Topics at a glance: $1 million donation largest in UT Dental Branch history … Trevino wins AAWD Colgate Research Award … DH students reach kids at Willowbrook Mall … DH Class of ’07: 100 percent pass rate on national boards

$1 million donation
largest in UT Dental Branch history
Gift dedicated to orthodontics professor A.P. Westfall

Orthodontist R.G. "Wick" Alexander, D.D.S., M.S.D. of Arlington has given The University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston the largest philanthropic gift in its 102-year history, contributing $1 million toward the construction of a new dental school building in the Texas Medical Center's South Campus.

In making the donation Monday, Aug. 27, Alexander dedicated it to the memory of Dr. A. P. Westfall, the founder of the Orthodontics program at the UT Dental Branch.

"With five orthodontists in the Alexander family, it is appropriate to give thanks to this wonderful specialty for the influence it has had in our lives and consequently thousands of our patients," said Alexander. "Since it all started with Dr. Westfall, we humbly dedicate this clinic to his memory. May his inspiration permeate through these walls to all future generations."

R.G. “Wick” Alexander, D.D.S., M.S.D.

Alexander is a 1962 graduate of the UT Dental Branch who returned for a master of science degree and orthodontic certification in 1964. Other orthodontists in his family include his sons, Charles Dean Alexander, D.D.S., and James Moody Alexander, D.D.S.; a brother, C. Moody Alexander, D.D.S., and a nephew, J. Clifton Alexander, D.D.S.

In his 42-year practice, Wick Alexander has treated more than 14,000 patients and is widely known as the designer of the Alexander Vari-Simplex Discipline, a type of orthodontic appliance used by orthodontists around the world. He also owns Ortho-Graphics Inc., a publishing company that distributes patient education material to orthodontists.

Alexander and his wife, Janna, have three children, including the two dentist sons and a daughter, Shanna Alexander Argote of Costa Rica.

The new dental school is expected to cost approximately $90 million. A combined commitment of $60 million from state Tuition Revenue Bonds and $18 million in UT System Permanent University Funds already is in hand. The remainder is being solicited from foundations and private individuals in the “Open to Health” fund-raising initiative.

The new dental school is part of a larger project, the construction of the new, $161.5 million UT Research Park Complex on the South Campus of the Texas Medical Center off Old Spanish Trail. Other new facilities to be constructed include the Biomedical Research and Education Facility and the Neuroscience Building.

For more information about the Open to Health initiative, contact UT Dental Branch Development Director John Greer at 713-500-4380 or John.T.Greer@uth.tmc.edu.

Trevino wins AAWD Colgate Research Award

Fourth-year D.D.S. student Lisa Trevino of Houston is among 11 students nationwide chosen to receive 2007 Colgate Research Awards from the American Association of Women Dentists. Each year, AAWD awards scholarships to Junior and/or Senior dental students who have shown academic distinction and demonstrated excellence in research.

Trevino worked on a summer research project in the laboratory of Brad Armedt, Ph.D. at the Texas A&M Health Science Center’s Institute of Biosciences and Technology. The project was titled, "Involvement of PITX2A and LEF-1 Interaction in Axenfeld-Rieger Syndrome." It was presented at the 2006 meeting of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry in Cincinnati as one of three nationwide finalists in student research. It also won second place at the 2007 Star of the South Dental meeting in the dental student category. In all, the research was presented at five dental research venues.

Lisa Trevino

Karen Adler Storthz, Ph.D., associate dean for research and professor in the Department of Diagnostic Sciences, nominated Trevino for the award, which includes a $500 cash prize.

Something to smile about

UT Dental Branch Dean Catherine Flaitz, D.D.S. shares a happy moment with UTHSC-H President James T. Willerson, M.D. (center) and Stephen F. Schwartz, D.D.S., chair of the Dental Branch’s Open to Health fund-raising initiative, at the Aug. 30 groundbreaking of the new UT Research Park. For full coverage of the event, visit www.uthouston.edu.

More photos of groundbreaking ceremony

DH students reach kids at Willowbrook Mall

UT Dental Branch hygiene students participated in a Back-to-School event hosted July 14 by Walmart and Big Brothers/Big Sisters in the Willowbrook area of FM 1960. More than 500 children and their siblings received backpacks and school supplies, as well health screenings and information. The hygiene students screened and referred the children (and some parents, too) for dental disease, gave them toothbrushes, floss, toothpaste and oral hygiene instructions.

Faculty and students who participated were Tony Medick, Katrina Knox, Donna Warren Morris, Nguyet Toliao, Phoung Tran, Tessa Nolen, Becky Lai, Melissa Alvarez and Houng Nguyen. Navid Malik, a second-year dental student, also participated, as did volunteers Sherry Medik, Caitlyn Warren and Aydean Abboud. Guest appearances from the Tooth Fairy, “Mindy Molar” and the Chick-Fil-A Cow made it fun for all.

UT Dental Hygiene students at the Willowbrook Back-to-School event were (from left) Tony Medick, Sherry Medick, Donna Morris, Nguyet Toliao, Phoung Tran, Tessa Nolen, Becky Lai and Melissa Alvarez.