FIRST THURSDAY
COLLEGE OF DENTISTRY NEWS
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MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN
Dear Colleagues:
As you'll see in this newsletter, we recently hosted two events that recognize the excellence of our staff and faculty. The first was our annual Faculty Awards and Recognition dinner. For that event, we create a special publication each year that showcases the achievements of our full-time faculty. Categories include promotions, tenure, and reappointments; election to positions with national, state, and local dental organizations; journal and textbook editorships; research grants and other funding; patents/licenses approved; national honors and awards received -- and more. This impressive publication demonstrates the many ways our faculty members go above and beyond to contribute to the profession.
We also presented the college's annual awards at the event. This year, two awards were given to faculty who were nominated by their peers.
Dr. Robert Busto, an Assistant Professor-Clinical in the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Dental Anesthesiology, received the Larry J. Peterson Young Educators Award that honors a faculty member who has shown "exceptional enthusiasm for teaching."
Dr. Sarah Peters, an Assistant Professor in the Division of Biosciences, received the Stazen Junior Faculty Award for demonstrating "exceptional promise in research."
The day after the Faculty Awards event, the college hosted its annual Staff Development Day that includes the presentation of the Outstanding Staff Award. Recipients are full-time staff members who have served the college for at least three years. Nominated by their peers, award recipients are selected by the Dentistry Staff Development Committee for their actions that "inspire others to excellence, achievements, and outstanding performance in the workplace."
This year's award winner was Mr. James Cousar, a senior dental assistant in the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Dental Anesthesiology. It was my pleasure to present the Outstanding Staff Award to James whose nomination letters praised his work ethic, his overall excellence and great attitude, as well as his team spirit.
As dean, I am proud of our hard-working, dedicated, and highly productive staff and faculty. In our collective effort to educate students, conduct research, and care for patients, their contributions are invaluable.
Sincerely,
Dean Carroll Ann Trotman
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Awards Presented at Annual Faculty Recognition Event
On June 13, the college's full-time faculty members gathered for their Faculty Awards and Recognition celebration held at the Faculty Club. The annual event recognizes years of service to the college and awards are presented.
This year's award recipients included Robert Busto, DMD, MS, MBA, an Assistant Professor-Clinical in the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Dental Anesthesiology. He received the Larry J. Peterson Young Educators Award, which honors a faculty member who has taught for 1-3 years and has shown "exceptional enthusiasm for teaching." Dr. Busto provides anesthesiology for clinical operations in the college, in addition to supporting anesthesiology services at the Wexner Medical Center's Department of Anesthesiology.
The Stazen Junior Faculty Award was presented to Sarah Peters, MS, PhD (shown above) for "demonstrating exceptional promise in research." An Assistant Professor in the Division of Biosciences, Dr. Peters' role in the college includes conducting research and contributing to the division's didactic teaching responsibilities. She also supports curriculum development to ensure the highest quality of educational experiences for pre-doctoral students.
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White Coat Ceremony Welcomes Dental Class of 2024
The College of Dentistry welcomed the members of the dental Class of 2024 at a special White Coat ceremony held June 17. The event was hosted as a "make-up" celebration for the DDS students who, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, were unable to participate in a White Coat ceremony when they first joined the college.
Several hundred of the students' family members and friends attended the event at the Mershon Auditorium. Speakers included Dean Carroll Ann Trotman, BDS, MA, MS; Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Darryl Hamamoto, DDS, PhD; Dental Alumni Society Treasurer Dale Ann Featheringham, DDS, MS; Ohio Dental Association President Thomas Kelly, DDS; Assistant Professor-Clinical Mark Morrison, DDS; and Class of 2024 Vice President Samuel Baker.
Welcoming the students and their guests, Dean Trotman said, "The White Coat ceremony is a symbolic event that has great meaning for everyone -- our students, their families, and friends -- and for us, the college staff and faculty." She added, "This is a moment we look forward to because you, our students, are the reason why we are here. Each of you could have attended another school, but we are glad you chose us -- The Ohio State University College of Dentistry. You are highly valued members of the college community, and I look forward to seeing the great things you will accomplish!"
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Justin Kaspar, PhD, Receives NIH Funding for Streptococcus mutans Research
Dr. Justin Kaspar, an Assistant Professor in the Division of Biosciences, was recently awarded an R03 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) - National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). Designed for research projects that can be conducted in a short period of time, the R03 grant is for $315,000 that will be distributed over two years.
Those funds will support Dr. Kaspar’s investigation of Streptococcus mutans, a bacterium that is commonly found in the human mouth. It is a primary driver of dental caries through its production of organic acids as it consumes dietary sugars that demineralize tooth enamel. The grant also provides funding to test various new species – including Streptococcus species that are associated with tooth decay and oral non-Streptococcus species.
Commenting on the research project, Dr. Kaspar said, “Ideally, we'd like to find a handful of genes to target with potential future therapeutics that would selectively remove Streptococcus mutans from the microbiome while keeping the normal, healthy, and protective microbiome intact. This would give us a way to either treat and/or prevent the formation of tooth decay.”
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Jennifer Lee, DMD, Presents "Sustainable Dentistry" Session at AAPD and Publishes in ADA News
Dr. Jennifer Lee is a first-year resident in the college's advanced education program in the Division of Pediatric Dentistry. She is also a passionate advocate for integrating environmentally sustainable practices into the dental profession.
