From: Durham, Erika
Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2005 6:12 PM
Subject: UTDB eflash (weekly edition) -- Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Galler wins Young Investigator Award

Kerstin Galler, D.D.S., visiting scholar at the UT Dental Branch, was recently honored with the Young Investigator Award during the annual Dentin Pulp Complex Meeting in Düsseldorf, Germany. Galler, who was awarded for her manuscript "Novel insights into the genetic etiology of pulp stones,” is a relatively new addition to the Dental Branch joining the research team of Rena D’Souza, D.D.S., Ph.D., professor in the department of Orthodontics, in October 2004.

Galler received her D.D.S. and an additional doctoral degree from the University of Munich in 2000. She went on to work in private practice and later became a member of the faculty at the University of Regensburg. The native German said she desired to spend time in the United States and more time conducting lab research when in 2003 she met D’Souza, who encouraged her to visit the Dental Branch.

Galler, who conducts research on dental stem cells and tooth engineering, said she has enjoyed the opportunity to work with D’Souza and her other co-workers. “The work environment here is wonderful,” Galler said. “Dr. D’Souza leads people and encourages them to become researchers. Already, this has been an extremely exciting experience.”

Dental Branch deck opens

The Dental Branch’s Olsen Deck, located on the southwest side of the building, near the Dental Hygiene entrance, has been renovated. Besides the addition of some tables and chairs, extra landscaping is forthcoming. The deck is open for any social events or a simple lunch spent in the fall weather.

You also can go wireless in this location! So take your laptops or PDA’s outdoors and visit the DB’s new deck today.

DH students present at Hong Kong City Mall

Senior dental hygiene students Christine Nguyen, Mai Truong and Susan Vo.

Senior dental hygiene students Christine Nguyen, Mai Truong and Susan Vo recently gave a presentation on oral health and oral cancer prevention to VISTA Boat People SOS at the Hong Kong City Mall. This agency helps Vietnamese people who have been victims of human trafficking or have been displaced from their country of origin because of hurricanes or other reasons.

Thanks to the School of Dental Hygiene for carrying the UT Dental Branch name so well across cultures.

Doughty represents DB at SCADA competition

Third-year dental student Carin Doughty represented the Dental Branch in a professional manner Oct. 8 at the Student Clinicians of the American Dental Association Table Clinics Competition. Her featured presentation was "Trigeminal Neuralgia in Your Dental Office," sponsored by Steve Laman, D.D.S., assistant professor of Restorative Dentistry. Job well done, Carin!

Good food for a good deal

The Employee Relations Committee will sell B-B-Q pork or B-B-Q chicken poor-boys, chips and a drink for $5 at 11 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 27. Don’t miss out on a cheap and satisfying lunch!

Fall ERC Raffle — win sweets

In no time, little ghosts and goblins will be at your door with their bags stuck out. You don’t want to say no, but the price of season treats is high and for some strange reason, ghosts don’t eat apples.

Or perhaps during this time of year you like to keep the office candy jar stocked.

Either way, here’s your chance to save some money, entertain the office and keep Halloween spirits happy. Enter to win two full baskets of ready-to-eat holiday treats. Raffle tickets are 50 cents each or three for $1. Winners will be announced noon, Monday, Oct. 31.

Contact the following employees for tickets and information: Loraine Alexander, Tonya Alvis, Mary Baines, John O’Black, Mamie Ellis, Staci Garner, Cecillia Garza, Dorothy Roberts-Goff, Kathleen Henshaw, Ed Kelly, Rebecca Lopez, Ronda Lowe, Joe Morrow, Barry Rittman, Ph.D, Louise Stacey, Jan Woodward or Mattie Wyche.

Continue dental education

Learn more about "Precancers of the Mouth and Face and Idiopathic Facial Pain,” at 9 a.m., Friday, Oct. 28, presented by Jerry Bouquot, D.D.S., professor and chairman of Diagnostic Sciences, at the Marriott Westchase, 2900 Briarpark Drive. Registration is at 8:30 a.m.

Or attend a session on “Managing Risks in Today’s Practice,” 9 a.m., Friday, Oct. 28, presented by Boyd Shepherd, D.D.S., at the Dental Branch, Room B-14. 8:30 a.m.

Get more information at http://www.db.uth.tmc.edu/cont-ed.

The UTDBeflash is a weekly publication of The University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston. Please send items for consideration to dbnewsdesk@uth.tmc.edu.