On Saturday, June 6, 2009, the Southern Illinois University (SIU) School of Dental Medicine was proud to confer degrees to forty-four dental students. Among their academic accomplishments, the Class of 2009 earned a 100 percent pass rate on their first attempt on both Part I and Part II of the National Board Dental Examination.
Among the members of the Class of 2009, 13 graduates earned individual academic honors. Drs. Jacklyn Ackman, Brock Droll, and Kathryn Kosten earned Summa Cum Laude, graduating “with highest honors” by attaining a grade point average of 3.9 or higher. Drs. Jodi Hentscher-Johnson and Agnieszka Osika-Wozny earned Magna Cum Laude, graduating “with high honors” by attaining a grade point average between 3.75 and 3.9. Eight additional students earned Cum Laude, graduating “with honors” by attaining a grade point average between 3.5 and 3.74.
One of the special traditions of the annual Commencement Ceremony occurs when a direct relative of one of the graduates is a School of Dental Medicine alumnus or alumna. Six graduates had the distinct honor of being hooded during the ceremony by a parent, sibling or spouse.
Dr. Laura Elliff was hooded by her husband, Dr. Andrew Elliff (Class of 2007). Dr. Lacey Fecht was hooded by her sister, Dr. Lindsey Fecht-Moore (Class of 2003). Dr. Lauren Labuwi was hooded by her father, Dr. Robin Labuwi (Class of 1977). Dr. Peggy McGinnis was hooded by her sister, Dr. Katherine McGinnis Flatley (Class of 2003). Dr. Beau Moody was hooded by his sister, Dr. Erin Moody Aleman (Class of 2007). Dr. Michael Rozny was hooded by his brother, Dr. Matthew Rozny (Class of 2006).
The Key Note Speaker at Commencement was Dean Patrick J. Ferrillo, Jr. of the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry. Dr. Ferrillo, a person familiar to most of the faculty and staff present at the ceremony, served as Acting Dean and then Dean of the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine for 16 years.
Dr. Ferrillo, who joined the SIU dental school faculty in 1978, earned a bachelor of science in biology at Georgetown University, and a doctor of dental science and a certificate in endodontics at Baylor College of Dentistry. He also has taught at Baylor and at Saint Louis University. In 2002, Dr. Ferrillo was named Dean of the School of Dental Medicine at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). He left UNLV to accept the position of Dean of the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry at the University of the Pacific in 2006.
An active member of the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), Dr. Ferrillo served in various positions including ADEA president in 1999, as well as chair of the ADEA Council of Deans in 1994. In 2000, he chaired the ADEA President’s Task Force on the Surgeon General’s Report on Oral Health.
Dr. Ferrillo has also been engaged in numerous international activities, serving as the ADEA representative on the Board of Directors of the International Federation of Dental Education Association (IFDEA) and currently serving a two-year term as President of IFDEA. In addition, Dr. Ferrillo was an active participant in the European project, DentEd, DentEd II and DentEdvolved. He continues to be active in international dental education.
Dr. Ferrillo is a fellow of the American College of Dentists, the International College of Dentists and the Pierre Fauchard Academy. Active in the American Dental Association, Dr. Ferrillo has served on the Commission on Dental Accreditation, Council on Dental Education and the Council on Dental Therapeutics. In addition, Dr. Ferrillo has served on numerous foundations including the National Foundation for Dentistry for the Handicapped, as well as Oral Health America/America’s Fund for Dental Health. He also served as Chairman of the Board of Oral Health America from 2003 to 2005.
Commencement 2009 was held in the Meridian Ballroom, on the first floor of SIU Edwardsville’s Morris University Center (MUC). A reception for students, faculty and family members was held immediately following the Commencement Ceremony in the Goshen Lounge, also in the MUC.
Photo Caption 1: The Class of 2009
Photo Caption 2: Dr. Beata Dederowski, hooded by Dr. Paul Ferguson, Provost and Vice Chancellor of SIU Edwardsville, and Dr. Jessica Hinz, Chair of the School of Dental Medicine Faculty Assembly
Photo Caption 3: Dr. Patrick J. Ferrillo, Jr., Dean of the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry
Photo Caption 4: Drs. Lauren LaBuwi, Yvondia Scott, Kathryn Cabay and Melinda Hochgesang
Commencement 2009 Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
Senior Farewell Evening Celebrates the Class of 2009
Each year, the Senior Farewell Evening offers the administration and faculty of the SIU dental school the opportunity to bid farewell to the graduating class. On May 15, the SIU School of Dental Medicine celebrated the Class of 2009. The students, faculty and guests enjoyed a wonderful dinner reception and celebrated achievement and excellence in dental education.
