor of Peri-odontics, the same year she became chair of the Department of Periodontics

and Oral Medicine, a position she held for 10 years.

She was a visiting scientist in Stras-bourg, France (1998-1999), a visiting professor in Lyon, France (2005-2006), and a visiting professor at the Harvard Medical School (2012-2013).

McCauley is also a fellow in the American Association for the Advance-ment of Science, a diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology, and a fellow in both the American College of Dentists and the Interna-tional College of Dentists.

A seasoned academic administrator, McCauley brings a blend of clinical experience, classroom leadership, research achievement and administra-tive success to her new position. A board certified periodontist (recertified in 2011) who treats patients in the School’s Dental Faculty Associates clinic, she also directs a team of researchers studying bone remodel-ing, osseous wound healremodel-ing, skeletal metastasis and cell actions in bones.

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Photo by Per Kjeldsen

Student input is very important. Dean McCauley meets with members of the Student Council, (L-R) Kathryn Kupczyk (DH4), R.J. Price (D2), Dean McCauley, Jared Little (D2), Anthony Guinn (D3), Ashley Kaploe (D2), and Christopher Chaffin (D2).

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Fa ll & W in te r 2 013 4

Dean Laurie McCauley’s Focus –

Reaching Out, Connecting, Building

“As a department chair for 10 years, I developed a big-picture perspective about many issues and the people who made things happen,” she said. Chairing a department and the search committee that led to Dr. Peter

Polverini becoming dean in 2003,

ultimately influenced McCauley to consider and eventually apply for the dean’s position last year.

“I enjoyed being a department chair, but after 10 years it was time for a new challenge,” she said. “I like change. I embrace it. Being dean is a big change. But now I am in position where I can help many others and take advantage of new opportunities to connect with more faculty, staff, students, and alumni.”

BUILDING THE FUTURE

Discussing her plans to reach out, connect and build, McCauley said “it’s important to talk to those who are a part of this School so we can work together to build our future.” She will be doing even more of that during U-M’s and the School’s new fundraising campaign.

“There is a critical need to raise funds for student scholarships and to renovate our facilities,” McCauley said. “I will work with our alumni to deter-mine the best way we can raise the funds so we can reach our goals.” She also said it’s important to develop “a deeper sense of awareness” about the School’s finances. “We are not immune to challenges that are facing higher education in general, and our School in particular, especially with limited state funding,” she said. “We need to come together to discuss our mission, perhaps refine parts of it, and develop a plan so that, like a good team of rowers, we know what our goals are and what we are moving toward.”

The commitment to excellence will not waver.

“At Michigan, we strive to be the ‘leaders and best’ in all we do,” she said. “At the School of Dentistry, we focus on evidence-based learning to guide clinical decision making. Our students excel in what they do.”

Since the Dental Class of 2014 is the first to advance through the School’s new curriculum, McCauley said she will closely look at its success. “The

new curriculum is progressive and well based in education methodology,” she said. “But it’s still a work in progress and will be modified, if needed.”

CONTINUING EXCELLENCE

With her background in education, dentistry, dental hygiene, research, and administration, McCauley is open to ideas that could help the School. “I enjoy hearing the details about a range of issues. It gives me opportunities to listen to diverse points of view prior to making decisions,” she says.

Reflecting on her first months as dean, McCauley says “I have been energized by the congratulatory messages and confidence conveyed to me. The School of Dentistry continues to be held in the highest regard throughout the dental community.”

She also says the high esteem for the School “is due to the leadership that has preceded me. I’m thankful to Peter Polverini for his guidance over the years as well as his help to make this a smooth transition.”

Dean McCauley and prosthodontics faculty member, Dr. Emerson Robinson, discuss a treatment plan in the faculty practice.

At the School of Dentistry,

we focus on evidence-based

learning to guide clinical

decision making. Our

students excel in

what they do.

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Rowing Imitates

Academic Dentistry

Rowing is one of my favorite recreational activities. It’s a great metaphor talking to colleagues and others as dean.

Rowing is very technique intensive and is very team oriented. Every-one has to pull their weight if the team is to succeed.

It’s wonderful when everyone is in synch because you realize just how much you can achieve working together as a team.

For the School of Dentistry to continue being successful, all of us will have to work together toward common goals.

Dean McCauley, an avid rower and member of the Ann Arbor Rowing Club, on an early morning sweep with a four person team.

Dean Laurie McCauley’s Focus –

Reaching Out, Connecting, Building

A Father’s Influence

Dr. Laurie McCauley’s dental career began when she worked in her father’s dental office in grade school and high school. “My dad has been such a big influence in my life,” she said. A general dentist in Copley, Ohio, a town of about 13,000 just northwest of Akron, Dr. Philip McCauley gradu-ated from The Ohio State University near the top of his dental class and was an outstanding clinician who was highly respected by his patients and the community.

Young Laurie helped her father clean his office, mail statements to patients, and talk to patients as they waited to be seen. She later worked as his dental assistant and became the first dental hygienist in the office. Being a dental hygienist was a springboard to earning

a dental degree and specializing in periodontics.

McCauley’s career steadily advanced because of the encouragement she received from her father and her mother, Edith; the advice and help she received from countless professional colleagues and friends; a strong drive to advance and make a difference; and a desire to help others realize their potential.

Talking to her father not long after she was named dean, McCauley said, “He was very proud. He said he only wished that my mother would have known (she passed away last December). He also asked me if I still thought U-M was the best dental school in the country. My reply was emphatic, ‘Of course. Yes!’”

