From: Durham, Erika
Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2005 5:10 PM
Subject: UTDB eflash (weekly edition) -- Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Hispanic Center of Excellence to be established at the UT Dental Branch

The Dental Branch is poised to receive a $1.5 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to establish a Hispanic Center of Excellence. This grant was made possible through an application submitted by Paula O'Neill, Ed.D., associate dean for Educational Research and Professional Development, who will serve as the principal investigator, along with Phil Pierpont, D.D.S., associate dean of Student and Alumni Affairs, who will serve as the project director. The $1,529,940 grant from HRSA will fund the next three years of the project.

To open the pipeline into dental school the UTDB-HCOE will work through collaborative programs to increase the number of competitive Hispanic applicants to UTDB from our six partner Hispanic-Serving Institutions. This will be accomplished through Summer Enrichment Programs; Dental Admissions Test Preparation; Mentoring, Support Programs/Seminars; and Health Professions Advising. The UTDB-HCOE will also implement strategies to increase the recruitment and retention of Hispanic faculty.

RWJ Foundation to visit DB

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation will conduct a site visit at the Dental Branch on Friday, August 26, as a result of a joint application submitted by the UT Dental Branch and UT Medical School for the RWJ Summer Medical and Dental Education Program. Principal Investigator Paula O'Neill, Ed.D., associate dean for Educational Research and Professional Development, along with co-investigators Phil Pierpont, D.D.S., associate dean for Student and Alumni Affairs at the Dental Branch and Andrew Harper, M.D., assistant dean for Educational Programs at the Medical School, propose to implement the Health Education Academic Training (H.E.A.T.) Initiative. The Dental Branch and Medical School will partner with San Jacinto College South Campus to deliver the curriculum for the project. Ann Tate, MS, Professor, San Jacinto College, will be the curriculum coordinator for the core content.

If funded, a core group of individuals will form an advisory group to provide guidance for the four-year $1.2 million dollar project.

The Dental Branch and Medical School will reach out to the target population for HEAT by drawing upon prior experience in programs directed toward those from minority, socio-economically and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds, as well as underrepresented populations. Recruitment efforts will target seven Historically Minority Serving Institutions under current partnership; a large community college system; and local, regional and statewide colleges and universities.

Class of 2007 earns high scores on board exam

The scores are in from the National Board Dental Examination Part I for the D.D.S. class of 2007. The class scored well above the national average, both in overall average and in each individual section. Thirty-nine percent of the class scored 90 or above on the examination. On the Dental Anatomy section, 66 percent of the students scored 90 or higher. Special thanks go to Jay Ferguson, D.D.S., associate professor in Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials and the faculty that prepared the students for the exam this summer.

New Web coordinator on board

Shinjung Kang, who has fulfilled Web-related duties for the Dental Branch this summer in a temporary capacity, is now a permanent, full-time member of the Dental Branch staff. In her short time here Kang has worked to update the Dental Branch home page and Centennial Web site. She also has redesigned the site for the General Practice Residency Program. In May 2005 Kang graduated with a Masters of Education in Instructional Technology from the University of Houston. She can be reached at deborah.biner@uth.tmc.edu, (713) 500-4177.

Farrar wins Women of Rotary scholarship

Ashley Farrar, second from left and Dean Catherine Flaitz, D.D.S., are shown here with Women of Rotary representatives. Photo by Brian Schnupp.

Dental Branch student Ashley Farrar has received a Women of Rotary Scholarship. Farrar is ranked number 3 out of 63 students in her class and serves as the class president.

“She is an outstanding individual who is an asset to this institution,” said Phil Pierpont, D.D.S., associate dean for Student and Alumni Affairs at the UT Dental Branch. Congratulations, Ashley on the well-deserved award.

Dean’s office gets new employee

Sandra G. Miller, who served for eight years in the department of Orthodontics, has been promoted to Senior Executive Assistant for Paula O'Neill, Ed.D., associate dean for Educational Research and Professional Development and John Valenza, D.D.S., executive associate dean. Congratulations Sandra. Contact: Sandra.G.Miller@uth.tmc.edu or (713) 500-4120.

Lu to leave Dental Branch

Huan Lu, D.D.S., Ph.D., assistant professor of Biomaterials, has accepted a position at Loma Linda University and will be leaving the Department of Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials, effective Sept. 1. Lu has made great contributions to the Dental Branch, particularly in biomaterials research. Art Jeske, Ph.D., D.M.D., chair of the Department of Restorative Dentistry & Biomaterials says her hard work and congenial spirit will be missed. He wishes Lu much success in her new position at Loma Linda.

Save the Date: Socialize over ice cream

Part of creating a Workplace of Choice is knowing whom you work with. So grab a cold sweet treat and get to know your neighbor during an ice cream social, sponsored by the Workplace of Choice initiative in collaboration with your area Employee Relations Committee: Wednesday, Sept. 7, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Dental Branch, Room B-8.

UTDB eflash is an electronic newsletter produced by The University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston. Submit items for consideration to Erika.Durham@uth.tmc.edu by Tuesdays at noon. Items may be edited for length and style.