The Awards Program, always the highlight of the Senior Farewell Evening, honored 23 individual dental students, who collectively earned 37 distinctive awards. Each award serves to recognize outstanding achievement in specific areas of the dental school curriculum. Among the students who distinguished themselves during the evening, three students—Joseph Cutrona, Kathryn Kosten, and Jonathan Wong—were each honored on four occasions.
Joseph Cutrona was recognized for excellence in restorative dentistry, earning the James R. Schmidt Restorative Award and the Quintessence Award in Restorative Dentistry. He was also honored with the American Association of Orthodontists Award and the American Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons Implant Award.
Kathryn Kosten and Jonathan Wong shared the Delta Dental Plan of Illinois Award presented to two seniors who have excelled on Part II of the National Board Dental Examinations and who will remain in Illinois in a private general dentistry practice. Ms. Pamela Woolsey, representing Delta Dental Plan of Illinois, presented the Delta Dental Plan of Illinois award.
Ms. Kosten also earned the Walter E. Dundon Memorial Award from the Odontographic Society of Chicago, presented to one senior dental student demonstrating leadership and outstanding clinical ability. She also earned the American Association of Women Dentists Award and the American Academy of Periodontology Award.
Mr. Wong was also honored with awards from the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain and the American Academy of Oral Medicine. He also earned the Academy of General Dentistry Award, recognizing a senior dental student who exhibits potential for becoming an outstanding general dentist.
The SIU dental school was honored that Dr. Peter Paulson, Vice Regent for the Eighth District of the International College of Dentists and an alumnus of the Class of 1978, was able to attend. Dr. Paulson presented the International College of Dentists Award.
The Senior Farewell Evening was held at the Sunset Hills Country Club in Edwardsville. Dr. Robert Froemling hosted the Presentation of Awards.
Photo Caption: Jonathan Wong and Kathryn Kosten were presented with the Delta Dental of Illinois Award by Pamela Woolsey.
2009 Senior Farewell Evening Photo: 1
Somewhat Soggy, but Certainly Successful!
For the third consecutive year, the golf tournament was hampered by rain. Nonetheless, over 130 golfers made the most of the weather and enjoyed a round of golf in support of a very worthwhile cause. Sponsors and participants of the 14th Annual Mac McKenzie Prophy Cup Challenge Golf Tournament contributed over $46,000 to support the SIU dental school. The School of Dental Medicine is sincerely grateful to all those who helped make the golf tournament such a great success!
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A special thanks to our tournament sponsors:
Platinum Sponsors:
Gold Sponsors:
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All contributions to the golf tournament this year will again support the Mac McKenzie Prophy Cup Challenge Faculty Recruitment and Retention Endowment and Development Funds. These funds remain critical to the success of our immediate and enduring goals for faculty recruitment and retention at the SIU dental school.
A strong faculty is at the core of the School’s ability to educate the best practitioners of general dentistry in the country. To ensure students reach their full potential and are best prepared for careers in dental medicine, the School must find innovative ways to attract and retain faculty members with the latest knowledge and skills, as well as a passion, to motivate and engage students.
More specifically, the generosity of the golf tournament’s sponsors and players will allow the School of Dental Medicine to supplement salaries, as well as provide assistance for development and research, for our faculty. Contributions to the golf tournament will also genuinely help the SIU dental school pursue faculty members of the highest caliber who will add to the growing reputation and impact of the School. Ultimately, the golf tournament proceeds will help the SIU dental school ensure that our tradition of excellence in dental education continues for many years to come.
Earning the prestigious Prophy Cup this year was a well-assembled crew, hailing from the greater Bloomington, Illinois area. The winning team included Kevin Littlefield (Class of 1976); Chris Loudermilk (Class of 1999); Tom Ocheltree (Class of 1999); and Joel Lovell (Year I Student), a late, but officially sanctioned addition to the foursome. Congratulations to the 2009 tournament champions.
Thank you to all of the sponsors and participants of the 14th Annual Mac McKenzie Prophy Cup Challenge and thank you for your support of the SIU School of Dental Medicine.