Up Close

and Personal

ABOUT BECOMING DEAN:

“It’s not about me. It’s about the entire School.”

MY BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT:

“Undoubtedly will occur in these next five years.”

LAST BOOK READ: “Boys in

the Boat, by Daniel Brown. It’s an

incredible story about a rower with the University of Washington’s eight- oar crew, Joe Rantz, who overcame adversity and worked with his team- mates. As a result, all won a gold medal during the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.”

ATHLETIC INTERESTS:

“I participated in triathlons for 20 years. I enjoyed the variety – the running, swimming, and cycling. Eight years ago, I gave up running to pursue rowing. I also enjoy hiking with my husband. This year we hiked in France; last year, in the Tetons. In Ann Arbor, we swim with the Ann Arbor Masters at the Mack School pool during the winter and Fuller Park during the summer.”

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Laurie’s father, Dr. Philip McCauley, in the 1950’s.

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Fa ll & W in te r 2 013 6

It’s a tribute to stamina, adaptability

and creative thinking

Every year for the past 40 years, hundreds of orthodontists, residents, private practitioners and other oral health care professionals, along with those from the medical community, have traveled to the University of Michigan for the Moyers Symposium to listen to world-renowned experts talk about new discoveries and clinical advances in orthodontics and dento-facial orthopedics, craniodento-facial growth and development research, and other breakthroughs that ultimately affect the treatment and care patients receive. The 2013 Moyers Symposium was no exception. The 2014 Symposium is shaping up to be another dynamic program.

More than 800 people from 31 countries attended this year’s, three-day program, The 40th Moyers

Sympo-sium: Looking Back…Looking Forward.

For some, it was their first Symposium. For others, it was a reunion.

Dr. Lee Graber (DDS 1971), past

presi-dent of both the American Association

of Orthodontists and the World Federation of Orthodontists, said he has attended “at least 27 Moyers Symposium programs.”

AN “INTELLECTUAL HIGH”

Graber said he returns often because the Symposium produces “a predict-able intellectual high. The quality of the program and the shared experiences with a diverse audience of dental and medical academicians, students, and clinicians has been consistently outstanding,” he said. “Topics have been timely and the planning commit-tees, led by Dr. Jim McNamara, have brought recognized leaders in their area of expertise together in one location.”

Dr. G. Thomas Kluemper, past chair of

the Department of Orthodontics at the University of Kentucky-Lexington, said, “the Symposium represents a beacon of light. It reflects the intellectual curiosity of Robert Edison Moyers and is held for the simple joy of discovery

in human growth and development, particularly the study and management of the craniofacial complex.”

That so many returned this year was not only a celebration of the Symposium’s longevity, but also an acknowledge-ment of the power of an idea sparked by a U-M School of Dentistry graduate. After earning his DDS in 1956 and running a successful general practice for many years, Dr. Verne Primack wanted to thank Dr. Robert Moyers for being a mentor and inspiration throughout his dental education. Primack and his wife, Naomi, wanted to establish a forum where the world’s top researchers, clinicians and teachers could talk about innovative research and present new ideas in craniofacial growth and development. They wanted the program to be open to practi-tioners in dental, medical, and allied health fields. Primack passed away March 19, a week after the 40th Moyers Symposium was held.

An Orthodontics Legend

Dr. Robert Moyers chaired the School’s Department of Orthodontics (1953-1966) and later was the Founding Director of the U-M Center for Human Growth and Development (1964-1980). The Center was estab-lished as a university-wide interdis-ciplinary unit to better understand childhood growth and development.

Under his leadership, the Center gained international prominence not only for interdisciplinary research in craniofacial biology, but also in developmental biology, nutrition, public health, morphometrics, anthro-pology, linguistics, and pediatrics. Author of the textbook, Handbook

of Orthodontics, Moyers received

the profession’s highest award, the

Albert H. Ketcham Award (1988) and

was elected to the Royal College of Surgeons in London (1955). He was inducted posthumously into the School of Dentistry’s Hall of Honor in 2004.

40 Years and Still Relevant —

The Moyers Symposium

The 2014 Moyers

Symposium

Dates

March 7-9, 2014

Location

Rackham Auditorium

Focus

Expedited Orthodontics:

Improving the Efficiency

of Orthodontic Treatment

Through Novel Technologies

For more information contact:

www.moyerssymposium.org

or call 734.763.5070

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Reasons for Success

Dr. James McNamara, the Thomas M.

and Doris Graber Endowed Professor of Dentistry, has been involved with the Moyers Symposium from the start. He was one of the speakers during the 1974 inaugural program and has been a member of the organizing committee since then. McNamara

became Symposium moderator in 1976 and has been program coordinator for more than 30 years.

That longevity gives him a unique perspective to assess the reasons for the Symposium’s success.

“The quality of the speakers and relevance of the topics addressed is critical,” McNamara stressed. Selecting compelling topics can be a challenge “because it often is difficult to anticipate what topics might be of interest two or three years in advance,” McNamara said. The strong rapport he and members of the planning commit-tee have with the oral health care community, “enable us to get topic ideas and recommendations for possible speakers worldwide,” he said. In recent years, the planning commit-tee has been composed of full-time U-M orthodontics faculty including

Drs. Sunil Kapila, Nan Hatch, Scott Conley, Jeanne Nervina and Lucia Cevidanes.

ADAPTING TO CHANGE

After the first Moyers Symposium ended, McNamara said “there were many other highly-qualified persons who attended and could have spoken, but weren’t able to because we didn’t have enough time.” That led to the creation of a “Presymposium” the following year.

