From: Durham, Erika
Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2005 5:29 PM
Subject: UTDB eflash (weekly edition) -- Wednesday, December 07, 2005


Wednesday, December 07, 2005

 

Welcome to the Family:
James Katancik, D.D.S., Ph.D., new chair of the department of Periodontics has arrived

James Katancik, D.D.S., Ph.D. has been named the new chair in the Department of Periodontics at the Dental Branch.

Formerly, Katancik served at The University of Tennessee Department of Periodontology for seven years and as program director of the Postgraduate Periodontics program during the last two years. He said he became interested in the Dental Branch after meeting Karen Storhtz, Ph.D., associate dean for Research, and being further encouraged by Catherine M. Flaitz, D.D.S., dean of the Dental Branch.

Katancik said he looks forward to working in a school that has such strong clinical and research opportunities and possibilities. Katancik’s research focuses primarily on diabetes and systemic diseases and how they relate to periodontal disease.

He received his dental degree from Emory University in Atlanta in 1984. He completed a general practice residency in Boston at the Harvard Medical Center and received his Ph.D. in oral biology and certificate in periodontology from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1998.

Katancik said he is focused on improving the department curriculum for the benefit of the dental students and fostering collaborative research efforts with other entities in the Texas Medical Center.

When not working, Katancik says he enjoys wood working, although “my wife is still waiting for me to finish something.” He also enjoys running, swimming and biking. Katanick and his wife, Cindy, have three children, Molly, 17; Zachary, 11; and Michael, 9.


Holiday happenings: Students celebrate in purposeful ways

First endowed Dental Hygiene scholarship awarded

The School of Dental Hygiene awarded its first scholarship from an endowment established by the class of 2003, during the school’s holiday celebration, Dec. 2.

Mara Crowe, Kim Galub and Veronica Westbrook, class of 2003, (standing) are pictured with scholarship winner Cheryl Josserme, (left) and Nina Infante, director of the School of Dental Hygiene.

Crowe, Galub and Westbrook said that their class raised $10,000 from a golf tournament while in school and decided to forego an elaborate annual celebration so that they could establish the fund. They all say they are pleased such a deserving student will received the $500 gift.

AASDA conducts raffle to support activities

Dental Branch Dean Catherine Flaitz, D.D.S. served as the special guest for the Asian American Dental Student Association. A raffle was held to raise funds for the organization. The winners and their prizes are as follows:


Dodgeball for LSU dental school

A dodgeball tournament Nov. 12 at the UT Recreation Center raised $500 for hurricane relief for Louisiana State University dental students. The tournament was sponsored by the UTDB chapter of the American Student Dental Association as part of a multi-faceted effort to raise funds. Congrats to the winning team pictured above: standing, Jared Abramian, Scott Upchurch, Martin Youngs; kneeling, Christina Moino and Niki Benamoz.


UTDB talent show coming soon

Jump starting 2006 with a little twist, the Dental Branch is hosting a new talent show!!

All students, faculty and staff who can dance, act, sing, tell a few jokes or (whatever you consider talent), are invited to participate in the free event.

Contact talent coordinator Russell John.R.McFarlane@uth.tmc.edu to be a part of the show.

The show will be at 6:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 27, Room 207, with a possible encore matinee at 2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 28, Room 207. Dress rehearsal is 6 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 26.


Travel scholarship awarded to DB student

Congratulations to Lisa Trevino, a second-year dental student, for being awarded a $500 travel scholarship from the Committee on the Status of Women. Trevino will present her poster, “Defective Protein Interaction Between PITX2A and LEF-1 as a Molecular Basis for Axenfeld-Reiger Syndrome,” at the American Association of Dental Research meeting in Orlando in March 2006.


A “Dickens” of a celebration

The Dental Branch centennial holiday celebration is next week! Are you ready? Get your Victorian garb together and dump that Scrooge attitude … There won’t be another celebration quite like this one.

Join the fun 3-6 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 15, in the Dental Branch lobby. Tasty treats and holiday sounds will be all around.

In addition, the Employee Relations Committee will host a department decorating contest and “dickens” attire contest starting at 10 a.m. that morning.

To enter either or both contests notify Tonya.K.Alvis@uth.tmc.edu or (713) 500-4086.


DB in the news

The dedication of the Frederick C. Elliott, D.D.S., Avenue is featured in the December issue of Distinctions. Pick up your copy at your closest newsstand or visit http://publicaffairs.uth.tmc.edu/distinctions/archive/2005/December/street.html.

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.