Drs. Sok-Ja Janket and Eleni Kanasi

Research Associate Professor in the Department of General Dentistry Dr. Sok-Ja Janket and Group Practice Leader and Assistant Professor in the Departments of General Dentistry and Periodontology Dr. Eleni Kanasi contributed a chapter to a new book titled, Infection and Autoimmunity, 2^nd Edition, which was published by Elsevier in January 2015.

Their chapter titled, “Oral Infections and Autoimmune Diseases,” discusses the potential causal role oral infections may play in triggering the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Highly associated with genetics and oral infections, autoimmune diseases may be involved in the pathogenic mechanism in genetically susceptible individuals. Many autoimmune diseases manifest in the oral cavity, and while dentists are familiar with identifying and managing the symptoms, looking at the oral infection as the causative factor is a new concept. The chapter was co-authored by Dr. Alison Baird, a professor at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center. Dr. Baird is a neurologist and longtime collaborator with Dr. Janket.

The pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases involves the development of naïve T-cells into Th17 cells and leads to disease with the help of the multiple transcription factors and cytokines also expressed in oral infections. The chapter describes the molecular biology of oral infections in the framework of autoimmune pathogenesis and provides evidence of a causal relationship between oral infections and various autoimmune diseases including atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, antiphospholipid syndrome, Sjögren’s syndrome, and Crohn’s disease.

Dr. Janket was invited to write this chapter by the president of the Congress, Dr. Yehuda ‎‎Shoenfeld, at the 9^th International Congress on Autoimmunity last spring, after giving a well-received presentation on how salivary immunoglobulin can predict autoimmune diseases such as type 1 Diabetes. Animal modeling is a major component of the research to elucidate the pathogenesis of complex disease like autoimmune diseases, and Dr. Janket’s expertise as an epidemiologist is essential in order to translate the results from animal and in vitro studies for human populations.

Drs. Janket and Kanasi are thrilled to have their work published in such a highly regarded textbook on the interactions between infectious agents and autoimmunity. “It is great honor to be included in this textbook with so many accomplished colleagues.” said Dr. Janket.

If you are interested in picking up a copy of the book, contact Dr. Sok-Ja Janket at skjanket@bu.edu.

Nora Nakshabendi DMD 16 and Nicolas Branshaw DMD 16

On December 9–11, 2014, Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri and 12 Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) students visited the Crispus Attucks Children’s Center in Dorchester, as part of the school-based dental outreach program.  Throughout the three days, the team of volunteers went into six classrooms of children ages three to six years old.

During the visits, all of the children participated in circle time where the GSDM students engaged them in age-appropriate, hands-on dental health lessons. Every child (and the teacher) received a toothbrush. In total, about 110 children also received a dental screening and fluoride varnish.

“Visiting a child care center such as Crispus Attucks provides the students a chance to see young children in their own element—one that is warm, fun, and nurturing,” said Lituri. “Most of the children received a dental screening, which gave the students an opportunity to work closely with pre-school children and allowed them the chance to assess a pediatric dentition, something they do not regularly encounter in the Patient Treatment Centers.”

The student volunteers were: Charlotte Bigg DMD 16, Nicolas Branshaw DMD 16, Anna Komnatnaya DMD 16, Israel Korobkin DMD 16, Michelle Prieto DMD 16, David Tran DMD 16, Luri Lee DMD 16, Mike Mayr DMD 16, Nora Nakshabendi DMD 16, Shivani Patel DMD 16, Faraz Tartibi DMD 16, and Vanessa Thai DMD 16.

Photos are available on Facebook and Flickr.

(l-r) Lemma Salem Pre-dental, Sara Elashaal DMD 17, Tetyana Shreyer AS 16, Olga Spivak AS 16, and Mina Abdalla AS 16

Every month, students from Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) join together at Rosie’s Place, a women’s shelter in the South End, to volunteer their time by providing oral health screenings for women in need through a program called Women to Women. Their efforts are the fruit of a collaboration between the GSDM chapter of the American Association of Women Dentists (AAWD), the Division of Community Health Programs, and the Wellness Clinic at Rosie’s Place.

Volunteers spend the second Friday of every month at the shelter talking with women and answering oral health related questions, as well as offering oral health advice, oral screenings, referrals, and personal oral health products.

In addition to serving at-risk women in the South End, the Women to Women program contributes to the holistic education of the GSDM student volunteers. It gives them the opportunity to better understand the plight of women in their community, and it enables the students to work alongside other healthcare professionals in an interdisciplinary environment.

“The Women to Women Program at Rosie’s Place offers an incredible opportunity for our students to gain a broad view of issues faced by women who are in need of the services at Rosie’s Place,” said Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri.

Located in the South End, a few blocks from GSDM, Rosie’s Place describes itself as a sanctuary for women in need of a little extra care and support. It was founded in 1974 with a mission to “provide a safe and nurturing environment that helps poor and homeless women maintain their dignity, seek opportunity, and find security in their lives.” It was the first women’s shelter in the United States.

“I am so pleased to see our students participate in this important event every month,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. “Giving back to the community is an important part of our mission and it is truly gratifying to know that our students are regularly engaged in our community.”

October 10, 2014, volunteers were: Palwasha Durrani (Pre-dental), Anna Komnatnaya DMD 16, Jina Lee DMD 16, Ms. Kathy Lituri, Carolina Perdono (Pre-dental), Ayman Suliman (Pre-dental), Ian Teng DMD 16, Ryan Vaughn DMD 16, and Amanda Yip DMD 16.