The Presymposium, The Annual

International Conference on Cranio-facial Research, features international

speakers presenting papers relevant to orthodontics and craniofacial biology. Each speaker discusses their work for about 20 minutes and answers ques-tions. Presymposium attendance is smaller, 150 to 225 persons. Since the venue is more intimate, lively intellec-tual discussions are routine.

That ability to adapt and remain relevant is evident in the topics that have been presented.

During the first decade of the Moyers Symposium (1974-1983) most topics focused on craniofacial growth. During the second decade (1984-1993) it was evidence-based treatment. The third decade (1994-2003) continued examin-ing evidence-based treatment, but also explored tissue engineering, technol-ogy, and interdisciplinary studies. The fourth decade (2004-2013) included discussions on implants, radiology, and technology.

Also enhancing the visibility and success of the Moyers Symposium is The Craniofacial Growth Monograph

Series, an annual publication that

provides a printed summary of presentations at the Symposium and thematically relevant talks from the Presymposium.

Since 1974, Needham Press has distributed 39 volumes that include the works of 1,006 authors and 304 speakers that total 11,708 pages.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Two special events marked this year’s program.

One was an evening reception in the skyboxes at the Big House. Speakers, guests, and their families also went on to the football field and into the locker rooms to get a different perspective of U-M football.

The other special event was a poster presentation about research in basic, translational and clinical science relevant to orthodontics and cran-iofacial growth and development. Thirty-four posters were presented by students and junior orthodontic faculty at Rackham Auditorium.

THE FUTURE

Underscoring the Symposium’s international prominence, Kapila, chair of the Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, said he is “looking forward to continuing the tradition of excellence with high caliber, clinically relevant and evidence-based presenta-tions for years to come.”

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2013 Moyers Symposium keynote speakers were (L to R): Dr. Vincent Kokich, editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, who passed away July 24; Dr. David Sackett, a pioneer in evidence-based medicine; and Dr. Lysle Johnston, past chair of the U-M Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry and director of the Graduate Orthodontics Program.

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Fa ll & W in te r 2 013 8

Dental Education Innovation

Awards Announced

Five School of Dentistry faculty members are developing innovative educational programs for the predoc-toral curriculum with a $200,000 gift from the Roberts Family Foundation. The Foundation was established to honor the memory of Dr. Roy H.

Roberts (DDS 1932) and his wife,

Natalie. Grants of up to $10,000 are available to launch projects that exhibit innovation and an evidence-based approach to teaching.

CREATING NEW KNOWLEDGE

“Because of the generosity of the Roberts Family Foundation, the School of Dentistry will be able to create new knowledge through scholarship and foster innovative approaches to teaching that support the goals of our new predoctoral curriculum,” said

Dr. Carol Anne Murdoch-Kinch,

associate dean for Academic Affairs. After project guidelines were devel-oped and sent to faculty, a standard-ized peer review process, modeled after NIH study section review, was used by a review committee to evaluate the proposals and make funding decisions. An important part of this program is the mentoring and support that is provided by the review committee and instructional staff in Academic Affairs. Eight proposals were received and three were funded. The first recipients of the Roy H.

Roberts Dental Education Innovation Awards and their projects are:

Dr. Berna Saglik, clinical assistant

professor, and Dr. Won-Suck Oh, clinical associate professor, Department of Biologic and Materi-als Sciences and Prosthodontics. Project: Integrating

Computer-Aided Design Technology into Classroom and Preclinic Teaching (Removable Partial Denture #622 and Advanced Prosthodontics #718).

Summary:

Designing a removable partial denture (RPD) for a patient is about to move from a two-dimensional to a three-dimensional educational and clinical endeavor.

“Historically, RPD design has been a difficult concept for students in prosth-odontics to master,” Saglik said. That’s because two-dimensional images or graphics that are used in a classroom to convey important concepts are difficult to visualize and understand. Trying to apply the concepts becomes more difficult when dental students try to fabricate an RPD that ultimately matches a patient’s oral cavity. Saglik and Oh are taking the concepts of Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) to new levels in the classroom and clinic by using state- of-the-art 3-D technology.

“Using three-dimensional tools in a classroom and clinic will enhance critical thinking skills among dental students,” she said. “They will use the technology to better understand the RPD design and fabrication process so they can eventually apply what they

have learned to benefit patients.” Saglik and Oh envision second-year dental students, who are being introduced to prosthodontics, working with fourth-year dental students who are treating patients in the School’s prosthodontics clinic.

Efforts are being made to elec-tronically transmit information about a patient’s removable partial denture for “printing” as a 3-D acrylic model that dental students would then analyze. “When the students have a tangible object in their hands and see the outcome of their work, they will think even more critically about their work,” Saglik said.

Dr. Theodora Danciu, clinical

assistant professor, Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine. Project: Clinical Oral Pathology:

Learning Decision Making During Dental School and Beyond.

Summary:

This project is designed to enhance the clinical decision making of dental and dental hygiene students by searching for and applying scientific evidence that supports their clinical decisions, and then contribute this knowledge

Photo by Jerry Mastey

Working in the Dr. Roy Roberts Preclinical Laboratory, Drs. Berna Saglik (right) and Won-Suck Oh discuss ways to use technology to make it easier for dental students to understand how to design and make removable partial dentures for patients.

