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FIRST THURSDAY
COLLEGE OF DENTISTRY NEWS: APRIL 2024
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Dental students attend Dr. Matthew Messina's class, "The Price is Right," which helps prepare them for the costs associated with dental practice. | |
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From Dean Carroll Ann Trotman
I always look forward to sharing good news and this edition of First Thursday includes several milestone achievements!
The first is the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Grand Opening we held last week for the new Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Imaging Clinic. It is a state-of-the-art facility with the most contemporary radiology equipment; 10 imaging rooms; a conference room for case discussions; and a high-tech viewing room where patients’ scans can be examined in detail. This clinic offers the best of the best, and it enhances our students’ education and the care we provide patients. I know you will enjoy learning more in the news item below. Be sure to read the feature article on Ohio State’s media website.
We also hosted our inaugural Shared Values Awards Dinner last week. Senior dental and dental hygiene students who were nominated by faculty and staff received awards for demonstrating the university’s Shared Values that include “excellence and impact; care and compassion; and integrity and respect.” Those students are D4s Aakriti Chaudhry; Teresa Houston; and Alwilleed Kalout. Senior dental hygiene awardees are Erica Culp and Marisol Vargas. Other nominees include D4s Amy Custer, McKenna Freund, John Wahlen, and Zachary Weber, as well as senior DHY students Brynn Chaplik, Nha Doan, Courtney Gwanzura, and Alissa Kefauver. Kudos to all of them for setting a standard that other students can aspire to!
A recent news item on Ohio State’s website highlighted Dr. Matt Messina, Director of Ohio State’s Upper Arlington Dental Clinic. He was featured for his innovative teaching that includes a special class called “The Price is Right!” This presentation helps dental students assess the cost and value of equipment they will need after graduation.
More good news to share on students’ success at a national level. Dr. Shen (Chris) Wang, a third-year resident in orthodontics was recently honored with the Student Excellence in Orthodontics Research Award from the International Association for Dental Research and the Consortium for Translational Orthodontics Research. We also had big wins by our students at the recent meeting of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research. Natalie Andras, a DDS-PhD student, won three awards: (1) a Student Research Fellowship; (2) a Promising Talent Award from the Women in Science Network; and (3) the National Student Research Group’s Outstanding Student Researcher Award. And Macey Siegel, a DDS student, won a Bloc Travel Grant for her project titled “Conditional ablation of bone sialoprotein affects cranial growth.”
Finally, we highlight graduate students who received Pauline C. Wittwer fellowships that support residents and graduate students who will pursue an academic career. This year’s recipients are Gabrielle Dennis, DDS, a third-year resident and MS student in oral and maxillofacial pathology; Omar Moustafa, BDS, MS, a third-year resident and MS student in prosthodontics; Priyanka Pitchumani, BDS, MS, a third-year resident and MS student in periodontics; and Sheng (Chris) Wang, DDS, PhD, a third-year resident and MS student in orthodontics. In addition, Ohio State’s Graduate School recently awarded four fellowships to master’s degree students who will begin their training this summer. They are Olivia Jackson, Jennifer Lee, William Meyer, and Saeed Zarrabi. Congrats to all these students as they advance their education and expertise!
As is true each month, we have more good news than we can include in just one newsletter, but I hope these articles show that we’re making great progress here at THE Ohio State University College of Dentistry. And I hope it makes you proud!
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Grand Opening and Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony: OMFR Imaging Clinic
On March 27, the College of Dentistry hosted the ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening of its new Oral and Maxillofacial (OMFR) Imaging Clinic.
Dean Carroll Ann Trotman was joined by Karla Zadnik, OD, PhD, Optometry Professor and Interim Executive Vice President and Provost; Joen Iannucci, DDS, MS, Professor and Chair of the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology; and representatives from the Henry Schein Cares Foundation, which provided support for the clinic.
Located on the ground floor of the Postle Hall Expansion, the new Imaging Clinic is comprised of nearly 3,200 square feet that includes the most advanced operatories and technology; 10 intraoral imaging rooms; three extraoral imaging rooms; a conference room for case discussions; and a high-tech viewing room where scans can be examined in detail.
Dean Trotman said, "This clinic represents a major milestone for the college, and we are grateful to everyone who helped us get here. They include legislators in the State of Ohio, leaders here at Ohio State, and donors who gave generously to make this clinic a reality." She added, "This facility offers the best of the best. The students who are trained here will be well prepared for their professional careers, and the clinic is having a profound impact as we provide the best care for patients. We are grateful for this facility that enables us to continue advancing our goals and achieving excellence!" Read the feature article on Ohio State's media website.
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College Hosts Inaugural Shared Values Awards Event
In 2021, Ohio State implemented a university-wide Shared Values Initiative that aims to reinforce an ethical culture and advance the core work of teaching, learning, research, and service through shared values that include excellence and impact; diversity and innovation; inclusion and equity; care and compassion; and integrity and respect.
On March 26, the college hosted its inaugural Shared Values Awards event that recognized senior dental and dental hygiene students whose outstanding behavior demonstrates the values of excellence and impact; care and compassion; and integrity and respect. Award recipients were nominated by the college faculty and staff, and were then selected by an awards committee. Each student received a $1000 award provided by the Dental Alumni Society.
Award winners are D4s Aakriti Chaudhry; Teresa Houston; and Alwilleed Kalout. Senior dental hygiene awardees are Erica Culp and Marisol Vargas. Other students who were nominated include D4s Amy Custer, McKenna Freund, John Wahlen, and Zachary Weber, as well as senior dental hygiene students Brynn Chaplik, Nha Doan, Courtney Gwanzura, and Alissa Kefauver. View event photos here.
