Topics at a glance: Dental Branch, Center on Aging create oral hygiene DVD  … Hood first dentist to earn M.Ed. from part-time UH program in TMC  … Dr. Willerson speaks at UTDB  … Houston Chronicle interviews Vigneswaran  … Order your UTDB hoodies by Friday  … UTDB alumni fly in to help  … What does it take to be in eFlash!? …You!

Dental Branch, Center on Aging create
oral hygiene teaching DVD

Periodontics Associate Professor Donna Warren-Morris, R.D.H., (left) and Clinical
Assistant Professor June Sadowsky,
D.D.S., worked with Nancy Bergstrom,
Ph.D., R.N., director of the UT School of
Nursing's Center on Aging, to produce
a teaching video titled "Elder Loving
Care: Oral Hygiene Caregiver Training."

A locally produced teaching video titled “Elder Loving Care ™ Oral Hygiene Training” will soon be available for purchase, thanks to a grant from the Isla Carroll Turner Friendship Trust and collaboration between the UT School of Nursing’s Center on Aging and the UT Dental Branch.

The 14-minute DVD is intended for caregivers of the elderly, whether in a home, hospital or long-term care facility. Poor oral care can lead to pain, reduced eating ability and bad breath – leading to social isolation. Because stroke survivors or patients with Alzheimer’s or dementia may not be able to tell anyone about oral pain, their caregivers need to take the initiative. And yet, even paid caregivers may not think about the need to help elders care for their teeth, and if they do think about it, may not know exactly how to help.

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Janet Grobe Hood, D.D.S., has earned a
master’s degree in education through
a UH program offered at night in the
Texas Medical Center.

First dentist earns M.Ed. from UH program in TMC
UTDB faculty members Rice, Levine led the way

Janet Grobe Hood, D.D.S., assistant professor in Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials at the UT Dental Branch, ended 2007 in a big way by becoming the first dentist to earn a master’s degree in education through the University of Houston’s Master of Education in Teaching, Texas Medical Center Program.

Designed for health science professionals, the program offers evening classes in the TMC for students who want to earn a master’s degree in education.

Hood is the third UT Dental Branch faculty member to take advantage of the program, following the lead of Diagnostic Sciences Associate Professor Alan Levine, Ph.D., and Holly Rice, R.D.H., associate professor of periodontics. Rice’s decision to “tweak her job” by shifting from practicing dental hygiene, to teaching it, was described in the November, 2007 edition of More magazine. See their Web site.

The program is part of a large initiative sponsored by the Dental Branch, the UT Medical School and the Baylor College of Medicine, said Paula O’Neill, Ed.D, associate dean for educational research and professional development at UTDB.

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Houston Chronicle interviews Vigneswaran
on cancer screenings

An article on oral cancer screening featuring comments from Diagnostic Sciences Professor Nadarajah Vigneswaran, B.D.S., D.M.D., appeared in the Business section of Tuesday’s Houston Chronicle. To read the article, visit their Web site, or read it in the display case on the first floor hallway of the Dental Branch.

Fend off winter weather:
Order your UTDB hoodies by Friday

Delta Sigma Delta is selling UTDB embroidered wind- and water-resistant hoodies. Choose from five colors. Prices are $35 each or two for $65. Sizes range from XS to 4X.

To order, contact Tiffany Tredway-Ransom at Tiffany.L.Tredway-Ransom@uth.tmc.edu. Checks should be payable to Delta Sigma Delta, and payment is due at the time of order. The deadline is Friday, Jan. 25. CLICK HERE to see the available styles.

UTDB alumni fly in to help
Open to Health initiative hosts workshop for fundraising leaders

With support from the American Dental Association Foundation, the UT Dental Branch held a workshop in January for alumni volunteers serving as regional team leaders for the Open to Health fund raising initiative.

Kevin Sturtevant of the fundraising consulting firm Ketchum Inc. led the program, which was designed to empower alumni volunteers in their efforts to raise awareness and funds for the many Open to Health opportunities, including scholarships, endowments, research and the new Dental Branch Building.

Dean Catherine M. Flaitz, D.D.S., said the Dental Branch is one of the first schools in the country to take advantage of the ADA Foundation’s assistance with fundraising, and she noted that volunteer turnout for the event was solid.

“Our alumni flew in from all over Texas to learn to enhance their fundraising skills for this work they volunteered to do,” Flaitz said. “It will take a team effort to bring the scholarships and

UTDB alumni volunteers working with the Open to Health fundraising initiative
came to the Dental Branch for a fundraising “how to” workshop earlier this month,
led by consultants from Ketchum Inc. Pictured (back row from left) are Bill Birdwell, Joe Dusek, Don Lutes, Ken Horwitz, James Chancellor, Herb Wade, Ron Rhea, Rita Cammarata, Myles Sadler, (middle row) Jerry Long, Ron Collins, Don Belles, Roberto Diaz, (front row) Steve Schwartz; the guest speaker, Kevin Sturtevant; and Mack Coker. All except Sturtevant are dentists.

endowments we want. This initiative isn’t just about a new building.”

Stephen F. Schwartz, D.D.S., chairman of the Open to Health initiative, said the workshop offered guidance for the volunteers, who have plenty of enthusiasm but not much experience asking for donations. “Asking volunteers to do something they’re untrained for and uncomfortable doing -- by the very nature of soliciting fellow dentists -- seemed to be setting the initiative up for disappointment,” Schwartz said. “The value in having a well-trained volunteer effort was evidenced in the confidence they felt at the end of the workshop.”

Group dynamics and a sense of collegiality, “along with Kevin’s superb leadership fueled everyone’s enthusiasm,” Schwartz said. “We are truly indebted to the ADA Foundation and its director, Barkley Payne, for their assistance.”

The workshop’s facilitator, UTDB Development Director John Greer, said the next step for the volunteers who participated in the workshop in the Open to Health initiative is “to utilize the knowledge and collaboration gained at the workshop to deliver our message and the opportunities for participation to their peers throughout the state.”

For a list of volunteer leaders who attended the January workshop, click here.

What does it take to be in eFlash!? …You!

The UTDB eFlash! was made for you. This weekly electronic publication was designed to publish the notices about, and most important to, Dental Branch faculty, staff and students. Items submitted for consideration may include personal achievements, reports from conferences, event notices, clinical studies and any messages the entire DB family should see. The eFlash! is sent to all faculty, staff, dental/dental hygiene students and residents, as well as UT communications and media relations personnel who may want to spread the word outside the Dental Branch. Just send a few notes and any photos to Rhonda.Moran@uth.tmc.edu, and we’ll do the rest! Not sure if it’s eFlash! material? Send it anyway and we’ll be in touch!