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2 013 F al l & W inte r 9 to oral health care professionals on

the Open.Michigan Web site. Students will review and assess background information and images as part of an oral and maxillofacial pathology course. They will practice their diagnostic skills and also develop treatment plans for virtual patients with common and rare conditions that will be posted on the Open.Michigan Web site specifically designed for

this project.

“Because new knowledge is constantly being discovered and applied, our dental and dental hygiene students must develop an important habit of searching for new information that is authoritative, then evaluate it and consider how they might apply their discoveries to the patients they treat,” Danciu said. Findings and decisions of the students will be evaluated online by faculty. Students will also be reminded of their responsibility to give back to the oral health care profession by sharing their discoveries and clinical treatments on the Web with their peers.

Dr. Carlos González-Cabezas,

associate professor, and

Dr. Margherita Fontana, associate

professor, Department of Cariol-ogy, Restorative Sciences, and Endodontics. Project: Exam

Questions Developed by Students Lead to Higher Cognitive Levels of Learning.

Summary:

“The primary objective of our project is to enhance student learning in a cariology course using an innovative teaching approach, namely, having students in the course develop exam questions,” González-Cabezas said. “It’s not a completely new approach, but it’s rarely used in dentistry.” Developing test questions, he added, “requires a significant learning effort and greater critical thinking compared to memorizing.” Student-developed

questions are posted in a common Web-based repository, such as Google Docs, where other students and faculty can make any necessary revisions or add comments. This creates a large collection of potential test questions for students to study. If the student-developed test questions omit an important topic, faculty teaching the course create those questions. But that has rarely happened.

González-Cabezas said the project is designed to enhance critical thinking skills among students and also develop possible new approaches to teaching and learning. The student-created questions were the main source for midterm and final exams for a cariology course the past two years. The effect of this teaching strategy is being analyzed.

Second-year dental students Margaret Anderson and Bartosz Maska, who took a cariology course taught by Drs. Margherita Fontana and Carlos González-Cabezas, also helped develop test questions for the course. Here they review other test questions that may be used in the future.

Photo by Dr. Alex DaSilva

Dr. Theodora Danciu and student investigator Brandon Veremis (D4) discuss clinical cases that will be included in the oral pathology database.

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Fa ll & W in te r 2 013 10

Interprofessional

Education in Action

Nursing Students Learning about Oral Health

Nursing students participating in a new interprofessional education program (IPE) at the U-M School of Dentistry are learning, first hand and up close, about oral health and the importance good oral health plays in overall health. For several months, students in the School of Nursing’s Second Career Bachelor of Science program shadowed dental students, residents, and faculty dentists in the pediatric dental clinic. The dental course has been added to the Nursing’s Second Career curriculum to teach nurses about oral health issues they may en-counter in young patients they see. The knowledge they acquire at the School of Dentistry will better prepare them to identify oral disease and those at risk for developing it, and know when to refer patients for follow-up care. The innovative program is one of several IPE efforts being developed and implemented throughout the University, according to Dr. Carol

Anne Murdoch-Kinch, associate

dean for Academic Affairs and clinical professor of dentistry.

IPE involves several health care disciplines — dentistry, medicine, public health, nursing, pharmacy, and social work — working as teams. “This approach has the potential to enhance student learning and ultimately lead to improved patient care,” she said.

“A GREAT OPPORTUNITY”

Dr. Gail Czarnecki, clinical assistant

professor of dentistry in the Depart-ment of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, developed the dental-fo-cused program and supervises the nursing students.

“Since dental decay is increasing among children between the ages of two and five, this is a great opportunity for the nursing students,” she said. “Nurses are in a position to help dental professionals prevent early childhood caries by reinforcing the importance of seeing a dentist by the time a child

has his or her first birthday as well as providing dental health education for expectant and new mothers.”

Czarnecki added that once the nursing students better understand oral health and its relationship to total health “they can apply it when they are in a private practice, medical clinic, or a hospital setting and can share their knowledge with other staff and non-dental health care providers.”

During the week-long rotation at the dental school, Czarnecki and other faculty teach the nursing students about the fundamentals of oral health care — caries risk assessment, early childhood caries, caries prevention strategies, prenatal oral health counsel-ing, childhood obesity intervention, behavior guidance and managing fearful patients, how to communicate with dental professionals, and helping patients with special health care needs. That classroom knowledge is reinforced by observing and shadowing dental students and residents in the pediatric dental clinic, seminars, and small group discussions. “The nursing students

assist the third-year predoctoral students, pediatric residents or faculty dentists with some of the basics, such as collecting data about a patient, trying to ease the fears some young patients have about seeing a dentist, and occasionally applying fluoride varnish, if necessary, under faculty supervision,” Czarnecki said.

NURSING STUDENTS

PRAISE PROGRAM

Nursing students said their week at the School of Dentistry was informative and will help them later.

“You learn a lot in a very short period of time,” said Danielle Artinian, a student in the Second Career nursing program. Since many children “aren’t comfortable with the thought of going to a hospital emergency room or a dentist, they’re anxious about what will happen to them. Sometimes their fears get the best of them,” she said. “But I want to be with them to help make their experience in either setting better. I’m convinced what I learned here will help me when I’m in a physician’s office or medical clinic.”

Dr. Gail Czarnecki (center) checks the work third-year dental student Kristen Kilgore (right). Nursing student Sara Young (left) observes.

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2 013 F al l & W inte r 11 Another Second Career nursing

student, Sara Young, said she was surprised to learn how damaging baby bottle tooth decay can be to young children.

