(l-r) Vanessa Thai DMD 16, Lopa Shah AS 16, Ms. Kathy Lituri, and Mira Khouzam AS 16

On May 11, 2015, students from Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) celebrated National Women’s Checkup Day by participating in the Healing Our Communities Collaborative (HOCC) 5^th Annual Health Fair, which focused on promoting regular health checkups and routine care for women infected with, affected by, or at risk for HIV.

HOCC is dedicated to providing programs for women, by women, about women. They strive to bring the most relevant health information and current health and wellness programming to women affected by HIV. The HOCC Health Fair is an opportunity for volunteers to meet with women and encourage regular checkups in order to improve their overall health and help lower the risk of health conditions through early detection of heart disease, diabetes, Hepatitis-C, cancer, mental health illnesses, sexually transmitted infections, HIV infection, and other conditions.

GSDM students provided oral health education to women by showing proper brushing techniques and providing information about oral care. Over 100 women participated in the event, which was held at the Old South Church on Boylston Street in Boston.

The GSDM volunteers were: Mira Khouzam AS 16, Oral Health Promotion Director Ms. Kathy Lituri, Lopa Shah AS 16, and Vanessa Thai DMD 16.

(l-r) Sulekha Agarwal AS 15, Smriti Amatya AS 15, and Manisha Shrestha AS 16 at the Nepal Solidarity Day table

On May 7, 2015 students from Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM), School of Medicine (BUSM), and School of Public Health (SPH) held an event on the Talbot Green in support of relief efforts in Nepal as a result of the devastating earthquake on April 25 that killed over 8,800 people and injured more than 23,000.

The Nepal Solidarity Day was created to raise awareness and to raise donations to reliable and trusted organizations leading relief efforts in Nepal. The students also created a web-page to facilitate this process.

Onsite, the students distributed over 300 information sheets with a QR code that directs the user to a webpage encouraging people to donate. The students used computers and iPads onsite for online donations during the event. Some students and faculty offered musical performances and displayed prayer flags and other Nepali items. In exchange for donating, the Nepali students offered a “your name in Nepali” table, where visitors received a bookmark with their name written in Nepali.

GSDM student organizers were: Sulekha Agarwal AS 15; Smriti Amatya AS 15; Neemi Lama Sherpa AS 16; Manisha Shrestha AS 16; and, Smriti Singh AS 16.

To date, the donation webpage has received over 2,500 visits and approximately $2,000 has been donated to the selected organizations as a result of the event on Talbot Green.

Photos are available on Facebook and Flickr.

If you would like to make a donation, please scan this QR code with your smartphone or visit http://tiny.cc/nepalsolidarity.

(l-r) Dr. Cataldo Leone, Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter, Jose Abrahantes DMD 17, Michael Whitcomb DMD 17, Ms. Amy Nelson, Dr. Joseph Calabrese

The American Dental Association (ADA) Foundation recently selected two Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) students—Jose Abrahantes DMD 17 and Michael Whitcomb DMD 17—to receive Pre-doctoral Dental Student Scholarships.

The ADA Foundation awards 54 education scholarships in 4 categories annually to academically gifted dental students from across the country. To be eligible for consideration, students must attend an accredited dental school full-time and be in the second year of study while maintaining at least a 3.25 grade point average.

Student Affairs Coordinator Ms. Amy Nelson was instrumental in the nomination process of Abrahantes— who received the Underrepresented Minority Dental Student Scholarship—and Whitcomb—who received the Pre-doctoral Dental Student Scholarship. Both awards were for $2,500.

On May 29, 2015, Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter met with Abrahantes and Whitcomb to congratulate them on their awards. Assistant Dean of Students Dr. Joseph Calabrese, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Dr. Cataldo Leone, and Ms. Nelson were also present at the meeting.

“Congratulations to Jose and Michael on receiving these scholarships,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. “The ADA Foundation presents these awards to a very small group of very gifted dental students each year so Jose and Michael should be especially honored.”

The Osteo-4 Team: Paola Divieti Pajevic (front) and her team of space enthusiasts and skeletal biologists: (from left) research fellow Chao Shi, lab manager Forest Lai, research fellow Yuhei Uda, lab tech Chris Dedic, and research fellow and professor Keertik Fulzele. Photo by Cydney Scott

In May 2015, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific, the last stage of its sixth mission to the International Space Station. Inside, it carried a briefcase-sized metallic container of bone cells that belong to Boston University researcher Paola Divieti Pajevic. The cells, which have experienced the extremely low levels of gravity on the space station, could contain clues about better ways to treat osteoporosis and other conditions that cause bone loss, and also ways to support astronauts on longer missions, such as a trip to Mars.

“Everything has worked perfectly well so far,” says Divieti Pajevic, an associate professor of molecular and cell biology at the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. “Knock wood, we should have plenty of material to study.”

The experiment, which lasted seven days in space, was nearly five years in the making, so she has good reason to invoke a little supportive superstition. One reason for the long lead time is that the cells, called osteocytes, are challenging to study. They live deep inside hard bone, so they are difficult to isolate in a cultured cell line. Also, they turn mechanical signals—physical forces, such as those caused by the weight-bearing exercises doctors recommend to stave off bone loss, and the ever-present force of gravity—into cellular signals that build strong bones. Prodding them in a way that strengthens or weakens those forces isn’t so easy. You can’t exactly send a petri dish off to Gold’s Gym for a workout.

But you can send them into space.

By doing so, Divieti Pajevic hopes to gain a better understanding of the basic biology of osteocytes. “Ultimately, we hope to identify novel genes that could someday lead to new therapeutics,” she says.

Space-Worthy Cells

In 2009, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) was looking for promising space research projects, so Divieti Pajevic, then at Harvard University, proposed sending up osteocytes. In 2014, she moved to the BU dental school. Teeth and bones have a lot in common biologically and both respond to mechanical forces, she says, so it’s a great location for her lab.

Osteocytes are of particular interest to NASA since many astronauts have lost bone mass, at a rate of about one percent per month, during space voyages. While it is clear that microgravity causes bone loss, exactly how it affects bone cells at a molecular level isn’t yet understood. The NIH’s National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases funded the project, called Osteo-4, as did the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

The team’s first step was to create an osteocyte cell line suitable for a space journey. Bone researchers had so far developed only two models of cultured osteocyte cells, both derived from mice, but they fell short. For instance, neither reliably produced sclerostin, a protein recently discovered to slow bone formation. Today, several new drugs are in development to block sclerostin in osteocytes to treat osteoporosis.

Divieti Pajevic couldn’t very well send cells into space that lacked one of the most interesting new therapeutic leads for bone loss. Her new cell line of osteocytes, also derived from mice, produces sclerostin and several other factors related to bone growth. “Now there are three cell lines available for the scientific community, all slightly different,” says Divieti Pajevic. “And there is still room for more.”

In work published in 2015 in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, she validated the cell model by testing it in a NASA-developed microgravity simulator. The simulator, which is about the size of a soda can, slowly spins the cells to put them into a perpetual state of free fall, essentially counterbalancing the force of gravity. Time in simulated microgravity causes the cells to produce sclerostin, confirming that the cell model does, in fact, respond to reduced gravity. “It is very important to do this same experiment in space so we can have real microgravity, the real unloading of forces on these cells,” Divieti Pajevic says.

T-Minus 2.5 Years

While development of the new cell model was a giant leap, work was only just beginning. It took another two and a half years to be flight ready.

