Topics at a glance: 2009 Teaching Award winners: UTDB students speak. … Tongue piercings can lead to serious dental distress. … Join Team UT and March for Babies this weekend. … UTDB students praised in ‘HDA News and Reports’

2009 Teaching Award winners: UTDB students speak

William H. “Bill” Tate, D.D.S.	Shiwei Cai, D.D.S., Ph.D.	Holly C. Rice, R.D.H.

Students of the UT Dental Branch have chosen three faculty members to receive 2009 teaching awards. A total of eleven faculty members were nominated this year, and they are listed below. To read more about the winners, click on “PROFILE” beside their names.

The John H. Freeman Award for Outstanding Non-Clinical Teaching
Chosen by first- and second-year dental students
William H. “Bill” Tate, D.D.S. CLICK FOR PROFILE
Raymond Koeppen, D.D.S.
Ryan Quock, D.D.S.

The John P. McGovern Award for Outstanding Teaching
Chosen by third- and fourth-year DDS students
Shiwei Cai, D.D.S., Ph.D. CLICK FOR PROFILE
Dan Bentley, D.D.S. Kamal Busaidy, B.D.S.
Janet Grobe Hood, D.D.S.
C.D. Johnson, D.D.S.
Regina Lewis, D.D.S.

The Lorna J. Bruning Award for Clinical Teaching Excellence
Chosen by dental hygiene students
Holly C. Rice, R.D.H. CLICK FOR PROFILE
Darla McKitrick, R.D.H.

Tongue piercings can lead to serious dental distress

Recently, reporter Sherry Williams of the local CBS affiliate (KHOU Channel 11) did a story on how the economy has resulted in increased demand for services at Dental Branch clinics. Based on those interviews, Williams did another story on the hazards of mouth piercings. Media Relations Director Meredith Raine says those two stories have aired at least 20 times on other CBS stations in Georgia, Louisiana, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. CLICK HERE to see the segment.

Join Team UT and March for Babies this weekend

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. Participants should 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 that day but would like to donate to the March for Babies, you may do so by following prompts on that page. Additional information is available from Rose.M.Betancourt-Trevino@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-3209.

UTDB students praised in ‘HDA News and Reports’

The Hispanic Dental Association’s HDA News and Reports has quoted Dean Catherine Flaitz, D.D.S. in an article about students’ volunteer efforts following Hurricane Ike. Flaitz said, “Our students were absolutely marvelous during the event and spent their hurricane days helping those in need. One group of students helped displaced families register for FEMA funds and another group delivered hot meals to the elderly. The oral health care profession is in great hands with generous and compassionate dental and dental hygiene students.” The e-mail communiqué was in response to then-president of HDA Serita Arteaga, D.M.D., M.A.G.D., offering assistance through HDA’s professional and student chapters for hurricane victims. The UT Dental Branch is one of 36 dental schools in the country that have student chapters of the Hispanic Dental Association.