Photo Caption: 2009 Golf Tournament Champions: Drs. Chris Loudermilk, Joel Lovell, Tom Ocheltree and Kevin Littlefield
2009 Golf Tournament Photo: 1
2009 Research Day and Table Clinic Competition
On April 14, the SIU School of Dental Medicine hosted its annual Research Day on the Alton Campus. Research Day traditionally features the Student Table Clinic Competition and a nationally, often internationally, renowned Guest Speaker. The 2009 SIU SDM Research Day followed tradition in fine form.
Eleven students competed in the Table Clinic Competition this year. Congratulations to all the students who presented. Kudos to Renee Doyle (Year III), who earned First Place Overall and won the Illinois State Dental Society Foundation Award for Best Clinical Research.
Ms. Doyle’s table clinic research was entitled, “Self-adhesive Cements in Orthodontic Bonding.” Her faculty sponsors were Drs. Gregory Stewart and Charles Thornton.
In addition to a recognition plaque and monetary award, Ms. Doyle will represent the SIU dental school at the ADA/Dentsply Student Clinician Program at the ADA Annual Session, which will be held in Honolulu, Hawaii this year. Ms. Doyle will also present her table clinic at the Illinois State Dental Society (ISDS) and Chicago Dental Society (CDS) meetings.
Ms. Sarah Ade (Year III) earned second place overall for her table clinic research entitled, “Bonding of Self-Etching Cements to Dentin.” As second place overall winner, Ms. Ade will also attend the CDS meeting. Additionally, she will present her table clinic at the Hinman Student Research Symposium in Memphis, TN.
Ms. Nicole Grawey (Year II) earned third place overall for her table clinic research entitled, “Influence of Pretreatment Procedural and Coping Information on Post Treatment Pain Assessment.” As third place overall winner, Ms. Grawey will join Ms. Doyle and Ms. Ade at the CDS Midwinter Meeting in February 2010.
In addition to the Clinical Research Award earned by Ms. Doyle, the ISDS Foundation also presented awards for Best Basic Science Research and Best Literature Review/Dental Education. Mr. Eric Haas (Year II) earned the Basic Science Award and Ms. Krista Weimerskirch (Year I) and Janet Sutter (Year I) jointly earned the Literature Review/Dental Education Award.
The judges of the Table Clinic Competition deserve our special thanks. Judges from the Illinois State Dental Society Foundation included Drs. Sue Bishop, LuAnne McClean, Larry Tschopp and Darryll Beard. From the SIU School of Dental Medicine faculty, Drs. Sue Rieken and William Whitson served as judges.
The SIU dental school was honored to host George T. J. Huang, D.D.S., M.S.D., D.Sc., Associate Professor and Director of the Division of Endodontics at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, as the guest speaker at our 2009 Research Day. Dr. Huang received his D.D.S. from Taipei University in 1983. He then attended Boston University where he earned a Certificate in Endodontics in 1988, M. ScD. in Endodontics in 1989, and a Doctor of Science in Oral Biology in 1992.
Dr. Huang is a leading researcher in what he has described as “a new era in the future of endodontics – the regeneration of endodontic tissues with modern tissue engineering technologies.” Prior to his appointment at Columbia, Dr. Huang was a faculty member and Director of Endodontics first at UCLA and then the University of Maryland College of Dental Surgery. He was a Research Scholar in the NIH/NIDCR Intramural Branches of Oral Infection and Immunity and Cartilage Biology and Orthopedics. He has published over ninety research papers, abstracts and book chapters, and he has presented over seventy guest lectures in his area of expertise.
Dr. Huang is the recipient of numerous research grants including three from the NIDCR. He currently holds a grant for 1.6 million dollars to study stem cell based therapies for endodontics. He is a member of the Scientific Advisory/Editorial Board for the Journal of Endodontics and the Open Dentistry Journal. He is an Ad Hoc reviewer for numerous journals, including Oral Diseases and OOOE. He has been honored with many awards during his career, including the 1994 National Research Service Award from the NIH/NIDDK.
Dr. Huang shared two presentations with the SDM community. In the morning, he offered a presentation entitled, “Stem Cell Based Therapy for Dental Tissue Regeneration.” In the afternoon, he offered a second presentation entitled, “Stem Cells and Their Clinical Applications.”
Photo Caption 1: Ms. Renee Doyle—First Place Overall Winner and the Illinois State Dental Society Foundation Clinical Research Award Winner.
Photo Caption 2: Dr. Ann Boyle, Dean of the SIU School of Dental Medicine with the 2009 SIU SDM Research Day Guest Speaker, Dr. George T. J. Huang.