The Osteo-4 team first chose a 3D structure made of polystyrene foam for growing their osteocytes. Cell growth in this scaffold mimics growth inside of bone but also allows experimental analysis later.

To develop trays to hold the bioreactors the cells would live in during the journey, the team worked with CALM Technologies, in Canada, which designs equipment for space and biomedical projects and had sent other cells into space. They also collaborated with Draper Laboratory, an independent lab in Cambridge, Mass., with a long history of aeronautics and astronautics research, to simulate the Dragon launch to make sure that the few minutes of intense vibration during takeoff wouldn’t alter the osteocytes and ruin the experiment.

One of the biggest challenges, however, was getting all of the air bubbles out of the bioreactors, because bubbles can scramble cellular signals. They have settled on a process that involves tapping the bioreactor tubes and vials with a rubber mallet to coax the bubbles to the top, and then sucking them out with a syringe. “We have become experts at de-bubbling,” says Divieti Pajevic.

We Have Liftoff

Up in space, Italian European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti carried out the experiment. The Osteo-4 payload contained three trays of osteocyte-filled bioreactors, each connected to a variety of fluids, including liquid nutrients to keep the cells alive.

On three scheduled occasions over the course of seven days, Cristoforetti moved a tray-worth of bioreactors into cold storage. She did the work inside a glove box in case of a spill. In an Earth-bound lab, dripped chemicals just puddle on the table, but in space they would float around the ship and could interfere with equipment or become a health hazard.

Freezing the cells halts cellular functions and preserves a snapshot of the genetic activity. Divieti Pajevic will measure that activity through gene profiling. She will look at changes in levels of RNA, which is produced when a gene is turned on and provides the instructions for making molecular machinery, such as bone-building or bone-loss proteins. By freezing the cells after three different intervals of microgravity exposure—approximately two, four, and seven days—Divieti Pajevic will be able to see which gene expression levels change with extended exposure. “Our goal is to find novel genes that change their expression levels in microgravity,” she says.

In summer 2015, when analysis is expected to begin, Divieti Pajevic expects to see a rise in production of sclerostin. But, by looking across the whole genome for changes after time in microgravity, she also hopes to see much more.

 This article was written by Elizabeth Dougherty and is featured on the Boston University Research Website.

Students from GSDM, Tufts University, and Harvard University at the Health and Safety Fair

On Saturday, May 16, 2015 the student chapter of the Massachusetts Hispanic Dental Association (MHDA) at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) teamed up with student chapters from Tufts University and Harvard University to promote oral health at the Martha Eliot Health and Safety Fair, which took place at the Boston Children’s Martha Eliot Health Center in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts.

The Safety Fair is an annual traditional Latino Health Fair organized by Tufts University School of Dental Medicine Professor of Periodontology and Faculty Sponsor Dr. Aidee Herman on behalf of the MHDA. The three university student chapters follow the same mission as the National Hispanic Dental Association:

• Promote the oral health of the Hispanic community through improved prevention, treatment, and education.
• Provide a voice for the Hispanic oral health professional in the United States.
• Foster research and knowledge concerning Hispanic oral health problems.
• Disseminate information to both Hispanic dental professionals and the community at large.
• Provide a worldwide source of continuing education for oral health professionals serving the Hispanic community.
• Stimulate interest and encourage entry of Hispanics into oral health careers.

Onsite, the students promoted health, wellness, and summer safety tips—specifically educating Latino participants about diabetes, asthma, blood pressure, fire safety, sports safety, wellness, and nutrition. The students also offered a table for the children to create arts and crafts. Approximately 300 Latino parents and children participated in the Fair.

Director of Community-Based Education in the Office of Global & Population Health and GSDM Faculty Sponsor Dr. Ana Zea said, “The Martha Eliot Health and Safety Fair was very well-attended and it was a great opportunity for GSDM students to interact with other MHDA student chapters from Tufts University and Harvard University to promote oral health at this community event.”

Volunteers included: William Alvarez AS 16; Ana Keohane AS 16; Andrea Lugo AS 16; and Dr. Ana Zea.

Amanda Alon DMD 18

Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) student Amanda Alon DMD 18 was recently named a 2015­–2016 Albert Schweitzer Fellow. Alon is among 16 Boston Fellows and 220 total Fellows across the nation named to the 2015­–2016 class that are working to address social factors that impact health.

The Schweitzer Fellowship, named after Dr. Albert Schweitzer, seeks to carry out his mission of serving those in need both locally and around the globe, as well as providing leadership development for the Fellows. This year, the Schweitzer Fellows will be working at 12 different program sites in the United States as well as a hospital funded by the Schweitzer Foundation on the western coast of Africa in Gabon.

Alon will be working with the Greater Lawrence Community Action Council Child Care Center to address oral health inequalities in children from low-income and minority populations. She plans to run an oral health literacy program in the day care center. “I will be sending take home information with the kids as well as books on oral health that can be read to children at night,” she said. “It will be a three part series assessing nutrition, at home dental care, and visiting the dentist.”

She added, “I hope to make a big impact on the community both by teaching and inspiring. I am really excited to see what this year as a Fellow brings. I think I will truly gain a lot from the project and the community—likely more than the community will gain from me!”

Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter congratulated Alon and said, “It is a great honor to be selected as a Schweitzer Fellow. I am confident Amanda will excel in this endeavor and I look forward to seeing her work benefit the Lawrence community for generations to come.”

Read more about the Fellowship in BU Today.

Dean Hutter congratulates the Class of 2015

On Friday, May 15, 2015 190 pre-doctoral students and 88 post-doctoral residents received their degrees at the 2015 Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) Convocation, held at the Walter Brown Arena.

Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter began the ceremony by introducing himself and welcoming graduates, family and friends, faculty and staff, alumni, and other distinguished guests.  He then introduced Dean of Marsh Chapel Reverend Dr. Robert Allan Hill, who offered his guidance with an invocation.

After the invocation, Dean Hutter made a special announcement that GSDM had received a bequest of more than 3 million dollars from the estate of the late, beloved faculty member, Dr. Oreste Zanni. Dr. Zanni suffered a heart attack in the Post-doctoral Periodontal Patient Treatment Center on July 15, 2013. Dean Hutter said, “Dr. Zanni was a well-respected and award winning faculty member who died doing what he loved most—teaching students and residents and caring for patients.” He then informed the audience that this most generous bequest will be used in the following two ways:

1. The establishment of an endowed full scholarship in Dr. Zanni’s name for a Resident enrolled in the Advanced Specialty Education Program in Periodontics; and
2. That the Post-doctoral Periodontal Patient Treatment Center in the new Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine Clinical Facility be named “The Dr. Oreste Zanni Post-doctoral Periodontic Patient Treatment Center.”

To the graduates, Dean Hutter said, “You entered the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine with eagerness and aspirations to excel as dentists and oral healthcare professionals. You have studied hard. You have formed strong friendships that will last throughout your personal and professional lives. You have experienced both challenging times and exciting times, and I know that when you look back on your experiences at the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, it will be these good times and the superb education that you received that will stand out in your minds.”

Dean Hutter then introduced the valedictorian of the two-year DMD Advanced Standing Program Ms. Na Wei and the valedictorian of the four-year DMD Program, Ms. Keely Matheson.