November 7, 2014, volunteers were: Laila Bamashmous (Post-doctoral DPH resident), Palwasha Durrani (Pre-dental), Ms. Kathy Lituri, Mary McClintock DMD 16, Carol Patel DMD 16, Snehal Pingle AS 15, Sai Ramani Krishna Kumar AS 15, Ayman Sulimany (Post-doctoral DPH resident), and Vanessa Thai DMD 16

December 5, 2014, volunteers were: Mina Abdalla AS 16, Debbie Desravines DMD 17, Sara Elashaal DMD 17, Courtney Knapik DMD 15, Sandip Ladani AS 16, Ms. Kathy Lituri, Vrushali Mirajkar AS 16, Nikkita Muwanguzi DMD 17, Lemma Salem (Pre-dental), Tetyana Shreyer AS 16, and Olga Spivak AS 16.

January 9, 2015, volunteers were: Jing Guo DMD 17, Courtney Knapik DMD 16, Ms. Kathy Lituri, Nora Nakshabendi DMD 16, Ayman Suliman (Pre-dental), and Amanda Yip DMD 15.

If you are interested in participating in an upcoming Women to Women event at Rosie’s Place, please contact Kathy Lituri at lituri@bu.edu. You do not have to be an AAWD member or a woman to participate.

GSDM volunteers promote oral health to the women of HOCC

On Monday, January 12, members of the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine community volunteered at the Women, Oral Health, HIV Connection event sponsored by Healing Our Community Collaborative (HOCC): Programs for Women, by Women, about Women. Located at Old South Church on Boylston Street, HOCC is non-profit organization for women infected with, affected by, or at risk for HIV/AIDS. Through ongoing HIV health education and prevention programming, HOCC strives to help eliminate health disparities among women without access to optimal health care.

The volunteer event, a collaborative effort between the GSDM Student Chapter of the American Association of Public Health Dentistry (AAPHD) and the Boston Public Health Commission HIV Dental Program, drew over 75 at-risk women from the community. During lunch, Director of the HIV Dental Ombudsperson Program at the Boston Public Health Commission Ms. Helene Bednarsh gave a presentation on oral health and dental screenings that led to a solid discussion. Many of the women in attendance also received screenings from the GSDM volunteers and asked insightful questions.

“The HOCC volunteer event was an awesome opportunity for some of the female members of AAPHD to connect and give back to an incredible set of women who have experienced many of life’s hardships,” said GSDM’s AAPHD President Andrea Lam DMD 16. “Altogether, it was a unique and enriching experience and I can’t wait to return again next year.”

Executive Director of HOCC Heidi Bright reported that the program received great feedback from the women who received dental screenings and attended the presentation. “I want to thank you for making this wonderful program on oral health happen for the women of HOCC,” she said. “It was a great start toward our mission of increasing health and wellness awareness in 2015.”

GSDM faculty and staff volunteers were: Clinical Instructor in the Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research Dr. Gladys Carrasco, Clinical Instructor in the Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research Ms. Dee Devlin, Oral Health Promotion Director Ms. Kathy Lituri, and Research Dental Assistant Ms. Nekou Nowrouzi.

The student volunteers were: Setu Choksi AS 16, Smriti Singh AS 16, Neemi Lama Sherpa AS 16, Siddhi Mehta AS 16, Manisha Shrestha AS 16, Angela Wu AS 16, Shelby Curtis DMD 16, Andrea Lam DMD 16, Amanda Yip DMD 16, Guanghui Ling AS 16, Jing Guo DMD 17, and Ana Keohane AS 16.

Photos are available on Facebook and Flickr.

(l-r) Nicholas Capezio DMD 18, Angela Wu AS 16, Guanghui Ling AS 16, and Ayinkeran Gunarajasingam DMD 18 gather at the conference

On Saturday, January 10, 2015, Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) students attended the New England Global Health Conference for Medical and Dental Students and Residents. The all-day conference sponsored by Massachusetts Medical Society and held at its headquarters, featured keynote addresses and mini-lectures by area doctors on a variety of global health topics, as well as hands-on skill workshops and networking opportunities.

The morning kicked off with several mini-lectures on pertinent global health topics including the “Global Burden of Disease—An Overview”, given by Endocrinology Specialist at Boston Children’s Hospital Dr. Julia von Oettingen, and “Basic Oral Health”, given by Instructor in Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology at Harvard School of Dental Medicine and Chief of Oral Health Services at Cambridge Health Alliance Dr. Brian Swann.

Following the mini-lectures, Pediatric Residency Assistant Program Director at UMass Memorial Medical Center Dr. Patricia McQuilkin presented the keynote address “Academic Collaboration in Global Health.” In the afternoon, another significant presentation, “Ebola, International Disasters, and How You Can Get Involved” was given by the Director of Disaster Response at Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Global Health Dr. Hilarie Cranmer and Chief of the Division of International Emergency Medicine and Humanitarian Programs at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School Dr. Stephanie Kayden.

Later in the day, GSDM students participated in a dental workshop instructed by Harvard School of Dental Medicine’s Assistant Professor in Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology Dr. Brittany Seymour, Instructor in Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology Dr. Brian Swann, and Clinical Instructor in Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology Dr. Donna Hackley, along with Clinical Associate Professor at University of Massachusetts Medical School Dr. Hugh Silk. They also took part in a Medical Ethics workshop presented by Instructor of Medicine at Boston Medical Center Dr. James Hudspeth, along with another workshop of their choice.

In addition to all of the informative lectures, the conference provided a great networking opportunity for the attendees. To promote discussion, students and faculty were encouraged to sit together during lunch. Coffee and dessert in another room allowed for further introductions and free flowing conversation.

“This conference brought together students and residents from all of the medical and dental schools in Massachusetts,” said Associate Dean for Global & Population Health Dr. Michelle Henshaw. “It was very rewarding to see students work across disciplines to identify and find solutions for the many health challenges faced by developing nations. Everyone in attendance, students and faculty alike, left with new skills, knowledge, contacts, and an increased passion for addressing the complex health needs of our global population.”