2009 Research Day and Table Clinic Competition Photos: 1 | 2
The Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation Pledges $500,000 Grant to Expand Oral Surgery Clinic at Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine
Grant for Oral Surgery Clinic will help enhance student dental education and improve patient care
The Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Delta Dental of Illinois, has pledged $500,000 to Southern Illinois University (SIU) School of Dental Medicine to help the School double the capacity of its Oral Surgery Clinic in Alton, Illinois.
The grant, distributed through annual $100,000 donations over five years, will provide resources to create two patient recovery areas, increase the waiting room capacity and create three additional oral surgery rooms, including a full oral surgery suite with conscious-sedation capability.
“Through this generous gift, we will be able to significantly enhance the dental education we provide our students and increase the care we provide our patients,” said SIU School of Dental Medicine Dean Ann Boyle.
Dr. Boyle noted that each day, at least 25 patients call the SIU School of Dental Medicine’s main patient clinic, requesting oral surgery services, and more than 50 additional patients call requesting emergency dental care. These requests are in addition to routinely scheduled surgical services provided for patients at the dental school.
“Due to our present physical limitations and the increased demand for emergency care, we have been unable to manage the volume of patients needing treatment in the Oral Surgery Clinic,” said Dr. Boyle. “We are grateful to the Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation for providing the resources necessary to allow us to better serve our oral surgery patients.”
Part of Delta Dental of Illinois’ mission is to improve the oral health of the communities it serves. As such, through its Foundation, it supports organizations that help improve access to oral health and expand educational opportunities that lead to better oral health.
“The increasing demand for oral surgery services and emergency care clearly warrants expansion of the SIU School of Dental Medicine Oral Surgery Clinic,” said Dr. Robert E. Dennison, president and chief executive officer of Delta Dental of Illinois. “Our grant will not only help the Oral Surgery Clinic to treat more patients, but also provide SIU dental students greater clinical education opportunities. We are proud to support SIU and its good work by doing what we can to advance this unique surgery clinic.”
“Access to oral health care and oral health education help improve overall oral health. The SIU School of Dental Medicine does important work on both fronts. Supporting the expansion of the Oral Surgery Clinic is a wonderful opportunity for Delta Dental of Illinois to help improve access to oral health programs in Illinois and provide better education for SIU dental students,” added Dr. Frank Maggio, D.D.S, a member of the Delta Dental of Illinois Board of Directors and a practicing periodontist in Elgin. “We’re delighted to support the school.”
The expansion will allow the school to treat approximately twice as many patients and offer additional oral surgery procedures. It will also increase accessibility between the oral surgery rooms allowing faculty to more comfortably supervise surgical procedures which will provide students with a broader range of clinical experiences.
The first annual $100,000 donation for the $500,000 grant was made in November 2008. In 2005, Delta Dental of Illinois provided SIU with a $250,000 grant to help the dental school expand its Main Clinic. The Main Clinic expansion included 24 new operatories and a new classroom.
The Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation, formed in May 2008, is the philanthropic arm of Delta Dental of Illinois, a not-for-profit dental service corporation with a mission to improve the oral health of the communities it serves. The Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation works to improve the oral health of people in Illinois by supporting organizations and programs that help raise awareness of oral health, make oral healthcare more accessible and affordable to underserved people in Illinois, and improve education for oral healthcare professionals.
2009 Midwinter Alumni Reception
The SIU School of Dental Medicine warmly received nearly 150 guests at the 2009 Midwinter Alumni Reception. In total, 28 of the 33 classes that have graduated from the SIU dental school were represented at the event. A few representatives from the Class of 2009 and the Class of 2010 were also in attendance.
Nonetheless, the Class of 2007 won the prize for school spirit, as twelve members of the class participated in the event. The Class of 1998, with nine alumni present, received an honorable mention.
This year, the event also saw some geographic diversity. Guests of the 2009 Midwinter Reception arrived from eight different states, including Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, Texas and Utah.
The School of Dental Medicine Midwinter Alumni Reception is held each year on the Friday evening of the Midwinter Meeting, sponsored by the Chicago Dental Society. The School of Dental Medicine alumni reception is co-sponsored each year by the SIUE Alumni Association.
The 2010 Midwinter Alumni Reception will return to the Hotel InterContinental Chicago on Friday, February 26, 2010. We hope to see you there!
Photo Caption 1: The Class of 1998 was well represented at the 2009 Midwinter Alumni Reception. Nine individuals from the class were present at the event, earning an honorable mention for the school spirit prize this year.
