University of Pittsburgh Summer/Fall 2008 Volume 6 • Number 2

Dentalmedicine

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Dear Alumni and Friends:

Message from the Dean

It was a delightful surprise to be honored among the distinguished alumni at the Eight Annual Dean’s Scholarship Ball in April. Our administration at the School

of Dental Medicine must have gone to great lengths to maintain the element of surprise with the Distinguished Alumnus Award for Dental Medicine this year. I was honored to stand with my colleagues who have made tremendous contributions to the art and science of dentistry. Fellow recipients of the 2008 awards included Dr. C. Richard Bennett (Cert., PhD ‘67) and Dr. Jay Reznik (DMD ‘72, MDS ‘75) for the advanced education program award for their contributions to special needs dentistry. In addition, a Distinguished Alumnae Award for Dental Hygiene was presented posthumously to Dr. Margaret McCormick-Pipko for her leadership in dental hygiene. Our distinguished alumni serve as a positive reminder of the lega-cy established by the many individuals who have walked the halls of the School of Dental Medicine. This issue of Pitt Dental Medicine is dedicated to the people of the School of Dental Medicine; those whose work may

seemingly go unnoticed. Whether they be faculty, staff, or students, their involvement at the dental school supports our mission: The School of Dental Medicine, through its teaching, research, and service, will contribute with sensitivity to cultural, ethnic, racial, and religious diversity to the betterment of hu-manity by:• Offering superior educational opportunities in its first professional, postdoctoral, and dental

hygiene programs that will respond to requirements of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as well as to the broader needs of society at large.

• Providing high quality dental clinical services to the people of the Commonwealth and society atlarge,bothwithintheSDMaswellasaffiliatedhospitalsandothersites.

• Engaging in research and scholarly activities that will advance knowledge and extend the fron-tiers of oral health.

• Offeringcontinuingeducationprogramsreflectingrecentdevelopmentsandadvancesinden-tistry, adapted to personal, professional, and career objectives of the practitioner, at the regional, national, and international level.

• Engaging in public service activities by making available the expertise and educational services of the SDM to alumni, local community and public agencies.

• Providing the leadership and cooperation in the development of innovative academic programs to meet the changing and dynamic educational needs of the region, the Commonwealth, and beyond.

Ourmissionwasrecentlyupdatedtoreflecttheschool’sgrowingscope.Ourvisionisthatoralhealth is essential to total health. This concept is gaining momentum and it is a message to be commu-nicated through the actions and existence of our institution and its many programs. From classroom to chairside, our footprints on oral health are far-reaching. When faculty, staff, and students set high standards, their achievements form the positive reputation that has become synony-mous with the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine.

nnnn

Thomas W. Braun, BS ‘69, MS ‘73, DMD ‘73, PhD ‘77Professor and Dean

Best regards,

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Useful Telephone Numbers

Admissions/Student Services 412-648-9806 Office of the Dean 412-648-8880Patient Appointments 412-648-8616 Transcripts 412-624-7620

2 DentalMedNotebook

4 SDMNewswire

6 Features EditorialLeadershipinDentistry LipPrintsMayIndicateRiskforCertainBirthDefects ThePeopleoftheSDM ServingOurCountryintheArmedForces

14 Editor’sMessage FacultyUpdates

15 SchoolNews SpringResearchSymposium SeniorAwardsCeremony SDMKaleidoscope

17 AlumniNews AlumniAssociationMessages AlumniUpdates FourteenthAnnualT.F.BowserMemorialLecture DentalAlumniAssociationAnnualBusinessMeeting EighthAnnualDean’sScholarshipBallatTheDuquesneClub DiplomaCeremonyatHeinzHall DentalHygieneGraduationLuncheon NostalgicNotions:RockChalkChant InMemoriam DistinguishedAlumniGuidelines

29 Development SupportYourAlmaMater

TableofContents

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dentalmedicine

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Summer/Fall 2008Volume 6, Number 2DeanThomas W. Braun

Senior Associate DeanDennis N. Ranalli

Editor and Graphic DesignerKate Miller

Dental Alumni Association

President Lance Rose

President ElectMichael Dobos

Vice President, Dental AffairsEric Kern

Vice President, Dental HygieneJudith Gallagher

SecretaryKarin Bittner

Executive DirectorStephen L. Kondis

School of Dental MedicineOffice of Alumni Affairs and Development3501 Terrace Street440 Salk HallPittsburgh, Pa 15261www.dental.pitt.edu

Cover story: see page 21

Pitt Dental Medicine is published semiannually by the Office of Alumni Affairs and Development as a service to alumni, students and friends. Its purpose is to facilitate communication among alumni, students and friends. This publication holds itself not responsible for opinions, theories and criticisms therein contained.

The University of Pittsburgh is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer.

Dental Med Notebook

Pitt Dental Medicine: Why is women’s oral health a new focus in health care?Dr. Studen-Pavlovich: The current focus on women’s oral health emerged from em-phasis on the women’s health movement. About 15 years ago a U. S. Congressional mandate to include women as subjects in federally funded research occurred. It was importanttoincludesufficientnumbersofwomen to analyze gender-specific differ-ences in the progression and treatment of diseases. The government has established National Centers of Excellence in Wom-en’s Health throughout the country. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is one of the 15 academic health centers in the United States.Pitt Dental Medicine: What are some common conditions for female patients in the day-to-day practice of dentistry?Dr. Studen-Pavlovich: A common condi-tion during adolescence is gingivitis. This condition is caused by hormonal fluctua-tions in females that may cause a height-ened local response to irritants. Eating dis-orders have a strong female predilection. Eroded teeth, xerostomia, enlargement of the parotid glands, and other oral mani-festations may occur. Restoration of oral health is an important part of regaining a normal appearance and may positively in-fluenceherrecovery.Behavioralresearchin dentistry substantiates that women have greater situational anxiety related to den-tal encounters than do men. For example, women exhibit greater reaction toward pain and anxiety, and this greater reaction may contribute to oral conditions such as aphthous stomatitis.Pitt Dental Medicine: How is a woman’s oral health affected throughout the various stages of life?Dr. Studen-Pavlovich: In infancy epi-demiological studies have demonstrated that while clefts of the primary palate ap-pear more frequently in males, clefts of the secondary palate occur more frequently in females and are more likely to be associ-ated with a syndrome. In young adulthood some female athletes who have an eating disorder such as anorexia may progress to a condition known as the Female Athlete

Triad. This involves a patient with an eat-ing disorder who trains intensely followed by amenorrhea and premature development of osteopenia and then osteoporosis. Dur-ing pregnancy untreated periodontitis may contribute to more frequent preterm low birth weight offspring. There are intraoral manifestations associated with osteoporo-sis. Considerable research has indicated that among postmenopausal women early onset of osteoporosis in postmenopausal womeninfluencestherateofalveolarboneloss and chronic periodontitis. Scientificevidence continues to demonstrate sex-specific differences for oral diseases andconditions.Pitt Dental Medicine: What are some preventive approaches dentists can recom-mend to their female patients?Dr. Studen-Pavlovich: Dental professionals can assist their female patients with prevent-ing or controlling the infections associated with oral diseases by recommending proper mechanical removal of plaque, use appropri-ate chemotherapeutic agents, and stress the importance of regular maintenance visits for disease prevention. Adolescent women are more prone to gingivitis and aphthous ulcers when they begin their menstrual cycles and need advice about cessation of tobacco use, mouth protection during athletic activities, and avoiding eating disorders. Women dur-ing childbearing years need to understand the relationship between oral contraceptive use and concomitant changes in oral tissues. Taking care of her dentition prior to becom-ing pregnant is one of the best things a wom-an can give to her developing infant. Older women experience the onset of menopause and increased vulnerability to osteoporosis. They may experience xerostomia and burn-ing mouth syndromes. Dentists and dental hygienists need to help women alleviate these symptoms and encourage them to con-tinue good oral health care and nutrition.

Dr. Studen-Pavlovich is professor and chair of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at the School of Dental Medicine. She also is the au-thor of Women’s Oral Health published in July of 2001 in the Dental Clinics of North America by W.B. Saunders in Philadelphia, Pa.

Women’s Oral HealthQ&A with Dr. Deborah Studen-Pavlovich (DMD ‘80)

Safeguarding Against MRSAQ&A with Dr. Wilbert Milligan (PhD ‘72)

A Dental Perspective on Sleep DisordersQ&A with Dr. Barry Glassman (DMD ‘73)

Pitt Dental Medicine: What is MRSA?Dr. Milligan: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are bacteria that are very resistant to antibiotics and they’re be-coming increasingly more prevalent. The number of patients with MRSA from 1995 to 2005 has increased by 62 percent. It appears as a typical skin infection like boils or blisters. If MRSA dis-seminates into the blood stream, it can develop into a lesion or rashwherefleshbecomesnecrotic.MRSAisfatalforoneoutof20patients.It’salsocalledtheflesh-eatingbacteria.Pitt Dental Medicine: What are the risk factors for MRSA?Dr. Milligan: RiskfactorsforMRSAcanbeassociatedwithfiveCs. They are contact, crowding, contaminated items, compromised skin integrity, and cleanliness. Because of contact and crowding risks, children in day care, athletes, inmates at correctional facili-ties, and patients in long-term care facilities are all susceptible to MRSA.Pitt Dental Medicine: How is it diagnosed?Dr. Milligan: Nasal cultures can be done to identify MRSA carri-ers. Bacterial cultures can also be taken of lesions to determine if the patient has a MRSA infection.Pitt Dental Medicine: Is it safe to treat patients with MRSA?Dr. Milligan: Yes. Standard precautions should be practiced in-cluding the use of face masks and glasses with side shields, because MRSA has been found in the ocular isolates of certain carriers. Pitt Dental Medicine: What can dentists do to prevent the spread of MRSA? Dr. Milligan: Sterilization of instruments as well as disinfection of all environmental surfaces. MRSA is primarily transmitted by the hands, so targeted cleaning of all surfaces that are in contact with the hands is essential. Fortunately, it is typical for dentists to practice targeted cleaning as part of standard precautions.Pitt Dental Medicine: When should practitioners with MRSA be restricted from treating or assisting patients?Dr. Milligan: If they have active, draining lesions, they should be precluded from treating patients. They should cover those le-sions and when they’re no longer actively draining, they can treat patients. Pitt Dental Medicine: Roughly, how many persons in the United States are infected with MRSA?Dr. Milligan: Studies show that about 25 to 30 percent of the normal population is infected with MRSA. They’re infected but they don’t have the disease; they’re carriers. That’s why it’s so disconcerting, because it used to be just localized in hospitals and there was a better chance of controlling it. It’s moving out of the hospital and into the community. A lot of the hospital-associated MRSA infections are actually derived from a community strain.