GSDM students and faculty in attendance were: Nicholas Capezio DMD 18, Ayinkeran Gunarajasingam DMD 18, Associate Dean for Global & Population Health Dr. Michelle Henshaw, Guanghui Ling AS 16, Oral Health Promotion Director Ms. Kathy Lituri, and Angela Wu AS 16.

Photos are available on Facebook and Flickr.

Leaders of the Alpha Omega-Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program gather at the White House

Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine Clinical Assistant Professor and Group Practice Leader in the Department of General Dentistry Dr. David Dano recently visited the White House through his involvement with the Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity, the oldest Jewish dental and medical organization in the world. In response to Vice President Joe Biden’s call to action to help Holocaust survivors—at least 25 percent of which are living in poverty in the US—the organization partnered with Henry Shein, Inc., a worldwide distributor of dental and medical supplies, to launch the Alpha Omega-Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program. The three-year pilot initiative will provide free dental care to survivors who’ve been identified as economically vulnerable by social services.

Currently, Dano is the Alpha Omega Faculty Advisor for Boston University, a board member of Alpha Omega International, and the Young Alumni Director. With three dental schools in Boston, the city’s Alpha Omega chapter is strong. Now, Dano will also be a Boston Ambassador to the Alpha Omega-Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program along with Murray Miller ORTHO 83. Together, they will serve as liaisons between social services and volunteer dentists. During the first year of the program, 20 to 30 Boston-area Holocaust survivors in need will receive pro-bono dental care, while 250 to 300 will benefit nationwide.

“Alpha Omega embraces the spirit of Tikkun Olam, or healing the world through charitable endeavors,” said Dano. “By being part of Alpha Omega, each of us has the ability to make a real difference in our everyday practice, our community and our profession. The Alpha Omega-Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program is such a worthy cause; we are hoping that more dentists will join us in improving the function and quality of life of those in need.”

“I’m so proud that Drs. Dano and Miller are Boston Ambassadors to the Alpha Omega-Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. “The program’s mission is very admirable and I hope the pilot year is a great success.”

At the White House gathering, the discussion revolved around how the program will proceed in the nine pilot cities. International President of Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity Dr. Avi Wurman, Alpha Omega city ambassadors, and Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Henry Schein, Inc. Stanley Bergman were joined by government officials including Special Envoy for US Holocaust Survivor Services Aviva Sufian, Special Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation in the Domestic Policy Council Jonathan Greenblatt, and Director of Outreach of the National Security Council Matt Nosanchuk.

If you are interested in volunteering, contact Dr. Dano by email at danod@bu.edu. For further information about Alpha Omega or the Alpha Omega-Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program, call Dr. Murray Miller at 617-527-5965 or visit www.AO.org.

Photos are available on Facebook and Flickr.

Kelsey Mussler and Kara Boucher enjoying popcorn and cotton candy at the open house

On Friday, January 16, 2015, the hard work and dedication of Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) faculty and staff were celebrated with an appreciatory open house in the GSDM cafeteria. The gathering featured carnival themed refreshments including cotton candy, popcorn, cracker jacks, soft pretzels, and soft drinks.

At GSDM it is important that faculty and staff know that their daily efforts in support of GSDM are appreciated, which is why Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter hosted the appreciatory open house. Faculty and staff were invited to come and go as they were able over a two-hour period and enjoy refreshments and mingle with fellow colleagues. The open house served as an opportunity for faculty and staff from different parts of the School, who might not normally interact, to get to know each other in a fun and collegial environment. Over 100 faculty and staff joined together for the event.

Not wanting to leave anyone out, dessert platters were sent to the BU Dental Health Center at 930 Commonwealth Avenue and the Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research at 560 Harrison Avenue.

“It is because of the dedication of wonderful and talented faculty and staff that our Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine is such a success,” said Dean Hutter. “Thank you for all your hard work.”

Sanjay Kataria DMD 16 mans the HIV Dental Work Group booth

From January 29 to January 31, 2015, students from Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) volunteered at the HIV Dental Work Group booth at the 2015 Yankee Dental Congress (YDC). They joined students from Boston-area dental and dental hygiene schools as well as staff from GSDM and the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) to provide information to visitors about HIV and oral health.

The HIV Dental Work Group is part of the BPHC AIDS/HIV Ombudsperson Program, a dental program designed to facilitate access to oral health care for people living with HIV/AIDS. The program offers education, dental referrals, and advocacy for people with HIV/AIDS.  In addition, the HIV Dental Work Group strives to provide accurate information to dental professionals about HIV/AIDS and how it impacts oral health. It also gives students an opportunity to learn more about issues related to HIV/AIDS. This marked the HIV Work Group’s 17^th year of providing an educational exhibit on HIV/AIDS oral health issues and infection control at YDC.

Volunteers handed out information packets, talked to visitors, and assisted in collecting consumables to donate to programs for people living with HIV/AIDS in Massachusetts.  Many of the GSDM volunteers are from the student chapter of the American Association of Public Health Dentistry (AAPHD), who helped organize the effort.

Oral Health Promotion Director Ms. Kathy Lituri said, “The students had a great on-site experience and left knowing a little more about HIV and oral health. They were able to spend time with people living with HIV/AIDS, and learn firsthand about the oral health issues they encounter. Thank you for all of your efforts.”

Volunteers were: Caroline Adams DMD 18, Nicolas Branshaw DMD 16, Nicholas Capezio DMD 18, McAllister Castelaz DMD 17 (AAPHD), Setu Choksi DMD 16, Shelby Curtis DMD 16 (AAPHD), Brittany Dacier CAS 15, Sanjay Kataria DMD 16, Anna Komnatnaya DMD 16 (AAPHD), Andrea Lam DMD 16 (AAPHD), Hyunah Lee DMD 16 (AAPHD), Oral Health Promotion Director Ms. Kathy Lituri, Siddhi Mehta AS 16 (AAPHD), Michelle Prieto DMD 16, Hilary Reiter DMD 16, and Siavash Golaby Sanajany DMD 15.

