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University of Pittsburgh Summer/Fall 2008 Volume 6 • Number 2

Dentalmedicine

pitt

8/6/2019 Dental 4939


Dear Alumni and Friends:

Message from the Dean

It was a delightful surprise to be honored among the distinguished alumni at theEight Annual Dean’s Scholarship Ball in April. Our administration at the School

of Dental Medicine must have gone to great lengths to maintain the element of

surprise with the Distinguished Alumnus Award for Dental Medicine this year. I

was honored to stand with my colleagues who have made tremendous contributions

to the art and science of dentistry. Fellow recipients of the 2008 awards included

Dr. C. Richard Bennett (Cert., PhD ‘67) and Dr. Jay Reznik (DMD ‘72, MDS ‘75)

for the advanced education program award for their contributions to special needs

dentistry. In addition, a Distinguished Alumnae Award for Dental Hygiene was

presented posthumously to Dr. Margaret McCormick-Pipko for her leadership in

dental hygiene.

Our distinguished alumni serve as a positive reminder of the lega-

cy established by the many individuals who have walked the halls of the

School of Dental Medicine. This issue of Pitt Dental Medicine is dedicatedto the people of the School of Dental Medicine; those whose work may

seemingly go unnoticed. Whether they be faculty, staff, or students, their involvement at the dental

school supports our mission: The School of Dental Medicine, through its teaching, research, and service,

will contribute with sensitivity to cultural, ethnic, racial, and religious diversity to the betterment of hu-

manity by:

• Offering superior educationalopportunities in itsrstprofessional, postdoctoral,anddental

hygiene programs that will respond to requirements of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as

well as to the broader needs of society at large.

• Providing high quality dental clinical services to the people of the Commonwealth and society

atlarge,bothwithintheSDMaswellasafliatedhospitalsandothersites.

• Engaging in research and scholarly activities that will advance knowledge and extend the fron-

tiers of oral health.

• Offeringcontinuingeducationprogramsreectingrecentdevelopmentsandadvancesinden-tistry, adapted to personal, professional, and career objectives of the practitioner, at the regional,

national, and international level.

• Engaging in public service activities by making available the expertise and educational services

of the SDM to alumni, local community and public agencies.

• Providing the leadership and cooperation in the development of innovative academic programs

to meet the changing and dynamic educational needs of the region, the Commonwealth, and

beyond.

Ourmissionwasrecentlyupdatedtoreecttheschool’sgrowingscope.Ourvisionisthatoral

health is essential to total health. This concept is gaining momentum and it is a message to be commu-

nicated through the actions and existence of our institution and its many programs.

From classroom to chairside, our footprints on oral health are far-reaching. When faculty, staff,

and students set high standards, their achievements form the positive reputation that has become synony-

mous with the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine.

nnnn

Thomas W. Braun, BS ‘69, MS ‘73, DMD ‘73, PhD ‘77

Professor and Dean

Best regards,

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Useful Telephone Numbers

Admissions/Student Services 412-648-9806

Ofce of the Dean 412-648-8880

Patient Appointments 412-648-8616

Transcripts 412-624-7620

2 DentalMedNotebook

4 SDMNewswire

6 Features

EditorialLeadershipinDentistry LipPrintsMayIndicateRiskforCertainBirthDefects

ThePeopleoftheSDM

ServingOurCountryintheArmedForces

14 Editor’sMessage

FacultyUpdates

15 SchoolNews

SpringResearchSymposium

SeniorAwardsCeremony SDMKaleidoscope

17 AlumniNews

AlumniAssociationMessages

AlumniUpdates

FourteenthAnnualT.F.BowserMemorialLecture

DentalAlumniAssociationAnnualBusinessMeeting

EighthAnnualDean’sScholarshipBallatTheDuquesneClub

DiplomaCeremonyatHeinzHall

DentalHygieneGraduationLuncheon

NostalgicNotions:RockChalkChant

InMemoriam

DistinguishedAlumniGuidelines

29 Development

SupportYourAlmaMater

TableofContents

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dentalmedicine

pitt

Summer/Fall 2008

Volume 6, Number 2

Dean

Thomas W. Braun

Senior Associate DeanDennis N. Ranalli

Editor and Graphic Designer

Kate Miller

Dental Alumni Association

President

Lance Rose

President Elect

Michael Dobos

Vice President, Dental AffairsEric Kern

Vice President, Dental Hygiene

Judith Gallagher

Secretary

Karin Bittner

Executive Director

Stephen L. Kondis

School of Dental Medicine

Ofce of Alumni Affairs and Development

3501 Terrace Street

440 Salk HallPittsburgh, Pa 15261

www.dental.pitt.edu

Cover story: see page 21

Pitt Dental Medicine is published

semiannually by the Ofce of Alumni Affairs

and Development as a service to alumni,

students and friends.

Its purpose is to facilitate communication

among alumni, students and friends.

This publication holds itself not responsible

for opinions, theories and criticisms therein

contained.

The University of Pittsburgh is an afrmative

action, equal opportunity employer.

Dental Med Notebook

Pitt Dental Medicine: Why is women’s

oral health a new focus in health care?Dr. Studen-Pavlovich: The current focus

on women’s oral health emerged from em-

phasis on the women’s health movement.

About 15 years ago a U. S. Congressional

mandate to include women as subjects in

federally funded research occurred. It was

importanttoincludesufcientnumbersof

women to analyze gender-specic differ -

ences in the progression and treatment of

diseases. The government has established

National Centers of Excellence in Wom-

en’s Health throughout the country. The

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center isone of the 15 academic health centers in the

United States.

Pitt Dental Medicine: What are some

common conditions for female patients in

the day-to-day practice of dentistry?

Dr. Studen-Pavlovich: A common condi-

tion during adolescence is gingivitis. This

condition is caused byhormonaluctua-

tions in females that may cause a height-

ened local response to irritants. Eating dis-

orders have a strong female predilection.

Eroded teeth, xerostomia, enlargement of

the parotid glands, and other oral mani-festations may occur. Restoration of oral

health is an important part of regaining a

normal appearance and may positively in-

uenceherrecovery.Behavioralresearch

in dentistry substantiates that women have

greater situational anxiety related to den-

tal encounters than do men. For example,

women exhibit greater reaction toward

pain and anxiety, and this greater reaction

may contribute to oral conditions such as

aphthous stomatitis.

Pitt Dental Medicine: How is a woman’s

oral health affected throughout the various

stages of life?

Dr. Studen-Pavlovich: In infancy epi-

demiological studies have demonstrated

that while clefts of the primary palate ap-

pear more frequently in males, clefts of the

secondary palate occur more frequently in

females and are more likely to be associ-

ated with a syndrome. In young adulthood

some female athletes who have an eating

disorder such as anorexia may progress to

a condition known as the Female Athlete

Triad. This involves a patient with an eat

ing disorder who trains intensely followed by amenorrhea and premature development

of osteopenia and then osteoporosis. Dur

ing pregnancy untreated periodontitis may

contribute to more frequent preterm low

birth weight offspring. There are intraora

manifestations associated with osteoporo

sis. Considerable research has indicated

that among postmenopausal women early

onset of osteoporosis in postmenopausa

womeninuencestherateofalveolarbone

loss andchronic periodontitis. Scientic

evidence continues to demonstrate sex

specic differences for oral diseases andconditions.

Pitt Dental Medicine: What are some

preventive approaches dentists can recom-

mend to their female patients?

Dr. Studen-Pavlovich: Dental professionals

can assist their female patients with prevent

ing or controlling the infections associated

with oral diseases by recommending proper

mechanical removal of plaque, use appropri-

ate chemotherapeutic agents, and stress the

importance of regular maintenance visits for

disease prevention. Adolescent women are

more prone to gingivitis and aphthous ulcerswhen they begin their menstrual cycles and

need advice about cessation of tobacco use

mouth protection during athletic activities

and avoiding eating disorders. Women dur

ing childbearing years need to understand

the relationship between oral contraceptive

use and concomitant changes in oral tissues

Taking care of her dentition prior to becom-

ing pregnant is one of the best things a wom-

an can give to her developing infant. Older

women experience the onset of menopause

and increased vulnerability to osteoporosis

They may experience xerostomia and burn

ing mouth syndromes. Dentists and denta

hygienists need to help women alleviate

these symptoms and encourage them to con

tinue good oral health care and nutrition.

Dr. Studen-Pavlovich is professor and chair of

the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at the

School of Dental Medicine. She also is the au

thor of Women’s Oral Health published in July

of 2001 in the Dental Clinics of North America

by W.B. Saunders in Philadelphia, Pa.

Women’s Oral Health

Q&A with Dr. Deborah Studen-Pavlovich (DMD ‘80)

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Safeguarding Against MRSA

Q&A with Dr. Wilbert Milligan (PhD ‘72)

A Dental Perspective on Sleep Disorders

Q&A with Dr. Barry Glassman (DMD ‘73)

Pitt Dental Medicine: What is MRSA?

Dr. Milligan:Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)are bacteria that are very resistant to antibiotics and they’re be-

coming increasingly more prevalent. The number of patients with

MRSA from 1995 to 2005 has increased by 62 percent. It appears

as a typical skin infection like boils or blisters. If MRSA dis-

seminates into the blood stream, it can develop into a lesion or

rashwhereeshbecomesnecrotic.MRSAisfatalforoneoutof

20patients.It’salsocalledtheesh-eatingbacteria.

Pitt Dental Medicine: What are the risk factors for MRSA?

Dr. Milligan: RiskfactorsforMRSAcanbeassociatedwithve

Cs. They are contact, crowding, contaminated items, compromised

skin integrity, and cleanliness. Because of contact and crowding

risks, children in day care, athletes, inmates at correctional facili-

ties, and patients in long-term care facilities are all susceptible toMRSA.