Photo Caption 2: Drs. Larry Osborne (Class of 1982), Terry Barnfield (Class of 1986) and Darryll Beard (Class of 1983) enjoyed the opportunity to network at the annual reception. All three alumni hold leadership positions within the Illinois State Dental Society. Dr. Osborne serves as the President Elect; Dr. Barnfield serves as a Trustee for the Southern District; and Dr. Beard serves as the Vice President.
Photo Caption 3: Drs. Casie Burk Jones, Lora Selle and Jill Brandt were among 12 alumni from the Class of 2007 who attended the Midwinter Reception this year. The Class of 2007 won the prize for school spirit this year.
2009 Midwinter Alumni Reception Photos: 1 | 2 | 3
National Children’s Dental Health Month (NCDHM) turned 60 this year. Each February, since 1949, the American Dental Association (ADA) has sponsored NCDHM to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. While the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) is considerably younger (35 in 2010) than NCDHM, the level of community outreach during the month of February at the SIU dental school might suggest otherwise.
SIU dental students helped spread the message of oral health to approximately 1,900 area children this February. Through oral health and nutrition education programs led by the dental students, area children learned about the importance of oral health and how it impacts overall health, the value of good nutrition, the importance of regular visits to the dentist and best practices for good oral home care.
SIU dental students visited 11 area schools during the month of February. In total, 33 of our Year III and Year IV dental students provided programs for over 1,400 children in classrooms and at school health fairs. Typically, students will spend approximately two hours at each school and provide several, half-hour educational programs for the children.
In the meantime, 37 Year III and Year IV dental students provided more comprehensive sessions on the Alton Campus. Four area schools participated and 21 sessions were provided, including three classes of Kindergarten children, 15 classes of First Grade children, and three classes of Second Grade children. A total of 445 children attended our sessions and over 300 children received oral health screenings in addition to oral health education.
While February is certainly a busy month, the SIU SDM Community Dentistry program operates year-round. By way of an example, the program already has 14 schools scheduled for a visit from our dental students during the month of March. Further, the Community Dentistry program is also active with adults, providing parent education classes and oral cancer screenings throughout the year.
Ultimately, the program provides educational programs, oral cancer screenings, preventive care and/or dental treatment for over 10,000 men, women, and children annually. Kudos to Dr. Jain, the Director of the Community Dentistry program, as well as to all the dental students who served the community through the program.
Photo Caption 1: Students from South Roxana Elementary School patiently and apprehensively wait to receive an oral health screening.
Photo Caption 2: Year IV dental student Blake Westra provides the best of care during an oral health screening.
NCDHM Photos: 1 | 2
Dr. Otsuka Earns Faculty Advisor Award
Dr. Allen Otsuka, Associate Professor and Section Head of Biochemistry in the Department of Applied Dental Medicine at the SIU School of Dental Medicine, recently earned the 2008 Burton C. Borgelt/SCADA Faculty Advisor Award. Dr.Otsuka was selected by the Board of Governors of the International Association of Student Clinicians-American Dental Association (SCADA) as only one of two recipients in the nation to earn the prestigious faculty advisor award. The award was presented by Dr. Rada Sumareva, SCADA’s President, during the DENTSPLY Student Clinician Research Program Awards Ceremony at the 149th American Dental Association Meeting on October 18, 2008 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in San Antonio, Texas.
Dr. Allen Otsuka has served as a Faculty Advisor at the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine for the past 22 years. During this time, he has sponsored and been the research mentor for over 35 dental students as Summer Research Fellows in his laboratory. In addition to mentoring the students in the laboratory, he has helped the students prepare their summer research applications and table clinics for both local and national presentation. Dr. Otsuka epitomizes the ideal qualities of a Faculty Advisor.
“Dr. Otsuka has dedicated a large segment of his own research career to inspiring and mentoring student research,” said M. Jane Gillespie, Ph. D., Director of Research and Professor and Section Head of Microbiology at the SIU School of Dental Medicine. “It is with great pleasure and enthusiasm that I nominated him for this award.”
Congratulations to Dr. Allen Otsuka.
Photo Caption: Dr. Rada Sumareva presents Dr. Allen Otsuka with the 2008 Burton C. Borgelt / SCADA Faculty Advisor Award.
Dr. Otsuka Photo: 1
Dr. & Mrs. Joseph M. Sim Scholarship Recipients Recognized
Congratulations to Ms. Karen Anderson, Ms. Nicole Grawey and Ms. Anna Trzcinska, who were recently recognized as the 2009 Dr. & Mrs. Joseph M. Sim Scholarship Recipients. The Sim Scholarship recognizes high academic achievement among dental students in Years I, II and III at the SIU School of Dental Medicine.
