From: Durham, Erika
Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2005 4:49 PM
Subject: UTDB eflash (weekly edition) -- Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

DB faculty earn Student Research Training Award

Mark Wong, D.D.S., associate professor and chairman of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, along with Karen Storthz, Ph.D., associate dean for Research are co-investigators on a recently funded Student Research Training Award for $12,500 from the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Foundation. The award will fund summer research stipends for five D.D.S. students working in research related to oral and maxillofacial surgery. Thank you, Drs. Wong and Storthz, for your efforts on this grant.

Storthz wins Committee on the Status of Women Mentor Award

Karen Storthz, Ph.D., associate dean for Research, was honored by the Committee on the Status of Women at a banquet last Wednesday as the administrative and professional recipient of the President’s Award for Mentoring Women. Laura Warner, research coordinator II, introduced Storthz to the crowd of more than 400 people, while describing her mentoring style:

“Dr. Storthz doesn’t intimidate you or belittle you; she shows respect for everyone with whom she works and can perform magic that makes you want to do your best.”

In receiving her honor, Storthz described her favorite cartoon from the New Yorker. Two horses are talking and one says to the other, “You know only you can make yourself giddyup.” Storthz said that she tries to instill the giddyup mentality in her protégés. She added that the most important ingredient in her mentoring formula is humor. She quoted the virtuoso pianist, conductor, and comic Victor Borge: “Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.”

DB students win national Hispanic Dental Association awards

Senior dental hygiene students Cheryl Josserme and Ruben Cantu have won the national Hispanic Dental Association-Dr. Juan D. Villarreal Foundation Scholarships. Josserme was awarded first place, and Ruben was the second-place recipient. Only three scholarships were awarded to dental hygiene students throughout the nation. These scholarships were awarded for community service and academic achievements.

Third-year dental student Valerie Santiago-Doyle was the second-place recipient of the Dr. Juan D. Villarreal Foundation Scholarship. This award was given to four dental students throughout the nation and also was based on community service and academic achievements.

Margo Melchor-Rodriguez, Hispanic Student Dental Advisor, said she is extremely proud of these students and the student representation for the Dental Branch and School of Dental Hygiene.

A “Dickens” of a celebration

The Dental Branch holiday celebration and centennial finale is Thursday! Are you ready? Get your Victorian garb together and dump that Scrooge attitude.

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.

UTDB holiday formal

After enjoying the in-house holiday celebration, attend the unofficial “after-party” — the UTDB Holiday Formal will take place at 8 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 15, at the Renaissance Hotel, Greenway Plaza.

There will be a finger food buffet and beer. The cost is $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Purchase tickets from dental class officers or e-mail Victoria.L.Leonhart@uth.tmc.edu.

Newly equipped for research

The Nucelofector II Device, which the Dental Branch has purchased using a research gift account, has arrived. This device allows the efficient transfer of small molecules such as genes and proteins into cells with a high efficiency and with minimal cell death from the procedure. The ability to introduce such molecules into cells is an essential tool in studying gene and protein function.

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.