“Until I came to the dental school, I had no idea about this condition and how widespread it is. I know this is one thing I will always be looking for when a parent or guardian brings a child who’s in pain to a hospital ER or medical clinic,” she said.

Young said she would also make it a point to tell parents “that it is not OK to give a child juice in a bottle, especially before bedtime, because the risk of decay and pain later could increase significantly.”

“CONSTANT

COMMUNICATION”

Dr. Stephanie Kloostra, a first-year

resident in pediatric dentistry, praises the new program. “It’s not just a one-way street. It’s interactive, with constant communication between the dental professionals and the nursing students. Everyone will benefit.” She noted that nurses can play an important role in oral health care since

physicians and nurses “typically see patients earlier than we do as dentists.” That often happens, Kloostra said, when a child sees a physician for immu-nizations. “But a parent often doesn’t take their child to see a dentist until an emergency arises, and that’s too late.” Kloostra said the interaction nursing students are having with oral health care professionals at the School of

Dentistry “will help them, their patients, and physicians long after they leave because they have been exposed to another dimension of care which includes what to look for in a child who may have caries, the importance of weight and nutrition, how to talk to parents about these issues, and even learning how to apply fluoride varnish.” Two other nursing students who participated in the interprofessional education program, Samantha

South-worth and Ashley Pieske, said “we

will definitely be able to use what we learned here in a medical setting.” “What we learned during our week at the dental school, such as instructing a child how to brush their teeth and what types of foods and drinks are good and not so good for them, is invaluable,” Southworth said. “I will definitely be able to use this knowledge throughout my nursing career.”

Pieske agreed, adding, “Our educa-tion here at the dental school wasn’t confined to books or lectures. What we observed and learned in count-less conversations will make us better nurses who better understand and appreciate how important good oral health is to overall health.”

Nursing student Ashley Pieske (left) assists pediatric resident Dr. Stephanie Kloostra with a fluoride treatment in the pediatric dental clinic.

Nursing student Danielle Artinian (right) checks patient data and conveys the information to third-year dental student Megan Michalski as she treats a young patient.

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Fa ll & W in te r 2 013 12

Digital Imaging Advancing Care

at the School of Dentistry

Digital imaging is making significant inroads at the School of Dentistry. New digital imaging equipment was recently installed in 22 clinics throughout the School to enhance the quality of care patients receive as well as prepare students in dental, dental hygiene, and graduate programs for the digital environment they will experience after graduation. The latest efforts build upon the suc-cessful use of digital technology in the Dr. Roy Roberts Preclinical Laboratory as well as the digital impression system available in dental student clinics. For 10 years, clinical instructors have been using digital technology to demonstrate dental procedures that first- and second-year dental students watch on a monitor at each of 110 workstations. Students apply that knowledge and develop their clinical skills on models of the oral cavity (typodonts), plastic teeth, and man-nequin heads prior to treating patients in the School’s clinics. More recently, students have been taking digital impressions and replacing traditional stone models with highly accurate and durable stereolithography models.

BENEFITS CITED

The new digital imaging equipment now being used includes intraoral X-ray units, sensors and phosphorous plates, as well as panoramic, panoramic-ceph-alogram, and cone beam computed tomography machines that provide excellent visualization of the teeth and bony structures of the head.

The radiographic images “will appear on a monitor in seven seconds or less,” said Roger Gillie, director of Applica-tion Services in Dental Informatics. Students and clinical faculty can zoom in on a digital image, highlight details and share radiographs. For example, residents in the oral surgery clinic, he said, “will be able to see radiographs taken in the emergency or predoctoral clinics before the patient is taken to that clinic for evaluation and treat-ment.” Electronic enhancements allow

for greater review of image details and notes can be added as reminders of areas to watch in the future.

Light boxes that have been used for many years to view film X-rays have been removed in the radiology clinic. However, in four clinics where pred-octoral students treat patients under the supervision of clinical faculty, light boxes will remain since it will take about a year to scan tens of thousands of film radiographs to digital format.

Dr. Stephen Stefanac, associate dean

for Patient Services, said, “the quality of the digital X-ray images is excep-tional and should help us to detect problems in patients earlier. Also important,” he added, “is that students can now show detailed images to their patients to help them understand the treatment options that are available.”

EXTENSIVE ROLLOUT

PREPARATION

The digital imaging initiative involved extensive collaboration among clini-cians, radiologists, and staff in Patient Services, Radiology, Dental Informatics and others throughout the School, according to Dr. Erika Benavides, clinical assistant professor and oral and maxillofacial radiologist. She led the clinical digital imaging team.

“It was a giant research project,” Bena-vides said with a smile. “We reviewed a considerable amount of information from many different hardware vendors and, because the equipment had differ-ent capabilities, evaluated each system using objective criteria.”

Also critical was choosing the digital imaging software to use. “The software

Clinical instructor Dr. Erika Benavides and third-year dental student Brandon Shoukri use digital imaging to access patient radiographs and a dental model as they discuss a comprehensive treatment plan.

Digital imaging is an

excellent example of how

the School of Dentistry is

using technology to enhance

the educational experience

of students and the

care provided to

their patients.

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2 013 F al l & W inte r 13 is the foundation that allows us to

capture and store the images using the different radiology equipment, and allows clinicians and students to share the images throughout the School or even across campus,” she said. “Our clinician users were actively involved in evaluating the software and their input was essential in making a final decision.”

