Topics at a glance: CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS: Help screen Special Olympics athletes May … NEW FACULTY: Biomaterials, regenerative medicine among Dr. Yang’s interests … Join Team UT and March for Babies April 26 … San José Clinic art auction will help Houston’s most needy … HSDA partners with students, Colgate for Oral Health Month … Spaghetti anyone?

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS: Help screen Special Olympics athletes May 2

Volunteers from The University of Texas Dental Branch will team up with Special Olympics to provide free dental screenings for up to 400 athletes at the Greater Houston Area Special Smiles Screening Event from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, May 2 at Strake Jesuit Preparatory, 8900 Bellaire Blvd., Houston. UTDB Pediatric Dentistry Department Chair Sanford “Sandy” Fenton, D.D.S., said Dental Branch faculty, staff, students and residents are encouraged to volunteer – whether to screen, teach, counsel or help with registering or escorting the athletes. Fenton has scheduled two pre-event dental screener training sessions at the Dental Branch: 5-6 p.m. Wednesday, April 22 in Room 132 and noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, April 23 in Room B-14. For those who complete the screener training, the Special Smiles Screening Event means free continuing education credit for both the class and time spent at the event. FULL STORY.

Yunzhi “Peter” Yang, Ph.D.

NEW FACULTY:
Biomaterials, regenerative medicine
  among Dr. Yang’s interests

Yunzhi “Peter” Yang, Ph.D., has joined the research faculty of The University of Texas Dental Branch as an assistant professor in the Houston Biomaterials Research Center, Department of Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials. He most recently served as director of the School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging at the University of Tennessee, but he is no stranger to Texas, having completed a postdoctoral fellowship at The University of Texas Dental School in San Antonio. His research interests include biomaterials, nanotechnology for implant devices, enabling technology for regenerative medicine, and naturally-based biomaterials for cancer treatment. And now that he’s here and settled in at his new job, Yang is interested in collaboration opportunities at The UT Health Science Center and elsewhere in Houston.
FULL STORY.

Join Team UT and March for Babies April 26

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston is supporting the March for Babies Sunday, April 26 at the University of Houston Robertson Stadium. Team UT has joined with Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital and LBJ Hospital to walk together this year and is pleased to support such an organization that is bringing about healthy change for women and their babies. You can help the March of Dimes fight prematurity by participating in the March for Babies. Team UT walkers will register at 8 a.m. at the Team UT tent and will be served a light breakfast. The walk begins at 9 a.m. A barbecue lunch will be served at 11 a.m. after the walk. To join the Dental Branch team, visit the UT Dental Branch March of Dimes Web page to sign up, then contact Vanessa Ponce, 713-500-4142 or Vanessa.Ponce@uth.tmc.edu to let her know what size T-shirt you need. If you will not be able to walk on April 26 but would like to donate to the March for Babies, follow the prompts on the Web page. For additional information, contact Rose.M.Betancourt-Trevino@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-3209.

San José Clinic art auction will help Houston’s most needy

The San José Clinic’s Third Art with Heart event is set for 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, April 25 at Three Allen Center, 333 Clay St., Houston. The benefit will feature a silent auction showcasing the work of local professional artists and area high school students, music by the Harry Sheppard Jazz Group, food, wine and more than 200 pieces of original art. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, archbishop of Galveston-Houston, will preside over the event as honorary chair. A preview of the artwork can be viewed at www.sanjoseclinic.org. All proceeds will support the San José Clinic and its mission to provide health care and education to those with limited access to such services. General admission is $50 per person. Underwriting packages are also available. For reservations, call 713-490-2603.

HSDA partners with students, Colgate for Oral Health Month

The Hispanic Student Dental Association at the UT Dental Branch, the Greater Houston Hispanic Dental Association and Colgate Palmolive have joined forces to declare April to be “El Mes de la Salud Bucal: Un Mundo de Sonrisas Saludables” (Oral Health Month: A World of Healthy Smiles®) as part of an ongoing commitment to quality oral care in the Hispanic community. Through a series of community service projects, they will use this program to promote oral health fundamentals among Hispanics. The program kicked off April 2 in Miami, with events also planned in Houston, Los Angeles and New Jersey. Dental Branch students participating include Iven Gonzalez, Laura Dosch, Hilda Guerrero, Alex Mosquera, Jayr Reyes, Montsy Rodriguez, Yudith Rodriguez, Chriszelda Rojas, Jodie To and Judy To. The faculty sponsor is Clinical Assistant Professor Margo Melchor, R.D.H. The first event took place recently at the H.E.B. store in Bellaire, and events are scheduled for the next few weeks in selected H.E.B. stores throughout the Houston area.

Spaghetti anyone? A spaghetti dinner Wednesday in the basement benefited the first-year dental hygiene class by raising funds for future activities, including graduation. Pictured from left are students Alija Lozano, Diana Tejeda, Montsy Rodriguez, Leslie Thompson, Sarah Allen and Lindsey Us. Photo by Rhonda Moran.