Photos are available on Facebook and Flickr.

Alumni Association President Bing Liu DSC 90 DMD 03 and Alumni Association Past President Joseph Calabrese DMD 91 AEGD 92

On Friday, January 30 the bi-annual Alumni Association Board Meeting was held in the Constitution Room of the Seaport Hotel during the Yankee Dental Congress (YDC).  It was the first meeting that Bing Liu DSC 90 DMD 03 presided over since being appointed new Alumni Association Board President in the Fall of 2014.

The meeting included:

• A welcome from Dr. Liu;
• An update on School news from Dean Hutter;
• A presentation on the branding initiative to be conducted throughout 2015 by Interbrand;
• A presentation on “Evertrue,” an app for BU Alumni by Associate Director of Alumni Online Engagements Ms. Kristy Kime;
• A University update by Vice President for Alumni Relations Mr. Steve Hall;
• A Development and Campaign Update by Assistant Dean for Development & Alumni Relations Mr. Kevin Holland;
• An update on:
  • Dr, Liu’s efforts with alumni in Texas;
  • Post-doctoral Alumni Associations;
  • Nominations for Secretary and President Elect;
  • And, creation of a Task Force to Review the Alumni Association bylaws.

Dr. Liu thanked all for their time and efforts and adjourned the meeting in time for everyone to attend the YDC alumni reception, also being held at the Seaport Hotel.

Members in attendance at the meeting were: Elizabeth Benz DMD 11, Nazila Bidabadi CAS 82 DMD 87, Joseph Calabrese DMD 91 AEGD 92, Shadi Daher DMD 90 OMS 94, Puneet Kochhar DMD 03, Bing Liu DSC 90 DMD 03, Monique Mabry Bamel DMD 90, Zhimon Jacobson PROS 80 DMD 86, Josephine Pandolfo CAS 74 DMD 79 PERIO 82, Sean Rayment DMD 97, Mitch Sabbagh DMD 87, Frank Schiano CAS 01 DMD 06 AEGD 07, Ronni Schnell DMD 81, and Tina Valades DMD 84.

(l-r) Dean Hutter, Rushil Dang AS15, John Barrett DMD 17 and Dr. Joseph Calabrese show off the winning trophy

On Saturday, January 31, 2015, the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) American Student Dental Association (ASDA) Student Debate Team won the Sixth Annual ASDA District 1 Dental Student Debate, held for the first time at the Yankee Dental Congress (YDC).

Besides GSDM, the schools represented in District 1 ASDA included Harvard University School of Dental Medicine, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, and University of New England College of Dental Medicine. This marked the first year that the Debate was held during the YDC and all five District 1 dental schools competed in the event.

With over 500 in attendance, the GSDM Debate Team, comprised of students John Barrett DMD 17 and Rushil Dang AS 15, took home the first place trophy after defeating the University of New England in the final round of the debate. The decision was close in a debate about whether or not dental schools have a responsibility to train students in subjects beyond clinical education, such as becoming future dental educators or researchers. The trophy was presented to the winning GSDM team by American Dental Association President Dr. Maxine Feinberg.

The Dental Student Debate—started by ASDA six years ago—was sponsored by Crest Oral-B, Eastern Dental Insurance Company, and Massachusetts Dental Society. This year the debate was moved, along with YDC Student Night, to Saturday during the YDC. The schedule change enabled students to have a dedicated time to attend the YDC, where they visited the exhibits and participated in student activities. At the Dental Student Debate, representatives of the ADA and New England state constituent dental societies were on-hand to answer students’ questions about their careers after dental school. A keynote address was also given by ADA Dr. Jonathan Shenkin, Clinical Associate Professor of Health Policy & Health Services Research and Pediatric Dentistry.

Students then cheered on their classmates during the debate, and afterwards, enjoyed the annual Yankee Student Reception that featured light appetizers, drinks and a DJ.

“Congratulations John and Rushil for doing such an outstanding job in representing our School,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. “I’m also very proud of the members of our ASDA Chapter who worked tirelessly in helping to organize this year’s debate, and all of our students who came out to support the GSDM Debate Team.”

Photos are available on Facebook and Flickr.

(l-r) Ronni Schnell DMD 81, Lindsey Jackson DMD 12, Mark Hartzler DMD 12, Richard Short DMD 82

On Friday, January 30, over 500 alumni, faculty, staff and students of Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) mingled in the Plaza Ballroom of the Seaport Hotel at the alumni reception held during Yankee Dental Congress 2015. As always, this annual reception provided members of the GSDM community the opportunity to relax and catch up with each other. Along with Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter and his advisory board, BU Vice President for Alumni Relations Mr. Steve Hall and the GSDM alumni board were at the gathering.

Following Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter’s welcoming remarks, a short video was played which showcased digital dentistry at GSDM as the first school in the nation to seamlessly integrate digital technology into patient care and dental education. In the crowd was also Mr. Steve Hall, BU Vice President for Alumni Relations.

“I was so pleased to see such a large turnout at the alumni reception,” said Dean Hutter. “It was wonderful to spot so many familiar faces, and connect with many alumni who are making significant contributions to the field of dentistry. Likewise, this is a very exciting time for GSDM, and I was very excited to share with the community the video depicting our implementation and incorporation of digital dentistry into our clinical education and patient care.”

Photos are available on Facebook and Flickr.

(l-r) Ms. Leslie Caiola, Ms. Janine Lipsky, and Ms. Stephanie Grignet greet visitors at the GSDM alumni booth.