Dr. Lee founded and led the Sustainability Committee while she was a student at Harvard University's School of Dental Medicine. As a dental professional, her commitment to promoting sustainable dentistry continues while she writes and speaks about the subject at such venues as the Annual Session of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD).
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Sarah Peters, MS, PhD, Receives OSU Pilot Grant to Explore Connection between Alzheimer's and Periodontal Disease
Dr. Sarah Peters, an Assistant Professor in the Division of Biosciences, has received a pilot grant from the university that allows her to study and gather data regarding potential links between periodontal disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
Her previous research projects have focused on the mechanisms that regulate innervation in the dental pulp; the study of mouse submandibular salivary gland development; and the mineralization of the tooth, mandible, and long bone. Dr. Peters’ examinations of these and other subjects have been funded by such sources as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) - National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR).
For her investigation of the potential connection between periodontal disease and Alzheimer's, she will work with Ruth Barrientos, PhD, an Associate Professor in the College of Medicine's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health. Dr. Barrientos studies vulnerabilities associated with the aging brain that make it more susceptible to inflammatory challenges that can result in memory dysfunctions that include Alzheimer’s disease.
The pilot grant that will support this research comes from the university's Chronic Brain Injury Program whose goals are to advance the prevention, detection, and treatment of brain injuries.
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Melissa Drum, DDS, MS, is President of American Board of Endodontics
Dr. Melissa Drum, a Professor and Graduate Program Director in the Division of Endodontics, has been chosen to serve as president of the American Board of Endodontics. She received her DDS degree from the University of Minnesota, and then enrolled at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, earning her Master of Science degree and a certificate in endodontics in 2006. She joined the college faculty that same year.
Dr. Drum's responsibilities include providing instruction for endodontics residents. She also serves as the Advanced Endodontics Program Director and is a past Director of the Predoctoral Endodontics/Emergency Clinic. She is active in service at the college, state, and national levels, and has published numerous book chapters, more than 80 scholarly articles, and is the co-author of Successful Local Anesthesia for Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics, a book that presents the rationale, advantages, and limitations of various anesthetic agents and routes of administration.
Dr. Drum became a Diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics in 2008, and in 2013 she was the first recipient of the Alfred W. Reader Endowed Professorship in Endodontics. Throughout her career, she has received a number of honors, including the Edward M. Osetek Award presented by the American Association of Endodontists. Her teaching and research have also been recognized by awards from the College of Dentistry and local dental organizations.
The American Board of Endodontics (ABE) is one of nine specialty boards recognized by the American Dental Association. As president of the Board, Dr. Drum will provide leadership for ABE, which is the only certifying board in the U.S. for the specialty of endodontics.
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Mr. James Cousar Wins Outstanding Staff Award
Mr. James Cousar, a Senior Dental Assistant in the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Dental Anesthesiology, has won the college's Outstanding Staff Award that honors an employee whose actions inspire others to excellence and outstanding achievements in the workplace. The award includes a cash prize of $500.00.
Dean Carroll Ann Trotman presented the award to Mr. Cousar at the college's annual Staff Development Day on June 14. She said, "The colleagues who nominated Mr. Cousar for this award have described him as 'one of the most reliable and outstanding dental assistants ever,' and as someone who 'always comes to work with a smile and gets the job done no matter how long it takes.' I give him my sincere congratulations for winning this award and setting a standard of excellence."
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The Ultimate Guide for a Periodontal Program in Your Practice: August 26, 2022
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Join us for this course that informs participants about setting up periodontal programs in a dental practice. One challenge in many practices is creating a periodontal program that is readily adapted by the team and accepted with ease by the patients. Potential obstacles are third-party reimbursements; time constraints in the dental hygiene operatory; patients' acceptance of the plan and fees; and the team required to deliver the program.
Date: Friday, August 26, 2022
Registration options: Register for the full day (in-person, includes afternoon hands-on activities); or register for the morning session only (in-person or virtual).
Morning Session: This session includes dentists and dental hygienists and their teams. Topics include how to organize the day in any dental practice; scheduling by periodontal diagnosis; how to gain the patient's agreement to a periodontal treatment plan; and an introduction to such products as probiotics and manual-free ultrasonics. Emphasis is also placed on third-party reimbursements.
Afternoon Session: This session is tailored for hands-on demonstrations of instrumentation and is suited to dental hygienists; however, dentists will also gain useful knowledge. Topics include calibrating all clinicians on periodontal probing; introducing micro-thin ultrasonic instrumentation to decrease fatigue and enhance efficiency; and new topical anesthetics and local anesthesia techniques to manage difficult access, including the furcation. This highly interactive program is complete with take-home strategies.
Presenter: Samuel B. Low, DDS, MS, MEd; Dr. Low has been an associate faculty member at the L.D. Pankey Institute for 25 years. He is also a Professor Emeritus at the University of Florida College of Dentistry, and he is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology; a past president of the American Academy of Periodontology; and a past president of the Florida Dental Association.
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The Ohio State University College of Dentistry
Postle Hall, 305 W. 12th Ave., Columbus, OH 43210
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