Pitt Dental Medicine: How is it diagnosed?

Dr. Milligan: Nasal cultures can be done to identify MRSA carri-

ers. Bacterial cultures can also be taken of lesions to determine if

the patient has a MRSA infection.

Pitt Dental Medicine: Is it safe to treat patients with MRSA?

Dr. Milligan: Yes. Standard precautions should be practiced in-

cluding the use of face masks and glasses with side shields, because

MRSA has been found in the ocular isolates of certain carriers.

Pitt Dental Medicine: What can dentists do to prevent the spread

of MRSA?

Dr. Milligan: Sterilization of instruments as well as disinfection

of all environmental surfaces. MRSA is primarily transmitted bythe hands, so targeted cleaning of all surfaces that are in contact

with the hands is essential. Fortunately, it is typical for dentists to

practice targeted cleaning as part of standard precautions.

Pitt Dental Medicine: When should practitioners with MRSA be

restricted from treating or assisting patients?

Dr. Milligan: If they have active, draining lesions, they should

be precluded from treating patients. They should cover those le-

sions and when they’re no longer actively draining, they can treat

patients.

Pitt Dental Medicine: Roughly, how many persons in the United

States are infected with MRSA?

Dr. Milligan: Studies show that about 25 to 30 percent of the

normal population is infected with MRSA. They’re infected but

they don’t have the disease; they’re carriers. That’s why it’s so

disconcerting, because it used to be just localized in hospitals and

there was a better chance of controlling it. It’s moving out of the

hospital and into the community. A lot of the hospital-associated

MRSA infections are actually derived from a community strain.

Dr. Milligan is associate dean for clinical affairs and assistant pro-

fessor in the Department of Diagnostic Sciences at the School of

Dental Medicine.

Pitt Dental Medicine: What is a dentist’s role in treating sleep-dis-

turbed breathing (SDB)?Dr. Glassman: Dentistry should be the number one portal through

which patients enter into sleep medicine. Therefore, when updating a

patient’s medical history during a recall visit, dentists should be ask

ingspecicquestionsrelatedtosleep-disturbedbreathing.Dentist

consequently do not diagnose the disorder, but appropriately refer to

medicine for the diagnosis. After diagnosis, those dentists trained in

oral appliance therapy can provide treatment when appropriate.

Pitt Dental Medicine: What are some risks for patients with sleep

disturbed breathing?

Dr. Glassman: Some of the co-morbities of sleep-disturbed breathing

includehypertension,myocardialinfarctions,heartattacks,acidreux

disease, and diabetes. In addition, there is the major issue of SDB’s

relationship to excessive daytime sleepiness, motor vehicle accidentsand poor job performance issues. Combined with the tendency to

have an effect on mood and its relationship to depression, we can start

to see how destructive this disorder can be to one’s quality of life.

Pitt Dental Medicine: How can dentists recognize and treat sleep-

disturbed breathing?

Dr. Glassman: The questions that are most predictive for SDB are

as follows: Do you snore? Do you have hypertension? Has anyone

suggested that you gasp for air or choke at night? What is your neck

size? Certainly we can ask about daytime sleepiness and if the patien

wakes refreshed, but because there are so many disorders associated

with hypersomnolence, it is not necessarily predictable for an obstruc

tive disorder.

Pitt Dental Medicine: How can the effectiveness of a dental sleepappliance be measured?

Dr. Glassman: This is a great question because it makes the assump-

tion that we SHOULD measure our outcomes, and that assumption

is just so important. Among the many challenges of treating obstruc

tions for the dentist is the need to provide accurate testing for proper

titration of our appliances and to communicate effectively with our

medical colleagues. We use ambulatory studies for titration, then tend

to refer our patients back to their physicians for the decision as to

whether follow up polysomnograms are required.

Pitt Dental Medicine:Wherecandentistsndoutmoreaboutdenta

sleep medicine?

Dr. Glassman: Over the years I have noted more and more courses

being given on sleep disorders for the dentist. It is extremely impor

tant that the course emphasize not only the science of sleep medicine

but the art involved in implementing the treatment which include

learning how and when to refer and treat. It is essential that we learn

whatfactorsareimportantinmakingrisk/benetdecisionsthatare

involved with patient care and NOT treat snoring without a complete

diagnosis.

Dr. Glassman maintains a private practice in Allentown, Pa. which is

limited to chronic pain management, temporomandibular joint dys-

function and dental sleep medicine.

3

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SDM Newswire

Dentalcariesremainsthemostcommonchronicafictionof

childhood,vetimesmorecommonthanasthmaandseventimemore common than environmental allergies. Four out of ten chil-

dren have caries when they enter kindergarten. To identify the ge

netic and environmental risk factors that cause dental caries, the

National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded a $1 million grant

to Dr. Mary L. Marazita, director of the Center for Craniofacial

and Dental Research, associate dean for research and professor

and chair of the Department of Oral Biology. Dr. Marazita and

colleagues will study the interaction between genes and environ

mental factors that lead to tooth decay. The results of these studies

will allow a better understanding of the disease, which in turn wil

leadtoearlieridenticationofchildrenatriskandimprovedand

targeted interventions.

“As prevalent as tooth decay is in everyday life, there are manygapsinourscienticknowledgeaboutitscauses,”saidDr.Mara

zita. “It is striking that some people will have many teeth affected

with decay while other people in the same environment will not

Ourstudyisthersttoapplyacomprehensiveapproachthatwil

allow us to tease out what’s in our genes and what’s in our environ

mentthatiscausingtoothdecay.”

The grant is part of the Genes, Environment and Health Ini

tiative (GEI). In addition to the grant, NIH will provide genetic

services of approximately $2.5 million to Dr. Marazita. She is one

of only eight scientists selected to receive these grants during this

funding cycle.

In 2005, dental health care costs reached nearly $84 billion, o

which 60 percent or about $50 billion was related to treatment ofcavities. Childhood caries is a serious public health issue because

of associated health problems and because disparities in oral health

have led to substantially higher average disease prevalence among

children in poverty and in under served racial and ethnic groups.

The genome-wide association studies will be led by the Na

tional Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), part of NIH

First-year funding for the studies was contributed by all NIH insti

tutes and centers, including an extra investment by NIH’s Nationa

Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). NHGRI is

one of 27 institutes and centers at the NIH, an agency of the De-

partment of Health and Human Services. The NHGRI Division o

Extramural Research supports grants for research and for training

and career development at sites nationwide.

The NIDCR is the nation’s leading funder of research on oral

dental and craniofacial health. NIH is the primary federal agency

for conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translationa

medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and

cures for both common and rare diseases.

Additional collaborators from the University of Pittsburgh

School of Dental Medicine include Dr. Robert Weyant, professor

and chair for the Department of Dental Public Health and Infor

mation Management, director of the Multidisciplinary Master o

Public Health Program, and associate dean for Public Health and

Outreach.

DidyouknowtherstfemaletograduatefromtheSchool

of Dental Medicine did so in 1915? That’s right, Dr. Hanna Perrywastherstofmanywomentograduatefromwhatwasknown

then as the Pennsylvania Dental College.

Over the last decade, women have made up 45 percent of

dentists nationwide according to statistics provided by the Ameri-

can Dental Association. Only twenty years ago, that percentage

was less than one-third. University records indicate a long history

of women enrolled at the School of Dental Medicine, in fact the

rstfemaleadmittedwasMs.MaryLGlenin1898,onlytwoyears

after the incorporation of the school. It is unclear whether Ms.

Glen completed the three-year program as graduation records for

the dental school are not documented in the University database

until 1902.

The number of female graduates at the School of DentalMedicine increased substantially from an average of one each year

between 1902 and 1969 to an average of six during the ‘70s, an

average of 22 during the ‘80s, an average of 23 during the ‘90s,

and an average of 32 between 2000 and 2007.

Today, the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental

Medicine’s 2008 female graduates make up 40 percent of the Pred-

octoral Program.

Cavities: Nature or Nurture? Women in Dentistry

From left to right: 2008 dental graduates Dr. Jennifer Check, Dr. Sara Iglio, Dr.

Renee Regina, and Dr. Jyotika Dhawan.

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Forthelastveyears,thealumni,faculty,staff,andstudents

of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry have come together to provide uninsured children with over $40,000 in free dental treat-

ment through Give Kids a Smile Day (GKAS). As February is

NationalChildren’sDentalHealthMonth,therstinstallmentof

GKAS occurred on Feb. 29th. In addition, the organizers of the

event planned a second day on March 13th to make GKAS more

accessible to families and volunteers.

GKAS is mainly organized by the school’s chapter of the

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (Pedo Club), however

faculty and staff make major contributions to the overall success

of the event. This year’s GKAS chair is Mr. Jason Ashcroft, a

third-year predoctoral student who attended a national symposium

for GKAS in 2007. As a volunteer for GKAS last year, Jason said

he believes it is important to help those who are less fortunate andthatGKAS also benets studentsin fullling requirementsand

expanding their patient base. Ms. Dara Weiner, third-year pred-

octoral student and president of the Pedo Club, also is active in

planning the event. Another new development for GKAS is the

inclusion of dental hygiene student volunteers from the Student

American Dental Hygienists’ Association.

stories from dental.pitt.edu

Give Kids a Smile Day Expanded

Ms. Melissa Brown and Ms. Melinda Mazzocco comfort Mr. Dillon Mazzocco prio

to his dental treatment at Give Kids a Smile Day.

A young patient uses a mirror to view his teeth. A young patient sits for her screening and treatment.

