Results: 341 news stories
2021 Faculty Research & Master Clinician Awards
Two distinguished faculty members received their award plaques, recognizing them as awardees of the 2021 School of Dentistry Faculty Research and Master Clinician Awards. The School of Dentistry first announced the award winners in April as the awardees were speakers during the 39th Annual Research and Clinical Symposium. Faculty Research Award Anibal Diogenes, DDS, MS, PhD, was selected for the 2021 Faculty Research Award for his long-running standard of research excellence.
Conversation with the Dean
On April 28, Dean Peter M. Loomer, BSc, DDS, PhD, MRCD(C), FACD, hosted a virtual Conversation with the Dean event from his home in San Antonio. Accompanying him were Amanda Wilson, a rising third-year dental student, and Amanda Liccione, director of development for the School of Dentistry.
Class of 2021 dental students, hygienists achieve 100% licensing pass rate
The School of Dentistry celebrated its Class of 2021 as 100% of all dental and dental hygiene seniors passed the Western Regional Examining Board (WREB) this April. Traditionally, the WREB, a high-stakes licensure exam, requires the students to demonstrate clinical competency with live patients. However, at the onset of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, Texas dental schools advocated for simulated exams.
2021 Senior Awards
The School of Dentistry hosted the 2021 Senior Hooding and Awards Convocation Ceremony on May 20.
Dental Student featured in “Real Jobs” video series
Joi Walls, a rising fourth-year dental student, was recently featured by InTheKnow.com for the series titled “Real Jobs” that profiles young adults aspiring to enter various careers. The five-minute video follows Joi through her day caring for patients and creating content for her YouTube channel. Joi speaks about her inspiration for entering the profession of dentistry and her motivation for sharing her journey that she hopes will “usher in the next generation of young, Black dentists,” writes Katie Mather from InTheKnow. Watch Joi’s “Real Story” at InTheKnow.com.
School of Dentistry confirmed as an ITI Scholarship Center
The International Team for Implantology’s (ITI) Board of Directors and Leadership Development Committee confirmed by unanimous vote in May the UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry as an ITI Scholarship Center. The center, to be housed in the Department of Periodontics and under the direction of Associate Professor Georgios Kotsakis, DDS, MS, aims to further the training of professional dentists who have completed postgraduate training in implant dentistry or another related field. One ITI Scholar will be hosted by the center for a one-year period, extending from S
Predoctoral Convocation Awards 2021
The 2021 Predoctoral Convocation Award ceremony was held on April 28. The ceremony recognized the accomplishments of freshmen, sophomore and junior dental students. Kristi Morris, DS3, was awarded the UT Health San Antonio Ambassador Scholarship. This honor is given each year to one outstanding student from each of the five UT Health San Antonio schools. A $5,000 scholarship was awarded to each ambassador in April. Kristi will represent the dental student body and the university at numerous events throughout the 2021-2022 academic year. Dr.
Jeopardy!, Oral Medicine Edition
Third-year dental students are shaking off their online fatigue by playing rounds of Jeopardy in their oral medicine course.
Brian Mealey stepping down after 15 years as graduate program director
Brian L. Mealey, DDS, MS, professor and director of the Graduate Program in Periodontics, will be stepping down as program director on June 1, 2021. “I have always deeply respected our faculty and staff,” Mealey said. “A fault of mine is that I didn’t tell them how much I appreciated them as often as I should have. These men and women – our faculty, our dental assistants, and our administrative staff – they make our residency what it is. Not the program director. To all of them, I offer my deepest gratitude.” Dr.
Student researchers awarded at biennial Texas Pain Research Consortium
This month, the Texas Pain Research Consortium assembled for their biennial conference which included predoctoral research presentations. Katie V. Lillis and Meilinn Tram received recognition from the Consortium for their research. Katie, a third-year neuroscience PhD candidate in Dr.
39th Annual School of Dentistry Research and Clinical Symposium
The School of Dentistry held its 39th Annual Research and Clinical Symposium on Saturday, April 10, 2021.
Another successful admissions season is due to faculty and student volunteers
The School of Dentistry is in its final stages of selecting the Class of 2025 thanks to the many faculty and dental students who helped interview and evaluate the hopeful applicants this current cycle. A committee of dedicated faculty members makes up the school’s Admission Review Panel (ARP) Committee.
Senior dental student learned more than dentistry on pediatric rotation
Larissa Sanchez is a senior dental student with her sights set on graduation this May. Over the past four years, she and her classmates have been exposed to a number of community-based training experiences meant to enhance their skills for providing dental care and managing a diverse patient population. One such rotation is conducted at Ricardo Salinas Clinic, an affiliated training site, that provides students with valuable clinical training working with children.
Dental hygiene students take first place in 2021 TDHA video challenge
The 2021 Texas Dental Hygienists’ Association’s (TDHA) Student Conference took place on Saturday, February 27th. Keeping with tradition, a video challenges were issued for students to create content with this year’s theme: Lighting the Way. As defenders of the 2020 winner’s title, School of Dentistry TDHA student members got to work.
NIDCR awards funding to promote diversity in health-related research
The National Institutes of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) notified Shivani B. Ruparel, MS, PhD, an associate professor in the Department of Endodontics, that her application for diversity supplement funding was approved for Ms. Jaclyn Merlo, a second-year Master of Science student in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. Benefits of the new funding are twofold. First, it allows Dr.
Tell me you're in dentistry without telling me you're in dentistry.
What do you come across in your day that would, without words, communicate that you are in the dental profession? Share your fun photos in the newsletter by sending them to SoDNews@uthscsa.edu.
Collaboration is king at UT Dentistry
Within a dental practice as large and diverse as the UT Health San Antonio’s School of Dentistry, it’s easy for a new patient to feel a little nervous before their first appointment. This was certainly the case for Jeffrey Almquist, a patient who sought treatment at the school. Mr. Almquist’s hesitation was quickly quelled, though, after meeting Jorge Silva, a senior dental student who would provide his care. “I felt secure and liked him from the start,” says Mr. Almquist of Jorge.
New app with familial ties to the School of Dentistry helps support safe businesses
Jason and Elijah Whang are brothers and co-creators of Co-Crit: Safety Reviews, a free mobile app that crowdsources reviews of businesses’ COVID-19 safety practices. The app is designed to arm consumers with information so they can feel safe venturing out to support their favorite businesses again. The Whang brothers are the sons of Kyumin Whang, PhD, Barry K. Norling Endowed Professor in the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry. Dr.