As Benavides talked to faculty and students, Gillie led the Informatics team who “looked under the hood” to assess the digital technology being considered and evaluate its effective-ness. “The images had to be shared among 22 clinics at the School and three others at U-M Hospital where the School of Dentistry also has a clinic. The technology also had to be robust and user friendly for students, dental clinical faculty, students in graduate dental programs, and in research. Every area was important,” he said.

THE PAPER TO DIGITAL

TRANSITION

As the new school year began, Terri Stilwell, radiology clinic instructor, trained small groups of dental, dental hygiene, and graduate students how to use the new equipment. “The students are adapting to the changes very well and are excited to use the new technol-ogy,” she said. “They’re tech savvy and amazed at how easy it is to use.”

The transition to digital imaging has also led to a change in vocabulary. As she trained one group of predoc-toral students, Stilwell caught herself saying “film X-rays” and quickly cor-rected that. “It’s hard to break an old habit, especially when one has used a phrase like ‘film X-rays’ for so many years,” she said with a smile. Let’s use ‘digital images’ instead.”

After January 1, 2014, the School will no longer create a paper record for new patients. “We will then digitize portions of 30,000 existing records,” Stefanac said. “When the paper records are in digital form and combined with new digital images, our students will have easier access to all their patient information.”

Eventually, digital images will be accessible on Apple and Android mobile devices. All information will be encrypted to comply with all protected health information standards.

COLLABORATION

ACROSS U-M

“It was a great team effort. People from many disciplines came together to make this happen,” Benavides said. “Our faculty members were excited to learn about the capabilities of the new digital equipment and how to use it. Dental students were also enthused because they use technology extensively.”

Gillie lauded the help received from the School’s Technology Services group, U-M’s Information Technology Communications (ITCOM) unit and the Medical School’s radiology depart-ment. “Working together we installed 80 imaging stations that allow us to take, store and manage digital images that are available on more than 1,000 computers,” he said. “Digital imaging is an excellent example of how the School of Dentistry is using technology to enhance the educational experience of students and the care provided to their patients.”

Radiology clinical instructor Terri Stilwell shows a group of dental students how to use the new digital equipment.

Photo by Emily Springfield

Some of the members of the Dental Informatics team who participated in the digital imagining initiative sporting their radiology t-shirts.

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Dr. Mark Fitzgerald, DDS, MS

Associate Professor of Dentistry; Associate Chair, Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences & Endodontics

“I enjoy innovating and creating new paths for learning. That’s why it’s so enjoyable here at the School of Dentistry – because the search to do things better, to find ways to improve, is constant,” said Dr. Mark Fitzgerald as he talked about his 33-year career at Michigan.

After earning his dental degree in 1980 Fitzgerald joined the U-M dentistry faculty as a part-time instruc-tor teaching one day a week in the clinics. As a full-time faculty member he created the School’s practice manage-ment curriculum, developed Web-based dental education courses, and is playing a role in shaping the direction of interprofessional education.

By his own admission, however, Fitz-gerald said his road to dentistry “was a bit unconventional, but exciting.” He completed three years of study at the U-M College of Engineering but finished his undergraduate studies at the College of Literature, Sciences, and the Arts with plans to go to medical school.

When those plans changed Fitzgerald decided to take a position at a research facility in Mattawan, Michigan observ-ing primate behavior and workobserv-ing with 150 to 250 monkeys a day.

It wasn’t a typical 9 to 5 job. “The hours were irregular and I rarely had any time off, even on weekends,” he said. “About the only time I was able to see my wife, Maureen, was during lunch.”

U-M DENTIST’S INFLUENCE

A 1973 graduate of the Kalamazoo Valley dental hygiene program, Maureen Fitzgerald worked in the office of Dr. Ashraf Maher (DDS 1973) in nearby Portage.

During one of those lunch hour visits, Maher invited Fitzgerald to tour his office. That short visit had a long lasting impact.

“I got hooked on dentistry,” Fitzgerald said. “I saw that dentistry was an attrac-tive alternaattrac-tive to medicine. It was

similar, in many ways, to medicine because the care provider

interacted with patients, diag-nosed their condition, and used

technology and other resources to try to improve their lives.

That is what I wanted to do.” In 1976, Fitzgerald began his dental education at the

School of Dentistry. During his first year of study, he

told Dr. James Avery, chair of the Department

of Oral Biology, about

his work with primates. During their conversation, a monkey escaped from a cage in the School laboratory. Fitzgerald captured the primate a short time later and returned it to its cage. “That’s how I got a job in his lab which helped pay for my education,” he said. One week after receiving his dental degree in 1980, Fitzgerald was hired as a clinical instructor. Later that year he began his own practice in the Ann Arbor dental office of two of his former instructors and faculty members,

Drs. Ronald Heys and Donald Heys.

In 1983, Fitzgerald earned a master’s degree in restorative dentistry.

NEW PRACTICE

MANAGE-MENT CURRICULUM

Not long after Bernard Machen became dean in 1989, he approached Fitzgerald and asked him to develop a practice management course of study for the School of Dentistry.

“It was a challenge creating a new program,” Fitzgerald said. “Many thought that paying bills, managing cash flow, marketing a practice, and everything else associated with being a

Faculty Profile

Fa ll & W in te r 2 013 14

Dr. Fitzgerald guides Ashok Rohra (D4) through a demonstration of the Simodont Dental Trainer, a virtual reality, haptics simulation system being tested for use in preclinic to teach cavity preparations.

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dentist were best left to someone else in the office.”

But the American Dental Association’s Council on Dental Accreditation at that time was urging dental schools to teach students the basics of managing a practice.