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Editorial Leadership in Dentistry The School

of Dental

Medicine has

many faculty

members in

editorial po-

sitions withvarious health research journals. As edi-

tors and members of editorial boards, these

leaders are upholding high standards of

quality in research while shaping the cur-

rent landscape of topics ranging from ac-

cess to oral health care to the genetics of

craniofacial disorders. They serve to dis-

seminate ever-occurring advancements

in the study of oral health, inspiring new

policy and practice for the future.

With recent technological devel-

opments in the publishing industry, health

research journals are capable of near-in-stantly sharing new research with early

online publishing and a completely auto-

mated online process for printed editions.

As authors submit their articles online, the

articles are automatically key worded and

matched to reviewers. This is the process

employed by the Journal of Public Health

Dentistry. The journal’s editor, Dr. Robert

Weyant, is then able to review the articles

and the assigned reviewers to ensure the

match is logical and then approves and

sends the articles for review with the touch

of a button. Dr. Weyant is professor andchair for the Department of Dental Public

Health and Information Management, di-

rector of the Multidisciplinary Master of

Public Health Programs, and associate dean

for Public Health Outreach at the School of

Dental Medicine. He has been an active

member and past president of the American

Association of Public Health Dentistry, the

sponsoring organization of the journal.

“Being a part of the process of the

scientic pipeline from beginning to end

where research appears in print is very in-

teresting,”Dr.Weyantsaid.“Ithinkthere’s

an opportunity there to really make a dif-

ference in the quality of the science that’s

being published to the degree that I can

have an impact that will be useful to the

profession.”

Aside from attending various

meetings throughout the year, Dr. Wey-

ant is able to manage most of his duties as

editor from his location in Pittsburgh. The

automated system speeds the publishing

process as reviewers are automatically re-

minded of approaching deadlines or over-

due articles. Once an article is returned,

a cover letter is automatically generated

including excerpts from the manuscript.

From there, the publisher will copy-edit the

accepted publication and publish it online

complete with a session number for refer-ence. The advent of early online publish-

ing makes research available between four

and six months prior to the distribution of

the printed journal.

Dr. Weyant is one of the few

people involved with the Journal of Public

Health Dentistry who is part of the publish-

ingprocessfromstarttonish.Afterar -

ticles are reviewed, Dr. Weyant is charged

withmakingthenaldecisionontheac -

ceptance of articles that are not unanimous-

ly approved by the reviewers. While the

editorial board plays an advisory role, the

editormakesthenaldecision.Dr.Wey -

ant also pointed out that there is an editorial

freedom to make decisions separate from

the sponsoring organization. His role is to

maintain the quality of research published

and the reputation of the journal. He said

less than a third of the articles submitted to

the Journal of Public Health Dentistry are

accepted for publication.

Dr. Mary Marazita, professor and

chair of the Department of Oral Biology

and associate dean for research, and Dr.

Mark Mooney, professor and vice chair of

the Department of Oral Biology, serve on

the editorial board of The Cleft Palate-Cra

niofacial Journal. Dr. Marazita is section

editor of genetics and Dr. Mooney is sec

tion editor of anatomy/basic sciences. Dr

Mooney said the journal also employs an

electronic process that is double-blindedfrom submission through review. The Clef

Palate-Craniofacial Journal is published in

ternationally and has volunteers who help

authors to clarify their manuscripts which

are printed in English.

The following faculty members

serve on editorial boards for various health

research journals. Dean Braun is on the ed

itorial board of the International Journal of

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and is as-

sociate editor of Selected Readings in Ora

and Maxillofacial Surgery. In the Depart

ment of Diagnostic Sciences both Dr. JameGuggenheimer, professor, and Dr. Kur

Summersgill, associate professor, serve on

the editorial board for Oral Surgery, Ora

Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology

and Endodontology. Dr. Paul Moore, pro

fessor and chair of the Department of Den

tal Anesthesiology, has served on the edito

rial board for The Journal of the American

Dental Association, the Compendium o

Continuing Education in Dentistry, and An-

esthesia Progress. Dr. Dennis N. Ranalli

professor in the Department of Pediatri

Dentistry and senior associate dean, is onthe editorial board of Dental Traumatology

Dr. Titus Schleyer, associate professor in

the Department of Dental Public Health

and Information Management and direc

tor of the Center for Dental Informatics

is the associate editor for informatics and

technology in The Journal of the American

Dental Association. Dr. Deborah Studen

Pavlovich, professor and chair of the De

partment of Pediatric Dentistry, is on the

editorial board of the Journal of Dentistry

for Children and the Pennsylvania Denta

Journal.

“Being a part of

the process of thescienticpipeline

from beginning to

end where research

appears in print is

veryinteresting.”

Dr. Robert Weyant

8/6/2019 Dental 4939


Lip Prints May Indicate Risk for Certain Birth DefectsBy Kim Barlow, reprinted with permission from the University Times

To some, a kiss is just a kiss. To

researchers in Pitt’s Center for Craniofacial

and Dental Genetics, a kiss may offer clues

to who may be at increased risk for certain

birth defects.

Researchers there are using chei-

loscopy, the study of lip prints, as part of their quest to better understand the causes

behind cleft lip and palate.

Center director Mary Marazita,

who also is the School of Dental Medi-

cine’s associate dean of research and chair

of the Department of Oral Biology, has

been studying clefting since the 1980s.

Clefts, which occur when the tis-

sue that forms the upper lip and roof of the

mouth doesn’t fuse properly during prenatal

development, are among the most common

birth defects, affecting one or two of every

1,000 births worldwide. About 30 percentof clefts are associated with a genetic syn-

drome; the rest are thought to result from

other genetic and/or environmental factors.

Marazita’s research includes the

Pittsburgh Oral-Facial Cleft Study, which

seekstondthegenesunderlyingnon-syn -

dromic clefts by studying families that in-

clude at least two affected family members.

Study participants in Pittsburgh

and other sites around the world are

screened in a lengthy process that includes

taking a general health history, family his-

tory and DNA sample, 3-D facial photosfrom which measurements can be calculat-

ed, an ultrasound of the muscle of the up-

perlip,lipprintsaswellasngerprints,an

assessment of handedness and a screening

by a speech pathologist to assess speech ar-

chitecture.

A number of traits have been

found to be more common in families with

clefting. Among them are non-right-hand-

edness, physical asymmetry and structural

differences in the muscle that surrounds the

lip as well as differences in teeth, facial di-

mensions and speech characteristics. Eth-

nicity also plays a role. Native Americans

and Asians have a higher incidence of non-

syndromic clefting while the occurrence is

rarer in whites and even less common in

blacks.

The idea to study lip prints came

about a decade ago as center researcher

Kathy Neiswanger, a research professor

in the Department of Oral Biology, began

paging through the index of “Mendelian In-

heritanceinMan,”acataloglistinghuman

genes and genetic disorders.

While searching for some simple

genetic traits that might be related to cleft-

ing or increased risk of clefting, “I hit on

lipprintsasoneoftheentries,”shesaid.

Very little literature on lip prints

exists, and most of that is aimed at deter-mining whether people can be identied

bytheirprintsinamannersimilarton -

gerprinting, or in extracting DNA from lip

prints to solve crimes. But Neiswanger

found a German research paper from the

1970s indicating that certain types of pat-

terns found in lip prints might be increased

in individuals with clefts.

The very low-tech process of gath-

ering research subjects’ lip prints made it

easy to choose to add lip printing to the pro-

tocol. Marazita decided, “It was cheap and

easytodosowe’llcollectitoneverybody.”The prints are taken using invis-

ible ink -- the kind used to take hand and

footprints of newborns -- printed onto

chemically sensitive paper that develops in

a few minutes.

Neiswanger found that the origi-

nallipprints--printedingray--weredif-

cult to analyze until a post-graduate student

scanned the prints and contrast-enhanced

them. When the prints were enlarged and

colored blue, the patterns became clearer.

Now, Neiswanger said, “We’ve seen more

lip prints than probably anybody in the

world.”

They’ve even had some fun with

the original lip prints, combining a sam-

pling of the student’s work in a four-panel

Warhol-esque print to present as a Pitts-

burgh-themed farewell gift when the stu-

dent left the center for dental school.

Most people have never paid

much attention to the patterns on their lips

or anyone else’s, but Neiswanger noted that

lip prints vary greatly. The simplest pat-

tern is made up of vertical lines, but others

include horizontal lines, whorls, diamond

patterns, X-shapes or lines that resemble

roots and branches.

“Thereare lotsofpatterns,”Neis

wanger said. “It gets complicated very

quickly.”

Parallel research has shown that a

mutation in the IRF6 gene causes Van der

Woude syndrome -- a syndrome that causesclefting and/or circular depressions called

stulasonthelips.

It’s unclear why this gene -- an

interferon regulatory factor -- would have

an impact on lips, Marazita said. But the

researchers immediately began to wonder

whether whorl patterns are associated with

variants (differences that are not muta-

tions) in the IRF6 gene. They hypothesize

that certain genes in a family could lead to

clefting in some members and particular lip

prints in others.

“Wehavetobecareful,”Marazitasaid.“Wedon’tknowyet.”

The center now has a collection

of more than 900 lip prints that have been

examined to sort out those that have whorl

patterns from those that do not.

Early analysis found lower lip

whorls in about 18 percent of individuals

with clefts and about 16 percent of their

family members without clefts. In contrast

only about 3 percent of a control group had

whorlpatterns,a“verysignicantnding,”

she said.

While the lip prints all have beenscored, only about two-thirds of the geno-

typing isdone, sothere are nodenitive

answers yet.

Neiswanger said she hopes to

have all the pieces in place in time for a

presentation at a meeting of cleft palate re-

searchers in mid-April.

Marazita said that identifying the

genes that may predispose some families to

clefting could lead to better genetic coun

seling and improved treatments.