Dr. Milligan is associate dean for clinical affairs and assistant pro-fessor in the Department of Diagnostic Sciences at the School of Dental Medicine.

Pitt Dental Medicine: What is a dentist’s role in treating sleep-dis-turbed breathing (SDB)? Dr. Glassman: Dentistry should be the number one portal through which patients enter into sleep medicine. Therefore, when updating a patient’s medical history during a recall visit, dentists should be ask-ingspecificquestionsrelatedtosleep-disturbedbreathing.Dentistsconsequently do not diagnose the disorder, but appropriately refer to medicine for the diagnosis. After diagnosis, those dentists trained in oral appliance therapy can provide treatment when appropriate.Pitt Dental Medicine: What are some risks for patients with sleep-disturbed breathing?Dr. Glassman: Some of the co-morbities of sleep-disturbed breathing includehypertension,myocardialinfarctions,heartattacks,acidrefluxdisease, and diabetes. In addition, there is the major issue of SDB’s relationship to excessive daytime sleepiness, motor vehicle accidents, and poor job performance issues. Combined with the tendency to have an effect on mood and its relationship to depression, we can start to see how destructive this disorder can be to one’s quality of life. Pitt Dental Medicine: How can dentists recognize and treat sleep-disturbed breathing?Dr. Glassman: The questions that are most predictive for SDB are as follows: Do you snore? Do you have hypertension? Has anyone suggested that you gasp for air or choke at night? What is your neck size? Certainly we can ask about daytime sleepiness and if the patient wakes refreshed, but because there are so many disorders associated with hypersomnolence, it is not necessarily predictable for an obstruc-tive disorder.Pitt Dental Medicine: How can the effectiveness of a dental sleep appliance be measured?Dr. Glassman: This is a great question because it makes the assump-tion that we SHOULD measure our outcomes, and that assumption is just so important. Among the many challenges of treating obstruc-tions for the dentist is the need to provide accurate testing for proper titration of our appliances and to communicate effectively with our medical colleagues. We use ambulatory studies for titration, then tend to refer our patients back to their physicians for the decision as to whether follow up polysomnograms are required.Pitt Dental Medicine:Wherecandentistsfindoutmoreaboutdentalsleep medicine?Dr. Glassman: Over the years I have noted more and more courses being given on sleep disorders for the dentist. It is extremely impor-tant that the course emphasize not only the science of sleep medicine, but the art involved in implementing the treatment which includes learning how and when to refer and treat. It is essential that we learn whatfactorsareimportant inmakingrisk/benefitdecisionsthatareinvolved with patient care and NOT treat snoring without a complete diagnosis.

Dr. Glassman maintains a private practice in Allentown, Pa. which is limited to chronic pain management, temporomandibular joint dys-function and dental sleep medicine.

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SDM Newswire

Dentalcariesremainsthemostcommonchronicafflictionofchildhood,fivetimesmorecommonthanasthmaandseventimesmore common than environmental allergies. Four out of ten chil-dren have caries when they enter kindergarten. To identify the ge-netic and environmental risk factors that cause dental caries, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded a $1 million grant to Dr. Mary L. Marazita, director of the Center for Craniofacial and Dental Research, associate dean for research and professor and chair of the Department of Oral Biology. Dr. Marazita and colleagues will study the interaction between genes and environ-mental factors that lead to tooth decay. The results of these studies will allow a better understanding of the disease, which in turn will leadtoearlieridentificationofchildrenatriskandimprovedandtargeted interventions.

“As prevalent as tooth decay is in everyday life, there are many gapsinourscientificknowledgeaboutitscauses,”saidDr.Mara-zita. “It is striking that some people will have many teeth affected with decay while other people in the same environment will not. Ourstudyisthefirsttoapplyacomprehensiveapproachthatwillallow us to tease out what’s in our genes and what’s in our environ-mentthatiscausingtoothdecay.”

The grant is part of the Genes, Environment and Health Ini-tiative (GEI). In addition to the grant, NIH will provide genetic services of approximately $2.5 million to Dr. Marazita. She is one of only eight scientists selected to receive these grants during this funding cycle.

In 2005, dental health care costs reached nearly $84 billion, of which 60 percent or about $50 billion was related to treatment of cavities. Childhood caries is a serious public health issue because of associated health problems and because disparities in oral health have led to substantially higher average disease prevalence among children in poverty and in under served racial and ethnic groups.

The genome-wide association studies will be led by the Na-tional Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), part of NIH. First-year funding for the studies was contributed by all NIH insti-tutes and centers, including an extra investment by NIH’s National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). NHGRI is one of 27 institutes and centers at the NIH, an agency of the De-partment of Health and Human Services. The NHGRI Division of Extramural Research supports grants for research and for training and career development at sites nationwide.

The NIDCR is the nation’s leading funder of research on oral, dental and craniofacial health. NIH is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases.

Additional collaborators from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine include Dr. Robert Weyant, professor and chair for the Department of Dental Public Health and Infor-mation Management, director of the Multidisciplinary Master of Public Health Program, and associate dean for Public Health and Outreach.

DidyouknowthefirstfemaletograduatefromtheSchoolof Dental Medicine did so in 1915? That’s right, Dr. Hanna Perry wasthefirstofmanywomentograduatefromwhatwasknownthen as the Pennsylvania Dental College. Over the last decade, women have made up 45 percent of dentists nationwide according to statistics provided by the Ameri-can Dental Association. Only twenty years ago, that percentage was less than one-third. University records indicate a long history of women enrolled at the School of Dental Medicine, in fact the firstfemaleadmittedwasMs.MaryLGlenin1898,onlytwoyearsafter the incorporation of the school. It is unclear whether Ms. Glen completed the three-year program as graduation records for the dental school are not documented in the University database until 1902. The number of female graduates at the School of Dental Medicine increased substantially from an average of one each year between 1902 and 1969 to an average of six during the ‘70s, an average of 22 during the ‘80s, an average of 23 during the ‘90s, and an average of 32 between 2000 and 2007. Today, the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine’s 2008 female graduates make up 40 percent of the Pred-octoral Program.

Cavities: Nature or Nurture?Women in Dentistry

From left to right: 2008 dental graduates Dr. Jennifer Check, Dr. Sara Iglio, Dr. Renee Regina, and Dr. Jyotika Dhawan.

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Forthelastfiveyears,thealumni,faculty,staff,andstudentsof the Department of Pediatric Dentistry have come together to provide uninsured children with over $40,000 in free dental treat-ment through Give Kids a Smile Day (GKAS). As February is NationalChildren’sDentalHealthMonth,thefirstinstallmentofGKAS occurred on Feb. 29th. In addition, the organizers of the event planned a second day on March 13th to make GKAS more accessible to families and volunteers.

GKAS is mainly organized by the school’s chapter of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (Pedo Club), however faculty and staff make major contributions to the overall success of the event. This year’s GKAS chair is Mr. Jason Ashcroft, a third-year predoctoral student who attended a national symposium for GKAS in 2007. As a volunteer for GKAS last year, Jason said he believes it is important to help those who are less fortunate and that GKAS also benefits students in fulfilling requirements andexpanding their patient base. Ms. Dara Weiner, third-year pred-octoral student and president of the Pedo Club, also is active in planning the event. Another new development for GKAS is the inclusion of dental hygiene student volunteers from the Student American Dental Hygienists’ Association.

stories from dental.pitt.edu

Give Kids a Smile Day Expanded

Ms. Melissa Brown and Ms. Melinda Mazzocco comfort Mr. Dillon Mazzocco prior to his dental treatment at Give Kids a Smile Day.

A young patient uses a mirror to view his teeth. A young patient sits for her screening and treatment.

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Editorial Leadership in DentistryThe School of Dental Medicine has many faculty members in editorial po-sitions with

various health research journals. As edi-tors and members of editorial boards, these leaders are upholding high standards of quality in research while shaping the cur-rent landscape of topics ranging from ac-cess to oral health care to the genetics of craniofacial disorders. They serve to dis-seminate ever-occurring advancements in the study of oral health, inspiring new policy and practice for the future. With recent technological devel-opments in the publishing industry, health research journals are capable of near-in-stantly sharing new research with early online publishing and a completely auto-mated online process for printed editions. As authors submit their articles online, the articles are automatically key worded and matched to reviewers. This is the process employed by the Journal of Public Health Dentistry. The journal’s editor, Dr. Robert Weyant, is then able to review the articles and the assigned reviewers to ensure the match is logical and then approves and sends the articles for review with the touch of a button. Dr. Weyant is professor and chair for the Department of Dental Public Health and Information Management, di-rector of the Multidisciplinary Master of Public Health Programs, and associate dean for Public Health Outreach at the School of Dental Medicine. He has been an active member and past president of the American Association of Public Health Dentistry, the sponsoring organization of the journal. “Being a part of the process of the scientific pipeline from beginning to endwhere research appears in print is very in-teresting,”Dr.Weyantsaid.“Ithinkthere’san opportunity there to really make a dif-ference in the quality of the science that’s being published to the degree that I can have an impact that will be useful to the profession.” Aside from attending various meetings throughout the year, Dr. Wey-ant is able to manage most of his duties as editor from his location in Pittsburgh. The automated system speeds the publishing process as reviewers are automatically re-

minded of approaching deadlines or over-due articles. Once an article is returned, a cover letter is automatically generated including excerpts from the manuscript. From there, the publisher will copy-edit the accepted publication and publish it online complete with a session number for refer-ence. The advent of early online publish-ing makes research available between four and six months prior to the distribution of the printed journal. Dr. Weyant is one of the few people involved with the Journal of Public Health Dentistry who is part of the publish-

ingprocess fromstart tofinish. Afterar-ticles are reviewed, Dr. Weyant is charged withmaking thefinal decision on the ac-ceptance of articles that are not unanimous-ly approved by the reviewers. While the editorial board plays an advisory role, the editormakesthefinaldecision. Dr.Wey-ant also pointed out that there is an editorial freedom to make decisions separate from the sponsoring organization. His role is to maintain the quality of research published and the reputation of the journal. He said less than a third of the articles submitted to the Journal of Public Health Dentistry are accepted for publication. Dr. Mary Marazita, professor and chair of the Department of Oral Biology and associate dean for research, and Dr. Mark Mooney, professor and vice chair of

the Department of Oral Biology, serve on the editorial board of The Cleft Palate-Cra-niofacial Journal. Dr. Marazita is section editor of genetics and Dr. Mooney is sec-tion editor of anatomy/basic sciences. Dr. Mooney said the journal also employs an electronic process that is double-blinded from submission through review. The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal is published in-ternationally and has volunteers who help authors to clarify their manuscripts which are printed in English. The following faculty members serve on editorial boards for various health research journals. Dean Braun is on the ed-itorial board of the International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and is as-sociate editor of Selected Readings in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. In the Depart-ment of Diagnostic Sciences both Dr. James Guggenheimer, professor, and Dr. Kurt Summersgill, associate professor, serve on the editorial board for Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology and Endodontology. Dr. Paul Moore, pro-fessor and chair of the Department of Den-tal Anesthesiology, has served on the edito-rial board for The Journal of the American Dental Association, the Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry, and An-esthesia Progress. Dr. Dennis N. Ranalli, professor in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry and senior associate dean, is on the editorial board of Dental Traumatology. Dr. Titus Schleyer, associate professor in the Department of Dental Public Health and Information Management and direc-tor of the Center for Dental Informatics, is the associate editor for informatics and technology in The Journal of the American Dental Association. Dr. Deborah Studen-Pavlovich, professor and chair of the De-partment of Pediatric Dentistry, is on the editorial board of the Journal of Dentistry for Children and the Pennsylvania Dental Journal.

