Erin Hersey, DMD 17, Dr. Celeste Kong, and Dr. John Carl McManama

On Wednesday, September 28, 2015 Erin Hersey DMD 17 delivered the first presentation in the 2016-2017 series of pre-doctoral Grand Rounds presentations to an audience of faculty and students at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM).

Approximately 90 faculty and students were in attendance for Hersey’s presentation, which was—like all pre-doctoral Grand Rounds presentations—about a treatment plan she devised for an extraordinary patient at her 10-week Externship rotation site located at Dimock Community Health Center in Roxbury, Massachusetts.

All pre-doctoral students in the first rotation of GSDM’s Externship program, which took place this summer, presented their treatment plans to faculty in the Department of General Dentistry. Three finalists were chosen, and Hersey’s presentation was selected from these three finalists to give the Grand Rounds Presentation by Professor in the Department of General Dentistry Dr. Carl McManama.

Dr. McManama also moderated the Grand Rounds presentation.

The case Hersey chose for her treatment plan involved a 43-year-old Caucasian female who had immigrated to the United States from Azerbaijan. The patient had also been diagnosed as hypertensive, with Bipolar Disorder, and did not speak English. The woman presented with gold crowns on her front upper and lower teeth, and had lived with these for nearly 30 years. She had initially been a patient at GSDM, where she received two extractions and two implants for #19 and #30.

The patient also presented with periodontitis, gingivitis, and caries. Hersey devised a plan to replace the existing crowns with crowns of a more natural color. She also designed a treatment plan that would allow the patient to be treated at GSDM and Dimock Community Health Center to maximize her  benefits. Hersey also did an expert job of tailoring the treatment to deal with the patient’s Bipolar Disorder, and the language barrier.

Three more Grand Rounds presentations are scheduled for the 2016-2017 academic year.

“Congratulations to Ms. Hersey for her successful Externship rotation and a wonderful pre-doctoral Grand Rounds presentation,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter.

Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter and Dr. Athanasios Zavras cut the ribbon to open our new Pediatric Oral Healthcare Center

On Friday, September 30, 2016, Dr. Athanasios Zavras, Professor and Chair of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter cut the ribbon to officially open the Pediatric Oral Healthcare Center at the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM). Members of the Dean’s Advisory Board were in attendance for the event.

“In our Applied Strategic Plan, one of the objects we addressed was the need for bringing a pediatric patient treatment center back to our school, the Medical Campus, and the University. After many years of hard work, that day is finally here,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. “I would like to recognize and thank Dr. Zavras and Dr. Jumlongras for their tireless efforts in accomplishing this objective.”

In support of a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA, HHS) grant from the federal government, the Center will serve children and patients with special needs by providing compassionate care using an innovative, collaborative approach to oral healthcare.

Members of the Dean’s Advisory Board: Dr. Richard Soden, Dr. Shadi Daher, Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter, Dr. David Lustbader, Dr. Mina Paul and Mr. Thomas Olsen

The Center will be one of the first to employ a transformative, team-based pediatric dental practice. Teams of healthcare professionals committed to serving children will work together to examine and treat patients, especially those with complex problems. Using their broad expertise, the group will create a navigation plan and comprehensive assessment of what the holistic needs of that child are, and then execute that plan.

“It was the support from the Dental School and the Dean that allowed us to build this new facility. As you will see, we now have a new treatment center that will be able to provide the highest quality care to children, and patients with special needs,” said Dr. Zavras.

To view Dean Hutter’s speech, click HERE. To view Dr. Zavras’ remarks, please click HERE.

Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter presents Dr. Christina Thompson with the Distinguished Alumni Award

On Friday, September 30, 2016, alumni, faculty, staff, students/residents and guests gathered at the Four Seasons Hotel for the annual Alumni Reception for the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM). This was the first of many events held over the 2016 Alumni Weekend, from September 28 – October 2.

Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter welcomed everyone to what is reportedly the largest group ever assembled for the Alumni Reception.

“Each of you: alumni, faculty, staff, students, spouses, partners, distinguished guests, and friends are an integral part of our Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine community, and it means a great deal to me, as Dean, to see our School gather once again to celebrate all of our accomplishments, both past and present and gather our momentum as we continue into the future,” said Dean Hutter.

Dean Hutter also made special mention of the group of distinguished guests:

• Elizabeth “Betsy” Ashworth, Academic Relations and CAD/CAM Dentsply Sirona. Ms. Ashworth represented Dean’s Advisory Board member, Mr. Michael Augins, Group Senior Vice President, Dentsply Sirona.
• Mitch Sabbagh (DMD 87). Mitch is Immediate Past-President of our Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine Alumni Association and our Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine representative on the Boston University Alumni Council.
• David Lustbader (CAS 86 DMD 86), Chair of the Dean’s Advisory Board, and newly elected President-elect of the Massachusetts Dental Society. He was accompanied by his wife Wendy, who is a 1986 alum of Sargent College.
• Suneel Kandru (ENDO 07), staff Endodontist at Fitchburg Community Health Connections and at the Dimock Street Health Center, as well as an Adjunct Clinical Instructor in General Dentistry at the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine.
• Jonathan Levine (DMD 81), founder of GLO Science and maintains a private practice in Prosthodontics in Manhattan New York City. He was accompanied by his wife, Stacey (CAS 79).
• Bing Liu (DSc 99, DMD 03), President of the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine Alumni Association, and Clinical Associate Professor in General Dentistry.
• Tim McDonough, GSDM Executive Director of Finance & Operations.
• Ernesto Muller (PERIO 61), Chair of the department of periodontics at Centro de Especialidades Odontológicas in Caracas, Venezuela.
• Mina Paul (SPH 97), Dental Director, Greater Roslindale Medical and Dental Center, and Immediate Past President of the American Association of Dental Boards. She was accompanied by her husband, Mr. Ajay Saini (SIGN-EE) (QUESTROM ’82).
• Uday Reebye (DMD ’89), founder of Triangle Implant Center in Durham, NC and who also gave the Alumni Lecture entitled “Immediate Loading: Implant Options for the Simple to Complex Cases” tomorrow morning from 10:00am-12:00pm.
• Ron Weissman (PROS 77), co-founder of Gentle Dental, Inc, and he was accompanied by his wife Maria.

Dr. David Lustbader, DMD 96 and Chair of the Dean’s Advisory Board, Dr. Bill Gordon, DMD 88, Ortho 90, and his wife Mrs. Maria Gordon

Seven classes were also represented, as they were celebrating their reunions, and were acknowledged by Dean Hutter. These classes were; 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, and 2011.

Dean Hutter then shared with the alumni the exciting announcement regarding the proposed expansion and renovation of the GSDM at 100 E. Newton Street.   Upon concluding, he asked Dr. Bing Liu, President of the GSDM Alumni Association and Dr. David Lustbader, Chair of the GSDM Dean’s Advisory Board to provide remarks.

“The more you look at you think, this is a new building, but it’s not. This is the same 100 E Newton street. This is where we met eachother,  where we hold all those fond memories, and where our professional careers started. For that I am grateful, and I know you are too,” said Dr. Liu

“Be grateful for the careers that we have,” said Dr. Lustbader, “I thank God every day for what we do and what we’re able to do, and we are able to do that because of Boston University.”

The alumni awards were then presented, as Dr. Christina Thompson was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award for Outstanding Service to the Community and Dr. Joseph Calabrese was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award for Outstanding Service to the Community, School, and Profession.

In presenting her award, Dean Hutter acknowledged that Dr. Thompson received her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine in 2006, where she graduated magna cum laude. Dr. Thompson’s community service at home and abroad is simply astonishing, and what earned her this distinction.

In 2006, she was GSDM’s first DMD student to be selected to go on a humanitarian mission; the only student chosen out of 110 applicants. Since then, she has volunteered and led six dental services missions to Nicaragua with the Northeast Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity. In 2012, Dr. Thompson began organizing and leading humanitarian trips to Panama. Upon personal request by the First Lady of Panama, Dr. Thompson developed a new relationship and partnership to meet the dire oral health needs of the indigenous people of Panama. She has completed five mission trips to date, bringing her total number of trips to 11.

“I’m really proud to continue to work with the school as we continue to take students on our trips and promomte the community service that BU supports,” said Dr. Thompson.

Dr. Thompson’s husband Neil was in the audience, as well as some of her fellow alums from the class of 2006 who were celebrating their 10^th reunion.

Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter presents Dr. Joseph Calabrese with the Distinguished Alumni Award

In presenting his award, Dean Hutter acknowledged that Dr. Calabrese received a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine in 1991, and went on to receive his Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study after completing his Advanced Education in General Dentistry Program in 1992.

Dr. Calabrese began his teaching career at GSDM in 1992 as a clinical instructor, and now serves as an associate professor, course director, course lecturer, clinical instructor, director, and as the Assistant Dean of Students. In addition to these duties, Dr. Calabrese serves in a leadership role on 13 committees and organizations within the school.

Dr. Calabrese has been the recipient of many awards in the field over the last 20 plus years. Notably, he was awarded the Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity Faculty Award in March 2014. He also won the American Student Dental Association Faculty Award in May 2010, and has been awarded eight professional distinctions to date.

“I am overwhelmed, and humbled. The dental school means everything to me. The opportunity I have to work with other adults and with our students is the greatest gift, thank you,” said Dr. Calabrese.

Dr. Calabrese was joined by his wife Michele, sons Joey and Tommy, his parents Mr. Joseph and Mrs. Angela Calabrese, his sister Jill Bain and her husband Ian, as well as his niece and nephew, Emma and Andrew Bain. Dr. Calabrese was also celebrating a reunion year, and was joined by his peers from the class of 1991.

The Dean closed out the evening by thanking the alumni for their attendance and for all of their continued support of GSDM.

