Topics at a glance: Canadians thank UTDB’s Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Program … Dr. Shynett is new president of Gulf State Dental Association … New faces at the DB: Lucas Fatoye joins Educational & Technology Services … UTDB alumni grace 'Doctor of Dentistry' magazine cover … PODCASTING 101: Half-day workshop teaches use of new medium … Are dental checkups safe during pregnancy? … DH students place in national essay contest

Canadians thank UTDB’s
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Program

Lieutenant Col. Bruce Gerry (right) of the Canadian Forces Dental Services surprised Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) Chairman Mark Wong, D.D.S., with a plaque June 9 “in appreciation … of the continuous support and excellence in OMFS training” provided to Canadian dental residents at the UT Dental Branch. Pictured with Wong and Gerry is UTDB Dean Catherine M. Flaitz, D.D.S. The Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery program currently has four residents from Canada: Dr. Antonella Trache, Dr. Erick Garand, Dr. Sandeep Dhesi and Dr. Roch Messier.

Dr. Shynett is new president
of Gulf State Dental Association

Betty C. Shynett, D.D.S., was installed as president of the Gulf State Dental Association (GSDA) on June 7 at the organization’s 71st annual convention, held this year at South Shore Harbor Resort and Conference Center in League City with the theme, “Retracing Our Footsteps.” She will serve a two- year term, having recently served as president-elect and board chair. She will also serve as chair of the Convention Souvenir Journal Committee. At the UT Dental Branch, Shynett is an assistant professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials. Another UTDB faculty member, Associate Professor and Urgent Care Clinic Director C.D. Johnson, D.D.S., is chairman of the GSDA’s Continuing Education Committee, and Shynett will assist him in that capacity. For more information about the GSDA, visit www.gulfstatedentalassociation.com.

New faces at the DB:

Lucas Fatoye joins
Educational & Technology Services

Lucas Fatoye has joined the Dental Branch staff as an applications support specialist in the Department of Educational and Technology Services. He began his new job May 27. A native of the United Kingdom, Fatoye grew up in Nigeria but returned to England for his education. He earned a master's degree in business information systems from the University of East London, with a bachelor's degree in computer science. Before joining the Dental Branch, he was most recently employed as a database programmer for Dashiell Corporation in Houston. Prior to that, he worked as a Web designer for Top Sport and in information technology for GlaxoSmithKline. Fatoye lives in Houston with his wife and 8-year-old twin son and daughter. He is a soccer fan who loves to travel. At the Dental Branch, his office is DBB-239, which is also home to Web Developer Debi Biner and System and Application Specialist Patricia Donna. He can be reached at Ext. 4508 or by e-mail at Lucas.Fatoye@uth.tmc.edu.

UTDB faculty, alumni grace 'Doctor of Dentistry' magazine

The Greater Houston edition of Doctor of Dentistry magazine, a monthly publication distributed free to area dentists, has featured three UT Dental Branch personalities in recent editions:

PODCASTING 101:
Half-day workshop teaches use of new medium

The University of Texas School of Health Information Sciences will sponsor a half-day, hands-on workshop on podcasting from 1-5 p.m. Thursday, June 26 at University Center Tower, Room 1414. The fee is $200. A podcast is a digital media file (audio or video), that is distributed over the Internet for playback on portable media players and personal computers. Podcasts can be automatically downloaded to the listener’s computer and are accessible at the user’s convenience.  Educators can use podcasts to teach, demonstrate skills and disseminate information. To register online, visit http://giving.uthouston.org/podcasting101. For questions about the workshop, contact Jennifer L. Richards at Ext. 9274. For billing questions, contact Jaime Hargrave at Ext. 3920.

Are dental checkups safe during pregnancy?

That was the question posed by KTRK reporter Christi Myers and answered by UT Dental Branch faculty members James Katancik , D.D.S., Ph.D., chairman of the Department of Periodontics, and Assistant Professor Gena Tribble, Ph.D., a microbiologist who also happens to be an expectant mother. They were featured in a HealthCheck segment with Myers and encouraged pregnant women not to put off dental care. To see the clip, visit the KTRK site and choose the second of 15 featured videos.

DH students place in national essay contest

Dental hygiene students Phuong Tran and Jana Mannen won third place for their essay, “Improving Stroke Care: Improving the Quality of Life for Stroke Victims,” in the 27th Effenbaum-Kamen Essay Contest sponsored by the American Society for Geriatric Dentistry. Pictured from left are UT Dental Branch Dean Catherine M. Flaitz, D.D.S.; Tran, Mannen and Associate Professor Donna Warren-Morris, R.D.H.