“Once we get the genetics down

wecanlookatenvironmentalfactors,”she

said. For instance, smoking during preg

nancy is known to double the risk of clefts

but it’s not known whether refraining from

smoking could be even more important fo

those with genetic traits associated with an

increased risk.

“Within ve years we’ll know

enough about some of these traits that they’l

beclinicallyuseful,”Marazitapredicted.

8/6/2019 Dental 4939


8/6/2019 Dental 4939


Our FacultyDr. Elia Beniash, assistant professor in the Department

of Oral Biology, is originally from St. Petersburg, Russia. Dr. Be-

niash knew from an early age that he was interested in science; he

joined a club at the local zoo where he often spent time observing

the animals. He went on to earn a Master of Science degree in

zoology and biology at St. Petersburg State University. As opportunities for research were limited in Russia, Dr. Beniash went

to The Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Isreal for his

Doctor of Philosophy degree in structural biology. In 2000, he

moved to the United States to accept a research associate posi-

tion at Northwestern University and later moved from Chicago to

the Forsyth Institute in Boston, Ma. At the Forsyth Institute, Dr.

Beniash was an assistant member of the staff in the Department of

Biomineralization.

It was at the Weiz-

man Institute where Dr.

Beniash became interested

in biomineralization and tis-

sue engineering during hiswork on his thesis about the

skeletal development of sea

urchins. His thesis, Spiculo-

genesis of Sea Urchin Larva,

depicted the process of the

mineral phase through crys-

tallization.

“I’m working on

how proteins or macromol-

ecules effect crystal growth;

how the interaction proteins

and minerals leads to these

unique mechanical proper-

ties of dentin and enamel and how we can use the knowledge to

develop new materials with similar properties that we can apply to

tissueengineering,regeneration,andrepair,”Dr.Beniashsaid.

Dr. Beniash has a secondary appointment at the School of

Engineering and said he enjoys the opportunities made possible by

the University of Pittsburgh.

“Pitt is a larger institution with more cooperation, more

facilities,moreopportunitiesintermsofwhatIcandohere,”said

Dr. Beniash. “I like our group and the interactions with people

acrosstheUniversity.”Outsideofresearch,Dr.Beniashdoesn’t

have much free time. He likes to spend time with his family. He

and his wife have a seven year-old daughter and he enjoys takingher to museums and shows. He also goes to the gym and enjoys

reading.

“Betweenmyworkandfamily,Idon’thavemuchtime,”

Dr. Beniash said. He added that he enjoys life in Pittsburgh, espe-

cially his neighborhood of Squirrel Hill. “Everything is close and

it’saniceenvironment.”

Dr. Deborah Polk,

assistant professor in the

Department of Dental Public

Health and Information Man-

agement, grew up in Chevy

Chase, Md. As a child, shewas always interested in sci-

ence and math and found

research to be appealing.

However, she said she never

thought she’d be working in

oral health research.

“I didn’t know

that oral health researchers

and dental schools were in-

terested in psychologists,”

she said. Dr. Polk attended

Cornell University in Ithaca, NY where she earned a Bachelor of

Arts degree in psychology as well as Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind. where she earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in

clinical psychology. Dr. Polk’s post-graduate work includes clini

cal internships and postdoctoral fellowships at Indiana University

School of Medicine, Carnegie Mellon University and the Univer

sity of Pittsburgh.

“Some of the oral health outcomes really lend themselves

welltothekindsofquestionsI’minterestedin,”shesaid.For

example, Dr. Polk explained that researchers of cardiovascula

health outcomes may have to wait as many as 30 years to docu

ment their results. By comparison, the mouth is very accessible

and outcomes can be studied within much shorter time frames.

“I’m interested in how psychological processes affect im

munefunction,”shesaid.

Dr.Polkisarst-yearNorthAmericanDirectorofthe

Behavioral, Epidemiologic, and Health Services Research Group

of the International Association of Dental Research (IADR). One

of her responsibilities as director is to review abstracts submitted

for the annual session of the IADR. She reviews a breadth of ove

90 abstracts in the behavioral, epidemiological, and health services

researchscienticgroup. Dr.Polk isoneof sixbasic science

directors at the IADR. In addition to the directors, there is a presi

dent, president-elect, secretary/treasurer, coordinator and severa

counselors.

At the school, Dr. Polk serves on the Outcomes Assess-

ment Subcommittee of the Curriculum Committee. She alsoserved on the advisory committee between 2004 and 2007. Dr

Polk teaches an introductory course to behavioral dentistry. Be

havioral management and cultural awareness are some of many

topics discussed in the course.

“There’srealgiveandtakeinguringoutwhatisbestfor

yourpatientandthatisasmuchofanartasitisascience.”

Dr. Elia Beniash

Dr. Deborah Polk

8/6/2019 Dental 4939


Our Staff Ms. Harriet Puchone,

coordinator for the Ofce

of Education and Curricu-

lum, was recently honored

with the 2008 Chancellor’s

Awards for Staff Excellence

in service to the community

and to the University. She

has been a member of the

staffforveyearsandisin

the process of completing a

Bachelor of Arts degree in

social sciences with a mi-

nor in public service, and

a certicate in non-prot

management. Ms. Puchone

is planning to graduate in 2009. Her next move includes applying

for the master’s program in higher education management at the

School of Education.“Education and academics are my passion and I really

enjoyworkingwith thestudents here atthe dentalschool,”she

said. “I have a greater appreciation for education through my

workexperienceintheOfceofEducationandCurriculum.”Ms.

Puchone said that going back to school has changed her life sig-

nicantly.Shehasbeenabletoapplymuchofwhatshelearnsin

the classroom to her full-time job. As a non-traditional student,

Ms. Puchone has enrolled in mainly Saturday, evening and on-

line courses. She is working on lining up some independent study

through the Department of Sociology.

“I constantly try to give it my best and utilize my time

thebestIcan,”shesaid.Ms.Puchonerecentlyparticipatedinan

internship with the Make-A-Wish Foundation where she assistedthe special events manager with the Light Up a Child’s Life cam-

paign. The internship required 100 hours and she put in more than

the required time.

“Make-A-Wish understood I was a non-traditional stu-

dentsotheywerewillingtoworkwithmyschedule,”Ms.Puchone

said.Shescheduledinterviewsfor“wishkids,”theirfamilies,and

supporting organizations during the two-week radio campaign

which was broadcast from various downtown Pittsburgh location.

Sponsoring organizations presented donations on-air with assis-

tance from disc jockeys from WISH 99.7.

“It was neat to do the leg work and get to see behind the

scenes,”shesaid.“Ireallygetthepictureofpublicservice.”Ms.

Puchonesaidsheisattractedtonon-protorganizationsbecauseshecurrentlyworksatanon-protorganization.

When Ms. Puchone learned of the staff excellence award,

shewasspeechlessandsaiditwasmeaningfultondoutthata

non-traditional dental student nominated her.

“I love to learn and I think teamwork is important. If

anything comes out of this, I just think that it shows that teamwork

is an important component in anything you do in life. And that’s

really all I’ve done as part of a team whether it be with the den-

tal school, the College of General Studies, or my internship. It’s

peopleworkingtogetherinoneformoranother.”

Mr. Sherman Watson, sterilization clerk in Instrument

Management Systems, is an ambassador of good will and longev

ity at the School of Dental Medicine. University records indicate

that Mr. Watson has been here for 44 years. However, that doesn’t

count several years of temporary employment as a lab technician

during the rein of Dr. Jonas Salk at the University of Pittsburgh.

Mr. Watson’s parents also worked for Dr. Salk and they

helped him get his job straight out of high school. Mr. Watson, a

Pittsburghnative,recalledhisrstdayonthejobandsaiditwas

very hot that summer. After two years of working for Dr. Salk, he

transferred to what was then the Department of Microbiology and

Biochemistry at the School of Dental Medicine, and then trans-

ferred to his current position in IMS when it opened in the ‘90s

Regardless, Mr. Watson has always worked in Salk Hall and hi

jobhereishisrstandonlyjob.

He’s said he’s seen the school change for the better over

the years. “Dr. Braun brought a higher standard, from the build

ing,tothefacultyandthestaff.”Mr.Watsonsaidtheschoolishis

home away from home and that he most enjoys working with the people.

“At the dental school, you can go and meet people from

aroundtheworld,”hesaid.“Yougetadifferentoutlookondif

ferentculturesbyinteractingwithdifferentpeople.”Mr.Watson

is well-known by the faculty, staff, and students at the school. He

oftenstopstosay“hello”in thehallwaysandtakestimetohelp

newcomersndtheirwayaroundthebuilding.

He attributes his talkativeness to his mother and told a

story about a trip he and his sister took with their mother to Loui-

siana by train. The family almost missed their stop because Mrs

Watson was busy talking to

other passengers.

As a sterilizationclerk, Mr. Watson processes

dental instruments and hand

pieces. He has seen a lot of

change in sterilization tech-

niquessinceherststarted.

For instance, at one time he

used the ultrasonic to steril-

ize 350 casettes each day.

That process included col-

lecting the casettes in a ba-

sin, rinsing, and hand drying

them before placing them

in the ultrasonic. Today heuses a high-tech autoclave

that is totally automatic.

His interests include gardening, visiting with family and

friends and watching Star Trek. Mr. Watson said he is a trekkie a

heartandislookingforwardtoaStarTreklmslatedfortheaters

in 2009.

When asked about his plans for the future, Mr. Watson

said he intends to stick around a while longer.

“Istillhavealittlesmokeinme,”hechuckled.