In her valedictorian address, Matheson thanked the School’s staff, faculty, and administration, who helped navigate the students’ path through dental education and ended her address saying, “Thank you to all of our patients for having the faith and yes, sometimes the courage to grant us the honor of being their dentists.” She continued, “And to that one faculty member, that I know we have all had, who restored your faith in yourself after a bad day in clinic or motivated you to keep going, thank you for your unwavering support.”

Wei acknowledged GSDM and thanked the Faculty and Staff for giving the graduates the chance to accomplish their dream and concluded saying, “Now we will leave school and make different career choices. No matter what you do, you will definitely face more obstacles in the way of chasing your dream.” She continued, “Please believe in yourself and your power. Please also remember you still represent GSDM and should make the right choices.”

Boston University Dean of Students Mr. Kenneth Elmore, Esq., who refers to himself as an artist interested in issues surrounding community development and social justice, delivered the keynote address. He praised the students for their dedication to community service—specifically for participating in Art Days and Beacon Hill Lobby Day. Dean Elmore then highlighted the importance of integrating art and science into daily life.

The Spencer N. Frankl Award for Excellence in Teaching was presented during the ceremony to Professor in the Departments of Molecular & Cell Biology and Periodontology and Goldman Distinguished Scientist Dr. Frank Oppenheim. The award honors GSDM’s Dean Spencer N. Frankl who, for more than 40 years—30 of which he served as Dean—provided the leadership and vision that shaped the School. Each year, this award recognizes one faculty member who has shown similar dedication to supporting the school’s mission.

DMD Class of 2015 President Ms. Michelle Dube and AS Class of 2015 President Mr. Azeez Gaurav Swarup presented the 2015 Class Gift to Dean Hutter. The Class of 2015 reached 66 percent participation and a Class Gift totaling $4,661.15, the highest amount to date donated to the School by the graduating class.

Assistant Dean of Students Dr. Joseph Calabrese, Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs Dr. John Guarente, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Dr. Cataldo Leone, Alumni Association President and Assistant Professor in the Department of General Dentistry Dr. Bing Liu, Professor in the Department of General Dentistry Dr. Carl McManama each gave $220 for a total of $1,100 in support of the DMD students’ share of the Class Gift. Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of General Dentistry Dr. Sepideh Novid generously gave $1,640 in support of the Advanced Standing students’ share of the Class Gift.

Collectively, student and faculty donations toward the Class Gift totaled $7,561.15.

Dean Hutter said, “Thank you very much Michelle and Azeez, and on behalf of all the faculty, staff, and students both present and future, I want to thank the members of the 2015 Class for contributing to this very special gift to our school.”

The 2015 pre- and post-doctoral graduates each then made the momentous march across the stage to receive their diplomas, degrees, and Certificates of Advanced Graduate Study. Each of the students were greeted on the stage by Dean Hutter who presented them with their much coveted degree.

Dean Hutter then led the Class of 2015 in a recitation of the Professional Oath. Reverend Dr. Robert Allan Hill closed the 2015 GSDM Convocation with a benediction.

Photos are available on Facebook and Flickr.

Advanced Specialty Education Program in Endodontics Class of 2015 with Dr. Sami Chogle

On May 14, 2015, residents of the Advanced Specialty Education Program in Endodontics Class of 2015 at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) celebrated their graduation in the Pavilion Tent at Granite Links Golf Club in Quincy, Massachusetts. They were joined by family, friends, faculty, staff, and alumni of the program.

The celebration was hosted by Director of the Advanced Specialty Education Program in Endodontics Dr. Sami Chogle, along with the support of the GSDM Endodontic Alumni Association. Dr. Chogle welcomed the 125 guests in attendance and introduced all of the faculty and staff—who were instrumental in helping the residents make it to this point. He then took a moment to welcome and introduce each of the residents individually.

Dr. Chogle then introduced three distinguished alumni in attendance: Harold Levin ENDO 62; Seymour Melnick ENDO 62; and Richard Yamanaka ENDO 76. Dr. Melnick was recently honored with the Part-time Educator Award during the American Association of Endodontists (AAE) Annual Session held in May. In recognition of this honor, Dr. Chogle presented Dr. Melnick with a Boston University jacket embroidered with “Most Awesome Endodontist.”

Following the introductions, Dr. Chogle presented the class of 2015 and gave each graduating resident a commemorative plaque. He congratulated each of them individually and announced what their plans were after graduation.

Mohammed Alsharani ENDO 15 was elected to speak on behalf of the class. He thanked all the staff and faculty and told the audience a few memorable stories from their time as residents.

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Dr. Cataldo Leone then spoke. He thanked the residents for their dedication and professionalism and said he hoped to see them pass forward all of the knowledge and skills that GSDM had instilled in them.

Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter, who was attending a BU Board of Overseers dinner on the Charles River Campus for outgoing Dean of the College of Fine Arts Benjamin Juarez later said, “Congratulations to the Class of 2015. It is a wonderful achievement to have successfully completed such a prestigious program. I wish you the best in your future endeavors.”

Photos are available on Facebook and Flickr.

On April 17, 2015, 27 Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM)students, faculty and staff participated in a Bingo Night at Clery’s, a local pub in Boston’s South End. The event was hosted by GSDM’s Student National Dental Association (SNDA), an organization dedicated to advancing underrepresented minority students in dentistry and helping the underserved.

The SNDA was unable to host its annual Student and Faculty basketball game, so the group wanted to host another competitive event involving the BU community.  They hosted a Bingo Night which included music, food, libations, and great company. The grand winner in the “blackout” game, in which the entire bingo card had to be completely covered, was Mahzad Koochaki, DMD 17.

Other winners of the event were:

• Tamara Gordon: DMD 18
• Frank Powers: Clinical Instructor in the Department of General Dentistry
• Mihika Ahluwalia: DMD 16
• Belinda Borrelli: Professor in the Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research
• Abhi Kalra: DMD 16

Jobren Dingle DMD 17 and Daniella Rizzo DMD 17 organized the event.  Looking back on Bingo Night, Dingle said, “Without a doubt, the Bingo craze is infectious! Bingo is a very social game, allowing you to meet new people, while enjoying great music and food.” He continued, “SNDA hopes to continue hosting events like this in the upcoming year, allowing us to reach more people who want to mingle and meet other people in a friendly and fun atmosphere.”

Sandip Ladani AS 16 prepares a participant for a dental screening.

On Wednesday, May 13, 2015 Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) students and faculty participated in the Franklin Field Health Fair, a collaborative event between Rosie’s Place and the Boston Housing Authority. The event took place at the Franklin Field Housing Development in Dorchester, Massachusetts.

Onsite, students provided participants with dental screenings and handed out oral health information geared to adults, children, the elderly, and disabled. Oral Health Promotion Director Ms. Kathy Lituri said, “The Health Fair was a great success. Many different health and social agencies around Boston were in attendance and the students did a great job educating the participants about proper oral hygiene.”

Franklin Field is a public housing development operated by the Boston Housing Authority. The Development offers family, senior, and disabled housing for 386 individuals. The complex is equipped with a community room, children’s center with day care, and a basketball court. Holding the Health Fair at Franklin Field provided an opportunity for the students to discuss health issues faced by low income families, senior citizens, and disabled citizens as well as recruit potential patients.

“I’m so pleased to see GSDM students participate in the Franklin Field Health Fair,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. “It is through efforts like this that Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine succeeds in its mission of excellence in community service.”

