From Dean Carroll Ann Trotman

It’s only February, but the semester is in full swing!

As you’ll see in this newsletter, we are advancing our goals in many important ways – one of which is making a difference in the lives of patients with special needs. I know you will enjoy reading about our students and faculty who recently provided oral healthcare for Special Olympics athletes. Kudos go to Assistant Professor Beth Chartier and everyone who helped make this “special” event so successful!

Another news item showcases our Dental Oncology Clinic and a grateful patient who is an artist. She expressed her appreciation for the care she received during her cancer treatment by donating one of her paintings to the clinic, titled “Celebrating Survivorship.” The painting hangs in the Dental Oncology Clinic as a gift of thanks to the staff and Assistant Professor Matt Messina for the care – and genuine caring – they provided.

We highlight two faculty members who were recently chosen as Growing Research Opportunities (GRO) Academy Fellows. Associate Professors Brian Foster and Beau Meyer will participate in the GRO Academy programs hosted by the university’s Office of Knowledge Enterprise as they enhance their expertise in research-based endeavors. And Assistant Professor Dan Claman was selected to join the Epic Dentistry Steering Board. In that role, he will serve with other healthcare experts to guide the content in products from the Epic Systems Corporation, which created the widely used patient-healthcare software known as MyChart.

We also introduce Ms. Danielle Rulli, who will join our dental hygiene faculty in July. She currently serves as an Associate Professor and Director of the Graduate Dental Hygiene Program in the Division of Dental Hygiene at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry.

Other news items include two recipients of the Lewis Claman Periodontal Award, which recognizes dental students who exemplify excellence and an interest in periodontics, and who are considering a career in academic dentistry. At the recent awards presentation, Ms. Michelle Lee-Scott Beverly was honored. She is a senior dental student who will graduate this year with a combined DDS degree and PhD in oral biology; and Dr. Yeram Kang, a third-year periodontal resident, was also recognized. Congrats to both of them!

Toward the end of this newsletter, you will see an item about our upcoming Research Day event. Along with presentations by our students, post-doctoral fellows, residents, and faculty, this year’s distinguished lecture will be given by Steven Chu, PhD, a Nobel Prize recipient and former U.S. Secretary of Energy. 

As you can see, we have a lot going on – and we have a lot to be proud of. I hope you enjoy reading this newsletter, and I thank you, as always, for staying connected!

Visit here to learn more about Special Olympics, Special Smiles, and Healthy Athletes programs!

Dentistry Volunteers Provide Care for Special Olympics Athletes at "Special Smiles" Event

On January 13th, students and faculty from the College of Dentistry traveled to Kenyon College to provide oral health screenings for Special Olympics athletes participating in a regional swim meet. The Special Smiles event was part of the Special Olympics' Healthy Athletes program that supports the athletes' overall health.

Beth Chartier, an Assistant Professor in the Division of Dental Hygiene, organized the screening event that included other college faculty, staff, as well as dental hygiene and dental students. Working together, they provided oral health screenings for 29 athletes.

Ms. Chartier said, "These screenings are typically done at statewide events, so the one at Kenyon College was a pilot project to see what can be achieved at other venues. We wanted to see what we could accomplish because oral health screenings have a significant impact on the overall health and wellness of Special Olympics athletes. The exams can reveal undetected health problems, alleviate pain, and provide an oral health service that otherwise might not be available." She added, "I'm grateful for everyone in the college who supported the event. We are working together to make good things happen for patients with special needs, and I look forward to more events of this kind in the future!"

Dental Oncology Clinic Receives Gift of Artwork

In 2018, the College of Dentistry launched its Dental Oncology Clinic, which serves patients in all stages of cancer care by providing clearances for oncologic treatments and comprehensive dental care for patients throughout their cancer experience.

The primary treatment room in the Dental Oncology Clinic now features a brightly colored work of art, thanks to a gift from Ms. Carla Ison, a cancer survivor, artist, and Dental Oncology Clinic patient. Diagnosed with head and neck cancer in 2008, Ms. Ison began painting because she felt it gave her a "voice" during her cancer journey. The painting she gave to the clinic is titled “Celebrating Survivorship,” and it depicts a leaf from a ginkgo tree, which is associated with tenacity and endurance.

Ms. Ison presented the painting in gratitude for the oral healthcare she received from the Dental Oncology Clinic staff and Dr. Matthew Messina. As the Director of Ohio State's Upper Arlington Dental Clinic and the Interim Director of the Dental Oncology Clinic, Dr. Messina cares for patients whose needs include restorative and prosthetic dentistry, as well as cancer care. After graduating from the College of Dentistry in 1987, he completed a General Practice Residency and then established a private practice, serving as a general dentist for more than 30 years.

Commenting on Ms. Ison's gift to the Dental Oncology Clinic, Dr. Messina said, "We enjoy having Carla as a patient and we're thankful for the ability to help in her recovery. Her gift reminds us that we’re making a difference in the lives of our patients!”

Ms. Carla Ison (left) and Dr. Matthew Messina with the painting that now hangs in the Dental Oncology Clinic

Brian Foster, MS, PhD, and Beau Meyer, DDS, MPH, Join "GRO" Academy Fellows

Drs. Brian Foster and Beau Meyer were recently inducted as Fellows of Ohio State's Growing Research Opportunities (GRO) Academy that is sponsored by the Office of Knowledge Enterprise. Aimed at providing research leadership development for faculty across disciplines, the GRO Academy offers learning opportunities that allow faculty to expand and enhance the impact of their research endeavors.

