Topics at a glance: UTDB alumnus named 2007 Texas Dentist of the Year … ASDA chapter, delegate win awards at annual session … Rosenthal-Eames' fund continues to grow; donations still needed … Remember: If the media call you, YOU call UT Media Relations … Taylor newspaper interviews DH professor about fluoride … SAVE THE DATE: Texas Mission of Mercy Nov. 2-3 … O'Neill co-authors letter published in 'American Journal of Public Health' … SAVE THE DATE: Faculty Honors Convocation set for Oct. 4 … Waiting for Humberto … Employee Relations Committee plans fall events; adds new members

UTDB alumnus Ron Collins named 2007 Texas Dentist of the Year

Ron Collins, DDS, has been named the 2007 Texas Dentist of the Year at a gala held during the Texas Academy of General Dentistry's annual Lone Star Dental Conference.

Collins, a 1971 graduate of the University of Texas Dental Branch in Houston, is a general dentist in Houston and has maintained a private practice for more than 35 years. He was nominated by the Greater Houston Dental Society (GHDS) and is a member of the International College of Dentists, Texas Dental Association, the Houston Academy of General Dentistry (HAGD), and other various dental organizations.

Collins received his Mastership with the AGD and Fellowship with the International College of Dentists. He is a guest lecturer for the UT Dental Branch and is on the Continuing Education Alliance of Greater Houston as an HAGD and GHDS representative.

Texas Dentist of the Year Ron Collins, DDS, with Dean Catherine Flaitz, DDS, at the Aug. 30 groundbreaking
of the new UT Research Park.

His passion for his work and dedication to community service have guided him to be involved in activities such as participating in mission trips to Africa and Mexico. Locally, he volunteers at the San Jose Dental Clinic, Give Kids a Smile Day and the Alief Community Health Fair. Collins also volunteered his dental services for Hurricane Katrina and Rita evacuees. From 2004-2006, Collins served as president of the University of Texas Dental Parents Association at the dental branch in Houston.

SAVE THE DATE: Texas Mission of Mercy Nov. 2-3

The 15th Texas Mission of Mercy will be held Nov. 2-3 at the San Jose Clinic's Spring Branch facility, 8575 Pitner Road in Houston. These missions provide oral health care to residents of the local community who otherwise cannot afford dental care. Volunteer professionals do extractions, fillings and cleanings, and tend to certain other dental procedures that can be appropriately done in a mission setting. The work excludes cosmetic dentistry or braces.

Although the Dental Branch will conduct a normal class and clinical schedule on Friday, Nov. 2, there is a great opportunity to assist on Saturday, Nov. 3. Come out and join others in the profession as we reach out to the Houston-area community. For information or to sign up, visit www.tdasf.org/houston.

Rosenthal-Eames' Fund for Patient Care growing;
UTDB Development Office accepting donations

As of Monday, Sept. 17, donations to The Mina Rosenthal-Eames Fund for Patient Care totaled $1800.01. The fund was established in memory of second-year dental student Mina Rosenthal-Eames, who died Aug. 20 as a result of domestic violence. The fund established in her name will provide dental care to women and children who have been victims of domestic violence.

To make a tax-deductible donation, contact John Greer (Ext. 4380) or Mary Sayles (Ext. 4386) in the UT Dental Branch Office of Development, Room B-28. Checks should be made out to "UT Health Science Center," with the memo line reading "Mina Rosenthal-Eames Fund." Credit card donations also will be accepted. The Rosenthal family will be appropriately notified of your gift.

View a card of thanks from Mina's family.

From left: UT Dental Branch alumni Lauren Bautsch Malitz, DDS; Jeran Hooten, DDS; Bob Mayhew, DDS; and Jerry Bautsch, DDS, have been skiing together and judging or driving the boat for tournaments for at least 15 years.