GSDM volunteers included: Assal Abdossalehi DMD 16; Sanaa Bhimji AS 16; Wonsuk Joo DMD 16; Sandip Ladani AS 16; Andrea Lam DMD 16; Ms. Kathy Lituri; Tulsa Patil AS 16; and Richa Wahi AS 16.

Photos are available on Facebook and Flickr.

Dr. Jason Zeim: New Director of the Urgent Dental Care Center

With the incorporation of patient screening into the Group Practice Model, the Department of General Dentistry opened an Urgent Care Patient Treatment Center focused on providing Emergency Services to new patients of Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. The Urgent Care Patient Treatment Center is located on the first floor of 100 East Newton Street.

“As patients now have access to more seamless care in our Group Practice Model—including screening—we took the opportunity to streamline emergency services as a separate treatment center,” said Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs Dr. John Guarente.

Dr. Jason Zeim has been appointed Director of the Urgent Dental Care Patient Treatment Center in the Department of General Dentistry.  He will continue to serve as Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of Pre-doctoral Endodontics, also in the Department of General Dentistry.

As Director of The Urgent Care Patient Treatment Center, Dr. Zeim will focus on providing students the opportunity to gain experience in treating patients who present with acute dental needs. The primary goal of the Center is to provide immediate treatment to patients in order to alleviate their dental problems and pain. This goal is achieved by placing emphasis on first diagnosing the patients’ condition and then prescribing the appropriate treatment to correct their problem.

Sasha Manchanda DMD 18, Selena Francis DMD 18, Jinjoo Lee DMD 16, and Jenny Kye DMD 16 at the St. Francis House

On May 10 and 16, 2015, the Office of Global & Population Health at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM), in collaboration with the BU student chapter of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), volunteered to prepare and serve food for those in need at the St. Francis House, a homeless shelter in Boston.

For more than 30 years, St. Francis House has welcomed poor and homeless men and women. It provides services, support, and a glimpse of what their lives can become: productive, healthy, and fulfilling. It believes in the worth of every human being and that when people have the right tools, change can happen. The House provides guests with everything they need to reclaim their dignity and rebuild their lives: nutritious meals, clothing, access to medical care, counseling, vocational rehabilitation, and housing.

Student chapters from GSDM, Harvard University, and Tufts University volunteered at the shelter. “Volunteering at the St. Francis House offers an incredible opportunity for our students to gain a holistic view of issues faced by men and women who are in need of the services of St. Francis House,” said Oral Health Promotion Director Ms. Kathy Lituri. She continued, “St. Francis House is our neighbor and is a vital part of our surrounding community. Thank you to the students who took time from their busy schedules to help us give back to our community.”

“I am so pleased to see our students volunteer at the St. Francis House,” 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.”

May 10 volunteers included: Selena Francis DMD 18; Matthew Jones DMD 18; Jenny Kye DMD 16; Jinjoo Lee DMD 16; and Sasha Manchanda DMD 18.

May 16 volunteers included: Wonsuk Joo DMD 16; Neemi Sherpa AS 16; Smriti Singh AS 16; Vanessa Thai DMD 16; Kevin Treger DMD 16; and Kevin Campbell Tufts DMD 18.

Guanghui Ling AS 16 and Zhan Huang AS 16 demonstrate proper brushing technique to an athlete

On Saturday, June 6, 2015, students, faculty, and staff of Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) participated in the Healthy Athletes^® Special Smiles^® initiative at the Special Olympics Massachusetts Summer Games at Harvard University’s Murr Center.

Over 1,200 athletes from the Greater Boston area converged on Harvard University’s Athletic Complex to participate in athletic events such as bocce, cycling, fishing, golf, sailing, and softball. Dentists and dental students were on hand at the Special Smiles^® clinic to offer oral screenings, health education and prevention services, and referrals to athletes who need follow-up care. They also provided individually-fitted mouth guards to participating athletes.

Special Smiles^® is just one component of the Healthy Athletes^® Program offered during the Summer Games. Others include Fit Feet (a podiatry clinic), FUNfitness (physical therapy), Health Promotion (including nutrition, bone health, smoking cessation, and sun safety), Healthy Hearing^® (an audiology clinic), MedFest^® (sports physicals and general checkups), and Special Olympics-Lions Clubs Opening Eyes^® (vision).

The Special Smiles^® clinic was staffed by 60 GSDM volunteers who were joined by 60 volunteers from Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene, Harvard University School of Dental Medicine, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Mount Ida College, and Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.

Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter said, “Special Smiles is a fun and important event and I am proud that GSDM has participated in it for the past 12 years.” He added, “Thank you to all of the GSDM volunteers, and especially to Director of Alumni Relations & Annual Giving Ms. Stacey McNamee who works extremely hard every year to organize the Special Smiles event.”

Senior Global Clinical Adviser to Special Olympics Healthy Athletes^® Special Smiles® Dr. Steve Perlman PEDO 76 worked with Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver to start the Special Smiles program in 1993. Dr. Perlman’s passion to eliminate health care disparities for people with disabilities led to the founding of the Healthy Athletes program.

Photos are available on Facebook and Flickr.

Dr. Belinda Borrelli

Director of Behavioral Science Research and Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Health Services Research Dr. Belinda Borrelli has been very busy since she joined Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) in September 2014. Since then she has submitted three National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant proposals, conducted a meta-analysis which will be published in the next month, and has had seven other papers accepted for publication in peer-reviewed journals. She has received several speaking invitations, presented at several national and international conferences, was asked to be a guest editor for a high impact scientific journal, and was invited to be a “TEDMED Research Scholar.”

Dr. Borrelli is a clinical psychologist who specializes in motivating behavior change. Her research has focused on: developing and testing treatments to motivate health behavior change across a variety of areas, including smoking cessation and secondhand smoke reduction; improving oral health and dietary behaviors; and, promoting adherence to medications and treatment regimens for chronic diseases including sleep apnea, cystic fibrosis, and asthma. She specializes in integrating theory-based treatments into public health contexts, and targeting underserved populations such as Latinos, Native-Americans, those with low income, inner city youth and adults, people with mobility impairments, medically ill populations, and older adults.  She is a Co-Principal Investigator with Professor and Associate Dean for Global & Population Health Dr. Michelle Henshaw on a project funded by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) aimed at motivating low income parents to engage in pediatric oral health behaviors, with the goal of cavity prevention.

Recently, Dr. Borrelli has begun research on utilizing electronic health (eHealth) and mobile health (mHealth) platforms to initiate and sustain health behavior change. She has been Associate Editor of Health Psychology since 2010 and was invited to be a guest editor of a special issue titled, “eHealth and mHealth:  Methodology, Assessment, Treatment and Dissemination Studies” along with co-editor, Associate Professor at the University of Virginia Dr. Lee Ritterband. Hundreds of manuscripts were received in response to a call for papers, which speaks to the growth in this area of research.

The term “eHealth” generally refers to the use of information technology, such as the Internet, digital gaming, virtual reality, and robotics, in the promotion, prevention, treatment, and maintenance of health care, while “mHealth” refers specifically to mobile and wireless applications including text messaging, apps, wearable devices, remote sensing, and the use of social media such as Facebook and Twitter. The benefits of eHealth and mHealth interventions include availability and accessibility, cost-effective delivery, scalability, utilization of personalization and tailoring, provisioning of real-time strategies to users in their everyday settings, and ability to adjust intervention intensity to meet the user’s needs. This special issue recognizes the rapidly evolving uses of technology in health care, and the lack of evidenced based treatment that can be integrated into people’s everyday lives.