Dr. Joseph Sim, a former faculty member of the SIU dental school, had established a tradition of awarding the annual scholarship before he passed away in December, 2002. Each year, Mrs. Pat Sim continues this tradition by generously recommitting to the scholarship program for SIU dental school students.
On April 7, Mrs. Pat Sim hosted an informal lunch reception to personally acknowledge the scholarship recipients. At the reception, Mrs. Sim narrated a presentation about many of the interesting aspects of Dr. Sim’s life, including but certainly not limited to dentistry. Also this year, Mrs. Sim shared a poem about Dr. Sim, written by her son Murray. Mrs. Sim noted that Dr. Sim often wrote poetry during his life, and she often encourages the scholarship recipients to endeavor to lead well-rounded lives, as Dr. Sim did.
Photo Caption: Anna Trzcinska, Nicole Grawey, Pat Sim and Karen Anderson
Sim Scholarship Recipient Photo: 1
On October 11, 2008, the SIU School of Dental Medicine hosted its annual White Coat Ceremony for the Class of 2012. The White Coat Ceremony offers the new dental students a heightened sense of the commitment that they have made by choosing to earn a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree and an amplified awareness of the high standards of integrity required to maintain the honor of the distinguished profession of dentistry.
Dr. Valerie A. Murrah, D.M.D., M.S., President of the American Academy of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, Professor and Chair of the Department of Diagnostic Sciences and General Dentistry and the Director of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology at the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry, served as the keynote speaker for the ceremony. Dr. Murrah was a graduate of the SIU School of Dental Medicine Class of 1980.
During her keynote address, Dr. Murrah stressed the power of knowledge as a critical tool in the profession of dentistry. She suggested that dental students and professionals had the responsibility to not only obtain as much knowledge as possible to truly be an excellent practitioner of dentistry, but they also must share that knowledge with their patients.
“Knowledge is power,” said Dr. Murrah. “Therefore, I strongly urge you to soak up every precious little bit of knowledge imparted to you by the wonderful faculty here at the SIU dental school. You must face the sober reality that any lecture or clinical experience that you miss may result in a gap in your armamentarium of knowledge that will cause you to give less than your best to each patient who sits in your chair. Also, you must continue to build on your knowledge base after you leave school.”
“As important as the acquisition of knowledge may be for us as dentists, the responsibility to pass that knowledge on to our patients is one that we accept in donning the white coat,” said Dr. Murrah. “We must be vigilant to compel our patients to accept responsibility for their oral health. It takes time and commitment from those who accept the challenge of the white coat to have a practice with a major educational focus. In many ways, it is more difficult to accomplish than the technical expertise that may be your focus at this point in time, but it is worth it.”
Following Dr. Murrah’s remarks, Dr. Allen Otsuka, the faculty student adviser for the Class of 2012, called the students individually to the stage. Two alumni and faculty members of the SIU School of Dental Medicine, Drs. Mary Ann Rackauskas (Class of 1978) and Kenneth Rawson (Class of 2005) helped the students don their coats as they approached the stage.
Once each student was fitted with their respective white coat, they proceeded to sign the Professional Oath. With all the members of the Class of 2012 assembled on the stage, Dr. Ann Boyle, Dean of the SIU dental school, led the Class of 2012 in the recitation of the Professional Oath.
Lacey Fecht, a Year IV student and President of the Student Body, offered closing remarks. Following the ceremony, family and friends in attendance were invited to the SIU School of Dental Medicine, Alton Campus, for lunch and campus tours.
The Central Illinois Academy of General Dentistry, the Illinois State Dental Society Foundation, the Illinois Section of the American College of Dentists, the Eighth District of the International College of Dentists and Johnson and Johnson Healthcare Companies served as sponsors for the event. The SIU School of Dental Medicine is sincerely grateful for the generosity exhibited by each of the sponsors.
White Coat 2008 Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
In October, the SIU School of Dental Medicine hosted over 70 alumni, faculty, friends and guests at Homecoming 2008. Alumni in attendance ranged from the Class of 1975 to the Class of 2007. In total, representatives from 20 different classes of graduates were present.
Among the best represented classes of graduates was the Class of 2003, celebrating a 5-Year Reunion. Many of those who attended the Class of 2003 Reunion met with classmates at the Alumni Homecoming Reception prior to attending a reunion dinner with classmates later in the evening.
