School of Dental Medicine

The Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SDM) fall semester is underway, and to set the tone for a productive and collegial year, students gathered for a welcome event on Tuesday, Aug. 9. 

The SIUE Division of Student Affairs coordinated the event which included a taco lunch, wellness bags with health essentials, and Dairy Queen Blizzards handed out by SIUE Chancellor James T. Minor, PhD and Alton Mayor David Goins. Students also enjoyed participating in various games an...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will honor 10 remarkable graduates at the 2022 SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame ceremony, “A Night Among the Stars,” on Friday, Sept. 23, at 5:30 p.m. in the Morris University Center’s Meridian Ballroom. The impressive alumni have made exceptional contributions in their chosen fields, in their communities and at SIUE through their leadership, character and hard work.

“The SIUE Alumni Association is proud to recognize the achievements of ou...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville returned to its summer tradition of welcoming high school students to explore its facilities and connect with faculty experts to enhance their interest in healthcare-related fields at the annual Healthcare Diversity Summer Camp.

Approximately 20 students from across Illinois, including East St. Louis, Chicago, Collinsville, Bolingbrook, Chatham, Gillespie, Glen Carbon, Granite City, Alton, as well as St. Louis, Mo., attended camp in June.

The Healthcare D...

The Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) has announced its annual Dean’s Scholarship and Dr. Larry A. Lowe Memorial Scholarship recipients.  
 
The Dean’s Scholarship was created to reward academic merit, assist financial aid, and increase student diversity within the SIU SDM. This year’s Dean’s Scholarship recipients include Talia Just, of Oak Brook, Noah Kippenbrock, of Carbondale, Mitchell Muller, of Petersburg, and Jesse Snyder...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Chancellor James T. Minor, PhD, conferred doctor of dental medicine (DMD) degrees upon 55 graduates of the SIU School of Dental Medicine during their commencement ceremony held Saturday, June 4 at the First Community Arena at the Vadalabene Center on the Edwardsville campus.  

“You are a special group,” said SIU SDM Interim Dean Duane Douglas, DMD. “During the last four years, you have put in many hard hours and distinguished...

Throughout the year, dental students engage in intense and advanced research that brings them closer to their career paths. Following months of innovative and creative work, either individual or collaborative, Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) recognizes the global significance of such outstanding research at an annual event that features research presentations and awards. The annual SIU SDM Research Day highlights the importance of such work to advance the dentist...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students are among the recipients of the 2022 SIU System Distinguished Student Service Awards. Awardees were honored during the SIU System Board of Trustees meeting held Thursday, April 28.

During the meeting, Dianah McGreehan, chair of the award selection committee, announced the recipients and shared brief highlights of their outstanding acts of service. Each will receive $100 and an honorary plaque.

Winners included:

• Hailee O’Dell (SIUE u...

The Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) hosted its 20th annual White Coat Ceremony on Friday, April 1 at the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville.

The ceremony celebrated the first-year cohort of 50 dental students representing the Class of 2025 and six International Advanced Placement Program (IAPP) students comprising the Class of 2023.

SIUE Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Den...

The Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) is celebrating students in the class of 2022 for achieving a 100% first-time pass rate on the new Integrated National Board Dental Exam (INBDE). This is the second consecutive year for SDM students to attain this achievement.

The integrated examination for dental licensure, first administered in 2020, replaces the NBDE Part I and Part II, and covers the basic, behavioral and clinical sciences. According to the Joint Commission...

At its regularly scheduled meeting Thursday, Dec. 2, the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees (BOT) approved the appointment of Duane Douglas, DMD, as interim dean of the SIU School of Dental Medicine (SDM).

A national search for the next dean of the SIU SDM is underway. Douglas will serve as the SDM’s senior leader, effective Jan. 1, 2022 through June 30, 2022, or until a permanent dean is identified through the national search and can begin serving.

“Dr. Douglas is a hi...

Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) faculty member Vince Rapini, DDS, and alumnus Ron Wilkerson, DMD, were honored at the Missouri Dental Association’s (MDA) annual awards banquet on Friday, Nov. 5. The banquet was held during MDA’s House of Delegates in Jefferson City, Mo.

Rapini, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Clinical Dentistry, was named the 2021 MDA Distinguished Service Award winner. The award is presented to a member with a long...

More than 100 veterans received free dental care during the annual Veteran’s Care Day event hosted by the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM). On Thursday, Nov. 11, the SIU SDM provided more than $70,000 worth of free dental treatment to veterans in need. Services included, but were not limited to cleanings, x-rays, fillings and extractions.

“We surpassed our previous Veteran’s Care Day success by providing over $20,000 more in dentistry this year ...

The Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine’s (SDM) Nathalia Garcia, DDS, spoke on the health equity panel at the American Dental Association’s annual conference, ADA SmileCon 2021, held in October in Las Vegas.

Garcia, chair and associate professor in the Department of Applied Dental Medicine, highlighted the role of dental education in achieving health equity and SDM’s efforts in promoting a diverse and inclusive environment.

“The role of dental schools...

The Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) has received a $1 million in-kind donation from Bien Air USA, Inc. The company donated and is installing 256 new electric systems that operate the handpieces used in every patient workstation across the patient clinics in the Alton, Edwardsville and East St. Louis campuses, as well as in all the preclinical student workstations. The systems provide a significant technological advancement from those being replaced. 

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The Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SDM) invites veterans to register for the fourth annual Veteran’s Care Day, which provides free dental services.  

The event will be held Thursday, Nov. 11 at the SDM’s main clinic in building 263, 2800 College Ave. in Alton. Appointments are first come, first served. To register, call Holly at 618-474-7200.  