Dr. Iman Labibm DMD 96, Endo 01, and Dr. Bing Liu, DScD 99, DMD 03, and GSDM Alumni Association President

The Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) celebrated its Alumni Weekend over the from September 30 – October 2, 2016. The annual event was highlighted by the Alumni Reception at the Four Seasons Hotel, a presentation by Dr. Uday Reebye (DMD 98), and the Class Reunion even held at the Cask N’ Flagon.

Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter and his wife Kathleen hosted alumni, faculty, staff, students/residents and guests at the annual Alumni Reception on Friday evening. (INSERT NUMBER) attended the event, where alumni were able to catch up with their classmates, colleagues and former faculty and staff. The night was capped off with the two distinguished alumni awards presented to Dr. Christina Thompson and Dr. Joseph Calabrese.

Saturday morning Dr. Uday Reebye, DMD 98, gave an excellent presentation titled, Immediate Loading; Implant options for the simple to complex cases.

Our last event was later Saturday evening at Cask N’ Flagon located near Fenway Park. Alumni mixed and mingled and celebrated their reunions, with class years ending in one and six coming together.

Thank you to all our alumni who returned home to GSDM, and we look forward to seeing you next year!

Please enjoy photos from the events on FLICKR.

Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter and Dr. Dan Nathanson, and Dr. Wookdong Kim pose with three of the students who completed the CE course in Prosthodontics

On Wednesday, September 14, 2016, the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) hosted a group of 31 dentists from South Korea, as they took part in a Continuing Education course in Prosthodontics. The day-long event was spearheaded by Dr. Wookdong Kim PROS 95 96, who approached Dr. Dan Nathanson, Professor and Chair of the Department of Restorative Sciences and Biomaterials, with the idea.

The course, entitled Integration of Esthetics and Function in Prosthodontics and Implant Dentistry, featured four lectures by some of GSDM’s outstanding faculty. Dr. Nathanson provided the first presentation, followed by Dr. Hideo Yamamoto, Clinical Professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences and Biomaterials, Dr. Serge Dibart, Professor and Chair in the Department of Periodontology and Director of the Advanced Specialty Education Program in Periodontics, and Dr. Gurkan Goktug, Assistant Professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences and Biomaterials.

The four lectures covered a variety of topics in Prosthodontics, from Minimal Intervention with Optimal Esthetic Results, to the Restoration of Implant Supported (Hybrid) and Removable (Overdentures) Dentures. In addition to the academic program, the group was given a tour of GSDM and its facilities.

In closing, Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter was on hand to present each participant with a certificate of attendance. “I would like to thank all our participants for their attendance and engagement in our program on the Integration of Esthetics and Function in Prosthodontics and Implant Dentistry, and our outstanding faculty who shared their knowledge and expertise with our visitors from Korea. It was a pleasure to host this Continuing Education event at our School.”

Dr. Jignesh Rudani

Jignesh Rudani, AS 17, has been elected as the 2017 New England Regional Representative of the National Student Research Group (NSRG). NSRG is a student-run organization within the American Association for Dental Research.

As the New England Regional Representative, Jignesh will communicate with local student research group (SRG) chapters and encourage student research. Member institutions in the New England region include Boston University, Tufts University, Harvard University, Dalhousie University, Forsyth Institute, University of Connecticut, McGill University, University of Laval, and University of Montreal.

The National Student Research Group’s mission is to ensure that research is seen as a vital aspect of dentistry at all dental schools. The national group is composed of a network of self-governing local SRG chapters at each dental school and is led nationally by officers elected through a majority of votes from all members.

The NSRG seeks to provide student researchers with a national voice as well as opportunities to expand their research interests and to generate funds and ideas for their research. The NSRG also serves as a support network, linking together dental schools and their research programs, while fostering awareness of research and training opportunities in academic dentistry.

Jignesh Rudani is also currently vice president of the Advanced Standing class of 2017, vice chair of the BUASDA Diversity and Inclusion committee, and an active member of the GSDM SRG and other student organizations.

“Modern dentistry advances very quickly so it’s important to have students actively involved in research,” said Jignesh Rudani. “I am excited for my role as NSRG New England Regional Representative to help ensure my fellow dental students have the guidance, support, and mentors they need for craniofacial research.”

“I would like to congratulate Dr. Rudani on his election to the National Student Research Group,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter, “it is a testament to his abilities that he has been selected to take on this very important role.”

Dr. Dina Ghaly-Habib works on a student in Ethiopia

Drs. Vani Takiar PEDO 17, Dina Ghaly-Habib PEDO 17, and Norma Herrera PEDO 17 travelled to Ethiopia to evaluate the feasibility of implementing an oral health education (OHE) program for primary school children in rural areas of the country. The three Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) residents were part of The Oral Health and Hygiene Project, a subset of the Millennium Villages Project organized by the United Nations Development Program, Columbia University, and GlaxoSmithKline. The project took place over a course of four months, from March to June 2016.

 The residents were sent to the Tigray region of Ethiopia, which is home to nearly 4.5 million people, of which 80% live in rural areas and health problems are numerous. The ratio of dentists to citizens in all of Ethiopia is approximately 366,000 to 1, meaning oral health and hygiene is often lacking or non-existent.