In addition, Dr. Borrelli was invited to be a “TEDMED Research Scholar” for the 2015 TEDMED conference series. TEDMED was created by the founder of the popular TED (Technology Entertainment and Design) conferences to specifically focus on disciplines related to health and medicine. As a “Research Scholar”, she will fulfill an advisory and curatorial role in reviewing potential speakers for this prestigious scientific meeting.

During her time at GSDM, Dr. Borrelli has participated in a variety of research activities. This spring, she became a member of the Research Committee, a panel of GSDM faculty who oversee and facilitate pre-doctoral, post-doctoral and faculty research at the School. She gave a guest lecture for an oral health class in the School of Medicine’s Graduate Medical Sciences program, and was a faculty judge for this year’s Science Day.  Dr. Borrelli also gave a presentation titled, “Translating Basic Science and Health Behavior Theory to Improve Public Health” at the annual GSDM Research Retreat on April 13, 2015.

“GSDM is extremely fortunate to have such a talented and dedicated individual on our research faculty,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. “I would like to congratulate Dr. Borrelli on her recent achievements. We are looking forward to many years of continued success.”

Dr. Woosung Sohn, and new Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) faculty member, Dr. Astha Singhal, were recently elected to prominent leadership positions within the International Association of Dental Research’s (IADR) Global Oral Health Inequalities Research Network (GOHIRN). Their three-year terms in these roles are effective as of July 2015 and will continue through the 96^th General Session & Exhibition of the IADR which will take place in London, United Kingdom in July 2018.

The mission of IADR Networks is to bring together dental researchers from multiple disciplines in order to study a particular scientific topic or idea. The GOHIRN acts as an organized supportive platform for its members, who share the goal of addressing issues related to oral health inequalities on a global scale. The aims of this network include the stimulation and promotion of research, encouraging interactions within the wider health community as well as fostering interdisciplinary collaborations among different kinds of institutions such as schools, health centers and non-profit organizations interested in global oral health inequalities in research.

Dr. Sohn, who is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research and Director of the Advanced Specialty Education Program in Dental Public Health, was elected to the position of Regional North American Councilor. Regional Councilors serve as a point of contact in their region through which information about the implementation of the GOHIRN action plan can be channeled. This appointment will involve interaction with relevant regional and local initiatives on health inequalities and updating the GOHIRN website and social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. Dr. Sohn will also assist in the planning and organization of IADR conferences, including the 2016 AADR/CADR Annual Meeting in Los Angeles, California, and the 2016 IADR/APR General Session in Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Dr. Singhal, Assistant Professor in Department of Health Policy and Health Services Research, was elected to the position of IADR GOHIRN North American Region Assistant Group Program Chair. In this role, will she will be responsible for promoting the activities of GOHIRN and AADR by helping to develop research initiatives on global oral health inequalities. Specifically, she will assist in the coordination and collection of research abstracts for the IADR/AADR conferences in 2016.

“I am thrilled that two of our faculty have been elected to fill these important positions within the GOHIRN,” said Dr. Garcia, Chair of the Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research, “their new appointments are yet another strong example of the national and international recognition that the GSDM has attained for the outstanding research on oral health disparities being conducted here.”

Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter with alumni at the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s Annual Session in Seattle

Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) alumni came together at the 2015 American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s (AAPD) Annual Session in Seattle this May for a special alumni reception.

The Alumni Reception, which took place on May 23 at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel was attended by GSDM alumni as well as current and former faculty members and residents. The event was hosted by Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter, Chairman Athanasios Zavras, and Director of the Advanced Specialty Education Program in Pediatric Dentistry,  Wendy Cheney.  Associate Professor Jennifer Soncini also attended.

“The alumni reception at the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s Annual Session in Seattle this May was a great success,” said Professor and Chair, of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry Athanasios Zavras. “Pediatric alumni from throughout the United States stopped by our reception to hear updates about the School and the Department of Pediatric Dentistry as well as to see old friends and to meet new.”

The Annual Session, which took place from May 21 to 24, featured presentations, exhibits, and several events including a Keynote Address from former conman Frank Abagnale, who was famously portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio in the 2002 feature film Catch Me If You Can.

Photos are available on Facebook and Flickr.

The BUMC group marching in the 2015 Boston Pride Parade.

Members of the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) community joined the Boston University Medical Campus  (BUMC) Pride group and the Boston Medical Center (BMC) Gay Straight Alliance on June 13 to march in this year’s Boston Pride Parade.

The 45 annual Boston Pride Parade was one of several events during Boston’s annual Pride Week, which ran from June 4 – 14 and boasted more than two dozen events. It is put on by Boston Pride, a 501c3 not-for-profit organization.

The 2015 parade route spanned 2.27 miles and weaved from Copley Square through Boston Common, ending at City Hall Plaza. Thousands of people are reported to have marched in the 2015 Pride Parade, which kicked off with Boston Mayor Marty Walsh cutting a rainbow-colored ribbon at Copley Plaza.

The BUMC contingent of marchers was made up of about 30 people, including two GSDM students. The marchers met at the Boston Public Library in Copley Square at 9:30 wearing matching t-shirts that read “BUMC Pride.”

“It was an incredible moment when I realized that our group was not only formed by students of the different Medical Campus schools, but that there were several faculty members marching with us and their families as well,” said organizer and current BUSM MD student Jonathan Schouten. “It allowed me to connect on a more personal level with several professors who I had previously not known.”

As Schouten and others marched, thousands of onlookers lined the parade route and cheered them on.

The marchers were led by three Grand Marshals, who were selected by Boston Pride. Two of these three Grand Marshals, David Velasco Bermudez and Erica Kay-Webster, participated in the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Greenwich Village, New York City. The third, Samuel Brinton, is an ardent activist against conversation therapy.

“I am very proud of the GSDM community and our friends at BUMC for participating in this year’s Boston Pride Parade,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. “By all accounts, the 2015 Boston Pride Parade was a great success that gave all members of the BUMC community an opportunity to rally around a great cause.”

When the parade finished, marchers joined in the fun at the annual Pride Festival, which began at the City Hall Plaza finish line and went until 6 p.m.

Photos from the 2015 Pride Parade can be found on Facebook and Twitter.

Dr. Andrea Maalouf, Dr. Louis Brown, Dr. Celeste Kong, Dr. Cataldo Leone, attend the John McCahan Medical Campus Education Day

A diverse community of educators and students gathered at the Boston University Medical Campus on Wednesday, May 20, for the tenth annual John McCahan Medical Campus Education Day, which annually brings together Boston University Medical Campus faculty, staff, students, fellows, and residents for a productive, fast-paced day of lectures, presentations, and networking.

Among the participants in the tenth annual John McCahan Medical Campus Education Day, which lasted from 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. were several Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) faculty, staff, and students.

Presenting from GSDM were: Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of General Dentistry and Director of Pre-doctoral Periodontology Neal Fleisher, Jeongyun Kim AS15, and Eman Bakhurji PEDO 12 DPH 15.

Serving on the Planning Committee for the Education Day from GSDM were: Associate Professor in the Department of General Dentistry and Director of Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology Anita Gohel, and Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of General Dentistry Andrea Maalouf.

The annual scholarly event is named after former Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM)—1976 to 2006—Dr. John McCahan. When McCahan was appointed to the position of Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in 1976, after an impressive professorial career, he showed a particular interest in patient-doctor interaction and the teaching methodologies that resulted in effective clinical skills. McCahan quickly won the respect and support of his colleagues and students at BUSM.

