Topics at a glance: $2.2M gift to help fund conference center on new campus … Student Regent Meijer to visit Dental Branch, UTHSC-H … GHHDA awards scholarships to UTDB students … Triolo to serve on NBDE test construction committee

$2.2M gift to help fund conference center on new campus

By Rhonda Moran, Dental Branch

The University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston has received a $2.2 million gift from an anonymous donor in support of the school’s Open to Health fundraising initiative. The gift will be a component of the funds needed to construct a conference and meeting center as part of the new Dental Branch building in the UT Health Science Center Research Park complex on the south campus of the Texas Medical Center.

The gift announcement follows the UT System Board of Regents’ Aug. 20 approval of the new building’s site and funding plans.

“This generous gift will literally help to bring people together to share ideas, learning experiences and memorable occasions for decades to come.” Larry R. Kaiser, M.D. President, UTHSC-H

UT Health Science Center at Houston President Larry R. Kaiser, M.D., directed the gift to the Dental Branch building effort, noting the need for a congregating point on the Research Park campus for student activities, continuing education, and faculty academic and professional development. The new meeting center will address that need.

“This generous gift will literally help to bring people together to share ideas, learning experiences and memorable occasions for decades to come,” Kaiser said. “A gift of this magnitude speaks eloquently of faith in the future and confidence in us, and we will honor that legacy in every way.”

The gift boosts the overall fundraising for the new building to $7.7 million toward an estimated goal of $20 million in support of clinical technology and the meeting/conference center. UTDB Development Director John T. Greer said naming opportunities are available for the meeting center, operatories, clinics and other academic areas.

John A. Valenza, D.D.S., interim dean of the Dental Branch, said news of the gift is particularly exciting because the school originally planned for the project to be done in phases, with some spaces, such as an auditorium, either shelled in or left for future construction efforts. “One positive result of the recession is that construction costs have gone down, and we can now do the entire building, including the meeting center, in one phase,” he said. “Gifts like this one bring us closer to the goal.”

The Open to Health initiative, begun in September 2006, is a long-range philanthropic effort in support of the new Dental Branch building, as well as scholarships, faculty endowments, dental research and community outreach efforts. Led by Volunteer Chair Stephen F. Schwartz, D.D.S. (UTDB ’68, ’70), and co-chaired by S. Jerry Long, D.D.S. (UTDB ’66), the initiative’s goals are to help create the financial support necessary to maintain UTDB’s status as a top-tier institution nationally.

UT Regent Karim A. Meijer

Student Regent Meijer
to visit Dental Branch, UTHSC-H

Governor Rick Perry appointed Karim A. Meijer of Katy to a one-year term as student regent on The University of Texas System Board of Regents earlier this year. On Wednesday, Sept. 16, Meijer will tour The UT Health Science Center at Houston, including the Dental Branch.

Meijer is a fourth-year medical student at UT Southwestern Medical School at Dallas, studying to become an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine. He is vice president of the Class of 2010, director of Healthcare Finance Elective and president of the Orthopaedic Student Interest Group. He also volunteers with UT Southwestern's United to Serve. He earned a bachelor's degree in finance from the McCombs School of Business at UT Austin, where he minored in Spanish and played on the 2005 national champion Longhorn football team.

The Greater Houston Hispanic Dental Association has awarded scholarships to second-year dental hygiene students Yudith Rodriguez (left) and Montsy Rodriguez.

GHHDA awards scholarships
to UTDB students

The Greater Houston Hispanic Dental Association (GHHDA) has acknowledged second-year dental hygiene students Montsy Rodriguez and Yudith Rodriguez for their commitment and dedication to improving the oral health of the Hispanic community through community service, leadership skills and scholastic achievement. The students received scholarships and were recognized at the UTDB Houston Hispanic Student Dental Association’s welcome meeting Aug. 26. .

GHHDA Vice President Sergio Ortegon, D.D.S., presented the scholarships. Ortegon is an assistant professor in the Department of Prosthodontics at UTDB.

Triolo to serve on NBDE test construction committee

Peter T. Triolo, D.D.S., chief information officer, special assistant to the dean and clinical associate professor, has been appointed to serve on the National Board Dental Examination Part II Test Construction Committee Component B (case-based) beginning in 2010.The Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations is the agency responsible for the development and administration of the National Board Dental Examinations. This 15-member commission includes representatives of dental schools, dental practice, state dental examining boards, dental hygiene, dental students and the public.