Topics at a glance: TONTINE CEREMONY: Investment plan still pays interest . to UTDB … Dental Prom 2008: Celebrating the end of another successful year … Save the date: 5th Annual Wellness Fair … 5 UTDB graduates on TAGD 2008-2009 Board of Directors … Learn about UT Retirement Programs at Brown Bag Session … Seidner Student Scholarship awarded to UTDB students … Dr. Francisco Cigarroa appointed UT System chancellor

TONTINE CEREMONY: Investment plan still pays interest . to UTDB

The UTDB Alumni Founder's Fund Brunch and Tontine Ceremony was held Jan. 10 at the Dental Branch. Pictured (front from left) are Les Fullerton, D.D.S.; Tricia Fullerton; Ed Wong, D.D.S.; Emily Wong, Donna Hawkins, Anne Goldsmith, Lil Sorrels and Andy Doerfler, D.D.S. (Back row from left) Jerry Cremer, D.D.S.; Sara and Bill Clitheroe, D.D.S.; Liz Hunsaker, D.D.S.; Sue Ellen Richardson, D.D.S.; Darrell Hawkins, D.D.S.; Phil Pierpont, D.D.S.; Brooks Goldsmith, D.D.S.; Larry Svetlik, D.D.S., Mit Sorrels, D.D.S., Carolyn Svetlik, Bob English, D.D.S., Ken Jones, D.D.S., and Mary Doerfler.

An endowment fund that mimics a 17th century investment scheme helps to serve the growing needs of the University of Texas Dental Branch. Established in 1986 by donors from the UTDB Alumni Association, the $500,000 University of Texas Dental Branch Alumni Endowment Fund is commonly called the Founders Fund because of the 100 original founders. All interest earned on the endowment goes toward the good of the school, including faculty development, scholarships, student research, student recruitment and more. The founders of the endowment have been meeting annually at the Founders Tontine Dinner, but this year they opted for a brunch instead, gathering Jan. 10 at the Dental Branch. READ MORE.

Dental Prom King and Queen Kyle Aaron and Helen Martinez enjoy a victory dance at Trevisio.

Dental Prom 2008:
Celebrating the end
of another successful year

By Tiffany Tredway-Ransom

It's hard to believe another year has gone by. The Class of 2009 will soon be graduating and the Class of 2012 is halfway through their first year of dental school. What better way to celebrate these milestones than with an end-of-the-year party otherwise known as the infamous annual Dental Prom. This year was no different, as students and faculty came out Dec. 18 to celebrate the end of another successful semester at the Dental Branch. The Student Council hosted the event at Trevisio, next door to the Dental Branch. It was a night of fun with drinks and hors d'oeuvres provided. Attendees came decked out in their prom attire (semi-formal) and enjoyed an evening of socializing and relaxing with fellow classmates and professors. READ MORE

Save the date: 5th Annual Wellness Fair

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston will hold its Fifth Annual Wellness Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 28 in the UT Medical School Leather Lounge. The wellness fair is open to all students, faculty, and staff of the health science center and offers a variety of health-related information and activities, including blood pressure checks, bone density and vision screenings, as well as chair massages and door prizes.

5 UTDB graduates on TAGD 2008-2009 Board of Directors

Five graduates of the UT Dental Branch at Houston are among the 2008-09 board members for the Texas Academy of General Dentistry. They include:

• Ron Theiss, D.D.S., ('87) Nacogdoches - President
• Dan McCauley, D.D.S., ('77) Mount Pleasant - President Elect
• Craig Armstrong, D.D.S., ('89) Houston - Director
• Gary Jennings, D.D.S., ('82) Houston - Director
• Douglas Bogan, D.D.S., ('73) Houston - Regional Director

The Texas Academy of General Dentistry is the second largest dental organization in Texas. Its nearly 2,400 members are dedicated to continuing dental education in general practice. Formed in 1961, TAGD is a constituent of the national Academy of General Dentistry and has 14 local components throughout Texas.

Learn about UT Retirement Programs at Brown Bag Session

The University Classified Staff Council Staff Development Committee invites you to a Brown Bag Session entitled "UT Retirement Programs" at noon Monday, Jan. 26 in Room 3.001 of the Medical School Building. The speaker will be Faye Godwin, manager of retirement programs for the UT System. She will provide a summary of the programs and will answer questions about retirement with UT. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Trish McFarland at Ext. 4105.

Seidner Student Scholarship awarded to UTDB students

Third-year dental students Huma Hamid and Stephen Tapp have been awarded the Seidner Student Scholarship.

The Academy of Laser Dentistry (ALD) has awarded the Seidner Student Scholarship to Huma Hamid and Stephen Tapp, third-year dental students at the UT Dental Branch. Under mentorship of Assistant Professor Cynthia Trajtenberg, D.D.S., Tapp and Hamid worked together on a project that evaluates the integration and interfacial bond strength of glass ionomer material to teeth prepared with the Erbium:YAG laser. The ALD has invited Tapp and Hamid to present their research at the academy's 16th annual conference April 22-25 in Las Vegas. The award covers a year of ALD membership, conference registration fees, registration for a standard proficiency dental laser certification course, air transportation, hotel accommodations and a cash gift. Hamid and Tapp will be the first Dental Branch undergraduate students certified in laser proficiency. The Academy of Laser Dentistry, founded in 1993, is an international organization devoted to clinical education, research and development of standards and guidelines for the use of dental laser technology in dentistry.

Dr. Francisco Cigarroa appointed UT System chancellor

Francisco G. Cigarroa, M.D.

The University of Texas System Board of regents has named Francisco G. Cigarroa, M.D., as the new chancellor of The University of Texas System. A native of Laredo, Cigarroa, 51, is a highly regarded transplant surgeon and president of the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio. He will begin his duties as chancellor on Feb. 2. More than 50 applicants and nominees were considered for the chancellor's post. Kenneth I. Shine, M.D., the UT System's executive vice chancellor for health affairs, has been serving as interim chancellor since Mark G. Yudof's departure last June to serve in a similar role at the University of California system. The UT System chancellor serves as the chief administrative officer of one of the largest public systems of higher education in the nation, overseeing nine universities and six health institutions. To see the full news announcement from UT System, CLICK HERE.