From: Durham, Erika
Sent: Wednesday, November 2, 2005 3:30 PM
Subject: UTDB eflash (weekly edition) -- Wednesday, November 2, 2005

Wednesday, November 2, 2005

Class of 2007 celebrates high exam scores

The UTDB class of 2007 celebrated their outstanding scores on the National Board Dental Examination Part I, Oct. 29, with a lasagna luncheon. 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.

During the luncheon the class honored Jay Ferguson, D.D.S., associate professor in Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials, their review course director, with a signed certificate, shown below.

“I am so proud and pleased for what our students have accomplished,” Ferguson said. “This class has shown tremendous growth in pre-clinic, clinical and didactic course work. They have exceeded my wildest expectations. I am assured that they will be wonderful leaders in dentistry.”

For more information on the class of 2007 visit their Web site at http://www.db.uth.tmc.edu/student-web/2007/.

Dental Branch faculty honored at convocation
The following Dental Branch faculty members were honored during last evening’s 2005 Faculty Honors Convocation:

International or National Honors

Kenneth Abramovitch, D.D.S., associate professor, Diagnostic Sciences; elected president, American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology

Rena D’Souza, D.D.S., Ph.D., professor, Orthodontics, Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award, American Association of Dental Research National Student Research Group

Catherine M. Flaitz, D.D.S., dean and professor, Diagnostic Sciences, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Foundation Research Award

Harold Henson, assistant professor, Periodontics; elected president, The National Dental Hygiene Honor Society, Supreme Chapter

Sheila Koh, D.D.S., associate professor, Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials; elected fellow of International College of Dentists and Delta Sigma Delta Dental Fraternity

Scott Roger Makins, D.D.S., clinical assistant professor, Endodontics; elected fellow of International College of Dentists

Leticia F. Perezous, D.D.S., assistant professor, Prosthodontics, John J. Sharry Research Award, American College of Prosthodontics

Hugh Philip Pierpont, D.D.S., associate dean for student and alumni affairs; elected president, American Academy of Fixed Prosothdontics

2005 Outstanding Teaching Award winners

John H. Freeman Award — Barry Rittman, Ph.D., senior instructor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.

John P. McGovern Award — Gary Frey, D.D.S., clinical assistant professor of Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials.

Lorna J. Bruning Award from the School of Dental Hygiene — Amy Murphy, clinical assistant professor of Periodontics.

Promotions and tenure

Nadarajah Vigneswaran, B.D.S., D.M.D., associate professor, Diagnostic Sciences, awarded tenure.

James W. Wilson, D.D.S., promotion to associate professor, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

Mark E. K. Wong, B.D.S., associate professor and chairman, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, awarded tenure.

Appointment to endowed position

Catherine M. Flaitz, D.D.S., dean of the Dental Branch, is adorned with a medallion to honor her appointment to the William N. Finnegan, III, Professorship in Dental Sciences. Ms. Mary Ellen Finnegan, the widow of Mr. Finnegan (left) and James T. Willerson, M.D. president of the health science center participated in Flaitz’s honoring.

DB professor emeritus organizes successful conference

William T. Butler, Ph.D., professor emeritus at the UT Dental Branch, served as the co-organizer of a highly successful Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on “Small Integrin-Binding Proteins,” Sept. 11-16 in Montana.

Butler began hosting these conferences as smaller workshops on Osteopontin, a protein found in bone, in 1989. With time and hard work, the small workshops have grown to be included as part of the GRC with approximately 100 people in attendance.

Due to this year’s success and favorable participant feedback, Butler has been invited to host the next scheduled conference. Congratulations, Dr. Butler!

DB in the news

Check out The University of Texas Dental Branch in the Health Science Center headlines. Tuesday’s edition of The Leader Update showcases the Dental Branch’s involvement in this year’s Heart Walk at http://publicaffairs.uth.tmc.edu/leaderupdate/index.asp.

Page 2 of the November Distinctions features a story about Dean Flaitz’s receiving the Texas Dentist of the Year award, along with a photo of her and her husband John Hicks, Ph.D., D.D.S. The same issue reports on the UTDB Alumni Association Centennial Tribute Dinner. In the center insert, Chunlin Qin, D.D.S., Ph.D., assistant professor of endodontics, is featured as an outstanding young investigator. Check your local news stand or visit http://publicaffairs.uth.tmc.edu/distinctions/index.html.

DB retiree honored for service

James T. Willerson, M.D., president of the health science center, and Max O. Hutchins, Ph.D., take a break from at the retiree reception.

Max O. Hutchins, Ph.D., was honored during the October retiree reception for 40 years of service with the UT Health Science Center at Houston, most of those years spent at the UT Dental Branch. At the time of his retirement Hutchins served in the Integrated Biology and Pharmacology Department at the Medical School.

Save the date: Graduation

The 2006 Dental Branch graduation ceremony will be 6-8 p.m., Friday, May 19, at the Cullen Performance Hall at the University of Houston central campus. Mark your calendars.

The UTDBeflash is a weekly publication of The University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston. We want to hear from you! Submit items for consideration to dbnewsdesk@uth.tmc.edu.

The UTDBeflash is a weekly publication of The University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston. We want to hear from you! Submit items for consideration to dbnewsdesk@uth.tmc.edu.