Ms. Harriet Puchone

Mr. Sherman Watson

8/6/2019 Dental 4939


Our Students Dr. Andrew Thomp-

son (DMD ‘08), orthodon-

tics resident and recent

graduate of the Predoctoral

Program, is an Albert Sch-

weitzer Fellow and has fo-

cused his project on smoking

cessation. The Albert Sch-

weitzer Fellowship’s is the

namesake organization of

Dr. Schweitzer, Nobel Prize

winner, who was known for

his medical work in Africa

during WWII. The mission

of Schweitzer fellowships

is to reduce disparities in

healthandhealthcarebydeveloping“leadersinservice.”

“Dr.Schweitzerwasanamazingman,”saidDr.Thomp-

son. “By the age of 30, he had written a couple of books, had twodoctoral degrees, was a world authority on Bach, an organist and a

pastor. And around age 30 he decided he wanted to help the people

of Africa, so he went to med school and later started the hospital

(AlbertSchweitzerHospitalinLambaréné,Gabon).”

For his fellowship, Dr. Thompson was inspired by an in-

novative smoking cessation program held at McKeesport Hospital

where he volunteered with counselors to coach participants in their

efforts to quit smoking. He is working on organizing his own pro-

gram and is in the process of scouting locations to hold classes to

guide people through the process of quitting smoking. The project

requires 200 direct service hours and Dr. Thompson said that while

he has already graduated from the fellowship program, he is still

workingtofulllhisprojectgoalsasitwasdifculttondenoughtime during his last year of dental school.

Dr. Thompson said his program will not only focus on the

negative effects of smoking, but on different approaches to break

the habit.

“Tobacco really is the worst thing you can do for your

health,”saidDr.Thompson.“Somanypeoplewhoareaddicted

to cigarettes want to quit and it’s nice to be able to help people

along.”

During his predoctoral studies, Dr. Thompson served as

class president and was a member of the American Student Den-

tal Association, the Curriculum Committee, the Student Advisory

Panel to the Dean, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry,

and the Academy for Sports Dentistry. He also was a recipient of the Norman Stern Scholarship at University of Pittsburgh in 2007.

Dr. Thompson participated in National Dental Student Lobby Day

in Washington DC in 2005 as well as Pennsylvania Dental Lobby

Day in Harrisburg in 2005 and 2006. He also ran and helped with

fund raising in both the Race for the Cure and the Great Race in

2005 and 2006.

Originally from Harrisburg, Pa, Dr. Thompson hopes to

eventually return to Central Pennsylvania and practice as an ortho-

dontist.

Third-year predoctoral student, Mr. Charlie Miller, main

tains a busy schedule and high grade point average at the Schoo

of Dental Medicine. With a GPA of 3.88, Mr. Miller ranks as 6th

out of 77 predoctoral students. He is active in many organiza

tions at the school including the Student Research Group in which

heisanadvertisementofcer,theHispanicDentalAssociationin

which he is treasurer and the Sports Dentistry Club in which he is

vice president. Mr. Miller is also a member of the Pedo Club and

is currently working on a research project involving the relation

between periodontitis and sickle cell disease under the direction

of Dr. Pouran Famili, professor and chair of the Department of

Periodontics/Preventive Dentistry.

“Some of the ultimate goals of this sickle cell research

project will be prevention of periodontitis in sickle cell patients

and prevention of a sickle cell crisis in sickle cell patients with

periodontitis,”hesaid.

Mr. Miller also is the recipient of the 2008 American Den

tal Education Association/Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products

Preventive Dentistry Scholarship.He is from Dos Palos, Ca. and has gone on several mis-

sion trips to Spanish-speaking countries in South America. Be

tween 1998 and 2000, Mr. Miller served a mission trip in Co

lombia wherehebecame uentin Spanish.He latercombined

his Spanish-speaking skills with his education in dentistry on an

internship in Ecuador in 2005 where he assisted in the treatment o

many under-privileged people in the town of Quito and surround

ing areas.

“I realized that preventive dentistry is very limited in cer

tainpartsoftheworld,”said

Mr. Miller. “We can do so

much in the United States to

teach people, but we can doso much more outside of the

United States where dentists

are limited and oral hygiene

ispoor.”

Mr. Miller also re-

cently participated in the

Bridging the Gap program

for health care to under

served populations in the

Pittsburgh area. At the den-

tal school, he has served as

an assistant for courses in

head/neck anatomy and hisinvolvement in the Sports

Dentistry Club has allowed the opportunity to work with many

athletes from local high schools. He made custom mouthpiece

for the athletes and a presentation on the effects of spit tobacco

with suggestions for cessation. Since joining the club, there were

roughly 15 members and it has since grown to 57 members. Mr

Miller is hoping to recruit more to help advocate the cessation o

spit tobacco to local high school athletes. He also is a Schweitze

Fellow and intends to continue his spit tobacco project as part of

his fellowship.

Mr. Charlie Miller

Mr. Andrew Thompson

8/6/2019 Dental 4939


Serving Our COuntry

in the Armed FOrCeS

The School of Dental Medicine has a long tradition of ser

vice in the U.S. armed forces. From faculty member

through predoctoral students, many representatives of the

school have served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corp.

and Coast Guard. In fact, Dr. Bruce Doll, assistant professor in the

Department of Periodontics/Preventive Dentistry, was deployed

to Landstuhl, Germany as part of the Dental Corps in October o

2007 and was later appointed as Rear Admiral (Select) in which he

assumed his present duties as deputy director for Navy Personne

in the Navy Expeditionary Medical Unit at Landstuhl Regiona

Medical Center. Other faculty members serving in the military

include Dr. Peter H. Guevara, director of the General Practice

ResidencyProgramatUPMCMonteoreandassistantprofessor

in the Department of Restorative Dentistry/Comprehensive Care

is Lieutenant Colonel of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard

Dr. John Ferrence, assistant professor in the Department of Prosth

odontics, is Lieutenant Colonel in the Dental Corps of the U.S

Army Reserves.Currently, ten predoctoral students in the class of 2009

veintheclassof2010,andtwointheclassof2011arereceiving

military scholarships. Commissions through the various branches

enable predoctoral students to complete their doctorate in denta

medicine while serving their country. As alumni they will go on

tofullltheircontractsthroughtheDentalCorps,gainingvaluable

experience in dentistry across the world.

Supporting Our Troops Through Research

Dr. Charles Sfeir, director of the

Center for Craniofacial Regeneration andassociate professor in the Department of

Oral Biology, is taking part in research

through the U. S. Armed Forces Insti-

tute of Regenerative Medicine (AFIRM),

an $85 million initiative announced in

April by Lt. Gen. Eric Schoomaker, the

Army surgeon general. Dr. Sfeir, through

the McGowan Institute for Regenera-

tive Medicine and in collaboration with

Carnegie Mellon University, is leading a

team of researchers in the development

of a powder containing bone proteins,

growth factors and biodegradable cementto be mixed with water and molded to the

shape of missing bone. Once complete,

this technology will benet wounded

soldiers by providing the ability to main-

tain their natural mobility in the case of

injured appendages. Dr. Sfeir’s project

is one of several regenerative therapies

under development for AFIRM. Other

participants in AFIRM are Wake Forest,

Rutgers, and the Cleveland Clinic.

This initiative is taking cutting

edge research from the bench top to clini-

cal applications for the armed forces.“From the get-go, we decided to

select materials that are either FDA-ap-

proved or materials that have previously

been used on patients because at some

point our research needs to be translated

intopatienttherapy,”Dr.Sfeirsaid.“In

cases of trauma, or rejection after a cancer

case, where you need to insert bone, this

material will actually become a functional

material.”

8/6/2019 Dental 4939


S t e w a r t , K e v i n

C a n d e l l a

, M e l i s s a

R u s s e l l, P a

u l

G r a h a m , T h o m a s

Paul Russell, third-year predoctoral student

Branch: U. S. Navy

Date enrolled: May 15, 2006

Plans after graduation: I plan to enroll in the AEGD program

within the Navy followed by a few years of Navy dentistry.

Fondest Memory: A classmate’s patient gave me a wedding gift.Inspiration for your military/dental career: I was inspired

to pursue dentistry because I thought about the ability to have

a profound impact in somebody’s life in a very short amount

of time. Dentistry in one of the armed forces appealed to me

because of the ability to provide the very best treatment to my

patients regardless of cost to them and the pride and satisfaction

that I feel knowing I will be serving the men and women who

protect and serve our country.

Kevin Stewart,rst-yearpredoctoralstudent

Branch: U. S. Navy

Date enrolled: July 2007

Plans after graduation: Enjoying a few years in the Navy. If

it works out well, I’ll stay in the Navy and look to specialize.

Otherwise, I can see myself settling somewhere and practicing

privately as a general dentist.

Fondest Memory: Introduction to Amalgam

Inspiration: My inspiration for joining the Navy is my national

prideaswellasthenancialstabilityoffered.

Melissa Candella, second-year predoctoral student

Branch: U.S. Air Force

Date enrolled: May 5, 2007

Plans after graduation: Three years repayment to the Air

Force.

Fondest moment in dental school: Receiving my white coat.

Inspiration for your military/dental career: My grand

father was the head of the U.S. Immigration Service for West-

ern Europe, and retired as a Lt. Colonel in the Army. He credits

his accomplishments to the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act.My uncle was a Lt. Colonel in the Air Force, and

ewbombersinWWIIandVietnam.

Both of them really enjoyed

being stationed all

over the world.

Thomas Graham, second-year predoctoral student

Branch: U. S. Army

Date enrolled: August 8, 2006

Plans after graduation: As of now I plan on four years in the

Army and after that I am undecided.

Fondest moment in dental school: Lobby Day 2008Inspiration for your military/dental career:My family dentist

(aretiredarmyofcer)encouragedmetopursuetheArmyasan

option to pay for my dental education and a great way to gain

experience.

