Topics at a glance: Dental Branch replacement deck completed … Dental Branch Building Project Still in design phase but making progress … ADEA Leadership Institute accepts UTDB educator …Former UTDB dean to speak to ASDA at University of Houston …D’Anton Scholarship … Ballinger Scholarships …SAVE THE DATE: Commencement set for May 22 …New UT System chancellor responds to congratulatory note …WREB thanks Dental Branch faculty, staff

All decked out Students enjoy midday sunshine on the new deck along the northwest corner of the Dental Branch property. The UT Health Science Center at Houston enlarged and improved the deck after the Olson Patio at the Dental Branch had to be closed because of concerns about granite cladding falling off the building. New iron fences have also been installed to keep people in safe areas, and protective canopies are in place at all entrances. Photo by Brian Schnupp.

Dental Branch Building Project
Still in design phase but making progress

By Rhonda Moran, UTDB Communications Specialist

A new building for The University of Texas Dental Branch is a certainty, and so is the school’s future as part of the new UT Research Park at the corner of East Road and Cambridge Street. But exactly what will go where in the new dental school is still being planned. Executive Associate Dean John A. Valenza, D.D.S., said the plans should be finished this summer, allowing firm cost estimates to be developed in May and June. The entire package will be presented to the UT System Board of Regents in August for final approval. The current schedule shows construction to begin late in 2009 with a move-in date of mid-2012. FULL STORY.

Sudarat Kiat-amnuay, D.D.S.

ADEA Leadership Institute accepts UTDB educator

Sudarat Kiat-amnuay, D.D.S., has been accepted as a fellow of the 2009-10 American Dental Education Association Leadership Institute. She will join 21 of the national’s most promising dental educators as a part of the institute’s 10th class and will participate in four phases of the institute. Phases will cover personal and interpersonal competencies for leadership, a legislative workshop, administrative competencies for leadership, and a faculty development workshop. Kiat-amnuay is an associate professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials and also serves as director of the postgraduate general dentistry clinic at the Dental Branch. She is a graduate of Khon Kaen University and received a prosthodontic certificate and master of science degree from the University of Louisville. She has been with the Dental Branch since 2001.

Former UTDB dean to speak to ASDA at University of Houston

The University of Houston Chapter of the American Student Dental Alliance has invited Ronald Johnson, D.D.S., to speak on “Study Skills” at the group’s next meeting, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11 in the UH University Center World Affairs Lounge (underground).  Johnson is chief academic diversity officer and a professor of pediatric dentistry at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Additionally, he is a former dean of the UT Dental Branch.  Visitors and guests are welcome to attend the ASDA meeting. For more information, contact asda.uh@gmail.com or visit www.uh.edu/asda.    H. Philip Pierpont, D.D.S., associate dean for student and alumni affairs at the Dental Branch, was the group’s guest speaker in January. He led a general discussion of dentistry, admission to dental school, and the Dental Branch.

D’Anton Scholarship Second-year dental student Drew Rossi, pictured with Dean Catherine M. Flaitz, D.D.S., is this year’s recipient of the Erbert William “Danny” D’Anton, D.D.S., Scholarship, which was created in memory of the longtime faculty member (1948-88) and past chair of the Department of Oral Biomaterials. The scholarship was established In 2007 with the assistance of a leadership gift from James R. Ballinger, D.D.S. (’54), and from dozens of D’Anton’s colleagues and students. A subsequent matching gift was made last year by the UTDB Alumni Association. The scholarship is awarded to students of general dentistry in good academic standing. Photo by Brian Schnupp.		Ballinger Scholarships Dental students Yvette Garcia, Connie Le and Sergio López, pictured with Dean Catherine M. Flaitz, D.D.S., have each received an Iola B. and James R. Ballinger, D.D.S., Endowed Scholarship in General Dentistry. Created in 2007 by Dr. James Ballinger, the scholarship was funded by the largest single scholarship gift ever received by The University of Texas Dental Branch. With the help of his late wife, Ballinger practiced for many years in Weimar and is now retired. Photo by Brian Schnupp.

SAVE THE DATE: Commencement set for May 22

Graduation ceremonies for the UT Dental Branch have been scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday, May 22 in Cullen Performance Hall on the University of Houston campus. More details will be provided as they develop.

New UT System chancellor responds to congratulatory note

As of Feb. 2, The University of Texas System has a new chancellor, Francisco G. Cigarroa, M.D., a 51-year-old Laredo native who was most recently president of the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio. On behalf of the Dental Branch, Dean Catherine M. Flaitz, D.D.S., sent a congratulatory note to the new chancellor and received a handwritten reply. To read it, CLICK HERE.

WREB thanks Dental Branch faculty, staff

The Western Regional Examining Board (WREB), a national dental and dental hygiene testing agency, recently sent a letter of thanks to the dean commending the UT Dental Branch faculty and staff. To view the letter, CLICK HERE.