“Being a part of the process of the scientificpipelinefrom beginning to end where research appears in print is veryinteresting.”

Dr. Robert Weyant

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Lip Prints May Indicate Risk for Certain Birth Defects By Kim Barlow, reprinted with permission from the University Times To some, a kiss is just a kiss. To researchers in Pitt’s Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics, a kiss may offer clues to who may be at increased risk for certain birth defects. Researchers there are using chei-loscopy, the study of lip prints, as part of their quest to better understand the causes behind cleft lip and palate. Center director Mary Marazita, who also is the School of Dental Medi-cine’s associate dean of research and chair of the Department of Oral Biology, has been studying clefting since the 1980s. Clefts, which occur when the tis-sue that forms the upper lip and roof of the mouth doesn’t fuse properly during prenatal development, are among the most common birth defects, affecting one or two of every 1,000 births worldwide. About 30 percent of clefts are associated with a genetic syn-drome; the rest are thought to result from other genetic and/or environmental factors. Marazita’s research includes the Pittsburgh Oral-Facial Cleft Study, which seekstofindthegenesunderlyingnon-syn-dromic clefts by studying families that in-clude at least two affected family members. Study participants in Pittsburgh and other sites around the world are screened in a lengthy process that includes taking a general health history, family his-tory and DNA sample, 3-D facial photos from which measurements can be calculat-ed, an ultrasound of the muscle of the up-perlip,lipprintsaswellasfingerprints,anassessment of handedness and a screening by a speech pathologist to assess speech ar-chitecture. A number of traits have been found to be more common in families with clefting. Among them are non-right-hand-edness, physical asymmetry and structural differences in the muscle that surrounds the lip as well as differences in teeth, facial di-mensions and speech characteristics. Eth-nicity also plays a role. Native Americans and Asians have a higher incidence of non-syndromic clefting while the occurrence is rarer in whites and even less common in blacks. The idea to study lip prints came about a decade ago as center researcher Kathy Neiswanger, a research professor in the Department of Oral Biology, began paging through the index of “Mendelian In-heritanceinMan,”acataloglistinghuman

genes and genetic disorders. While searching for some simple genetic traits that might be related to cleft-ing or increased risk of clefting, “I hit on lipprintsasoneoftheentries,”shesaid. Very little literature on lip prints exists, and most of that is aimed at deter-mining whether people can be identifiedby theirprints inamanner similar tofin-gerprinting, or in extracting DNA from lip prints to solve crimes. But Neiswanger found a German research paper from the 1970s indicating that certain types of pat-terns found in lip prints might be increased in individuals with clefts. The very low-tech process of gath-ering research subjects’ lip prints made it easy to choose to add lip printing to the pro-tocol. Marazita decided, “It was cheap and easytodosowe’llcollectitoneverybody.” The prints are taken using invis-ible ink -- the kind used to take hand and footprints of newborns -- printed onto chemically sensitive paper that develops in a few minutes. Neiswanger found that the origi-nallipprints--printedingray--werediffi-cult to analyze until a post-graduate student scanned the prints and contrast-enhanced them. When the prints were enlarged and colored blue, the patterns became clearer.

Now, Neiswanger said, “We’ve seen more lip prints than probably anybody in the world.” They’ve even had some fun with the original lip prints, combining a sam-pling of the student’s work in a four-panel Warhol-esque print to present as a Pitts-burgh-themed farewell gift when the stu-dent left the center for dental school. Most people have never paid much attention to the patterns on their lips or anyone else’s, but Neiswanger noted that lip prints vary greatly. The simplest pat-tern is made up of vertical lines, but others include horizontal lines, whorls, diamond patterns, X-shapes or lines that resemble

roots and branches. “Therearelotsofpatterns,”Neis-wanger said. “It gets complicated very quickly.” Parallel research has shown that a mutation in the IRF6 gene causes Van der Woude syndrome -- a syndrome that causes clefting and/or circular depressions called fistulasonthelips. It’s unclear why this gene -- an interferon regulatory factor -- would have an impact on lips, Marazita said. But the researchers immediately began to wonder whether whorl patterns are associated with variants (differences that are not muta-tions) in the IRF6 gene. They hypothesize that certain genes in a family could lead to clefting in some members and particular lip prints in others. “Wehavetobecareful,”Marazitasaid.“Wedon’tknowyet.” The center now has a collection of more than 900 lip prints that have been examined to sort out those that have whorl patterns from those that do not. Early analysis found lower lip whorls in about 18 percent of individuals with clefts and about 16 percent of their family members without clefts. In contrast, only about 3 percent of a control group had whorlpatterns,a“verysignificantfinding,”she said. While the lip prints all have been scored, only about two-thirds of the geno-typing is done, so there are no definitiveanswers yet. Neiswanger said she hopes to have all the pieces in place in time for a presentation at a meeting of cleft palate re-searchers in mid-April. Marazita said that identifying the genes that may predispose some families to clefting could lead to better genetic coun-seling and improved treatments. “Once we get the genetics down, wecanlookatenvironmentalfactors,”shesaid. For instance, smoking during preg-nancy is known to double the risk of clefts, but it’s not known whether refraining from smoking could be even more important for those with genetic traits associated with an increased risk. “Within five years we’ll knowenough about some of these traits that they’ll beclinicallyuseful,”Marazitapredicted.

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The People of the School of Dental Medicine

Dr. John Baker, asso-ciate professor in the Depart-ment of Oral Biology and president of the University Senate, has been part of the School of Dental Medicine for over 30 years. Original-ly from Illinois, Dr. Baker’s journey to the school began with a degree in agricultur-al science with a focus on biochemistry. From there, he went to the University of California at Berkeley where he earned a PhD in biochemistry. His interest in

biochemistry led to a career with the National Institutes of Health where he eventually researched microbes causing periodontal dis-ease. “We were starting to study how T-cells would respond and antigens. At that time, the focus was that it was the cellu-lar immune response, the T-cell response, that might be causing the inflammation ultimately and the bone loss,”Dr.Baker said.Dr. Baker was recruited at the School of Dental Medicine to teach immunology. Today as an associate professor he teaches mainly biochemistry. Dr. Baker has been active with the University Senate since 1993 and is in his third term as president. In his role as senate president, Dr. Baker is focused on broad issues affecting the University at large. During his tenure as president, the senate has increased representation from the medical school, changed the bylaws to allow electronic elections, formed an ad hoc commit-teeforgenderequity,andthebenefitsandwelfarecommitteehasbeen instrumental in supporting the administration ban of smoking within 15 feet of University buildings. “You end up participating in a lot of different areas that you wouldn’t otherwise know about,” said Dr. Baker. “It justmakes you think about things you would never otherwise think about.”Asgrandmarshal,hemetDesmondTutuduringhis2007visit to the University. Dr. Baker sits on the medical advisory committee as well as the University Planning and Budget Committee. He and his wife, Kathy, are longtime opera patrons. Dur-ing their 41 years of marriage, they have frequented opera perfor-mances from Wolf Trap in Vienna, Va, to the Pittsburgh Opera. In fact, Dr. Baker participated as a super in many operas at Pittsburgh Opera. On several occasions he has played a solider in Tosca.

Over 200 individuals work together to support the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. With 10 depart-

ments, and numerous programs from dental hygiene through the various residency programs, the school graduates an aver-age of 130 oral health professionals each year. As a health care provider, the School of Dental Medicine reaches countless local

patients in the region while addressing oral health needs on a global scale. From continually increasing admissions standards to a rising research ranking, the efforts of many faculty, staff, and students enhance the School of Dental Medicine experi-ence. The following examples are just a glimpse of the many people who come together to shape our alma mater.

Dr. Marnie Oakley (DMD ‘92), assistant professor and chair in the Department of Restorative Dentistry/Comprehensive Care, first came to theSchool ofDentalMedicine as a 19-yearold first-year predoctoral student. By enrolling in college-levelcourses during her senior year in high school, she was able to get a head start with her undergraduate degree at Pitt and applied for early admission to the dental school. Dr. Oakley said she always had a strong affiliation for the sciences andwas drawn to den-tistry because she saw the opportunity to have a career in health care while raising a family. Shortly after graduation, Dr. Oakley married predoctoral classmate, Dr. Geoff Oakley, and they enlisted in theU.S.Navyasdentalofficers. Afterfouryearsofservicewith the Navy, Dr. Oakley accepted a part-time position as clinical instructor in oral medicine and pathology. She never imagined returning to the school full-time, but became inspired by the many positive changes taking place at the school. “I really became energized when I was working here part-timeandIbecameinvolveddirectlyinmakingpositivechanges,”she said. Dr. Oakley was recently honored as the recipient of a 2008 American Dental Education Association Presidential Cita-tion for her leadership during the 2007-2008 academic year. For the past two years, she has held the chair of ADEA’s annual session planning committee. “It’s a great committee of a lot of faculty from different schools, representing all different councils and sections and seg-mentsofADEA,”shesaid.“MembershipinADEAprovidestheopportunity to network with new colleagues at the annual session.” The annual ses-sion is the showcase of the organization where many innovative approaches are presented as benchmarks in dental education. Dr. Oakley said Pitt’s dental school is a positive example amongst dental schools nationwide. “That’s one of the things that I want to see as an alumna, that we will al-waysremaincuttingedge.”Dr. Oakley also is chair of the organization’s Compre-hensive Care/Restorative Dentistry section. While her involve-ment with ADEA keeps her very busy, Dr. Oakley emphasized the value of networking with dental educators.