8/6/2019 Dental 4939


Is your dental practice offering the latest in comprehensive care? While

comprehensive care in dentistry refers to the inclusiveness of the vari-

ousspecialties, itseemsthatthedenitioncanbebroadened. Oral

health is encompassing so much more from the perspective of overall

health. With the resurgence of research making an association betweenoral health and systemic health, now is the time to consider the dentists’

role in overall health.

While each dental practice is unique and patients’ needs may vary

from one town to the next, dentists and dental hygienists could incorporate

a total health plan for patients ranging from pre-pregnancy consultations

to screenings for coronary heart disease. Oral health is gaining increasing

signicanceinthemedicalcommunityanditwon’tbelongbeforepatients

take notice if they haven’t already. Patients typically seek routine oral

health care more frequently than medical care and dentists have the oppor-

tunity to administer basic screenings that could ultimately save a patient’s

life. For instance, the Framingham Global Risk Assessment which predicts

risk for coronary heart disease only requires a few minutes of basic calcula-

tionsandreviewofgender-specictablesprovidedbytheAmericanHeartAssociation and the American College of Cardiology.

Smoking cessation is another good place to start. Patients who

smoke need consistent encouragement from all health care providers and

the dentist is in a prime position to talk about the risks of smoking tobacco.

Other considerations include screenings for oral cancer, raising awareness

of head and neck cancer, or discussions of obesity, diabetes, and periodon-

tal disease.

Advocacy for oral health will have a direct impact on overall

health. Patients at risk for periodontal disease should be aware of suscep-

tibility to atherosclerosis-induced diseases such as coronary heart disease

and stroke or diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, pancreatic cancer, pneumonia,

and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Collaboration with patients’ primary

care physicians in the instance of any of the above conditions is crucial.

In June of 2005, the American Dental Association released news

regarding the potential to harvest stem cells from primary and wisdom teeth

according to research from the National Institutes of Health. Since then,

this promising and non-controversial source of stem cells has become com-

mercialized and dentists can now encourage or assist patients with banking

stem cells from primary and wisdom teeth for future health needs.

These are just a few ideas for incorporation of a total health plan

for dental patients in your practice. To take this concept one step further,

oralhealthprofessionalshaveagreatopportunitytoinuencepolicyasthe

association between oral health and systemic health is growing stronger.

Policy makers are called to consider the needs of the public and assistance

or complete dental coverage for the uninsured is critical. Oral health is nota secondary matter, it is part of overall health and the access to care issue is

a growing concern.

Best regards,

Faculty Updates From the Editor’s Desk

Kate E Miller

Editor

Dr. Jennifer Brauser was appointed clinical assistant profes-

sor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry/Comprehensive

Care.

Dr. Medick Capirano was appointed director of predoctora

prosthodontics in the Department of Prosthodontics.

Dr. Manika Govil was appointed research assistant professor

in the Department of Oral Biology.

Dr. Jeffrey Jockers was appointed clinical assistant profes

sor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry/Comprehensive

Care.

Dr. Joshua Marvit was appointed clinical instructor in the De

partment of Oral Biology.

Dr. Edward Narcisi was appointed clinical assistant professor

in the Department of Prosthodontics.

Dr. Richard Nelson was appointed clinical assistant professor


Dr. Mark Nigra was appointed clinical assistant professor in

the Department of Restorative Dentistry/Comprehensive Care.

Dr. Joseph Petrone was appointed interim chair of the Depart

ment of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics.

Dr. Miguel Torres-Urquidy was appointed postdoctoral asso

ciate in the Department of Dental Public Health and Informa-

tion Management.

Dr. David Anderson was appointed clinical assistant professor


Dr. Thomas Kunkle was appointed as a new clinical assistan

professor in the Department of Prosthodontics.

Dr. Joslyn McWilliams was appointed as a new adjunct in-

structor in the Department of Dental Public Health and Infor-

mation Management.

Dr. Jane Soxman was appointed as a new adjunct assistant pro

fessor in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry.

Dr. Alejandro Almarza was appointed as a new visiting assis

tant professor in the Department of Oral Biology.

Dr. William Bunting was appointed as a new adjunct assistan

professor in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry.

Dr. Veronica Garcia Palacios was appointed as a new visiting

research assistant professor in the Department of Oral Biology

Dr. Ayla Ozturk was appointed as a new visiting assistant pro

fessor in the Department of Periodontics/Preventive Dentistry.

8/6/2019 Dental 4939


Spring Research Symposium & Senior Awards Ceremony

On May 14th, the

School of Dental Medicine’s

Ofce of Research hosted

the annual Spring Research

Symposium at Scaife Hall.The symposium featured

invited speaker Dr. Mary B.

MacDougall from the Uni-

versity of Alabama at Bir-

mingham. Dr. MacDougall

presented “Genetic Lessons

for Growing Teeth.” The

program also included 2007

participants of the Dean’s

Summer Research Scholar-

ship Program with presen-

tations by Mr. Jared Kneib,

Ms. Noelle Peters, and Mr. NeilRobertson,allrst-year

predoctoral students.

Dr. Ariadne Letra, postdoctoral research associate in the

Department of Oral Biology, presented “Interaction between IRF6

andTGFaGenesContributetotheRiskofCleftLipandPalate.”

Dr. Charles Sfeir, director of the Craniofacial Center for Regenera-

tion and associate professor in the Department of Oral Biology,

presented “Craniofacial Regeneration Strategies.” Dr.Adriana

Modesto, assistant professor in the Department of Pediatric Den-

tistry, presented “Effect of Fluoride and Chlorhexidine Combina-

tiononEnamelDemineralization/Remineralization.”

Dr. Mary B. MacDougall

Mr. Eric Michael, Dr. Alexandre Vieira, and Mr. Neil Robertson, rst-year predoctoral student and recipient of the ADA Caulk/

Dentsply Student Clinician Award.

TheSchoolofDentalMedicine’sOfceofStudentSer

vices held the annual Senior Awards Ceremony immediately fol

lowing the Student Research Symposium. The ceremony took

place in Salk Hall’s room 402 which was brimming full with

fourth-year students and supportive faculty members and staffOver 50 awards were presented to the fourth-year predoctoral stu

dents from a wide variety of dental organizations. Also honored

at the ceremony were faculty and staff as voted by the individua

predoctoral classes. The faculty and staff appreciation awardee

for the class of 2008 were Dr. Walter Kalista, clinical assistant pro

fessor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry/Comprehensive

Care and Mr. Norman Macher, staff member in the Department of

Prosthodontics; the awardees for the class of 2009 were Dr. Joseph

Giovannitti, assistant professor in the Department of Anesthesi-

ology and director anesthesia services for the Center for Patients

with Special Needs, and Ms. Diane Cervi, staff member in the

Department of Pediatric Dentistry; the awardees for the class of

2010 were Dr. Adriana Modesto Vieira, assistant professor in theDepartment of Pediatric Dentistry, and Ms. Nadia Kasinec, staff

member in Module Two; and the awardees for the class of 2011

were Dr. Timothy Matuszak, clinical assistant professor in the De

partment of Restorative Dentistry/Comprehensive Care and Ms

Kristen Felser, staff member in Instrument Management Services

Among the predoctoral awardees were Ms. Melissa

Brown who was inducted into the

International College of Dentists

and Mr. Matthew Gornick who

was inducted into the American

College of Dentists. The follow

ing students from the predoctora

class of 2008 were inducted into

Omicron Kappa Upsilon: Ms

Melissa Brown; Mr. Mark Bucci;

Mr. Matthew Gornick; Ms. Ju-

lia Hill; Mr. Michael Lisen; Mr.

Christian Long; Ms. Jennifer

Mateja; Mr. Kevin McMinn; Mr.Chad Peters; and Ms. Renee Re-

gina.

Ms. Melissa Brown

Photo by Dr. Michael Rosella (DDS ‘57)

Mr. Matthew Gornick and presenter

Photo by Dr. Michael Rosella (DDS ‘57)

8/6/2019 Dental 4939


SDM Student KaleidoscopeImagesfromthePredoctoralProgramoverthe2007-2008academicyear

*Captionsforphotographstakenafterthediplomaceremonyindicatethegraduates’DMDtit

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8/6/2019 Dental 4939


2008 Homecoming

Schedule of Events Thursday, October 23rd Pathway to Professions: A Career Networking Event

Alumni Hall

6 – 8 p.m.

Friday, October 24th SDM Continuing Education Potpourri

Edward J. Forrest Continuing Education Center

8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Dental Alumni Association Reception and Tours

Salk Hall

3:30 – 5:00 p.m.

University Alumni Association Homecoming Reception

Alumni Hall

6:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Homecoming Laser Show

Bigelow Boulevard

8:45 p.m.

Homecoming Fireworks

Bigelow Boulevard9:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 25th Pitt vs. Rutgers Homecoming Game

Heinz Field

TBA

Join us for Homecoming 2008

Invitation to follow...

Hail to Pitt!

8/6/2019 Dental 4939


Alumni Messages

This is my rst message as your

newly elected president of the Uni-

versity of Pittsburgh Dental Alumni

Association. It is indeed an honor

and privilege to serve our school and

alumni. Spring has already arrived

and summer is not far off, change is

all around us. Political candidates

promisechange,governmentofcials

enact change, the practice of dentistry

has changed, and the School of Den-

tal Medicine brings about tangible

change. A dedication ceremony for

the new Center for Patients with Special Needs will be held onSeptember 12, 2008 at 1 p.m. at the dental school in Salk Hall. The

event will include a state of the dental school address followed by

a reception and tours of the newly renovated space. The primary

goals of the center are to provide treatment to patients with special

needs while training future dental professionals in this specialized

eld.Thisopportunitytoservewillalsoexpandthepooloffu-

ture care providers for this under served population. An addi-

tional change at the dental school will include the dedication of

a newly renovated Multidisciplinary Implant Center. This center

will accommodate more patients, allowing for expanded clinical

care as well as increased educational and research opportunities.

