Dear Colleagues:

As we continue bringing select groups of our students, staff, and faculty back to Postle Hall, I am realizing how many things I missed while they were gone! It is clear to me now that I took many of these things for granted before the COVID-19 crisis brought so many changes to our college. Although I did not have a full appreciation then of their importance in my daily life as dean, I am so grateful for the new perspective on our college community that I have now.
 
With so many people back in Postle, I am able to enjoy daily "hallway conversations" again with those who come my way. I had forgotten how much I have always learned from these unplanned interactions. They have helped me stay closely connected with what is going on in the college; with what people are concerned about at home or at work; and with what I can do to help make their jobs better. Although I knew I missed these casual exchanges, I had not fully realized how important they are to my work until they came back!
 
For years, it has been my habit to make unscheduled stops at various locations throughout the college to say hello to people, and to just see how things are going. I like being "in their world," as it helps me understand what each day has in store for them and how they are managing the challenges in their division, program, department, or office. These personal visits have always been a pleasure, and they give me valuable insights. I feel so much better informed now that this is something I can do again.
 
Now, during my daily walks through the pre-clinic lab and student clinics, I am freshly aware of all the interactions among our students, staff, and faculty. I have the impression that these conversations are more frequent and engaging than I remember, or it may be that I am more attuned to them because they were missing for nearly three months. In either case, I am noticing them more and for that I am grateful.
 
What I am especially glad to see in Postle Hall again are the smiling faces of patients as they connect with our students. Whether they are greeting each other at the check-in areas, or they are leaving the clinic together after a long appointment, I enjoy seeing that special bond between them. These observations let me know how successful our faculty are in educating our students, and it shows me how much our students are learning about our profession. These, too, are things that I missed greatly, and I am so pleased to have them back.
 
I am reminding myself that I need to make sure I take in all these experiences each and every day. I want to continue to appreciate the real worth of all that is around us, and I do not want to make the mistake of taking these important things for granted. All these examples of interactions and observations with the members of our college community are what I have missed so much. And I realize now that it is these things that make our college a truly great place to be!
     
Patrick M. Lloyd, DDS, MS
Dean and Professor
June 2020 Edition
COLLEGE NEWS
Joen Iannucci, DDS, MS, Receives Ohio State's Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching 

Dr. Joen Iannucci, a Professor-Clinical in the Division of Dental Hygiene, was one of ten university faculty members who recently received an Alumni Award for Distinguished TeachingGiven in recognition of teaching excellence, the awards include an addition to each recipient's salary base, along with a $5000 honorarium.

Since joining the college faculty in 1987, Dr. Iannucci has received 42 Outstanding Instructor and Student Government Teaching Awards, as well as the college's Postle Teaching Award. She is also the author of two widely recognized textbooks, Dental Radiography: Principles and Techniques, and Radiographic Interpretation for the Dental Hygienist

Dr. Iannucci currently teaches a variety of didactic, laboratory and online courses in the Division of Dental Hygiene's Baccalaureate Degree and Baccalaureate Degree Completion programs, and the Master's in Dental Hygiene degree program.
Dentistry Students and Faculty Receive IADR Awards

At this year's General Session and Exhibition of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR), the American Association for Dental Research (AADR), and the Canadian Association for Dental Research (CADR), the college's students and faculty received the following awards:

IADR Centennial Emerging Leaders Award:
Dr. Brian Foster,  an Assistant Professor in the  Division of Biosciences , was the inaugural recipient of the prestigious 2020 IADR Centennial Emerging Leaders Award.  This honor recognizes his "achievements in dental research and the potential to further contribute to the IADR and the scientific community worldwide." 

A faculty member in the college since 2015, Dr. Foster's research focuses on the molecular biology of tooth root development and mineralization, with a special interest in genes, mechanisms, diseases, and novel regeneration strategies. His work has been consistently funded by grants from the National Institutes for Health - National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research, and his research has appeared in such  publications  as the  Journal of Dental Research ; the  Journal of Proteomics Bone ; and the  Journal of Periodontology .

AADR Student Research Day Award:
Andrea Tsatalis, D4 Student 
 
Hatton Award for Senior Student Research: 
Michael Chavez, Oral Biology PhD Student; second-place prize  

Hatton Award for Junior Student Research:
Delaney Clayton, D3 Student; second-place prize
 
 
Michael Chavez, Oral Biology PhD Student
Delaney Clayton, D3 Student
Fuad Farah, D3 Student
Kazune Pax , DDS-PhD Student
Michelle  Scott , DDS-PhD Student
Kim Hammersmith, DDS, MPH, MS, Receives $2.25 M HRSA Grant  

is the Director of the Advanced Education Program in Pediatric Dentistry for the College of Dentistry and at Nationwide Children's Hospital. In that role, she provides instruction for pre-doctoral students and pediatric dentistry residents, while also caring directly for pediatric dental patients and supporting outreach activities in the community.
 
Motivated by a concern for the underserved and vulnerable pediatric populations for whom she and her colleagues provide dental care, Dr. Hammersmith submitted a $2.25 M grant proposal that was recently funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
 
The project's numerous goals include the creation of a curriculum to support a combined degree program at Ohio State that would simultaneously offer a Master of Science in dentistry and a Master of Public Health degree; utilizing innovations in teledentistry to provide much-needed patient care; and recruiting pediatric dentistry residents from underrepresented backgrounds whose experiences prepare them to care for children in need. 

Commenting on the significant impact of the grant that supports these initiatives, Dr. Hammersmith said, "This project will be a collaborative effort with our division at Ohio State's College of Dentistry and the College of Public Health. Our efforts may help fill the dental public health and academic work forces, while also creating well-rounded private practitioners who can be better community leaders and advocates for children."
Ms. Beth Angus, MPH, is Safex Health and Safety Consultant  
 
Ms. Beth Angus, a  Safex Health and Safety Consultant, joined the college on May 1. She performs qualitative and quantitative industrial hygiene assessments, as well as developing industrial hygiene sampling plans, and conducting area and personal exposure assessments for chemical and physical hazards, and ventilation system assessments.

Ms. Angus's credentials include a Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and a Master of Public Health degree  in Environmental and Occupational Health from the University of Arizona. She is a Board Certified Industrial Hygienist with Safex, Inc. 


Brutus D.D.S. 
Find us on Facebook

 

Follow us on Twitter

View our videos on YouTube

 

 




Postle Hall
305 W. 12th Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43210

 

OSU College of Dentistry