Dr. John Baker

Dr. Marnie Oakley

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The People of the School of Dental Medicine Our Faculty Dr. Elia Beniash, assistant professor in the Department of Oral Biology, is originally from St. Petersburg, Russia. Dr. Be-niash knew from an early age that he was interested in science; he joined a club at the local zoo where he often spent time observing the animals. He went on to earn a Master of Science degree in zoology and biology at St. Petersburg State University. As op-portunities for research were limited in Russia, Dr. Beniash went to The Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Isreal for his Doctor of Philosophy degree in structural biology. In 2000, he moved to the United States to accept a research associate posi-tion at Northwestern University and later moved from Chicago to the Forsyth Institute in Boston, Ma. At the Forsyth Institute, Dr. Beniash was an assistant member of the staff in the Department of Biomineralization. It was at the Weiz-man Institute where Dr. Beniash became interested in biomineralization and tis-sue engineering during his work on his thesis about the skeletal development of sea urchins. His thesis, Spiculo-genesis of Sea Urchin Larva, depicted the process of the mineral phase through crys-tallization. “I’m working on how proteins or macromol-ecules effect crystal growth; how the interaction proteins and minerals leads to these unique mechanical proper-ties of dentin and enamel and how we can use the knowledge to develop new materials with similar properties that we can apply to tissueengineering,regeneration,andrepair,”Dr.Beniashsaid. Dr. Beniash has a secondary appointment at the School of Engineering and said he enjoys the opportunities made possible by the University of Pittsburgh. “Pitt is a larger institution with more cooperation, more facilities,moreopportunitiesintermsofwhatIcandohere,”saidDr. Beniash. “I like our group and the interactions with people acrosstheUniversity.”Outsideofresearch,Dr.Beniashdoesn’thave much free time. He likes to spend time with his family. He and his wife have a seven year-old daughter and he enjoys taking her to museums and shows. He also goes to the gym and enjoys reading. “Betweenmyworkandfamily,Idon’thavemuchtime,”Dr. Beniash said. He added that he enjoys life in Pittsburgh, espe-cially his neighborhood of Squirrel Hill. “Everything is close and it’saniceenvironment.”

Dr. Deborah Polk, assistant professor in the Department of Dental Public Health and Information Man-agement, grew up in Chevy Chase, Md. As a child, she was always interested in sci-ence and math and found research to be appealing. However, she said she never thought she’d be working in oral health research. “I didn’t know that oral health researchers and dental schools were in-terested in psychologists,”she said. Dr. Polk attended Cornell University in Ithaca, NY where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology as well as Indiana University in Bloom-ington, Ind. where she earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in clinical psychology. Dr. Polk’s post-graduate work includes clini-cal internships and postdoctoral fellowships at Indiana University School of Medicine, Carnegie Mellon University and the Univer-sity of Pittsburgh. “Some of the oral health outcomes really lend themselves well to thekindsofquestionsI’minterested in,”shesaid. Forexample, Dr. Polk explained that researchers of cardiovascular health outcomes may have to wait as many as 30 years to docu-ment their results. By comparison, the mouth is very accessible and outcomes can be studied within much shorter time frames. “I’m interested in how psychological processes affect im-munefunction,”shesaid. Dr. Polk is afirst-yearNorthAmericanDirector of theBehavioral, Epidemiologic, and Health Services Research Group of the International Association of Dental Research (IADR). One of her responsibilities as director is to review abstracts submitted for the annual session of the IADR. She reviews a breadth of over 90 abstracts in the behavioral, epidemiological, and health services research scientific group. Dr. Polk is one of six basic sciencesdirectors at the IADR. In addition to the directors, there is a presi-dent, president-elect, secretary/treasurer, coordinator and several counselors. At the school, Dr. Polk serves on the Outcomes Assess-ment Subcommittee of the Curriculum Committee. She also served on the advisory committee between 2004 and 2007. Dr. Polk teaches an introductory course to behavioral dentistry. Be-havioral management and cultural awareness are some of many topics discussed in the course. “There’srealgiveandtakeinfiguringoutwhatisbestforyourpatientandthatisasmuchofanartasitisascience.”

Dr. Elia Beniash

Dr. Deborah Polk

10

Our Staff Ms. Harriet Puchone, coordinator for the Officeof Education and Curricu-lum, was recently honored with the 2008 Chancellor’s Awards for Staff Excellence in service to the community and to the University. She has been a member of the staffforfiveyearsandisinthe process of completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in social sciences with a mi-nor in public service, and a certificate in non-profitmanagement. Ms. Puchone

is planning to graduate in 2009. Her next move includes applying for the master’s program in higher education management at the School of Education. “Education and academics are my passion and I really enjoyworkingwith the students here at the dental school,” shesaid. “I have a greater appreciation for education through my workexperienceintheOfficeofEducationandCurriculum.”Ms.Puchone said that going back to school has changed her life sig-nificantly.Shehasbeenabletoapplymuchofwhatshelearnsinthe classroom to her full-time job. As a non-traditional student, Ms. Puchone has enrolled in mainly Saturday, evening and on-line courses. She is working on lining up some independent study through the Department of Sociology. “I constantly try to give it my best and utilize my time thebestIcan,”shesaid.Ms.Puchonerecentlyparticipatedinaninternship with the Make-A-Wish Foundation where she assisted the special events manager with the Light Up a Child’s Life cam-paign. The internship required 100 hours and she put in more than the required time. “Make-A-Wish understood I was a non-traditional stu-dentsotheywerewillingtoworkwithmyschedule,”Ms.Puchonesaid.Shescheduledinterviewsfor“wishkids,”theirfamilies,andsupporting organizations during the two-week radio campaign which was broadcast from various downtown Pittsburgh location. Sponsoring organizations presented donations on-air with assis-tance from disc jockeys from WISH 99.7. “It was neat to do the leg work and get to see behind the scenes,”shesaid.“Ireallygetthepictureofpublicservice.”Ms.Puchonesaidsheisattractedtonon-profitorganizationsbecauseshecurrentlyworksatanon-profitorganization. When Ms. Puchone learned of the staff excellence award, shewasspeechlessandsaiditwasmeaningfultofindoutthatanon-traditional dental student nominated her. “I love to learn and I think teamwork is important. If anything comes out of this, I just think that it shows that teamwork is an important component in anything you do in life. And that’s really all I’ve done as part of a team whether it be with the den-tal school, the College of General Studies, or my internship. It’s peopleworkingtogetherinoneformoranother.”

Mr. Sherman Watson, sterilization clerk in Instrument Management Systems, is an ambassador of good will and longev-ity at the School of Dental Medicine. University records indicate that Mr. Watson has been here for 44 years. However, that doesn’t count several years of temporary employment as a lab technician during the rein of Dr. Jonas Salk at the University of Pittsburgh. Mr. Watson’s parents also worked for Dr. Salk and they helped him get his job straight out of high school. Mr. Watson, a Pittsburghnative,recalledhisfirstdayonthejobandsaiditwasvery hot that summer. After two years of working for Dr. Salk, he transferred to what was then the Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry at the School of Dental Medicine, and then trans-ferred to his current position in IMS when it opened in the ‘90s. Regardless, Mr. Watson has always worked in Salk Hall and his jobhereishisfirstandonlyjob. He’s said he’s seen the school change for the better over the years. “Dr. Braun brought a higher standard, from the build-ing,tothefacultyandthestaff.”Mr.Watsonsaidtheschoolishishome away from home and that he most enjoys working with the people. “At the dental school, you can go and meet people from aroundtheworld,”hesaid.“Yougetadifferentoutlookondif-ferentculturesbyinteractingwithdifferentpeople.”Mr.Watsonis well-known by the faculty, staff, and students at the school. He oftenstopstosay“hello”inthehallwaysandtakestimetohelpnewcomersfindtheirwayaroundthebuilding. He attributes his talkativeness to his mother and told a story about a trip he and his sister took with their mother to Loui-siana by train. The family almost missed their stop because Mrs. Watson was busy talking to other passengers. As a sterilization clerk, Mr. Watson processes dental instruments and hand pieces. He has seen a lot of change in sterilization tech-niquessincehefirststarted.For instance, at one time he used the ultrasonic to steril-ize 350 casettes each day. That process included col-lecting the casettes in a ba-sin, rinsing, and hand drying them before placing them in the ultrasonic. Today he uses a high-tech autoclave that is totally automatic. His interests include gardening, visiting with family and friends and watching Star Trek. Mr. Watson said he is a trekkie at heartandislookingforwardtoaStarTrekfilmslatedfortheatersin 2009. When asked about his plans for the future, Mr. Watson said he intends to stick around a while longer. “Istillhavealittlesmokeinme,”hechuckled.

Ms. Harriet Puchone

Mr. Sherman Watson

Our Students Dr. Andrew Thomp-son (DMD ‘08), orthodon-tics resident and recent graduate of the Predoctoral Program, is an Albert Sch-weitzer Fellow and has fo-cused his project on smoking cessation. The Albert Sch-weitzer Fellowship’s is the namesake organization of Dr. Schweitzer, Nobel Prize winner, who was known for his medical work in Africa during WWII. The mission of Schweitzer fellowships is to reduce disparities in

healthandhealthcarebydeveloping“leadersinservice.” “Dr.Schweitzerwasanamazingman,”saidDr.Thomp-son. “By the age of 30, he had written a couple of books, had two doctoral degrees, was a world authority on Bach, an organist and a pastor. And around age 30 he decided he wanted to help the people of Africa, so he went to med school and later started the hospital (AlbertSchweitzerHospitalinLambaréné,Gabon).” For his fellowship, Dr. Thompson was inspired by an in-novative smoking cessation program held at McKeesport Hospital where he volunteered with counselors to coach participants in their efforts to quit smoking. He is working on organizing his own pro-gram and is in the process of scouting locations to hold classes to guide people through the process of quitting smoking. The project requires 200 direct service hours and Dr. Thompson said that while he has already graduated from the fellowship program, he is still workingtofulfillhisprojectgoalsasitwasdifficulttofindenoughtime during his last year of dental school. Dr. Thompson said his program will not only focus on the negative effects of smoking, but on different approaches to break the habit. “Tobacco really is the worst thing you can do for your health,”saidDr.Thompson.“Somanypeoplewhoareaddictedto cigarettes want to quit and it’s nice to be able to help people along.” During his predoctoral studies, Dr. Thompson served as class president and was a member of the American Student Den-tal Association, the Curriculum Committee, the Student Advisory Panel to the Dean, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and the Academy for Sports Dentistry. He also was a recipient of the Norman Stern Scholarship at University of Pittsburgh in 2007. Dr. Thompson participated in National Dental Student Lobby Day in Washington DC in 2005 as well as Pennsylvania Dental Lobby Day in Harrisburg in 2005 and 2006. He also ran and helped with fund raising in both the Race for the Cure and the Great Race in 2005 and 2006. Originally from Harrisburg, Pa, Dr. Thompson hopes to eventually return to Central Pennsylvania and practice as an ortho-dontist.