Please consider visiting these centers as you may renew your asso-

ciation with your dental school. Our Dental Alumni Associationalso has many changes in progress, per the request of Senior As-

sociate Dean, Dr. Dennis Ranalli, and with the advice of Alumni

Executive Director, Dr. Stephen Kondis, I have established an

ad hoc committee to review and update as necessary our Dental

Alumni Association By-laws. These updates, once approved by

the Alumni Board, will be necessary to transform our association

into a contemporary, more streamlined and hopefully more effec-

tive organization to better serve our members and to more quickly

respond to the many changes affecting our profession and our

school. I look forward to an exciting and rewarding year as your

alumni president. As always, I request and appreciate all of our

members’ and friends’ suggestions and input. I am only an e-mail

([email protected]) or phone call (724-495-6700) away.Please remember, positive alumni relations begin when the student

is still a student.

Sincerely,

Lance G. Rose (DMD ‘84)

Dear Dental Hygiene Alumni,

The academic year is coming to an

end with National and Northeast Re-

gional Boards keeping the level of ex-

citement high at the school. Your alma

mater is still striving to provide the

best possible educational experience

Once again the 2008 dental hygiene

graduating class participated in the

School of Dental Medicine diploma

ceremony on May 17, at Heinz Hall

The Alumni Association sponsored

the reception after the ceremony where many families, friendsand alumni were able to enjoy food, music, and share in that spe

cial day. Every year there are a few dental hygiene alumni taking

their second walk across the same stage, receiving a DMD. Look

ing out over the graduates one could not help but wonder which

walk each alumnus will take. Each year a new group of graduate

chooses a path and starts their professional journey. Our alumn

are found in private practice, research, sales, dental school, public

health, and education. Many dental hygiene alumni are returning

totheacademicsettingtonishbaccalaureatedegreesorgraduate

school.Manytimestheprofessionalpathswillcrossandwend

classmates and fellow alums.

Please get involved in your Dental Alumni Association and

professional organizations. I hope to see you at future events. It isalways such a pleasure to see a familiar face and meet with col-

leagues.

Judith Gallagher (RDH ‘72, MEd ‘75)

Dental Medicine Dental Hygiene

8/6/2019 Dental 4939


Please complete and return to:

Pitt Dental Medicine, Alumni News

Kate Miller, Communications Specialist


Ofce of Alumni Affairs & Development

3501 Terrace Street, 440 Salk Hall

Pittsburgh, PA 15261

tel: 412-648-9804

fax: 412-648-8219

[email protected]

*Don’t forget to register at the alumni section of www.dental.pitt

to make sure the University of Pittsburgh and the School of Denta

Medicine have your most current contact information.

Alumni Update FormPlease send us information about your career advancements, papers

presented, honors received, appointments, and further education. We wi

include your news in future issues of Pitt Dental Medicine as space perm

Please indicate names, dates and location. Photos are welcome.

Also note changes of address, phone, or e-mail.

Name:

Degree(s) and year(s) of graduation:

Home address:

Home phone:

Business address:

Business phone:

Preferred e-mail:

Preferred fax:

Position(s):

News (Please attach additional sheet, if needed):

A lumni U pdates Dr. Donald Betar Jr. (DMD ‘93) has been appointed to the

Board of Directors of the Altoona Regional Partnership for a

Healthy Community through the Altoona Regional Health Sys-

tem.

Dr. Andrew D. Gould (DMD ‘95) is the current president of

the Harrisburg Area Dental Society and maintains his private practice in central Pennsylvania since 1996.

Dr. Kenneth Hinkelman (DMD ‘65) was awarded with an

honorary membership at Alberta Dental Association and Col-

lege.

Dr. William Hoch (DMD ‘81) presented “Introducing Den-

talImplantsinPrivatePractice”atMidwestImplantInstitute

Symposium in February.

Dr. Anagha Barve Jog (DMD ‘96) became the owner of Sili-

con Valley Dental in 2007. Dr. Jog has completed advanced

training at the California Center for Implant Dentistry and also

isacertiedInvisalignprovider.

Dr. Richard A. Kiman (DMD ‘43) was recently honored for

35 years of service as clinical associate professor of cariology

at New York University College of Dentistry.

Dr. Daniel Lavin (DMD ‘84) is Colonel in the U.S. Army and

director of a two-year residency program in advanced educa-

tion in general dentistry in Ewa Beach, Hawaii.

Dr. Benjamin J. Lin (DMD ‘05) is owner/dentist of Custom

DentalinBakerseld,Ca.

Dr. J. G. McHugh (DMD ‘72) retired from private practice

in 2006. He provided special needs dental care in Butler andArmstrong counties.

Dr. David A. Moffa (DMD ‘80) obtained a mastership in ad-

vanced general dentistry and is currently the Western Penn-

sylvania transition consultant for PARAGON Dental Practice

Transitions.

Dr. Sal Petrucci (DMD ‘90) is CEO/founder of Renaissance

Malibu, an exclusive treatment facility which treats addictions,

alcoholism, and co-occurring disorders.

Dr. Jennifer Robb (DMD ‘92) was recently named as co-edi-

tor of the Lorain County Dental Society Newsletter.

Dr. Mark Sebastian (DMD ‘77) is practicing periodontics in

the Seattle area and was recently named a Diplomate to the

International Congress of Oral Implantologists.

Dr. Kenneth J. Stavinsky (DMD ‘67, Cert. ‘72) has retired

from practice after 41 years. Dr. Stavinsky is head teaching

professional at West Bolton Golf Club.

Dr. Charles A. Stock (DMD ‘92) is AEGD Prosthodontics res-

idency director at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C.

He has an upcoming Air Force duty assignment in Kadena AB,

Japan.

19

8/6/2019 Dental 4939


Fourteenth Annual

T.F. Bowser Memorial Lecture

Dental Alumni AssociationAnnual Business Meeting

The Dental Alumni Association’s

Annual Business Meeting was

held on April 5th immediately

following the Fourteenth Annual

T.F. Bowser Memorial Lecture. During

the meeting, immediate past-president, Dr.

Mary Ann Davis (DMD ‘78) was present-

edwithacerticateofappreciationanda

gift on behalf of the Dental Alumni Asso-

ciation for her service as president duringthe 2007-2008 academic year. Dr. Davis

ceremonially passed the gavel to Dr. Lance

Rose (DMD ‘84) who was appointed as

president of the Dental Alumni Association.

The Fourteenth Annual T. F.

Bowser Memorial Lecture was held on

April 5th and featured Ms. Casey Hein and

Dr. Ray C. Williams who presented “Re-

sults of Periodontal-Systemic Research and

ItsImpactonCurrentDentalPractice”in

Scaife Hall. Over 400 people were in at-

tendance. During their presentations, Ms.

Hein and Dr. Williams emphasized the need

for collaboration between medical and den-

tal providers in reducing risk for oral and

systemic diseases/conditions. Ms. Hein is

a consultant to the University of Manitoba

working on curriculum development specif-

ically related to oral-systemic relationship

for medical, nursing, dental, and dental hy

giene in Winnipeg, Canada. Dr. Williams

is Straumann distinguished professor and

chair of the Department of Periodontology

at the University of North Carolina Schoo

of Dentistry at Chapel Hill.

At right: Dr. F. Eugene

Ewing, director of The

Ofce of Continuing Edu-

cation; Ms. Casey Hein;

Dr. Ray Williams; and DrStephen Kondis, executive

director of the Dental

Alumni Association.

Dr. Kondis and Dr. Davis

Dr. Kondis, Dr. Davis, and Dr. Rose

Dr. Davis and Dr. Rose

8/6/2019 Dental 4939


Eighth Annual Dean’s Scholarship Ball

Clockwise from the top right: Dean Thomas W. Braun and Mrs. Liz Braun; Dr. Karin Bittner and

Mr. Ronald Talarico, Mr. Ronald Davenport Sr. and Dr. Judith Davenport; Dr. Karin Bittner and

Dr. Mary Ann Davis with Dean Braun; Dr. Daniel Pituch and Dr. Mark Ochs; Mr. Brent Kanar,

Ms. Melissa Fogel, and Dean Braun; Dr. Jay Reznik, Dean Braun, and Dr. Richard C. Bennett

Premium Sponsors:

UPMC

HighmarkBlue Cross Blue ShieldUnited Concordia

Corporate Donors:Benco Dental

PNC

The Eighth Annual Dean’s Scholarship Ball, held on Saturday, April 5th at The Duquesne Club

in downtown Pittsburgh, was a highly successful event with over $1.2 million raised in

scholarship funding. Over 230 guests attended and four alumni were honored with Dis-

tinguished Alumni Awards: Dr. Thomas W. Braun (DMD ‘73, PhD ‘77) for Dental Medicine; Dr. C.

Richard Bennett (Cert, PhD ‘67) and Dr. Jay Reznik (DMD ‘72, MDS ‘75) for Advanced Education

Programs; and Dr. Margaret McCormick-Pipko (RDH ‘65) was posthumously honored with theDental Hygiene Award. The 2008 scholarship recipients were incoming predoctoral students Ms.

Melissa Fogel and Mr. Brent Kanar. The ball was co-chaired by Dr. Mary Ann Davis (DMD ‘78) and

Dr. Karin Bittner (DMD ‘75).

8/6/2019 Dental 4939


The grand ballroom at The Duquesne Club.

Dean Braun, Drs. William and Mildred Trice

Dr. Karen Roche, Dr. R. Kent Galey, Mrs. and Dr. Runzo

Mr. Moody Wasif and Dr. Joann Prasad Ms. Melissa Fogel and guest mingle with Dr. Stephen

Kondis.