Drs. Norma Herrera and Dina Ghaly-Habib with the children in Ethiopia

Knowing that focusing on preventative measures would be more cost-effective and feasible, Drs. Takiar, Ghaly-Habib, and Herrera focused their efforts on school-children, using their local schools as a platform to educate about oral health and hygiene. However, since no formal oral health programs existed in the schools, the OHE strategy called for educating the schoolteachers in how to instruct their students and hopefully alter oral hygiene habits. Additional obstacles were the lack of access to schools, and the lack of resources within the schools. Most children have to walk for hours, and don’t have access to books, materials, or proper classroom facilities.

The project was performed in two phases. First, the three residents administered a standard oral examination on the 5^th and 6^th grade students. They were assessing gingival health, oral hygiene, calculus, dental caries, dental fluorosis, dental trauma, and extra-oral conditions. Once examinations were completed, recommendations were made for emergent treatment or preventive care. Phase I also included 24 educational sessions for the school teachers, so they could educate their students on basic dental knowledge. The second phase, performed six weeks later, was a second oral examination, to see if the children had followed their treatment plans, and if the teachers had integrated dental education into their curricula to support the OHE program.

Dr. Norma Herrera performs an oral exam in Ethiopia

Dr. Wendy Cheney, Clinical Professor in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Director of the Advanced Specialty Education Program in Pediatric Dentistry, and Dr. Jayapriyaa R. Shanmugham, Director of Research and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, traveled traveled to Ethiopia in late May 2016 to participate in the examinations for Phase II. Their findings were promising, as oral health knowledge increased significantly. Notably, the students’ knowledge about toothpaste and tooth brushes increased from 2.5% to 91.7% and 22.9% to 97.5%, respectively. Overall, the residents found an improvement in attitudes and practices in oral health among the students.

The results of the elections for the class officers for the 2016-2017 academic year for each of the DMD and DMD Advanced Standing (AS) classes are as follows:

DMD I class elections
President – Mr. Neville Hatfield
Vice President – Mr. Christian Ford
Secretary – Ms. Hilury Ha
Treasurer – Mr. David Persky

DMD II class elections
President – Mr. Matthew Vumback
Vice President – Ms. Brieanna Gresh
Secretary – Ms. Jessica Riccobono
Treasurer – Ms. Christine Chiao

DMD III class elections
President – Ms. Sloane Kaminski-Ditzel
Vice President – Ms. Amanda Alon
Secretary – Ms. Lauren Liebman
Treasurer – Mr. Jonathan Ye

DMD IV class elections
President – Ms. Megan McDougall
Vice President – Mr. Jobren Dingle
Secretary – Ms. McAllister Castelaz
Treasurer – Ms. Joanna Song

AS I class elections
President – Dr. Khushbu Malhotra
Vice President –Dr. Hirwa Shah
Secretary – Dr. Hajra Mujtaba
Treasurer – Dr. Chetan Agarwal

AS II class elections
President – Dr. Ashish Agarwal
Vice President – Dr. Jignesh Rudani
Secretary – Dr. Jelena Cavric
Treasurer – Dr. Rohan Shah

“Congratulations to all of the newly elected class officers for the 2016-2017 academic year,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. “I am looking forward to working with each of these officers as they represent their classmates in student government.”

Dr. Iman Labib, Dr. Peter Morgan ENDO 75, and Dr. Sami Chogle at the Endodontic Alumni Fall Meeting

The Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) Endodontic Alumni Association held its 2016 Fall Meeting from October 5-9 in Boston, Massachusetts. During the 2016 Fall Meeting, alumni and their families enjoyed four days and evenings packed with academic and social events that took place throughout the city of Boston.

The Endodontic Alumni Association Fall Meeting was chaired by Dr. Iman Labib ENDO 01. “I am happy to welcome you back to your roots and your Endo home in Boston,” she said. The 45^th annual Fall meeting kicked off Wednesday evening with a welcome dinner and reception at the Hotel Commonwealth. Dr. Sami Chogle, Director of the Advanced Specialty Education Program in Endodontics delivered the welcome address.

Thursday’s agenda featured four presentations at the Boston University Questrom School of Business Trustee Ballroom in the morning, with the afternoon and evening reserved for popular tourist activities. The four presentations were “Are You Prepared or Will You Get Blindsided? Guides for Becoming a Great Endodontist” by Dr. John West ENDO 75; “Diagnosis and Treatment Planning” by Dr. Seymour Melnick ENDO 62; “IV Sedation and its Role in the Current Endodontic Practice” by Dr. Robert Saylor ENDO 04; and “Post Endodontic Esthetic Restorations” by Dr. Cami Ferris-Wong ENDO 00. Attendees were then taken on a famous Boston Duck Tour, and set sail aboard the Spirit of Boston Dinner Cruise that same evening.