Third-year predoctoral student, Mr. Charlie Miller, main-tains a busy schedule and high grade point average at the School of Dental Medicine. With a GPA of 3.88, Mr. Miller ranks as 6th out of 77 predoctoral students. He is active in many organiza-tions at the school including the Student Research Group in which heisanadvertisementofficer,theHispanicDentalAssociationinwhich he is treasurer and the Sports Dentistry Club in which he is vice president. Mr. Miller is also a member of the Pedo Club and is currently working on a research project involving the relation between periodontitis and sickle cell disease under the direction of Dr. Pouran Famili, professor and chair of the Department of Periodontics/Preventive Dentistry. “Some of the ultimate goals of this sickle cell research project will be prevention of periodontitis in sickle cell patients and prevention of a sickle cell crisis in sickle cell patients with periodontitis,”hesaid. Mr. Miller also is the recipient of the 2008 American Den-tal Education Association/Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products Preventive Dentistry Scholarship. He is from Dos Palos, Ca. and has gone on several mis-sion trips to Spanish-speaking countries in South America. Be-tween 1998 and 2000, Mr. Miller served a mission trip in Co-lombia where he became fluent in Spanish. He later combinedhis Spanish-speaking skills with his education in dentistry on an internship in Ecuador in 2005 where he assisted in the treatment of many under-privileged people in the town of Quito and surround-ing areas. “I realized that preventive dentistry is very limited in cer-tainpartsoftheworld,”saidMr. Miller. “We can do so much in the United States to teach people, but we can do so much more outside of the United States where dentists are limited and oral hygiene ispoor.” Mr. Miller also re-cently participated in the Bridging the Gap program for health care to under served populations in the Pittsburgh area. At the den-tal school, he has served as an assistant for courses in head/neck anatomy and his involvement in the Sports Dentistry Club has allowed the opportunity to work with many athletes from local high schools. He made custom mouthpieces for the athletes and a presentation on the effects of spit tobacco with suggestions for cessation. Since joining the club, there were roughly 15 members and it has since grown to 57 members. Mr. Miller is hoping to recruit more to help advocate the cessation of spit tobacco to local high school athletes. He also is a Schweitzer Fellow and intends to continue his spit tobacco project as part of his fellowship.

Mr. Charlie Miller

Mr. Andrew Thompson

12

Serving Our COuntry in the Armed FOrCeS

The School of Dental Medicine has a long tradition of ser-vice in the U.S. armed forces. From faculty members through predoctoral students, many representatives of the

school have served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corp., and Coast Guard. In fact, Dr. Bruce Doll, assistant professor in the Department of Periodontics/Preventive Dentistry, was deployed to Landstuhl, Germany as part of the Dental Corps in October of 2007 and was later appointed as Rear Admiral (Select) in which he assumed his present duties as deputy director for Navy Personnel in the Navy Expeditionary Medical Unit at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. Other faculty members serving in the military include Dr. Peter H. Guevara, director of the General Practice ResidencyProgramatUPMCMontefioreandassistantprofessorin the Department of Restorative Dentistry/Comprehensive Care, is Lieutenant Colonel of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. Dr. John Ferrence, assistant professor in the Department of Prosth-odontics, is Lieutenant Colonel in the Dental Corps of the U.S. Army Reserves. Currently, ten predoctoral students in the class of 2009, fiveintheclassof2010,andtwointheclassof2011arereceivingmilitary scholarships. Commissions through the various branches enable predoctoral students to complete their doctorate in dental medicine while serving their country. As alumni they will go on tofulfilltheircontractsthroughtheDentalCorps,gainingvaluableexperience in dentistry across the world.

Supporting Our Troops Through Research

Dr. Charles Sfeir, director of the Center for Craniofacial Regeneration and associate professor in the Department of Oral Biology, is taking part in research through the U. S. Armed Forces Insti-tute of Regenerative Medicine (AFIRM), an $85 million initiative announced in April by Lt. Gen. Eric Schoomaker, the Army surgeon general. Dr. Sfeir, through the McGowan Institute for Regenera-tive Medicine and in collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University, is leading a team of researchers in the development

of a powder containing bone proteins, growth factors and biodegradable cement to be mixed with water and molded to the shape of missing bone. Once complete, this technology will benefit woundedsoldiers by providing the ability to main-tain their natural mobility in the case of injured appendages. Dr. Sfeir’s project is one of several regenerative therapies under development for AFIRM. Other participants in AFIRM are Wake Forest, Rutgers, and the Cleveland Clinic. This initiative is taking cutting

edge research from the bench top to clini-cal applications for the armed forces. “From the get-go, we decided to select materials that are either FDA-ap-proved or materials that have previously been used on patients because at some point our research needs to be translated intopatienttherapy,”Dr.Sfeirsaid. “Incases of trauma, or rejection after a cancer case, where you need to insert bone, this material will actually become a functional material.”

13

Stewart, Kevin

Candella, Melissa

Russell, Paul

Graham, Thomas

Paul Russell, third-year predoctoral studentBranch: U. S. NavyDate enrolled: May 15, 2006Plans after graduation: I plan to enroll in the AEGD program within the Navy followed by a few years of Navy dentistry.Fondest Memory: A classmate’s patient gave me a wedding gift.Inspiration for your military/dental career: I was inspired to pursue dentistry because I thought about the ability to have a profound impact in somebody’s life in a very short amount of time. Dentistry in one of the armed forces appealed to me because of the ability to provide the very best treatment to my patients regardless of cost to them and the pride and satisfaction that I feel knowing I will be serving the men and women who protect and serve our country.

Kevin Stewart,first-yearpredoctoralstudentBranch: U. S. Navy Date enrolled: July 2007Plans after graduation: Enjoying a few years in the Navy. If it works out well, I’ll stay in the Navy and look to specialize. Otherwise, I can see myself settling somewhere and practicing privately as a general dentist.Fondest Memory: Introduction to AmalgamInspiration: My inspiration for joining the Navy is my national

prideaswellasthefinancialstabilityoffered.

Melissa Candella, second-year predoctoral studentBranch: U.S. Air ForceDate enrolled: May 5, 2007Plans after graduation: Three years repayment to the Air Force.Fondest moment in dental school: Receiving my white coat.Inspiration for your military/dental career: My grand father was the head of the U.S. Immigration Service for West-ern Europe, and retired as a Lt. Colonel in the Army. He credits his accomplishments to the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act. My uncle was a Lt. Colonel in the Air Force, and flewbombersinWWIIandVietnam.Both of them really enjoyed being stationed all over the world.

Thomas Graham, second-year predoctoral studentBranch: U. S. ArmyDate enrolled: August 8, 2006Plans after graduation: As of now I plan on four years in the Army and after that I am undecided.Fondest moment in dental school: Lobby Day 2008Inspiration for your military/dental career: My family dentist (aretiredarmyofficer)encouragedmetopursuetheArmyasanoption to pay for my dental education and a great way to gain experience.

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Is your dental practice offering the latest in comprehensive care? While comprehensive care in dentistry refers to the inclusiveness of the vari-ous specialties, it seems that the definition can be broadened. Oral

health is encompassing so much more from the perspective of overall health. With the resurgence of research making an association between oral health and systemic health, now is the time to consider the dentists’ role in overall health. While each dental practice is unique and patients’ needs may vary from one town to the next, dentists and dental hygienists could incorporate a total health plan for patients ranging from pre-pregnancy consultations to screenings for coronary heart disease. Oral health is gaining increasing significanceinthemedicalcommunityanditwon’tbelongbeforepatientstake notice if they haven’t already. Patients typically seek routine oral health care more frequently than medical care and dentists have the oppor-tunity to administer basic screenings that could ultimately save a patient’s life. For instance, the Framingham Global Risk Assessment which predicts risk for coronary heart disease only requires a few minutes of basic calcula-tionsandreviewofgender-specifictablesprovidedbytheAmericanHeartAssociation and the American College of Cardiology. Smoking cessation is another good place to start. Patients who smoke need consistent encouragement from all health care providers and the dentist is in a prime position to talk about the risks of smoking tobacco. Other considerations include screenings for oral cancer, raising awareness of head and neck cancer, or discussions of obesity, diabetes, and periodon-tal disease. Advocacy for oral health will have a direct impact on overall health. Patients at risk for periodontal disease should be aware of suscep-tibility to atherosclerosis-induced diseases such as coronary heart disease and stroke or diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, pancreatic cancer, pneumonia, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Collaboration with patients’ primary care physicians in the instance of any of the above conditions is crucial. In June of 2005, the American Dental Association released news regarding the potential to harvest stem cells from primary and wisdom teeth according to research from the National Institutes of Health. Since then, this promising and non-controversial source of stem cells has become com-mercialized and dentists can now encourage or assist patients with banking stem cells from primary and wisdom teeth for future health needs. These are just a few ideas for incorporation of a total health plan for dental patients in your practice. To take this concept one step further, oralhealthprofessionalshaveagreatopportunitytoinfluencepolicyastheassociation between oral health and systemic health is growing stronger. Policy makers are called to consider the needs of the public and assistance or complete dental coverage for the uninsured is critical. Oral health is not a secondary matter, it is part of overall health and the access to care issue is a growing concern.

Best regards,

Faculty UpdatesFrom the Editor’s Desk

Kate E MillerEditor

Dr. Jennifer Brauser was appointed clinical assistant profes-sor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry/Comprehensive Care.

