From: Durham, Erika
Sent: Wednesday, December 21, 2005 3:58 PM
Subject: UTDB eflash (weekly edition) -- Wednesday, December 21, 2005

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

All decked out for a Dickens Celebration of Dentistry!

Dental Branch staff pose with Dean Catherine Flaitz, D.D.S., (top row, center) at the Dickens Celebration of Dentistry holiday affair, the finale of the centennial year. Costume contest winners pictured were: Best Dressed Female Rebecca Lopez, senior executive assistant (bottom row, second from the right); Second place: Mamie Ellis, senior staff assistant (bottom row, far right); and third place: Sandra Miller, senior executive assistant, (bottom row, far left).

John Ludington, D.D.S., associate professor and chairman of Endodontics, (left) and Scott Makins, D.D.S., clinical assistant professor of Endodontics, (right) who won Best Dressed Male, escorted Dean Catherine M. Flaitz, D.D.S., to the festivities.

The Dental Branch became a vision of the Victorian era on Dec. 15, as faculty and staff celebrated the close of the centennial year with a Dickens-themed holiday party.

Party-goers, many decked out in full Victorian attire, munched on delicious hors d'oeuvres and listened to carolers from the University of Houston Moores School of Music.

Many thanks go to Staci Garner, John O’Black, Ronda Lowe and Kathleen Kuznicki, members of the celebration planning committee. The Employee Relations Committee, along with the Dean’s Office, sponsored the event.

In addition to the costume contest, a department decorating contest was also conducted by the Employee Relations Committee. First place, Restorative Dentistry; Second place, Radiology; and Third place, Educational and Facilities Support Services.

The Instructional Media Team, Darrell Gonzalez, Brian Schnupp and director, John O’Black, were responsible for the detailed lobby decorations that reflected the time period.

Catherine M. Flaitz, D.D.S., dean of the Dental Branch, welcomed everyone to the celebration, reminding them that it was most appropriate to end the centennial year where it began on Jan. 3 — at home with the Dental Branch family.

View the DB homepage at http://www.db.uth.tmc.edu/Centennial/cent_review.htm for a look back at the centennial year.

Danforth named Employee of the Year

Reva Danforth, support specialist in the Advanced Education Program in General Dentistry (AEGD), was named Employee of the Year by the Employee Relations Committee on Dec. 15 during the Dickens holiday celebration.

Danforth received a certificate for her accomplishment, along with $200.

Danforth said she is honored, yet humbled, by the award and feels that she is undeserving “because hard work is all I know,” she said. “However, I am truly appreciative of the recognition and the award.”

Danforth has worked in the AEGD for 10 years and has worked at the Dental Branch for 19. Congratulations, Ms. Danforth, on a job well done!

DB faculty now head of international health organization

John Helfrick, D.D.S., clinical professor in the department of Oral Surgery and a former chair of the department, has recently been elected president of the International Society of Quality in Health Care.

Helfrick is a senior consultant with Harvard Medical International, and is working with health care organizations all over the world in the areas of quality improvement and patient safety. Helfrick is a past president of the International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and serves as the association’s executive director.

In addition, Helfrick has held appointments as a clinical professor of Surgery at the UT Medical School and at Baylor College of Medicine. From 1985 to 1997 he was director of the UT Health Science Center Cleft Palate/Craniofacial Deformity Team. Congratulations, Dr. Helfrick, on this career accomplishment.

Nominate a Dental Branch leader

Nominations for the new Michael J. Jimenez Leadership in Action Award, which includes a $5,000 cash prize, are due by Wednesday, Jan. 4.

Faculty and staff are urged to nominate a deserving colleague for the award, honoring the memory of the late Mike Jimenez, former vice president and chief human resources officer.

Faculty, A&P staff, and classified staff who have demonstrated several specific leadership traits are eligible. For more information about nominations, visit http://www.uthouston.edu/worklife/jimenez-leadership.html.

ADEA membership

The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) announced today that it will move to a new system of membership on Jan. 1, 2006. In its new “Open …Wider” campaign ADEA will offer free membership to every member of the faculty, staff and student body at ADEA member institutions — including The University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston.

“This exceptional opportunity makes our institutional membership in ADEA even more valuable,” said Catherine M. Flaitz, D.D.S., dean of the UT Dental Branch. “It is a superior way for us to provide more personal and professional development opportunities to our faculty, staff and students.”

Beginning Jan. 1, those interested in joining ADEA activate their memberships online at http://www.adea.org. For questions contact Sheila.H.Koh@uth.tmc.edu, associate professor in Restorative Dentistry.

Get payroll tax documents on time!

Verify the address on your current pay stub. W2s will be mailed to that address by Tuesday, Jan. 31. If your address is not correct, inform your departmental contact person or e-mail sdr@uth.tmc.edu to avoid delays of important payroll tax documents.

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.