Alumni passionately pursue tournament water skiing

Wearing their "I know the drill/UTDB" T-shirts prepared by the Class of 2007, four UT Dental Branch alumni annually spend the warmer months of the year pursuing a major interest in tournament water skiing and the three events that make up the sport: slalom and trick skiing, and jumping over a 5- to 6-foot jump ramp.

Lauren Bautsch Malitz, DDS; her father, Jerry Bautsch, DDS; Jeran Hooten, DDS; and Bob Mayhew, DDS, have been skiing together and judging or driving the boat for tournaments for at least 15 years. They have collected a number of trophies for their skills on the water at the national, regional and collegiate level of the American Water Ski Association.

The competition is especially keen between Hooten and Mayhew, who ski in the same age division and compete in the trick

event. Malitz skis in all three events, and Bautsch concentrates on slalom and jump. He is also the chairman of the AWSA Drivers Committee.

Malitz now practices dentistry with her father in northeast Houston; Hooten has a very active orthodontic practice in the Austin area. Mayhew is director of the Advanced Education in General Dentistry/General Practice Residency programs at the UT Dental Branch.

ASDA chapter, delegate win awards at annual session

The UT Dental Branch Chapter of the American Student Dental Association won two awards at the recent annual meeting. The chapter won the "Ideal ASDA Chapter Award" for the best chapter organization, and student Ashley Teeple won an award as "Best Delegate of the District."

Remember:
If the media call you,
YOU call UT Media Relations

Dean Catherine Flaitz, DDS, reminds everyone that if you're contacted by the media seeking comment or information, the appropriate response is to refer the call to Natalie Wong Camarata, the UTHSC media relations specialist assigned to the Dental Branch. E-mail Natalie or call her at 832-325-7648. When she isn't available, call the Media Relations Hotline at 713-500-3030 for assistance.

O'Neill co-authors letter published
in 'American Journal of Public Health'

UT Dental Branch Associate Dean for Educational Research and Professional Development Paula O'Neill, EdD, has co-authored a letter published in the current issue of the American Journal of Public Health, calling attention to cuts in President Bush's proposed budget for 2008 that would eliminate funding for most Health Careers Opportunity Programs and minority Centers of Excellence, including the Hispanic Center of Excellence at the UT Dental Branch.

O'Neill and her co-author, Alvin H. Strelnick, MD, of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, are both members of the Advisory Board of the National Council for Diversity in Health Professions, a national group of medical and dental schools affiliated with the AAMC and the ADEA working to restore Title VII funding, and wrote the letter in response to a December 2006 article in the journal titled, "Addressing health care disparities and increasing workforce diversity: the next step for the dental, medical and public health professions."

      

SAVE THE DATE:
Faculty Honors Convocation set for Oct. 4

The 2007 Faculty Honors Convocation hosted by UTHSC President James T. Willerson, MD, will begin at 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4, in the Fayez S. Sarofim Research Building, Beth Robertson Auditorium, 1825 Pressler St. in Houston. For more information, contact Jennifer Adair at 713-500-3252.

Waiting for Humberto

UT Dental Branch Maintenance workers Mike Garcia (left) and Philip Tu install flood barriers at entrances to the basement of the dental branch the day before then-Tropical Storm Humberto was expected to make landfall in the Houston area. The storm took a more northerly path and moved inland over Beaumont. The flood barriers came into use after Tropical Storm Allison flooded the Texas Medical Center in 2001.

Employee Relations Committee plans fall events; adds new members

The Dental Branch Employee Relations Committee is planning the following activities for fall:

• Boss's Day Sale, Tuesday, Oct. 16: More information will be forthcoming.
• Halloween Bake Sale, Wednesday, Oct. 31, First Floor Lobby. Everything will be priced at 50 cents.
• Thanksgiving Raffle: Noon Friday, Nov. 16, First Floor Lobby. Drawing for two baskets. Popcorn and Soda Sale same day; everything 50 cents.

The DB Employee Relations Committee also welcomes new members Phlechette Turner, Scott Makins, Cynthia Santos, Mary Sayles and Nancy Bass.