Dr. Medick Capirano was appointed director of predoctoral prosthodontics in the Department of Prosthodontics.

Dr. Manika Govil was appointed research assistant professor in the Department of Oral Biology.

Dr. Jeffrey Jockers was appointed clinical assistant profes-sor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry/Comprehensive Care.

Dr. Joshua Marvit was appointed clinical instructor in the De-partment of Oral Biology.

Dr. Edward Narcisi was appointed clinical assistant professor in the Department of Prosthodontics.

Dr. Richard Nelson was appointed clinical assistant professor in the Department of Prosthodontics.

Dr. Mark Nigra was appointed clinical assistant professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry/Comprehensive Care.

Dr. Joseph Petrone was appointed interim chair of the Depart-ment of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics.

Dr. Miguel Torres-Urquidy was appointed postdoctoral asso-ciate in the Department of Dental Public Health and Informa-tion Management.

Dr. David Anderson was appointed clinical assistant professor in the Department of Prosthodontics.

Dr. Thomas Kunkle was appointed as a new clinical assistant professor in the Department of Prosthodontics.

Dr. Joslyn McWilliams was appointed as a new adjunct in-structor in the Department of Dental Public Health and Infor-mation Management.

Dr. Jane Soxman was appointed as a new adjunct assistant pro-fessor in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry.

Dr. Alejandro Almarza was appointed as a new visiting assis-tant professor in the Department of Oral Biology.

Dr. William Bunting was appointed as a new adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry.

Dr. Veronica Garcia Palacios was appointed as a new visiting research assistant professor in the Department of Oral Biology.

Dr. Ayla Ozturk was appointed as a new visiting assistant pro-fessor in the Department of Periodontics/Preventive Dentistry.

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Spring Research Symposium & Senior Awards Ceremony

On May 14th, the School of Dental Medicine’s Office of Research hostedthe annual Spring Research Symposium at Scaife Hall. The symposium featured invited speaker Dr. Mary B. MacDougall from the Uni-versity of Alabama at Bir-mingham. Dr. MacDougall presented “Genetic Lessons for Growing Teeth.” Theprogram also included 2007 participants of the Dean’s Summer Research Scholar-ship Program with presen-tations by Mr. Jared Kneib, Ms. Noelle Peters, and Mr. NeilRobertson,allfirst-yearpredoctoral students.

Dr. Ariadne Letra, postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Oral Biology, presented “Interaction between IRF6 andTGFaGenesContributetotheRiskofCleftLipandPalate.”Dr. Charles Sfeir, director of the Craniofacial Center for Regenera-tion and associate professor in the Department of Oral Biology, presented “Craniofacial Regeneration Strategies.” Dr. AdrianaModesto, assistant professor in the Department of Pediatric Den-tistry, presented “Effect of Fluoride and Chlorhexidine Combina-tiononEnamelDemineralization/Remineralization.”

Dr. Mary B. MacDougall

Mr. Eric Michael, Dr. Alexandre Vieira, and Mr. Neil Robertson, first-year predoctoral student and recipient of the ADA Caulk/Dentsply Student Clinician Award.

TheSchoolofDentalMedicine’sOfficeofStudentSer-vices held the annual Senior Awards Ceremony immediately fol-lowing the Student Research Symposium. The ceremony took place in Salk Hall’s room 402 which was brimming full with fourth-year students and supportive faculty members and staff. Over 50 awards were presented to the fourth-year predoctoral stu-dents from a wide variety of dental organizations. Also honored at the ceremony were faculty and staff as voted by the individual predoctoral classes. The faculty and staff appreciation awardees for the class of 2008 were Dr. Walter Kalista, clinical assistant pro-fessor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry/Comprehensive Care and Mr. Norman Macher, staff member in the Department of Prosthodontics; the awardees for the class of 2009 were Dr. Joseph Giovannitti, assistant professor in the Department of Anesthesi-ology and director anesthesia services for the Center for Patients with Special Needs, and Ms. Diane Cervi, staff member in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry; the awardees for the class of 2010 were Dr. Adriana Modesto Vieira, assistant professor in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, and Ms. Nadia Kasinec, staff member in Module Two; and the awardees for the class of 2011 were Dr. Timothy Matuszak, clinical assistant professor in the De-partment of Restorative Dentistry/Comprehensive Care and Ms. Kristen Felser, staff member in Instrument Management Services. Among the predoctoral awardees were Ms. Melissa

Brown who was inducted into the International College of Dentists and Mr. Matthew Gornick who was inducted into the American College of Dentists. The follow-ing students from the predoctoral class of 2008 were inducted into Omicron Kappa Upsilon: Ms.

Melissa Brown; Mr. Mark Bucci; Mr. Matthew Gornick; Ms. Ju-lia Hill; Mr. Michael Lisen; Mr. Christian Long; Ms. Jennifer Mateja; Mr. Kevin McMinn; Mr. Chad Peters; and Ms. Renee Re-gina.

Ms. Melissa Brown Photo by Dr. Michael Rosella (DDS ‘57)

Mr. Matthew Gornick and presenter.Photo by Dr. Michael Rosella (DDS ‘57)

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SDM Student KaleidoscopeImagesfromthePredoctoralProgramoverthe2007-2008academicyear

*Captionsforphotographstakenafterthediplomaceremonyindicatethegraduates’DMDtitle

Dean Braun and Ms. Melissa Brown

at the Senior Awards Ceremony

Mr. Philip Mason and guest at the

Dean’s Scholarship BallMr. Jason Ashcroft at Give Kids a Smile Day

Mr. Pieter Heemstra and Dr. Adriana Modesto-

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2008 HomecomingSchedule of EventsThursday, October 23rd Pathway to Professions: A Career Networking Event Alumni Hall 6 – 8 p.m.

Friday, October 24th SDM Continuing Education Potpourri Edward J. Forrest Continuing Education Center 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Dental Alumni Association Reception and Tours Salk Hall 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.

University Alumni Association Homecoming Reception Alumni Hall 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Homecoming Laser Show Bigelow Boulevard 8:45 p.m.

Homecoming Fireworks Bigelow Boulevard 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 25th Pitt vs. Rutgers Homecoming Game Heinz Field TBA

Join us for Homecoming 2008

Invitation to follow...

Hail to Pitt!

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Alumni Messages

This is my first message as yournewly elected president of the Uni-versity of Pittsburgh Dental Alumni Association. It is indeed an honor and privilege to serve our school and alumni. Spring has already arrived and summer is not far off, change is all around us. Political candidates promisechange,governmentofficialsenact change, the practice of dentistry has changed, and the School of Den-tal Medicine brings about tangible change. A dedication ceremony for

the new Center for Patients with Special Needs will be held on September 12, 2008 at 1 p.m. at the dental school in Salk Hall. The event will include a state of the dental school address followed by a reception and tours of the newly renovated space. The primary goals of the center are to provide treatment to patients with special needs while training future dental professionals in this specialized field.Thisopportunitytoservewillalsoexpandthepooloffu-ture care providers for this under served population. An addi-tional change at the dental school will include the dedication of a newly renovated Multidisciplinary Implant Center. This center will accommodate more patients, allowing for expanded clinical care as well as increased educational and research opportunities. Please consider visiting these centers as you may renew your asso-ciation with your dental school. Our Dental Alumni Association also has many changes in progress, per the request of Senior As-sociate Dean, Dr. Dennis Ranalli, and with the advice of Alumni Executive Director, Dr. Stephen Kondis, I have established an ad hoc committee to review and update as necessary our Dental Alumni Association By-laws. These updates, once approved by the Alumni Board, will be necessary to transform our association into a contemporary, more streamlined and hopefully more effec-tive organization to better serve our members and to more quickly respond to the many changes affecting our profession and our school. I look forward to an exciting and rewarding year as your alumni president. As always, I request and appreciate all of our members’ and friends’ suggestions and input. I am only an e-mail (goprose2002@yahoo.com) or phone call (724-495-6700) away. Please remember, positive alumni relations begin when the student is still a student. Sincerely, Lance G. Rose (DMD ‘84)

Dear Dental Hygiene Alumni,

The academic year is coming to an end with National and Northeast Re-gional Boards keeping the level of ex-citement high at the school. Your alma mater is still striving to provide the best possible educational experience. Once again the 2008 dental hygiene graduating class participated in the School of Dental Medicine diploma ceremony on May 17, at Heinz Hall. The Alumni Association sponsored

the reception after the ceremony where many families, friends, and alumni were able to enjoy food, music, and share in that spe-cial day. Every year there are a few dental hygiene alumni taking their second walk across the same stage, receiving a DMD. Look-ing out over the graduates one could not help but wonder which walk each alumnus will take. Each year a new group of graduates chooses a path and starts their professional journey. Our alumni are found in private practice, research, sales, dental school, public health, and education. Many dental hygiene alumni are returning totheacademicsettingtofinishbaccalaureatedegreesorgraduateschool.Manytimestheprofessionalpathswillcrossandwefindclassmates and fellow alums. Please get involved in your Dental Alumni Association and professional organizations. I hope to see you at future events. It is always such a pleasure to see a familiar face and meet with col-leagues.

Judith Gallagher (RDH ‘72, MEd ‘75)

Dental Medicine Dental Hygiene

Please complete and return to:

Pitt Dental Medicine, Alumni NewsKate Miller, Communications SpecialistSchool of Dental MedicineOffice of Alumni Affairs & Development3501 Terrace Street, 440 Salk HallPittsburgh, PA 15261tel: 412-648-9804fax: 412-648-8219keb70@dental.pitt.edu

*Don’t forget to register at the alumni section of www.dental.pitt.edu to make sure the University of Pittsburgh and the School of Dental Medicine have your most current contact information.

Alumni Update FormPlease send us information about your career advancements, papers presented, honors received, appointments, and further education. We will include your news in future issues of Pitt Dental Medicine as space permits. Please indicate names, dates and location. Photos are welcome. Also note changes of address, phone, or e-mail.

Name:

Degree(s) and year(s) of graduation:

Home address:

Home phone:

Business address:

Business phone:

Preferred e-mail:

Preferred fax:

Position(s):

News (Please attach additional sheet, if needed):

Alumni UpdatesDr. Donald Betar Jr. (DMD ‘93) has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Altoona Regional Partnership for a Healthy Community through the Altoona Regional Health Sys-tem.

Dr. Andrew D. Gould (DMD ‘95) is the current president of the Harrisburg Area Dental Society and maintains his private practice in central Pennsylvania since 1996.