Fitzgerald was excited “because this would be a win-win opportunity for dental students. They would learn the basics in a low-risk environment like the dental school and do so without fear of failure. In the process, they would gain confidence and be able to apply, in the real world, what they learned in our course.”

Today, Fitzgerald still teaches a series of practice management courses that cover financial and legal issues as well as marketing, the importance of collaboration in an office environment, ethics and a range of other topics.

THE WEB AND ITS IMPACT

Some of the fundamentals that were a part of developing the practice man-agement curriculum, such as gathering information and organizing it, later helped Fitzgerald when he posted content from various dental courses to the School’s intranet.

Encouraged by Dr. Stephen Bayne, chair of the Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences, and Endodon-tics (CRSE), Fitzgerald worked with

other department faculty to create a template for cariology courses that included “must know” information about the topics covered in each course, competencies, and desired outcomes. Later, information from lectures was added so students could review subject matter at times conve-nient for them.

Ultimately, the template that Fitzgerald created for the CRSE courses was used for other courses taught by faculty in the School’s four other departments. Since 2007, Fitzgerald has been an author or producer of 29 online com-ponents for courses. “Being involved with so many is time consuming,” he said. “As an author you create learning materials; as a producer you repackage materials provided by other faculty members.” Also included with some of the online courses are “flash” presenta-tions. These typically include audio lectures, an occasional quiz, and other learning resources.

“The online information is dynamic, it’s constantly changing,” he said, “because of new discoveries or new research results available from all parts of the world.”

Fitzgerald said the students love self-paced learning. “They can listen to a lecture as many times as they want, at any time or at any location.” But he

emphasized that going to the Web to listen to a lecture or review class notes “is not a substitute for being physically in class.” Over time, Fitzgerald believes even more course material will be posted online which, in turn, will reduce the need for educators to lecture and allow for more one-on-one and small group interactions.

“Most ‘traditional’ methods of teaching do not enhance critical thinking and problem solving,” he said. “Research on contemporary learning styles shows that learning is most effective in small groups, perhaps ten or fewer students, where they can ask questions of their colleagues and even challenge their instructor.”

INTERPROFESSIONAL

EDUCATION

During the past two years, Fitzgerald has been increasingly involved in developing an interprofessional education (IPE) curriculum. Still in its infancy, the team-based approach to learning encourages administrators, faculty, and students to rethink what some call the traditional “silo method” of education and patient care. IPE will engage multiple health care disciplines — dentistry, medicine, public health, nursing, pharmacy, and social work — as teams work together to improve patient care.

Fitzgerald sees similarities between the IPE curriculum and the practice management curriculum developed years earlier.

“These include expanding teamwork and leadership skills into an environ-ment that involves professionals in other disciplines, not just oral health care ,” he said. “As IPE continues to evolve, we will employ some of the metrics commonly used to assess practice management performance as we measure how effective interpro-fessional education is in improving the quality of care that patients receive.” Interprofessional education, like practice management, is quickly becoming another challenge for Dr. Mark Fitzgerald. It’s one he enjoys. Judging by his successful track record, no one at the School of Dentistry doubts he will succeed this time too.

2 013 F al l & W inte r 15

Managing faculty assignments and the student clinic schedules present daily challenges for Dr. Fitzgerald, but a sophisticated spreadsheet helps keep the clinics running efficiently.

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F al l & W in te r 2 013 16

Faculty News

Duff New Assistant Dean for Student Services

Dr. Renée Duff, clinical associate

professor in the Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences and Division of Prosthodontics, is the School’s new assistant dean for Student Services.

In her new role, Duff works with students and faculty in the School’s predoctoral, dental hygiene, master’s and PhD programs. She is also an advisor to the dental student Honor Council and ex-officio member of Academic Review Boards I and II, and works with the School’s director of Multicultural Affairs to recruit a diverse student body.

Duff earned three degrees from U-M — a bachelor’s degree (1991), DDS (1996), and a master’s degree in prosthodontics

(2005). She began teaching at the School of Dentistry as a part-time faculty member in 1997 and began teaching full time in 2004.

Duff co-directs the School’s Leadership Pathway program that is a part of the dental curriculum. She has also been involved with the School’s Scholars Program in Dental Leadership and has participated in the American Dental Education Association’s Leadership Institute. She has five years of private practice dentistry experience and practices prosthodontics in the Dental Faculty Associates clinic at the School.

Selected following an extensive national search, Duff succeeds Dr. Marilyn Woolfolk who retired following a 23-year career as an administrator at the School of Dentistry.

Kapila Delivers Prestigious Orthodontics Lecture

Dr. Sunil Kapila, the Robert W. Browne Endowed Professor

of Dentistry and chair of the Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, recently delivered one of the profession of orthodontics most prestigious lectures, the Jacob A. Salzmann Lecture. He spoke about how innovations in biomedicine and technology are changing the practice of orthodontics during the American Association of Orthodontics annual session in Philadelphia.

Kapila said the advances in 3-D imaging, computer technologies and biomedicine that have transformed medicine are being rapidly adapted and applied in orthodontics. Discoveries in these fields are enhancing orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning and also sparking innovation with the development of “smart appliances,” advances in tissue engineering, and even ways to biologically regulate tooth movement.

“In the next half century,” he said, “the confluence of innovations in technology and biological discoveries will have a major impact on the practice of orthodontics and how we will be able to help our patients.”

Kapila is the fourth U-M School of Dentistry professor of orthodontics to deliver the prestigious Salzmann Lecture. Previous presenters were Drs. Lysle Johnston (1998),

James McNamara (1994), and Robert Moyers (1989).