While Homecoming concluded with the Alumni Reception held in the Science Building on the Alton campus, the event offered those in attendance the opportunity to share the entire day with alumni, faculty and friends of the SIU dental school. A fair number of the guests in attendance took advantage of the full day of activities.
Homecoming began at the White Coat Ceremony for the Class of 2012. The White Coat Ceremony is a special event for our Year I dental students. The formal ceremony is intended to impress on the new dental students the high standards of integrity required in the healthcare profession and to instill in them a sense of the commitment that they have made by choosing dentistry as a career.
Following the White Coat Ceremony, alumni, faculty and friends, as well as guests of the students participating in the ceremony, were invited to lunch at the Alton campus on the lawn in front of the Science Building. Campus tours, led by student volunteers, were available during the picnic lunch for interested guests.
After lunch, the SIU dental school hosted a continuing education lecture presented by Dr. James Braun, entitled “The Restorative Edge.” The lecture was co-sponsored by Coltène/Whaledent.
We genuinely appreciate all the alumni, faculty, friends and guests who joined us for Homecoming 2008. We hope you will join us again in Fall 2009.
Dr. Valerie Murrah Inducted to SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has produced 80,000 graduates who have earned more than 90,000 degrees. Many of these graduates have achieved tremendous success in their lives and careers. Early in 2008, the SIUE Alumni Association created the SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame. The SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame will annually honor alumni who, through leadership, character and hard work, have made exceptional contributions in their chosen field.Each School and College at SIUE nominated candidates for the SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame based on pre-determined criteria. After a deliberative process, the SIU School of Dental Medicine Alumni Council nominated Dr. Valerie Murrah (Class of 1980) as the dental school’s 2008 candidate to enter the SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame. The SIUE Alumni Association confirmed the nomination. Subsequently, Dr. Murrah was honored at the SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame Awards Dinner in October.
Dr. Valerie Murrah is currently a Professor and Chair of the Department of Diagnostic Sciences and General Dentistry at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with joint appointments in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Otolaryngology. She also directs the Division of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology and serves as the Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Diagnostic Laboratory Director.
Dr. Murrah was installed as the 62nd president of the American Academy of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology during its annual meeting in June 2008. Dr. Murrah is the first woman to attain the office in the entire history of the Academy. Dr. Murrah’s honor falls on the heels of a similar previous honor. She was elected as first woman president of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology (ABOMP) for the 2005-2006 term of office.
Dr. Murrah has also held elected positions in the International Association for Dental Research and the American Dental Education Association. Dr. Murrah is a fellow of the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, a fellow of both the American and International College of Dentists, and a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology.
Dr. Murrah has a passion for education. She has been awarded teaching awards at multiple institutions, including the prestigious Presidential Teaching Excellence Award at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. She is a two time winner of the Faculty of the Year Award from the Carolinas Section of the American College of Dentists.
Dr. Murrah is a nationally and internationally recognized speaker on oral cancer. Her research has been supported by the National Institutes of Health, the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the Texas Cancer Council, the Smokeless Tobacco Research Council and the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.
After graduating from the SIU dental school, she went on to obtain her advanced training in oral pathology and Master of Science at the University of Minnesota and her anatomic pathology training at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. Following her residency, she joined the faculty of the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry as Assistant Professor in the Department of Oral Diagnosis and Radiology, with subsequent cross-appointment to the Department of Oral Pathology and Genetics. At Minnesota, she functioned as Director of the Oral Diagnosis and Emergency Clinics.
In 1988, Valerie joined the Department of Pathology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, where she became a tenured associate professor. She functioned as a member of the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners for the specialty of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and served in a leadership role for public education outreach programs of the San Antonio District Dental Society.
While at San Antonio, Valerie received an American Cancer Society Clinical Oncology Career Development Award for research regarding the interaction of viruses and tobacco in oral carcinogenesis. As a part of this career development award, she spent a sabbatical period studying head and neck pathology with Dr. John Batsakis at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
In 1994, Dr. Murrah joined the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta as a tenured associate professor, where she also served as Research Director for the Division of Oral, Head and Neck Pathology. In Atlanta, she had staff appointments at three hospitals and served as the forensic odontology consultant to the Fulton County Medical Examiner. She was also a member of the Winship Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Congratulations to the Inaugural Class of the SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame and congratulations to Dr. Valerie Murrah!
SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame 2008 Photo: 1
Nearly 100 alumni, faculty and friends of the SIU School of Dental Medicine accepted an invitation over the summer to experience all the magic and splendor of Hawaii aboard the “Hawaii Island Hop—Cruise, CE and Celebration.” The spectacular seven-day Hawaiian cruise offered ports in Honolulu, O’ahu; Hilo, Hawaii; Kahului, Maui; Kona, Hawaii; and Nawiliwili, Kauai.
The cruise was scheduled during the dental school’s summer break, and the Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America provided the transportation, as well as all the amenities one might hope to enjoy while cruising Hawaiian-style. Among the highlights of the cruise, Dr. Ann Boyle, Dean of the SIU School of Dental Medicine, hosted a private lu’au on behalf of the dental school for all the “Hawaii Island Hop” participants and their respective guests.
Dr. Keith Dickey, Director of Alumni Services and CE at the SIU dental school, organized and facilitated eight hours of continuing education during the cruise. Drs. Robert Blackwell, Bruce Rotter, Debra Dixon and Francisco Rodriguez presented continuing education lectures on implant dentistry, dental radiology, and pediatric dentistry.
We want to thank all those who joined us for the Hawaii Island Hop—Cruise, CE and Celebration. We hope you had a wonderful experience.
Highlights from the Ninth Annual Jamaica Dental Mission
The 2008 Jamaica Dental Mission was a success story. This mission marks the 9th year that free dental care was provided to underserved children and adults in urban and rural Jamaica. The annual dental mission took place during July 2008.
Sixty-six volunteers participated in the 2008 Jamaica Dental Mission. Among the volunteers were Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine faculty members and dental students. Additionally, graduate periodontal residents from the Saint Louis University Center for Advanced Dental Education, as well as a fair number of dental specialists, general dentists and dental hygienists from private practice, provided their services. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy faculty members and pharmacy students also participated in the mission trip. Rounding out the volunteer crew were a nurse, a physician and a few other non-dental personnel.
The volunteers of the dental mission enthusiastically descended on Jamaica with the singular goal of treating as many patients as possible with care, compassion and professional integrity. With hard work, they were able to treat a record number of patients. A total of 1,374 patients received dental care.
Each year, more people are benefiting from the services provided and the scope of the dental treatment expands. This year, dental services and treatment included dental examinations, oral health education and oral hygiene instruction, prophylaxes, fluoride treatments, dental sealants, scaling and root planning (deep cleanings), restorations (fillings), extractions (non-surgical and surgical) and simple partial dentures to replace missing teeth.
“The Jamaica Dental Mission would not be successful if it were not for the many people who provide their support each year,” said Dr. Dwight McLeod, Chair of the Department of Applied Dental Medicine at the SIU School of Dental Medicine. Dr. McLeod organizes the dental mission trip as a way to give back to the country in which he grew up. Dr. McLeod is originally from Montego Bay and now lives in Florissant, MO.
Over the years, many volunteers have provided extraordinary support. This year, among several individuals that Dr. McLeod acknowledged as exceptional volunteers were two SIU School of Dental Medicine alumni.
Dr. McLeod recognized Dr. Richard Davidson, Class of 1977, for his tireless work in garnering funds for the Jamaica Dental Mission. Ultimately, Dr. Davidson enabled the dental mission to purchase three portable dental delivery units. Dr. Richard Davidson was encouraged to participate in the dental mission by his daughter, Dr. Madalyn Davidson, Class of 2007, who had experienced the dental mission while she was a dental student at the SIU dental school.
Dr. McLeod also acknowledged the efforts of Dr. Sarah Puzey, Class of 2006, who was able to collect the funds necessary to purchase a Hewlett Packard Office Center along with other school supplies for the Kew Park All Age School. Kew Park is one of the three sites in Jamaica where the dental mission provides services annually, and it is also where Dr. McLeod went to school as a child.
The dental mission is always open to alumni. In celebration of the 10th Annual Jamaica Dental Mission in 2009, Dr. McLeod would like to invite all past volunteers to consider joining and/or supporting the 2009 Jamaica Dental Mission. For more information, please feel free to contact Dr. Dwight McLeod by phone at 618-474-7023 or via e-mail at dmcleod@siue.edu. Contributions can be made payable to the “Consulate of Jamaica” and mailed to Dr. Dwight McLeod at 16725 Newbury Crossing, Florissant, MO 63034.
We hope to see you in 2009.
Photo Caption: Dr. Poonam Jain and Ms. Peggy McGinnis, a Year IV dental student, provide dental treatment for a patient at Kew Park.
Jamaica Dental Mission Photo: 1