Dr. Kenneth Hinkelman (DMD ‘65) was awarded with an honorary membership at Alberta Dental Association and Col-lege.

Dr. William Hoch (DMD ‘81) presented “Introducing Den-talImplants inPrivatePractice”atMidwestImplantInstituteSymposium in February.

Dr. Anagha Barve Jog (DMD ‘96) became the owner of Sili-con Valley Dental in 2007. Dr. Jog has completed advanced training at the California Center for Implant Dentistry and also isacertifiedInvisalignprovider.

Dr. Richard A. Kiman (DMD ‘43) was recently honored for 35 years of service as clinical associate professor of cariology at New York University College of Dentistry.

Dr. Daniel Lavin (DMD ‘84) is Colonel in the U.S. Army and director of a two-year residency program in advanced educa-tion in general dentistry in Ewa Beach, Hawaii. Dr. Benjamin J. Lin (DMD ‘05) is owner/dentist of Custom DentalinBakersfield,Ca.

Dr. J. G. McHugh (DMD ‘72) retired from private practice in 2006. He provided special needs dental care in Butler and Armstrong counties.

Dr. David A. Moffa (DMD ‘80) obtained a mastership in ad-vanced general dentistry and is currently the Western Penn-sylvania transition consultant for PARAGON Dental Practice Transitions.

Dr. Sal Petrucci (DMD ‘90) is CEO/founder of Renaissance Malibu, an exclusive treatment facility which treats addictions, alcoholism, and co-occurring disorders.

Dr. Jennifer Robb (DMD ‘92) was recently named as co-edi-tor of the Lorain County Dental Society Newsletter.

Dr. Mark Sebastian (DMD ‘77) is practicing periodontics in the Seattle area and was recently named a Diplomate to the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.

Dr. Kenneth J. Stavinsky (DMD ‘67, Cert. ‘72) has retired from practice after 41 years. Dr. Stavinsky is head teaching professional at West Bolton Golf Club.

Dr. Charles A. Stock (DMD ‘92) is AEGD Prosthodontics res-idency director at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C. He has an upcoming Air Force duty assignment in Kadena AB, Japan.

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Fourteenth Annual T.F. Bowser Memorial Lecture

Dental Alumni AssociationAnnual Business Meeting

The Dental Alumni Association’s Annual Business Meeting was held on April 5th immediately following the Fourteenth Annual

T.F. Bowser Memorial Lecture. During the meeting, immediate past-president, Dr. Mary Ann Davis (DMD ‘78) was present-edwithacertificateofappreciationandagift on behalf of the Dental Alumni Asso-ciation for her service as president during the 2007-2008 academic year. Dr. Davis ceremonially passed the gavel to Dr. Lance Rose (DMD ‘84) who was appointed as president of the Dental Alumni Association.

The Fourteenth Annual T. F. Bowser Memorial Lecture was held on April 5th and featured Ms. Casey Hein and Dr. Ray C. Williams who presented “Re-sults of Periodontal-Systemic Research and Its Impact onCurrentDentalPractice” inScaife Hall. Over 400 people were in at-

tendance. During their presentations, Ms. Hein and Dr. Williams emphasized the need for collaboration between medical and den-tal providers in reducing risk for oral and systemic diseases/conditions. Ms. Hein is a consultant to the University of Manitoba working on curriculum development specif-

ically related to oral-systemic relationships for medical, nursing, dental, and dental hy-giene in Winnipeg, Canada. Dr. Williams is Straumann distinguished professor and chair of the Department of Periodontology at the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry at Chapel Hill.

At right: Dr. F. Eugene Ewing, director of The Office of Continuing Edu-cation; Ms. Casey Hein; Dr. Ray Williams; and Dr. Stephen Kondis, executive director of the Dental Alumni Association.

Dr. Kondis and Dr. Davis

Dr. Kondis, Dr. Davis, and Dr. Rose

Dr. Davis and Dr. Rose

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Eighth Annual Dean’s Scholarship Ball

Clockwise from the top right: Dean Thomas W. Braun and Mrs. Liz Braun; Dr. Karin Bittner and Mr. Ronald Talarico, Mr. Ronald Davenport Sr. and Dr. Judith Davenport; Dr. Karin Bittner and Dr. Mary Ann Davis with Dean Braun; Dr. Daniel Pituch and Dr. Mark Ochs; Mr. Brent Kanar, Ms. Melissa Fogel, and Dean Braun; Dr. Jay Reznik, Dean Braun, and Dr. Richard C. Bennett.

Premium Sponsors:

UPMCHighmark

Blue Cross Blue Shield United Concordia

Corporate Donors: Benco Dental

PNC

The Eighth Annual Dean’s Scholarship Ball, held on Saturday, April 5th at The Duquesne Club in downtown Pittsburgh, was a highly successful event with over $1.2 million raised in scholarship funding. Over 230 guests attended and four alumni were honored with Dis-

tinguished Alumni Awards: Dr. Thomas W. Braun (DMD ‘73, PhD ‘77) for Dental Medicine; Dr. C. Richard Bennett (Cert, PhD ‘67) and Dr. Jay Reznik (DMD ‘72, MDS ‘75) for Advanced Education Programs; and Dr. Margaret McCormick-Pipko (RDH ‘65) was posthumously honored with the Dental Hygiene Award. The 2008 scholarship recipients were incoming predoctoral students Ms. Melissa Fogel and Mr. Brent Kanar. The ball was co-chaired by Dr. Mary Ann Davis (DMD ‘78) and Dr. Karin Bittner (DMD ‘75).

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The grand ballroom at The Duquesne Club.

Dean Braun, Drs. William and Mildred Trice

Dr. Karen Roche, Dr. R. Kent Galey, Mrs. and Dr. Runzo

Mr. Moody Wasif and Dr. Joann Prasad Ms. Melissa Fogel and guest mingle with Dr. Stephen Kondis.

Mr. Clyde Jones and Drs. Jon and Paul Johnston

Dr. Dennis N. Ranalli as the emcee

Guests sit for a sketch by a caricaturist.

Dean Thomas W. Braun addresses the crowd.

Dr. Dennis N. Ranalli and Dr. Peter H.Guevara

Dr. Erik Scheifele and Ms. Angelina Riccelli

Members of John Parker and the John Parker Band

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Dr. Dennis N. Ranalli and Mr. William Steinhauser

A magician entertains.

Dean Thomas W. Braun presents the awards.

Dr. Eric Kern and Dr. Eugene Miller

Dr. F. Eugene Ewing and Ms. Ruth Knittel Dr. Samantha Abod and Dr. Joseph Lopez

Drs. William and Mildred Trice

Drs. Mabel and James Paige and guest

Dr. Mary Ann Davis and Mrs. Eleanor Kondis

Dean Thomas W. Braun and Dr. Dennis N. Ranalli

Ms. Liz Cole and guest

Predoctoral students enjoy the dance music.

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School of Dental Medicine Diploma Ceremony

On May 17th, the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine graduated 28 dental hygienists, 71 den-tists and awarded 19 certificates in nine specialties for ad-vanced education. Dr. Andrew Nigra, assistant professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry/Comprehensive Care, served as grand marshal. The ceremony was presided over by Dean Thomas W. Braun and a special address was given by Dr. Arthur Levine, professor and senior vice chancellor for the Health Sciences. Dr. Andrew Thompson, president of the den-tal class of 2008; Dr. Renee Regina, dental valedictorian; Ms. Ashley Mitchell, president of the dental hygiene class of 2008; and Ms. Nicole Shannon Franks, dental hygiene valedictorian, each addressed their colleagues, friends, families, and fellow alumni with great appreciation. Dr. Mary Ann Davis, immediate past president of the Dental Alumni Association, also addressed the crowd of over 500 with words of encouragement and reminisced her days as a dental student. Ms. Judith Gallagher, assistant professor of dental hygiene in the Department of Periodontics/Preventive Den-tistry and vice president of the Dental Alumni Association, led the dental hygiene graduates in the Dental Hygiene Oath:

As I now approach the completion of my formal education as a dental hygienist and begin the lifelong process of continual learning both personal and professional, I do humbly acknowl-edge my human limitations, in accepting this parchment of my alma mater; solemnly swear to render health service to those who seek my ministrations, hereby enjoining upon myself the sacred duty of teaching the public, particularly children and young people, by precept, lecture, and every other available mode of instruction, the value of dental health as a price-less possession; and further; to bind myself by future study to broaden my knowledge that I may share with this pledge in-violate, may it be granted to enrich my life in the practice of my art.

Following the Dental Hygiene Oath, Ms. Angelina Riccelli, director of the Dental Hygiene Program and asso-ciate professor of dental hygiene in the Department of Peri-odontics/Preventive Dentistry, presented the dental hygiene class of 2008. Dr. Wilbert Milligan III, associate dean for clinical affairs and assistant professor in the Department of Diagnos-tic Sciences, led the administration of the Dental Oath:

I, realizing the privileges and opportunities that have been given to me in my study of the arts and sciences of dentistry and appreciating the significance of the dental diploma to be conferred upon me, do hereby willingly pledge:

That I will diligently uphold the dignity, honor, and objectives of the dental profession and, to the best of my ability, will con-tribute to its prestige, proficiency, and progress;

That I solemnly accept my responsibility to the patients to give them the best of my knowledge and skill, and to maintain an impeccable relationship with them that will warrant their trust and confidence;

That I will faithfully observe the principles of ethics set forth by the profession;

That I will lend my influence and support to dental education, to organized dentistry, and to all segments of the profession which will contribute to the fulfillment of its purpose.

Dean Braun presented the dental class of 2008 and was assisted by Dr. Kenneth Etzel, associate dean for student services and associate professor in the Department of Oral Biology, and Dr. Dennis N. Ranalli, senior associate dean and professor in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, read the graduates names.

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Alma mater;

Wise and glorious,

Child of light

And bride of truth;

Over fate

And foe victorious,

Dowered with eternal youth;

Crowned with love of

Son and daughter,

Thou shalt conquer

As of yore.

Dear old Pittsburgh,

Alma mater,

God preserve

Thee evermore!

Predoctoral students review the program prior to the ceremony.

Dean Braun welcomes students and guests to the diploma ceremony.

Newly graduated Dr. Haley Hawk and Dr. Amanda Badders pose for a photograph.

