Topics at a glance: New president takes the oath … State creates loan repayment program for Medicaid dentists, doctors …Dental Hygiene Awards … Learn about UT retirement programs at Brown Bag Session…Save the date: Fifth Annual Wellness Fair… Win a Houston Rockets-autographed basketball!

New president takes the oath Employees, students and patients at the UT Dental Branch took a moment Tuesday morning to watch Barack Obama take the oath of office as the 44th president of the United States. The Dental Branch set up a TV in the lobby for the historic occasion.

State creates loan repayment program for Medicaid dentists, doctors

AUSTIN — A new loan repayment program will help Texas increase the number of dentists, doctors and specialists who provide care for children with Medicaid coverage. Once the loan repayment program is fully implemented, it will provide loan repayments for up to 1,200 dentists and physicians a year. Each doctor will be eligible for up to $140,000 in loan repayments over four years by meeting targets for services provided to children on Medicaid. University of Texas Dental Branch Dean Catherine M. Flaitz, D.D.S. served on the 17-member advisory committee that reviewed and recommended funding for the loan repayment project and others. FULL STORY

Dental Hygiene Awards The holidays were made merrier for three dental hygiene students who received Dental Hygiene Class of 2003 Endowment Fund awards at the annual holiday party Dec. 18. Pictured from left with UTDB School of Dental Hygiene Program Director Jayne McWherter, R.D.H. (center left) are award winners Tiffany Williams, Tanya Miller and Chriszelda Rojas. The students are members of the Class of 2009.

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.

Save the date: Fifth 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.

Win a Houston Rockets-autographed basketball!

The University Classified Staff Council is raising money for scholarships by selling tickets for a drawing. The prize is a basketball autographed by the Houston Rockets. Tickets are $1 each or six for $5, and the drawing will be on March 11. For tickets, contact UCSC Representative Trish McFarland, Ext. 4105 in Room 4.109B. The ball is number 31 of 213 autographed for the 2002-03 season.