Topics at a glance: Dental Branch researcher honored at UTHSC’s Young Investigators Luncheon … DH students teach third-graders about oral hygiene … Just sing out: Amateur carolers sought for holiday party … Second Annual Holiday Sale set for Dec. 6 at UTDB … UTDB chapter of ASDA sponsors needy children for the holidays

Dental Branch researcher honored at UTHSC’s Young Investigators Luncheon

Microbiologist Gena Tribble, Ph.D., was one of 11 honorees at The University of Texas Health Science Center’s Third Annual Young Investigators Luncheon Nov. 16 at The UT Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine.

Tribble is an assistant professor of periodontics at the UT Dental Branch and was nominated for the Young Investigators honor by Dean Catherine Flaitz, D.D.S., and James Katancik, D.D.S., Ph.D., chairman of the Department of Periodontics.

After earning a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology at East Carolina University School of Medicine, Tribble had postdoctoral training in DNA biochemistry at The University of Texas at Austin and was a research assistant professor of oral biology at The University of Florida School of Dentistry. Since joining the UTDB staff in August, she has been teaching microbiology and continuing her NIH-funded research on Porphyromonas gingivalis and other bacteria known to cause periodontal disease – a condition estimated to affect up to 90 percent of the world’s population. Periodontal disease causes puffy, bleeding gums, abscesses, bone loss and tooth loss. read more

DH students teach Spring third-graders about oral hygiene

Dental hygiene students from the UT Dental Branch traveled to Spring recently to teach third-graders about oral hygiene. Pictured from left are Kim Le, Allison Brown, Raha Naderi, Liliana Galvan, Tina Nadolski, Kourtney Brunson, Katy Lyon and Chelsea Read.

Students in the Dental Hygiene program at the UT Dental Branch traveled to Joan Link Elementary School in Spring Nov. 9 to talk about oral hygiene with third-graders.

The dental hygiene students, including Tina Nadolski, Katy Lyon, Chelsea Read, Lily Galvan, Alicia Harrison, Alison Brown, Kourtney Brunson, Kim Le and Raha Naderi, presented a skit featuring a narrator, a little girl, a molar tooth, a scientist, a hygienist, a dentist and chefs, then later demonstrated flossing on a grand scale by using a rope to pass between dental hygiene students acting as teeth.

The program featured information about good and bad foods, the plaque formula and the importance of brushing teeth twice a day. After the skit, the children took a quiz to see how much they learned. In smaller groups, the children were given toothbrushes and shown the proper way to brush. The third-graders already had an impressive amount of knowledge about keeping their teeth clean, but they expressed their

gratitude by preparing a big thank-you card and a big tooth poster with the children’s signatures on it.

Just sing out:

If you would like to participate in caroling at the Dental Branch’s annual holiday party Wednesday, Dec. 19, contact Brenda Bethea at Ext. 4420. Some practice would be required, probably once a week at lunchtime, depending on how many people are interested in singing. This year, the holiday party has been named “International Winter Fest 2007” and is scheduled for 2-4 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 19 in the First Floor Lobby at the Dental Branch. Each department is invited to bring a dessert representing a country of their choice.

Second Annual Holiday Sale
set for Dec. 6 at UTDB

More than 20 vendors have signed up to sell food, holiday gifts, crafts and more at the Second Annual Holiday Sale, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 6, in the basement. The event is sponsored by the Dental Branch’s Employee Relations Committee. Complimentary gift wrapping will be available. A drawing for prizes will be held at 3 p.m.; you need not be present to win. The vendors will accept cash, checks, Mastercard or Visa. For more information, call 713-500-4191.

UTDB chapter of ASDA sponsors needy children for the holidays

For the holidays, the UTDB chapter of the American Student Dental Association will sponsor 75 children in need at the DePelchin Children's Center. DePelchin has provided a "wish list" of things the children would love to receive from Santa. To sponsor a child, choose an ornament off the Holiday Tree in the Student Lounge. The ornament will contain their name, age and a list of items. Here are the instructions:

• Gifts should be new and unwrapped. We accept gift bags, wrapping paper/rolls.
• Include three items from the child’s wish list (maximum value $100).
• Label all gifts with the child’s name, age, and code (the code can be found on the back of the ornament). The simplest way is just to return the ornament with your gifts.
• Include a copy of the store receipt. (DePelchin needs this info)
• Return these gifts to an ASDA representative by Monday, Dec. 10, and we will deliver the gifts.
• Register on the sign-in sheet by the tree.

Please keep in mind that it is not necessary to spend $100 on your sponsored child. Students on a tight budget may want to participate by sharing the gift with a friend and splitting the cost. For more information, contact Eric Braunlin at Eric.T.Braunlin@uth.tmc.edu.