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Dental Hygiene Graduation LuncheonThe Dental Hygiene Program held

it’s annual Graduation Luncheon on May 30th in a conference center

in UPMC’s Bioscience Tower One. Ten awards were presented to dental hygiene graduates for various achievements. Dean Braun, Dr. Dennis Ranalli, senior associate dean, Dr. Stephen Kondis, executive direc-tor of the Dental Alumni Association, and

Western Pennsylvania Dental Hygiene Association Outstanding Student Award

Ms. Colleen Calvin and * Ms. Nicole Franks

* Ms. Marta Raffensperger and Ms. Judy Gallagher

Ms. Toni Ambrosino and * Ms. Snjezana Jelaca-Bagic

Ms. Teresa Bezak and * Ms. Snjezana Jelaca-Bagic

Hu-Friedy Golden Scaler Award

Dr. Clark J. Hollister Award for Dental Health Education

Proctor and Gamble Oral Health Group Dental Health Education Award

Elliott Brodie Award for Clinical Competence

Ms. Angelina Riccelli, associate professor and director of the Dental Hygiene Program each shared words of encouragement with the dental hygiene graduates and Ms. Ric-

celli thanked the faculty and staff who sup-port the program. Lunch was served follow-ing the awards presentation. Awardees are indicated below with a preceding asterisk.

Ms. Angelina Riccelli and * Ms. Ashley Derby

* Ms. Franks, Ms. Patty Inks, * Ms. Jelaca-Bagic

Sigma Phi Alpha

Ms. Judith Gallagher and * Ms. Katie McDonald

Colgate Student Total Achievement Recognition

Community Dentistry and Dental Public Health Award

* Ms. Kiera Perry and Ms. Betty Onik

Allegheny County Health Department Extra Effort Award

Team Player Award

* Ms. Danielle Piccolo, * Ms. Kelly Holst, Ms. Ambro-sino, * Ms. Julie Miller

Ms. Onik, * Ms. Candace Andrews, Ms. Gallagher

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Nostalgic

Notions rOCk ChAlk Chant

To support their football colleagues, Pitt dental students adopted the solemn cadence known as the Rock Chalk. “Rock Chalk,JayHawk,PittDen-tal!”waschantedatUniversity func-tions, particularly during football games. The chant was a variation oftheUniversityofKansasyell:“RockChalk,JayHawk,K-U.”It is believed that the chant was brought to Pitt by Kansas students who came to study dentistry at the University of Pittsburgh. The chant became a traditional salute of honor and respect for individuals and groups. It marked a bonding among Pitt Den-tal Alumni according to Dean Emeritus Edward J. Forrest, (DMD ‘41).Forexample,whenJockSutherland(Dr.JohnBain“Jock”Sutherland, former Pitt football player, coach, and dental school

faculty member) became head coach, Dr. Forrest recalls that, “At Friday 11:00 a.m. pep rallies at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building,thePittUpperDentalStudents(first-andsecond-years)would march two-by-two down the winding drive and occupy the left balcony. When Dr. Sutherland was introduced and the cheering quieted,hewould turnandraisehishead to the“dents,” receivethe Rock Chalk, and only then begin his talk. This tradition was encouragedbythedentalfaculty,whoalsoattended.”

Excerpted from Sutherland, A Biography of Doctor John Bain “Jock” Sutherland by Dr. Dennis N. Ranalli, senior associate dean at the School of Dental Medicine. The unpublished text was writ-ten in 1994.

Do you have a Nostalgic Notion that you would like to share? Write to Nostalgic Notions, University of Pittsburgh, School of Dental Medicine, 444 Salk Hall, 3501 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, Pa 15261 or e-mail Kate Miller, communications specialist, at keb70@dental.pitt.edu with story ideas. Submissions may be edited for clarity, length, and style.

Rock Chalk, Jay Hawk, Pitt Den-tal!

Jock Sutherland on the 1917 varsity team

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In Memoriam DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI

GUIDELINES

1. One whose contribution of time and effort to the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine has been exceptionally significant,beyondthatwhichwouldnormallyhavebeenexpected.2. Onewhose significant attainments andhighprofessional standards

have been of such character as to have materially aided and advanced the art and science of dentistry.3. One whose public life and activities have been of such a nature as

toreflectgreatcreditupontheprofessionandtheSchoolofDentalMedicine.

4. One who has contributed to original research in the dental profession.

1. A one-page biographical sketch of each candidate must accompany the nomination sent to the chairpersons of the

awards committee. 2. In the event that the Awards Committee decides in any year that no nominee has attained the above stated criteria, it shall so report. 3. No member of the Awards Committee shall be considered eligible. 4. The deadline for submission of nominations shall be January 1. 5. TherecipientoftheAwardshallbenotifiedassoonaspossible but no later than 60 days before the presentation. 6. The Dean, or a designee, shall make the presentation of these awards at the School of Dental Medicine Homecoming Weekend. 7. Recipients shall be the guests of the Dental Alumni Association at the School of Dental Medicine Alumni Homecoming Weekend (or Dean's Scholarship Ball) during which the presentation is made. 8. The Awards Committee shall consist of six members:

-Two Co-Chairs as indicated by the By-laws -A representative of the Faculty/Staff of the School -The President of the Dental Alumni Association -A previous recipient of the Award -The Executive Director of the Alumni Association

The foregoing requirements and requests for nominees shall be outlined yearly in the Dental Alumni Association’s Publication.Approved by the Executive Committee November 21, 1997.Approved by the Board of Directors December 1, 1997.Effective Date: January 1, 1998Guidelines amended for 2001, approved by the Executive Committee February 4, 2000 and the Board of Directors March 20, 2000.

The University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine Distinguished Alumni Awards may be presented in each of the following categories: Distinguished Alumnus-Dental Medicine; Distinguished Alumnus-Dental Hygiene; and Distinguished Alum-nus-Advanced Education Program, to individuals who have excelled in one or more of the following areas:

Dr. J. William Bailey (DDS ‘51) 1/11/08

Dr. Fred Ezoto (DDS ‘53) 12/5/07

Dr. James J. Fassinger (DDS ‘37) 5/20/08

Dr. Boleslaw C. Galonski (DDS ‘51) 5/18/08

Dr. Ronald J. Gore (DDS ‘52) 2/7/08

Dr. John Hucko (DDS’73) 1/15/08

Dr.E.J.“Jack”Kern(DDS‘52)3/29/08

Dr. Thomas King Jr. (DDS ‘50) 4/20/08

Dr. Arthur R. Krause (DDS ‘46) 4/7/08

Dr. Charles Langsdale (DDS’ 38) 8/07

Dr. Francis L. Miklos (DDS ‘52) 4/25/08

Dr. James A. Reber (DDS ‘46) 5/3/2008

Dr. William O. Sloyer (DDS ‘54) 11/19/07

Dr. Donald E. Williams (DDS ‘52) 2/13/08

Dr. Edward G. Yokajty (DDS ‘63) 2/13/08

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Taking advantage of today’s economy… Taking advantage of today’s economy is something that is on manydonorsminds.CanImakeadifference?Doesmyfinancialsituation allow me to have an impact? Although giving is, at heart, a philanthropic endeavor, it can also be part of your tax planning, providing you and your family with various tax incentives and otherfinancialbenefits. The philanthropic gifts you want to make to the School of Dental Medicine are still possible, however an alternate vehicle may be better suited. This past year has presented new considerations for how you are managing your wealth, your estate plan, and the best way to include your philanthropic goals. How the Applicable Federal Rate (AFR) is set can determine which types of charitable gifts make the most sense for donors. When the rate is low, as it is currently at 3.2% in May, 2008, the impact is felt in charitable remainder annuity trusts, charitable gift annuities, life estates, and particularly charitable lead trusts. Right now is probably the most opportunistic time to establish a charitable lead trust. In fact, these are the best conditions in the past two decades. It is expected that the low AFR will be in place for the remainder of the year 2008.

What a Charitable Lead Trust can do… Acharitable leadtrust isonewaytomakeasignificantcurrent gift to a charity while affording the possibility to transfer assets to heirs free of federal estate and gift tax. This allows a donor to only disinherit heirs temporarily rather than permanently deprive them of assets as would be done through an outright be-quest.

A gift of a charitable lead trust to the School of Dental Medi-cinecanbenefitstudents,programs,andfacultyrecruitment.Tofindoutmore, visitwww.pitt.planyourlegacy.org. If youwouldlike to speak with someone about giving to the School of Dental Medicine, please contact Mr. Paul Casey at pbc8@dental.pitt.edu or 412-383-7544.

Support your alma materand enjoy the

benefits!The University of Pitts-burgh School of Dental Medicine is committed

to excellence in education, re-search and community care. The school continues in its mission of providing superior dental education and training, as well as high-quality dental clinical services to the people of the region. However, the cost of a dental education is astounding and can be a limiting factor to entry into the profession. Scholar-ships and awards are of increasing importance to our students, the school, and our region. We need your help so that access to a den-tal education is not denied because offinancialdifficulties.

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School of Dental Medicine440 Salk Hall3501 Terrace StreetPittsburgh, PA 15261

NonprofitOrg.U.S. PostagePAIDPittsburgh, PAPermit No. 511

Alumni CalendarAugust25 GeneralAssembly&WhiteCoatCeremony,ScaifeHall,Auditoriums5&6,3-5p.m.

September10 DentalAlumniAssociationExecutiveCommitteeMeeting,Room403,4:45p.m.

DentalAlumniAssociationBoardofDirectorsMeeting,Room457,6p.m.

October16-19 AmericanDentalAssociationAnnualSession,SanAntonio,Texas

October17 DentalAlumniAssociationReceptionatADAAnnualSession,GrandHyattHotel

CrockettRoomC/D,5-7p.m.

October23 PathwaystoProfessions:ACareerNetworkingEvent,AlumniHall,6-8p.m.

October24 HomecomingContinuingDentalEducationCourse,EdwardJ.ForrestContinuing

EducationCenter,8:30a.m.-3:30p.m.

DentalAlumniAssociationReceptionandTours,RoomTBA,3:30-5p.m.

PittAlumniAssociationReception,AlumniHall,TimeTBA

October25 Pittvs.RutgersHomecomingFootballGame,HeinzField,TimeTBA

December10 AlumniAssociationExecutiveCommitteeMeeting,Room430,4:45p.m.

AlumniAssociationBoardofDirectorsMeeting,Room457,6p.m.

February21,2009 SAVETHEDATE!–WinterAcademy,TheRitz-CarltonResortandBeachClub,

Naples,Florida