Dr. Foster is an Associate Professor in the Division of Biosciences and a nationally recognized researcher. His work focuses on the molecular biology of tooth root development and mineralization, with a special interest in genes, mechanisms, diseases, and novel regeneration strategies. His research has been consistently funded by grants from the National Institutes for Health - National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research. Throughout his career, Dr. Foster has received numerous honors that include the prestigious International Association for Dental Research (IADR) Centennial Emerging Leaders Award that recognized his "achievements in dental research and the potential to further contribute to the IADR and the scientific community worldwide."

Dr. Meyer is an Associate Professor in the Division of Pediatric Dentistry, a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, and a practicing dentist. His research and publications focus on the management of oral diseases in pediatric dental patients; diet and behavior as it impacts children's oral health; and the use of hospital-based care to treat early childhood caries. Dr. Meyer has received honors that include the College of Dentistry's Larry J. Peterson Award that recognizes teaching excellence. He is also a past recipient of the American Dental Education Association's Olav Alvares Award for Early Career Scholars that is given to young investigators who conduct and publish outstanding research.  

Daniel Claman, DDS, Joins Epic Dentistry Steering Committee

Dr. Daniel Claman is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Pediatric Dentistry, and he is a member of the dental team at Nationwide Children's Hospital. He was recently invited to join other healthcare experts on the Epic Dentistry Steering Board. In that role, he will help to guide the content in products from the Epic Systems Corporation, which created the widely used patient-healthcare software known as MyChart.

An Ohio State alumnus, Dr. Claman received his DDS degree from the college in 2009, and then enrolled in the Advanced Education in Pediatric Dentistry program. He completed a fellowship in pediatric dentistry at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, followed by a pediatric dentistry residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago's College of Dentistry. He is a practicing pediatric dentist and a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.

Danielle Rulli, MS, DHSc, to Join Dental Hygiene Faculty



On July 1st, Danielle Rulli will join the college faculty as an Associate Professor in the Division of Dental Hygiene. Her education includes a Master of Science degree in Dental Hygiene Education from the University of North Carolina, and a Doctor of Health Science degree from Nova Southeastern University.

Throughout her career as a practicing dental hygienist and dental hygiene educator, she has served as a Student Relations Manager for the American Dental Hygienists'​ Association and an Expanded Functions for the Dental Auxiliary (EFDA) Program Coordinator at the University of Maine at Augusta. She is currently an Associate Professor and Director of the Graduate Dental Hygiene Program, and the Director of Interprofessional Education in the Division of Dental Hygiene at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. 

Michelle Lee-Scott Beverly, D4, and Yeram Kang, DDS, Receive Lewis Claman Periodontal Awards

At a celebration on January 25th, two recipients of the Lewis Claman Periodontal Award were honored. Michelle Lee-Scott Beverly, D4, and Yeram Kang, DDS, received the award that is given to dental students who exemplify excellence, demonstrate an interest in periodontics, and are considering a career in academic dentistry. Michelle Lee-Scott Beverly will graduate this year with a combined DDS degree and PhD in oral biology. She will then begin a periodontal residency at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. Dr. Yeram Kang is a third-year periodontal resident in the college. She received the award as a fourth-year dental student in 2021.

The Lewis Claman Periodontal Endowment Fund was established to recognize the career and accomplishments of Lewis J. Claman, DDS, MS, a full-time faculty member in the college from 1974 to 2009. As an emeritus faculty member, he continues teaching part-time.

The Claman Endowment is supported by faculty, periodontal residents, dental alumni, periodontal alumni, and other dental professionals. The fund provides awards for dental students in the form of grants, scholarships, research funds, and support for travel costs or other academic opportunities. 

College Hosts 40th Annual Research Day: Friday, March 1

The college's 40th annual Research Day event will showcase the research conducted by dental and dental hygiene students, graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, residents, and faculty. An array of oral and poster presentations will offer a comprehensive perspective on the college's many research initiatives. Each year, the event kicks off with a faculty researcher's presentation, followed by a distinguished lecture from a nationally renowned oral health researcher.

Faculty Presenter: John Bartlett, MS, PhD, is a Professor in the Division of Biosciences and Associate Dean for Research. His work focuses on dental enamel development, and his laboratory is credited with discovering the first proteinase secreted into the enamel matrix. His presentation is titled “The Surprising Role of Matrix Metalloproteinase-20 (MMP20) in Enamel Development.”

Distinguished Lecturer:  Steven Chu, PhD, is the William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Physics, and Professor of Molecular and Cellular Physiology and Energy Science and Engineering at Stanford University. Throughout his career, he has served in a number of prestigious positions. He was the U.S. Secretary of Energy from 2009 to 2013, and in 1997 he was a Nobel Prize co-recipient for his work on laser cooling and optical trapping of atoms.

As a world-renowned physicist, Dr. Chu’s scientific contributions include atomic fountain clocks and atom interferometers, the optical tweezers of biomolecules, and single molecule FRET of biomolecules tethered to surfaces. We welcome him as our distinguished lecturer and look forward to his presentation, “Climate Change and Innovative Paths toward a More Sustainable Future.”

Alumni Reception at Chicago Dental Society's Midwinter Meeting: Friday, February 23

We invite you to join Dean Carroll Ann Trotman for an alumni reception at the Midwinter Meeting of the Chicago Dental Society on Friday, February 23.

Enjoy refreshments and reconnect with classmates and fellow Buckeyes. We look forward to seeing you there!

Date: Friday, February 23, 2024

Time: 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Location: Marriot Marquis Chicago, George Pullman Room (third floor); 2121 South Prairie Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60616

RSVP: Please RSVP by Wednesday, February 14

Questions? Send an email to dentalalumni@osu.edu or call 614-247-8621.