Dr. Juan Savelli

Friday followed a similar schedule, with Drs. Bryan Beebe ENDO 93, Oliver Pontius ENDO 97, Bruce Seidberg ENDO 67, and Peter Morgan ENDO 75, and panel presenting on a variety of topics. Friday evening was reserved for the always-anticipated Endodontic Alumni Association Dinner, held in the Trustee Ballroom at the Questrom School of Business.

Approximately 180 people attended the dinner, one of the largest turnouts ever. Four dance groups performed throughout the evening, showcasing a variety of cultural dances that highlighted Boston’s multiculturalism. The President of the Endodontic Alumni Association Dr. Juan Savelli DMD 00 ENDO 03, welcomed the group, and introduced Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter to address the State of the School.

Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter

“The State of our School grows stronger every year, but as a progressive school with a defined vision, we must continue to look to the future with a proposed new facility and a commitment to continue our legacy of innovation in order to create a future that is truly great,” said Dean Hutter, “this evening, it is my distinct pleasure to share with you that the University has now given its approval for us to go forward in planning for our new facility. “

Dr. Bing Liu

Dr. Bing Liu DScD 99 DMD 03, President of the GSDM Alumni Association, welcomed the alumni and their families back to Boston and congratulated the alumni board for a very successful Fall meeting. “Our Endodontics alumni have consistently supported our school and our mission. I thank them for their continued support during such a critical time as we look forward to the future.”

Dr. Robert Rosenkranz ENDO 68, also addressed the alumni.

On the final day of the Fall meeting, our Endodontic alumni spent the day back at GSDM, reliving their time as students during lectures, presentations, and a tour of the Dental School and Endodontic Patient Treatment Center. Many guests also took part in a tour of Fenway Park, the Museum of Fine Arts, and a dinner in the historic North End.

The 2017 Endodontic Alumni Association Fall Meeting will be held in Los Gatos, California, just south of San Francisco.

For more pictures from the Friday evening reception, CLICK HERE.

By Jason Stevens

Dr. Maria Kukuruzinska, Associate Dean for Research and Professor in Molecular & Cell Biology at the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, was named the 2016 Evans Center Research Collaborator of the Year by the Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research and the Boston University Department of Medicine. This recognition was announced at the annual Department of Medicine Awards Dinner on October 13, 2016.

The Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research promotes growth and discovery for interdisciplinary biomedical research through its dynamic organizational structure. It brings together investigators from different fields together to study disease mechanisms and identify further opportunities for training and research. The Evans Center supports Affinity Research Collaboratives (ARCs), which are interdisciplinary teams of investigators focused on a research theme.

The Evans Center Research Collaborator of the Year Award is given to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the ARCs. After accepting nominations from ARC directors and peers, awards are determined by a special committee with support from the administration. Recipients such as Dr. Kukuruzinska are selected for their leadership and strong collaborative efforts.

Dr. Kukuruzinska is a Co-Director of the Etiology and Pathogenesis of Oral Cancer (EPOC) ARC. She is also the Director of the Oral Cancer Research Initiative (OCRI) and the co-Director of the Greater Boston Head & Neck Cancer Program. These initiatives bring together researchers, clinicians and patients from Boston University Charles River and Medical Campuses, Boston Medical Center, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Forsyth Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, the Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary and Brown University.

Dr. Kukuruzinska received a number of nominations for this award, with nominators particularly highlighting her leadership, enthusiasm, and collaborative skills.

“Dr. Kukuruzinska has a remarkable ability to bring researchers together to work on common problems related to human health,” said one nominator.

Another said, “Maria is a true team player and an optimistic, genuine person. Her outstanding qualities have directly benefited the success of the EPOC ARC.”

“I was very proud to attend the award ceremony for Dr. Kukuruzinska” said Dean Hutter. “This recognition is truly well deserved and is a testament to the remarkable commitment to collaboration that Dr. Kukuruzinska embodies. She is an excellent role model for our research community and her leadership has been a huge benefit to our school.”

DMD IV student Corinne Kunkle with Drs. Maria A. Kukuruzinska and Raul Garcia, Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter and Afaf Hourani

Corinne Kunkle DMD 18 recently represented Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) at the 52nd Annual Colgate Dental Students’ Conference on Research (Colgate DSCR). This year’s conference was held at the ADA Foundation Dr. Anthony Volpe Research Center (VRC) in Gaithersburg, Maryland from October 2 – 4, 2016.

The Colgate DSCR is an annual event to introduce dental students to industry and academic professionals as well as scientists from the VRC, the American Dental Association, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) – National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) to raise their awareness of the wide-ranging careers available in oral health research. Students attend guest lectures from leading scientists, tour top research centers, and participate in poster presentations and discussions.

The first night of the conference was a dinner and meet and greet for all students. Many students also opted to present posters of their research, and throughout the evening students could discuss and learn about each other’s work. Of the many guest lectures and presentations, Kunkle made particular note of the volume of projects and research being done on Sjogren’s Syndrome, which she found very interesting.

On the second day of the conference, Kunkle and the other students visited the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), where they toured its facilities, laboratories, and  state-of-the-art equipment, such as the electron microscope. Other tours were offered at NIH and NIDCR.

