Topics at a glance: Giving Made Easy: SECC underway now through Oct. 30 … Dr. Adkisson named Alumnus of the Year at Washington University … Omicron Kappa Upsilon Scholarships awarded to 13 students … Evaluators give summer program at UTHSC-H high rating … Dr. Streckfus featured in AADR's Science Advocate … Got News? Dental Branch is this Media Relations staffer's beat … Order Boo Bags now for Halloween delivery

Giving Made Easy: SECC underway now through Oct. 30

Louise Stacey (left) registers for the door prize drawing at the State Employee Charitable Campaign kick-off Monday. Also pictured are Rubie Armelin and Ella Simmons. Photo by Rhonda Moran

Despite some early excitement when the popcorn machine set off the fire alarms, the State Employee Charitable Campaign at the UT Dental Branch got underway as scheduled Monday and will continue through Oct. 30. Dean Catherine Flaitz, D.D.S., greeted the crowd and noted that last year's campaign raised more than $9 million for the United Way and other charities as designated by the givers. The guest speaker at Monday's event was Janet Danatti, executive director of the Good Neighbor Healthcare Clinic in Houston. She praised the Dental Branch both for its cooperation in providing dental care in the clinic and for the caliber of its graduates. After her presentation, door prizes were awarded. The winners included Dorian Ross, Thanh Phan, Ella Simmons, Yvette Haas, Mary Huerta and Cecilia Garza. The prizes were donated by Mark Harty of Proctor & Gamble (two Oral B power toothbrushes), Dennis Stewart of Brasseler USA ($50 gift certificate to On the Border restaurant), and Edward Castellanos of Philips (Sonicare toothbrush). The charitable campaign provides a way for UT employees to donate to charities of their choice via payroll deduction or one-time gifts. Each UTDB department has a designated “campaigner” who will distribute forms in that department and collect the completed forms. For more information, contact SECC Campaign Co-Chairs John O'Black at Ext. 4157 and Mamie Ellis, Ext. 4221.

O'Black said the 2007 campaign raised $12,780 from Dental Branch employees, with 23 percent participating. “This year we're hoping to have an increase in participation,” he said. “Even if you can only contribute a dollar or two per paycheck, it makes a big difference. Times are hard, and we need to help each other.”

Dr. Adkisson named Alumnus of the Year at Washington University

Retired UT Dental Branch Professor Sam R. Adkisson, D.D.S., was honored as Distinguished Alumnus of the Year by Washington University School of Dental Medicine in St. Louis, Mo. at a Sept. 20 award ceremony. Adkisson, a member of the Washington University Class of 1951, was nominated for the award by Richard Bebermeyer, D.D.S., chair of the UTDB Department of Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials. Adkisson retired in 2007 as a professor in the Prosthodontics Department after more than 29 years at the Dental Branch, where he was a four-time winner of the John P. McGovern Award for Outstanding Teaching.

Photo Right — UTDB Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials Chair Rick Bebermeyer, D.D.S., (left) is shown with retired UTDB Professor Sam Adkisson, D.D.S. Photo by Rhonda Moran

Omicron Kappa Upsilon Scholarships awarded to 13 students

Thirteen freshman dental students were awarded $1,000 scholarships by the Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU) National Dental Honor Society at the annual Scholarship Luncheon earlier this month, according to OKU Mu Mu Chapter President Gary Frey, D.D.S. Pictured (back row from left) are Darren Redman, Christopher Thang, Asiya Hammond, Jeremiah Funk, Tamir Anver, (middle row from left) John Lee, Hae Doh, Christopher Hinahon, Laura Johnson, Zeeshan Moorani, and (seated, from left) Lori Rollo, Megha Bassi and Audrey Moon. Photo by Brian Schnupp.

Summer Medical and Dental Education Program receives high rating

A site visit evaluating the Summer Medical and Dental Education Program (SMDEP) at the UT Health Science Center at Houston has resulted in an overall rating of 5 out of a possible 5, with evaluators praising the UT program as “one for the other 11 SMDEP sites to emulate.” The program, funded by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is for undergraduate college students from minority groups, rural areas and economically disadvantaged backgrounds who are interested in medicine, dentistry or other health professions. The UT Dental Branch and Medical School worked together hosting 60 pre-med and 20 pre-dental students in hope of encouraging them to enter health professions, and to choose UTHSC-H. FULL STORY.

Photo left — The Summer Medical and Dental Education Program, led at the Dental Branch by Associate Deans Paula O'Neill, Ed.D., and Phil Pierpont, D.D.S., received the highest possible rating by evaluators who visited the UTHSC-H this summer. Photo by Rhonda Moran.

Dr. Streckfus featured in AADR's Science Advocate

The American Association for Dental Research's (AADR) newsletter “Science Advocate” featured an article about UT Dental Branch Professor Charles Streckfus, D.D.S., in recognition of his work in salivary diagnostics and for receiving a sizeable research grant from Komen for the Cure®. To read the article, visit the AADR Web site.

Got News?

Dental Branch is this Media Relations staffer's beat

Deborah Mann Lake

Deborah Mann Lake, a member of the Media Relations team at the UT Health Science Center at Houston, is the new point person for getting Dental Branch news to the external media. Lake spent two decades writing for Texas newspapers, including The Corpus Christi Caller-Times, The Houston Post and the Houston Chronicle. She covered a wide range of topics, from sports to home design to medical issues. From 1999 to 2004, she was the feature writer for the Chronicle's weekly “Health/Medicine Page.” She has received two Texas Associated Press Awards for writing and is the winner of a 2003 Anson Jones, M.D., Award from the Texas Medical Association. She has also worked for two public relations companies.

Lake joined UTHSC-H in May 2006. She is a graduate of Cy-Fair High School and The University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor's degree in journalism. She lives in the Cy-Fair area with her husband and daughters. When Media Relations Specialist Natalie Camarata resigned earlier this year, leaving the Dental Branch without an assigned media relations contact, Lake asked to have UTDB added to her beat coverage. “I know that filling Natalie's shoes will be a huge challenge,” Lake said, “but I'm excited about the exceptional news opportunities that exist at the Dental Branch.”

If you have a story idea, please contact Lake at 713-500-3304 or deborah.m.lake@uth.tmc.edu. She and UTDB Communication Specialist Rhonda Moran will work together to make sure Dental Branch news gets publicized inside and outside UT.

Order Boo Bags now for Halloween delivery

Too old to trick-or-treat? No worries. Order a Boo Bag now from the University Classified Staff Council (UCSC) and a bag of Halloween candy will be delivered to you on Friday, Oct. 31. Each Boo Bag costs $2 and all proceeds go directly to the UCSC Scholarships awarded at the annual UCSC Workshop. Boo Bags are a great way to “treat” others who have treated you well. You can even order Boo Bags with a message to take home to your children. All orders and payments must be turned in by Oct. 23. Cash and checks made out to UCSC are accepted. Print and complete the ORDER FORM, making sure to list only one recipient per form. Turn the order form and payment in to the Dental Branch UCSC representative, Patricia McFarland in Room 4.109B, Ext. 4105.