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Matthew Messina, DDS, MS, Presents "Price is Right" Class - Featured on Ohio State's Website
Dr. Matthew Messina is a College of Dentistry alumnus, a Professor-Clinical in the Division of Restorative and Prosthetic Dentistry, and Director of Ohio State's Upper Arlington Dental Clinic. Prior to joining Ohio State, he was a general dentist in private practice for more than 30 years.
Drawing from his wealth of experience as a dental professional, Dr. Messina's goal is to help dental students prepare for the costs associated with their entry into private practice. His method combines facts and fun in a special class he presents that is called "The Price is Right." Each semester, he serves as emcee for the class that lets students play games similar to those featured on "The Price is Right" television show.
The experience helps students learn the cost of dental equipment, which is a core skill for running a dental practice, according to Dr. Messina. “Who pays for dental supplies? The answer is the patient,” he said. “My view is that I’m the steward of my patient’s money, so I want to spend it wisely. There is better access to dental care if we keep costs down.”
Along with dental equipment pricing, Dr. Messina's class offers tips on ways to use products fully. A composite bonding kit, for example, comes with cartridges in several colors. There will be colors that are used more than others, so dentists end up with extra colors that eventually expire. “I keep the old composite in the lab and use it to wax crowns,” he said. “If you wax with the expired composite, it’s easy because you’re used to it. So there is value to expired composite, which is good because it’s expensive.”
The course has become "famous" and is a "highlight of the semester" according to students. For Dr. Messina, it's an innovative way to engage students and help them learn what they need to succeed. “We’re trying to build smarter, more business-ready students,” he said. “If we spend money wisely, everyone benefits."
Dr. Messina and "The Price is Right" class were recently featured on Ohio State's media website. Read the full story.
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Sheng (Chris) Wang Wins IADR CTOR Award for Student Excellence in Orthodontics Research
Dr. Chris Wang recently won an award for Student Excellence in Orthodontics Research from the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) and the Consortium of Translational Orthodontic Research (CTOR).
A third-year resident in the Advanced Education Program in Orthodontics, Dr. Wang's award winning research project is titled "Mechanosensitive Ion Channel Piezo2 is Essential for Orthodontic Tooth Movement." His work explores the connection between orthodontic force and the remodeling of alveolar bone, elucidating the initiation of orthodontic tooth movement.
Dr. Wang is advised by Dr. Ching-Chang Ko, Chair of the Division of Orthodontics and a researcher who is known internationally for his investigations of bone diseases that affect dental health; biomaterials for bone cell regeneration; and nanocomposite scaffolds for TMJ-related tissue engineering.
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Students Win Awards at AADOCR Meeting
At a recent meeting of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR), Natalie Andras, a student in the college's combined DDS degree and oral biology PhD program, won several awards. For her research excellence, she was honored with a Student Research Fellowship; a Promising Talent Award from the Women in Science Network; and the National Student Research Group’s Outstanding Student Researcher Award.
At the same meeting, D3 student researcher Macey Siegel received a Bloc Travel Grant for her research project titled “Conditional ablation of bone sialoprotein affects cranial growth.”
Ms. Andras and Ms. Siegel are advised by Brian Foster, MS, PhD, a researcher and Associate Professor in the Division of Biosciences who conducts internationally recognized research on the molecular biology of tooth root development and mineralization.
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Natalie Andras
DDS-PhD Student
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Wittwer Fellowships Awarded to Graduating Residents
The Wittwer Graduate Fellowship fund was established in 1975 by Pauline C. Wittwer, a long-time administrative assistant for the college's post-graduate programs. The endowed fund provides support for graduating residents and graduate students who intend to pursue an academic career. The following fellowship recipients were recently selected from the Class of 2024.
Gabrielle Dennis, DDS, a third-year resident and MS student in the advanced education program in oral and maxillofacial pathology;
Omar Moustafa, BDS, MS, a third-year resident and MS student in the advanced education program in prosthodontics;
Priyanka Pitchumani, BDS, MS, a third-year resident and MS student in the advanced education program in periodontics; and
Sheng (Chris) Wang, DDS, PhD, a third-year resident and MS student in the advanced education program in orthodontics.
All four students will receive a one-time monetary award.
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Graduate School Awards Fellowships to College of Dentistry Students
The Ohio State University Graduate School recently awarded four fellowships to master’s degree students who will begin their training this summer. These fellowships provide a stipend and fully subsidized tuition and health insurance expenses over the academic year 2024-25.
Fellowship recipients include Olivia Jackson, a 2024 graduate of the OSU CoD, and Jennifer Lee, a 2024 graduate of the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine. Both will join the college's advanced education program in orthodontics. William Meyer, a 2024 graduate of the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, will enroll in the advanced education program in periodontics. Saeed Zarrabi, a 2024 graduate of the OSU CoD, will enroll in the advanced education program in endodontics.
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Continuing Dental Education Courses: Webinars, Self-Paced Courses, and In-Person, Hands-On Sessions
The College of Dentistry's Continuing Dental Education program offers courses that meet the needs of dental and dental hygiene professionals.
Visit the CE website to learn about the array of topics and presentations provided in formats that suit every schedule!
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The Ohio State University College of Dentistry
Postle Hall, 305 W. 12th Ave., Columbus, OH 43210
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