Kunkle’s research, titled, “30 second elevator pitch for the pediatric dental population” was completed as a part of IREC 2, a research program as GSDM. Her research mentor was Arif Mamdani and was supervised by Dr. Athanasios Zavras, Professor and Chair of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry. The survey-based study looked at the 30-second timeframe from when a pediatric patient is met in the waiting room to the time they are seated in the dental chair. The study looked at all the intricacies of that exchange; first impressions, interacting with parents, what to call the child, and more, in an effort to pin-point what the guardians care about in their child’s experience.

“All of the individuals at the event were of a very high caliber, and I was honored to be there,” said Kunkle.

“We are extremely proud of Corinne Kunkle and her dedication to both research and her career in dentistry and I know she did an excellent job of representing GSDM at the Conference on Research,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter.

You could win a $50 gift card! It’s easy; simply wear your best costume to ASDA’s Halloween Party on Friday, October 28 at 9pm at The Brahmin, or any other Halloween gathering. Just submit your entry by November 1^st to be entered to win*.

Snap a few photos with your friends, or even take a selfie! Send your best shots to gsdmcomm@bu.edu and we’ll select a winner. The top costumes will be featured on the screens throughout the dental school. Have some fun and show your spirit! You’re never too old to have a little fun.

*PLEASE appropriate photos only. Pictures containing alcohol or suggestive messages will not be considered.

Dr. David S. Kim

Dr. David S. Kim joins the Department of General Dentistry as a Clinical Associate at the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM).

Dr. Kim received his DMD from the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, and then a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Prosthodontics at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. He then went on to earn a Masters of Medical Science degree at Harvard University.

Dr. Kim was a recipient of the Excellence in Cosmetic Dentistry Award presented by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and was inducted into the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Honor Society and Prosthodontics Honor Society. He also holds memberships in several professional organizations including the American College of Prosthodontists, American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, The American Dental Association, and the Massachusetts Dental Society.

Finally, Dr. Kim also has a strong passion for serving the underserved. He recently visited many small villages in Bolivia and the Dominican Republic to provide necessary oral healthcare to patients who have never had dental work before.

On behalf of all of GSDM, welcome Dr. Kim!

Drs. Bing Liu and John Guarente with the ICD inductees

Nearly 40 members of the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) community attended the 2016 American Dental Association (ADA) Annual Session, held October 20 – 24 in Denver, Colorado. At this year’s session, GSDM was well represented at both the American College of Dentists (ACD) and the International College of Dentists (ICD) Convocation ceremonies, with a total of ten inductees. Drs. John Guarente DMD 89; Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs and Clinical Professor in General Dentistry, and Bing Liu, DScD 99, DMD 03; President of the GSDM Alumni Association and Clinical Associate Professor in General Dentistry, represented GSDM at both ceremonies.

The ACD and the ICD recognize dentists for their individual achievements, leadership, and contributions to dentistry and society. This year’s ACD inductees were; Dr. Wallace Bellamy DMD 89 and Dr. Vipul Singhal DMD 06, while the GSDM ICD inductees were Dr. Alexander Bendayan PROS 05; Dr. Neal Fleisher DMD 84 PERIO 86; Dr. Sam Khayat PROS 04; Dr. Ryota Kikuchi AEGD 07 DMD 12; Dr. Eric Mandelbaum DMD 88; Dr Howard Gross PERIO 99; Dr. Roy Eskow PERIO 76; and Dr. Tadeu Szpoganicz DMD 11.

Drs. Bing Liu and John Guarente with the ACD inductee Dr. Wallace Bellamy

During the ADA session, in place of Dean Jeffrey Hutter who was not able to attend the Annual Session due to a last minute commitment, Dr. Guarente hosted the annual reception of GSDM alumni at the Four Seasons Hotel on Friday, October 21, 2016. Dr. Guarente used this opportunity to give our alumni a detailed update on the proposed building renovation and expansion project and how the process will look moving forward.

 “It is my pleasure to host the ADA alumni reception on behalf of Dean Hutter, it is a delight to see so many familiar faces,” said Dr. Guarente, “I look forward to the next ADA alumni meeting and to continue learning about the great achievements of our alumni.”

Dr. Liu followed, offering his praise for the new inductees into both the ACD and ICD. “Congratulations to all of our inductees. Your leadership and dedication to our school and our community sets a standard all of our alumni can aspire to.”

The final speaker of the night was Dean’s Advisory Board (DAB) Chair, Dr. David Lustbader DMD 86, who acknowledged fellow DAB member in attendance, Dr. Mina Paul SPH 87. It is also important to note that Dr. Lustbader is the President-Elect of the Massachusetts Dental Society (MDS), and his predecessor, Dr. Raymond K. Martin, President of the MDS, was present at the GSDM reception. In his remarks, Dr. Lustbader encouraged his fellow alumni to support the new building initiative in any way they can.

Current members of the GSDM Alumni Association Board, Dr. Sean Rayment DMD 97 DScD 00, and Dr. Gigi Meinecke DMD 88, as well as former President of the Alumni Board, Dr. Ronni Schnell DMD 81 were also in attendance.