“I was honored to be selected to present this prestigious lecture to an international audience,” Kapila said. “It offered all of us an opportunity to look back at where we have been as a profession, but more importantly, where we are headed.”

Photo by Fadi Kheir Photography, courtesy of AAOF

Dr. Sunil Kapila (center) with Dr. James Kumkemoeller (left), past president of the American Association of Orthodontists Foundation (AAOF), and Dr. Eric Nease, current AAOF president.

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2 013 F al l & W inte r Dr. Robert Bradley, professor in the Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences, was appointed by U-M President Mary Sue Coleman to

serve the University as a Senior Fellow in the Society of Fellows. He is the first School of Dentistry faculty member to be named to the eminent group.

Each year four outstanding applicants in the social, physical and life sciences, and in the professional schools are appointed to three-year fellowships. All have reputations as distinguished scholars, researchers or creative artists. The Society of Fellows is an interdisci-plinary intellectual community in which postdoctoral Fellows are joined by Senior Fellows to discuss their work. Fellows are expected to participate in monthly colloquia, attend Society functions and engage in discussions with other members about their intellectual interests.

They also participate in the annual evaluation of new applicants for the Society, serve as evaluators for the Distinguished Dissertations Awards sponsored by the Rackham Graduate School, and act as mentors for graduate students completing their dissertations. The Society of Fellows was established in 1970 under the auspices of the Rackham Graduate School.

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Marita Inglehart (Dr. phil. habil.)

advanced from associate professor of dentistry with tenure to professor of dentistry with tenure in the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine. Last year, she was one of 79 individuals nationwide named a Fellow of the Association of Psychological Science for her research focusing on how oral health is affected by psychosocial and behavioral factors and how oral health affects a patient’s quality of life. Inglehart co-chairs the School’s Multicultural Affairs Committee.

Shiuhyang Kuo (DDS, PhD) was

promoted by the School’s Executive Committee, from research investigator to assistant research scientist in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Hospital Dentistry. He began his career as a research investigator at U-M with OMS/HD in September 2008.

James Boynton (DDS, MS)

advanced from clinical assistant professor of dentistry to clinical associate professor of dentistry in the Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry. He is director of the School’s pediatric dentistry program. In addition to teaching nine classes to predoctoral students and pediatric dentistry residents, Boynton’s research focuses on the use of technology in pediatric dentistry and primary pulp therapy.

Won-Suck Oh (DDS, MS) advanced

from clinical associate professor of dentistry to clinical professor of dentistry in the Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences. His teaching activities include instructing third- and fourth-year dental students in the general dentistry clinics and in the prosthodontics graduate clinic. His research focuses on dental ceramics and dental implants. Congratulations to four faculty members whose promotions became effective September 1, 2013. Three were promoted by U-M Regents during their meeting in May. The fourth faculty member’s promotion was approved by the School’s Executive Committee.

INSTRUCTIONAL TRACK

CLINICAL TRACK

RESEARCH TRACK

4 Faculty Promoted

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F al l & W in te r 2 013 18

“It’s been nearly 40 years, and I never imagined that dentistry and dental research would become such an impor-tant part of my professional life,” said

Dr. Dennis Lopatin as he reflected

on his career that began at the U-M School of Dentistry in 1976.

Lopatin, who begins his retirement furlough in January, has been senior associate dean for the last 10 years. In that role he worked closely with Dean

Peter Polverini and now, Dean Laurie McCauley on issues that included

faculty affairs, human resources, budgeting and finance, and facilities. After earning a master’s degree and PhD in microbiology at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, Lopatin

spent two additional years at North-western University Medical School completing postdoctoral training in immunologic regulatory mechanisms. Impressed with Michigan’s research facilities and faculty, he accepted a position as a research scientist and leadership of the immunology program within the School’s Dental Research Institute (DRI).

CHANGING ROLES

His roles evolved over time — researcher, teacher and administrator. A faculty member in the Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences (BMS) since 1978, Lopatin had continuous funding for his research for nearly

40 years. He taught immunology to dental students and mentored dental students, graduate students, faculty and administrators. He was vice chair of BMS (1998-2001) and interim chair of the Department of Periodontics, Prevention, and Geriatrics (2001-2002). A bit reluctant, at least initially, when asked to become senior associate dean, Lopatin said he did so “because I thought I could make a difference to the School.” Most rewarding, he said, was advising faculty and staff “about marketing their accomplishments to enhance their careers.”

Lopatin credits two people for his professional success — his wife, Connie, whom he met when she was the DRI’s executive secretary, and Dr. John Lillie, a professor of dentistry who served on the Transition Committee in 1987 which restructured the School’s organizational structure and operations.

“Connie was my mentor here at the School of Dentistry and always believed in me and my abilities, even when I didn’t. John introduced me to many influential U-M administrators,” Lopatin said. “John was an advocate who helped me navigate the bureau-cracy that was challenging my profes-sional career at U-M. What he did for me is probably the sole reason that I am still here.”

ACHIEVEMENTS

Among the achievements Lopatin said he is proudest of are his lab’s work in exploring the relationship between microbial stress proteins, host response and periodontal disease and “helping raise awareness of the School’s contributions throughout the University of Michigan.” He added that he also enjoyed making the School “a very staff friendly place to work and supporting our junior faculty as they advanced their careers.”

Those efforts were recognized this summer when he was presented by the University with the Work/Life

Champion Award for Supervisors.