Topics at a glance:  Dr. Zeb Poindexter III wins 2008 Pinnacle Award… First-year dental students score scholarships … UTDB students volunteer for Sealants Across Texas … UTDB researchers published in ‘Journal of Dental Education’ … Telemundo honors Dr. Trajtenberg for community service … Advances in Teaching, Learning Conference draws UTDB faculty … Dr. O’Neill invited to speak in Europe on dental education

UTDB alum Zeb Poindexter wins 2008 Pinnacle Award

Zeb F. Poindexter III, D.D.S.

Zeb F. Poindexter III, D.D.S. of Poindexter Dental in Houston is the winner of the 2008 Pinnacle Award in the health care category from the Houston Citizen's Chamber of Commerce. The awards were presented during the 14th Annual African-American Business Achievement Pinnacle Awards black-tie gala Oct. 17 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Zeb Poindexter Jr. and Zeb Poindexter III were the first African-American father-and-son team to graduate from The University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston, graduating in 1956 and 1984, respectively. Although his father is retired, Zeb Poindexter III has continued the practice.

The Pinnacle Awards spotlight and honor successful African-American businesses that combine vision, determination, commitment, perseverance and dedication to build strong communities. Poindexter was one of 15 nominees in the health care category. Other industry categories included communications, hospitality, construction/real estate and professional services. FULL STORY

First-year dental students score scholarships

Six different scholarships with awards from $1,000 to $3,000 were presented to first-year dental students recently. Pictured front row from left are Kimchi Nguyen, Mirelle Romero, Giti Bahar, (back row) Heather Luong, Jacob Moore, Kassi Carter, Mihn-Triet Dang, Mohammad Nikahd, Jon Ormson, Mark Cantu, Henry Arredondo, Regan Joy, Daniel Allen and Hien Tran.

UTDB students volunteer for Sealants Across Texas

Second-year dental hygiene student Elham Jarrar (left) assists Nisa Hashmani, R.D.H., as they place sealants on a young patient at the San Jose Clinic.

The Greater Houston Dental Hygiene Society hosted “Sealants Across Texas” for the Houston area at the San Jose Clinic on Oct. 11, and UTDB dental hygiene students volunteered to assist with placing the sealants and educating parents and children on dental health. Dental sealants are thin, plastic coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to "seal" the pits and grooves on the teeth were tooth decay and cavities occur. Getting sealants placed on the chewing surfaces of the teeth is a simple and painless procedure. No injections (shots) or anesthesia are required, and the cost of a sealant is usually about half the cost of a filling. Sealants can last as long as five to 10 years but should be checked regularly by a dentist or dental hygienist. Sealants Across Texas is sponsored by the Texas Dental Hygienists' Association, and each year allows licensed, registered dental hygienists from across the state volunteer to provide dental sealants to children in underserved populations.

UTDB researchers published in 'Journal of Dental Education'

Four UT Dental Branch faculty members are authors of two articles appearing in the October 2008 edition of the Journal of Dental Education, a peer-reviewed national publication of the American Dental Education Association. Paula N. O'Neill, Ed.D., was listed as second author of "Team-Based Learning Using an Audience Response System: An Innovative Method of Teaching Diagnosis to Undergraduate Dental Students". In a separate article, Muhammad F. Walji, Ph.D, David Taylor, Ed.D. and John A. Valenza, D.D.S. were listed as second, third and fourth authors, respectively, of "Economic Outcomes of a Dental Electronic Patient Record."

Telemundo honors Dr. Trajtenberg for community service

Houston Telemundo affiliate KTMD- 47 has honored UT Dental Branch Assistant Professor Cynthia Trajtenberg, D.D.S., for oral health service to the Hispanic community. As she accepted the award, Trajtenberg said the community service was possible because of the dedication and hard work of the dental and dental hygiene students of the Hispanic Students Dental Association, "as well as the unconditional support of the Office of Patient Care at the Dental Branch." She noted that the Dental Branch is very sensitive to the needs of the community.

(Photo Left) Marcello Marini of KTMD presented a community service award to UTDB Assistant Professor Cynthia Trajtenberg, D.D.S.

'Advances in Teaching, Learning Conference' draws UTDB faculty

University of Texas Dental Branch faculty participated enthusiastically in the Ninth Annual "Advances in Teaching and Learning Conference" held Oct. 9 at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. They presented posters, made oral podium presentations or conducted workshops at the conference. Advances in Teaching and Learning is a regional conference designed to showcase research and innovations in teaching, learning and technology. As an interdisciplinary meeting, it is a venue for faculty of higher education in the health sciences to share ideas and network in this rapidly changing time in academia. Indiana University Professor Curtis Bonk, Ph.D., gave the keynote presentation, "Time Not Wasted: Digital Scholarship in Web 2.0." FULL STORY

Dr. O'Neill invited to speak in Europe on dental education Paula O'Neill, Ed.D. Paula O'Neill, Ed.D., associate dean for educational research and professional development, was the invited keynote speaker at the 34th Annual Meeting of the Association for Dental Education in Europe on Sept . 4 in Zagreb, Croatia. She spoke on "Career Development in Dental Education Focusing on Career Management: Goals and Possibilities." The conference was attended by more than 300 deans, faculty and staff.

Furniture for the future UTDB Technical Services Manager Jonathan Green asks about furniture being considered for the new Dental Branch building. Want to see it first-hand? Another showing is planned for 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, Oct. 23. Round-trip transportation leaves from the Mental Sciences Institute. If you want to go, RSVP to James.G.Defrayne@uth.tmc.edu