Photos of the ACD and ICD inductions, as well as the alumni reception, can be found on Flickr HERE.

On Sunday, October 2, 2016, the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) joined forces with the Oral Cancer Foundation (OCF) for the 10^th Oral Cancer Foundation Walk/Run for Awareness at the Chestnut Hill Reservoir in Boston. Students, faculty, and staff from GSDM participated in the 5K walk to raise oral cancer awareness and promote early detection as well as to celebrate survivors and remember those who have passed away. The Boston University team was organized by the Oral Cancer Research Initiative (OCRI) and the BU chapter of the American Student Dental Association (ASDA). Zachary Snider, DMD 18, captained the Boston University team.

Before the walk began, attendees heard from the featured speaker, Eva Grayzel, a stage IV oral cancer survivor. Her lively talk highlighted the challenges and experiences of those who have had oral cancer, as well as opportunities for clinicians to diagnose the disease at an early stage. Participants also had the opportunity to get free blood pressure and oral cancer screenings.

The Oral Cancer Research initiative is a focused multidisciplinary collaborative that brings together basic scientists, clinicians, public health researchers, and other specialists to work on diverse issues related to oral cancer. Among the faculty and staff present at this event was Dr. Maria Kukuruzinska, Associate Dean for Research at GSDM, Professor of Molecular & Cell Biology, and Director of the OCRI.

“I was pleased to participate in the Oral Cancer Foundation Walk again this year along with the GSDM community,” said Dr. Kukuruzinska. “This annual event provides a valuable opportunity to raise funds and awareness for this devastating disease in partnership with the Oral Cancer Foundation.”

This year’s event raised over $20,000, with the BU team contributing nearly $800. The Oral Cancer Foundation uses donations to fund research, create public awareness, advocate for more early detection work, and support patients.

Dr. Pinelopi Pani accepts the award from President of the Hellenic Association of Periodontology.

Dr. Pinelopi Pani, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of General Dentistry at the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) is recipient of the 2016 Fotis Mitsis (F.Mitsis) award presented by the Hellenic Society of Periodontology. Dr. Pani travelled to Greece to accept this award in late September of this year.

The F. Mitsis award is a prestigious honorary award given every two years to distinguished young Greek Periodontists. The goal of the award is to support, encourage, and inform the greater public and dental community about the activity of new Periodontists. The award is given during the opening ceremony of every scientific academic year of the Hellenic Society of Periodontology. It is an event attended by distinguished periodontists and other members of the Hellenic Society of Periodontology.

Dr. Pani was selected based on the following criteria; her studies, degrees, and honors received thus far, her current academic position and research activity, as well as her American Board certification in Periodontology. Dr. Pani’s research, titled, “Association of IL-1B gene polymorphism with levels of IL-1β in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and periodontal pathogens in patients with periodontitis,” was a major contributing factor to her selection.

“I know that I’m only at the beginning, but small achievements like this award provide me with more motivation to continue, to work harder, and to evolve in order to serve the community from my position,” said Dr. Pani.

Dr. Pani joined GSDM on August 20, 2015 as a Periodontist.  She received her DDS from National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Greece) in 2010, and her Certificate in Periodontology and her Master of Science from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

“Congratulations to Dr. Pani on this tremendous honor,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter, “This is a wonderful accomplishment and one Dr. Pani should feel very proud in achieving.  I have no doubt she will continue to represent GSDM and our Periodontology department and Postdoctoral Program very well.”

Staff forum leaders and your Halloween Party hosts

Embracing the spirit of Halloween, the Staff Forum at the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) hosted their fourth Staff Forum Halloween Party on October 28, 2016. The party provided an opportunity for staff members to gather together, meet new faces, and foster a sense of community between departments.

Revelers gathered in Classroom 301 for a fun-filled hour of pizza, pumpkin bread, candy, and warm apple cider. The main feature was a costume contest where the top three costumes were awarded gift baskets. The costume highlights included an astronaut, a swat team member, an inmate, a mail parcel, and smarty pants. The vote was too close to call a winner of the contest at press time

930 Comm Ave staff in the Halloween attire

 The Staff Forum was created under Goal 6 of the GSDM Applied Strategic Plan, which seeks to “Sustain an environment of mutual respect and a strong sense of community and ownership.” One of the ways the Staff Forum has contributed to this goal and foster a sense of community is through annual events such as the Halloween Party.

On Monday, October 31, staff at the Dental Center at 930 Commonwealth Ave also took part in a Halloween fest. Thank you to all who participated.

GSDM’s Chapter of AAWD with Dr. Mary Martin

Three Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) students traveled west to the Rocky Mountains for the American Association of Women Dentists (AAWD) national meeting held in conjunction with the American Dental Association (ADA) annual session. The GSDM AAWD student chapter President Grace Hanawai DMD 17 was accompanied by chapter members Chandini Shaikh DMD 19, Nobiru Suzuki DMD 18, and Faculty Advisor Dr. Kadambari Rawal, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences & Biomaterials. The national meetings took place in Denver, Colorado from October 20-22, 2016.

