Topics at a glance: Ceremonies put white coats on future dentists, dental hygienists … Eight UTDB alumni among nominees for Texas Dentist of the Year … Retirement reception honors Dr. Zachariasen  … ADEA awards open to dental educators, students

Future dentists, dental hygienists receive first white coats

First-year dental students (from left) Eric Broberg, Olivia Bustos and Mark Cantu recite The Dentists' Pledge at the White Coat Ceremony Aug. 16.

As their families and friends looked on, the future dentists of the University of Texas Dental Branch Class of 2012 donned the white coats of health care professionals in a special ceremony Saturday, Aug. 16. A similar ceremony for 40 new dental hygiene students took place Friday, Aug. 15. The incoming students began a three-day orientation at UTDB on Aug. 13, culminating with the White Coat Ceremony on Saturday.

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Eight UTDB alumni among Texas Dentist of Year nominees

As it does every year, The Texas Academy of General Dentistry will announce the "Texas Dentist of the Year" in a ceremony Friday, Sept. 5 at the Omni Austin Hotel Downtown. Of the 19 nominees considered for 2008, eight are graduates of The UT Dental Branch. They include Doug Bogan, Carlos Cruz, Don Lutes, Roger Ortiz, Ronald Rhea, Barry Rouch, Richard Smith and Grant Wolfe.

Nominees from other dental schools include Dean Armstrong, Terry Darden, David Wilhite, Deborah Worsham and William Wyatt, Sr., all of Baylor; Sheryl Beltrane, David Cox, Steven Hill and Marshall Warren, all of the UT Health Science Center San Antonio Dental School; David Dasher, State University of New York at Buffalo; and Jeff Miller, University of Illinois.

Retirement reception honors Dr. Zachariasen

Professor Rita Zachariasen, Ph.D. cuts a cake with her grandchildren, Zachary and Emma. In the background are two of Zachariasen's former chairs, Dr. Max Hutchins and Dr. Norman Weisbrodt.

An Aug. 15 reception in the Cooley Conference Room at the UT Dental Branch honored retiring Professor Rita D. Zachariasen, Ph.D., of the Department Integrative Biology and Pharmacology at the UT Medical School. She has a cross appointment at the Dental Branch in the Department of Diagnostic Sciences, and over the past 36 years has taught both dental and dental hygiene students.

During the reception, Dr. John Hancock, chair of the Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, presented Zachariasen with a rocking chair embossed with the logo of the UT Health Science Center.

ADEA awards open to dental educators, students

Applications are now open for awards, scholarships and fellowships to be conferred in 2009 by the American Dental Education Association (ADEA). The ADEA Awards program recognizes excellence in teaching, scholarship and research, and provides funding for fellowship opportunities. Educators and students in all of our predoctoral, postdoctoral and allied dental institutions are encouraged to apply. Awards range from $1,000 scholarships to $15,000 in support of leadership development education or $15,000 stipends to pursue three-month fellowships at the ADEA offices in Washington, D.C. Self nominations from individual ADEA members are accepted for many of the awards. ADEA member institutions are also eligible for significant monetary recognition for research and work with new procedures. To learn more about the ADEA Awards and apply, visit the ADEA Website. Be sure to check the requirements and deadlines for each award. Please note that applications for awards will not be accepted once a deadline has passed. Awards recipients will be recognized at the 2009 ADEA Annual Session and Exhibition in Phoenix, Arizona, March 14-18. Contact Monique Morgan at morganm@adea.org for more information.