From January 28 to February 1, 2015, the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center was abuzz with visitors to the 40th annual Yankee Dental Congress (YDC), the largest dental meeting in New England. The convention drew nearly 27,000 dental professionals from around the country, and featured more than 300 dental continuing education courses, lectures and events. Representatives of Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) joined the more than 450 exhibitors in the center which showcased the latest dental products and technologies, along with continuing education programs.

At the conference, a number of GSDM students presented posters during the research poster session. Student presentations in the pre-doctoral category included Sana Banday AS 15 with her poster titled “Oral Health Related Quality of Life and Reasons for Orthodontic Treatment in Adults” and Marium Qureshi AS 15 and Andrea Lam DMD 16 with their poster titled “Pathogenesis of Head and Neck Cancer and the Preventive Strategy.”

Banday’s research partners were Dr. Judith Jones, Assistant Dean for Faculty Development and Professor in the Department of General Dentistry, Dr.  Martha Neely DMD 14, Dr. Raffi Miller, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of General Dentistry, and Systems Analyst Sharron Rich.

Lam and Qureshi’s research partners were Dr. Sok-Ja Janket, Research Associate Professor in the Department of General Dentistry and Ms. Melissa Seif.

In the post-doctoral category, student presentations included first year Geriatric Dental Medicine Fellow in the Department of General Dentistry Dr. Annetty Soto with her poster titled “An Exploration of Medical Clinicians’ Attitudes and Practices Towards Oral Health in Older Adults” and Najla Alrejaye ORTHO 16 with her poster titled “Torsional Strength of Zirconia Brackets Fabricated in Extremely Low Profile.”

Soto’s research partners were Dr. Laura Kaufman, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of General Dentistry and Emily Abrams, former Administrative Assistant in the Geriatrics Education Office.

Alrejaye’s research partners were Dr. Russell Giordano, Associate Professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences & Biomaterials and Dr. Richard Pober, Research Associate Professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences & Biomaterials.

Over the three-day conference, over 730 people visited the GSDM booth, including alumni, students, faculty and staff. The booth featured the always popular alumni lounge, a place for alums to sit, relax and enjoy refreshments. A video featuring digital dentistry at GSDM was also playing in the lounge providing visitors an opportunity to learn about the innovative clinical and curriculum changes happening at GSDM. “I’m always excited to see the alums who stop by year after year and help make our booth so much fun,” said Director of Alumni Relations & Annual Giving Ms. Stacey McNamee.

In addition, representatives of the Continuing Education (CE) department at GSDM were present on the exhibit floor. “Attending Yankee Dental Congress was very beneficial for CE. We had the opportunity to promote our Continuing Education program and conduct a short survey,” said Business Manager of Continuing Education Ms. Stephanie Grignet. The survey gauged what kind of courses dentists, hygienists, dental assistants, and practice managers are looking for and what factors are important to them when they take continuing education courses. “We plan to incorporate the results into our future course offerings,” she said.

In addition, members of the CE department utilized the conference to learn more about the dental market, and meet potential speakers for courses. They also built relationships with dental companies and local dental associations, along with GSDM alumni.

GSDM faculty and alumni played a large role in organizing and arranging this year’s YDC, including Dr. Carol McManama who served as the YDC Program Co-Chair. GSDM officers and volunteers included: Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of General Dentistry Dr. Pelly Chang; Mark Doherty Jr. ENDO 05; Deedee Gurin DMD 97; Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of General Dentistry Dr. Thomas Hawley; Dennis Jodoin DMD 95 PERIO 98; Assistant Dean for Faculty Development Dr. Judith Jones; Adjunct Clinical Instructor in the Department of General Dentistry Dr. Suneel Kandru; Iman Labib DMD 96 ENDO 01 MS 04; Clinical Instructor in the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Dr. David Lustbader; Professor in the Department of General Dentistry Dr. Carl McManama; Robert Moreau DMD 92; Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of General Dentistry Dr. Frank Schiano; Clinical Professor in the Department of General Dentistry Dr. Ronni Schnell; Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of General Dentistry Dr. Richard Short; and Howard Zolot PERIO 85.

Courses were also given by: Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of General Dentistry Dr. Joseph Calabrese; Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of General Dentistry Dr. Neal Fleisher; Associate Professor in the Department of General Dentistry Dr. Anita Gohel; Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of General Dentistry Dr. Frederick Hains; Dr. Thomas Hawley; Professor in the  Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research Dr. Michelle Henshaw; Dr. Judith Jones; Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of General Dentistry Dr. Laura Kaufman; Professor in the Department of General Dentistry Dr. Celeste Kong; Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of General Dentistry Dr. Sheldon Itzkowitz; Dr.  David Lustbader; and Dental Radiology Technologist Ms. Mary Ellen Sholes.

Photos are available on Facebook and Flickr.

Guanghui Ling AS 16 and Lana Le DMD 17 with dental-related activities

Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) students volunteered at the annual Tet in Boston, a Vietnamese New Year festival organized by the Vietnamese-American Community of Massachusetts and New England Intercollegiate Vietnamese Student Association. Held at the colorfully decorated Carson Place (inside the Boston Teachers Union Hall) in Dorchester, the event drew thousands of people of all ages who enjoyed family-friendly activities, delicious food and a concert.

For more than a decade, GSDM’s Asian Dental Student Organization (ADSO), in partnership with the Tufts School of Dental Medicine Asian Dental Organization, has participated in Tet in Boston. At the dental table, volunteers promoted oral health with kid-friendly activities such as the “Celebrity Smiles” game, creating a tooth necklace, and counting a puppet’s teeth. Using visuals, they also provided instruction on how to brush and floss teeth, and provided other dental care information. In addition, toothbrushes and toothpaste were handed out.