“We continue to see the need in our immediate community of veterans who have little to...

More than $61,000 worth of free preventative, restorative and surgical dental treatment was provided during Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine’s (SIU SDM) 16^th annual Give Kids a Smile Day. On Monday, Oct. 11, a record 126 children between the ages of 3-13 received critical dental care through the community outreach initiative.

“This was our most successful program by far in terms of patients seen and dentistry provided since I’ve been involved with GKAS,&#...

The Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) hosted its 20^th annual White Coat Ceremony on Friday, Oct. 8 in the Hatheway Cultural Center at Lewis & Clark Community College in Godfrey. The ceremony celebrated the second-year cohort of 50 dental students representing the Class of 2024, as well as an additional six International Advanced Placement Program dental students who will graduate with the Class of 2022.

“The White Coat Ceremony is an important event at the...

The Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine will provide free dental care for children in need during its 16^th annual Give Kids a Smile Day, scheduled for Monday, Oct. 11.

In order to receive treatment, children must be enrolled in their school’s free/reduced lunch program and be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Appointments are required, and the clinic will not take walk-ins. To make an appointment or learn more, call 618-474-7200.

“Your child’s oral...

Looking for high-quality, affordable dental care? SIU Dental Associates is now accepting patients in Edwardsville.

Run by the SIU School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) and staffed by its clinical faculty, SIUDA is located on the SIU Edwardsville campus at 195 University Park Dr.

Open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, SIUDA accepts all community clients, including SIUE students, faculty and staff.

SIUDA offers a wide variety of services, including preventative, restorative and implant dentistry. S...

The Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) celebrated the start of the fall 2021 semester during its annual Welcome Fair held Thursday, Aug. 12 in the newly opened Advanced Care Clinic building, which also features a student lounge, workout facility and student lockers.

SIU SDM students were treated to boxed lunches, games and t-shirts. They also had the opportunity to learn about available student support resources while visiting with Edwardsville campus representativ...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students are among the inaugural recipients of the 2021 SIU System Distinguished Student Service Awards. Awardees were honored during the Board of Trustees meeting held via Zoom Thursday, July 15.

During the meeting, Dianah McGreehan, chair of the award selection committee, announced the recipients and shared brief highlights of their outstanding acts of service. Each will receive $100 and an honorary plaque.

Winners included:

• Madalynn McKenzie &#...

The Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) continues its annual tradition of honoring exceptional students with scholarships to enhance their learning opportunities. 

This year, Dean’s Scholarship awards of $7,500 each were presented to Kevin Kordi, of Chicago, Paulina Wisniewska, of Hanover Park, Eric Kubacki, of Minooka, and Dylan Handlin, of Springfield. Recipients of the Dr. Larry Lowe Memorial Scholarship included Nourah Abdul Kader, of Chennai, India, ...

Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) Dean Bruce Rotter, DMD, MS, announced his retirement today, effective December 2021. Rotter was named SDM dean in Nov. 2012 after serving as interim dean for more than a year.

An SIU SDM Class of 1982 alumnus, Rotter joined the SDM as a faculty member in 1993. He brought a unique perspective to the dean’s position, fully participating in the SDM’s progress as a student, faculty member and administrator.

“On beha...

The Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) conferred doctor of dental medicine (DMD) degrees on 56 students comprising the Class of 2021 during its commencement ceremony held Saturday, June 5 at the First Community Arena at the Vadalabene Center on the Edwardsville campus.

“Doctors of the Class of 2021, I understand that this has been a most unusual time for both your education and entry into your profession,” SIU SDM Dean Bruce Rotter, DMD, MS, shared, &...

The Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) will celebrate its 46^th class of graduates during its commencement ceremony being held at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 5 in the First Community Arena at the Vadalabene Center on the Edwardsville campus. The SIU SDM will also honor its 2020 graduates during a special hooding ceremony being held at 1 p.m.

The Class of 2021 ceremony will honor 56 students with the conferral of their doctor of dental medicine degrees. The ceremony will ...

Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine’s (SIU SDM) William Seaton, DDS, clinical associate professor in the Department of Clinical Dentistry, has received the Greater St. Louis Dental Society’s (GSLDS) Gold Medal Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Society.

The award recognizes Seaton’s dedicated service to the profession of dentistry, and was presented during the Society’s Annual Installation of Officers and Awards Ceremony held Sunday, April 11 in ...

While COVID-19 has thwarted numerous in-person engagement opportunities, individuals continue to serve through reimagined outreach efforts. The Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) demonstrated its ability to pivot and provide during National Children’s Dental Health Month (NCDHM) in February.

Throughout the month, 38 third- and fourth-year SDM students engaged with more than 600 children, teachers and parents through virtual presentations at seven area schools...

Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SDM) Dean Bruce Rotter, DMD, has named Dr. Duane Douglas as associate dean for faculty. The SIU Board of Trustees approved the appointment at its regularly scheduled meeting Thursday, Feb. 11.

The associate dean for faculty serves as the administrative officer responsible for overall management and leadership of the school’s faculty. Reporting directly to the dean, the associate dean acts as a liaison between the dean and the faculty...

Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SDM) Dean Bruce Rotter, DMD, is the first individual to have received the COVID-19 vaccination on campus.

Rotter exemplified his leadership receiving an initial dose of the Moderna vaccine on Tuesday, Jan. 12 on the Alton campus during the University’s first coordinated vaccination clinic, hosted in partnership with the Madison County Health Department. Amanda Pruitt, Madison County Health Service Director and Operations Chief of Vac...