The chapter representatives attended several seminars focusing on the common issues facing female dentists today, decision making, practice management and leadership. The group also had the unique opportunity to meet and interact with the American Association of Women Dentists’ National President – Dr. Mary Martin. Dr. Martin was updated about the past activities of the chapter and she congratulated the GSDM chapter on its achievements. She further motivated the students to continue their efforts and their contributions to outreach programs.

The GSDM chapter also mingled with other student chapters and exchanged notes with the chapter from Tufts School of Dental Medicine to strengthen the Boston student chapters as a whole. “The event was a great success and the students shone bright proudly representing their Alma Mater at the national convention,” said Dr. Kadambari Rawal.

“I would like to thank our AAWD representatives for their superb work here and at the event. I am very proud of their accomplishments and the way in which they represent our school,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter

Dr. Heshem Nouh

No other dental school can boast that they have a comprehensive pre-clinical digital implantology course that precedes the actual experience of patient treatment. The Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine will be rolling out this new course in January 2017, the beginning of Spring Semester. Aimed at second year DMD students and first year Advanced Standing DMD students, the course was developed and will be co-directed by Dr. Hesham Nouh (Prosthodontist) and Dr. Neal Fleisher (Periodontist) in the Department of General Dentistry, supervised by Dr. Celeste Kong.  This will be a required course for all students.

Since the introduction of dental implants to the United States, in 1986, there has been an exponential increase in the number of implants placed, each year. This is due to the relative reliability of the Osseointegration process, as well as ease of use.

In addition, the profession has seen a significant broadening of the background of the dentist placing and restoring the implants. Initially limited to only prosthodontists and oral surgeons, today for a variety of reasons, implant placement has become more common place in any number of specialty practices, including periodontists, endodontists, and prosthodontists.

Currently, it has become a routine practice in a growing number of general practitioners. This can in part be attributed to the introduction and integration of various digitaltechnologies, taking some of the risk and uncertainty out of the placement and restoration processes.

With the advent of Galileos CBCT technology, merging with CEREC digital image files captured by optical cameras, and the sophisticated Sidexis software, these advances allow implants to be planned in a 3 dimensionally accurate representation of the patient’s jaw. In short, students are learning to merge data of the CBCT with the digital impression, virtually placing an implant.  In addition, using CEREC CAD/CAM technology surgical guides are milled and used to ensure the exact placement of the implants.

Dr. Neal Fleisher

At the end of this preclinical course, the student will be able to:

• Read and manipulate a CBCT (Galileos) scan
• Treatment plan the implant placement and subsequent restoration using CBCT and CEREC software
• Virtual placement of a dental implant in the Galaxis software
• Design surgical guides that can be milled from the merging of Galaxis/Galileos files and CEREC files
• Place an implant in the Simulation Learning Center into specially designed models using digitally milled surgical guides and keys
• Restore a single missing tooth in a posterior quadrant on a typodont
• Restore an implant supported mandibular complete denture on a typodont with two overlay denture attachments

This course will enable students to translate the skills learned in the simulation lab into clinical expertise needed as they transition to the clinic, placing implants in the predoctoral treatment center.

“Drs. Nouh and Fleisher have done an amazing job in the creation of this new course that incorporates digital dentistry into the treatment planning, design, and placement of surgically guided implants during preclinical training,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter, “both our predoctoral students and their patients will greatly benefit from this advanced training.

Dr. Pushkar Mehra

The Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM), is finding itself in the spotlight, thanks in large part to Department Chair Dr. Pushkar Mehra DMD 95 MAXO 99, and some life-altering surgical procedures. The treatment of three patients has been featured in BU Today, and will be in a video series developed by the GSDM Office of Communications.

In BU Today, Dr. Mehra and his team performed a cutting-edge TMJ surgery that was both profiled and captured in a video story. To read the full story and view the video, please visit https://www.bu.edu/today/2016/idiopathic-condylar-resorption-tmj-disease-surgery.

In three video projects by GSDM’s Communications team, patients of Dr. Mehra and Dr. Andrew Salama were featured for their complexity. First, Dr. Mehra operated on Liz, a woman with such severe Sleep Apnea that friends would throw objects at her to wake her up. Liz’s Sleep Apnea, which affects approximately 18 million Americans, had become so debilitating, it required surgery. To view some of Liz’s story,
CLICK HERE.

Patient Stacy

The second patient, Stacy, is a current student at Brandeis University with the Posse Scholarship program. After his face appeared swollen, and his mother falsely accused him of getting in a fight, it was discovered that Stacy had an aggressive facial tumor. Dr. Mehra and his team moved quickly to formulate a treatment plan and the removal of the tumor. “I just want to take the opportunity to say thank you for saving my life,” said Stacy.

 The third patient, Ted, was treated by Dr. Salama for aggressive oral cancer that required major soft tissue reconstruction. Just three months after surgery, he was speaking and sharing his story. His video will appear on the GSDM website soon.