“ADSO had a great turnout of volunteers even with the snowstorm.  It was a great opportunity for our members to give back to the local Asian American community in Boston,“ said Co-President of ADSO Alex Nguyen DMD 17.

This year, ADSO ramped up their commitment to Tet in Boston by helping to decorate and set up on Friday night, and assist in preparations for a concert on Saturday night. The concert featured New Brothers band that played covers of pop songs and backed up local college vocalists, who performed in both Vietnamese and English.

“It was great to see such dedication from the ADSO leadership and members, especially on a cold and snowy Valentine’s Day weekend,” said Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri.

“Tet” is short for “Tet Nguyen Dan” which means “the first morning of the first day.” It marked the beginning of a new year on the lunar calendar and the beginning of spring— ironically during blizzard conditions. Yet despite the frigid temperatures, spirits were high and festival attendees welcomed in 2015, the year of the goat.

“The BU Asian Dental Student Organization is honored to be part of the festival and is looking forward to helping out again for years to come,” said ADSO Co-President Mike Lee DMD 16.

“Thank you to ADSO for contributing to another successful Tet in Boston event,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter.

Volunteers included: Nidhi Arora AS 15, Rizwan Baig AS 16, Kevin Campbell (Tufts), Margi Chan DMD 16, Shelby Curtis DMD 16, Sai Ramani Krishna Kumar AS 15, Guanghui Ling AS 16, Mike Lee DMD 16, Lana Le DMD 17, Oral Health Promotion Director Ms. Kathy Lituri, Annie Le (Tufts), Shah Lopa AS 16, Alex Nguyen DMD 17, Jeremy Nguyen DMD 18, Louen Pereira GMS 15,  Wellington Tejeda (Pre-Dental), Ian Teng DMD 16, Vanessa Thai DMD 16, Do Tien DMD 18, Angela Wu AS 16, Lee Wu DMD 17, Wanpeng  Xu AS 15, and Amanda Yip DMD 16.

Photos are available on Facebook and Flickr.

A selection of books read by the Staff Forum Book Club

Stranded on Mars with little chance of rescue, relentlessly hunted by vampires, caught in the middle of a murder mystery and subsequent cover-up conspiracy; the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) Staff Forum Book Club has been through it all. Each month, the Book Club meets to rehash the adventures they faced throughout the last book, eat themed snacks appropriate to the novel, and get to know fellow staff members from other departments within the School.

The Book Club first met in January of 2014, to discuss the #1 bestselling novel turned motion picture, Gone Girl. Since then, they have met each month and have read a vast array of books—fiction and non-fiction alike—spanning such genres as science fiction, thriller, horror, biographical fiction, history, and even a graphic novel.

“The Staff Forum Book Club has been a pleasure in several ways,” said Assistant Director of Publications and Media Relations Ms. Julia Bookout. “I have enjoyed getting to know colleagues whom I don’t usually have the opportunity to connect with, and it has greatly improved my long commute—I listen to audio versions of the books to alleviate the tedium of the drive. And on top of those benefits, they serve delicious snacks!”

Meetings are typically held on the first Wednesday of each month from 12–1 p.m. At each meeting, Book Club members vote on the next book they will read. Everyone in attendance has a say in what the group will read next.

“The staff forum book club is something I look forward to every month. Not only has it helped me to broaden my literary horizons, but it has enabled me to really engage with my fellow staff members,” said Research Administrative Assistant Ms. Heather Goss, who runs the Book Club. “It is a social platform which facilitates the sharing of ideas, meeting new people, reading new genres… and there are snacks!”

The current book selection is The Farm, by Tom Rob Smith, a psychological thriller brimming with deceit and suspicion where a son must take sides between his father and mother­—with deadly serious consequences.

The Staff Forum, which started the Book Club, came about as a recommendation under Goal 6 of the Applied Strategic Plan, is a platform for staff to discuss issues and concerns relevant to staff members, and to establish and maintain a formal system of two way communication with the GSDM Executive Committee. The Staff Forum is responsible for other activities such as staff bowling nights, a walking club, and an annual Halloween party.

All staff members are welcome to join the Book Club meetings. Stay tuned for an announcement on next month’s selection. If you have any questions, contact Heather Goss by email at heatgoss@bu.edu.

Mohamed Bayoumy DMD 16 and Dr. Vikki Noonan

On Friday, January 30, 2015 the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine Student Research Group (SRG) hosted their first Journal Club meeting of the academic year. The meeting discussed a paper entitled “Do high-risk human papillomaviruses cause oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma?” which was published in in the December 2014 issue of Oral Oncology. This article reviews published data which examines the relationship between high-risk human papillomaviruses (HR-HPV) and oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma.

Head and neck cancer ranks as one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide, and is associated with high morbidity and mortality, with limited treatment options. HPV has been determined as a driving etiologic factor in certain kinds of head and neck cancers such as oropharyngeal cancer, yet the authors of this article propose that only a small fraction of cancers in the oral cavity seem to be HPV-related. The article highlighted several relevant factors to consider when evaluating assumed HPV-induced oral cavity cancers, and also discussed current theories as to why HPV-induced cancers are more likely to develop in the oropharynx. With HPV status being an important factor in terms of cancer treatment and patient care, it has become one of the most significant and relevant topics in oral health research.

Assistant Director of Pre-doctoral Research Afaf Hourani welcomed the group, many of whom participated as a part of their Intensive Research Elective Course. Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Oral Pathology in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Dr. Vikki Noonan opened the meeting with a brief presentation on some of her clinical experiences in identifying and diagnosing dysplasia and pre-malignant lesions in HPV positive patients. The article was then summarized and evaluated in a presentation given by SRG Vice President Mohamed Bayoumy DMD 16.