The day started with a Meet and Greet and Welcome Address with Provost of the Boston University Medical Campus and Dean of Boston University School of Medicine Dr. Karen Antman.

The Keynote Address, which came after Dr. Antman’s welcome, was delivered by Chief of the Division of Otolaryngology in the Department of Surgery at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) and Associate Professor of Otolaryngology at Harvard Medical School Dr. Jo Shapiro. Shapiro’s address was entitled: “Changing culture: upending out notion of professionalism.”

The bulk of the John McCahan Medical Campus Education day consisted of five workshops run by various faculty, staff, and residents at BUMC.

The five workshops were:

• Shapiro; “Difficult feedback: a crucial skill for professional development.”
• MaryAnn Campion, Ms. Jana Mulkern, and Mr. Kenith Wilson; “Virtually there: technology options for flipped classrooms and remote meetings.”
• Anna DePold Hohler, Ms. Monica Parker James, and Dr. Harley Goldberg; “Optimizing medical education through site diversity.”
• Mayank Sardana and Dr. Sheilah Bernard; “Audience response system: a low cost and efficient tool to accurately assess the effectiveness of curricula.”
• Taryn Vian and Mr. Rob Schadt; “The principles and tools of team learning – an active approach to classroom learning.”

After the five workshops, the participants networked during lunch and, at noon, were treated to remarks from the man whom the day was named after, Dr. John McCahan.

Then, after a panel of academic deans, five BUMC faculty and staff were honored with awards. GSDM Assistant Professor in the Department of General Dentistry Louis Brown DMD 84 PROS 91 won the 2015 GSDM Award for Educational Innovation. The award is given every year to a faculty member who best exemplifies the characteristics that make GSDM students excited about learning.

“Dr. Brown has served as an exemplary role model for both students and fellow faculty during his time at GSDM,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. “It is no surprise that Dr. Brown  received the 2015 GSDM Award for Educational Innovation.”

Poster presentations followed the awards; the themes for which  were “Education Technology,” to demonstrate creative use of interactive technology to augment learning, and “Education Innovation and Research,” to showcase scholarship or ongoing research in education at BUMC.

Three GSDM community members presented posters:

Emam Bakhurji PEDO 12 DPH 15 presented a poster entitled; “Current use and future direction of dental amalgam in the US: pediatric dentists’ perspective.” The study presented in the poster had two aims: 1) determine pediatric dentists’ opinion about the future direction of amalgam use, and 2) investigate factors associated with their decision to use amalgam.

Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of General Dentistry and Director of Pre-doctoral Periodontology Neal Fleisher presented a poster entitled; “Introducing critical thinking strategies in the classroom.”

Jeongyun Kim AS 15 presented a posted entitled: “Perception of differences in oral health quality of life between parents and teens.” Mr. Kim did his research under Assistant Dean for Faculty Development and Director of the Center for Clinical Research, Professor Dr.Judith Jones. Co-authors were: Clinical Assistant Professor Dr. Raffi Miller; Systems Analyst Sharron Rich; Anthony A. Gianelly Professor and Chair of the Department of Orthodontics & Dentofacial OrthopedicsDr. Leslie Will; and Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research Dr. Wanda Wright.

Photos from the John McCahan Medical Campus Education Day can be found on Facebook and Flickr.

GSDM community members at The Greater Boston Food Bank

During this year’s Global Days of Service, 140 students, faculty, and staff from Boston University’s Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) volunteered a total of 494.5 hours at several different community service locations throughout Boston.

Boston University’s Global Days of Service is an annual, month-long, event that allows alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends from all areas of the Boston University network to give back to their local, national, and international communities. This year, a total of 6,944 hours of service were logged by Boston University volunteers during the month-long event.

Members of the GSDM community served their 494.5 volunteer hours at 15 different service locations across Boston, helping to make this year’s Global Days of Service a huge success.

“I am so proud to be Dean of an institution comprised of so many students, faculty, and staff members who are engaged in and committed to our community,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter.

Photos from Global Days of Service 2015 can be found on Facebook and Flickr.

Healthy Smile, Healthy You

On March 27, the GSDM Muslim Student Association (MSA), in collaboration with the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center (ISBCC), held the second Healthy Smile, Healthy You event for the local community.

At the event—which was open to the public—25 GSDM students, 7 faculty members, and 1 pre-dental student volunteered to provide a wide range of oral health promotion, education, age appropriate activities, and screenings for families and the general public.

The event was a great success. Volunteers performed various functions: screening; recording; taking registrations; manning information tables; acting as runners; and greeting guests at the front door.

Amr Aly DMD 17 and Mona Hatami AEGD 15 organized the event. They praised all of the volunteers for their participation and contributions. Hatami said, “It was a very successful event and people in the community are still talking about how much they enjoyed it.” She continued, “I was very touched with the way all the volunteers worked together to help people in the community.”

GSDM community volunteers:
Passant Abdel Megeed AS 15; Mishal Alsharif PERIO 14; Fahad Alwithani PROS 16; Amr Aly DMD 17; Clinical Associate in the Department of Restorative Sciences & Biomaterials Obadah Attar; Rizwan Baig AS 16; Yousef Behbehanni DMD 16; Clinical Instructor in the Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research and Program Dentist at Smart Smiles in the Boston Public Schools Lina Bensilmane; Rubbiya Charania DMD 16; Associate Professor in the Department of Endodontics and Director of the Advanced Specialty Education Program in Endodontics Dental Health Center Sami Chogle; Sara Elashaal DMD 17; Aisha Hakeem DMD 16; Mona Hatami DMD 10; Faryal Hussain DMD 17; Noor Jawad DMD 18; Ahmed Jawad DMD 16; Safeer Jiwa DMD 17; Salman Khanani DMD 16; Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences & Biomaterials Ali Khiblil; Courtney Knapik DMD 16; Jiffry Kolonda DMD 18; Clinical Instructor and Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri; Alyssa Mazzoli DMD 16; Clinical Instructor in the Department of Global & Population Health Mohammad Mourad; Nora Nakshabendi DMD 16; Jayesh Patel DMD 18; Daniella Rizzo DMD 16; Rohan Rohan DMD 18; Clinical Instructor Manal Saadoun; Hashem Shehadeh DMD 18; Yousef Sidki DMD 17; Zeeshan Wahab DMD 18; Syed Zaidi DMD 16; and, friend of GSDM Moaz Zanbarakji

Boys & Girls Club

On March 31, The GSDM chapter of the American Student Dental Association (ASDA) provided free, interactive dental education to approximately 200 children between the ages of 7 and 12 at the Yawkey Club of Roxbury, a Boys and Girls Club in Boston.

The GSDM chapter of ASDA works with the Office of Global and Population Health to host the event each year as part of Give Kids a Smile, a nationwide initiative co-sponsored by the American Dental Association (ADA).

The ADA launched the Give Kids a Smile program nationally in 2003 as a way for dentists across the country to join with others in their community to provide dental services to underserved children. Dentists and other team members volunteer their time and services to provide screenings, treatments, and education to children throughout the United States. Each year, approximately 350,000 children benefit from more than 1,500 events.

