Dental Education News: 
April 2020
COVID-19 Related Dental News
NYU College of Dentistry's Dr. Lukasz Witek Collaborates on 3-D Printing of Much-Needed Face Shields 

A particularly exciting development is occurring through a collaborative venture among Dr. Lukasz Witek, Director of the Craniomaxillofacial Orthopaedic Biomaterials Regenerative Applications Lab, who oversees 3-D printing in the department, and colleagues at NYU Langone Health and NYU Tandon, who are teaming up to print plastic components of face shields for distribution to frontline responders at NYU Langone Health, and, subsequently, other area hospitals.  Read more.
Eastman Institute For Oral Health, University of Rochester: Chinese Colleagues Send Support and Supplies

B As the virus continues to sweep through the Greater Rochester, NY area and the U.S., treating people with dental emergencies continues to be an important priority. Dr. Ren and Dr. Eliav with box of donations. During this time of crisis, the kind and generous support from our colleagues in China has been overwhelming and deeply appreciated. Because of their support, Eastman Institute providers and specialists are able to treat many vulnerable patients each day who have emergency dental needs.  Read more.
NYU College of Dentistry Donates PPE to Combat the Spread of COVID-19 in NYC 

On March 23, the College answered the Governor's call in an especially meaningful way by donating face masks, gloves, gowns, and face shields to combat the spread of COVID-19. Deliveries were made to the Javits Center and to Bellevue Hospital Center. On March 30, at the request of Dr. Staci Bloom, Vice Provost of Research at NYU, the College readied another major donation of PPE, this time for NYU Langone Health. We've since learned that most of the gloves and a portion of the isolation gowns that we donated to Langone were being rerouted to Brookdale Hospital, as their need for the PPE was dire.  Read more.
Education & Training
Columbia University College of Dental Medicine Joins Time's Up Healthcare Initiative for Safe, Fair Workplace Culture

Affirming the need for respect, fairness, and safety in the workplace, Columbia University College of Dental Medicine has joined Time's Up Healthcare, an initiative that engages health professional schools and institutions in the push toward equitable and dignified employment.   Read more.
Touro College of Dental Medicine at New York Medical College: Students Lift Spirits During Virtual Spirit Week

Touro College of Dental Medicine's Student Government Association organized Spirit Week 2020 -- a week of daily themes and events designed to bring the TCDM community together, while apart. From "Pajama Monday" to "Foodie Friday", students, faculty and staff connected on social media to share photos, videos, positive thoughts and supportive messages with one another. Other online activities included group games, movie watch-parties and a wellness competition, transforming virtual get-togethers into real human connections .  Read more.
Touro College of Dental Medicine at New York Medical College: Morgan Atanasio, Inaugural Class of 2020, Shares Her Perspective on Staying Positive and Productive in the Midst of Disappointment  

Over the past few weeks, I, like most, have to pause and remind myself that this is not a bad dream. Who would have thought that with two months left until graduation, our world would undergo such a tumultuous shift?  Like most of my classmates, I imagined my D4 Spring would be a time where I continued to see my patients, some for the last time, finished my competencies, and enjoyed time with my friends before we part ways in May. Grand celebrations were supposed to be in order, but these days it feels like there isn't much to celebrate.   Read more.
Oral Health Care Access
Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine Brings Oral Health Education to Over 7,500 Local Children

Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine's team marked National Children's Dental Health Month by bringing oral health education to over 7,500 children in local school districts throughout January, February and March. The initiative is part of the School of Dental Medicine's comprehensive School-Based Program, which focuses on the oral health sustainability of local children through an emphasis on prevention, the teaching of good oral hygiene and nutritional practices, and strategic partnerships with school districts in Suffolk County.   Read more.
Touro College of Dental Medicine at New York Medical College Launches Virtual Dental Visits for its Patients

Touro Dental Health, the 109-chair dental teaching practice located at the Touro College of Dental Medicine, is now offering free virtual dental visits for its patients of record.  Following Governor Cuomo's guidelines, the teaching practice suspended all elective or non-emergency dental care since the COVID-19 outbreak, but has remained open on a limited basis as a community resource for its patients with dental emergencies.   Read more.
NYU College of Dentistry Launches Telehealth Service to Address Urgent Care Needs of New Yorkers

Thanks to the efforts of so many of our faculty, staff, and administrators, our Telehealth Service is up and running - addressing the urgent care needs of New Yorkers and helping to minimize visits to hospitals and urgent care facilities at this critical time. Led by Robin Elliott, Clyde Jackson, Jakai Reid, Leighton Pitter, and Terry-Ann Brown, our team of faculty volunteers and the staff and administrators from Clinic Operations/Patient Care Services, Technology & Informatics Services, Compliance & Safety, Dental Health Informatics/EHR, and Clinical Affairs has enabled us to provide assistance to approximately 200 patients daily.   Read more.
Faculty News
University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine  Oral Biologists Recognized for Research and Mentorship From AADR and AAID

Two faculty members in the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine were honored for their outstanding efforts in the areas of research, training and mentorship.  Frank A. Scannapieco, DMD, PhD, professor and chair of oral biology and associate dean for faculty and professional development, was awarded the 2020 Irwin D. Mandel Distinguished Mentoring Award from the American Association for Dental Research.   Read more.
Read more from the dental schools!