Summer
Medical and Dental Education Program
For the second time The UT Health Science
Center at Houston is only one of 12 locations throughout
the United States to host the Summer Medical and Dental
Education Program sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation.
This year, 81 students from across the country have
descended on the campuses of the UT Dental Branch at
Houston and the UT Medical School at Houston to better
prepare themselves for admission into dental and medical
school. For six weeks they will take classes, shadow
practitioners and absorb the advice of guest speakers,
all for a chance to get a better feel for the careers
they think they want. Faculty from the Dental Branch
Veronique Delattre, D.D.S., Sudarat Kiat-Amnuay, D.D.S.,
Charles Streckfus, D.D.S., and Joe Ontiveros, D.D.S.,
are also speaking to the students to enhance their understanding
of the dental profession.
Out of the 81 students, 45 are from out of state. Individuals
from underrepresented populations and disadvantaged
backgrounds |
are
given preference in program participation. The Robert
Wood Johnson Foundation funded the program in 2005 at
$1.2 millionover four years, making the program free-of-charge
to all students.
The Dental Branch collaborates with co-applicant UT
Medical School on program management and oversight and
partners with San Jacinto College to assist with the
basic science curriculum over the four years of the
grant. The Association of American Medical Colleges
and the American Dental Education Association administer
the program, which seeks to create a more diverse medical
and dental workforce.
Paula O’Neill, Ed.D., associate dean for educational
research and professional development, serves as the
principal investigator on the grant. Phil Pierpont,
D.D.S., associate dean for student and alumni affairs,
and Andrew Harper, M.D., assistant dean for educational
programs at the Medical School, are project directors
of the program. Cynthia Santos, B.S.B., M.S.M., is coordinating
the program.
Summer Enrichment Program
Simultaneously the Dental Branch is hosting 15 students
in the annual Summer Enrichment Program, funded by the
UT Health Science Center and the Dental Branch Office
of Student Affairs, headed by Phil Pierpont, D.D.S.
The Summer Enrichment Program is also geared toward
assisting students from educationally or socio-economically
disadvantaged backgrounds. This program has a specific
focus on preparing students for the Dental School Environment
and the Dental Admissions Test. A complete course review
and opportunities to observe dental practitioners are
made available during the summer. Special thanks go
out to all faculty volunteers who participate in the
program. The students incur no program fees. |
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During a cultural competency lecture by nationally
known expert Tawara Goode, director of the National
Center for Cultural Competence at Georgetown University,
SMDEP students ponder over a variety of ethical questions
related to their “mock” dental or medical
practices. Photo by Erika E. Hargrove |
Legislative update on DB related items
Tuition Revenue Bonds
The Dental Branch received $9 million in debt service for
the tuition revenue bonds for the new dental school.
Salary increases
Unfortunately, the Legislature did not provide for an across-the-board
increase in employee salaries for institutions of higher education.
However, the Dental Branch 2007-08 fiscal year budget has
been completed and merit pools were established for faculty
and staff. Those employees who were awarded a merit raise
by their supervisors will see the increase on their Sept.16
paycheck.
Graduation coverage
The University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston celebrated
the 102nd commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 24.
Visit http://www.db.uth.tmc.edu/webnews/news_053107.htm
to read about the ceremony and view photos.
DB People: Cynthia Santos receives master's degree
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Cynthia Santos, coordinator of the
Summer Medical and Dental Education Program and the
Hispanic Center of Excellence, recently earned her master’s
of science in Management with a minor in Procurement
and Contract Management from the University of Maryland–University
College.
The degree will better equip Santos to project manage,
negotiate contracts, along with writing bids and proposals.
She will also receive her master’s of business
administration in December of 2008.
Santos joined the Dental Branch in January 2006 after
relocating from upstate New York. She said she hopes
to inspire others to work hard toward their desired
goals. “No matter what you may encounter in life,
if you remain focused and committed, you can achieve
anything,” she said.
Santos completed her degree part-time, while working
full-time and managing a family. |
Her
husband, Jorge, and her 3-year-old daughter, Isabel,
are her biggest fans. Santos’ office is located
in B-152. She can be reached at 713-500-4532. |
Changes in DB parking
Everyone parking in the J-Lot and JJ Lot, please be advised
of the information provided in the link below. You may need
to relocate parking areas. Visit: http://www.db.uth.tmc.edu/webnews/news_052507.htm.
NDA call for scientific posters
The National Dental Association (NDA) is accepting scientific
posters for the NDA Faculty and Student Scientific Research
Table Clinic competition, to take place at the annual NDA
convention.
Presenters are able to earn additional Continuing Education
credits during the convention, 10:45 .m.-1:15 p.m.,
Saturday, July 28. Interested individuals please
submit your name, topic and email address by Friday, June
15 to Dr. Andre Farquharson at afarquharson@howard.edu
and LaVette Henderson at lhenderson@ndaonline.org.
2007 Distinguished Professional Woman Award
The Committee on the Status of Women invites nominations,
due Friday, June 8, for the 2007 Distinguished
Professional Woman Award. Criteria include: recipient exemplifies
a professional woman; outstanding achiever in Houston, in
Texas and/or the nation; made significant contributions to
her profession; demonstrated a pioneering spirit; and supported
women as a mentor and positive role model. Nominations should
be sent to Kathy Rodgers at UCT 1718A. For more information
check the website at CSW
Awards.
Words of appreciation to the DB family
Dorothy Roberts-Goff, executive assistant in the Office of
Patient Care, expresses sincere gratitude to all members of
the Dental Branch family who took time to show measures of
support during the recent loss of her mother. From financial
contributions to hugs in the hallway, all signs of care and
concern are greatly appreciated.
Paravina lectures nationally
Rade D. Paravina, D.D.S., Ph.D., assistant professor of Restorative
Dentistry and Biomaterials, represented the Dental Branch
this spring by giving 10 one-day CE courses in five weeks
in five different states around the country. The course was
titled, “Mastering Color Matching -- A Novel Approach
to Advanced Esthetics.” For more information about Paravina's
tour visit http://www.vident.com/assets/downloads_cloak/Mastering_Color_Paravina.pdf.
Paravina is the inventor of a new dental product just hitting
the American market—the VITA Bleachedguide 3-D Master.
It is the first and only shade guide designed for the evolution
of tooth bleaching. The product is derived from the Vitapan
3-D Master.
For more information on Paravina’s new product visit
… http://www.db.uth.tmc.edu/UTDB_eflash/archive/2007/041907_UTDB_eflash.htm.
Child of DB employee wins UCSC scholarship
Adelina Solis, daughter of Dina Montufar-Solis, senior research
associate in Diagnostic Sciences, was awarded a scholarship
from the University Classified Staff Council.
Solis, a graduate of the High School for the Performing
and Visual Arts plans to attend Scripps College in Claremont
California.
UTDEflash summer schedule
For the summer months the UTDBeflash will be published twice
each month instead of weekly. The additional week in between
issues will allow for larger and more newsworthy issues, less
often. The regular schedule for eflash will resume at the
start of the fall semester. |