At the March event, children visited five dental themed tables to learn about proper brushing and flossing; healthy eating; tooth protection such as mouth guards, fluoride, and sealants; smoking and oral piercing; and careers in dental medicine.
GSDM community volunteers:
Nicolas Branshaw DMD 16; Tien Do DMD 18; Jenny Kye DMD 16; Lana Le DMD 16; Jina Lee DMD 16; Clinical Instructor and Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri; Alyssa Mazzoli DMD 16; Vrushali Mirajkhar AS 16; Mona Najafi DMD 16; Nora Nakshabendi DMD 16; Mike Navy DMD 16; Jenny Ng DMD 16; Jeremy Ngyuen DMD 18; Luis Perez DMD 18; Michelle Prieto DMD 16; Richa Rashmi AS 15; Daniella Rizzo DMD 16; Megan Sullivan DMD 18; Nobiru Suzuki DMD 18; Mike Whitcomb DMD 16; Amanda Yip DMD 16

Haley House

On April 5, four GSDM students from the Muslim Student Association (MSA) distributed dental kits and helped in the soup kitchen at Haley House, a nonprofit located in Boston’s South End and Roxbury neighborhoods that offers meals and other programs to those in need.

The four GSDM student volunteers spent more than four hours at Haley House helping to cook, serve, and clean up in Haley House’s soup kitchen. Each shift in the soup kitchen at Haley House ended with a guided reflection.

Haley House was founded in 1966 when Kathe and John McKenna began offering homeless Bostonian’s a place to stay and a simple meal in a small South End apartment. Since then, Haley House has grown into one of Boston’s foremost homeless support centers, offering meals, groceries, housing, and other necessities to those in need.

GSDM community volunteers: Amr Aly DMD 17; Mohamed Bayoumy DMD 16; Rubbiya Charania DMD 16; Yousef Sidki DMD 17

Rosie’s Place

The Women to Women Program is a collaborative effort with the Wellness Clinic at Rosie’s Place and the GSDM Student Chapter of the American Association of Women Dentists (AAWD) and CHP. This program strives to assess and address the oral health needs of the women that seek services at Rosie’s Place, a sanctuary for homeless, battered and displaced women. GSDM students and faculty were available from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm to answer questions, distribute home care products, and offer dental screenings and related advice.

GSDM community volunteers:
McAllister Castelaz DMD 17; Sara Elashaal DMD 17; Courtney Knapik DMD 16; Clinical Instructor and Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri; Sam Ocel DMD 18; Parnian Paymodz-Yazdi DMD 17; Michelle Prieto DMD 16; and, friend of GSDM Moaz Zanbarakji

Mosque for Praising Allah

On April 12, four GSDM students affiliated with the Muslim Student Association (MSA) met at the Mosque for Praising Allah in Boston to distribute dental kits to those in need.

The Mosque for Praising Allah, located on Shawmut avenue in Roxbury, offers religious services and maintains a food pantry for Boston residents of all faiths in need.

GSDM community volunteers:
Amr Aly DMD 17; Ahmed Jawad DMD 16; Yousef Sidki DMD 17; Syed Zaidi DMD 16

Greater Boston Food Bank

On both April 13 and 22, students, faculty members, and staff from GSDM gathered at the Greater Boston Food Bank to help provide food to Boston residents in need.

On April 13, a team of 12 GSDM volunteers served at the Greater Boston Food Bank, and on April 22, the GSDM volunteer team had 19 members. Both teams were made up of students, faculty, and staff from GSDM.

The volunteers were tasked with sorting and packing donated grocery products that were then distributed to hunger relief agencies. Some volunteers loaded boxes onto conveyer belts, other volunteers inspected products, others sorted products, and others checked and labeled boxes.

The Greater Boston Food Bank’s mission is to end hunger in eastern Massachusetts. The organizations distributed 50 million pounds of food in 2014, enough for 42 million meals.

GSDM community volunteers:
Research Project Assistant Alba Aldana; Research Project Assistant Lilian Alvarado; Clinic Care Supervisor Janina Brown; Research Project Assistant Jobina Cabrera; Alumni Coordinator Leslie Caiola; Debbie Desravines DMD 16; Jobren Dingle DMD 16; Sara Elashaal DMD 17; Research Data Clerk Limbania Fernandez; Business Manager Stephanie Grigent; Research Project Assistant Evelyn Herrera; Sally Jacob DMD 17; Anthony Kofoworola-Kuti DMD 16; Research Project Assistant Ramona Lara; Continuing Education Coordinator Janine Lipsky; Alyssa Mazzoli DMD 16; Director of Alumni Relations & Annual Giving Stacey McNamee; Program Administrator Hector Mendoza; Nikkita Muwanguzi DMD 17; Research Project Coordinator Alicia Muzzi; Research Project Coordinator Erika Ramos; Daniella Rizzo DMD 16; Communications Manager Molly Washburn

Other volunteers:
Katie Hurley; Athena Laines; Tomas Lichauco; Amy Lithimane; Lily Ma; Jason Naftulin; Sarah Oh; Zachary Pepper-Cunningham

The Food Project

On April 14, six GSDM faculty members and students traveled to the Dudley neighborhood in Dorchester to lend a hand to a local non-profit called The Food Project, which works to engage young people in personal and social change through hands-on lessons about sustainable agriculture.

The six GSDM volunteers planted and tended various plants at a farm run by the organization while participating in education games and discussions about the food system.

The Food Project works with 120 teenagers to farm 40 acres of land in Eastern Massachusetts. The mission of the program is to give teenagers job experience, while fostering a connection to the food system and issues of food justice.

GSDM community volunteers:
Layla Abuljadayel DPH 17; Abdulraheem Alwafi DPH 16; Director of Global Initiatives and Assistant Professor in the Department of General Dentistry Kathleen Held; Clinical Instructor in the Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri.

Other volunteers:
Teresa Betit; Athena Laines

Relay for Life

At the Boston University Track and Tennis Center on April 18, thirteen students, faculty, and other members of the GSDM community participated in the annual Relay for Life event.

Relay for Life, which is run by The American Cancer Society, is a yearly event in which participants gather on various teams at a designated athletic track and walk until day break in order to raise funds for research and to support those who have battled cancer.

Many of the Relay for Life teams set up booths around the track offering various fun services and food to raise money and awareness.

The Relay for Life team from GSDM set up a booth focused on oral cancer during the event. When they weren’t walking around the track, GSDM volunteers were at their booth, which had dental trivia, games, and t-shirts.

Relay for Life started in 1985 when Dr. Gordy Klatt raised $27,000 by walking and running around a track in Tacoma, Washington for 24 hours. Since then, the event has grown to become the largest cancer fundraiser in the world.

GSDM community volunteers:
Scott J Jegard DMD 18; Pardis Koleini DMD 15; Lana Le DMD 16; Associate Director of Student Affairs Erica Manczuk; Keely Matheson DMD 15; Mike Mayr DMD 16; Jayesh Patel DMD 18; Luis Perez DMD 18; Monica Schmidt DMD 15; Jonathan Solomon DMD 15; Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of General Dentistry Tina Valades; Parnian Yazdi DMD 17; and, friend of GSDM Ralph Tullberg

Cradles to Crayons

On April 23, 13 GSDM faculty, staff members, and other members of the GSDM community volunteered with the nonprofit Cradles to Crayons at the organization’s headquarters in Brighton.

The 13 volunteers received an introduction to Cradles to Crayons before being assigned to project areas where they worked with a Cradles to Crayon staff member on projects that would benefit the organization’s various programs.