The students enjoyed pizza and beverages while listening to an overview of the article given by Bayoumy, who then opened the floor for discussion. Dr. Noonan helped proctor the discussion and fielded questions from the group, lending her expertise as an oral pathologist to the conversation. The group explored topics such as what oral lesions look like and how they are screened for HPV, the different and more aggressive types of HPV, and what this means in terms of treatment and follow-up care for dental patients.

Varun Arya DMD 14 OMFS 17

Varun Arya DMD 14 OMFS 17 has made Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) and the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS) proud by recently winning two separate, highly-competitive awards. In December 2014, Dr. Arya was the recipient of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Philip J. Boyne Memorial Scholarship, and in January 2015, Dr. Arya received the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery National Insurance Company (OMSNIC) educational grant award.

Each year, select residents receive the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Philip J. Boyne Memorial Scholarship based on academic excellence and their contribution to research in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery. Dr. Arya’s research during his residency training is focused on temporomandibular joint and orthognathic surgery. He has been mentored by Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Dr. Pushkar Mehra.

As part of the scholarship, Dr. Arya received financial support from Geistlich Biomaterials to attend the 2014 AAOMS Dental Implant Conference held in Chicago, Illinois, from December 4–6, 2014.

“This was a very rewarding experience. It provided me with an exceptional educational opportunity on a high-level platform to expand my knowledge and understanding about diagnosis and treatment planning relative to dental implant surgery,” said Dr. Arya.

In January 2015, Dr. Arya received the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery National Insurance Company (OMSNIC) educational grant award for his case submission “Lesion Associated with Disturbance in Tooth Eruption.” Cases submitted to OMSNIC by oral and maxillofacial surgery residents, faculty, and clinicians are considered by the OMSNICase Review Committee. The surgical case presented by Dr. Ayra demonstrated successful treatment of a 13-year-old patient who had a benign tumor of the jaw, which was successfully removed by Dr. Arya and Associate Professor in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Dr. Radhika Chigurupati.

OMSNICase, the collection of selected cases, provides learning opportunities in a variety of settings including OMS teaching seminars, case presentations, case discussions, and resident rounds. They also serve as study tools for board examinations. Dr. Ayra’s case was published on OMSNIC’s website, and thanks to his efforts, the Boston University OMS residency program is receiving an unrestricted educational grant of $1,000 from OMSNIC.

“Dr. Arya has made all of us at GSDM proud! Despite having very heavy clinical responsibilities, he has managed to successfully participate in clinical research and extracurricular activities,” said Dr. Mehra. “Both of these awards are highly competitive at a national level and I congratulate him on these achievements.”

“Congratulations to Dr. Arya for his impressive accomplishments,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. “I’m also very pleased with the support Dr. Mehra and the Department of OMFS provided in support of Dr. Arya’s excellence in research and clinical care.”

GSDM volunteers at the Notre Dame Educational Center

On Thursday, Feb 26, 2015, Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) students volunteered at the Notre Dame Educational Center (NDEC) Dental Health Fair. Co-chairs of the American Student Dental Association (ASDA) Ingy Alhelawe DMD 15 and Lana Le DMD 16 organized the event in collaboration with Oral Health Promotion Director Ms. Kathy Lituri and the School’s Office of Global and Population Health (GPH).

At an educational table with posters promoting oral health, GSDM students provided information and answers to NDEC students’ questions. They also gave one-on-one oral health instructions, demonstrated flossing, and had visitors practice on a model.

“My colleagues and I were also able to use knowledge learned from the classroom and skills acquired from our GSDM Patient Treatment Centers to perform oral cancer screening at NDEC,” said Le. “It was a fulfilling experience, and we all had a great time.” In total, the students completed 26 screenings.

Since NDEC students are also eligible to enroll in the Boston University GSDM student dental health plan, the benefits were explained. Five NDEC students, who had been screened, sat with a GSDM student and signed up online for the plan.

“It is always a pleasure to attend the NDEC,” said Lituri. “The staff is so nice and they care so much for the students who are all very appreciative and easy to engage. We always leave there with such a nice warm feeling.”

Since 1849, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namu have provided educational services to those in need in the South Boston community. In 1992, they founded the Notre Dame Educational Center—an adult basic education center that provides students the opportunity to learn English, obtain their High School diploma or HiSET certificate, and/or receive their U.S. citizenship. They also help students learn the necessary skills to attain a better or new job, or enter post-secondary education.

“As a first generation American, I feel a special connection to the students at the NDEC and am extremely humbled by the opportunity to provide free oral screenings and hygiene education to these students,” said Treasurer of ASDA Monica Schmidt DMD 17. “Volunteering at events such as this, challenged by the presence of language barriers, reminds us of the comfort conveyed through a friendly smile and the desire to improve the wellbeing of others.”

Volunteers were: Ingy Alhelawe DMD 15, Amrit Basi DMD 16, McAllister Castelaz DMD 17, Joe Deschene DMD 16, Anna Komnatnaya DMD 16, Lana Le DMD 16, Hyunah Lee DMD 16, Oral Health Promotion Director Ms. Kathy Lituri, Alyssa Mazzoli DMD 16, Nikkita Muwanguzi DMD 17, Mike Navy DMD 16, Monica Schmidt DMD 17, Neha Singh DMD 17, and Ian Teng DMD 16.

Photos are available on Facebook and Flickr.

Pre-dental students and GSDM students gather for a group photo at the event

On Saturday, February 28, 2015, Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine’s (GSDM) Student National Dental Association (SNDA), American Student Dental Association (ASDA) and Hispanic Student Dental Association (HSDA) took part in the third-annual SNDA Impressions Program—a day-long event designed to expose pre-dental students to the dental school application process, give them details on how to become a stronger applicant, and show them what a career in dentistry would be like.

