Welcome Dr. Salama and thank you Dr. Wild

Fouad Salama, B.D.S.		Fouad Salama, B.D.S., from the University of Nebraska, has been named the chairman of the department of Pediatric Dentistry and has just recently arrived in Houston. One of Salama’s main goals is to evaluate and assess all current activities of the department to determine how to keep, emphasize and pursue excellence in education of students and pediatric dentistry residents. He also wants to keep his department well-informed about the new developments and opportunities to promote individual accountability and create a culture that builds employee loyalty and satisfaction. Salama previously worked for the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry as the director of Postgraduate Pediatric Dentistry. While there, he increased the number of residents, added to the curriculum for resident training, supervised research projects and increased the clinic revenue through an increase in the patient population.
He is a graduate of Cairo University School of Dentistry and also completed a master of science degree in Oral Biology and a certificate of Pediatric Dentistry from the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry.  “I feel that this is a perfect environment, which will allow me to serve children and the pediatric dentistry community the best.  I could also see that the level of energy and achievement at the Dental Branch was very high. I feel this school is poised to become one of the best schools in the U.S. and a world-class center by supporting dental education and services. Finally, I saw how the university and Dental Branch embrace the richness of diversity to build unity,” he said. Salama will be replacing Thomas Wild, D.D.S., interim chair of Pediatric Dentistry, who stepped into this leadership role for a second time when he was most needed. For the past year Wild played an essential role in mentoring new faculty and maintaining the high quality of both the undergraduate and post graduate programs. We warmly welcome Dr. Salama and extend our gratitude to Dr. Wild for his selfless dedication to the Dental Branch

OMS faculty member honored with career development award

Kamal Busaidy, D.D.S., clinical assistant professor in the department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, has received a Faculty Educator Development Award (FEDA) from the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Foundation of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.  The FEDA is a career development award for junior OMS faculty who demonstrate an ability and intention to make a significant contribution to the profession in terms of education, research and leadership. Only four such honors are made annually in this nation-wide competitive award.
“This is a great honor for me personally, and for the department and the school as a whole,” Busaidy said. “In addition to recognizing me, this award demonstrates that The University of Texas Dental Branch and the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery have what it takes to encourage, support and propel junior faculty to the forefront of their chosen specialty.”

Dean attends national meeting on improving oral health

Dental Branch Dean Catherine M. Flaitz, D.D.S., was among a select number of oral health leaders chosen to attend a forum to discuss the improvement of oral health through collaborations with key community health agencies during the American Dental Education Association-Maternal Child Health Bureau Head Start Forum, Friday, June 23.

“The advantages of being invited to this meeting are widespread,” Flaitz said. “It was an excellent opportunity for oral health leaders to meet with leaders in maternal and child health, so that we can expand the angles from which we look at solving the problems. We all know the problems — lack of access to care, awareness and financial ability. But this meeting opened a dialogue in which we could really focus on ways to improve oral health education, prevention, and clinical services to this special group of children by partnering with dental and dental hygiene institutions. ”

For information on the Maternal Child Health Bureau visit http://mchb.hrsa.gov/. For information on the American Dental Education Association visit http://www.adea.org/.

Hooked on Hookah

Dental Branch students Elizabeth Lee and Valeri Cavazos were featured as part of a Channel 11 news report on a new trend — smoking Hookah — which has become a part of the recreational scene enjoyed by some teens and young adults in Houston. The students talked about the effects of smoking Hookah. Visit  http://www.khou.com/news/health/stories/khou060516_ac_hookah.499770e0.html to view the news report.

Let’s fight hunger

The UT Houston Food Drive is in full swing – with Dental Branch faculty, staff and students contributing to feed Houston's hungry through donations to the Houston Food Bank. Donate to this important cause and your generosity will give you a chance to win great prizes.    

For every five food items or $5 given, you will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win an iPod, digital camera or gift basket. The food drive, part of the Channel 11 Spirit of Texas annual effort will take place until Tuesday, July 11.

Drop off food donations with John O’Black, director of Instructional Media, in Room 161A. Or you may donate cash or checks (made out to the Houston Food Bank) through your food drive coordinator or the online drive at https://secure.houstonfoodbank.org/spiritoftexas/. Basic information on the food drive is http://www.uthouston.edu/community/fooddrive/.