Cradles to Crayons provides children from birth through age 12 living in homeless or low-income situations with the essential items they need to thrive—at home, at school and at play. Items are supplied free of charge by engaging and connecting communities that have items with communities that need them.

GSDM community volunteers:
Clinical Instructor in the Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research Gladys Carrasco; Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research and Director of School-based Programs Corinna Culler; Research Dental Assistant Justin Escobar; Susan Etscovitz; Research Dental Assistant Raffi Kazanjian; Clinical Instructor in the Department of Global & Population Health Mohammad Mourad; Research Dental Assistant Daniel Nayebi; Research Dental Assistant Nekou Nowrouzi; School Based Program Coordinator Paula Pina; and Clinical Instructor in the Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research Martin Ugarte-Chazez

Other volunteers:
Susan Etscovitz; Jason LaChapelle; Athena Laines; Brian Mal

My Chip
Boston University faculty and students collaborated with MY CHIP to obtain bite registrations and DNA samples for their Child Identification Program at the East Boston YMCA Healthy Kids Fair. The MY CHIP Program prepares child identification kits free of charge for use in a situation in which a child goes missing and police conduct a search for the child.
GSDM community volunteers:
Roua Al Timimi AS 15; Navte Kang AS 16; Hyunah Lee DMD 16; Clinical Instructor in the Department of Global & Population Health Mohammad Mourad

Pine Street Inn

On April 28, 14 GSDM faculty, staff, and other members of the GSDM community helped the Pine Street Inn, an organization working to end homelessness, provide approximately 2000 meals to those in need.

Pine Street Inn offers a wide array of services for homeless individuals in Boston. In addition to providing meals, the organization houses more than 850 tenants at 37 residences throughout greater Boston, shelters more than 600 people each night, and provides job training and many other services to those in need.

At the Pine Street Inn’s emergency shelters, guests receive a clean bed, two meals a day, and access to a shower, laundry facilities, and a health clinic.

GSDM community volunteers:
Program Coordinator Jeselene Andrade; Professor and Director of Behavioral Science Research Belinda Borrelli; Clinic Care Supervisor Janina Brown; Clinical Instructor in the Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research Dee Devlin; Surgical Assistant Patricia Dirksmeier; Data Manager and Analyst Christina Gebel; Program Administrator Sheree Norqust; Research Clinical Examiner Maria Nunez; and School Based Program Coordinator Paula Pina
Other volunteers:
Rodi Alexiadis; Maria Basha; Athena Laines; Tomas Lichauco; Eric MacDonald

St. Catherine of Siena School

On May 4, GSDM students visited a fourth grade classroom at St. Catherine of Siena School in Norwood to talk with the children about the importance of taking care of one’s teeth and how to do so. A variety of educational materials were used, which allowed for an exciting and interactive experience for the children, and goodie bags were handed out at the conclusion of the program.

GSDM community volunteers:
John Costello DMD 16; Kayka Cuddy DMD 16;

Ricesticks and Tea Asian Food Pantry

On May 9, six volunteers affiliated with GSDM lent their time to Ricesticks and Tea Asian Food Pantry to help the organization sort and bag food for area residents in need.

Ricesticks and Tea Food Pantry is a Boston-based food pantry program that serves more than 120 pre-screened low-income Asian immigrant and refugee families each month. The 120 households represent over 300 children, adults and seniors.

GSDM community volunteers:
Julie Cheung CAS 17; Vivian Nguyen CAS 17; Vanessa Thai DMD 16; Ceceilia Thai CAS 17

Other volunteers:
Kevin Campbell; Andrew Lum

St. Francis House

On both May 10 and 16, the GSDM Office of Global & Population Health, in collaboration with the BU student chapter of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), volunteered to prepare and serve food for those in need at the St. Francis House, a homeless shelter in Boston.\

For more than 30 years, St. Francis House has welcomed poor and homeless men and women. It provides services, support, and a glimpse of what their lives can become; productive, healthy, and fulfilling. St. Francis House provides guests with everything they need to reclaim their dignity and rebuild their lives; nutritious meals, clothing, access to medical care, counseling, vocational rehabilitation, and housing.

Student chapters from GSDM, Harvard University SDM, and Tufts University SDM volunteered at the shelter. “Volunteering at the St. Francis House offers an incredible opportunity for our students to gain a holistic view of issues faced by men and women who are in need of the services of St. Francis House,” said Oral Health Promotion Director Ms. Kathy Lituri. She continued, “St. Francis House is our neighbor and is a vital part of our surrounding community. Thank you to the students who took time from their busy schedules to help us give back to our community.”

GSDM community volunteers:
Selena Francis DMD 16; Matthew Jones DMD 18; Jenny Kye DMD 16; Jinjoo Lee DMD 16; Sasha Manchanda DMD 18;

Other volunteers:
Kevin Campbell; Wonsuk Joo; Neemi Sherpa; Smriti Singh; Vanessa Thai

Center Club

On April 9, eight students, faculty members, and staff from GSDM volunteered their time at the Center Club, a program of Bay Cove Human Services that is the oldest and largest clubhouse in New England for people with psychiatric disabilities.

Center Club is a five-day-a-week program for people with psychiatric disabilities. The program combines employment, housing, and education services with social activities, wellness initiatives, and advocacy using a holistic approach and principles of self-help, peer support and empowerment.
The GSDM volunteers offered oral health screenings, referrals, and education to the residents of the Center Club.

GSDM community volunteers:
Poornima AS 16; Andrea Lam DMD 16; Clinical Instructor and Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri; Anna Komnatnaya DMD 16; Olu Mide AS 16; Kevin Treger DMD 15; John Xu DMD 16; and, friend of GSDM Moaz Zanbarakji

Dr. Joseph Boffa

Associate Professor in the Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research Dr. Joseph Boffa attended the 2015 Northeast Regional White House Conference on Aging Forum, which took place on May 28.

The forum was one of five regional forums that preceded the main White House Conference on Aging on July 13. The four other regional forums took place in Tampa, Phoenix, Seattle, and Cleveland. The goal of all five of these smaller regional forums was to start discussions about issues affecting older Americans, and pass on the notes of these discussions to the main conference.

The White House Conference on Aging occurs approximately once a decade in Washington, D.C. The last conference was in 2005.

The Boston forum attended by Dr. Boffa, which was the last of the five regional forums, took place at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute on the campus of the University of Massachusetts Boston. Dr. Boffa and the other participants of the forum partook in discussions about four topics: healthy aging, long-term services and supports, elder justice, and retirement security.

During the forum, Dr. Boffa explained to the other attendees his belief that wellness programs for the elderly must include a strong emphasis on oral health. He found that several other participants agreed with him.

“As the only dentist at the conference I was gratified to see so many other knowledgeable professionals push for the inclusion of oral health,” said Dr. Boffa.  “In maintaining a healthy life style, proper diet is so important and good oral health is paramount.”

He continued, “At least the Northeast Conference report will inform the White House and President Obama the need to start including oral health service in any future health aging program.”

At the national conference July 13, several actions were put in place after the discussions. These actions included the launching of Aging.gov, a one-stop website for information on various resources to help aging American’s live fulfilling, healthy lives.

“Dr. Boffa’s attendance at the White House Conference on Aging Regional Forum proves that oral care is a crucial component of all healthcare programs for elderly Americans,” Said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. “I am delighted to hear that several other attendees of the forum shared Dr. Boffa’s views of the importance of quality oral healthcare.”