Seventy-nine pre-dental students from 19 New England colleges and universities joined 27 GSDM student volunteers at the School to learn more about dental education. The schedule included presentations led by Director of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs Dr. Larry Dunham, Assistant Dean for Admissions Ms. Catherine Sarkis, Associate Director of Student Affairs Ms. Erica Manczuk, and Assistant Dean of Students Dr. Joseph Calabrese. Pre-dental students also enjoyed lunch, a School tour, and watched a digital dentistry demonstration in the Simulation Learning Center (SLC).

“This year’s Impressions Program was a great success and we had our biggest pre-dental student turn out ever,” said Heidi Borenstein DMD 17, one of the 5 student organizers. “Attendees participated in school tours, hands-on work in the SLC and a question and answer session with a dental student panel. The dental student volunteers enjoyed sharing their experiences during their time here at GSDM, and the pre-dental students picked up lots of great tips to make themselves successful dental school applicants.”

The five GSDM student organizers were: Heidi Borenstein DMD 17, Christa Coscia DMD 17, Luri Lee DMD 16, Peter Okwerekwu AS 16, and Daniella Rizzo DMD 16.

“I am proud to see our Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine community extending a helping hand to pre-dental students considering applying to dental school,” said Dean Hutter. “The future of the dental profession is very bright and it is important that we all work to support developing pipelines into the profession for those college students with an interest in oral healthcare. Thank you to all the GSDM students and faculty who participated in this wonderful event.”

Photos are available on Facebook and Flickr.

Stephanie Leung DMD 15 and a young Nicaraguan patient

From February 9–18, 2015, Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) DMD 15 students Michelle DaRocha, Stephanie Leung, and Keely Matheson traveled to Esteli, Nicaragua to bring dental care to low-income families in the area. Surrounded by the forested mountains in the North Central Highlands, the country’s third largest city was the site of their international externship, completed in partnership with the non-profit Superemos. Since 1999, the organization has been dedicated to providing Esteli-based education and training programs for deserving families in northern Nicaragua.

Each morning, the students walked 20 minutes from their hostel to the city hospital (Centro de Salud Familiar Leonel Rugama), where a two-room dental clinic provided separate workspaces for general dentistry and oral maxillofacial surgery. Instruments and materials similar to those used in the U.S. were also on hand. “The medical building we worked in was relatively new, well-kept and spacious,” said Matheson. “There were beautiful murals on the walls and overall it was a very nice and calm environment to work in.” Local members of their team consisted of a general dentist, orthodontist, dental student and a university student who aided in translation.

Each day, the group saw 12-20 patients. “About 40 percent of the patients were children and almost all of the adult patients were local workers of the hospital clinic,” said Leung. Patients were triaged, x-rays were taken when necessary, and the dental team switched off to assist each other at the two chairs. Along with providing  restorations—several required pulp capping—they performed extractions of non-restorable teeth. With some help, Leung was able to complete her first side-by-side Class II composite restoration.

“The most common cases involved large carious lesions, especially in the young kids which was heartbreaking to see,” said Matheson. This made the students even more determined to teach good oral hygiene practices. “I had one case where I restored a man’s front teeth that had large holes in them from rampant decay, and the difference in the way he smiled before and after the appointment is something I will remember for a long time.”

During the evenings, the students would go to restaurants in Esteli. They spent time outside the hospital with the Nicaraguan dental student and also befriended quite a few locals during their time at the clinic. On the weekend they explored the city and toured the Somoto Canyon.

For all of the students, the externship was a great learning experience both in the amount of dental experience they gained and in the opportunity to experience Nicaraguan culture. For Matheson, the time in Esteli solidified her motivation to continue working internationally and to someday lead a group of students on a similar exchange trip. “I think international externships are something every dental student should experience,” she said. “It really affirms the value of our profession and that even as students we can make a difference.”

Photos are available on Facebook and Flickr.

Faculty Forum Blog welcome page

A new blog has been created for the Faculty Forum at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) in order to facilitate increased conversation and collaboration amongst faculty. The blog, which went live this morning, is intended to be a new avenue for faculty to communicate with each other and their Faculty Forum Representatives.

According to its Bylaws, the Faculty Forum “provides a venue for discussion of issues of concern among the faculty, and to establish and maintain a formal system of two-way communication with the Administration.” The new blog will enable Faculty Forum Representatives to communicate in an open and collaborative way with the faculty, and will provide faculty members an open forum to respond or post their own comments. The blog will also provide another way for Representatives to communicate information to the faculty about what is happening on an administrative level. The blog is not meant to replace the quarterly meetings of the Faculty Forum, but instead is intended as a way to bolster conversation.

The blog is a secure site that is only accessible by faculty members who do not sit on the Executive Committee, and is only accessible by entering your Kerberos user name and password. This protective measure has been added to ensure that the blog is only viewed and utilized by its intended audience: faculty.

Faculty Forum Representatives serve two-year terms and take turns sitting as a voting member on the GSDM Executive Committee. The newest batch of Representatives was elected in December 2014 and their term will conclude in December 2016. They are: Clinical Assistant Professor and Group Practice Leader in the Department of General Dentistry Dr. Charilaos Asikis (Pre-doctoral Representative), Clinical Assistant Professor and Clinical Director in the Department of Periodontology Dr. Gail McCausland (Post-doctoral Representative), Clinical Instructor and Group Practice Leader in the Department of General Dentistry Dr. Michael Slesnick (Pre-doctoral Alternate), and Professor and Director of Graduate Programs in the Department of Molecular & Cell Biology Dr. Philip Trackman (Research Representative).

Communications Manager Molly Washburn will be giving a demonstration of how to use the blog at the next Faculty Forum meeting, on Wednesday, March 25, 2015, at 11:30 a.m. in room G-701. Additional instructions for using the blog can be found on the GSDM website.

Faculty Forum Representatives can be reached by email at facforum@bu.edu.