Mr. Clyde Jones and Drs. Jon and Paul Johnston

Dr. Dennis N. Ranalli as the emcee

Guests sit for a sketch by a caricaturist.

Dean Thomas W. Braun addresses the crowd.

Dr. Dennis N. Ranalli and Dr. Peter H.Guevara

Dr. Erik Scheifele and Ms. Angelina Riccelli

Members of John Parker and the John Parker Band

8/6/2019 Dental 4939


Dr. Dennis N. Ranalli and Mr. William Steinhauser

A magician entertains.

Dean Thomas W. Braun presents the awards.

Dr. Eric Kern and Dr. Eugene Miller

Dr. F. Eugene Ewing and Ms. Ruth Knittel Dr. Samantha Abod and Dr. Joseph Lopez

Drs. William and Mildred Trice

Drs. Mabel and James Paige and guest

Dr. Mary Ann Davis and Mrs. Eleanor Kondis

Dean Thomas W. Braun and Dr. Dennis N. Ranalli

Ms. Liz Cole and guest

Predoctoral students enjoy the dance music.

8/6/2019 Dental 4939


School of Dental MedicineDiploma Ceremony

On May 17th, the University of Pittsburgh School

of Dental Medicine graduated 28 dental hygienists, 71 den-

tists andawarded19 certicates in nine specialties forad-

vanced education. Dr. Andrew Nigra, assistant professor inthe Department of Restorative Dentistry/Comprehensive Care,

served as grand marshal. The ceremony was presided over by

Dean Thomas W. Braun and a special address was given by

Dr. Arthur Levine, professor and senior vice chancellor for the

Health Sciences. Dr. Andrew Thompson, president of the den-

tal class of 2008; Dr. Renee Regina, dental valedictorian; Ms.

Ashley Mitchell, president of the dental hygiene class of 2008;

and Ms. Nicole Shannon Franks, dental hygiene valedictorian,

each addressed their colleagues, friends, families, and fellow

alumni with great appreciation.

Dr. Mary Ann Davis, immediate past president of the

Dental Alumni Association, also addressed the crowd of over

500 with words of encouragement and reminisced her days as

a dental student.

Ms. Judith Gallagher, assistant professor of dental

hygiene in the Department of Periodontics/Preventive Den-

tistry and vice president of the Dental Alumni Association, led

the dental hygiene graduates in the Dental Hygiene Oath:

As I now approach the completion of my formal education as

a dental hygienist and begin the lifelong process of continual

learning both personal and professional, I do humbly acknowl -

edge my human limitations, in accepting this parchment of my

alma mater; solemnly swear to render health service to those

who seek my ministrations, hereby enjoining upon myself the

sacred duty of teaching the public, particularly children and

young people, by precept, lecture, and every other availablemode of instruction, the value of dental health as a price-

less possession; and further; to bind myself by future study to

broaden my knowledge that I may share with this pledge in-

violate, may it be granted to enrich my life in the practice of

my art.

Following the Dental Hygiene Oath, Ms. Angelina

Riccelli, director of the Dental Hygiene Program and asso-

ciate professor of dental hygiene in the Department of Peri-

odontics/Preventive Dentistry, presented the dental hygieneclass of 2008.

Dr. Wilbert Milligan III, associate dean for clinical

affairs and assistant professor in the Department of Diagnos-

tic Sciences, led the administration of the Dental Oath:

I, realizing the privileges and opportunities that have been

given to me in my study of the arts and sciences of dentistry

and appreciating the signicance of the dental diploma to be

conferred upon me, do hereby willingly pledge:

That I will diligently uphold the dignity, honor, and objectives

of the dental profession and, to the best of my ability, will con-

tribute to its prestige, prociency, and progress;

That I solemnly accept my responsibility to the patients to give

them the best of my knowledge and skill, and to maintain an

impeccable relationship with them that will warrant their trust

and condence;

That I will faithfully observe the principles of ethics set forth

by the profession;

That I will lend my inuence and support to dental education, to

organized dentistry, and to all segments of the profession which

will contribute to the fulllment of its purpose.

Dean Braun presented the dental class of 2008 and

was assisted by Dr. Kenneth Etzel, associate dean for student

services and associate professor in the Department of Oral

Biology, and Dr. Dennis N. Ranalli, senior associate dean and

professor in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, read the

graduates names.

8/6/2019 Dental 4939


A lma mater;

Wise and glorious,

Child of light

And bride of truth;

Over fate

And foe victorious,

Dowered with eternal youth;

Crowned with love of

Son and daughter,

Thou shalt conquer As of yore.

Dear old Pittsburgh,

Alma mater,

God preserve

Thee evermore!

Predoctoral students review the program prior to the ceremony.

Dean Braun welcomes students and guests to the diploma ceremony.

Newly graduated Dr. Haley Hawk and Dr. Amanda Badders pose for a photograph.

8/6/2019 Dental 4939


Dental Hygiene Graduation Luncheon

The Dental Hygiene Program held

it’s annual Graduation Luncheon

on May 30th in a conference center

in UPMC’s Bioscience Tower One. Ten

awards were presented to dental hygiene

graduates for various achievements. Dean

Braun, Dr. Dennis Ranalli, senior associatedean, Dr. Stephen Kondis, executive direc-

tor of the Dental Alumni Association, and

Western Pennsylvania Dental Hygiene

Association Outstanding Student Award

Ms. Colleen Calvin and * Ms. Nicole Franks

* Ms. Marta Raffensperger and Ms. Judy Gallagher

Ms. Toni Ambrosino and * Ms. Snjezana Jelaca-Bagic

Ms. Teresa Bezak and * Ms. Snjezana Jelaca-Bagic

Hu-Friedy Golden Scaler Award

Dr. Clark J. Hollister Award for Dental Health

Education

Proctor and Gamble Oral Health Group Dental

Health Education Award

Elliott Brodie Award for

Clinical Competence

Ms. Angelina Riccelli, associate professor

and director of the Dental Hygiene Program

each shared words of encouragement with

the dental hygiene graduates and Ms. Ric-

celli thanked the faculty and staff who sup

port the program. Lunch was served follow-

ing the awards presentation. Awardees are

indicated below with a preceding asterisk.

Ms. Angelina Riccelli and * Ms. Ashley Derby

* Ms. Franks, Ms. Patty Inks, * Ms. Jelaca-Bagic

Sigma Phi Alpha

Ms. Judith Gallagher and * Ms. Katie McDonald

Colgate Student Total Achievement

Recognition

Community Dentistry and Dental

Public Health Award

* Ms. Kiera Perry and Ms. Betty Onik

Allegheny County Health Department Extra

Effort Award

Team Player Award

* Ms. Danielle Piccolo, * Ms. Kelly Holst, Ms. Ambr

sino, * Ms. Julie Miller

Ms. Onik, * Ms. Candace Andrews, Ms. Gallagher

8/6/2019 Dental 4939


N o s ta

l g i c

N o t i o

n srOCk ChAlk

Chant

To support their football colleagues, Pitt dental students

adopted the solemn cadence known as the Rock Chalk. “Rock

Chalk,JayHawk,PittDen-tal!”waschantedatUniversityfunc -

tions, particularly during football games. The chant was a variation

oftheUniversityofKansasyell:“RockChalk,JayHawk,K-U.”

It is believed that the chant was brought to Pitt by Kansas students

who came to study dentistry at the University of Pittsburgh.

The chant became a traditional salute of honor and respectfor individuals and groups. It marked a bonding among Pitt Den-

tal Alumni according to Dean Emeritus Edward J. Forrest, (DMD

‘41).Forexample,whenJockSutherland(Dr.JohnBain“Jock”

Sutherland, former Pitt football player, coach, and dental school

faculty member) became head coach, Dr. Forrest recalls that, “A

Friday 11:00 a.m. pep rallies at the Soldiers and Sailors Memoria

Building,thePittUpperDentalStudents(rst-andsecond-years

would march two-by-two down the winding drive and occupy the

left balcony. When Dr. Sutherland was introduced and the cheering

quieted,hewould turnandraisehishead tothe“dents,”receive

the Rock Chalk, and only then begin his talk. This tradition was

encouragedbythedentalfaculty,whoalsoattended.”

Excerpted from Sutherland, A Biography of Doctor John Bai

“Jock” Sutherland by Dr. Dennis N. Ranalli, senior associate dean

at the School of Dental Medicine. The unpublished text was writ

ten in 1994.

Do you have a Nostalgic Notion that you would like to share? Write to Nostalgic Notions, University of Pittsburgh, School of

Dental Medicine, 444 Salk Hall, 3501 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, Pa 15261 or e-mail Kate Miller, communications specialist,

at [email protected] with story ideas. Submissions may be edited for clarity, length, and style.

Rock Chalk, Jay Hawk, Pitt Den-tal!

Jock Sutherland on the 1917 varsity team

8/6/2019 Dental 4939


8/6/2019 Dental 4939

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/dental-4939 31/32 29

Taking advantage of today’s economy…

Taking advantage of today’s economy is something that is on

manydonorsminds.CanImakeadifference?Doesmynancial

situation allow me to have an impact? Although giving is, at heart,

a philanthropic endeavor, it can also be part of your tax planning,

providing you and your family with various tax incentives and

othernancialbenets.

The philanthropic gifts you want to make to the School

of Dental Medicine are still possible, however an alternate vehicle

may be better suited.This past year has presented new considerations for how

you are managing your wealth, your estate plan, and the best way

to include your philanthropic goals. How the Applicable Federal

Rate (AFR) is set can determine which types of charitable gifts

make the most sense for donors. When the rate is low, as it is

currently at 3.2% in May, 2008, the impact is felt in charitable

remainder annuity trusts, charitable gift annuities, life estates, and

particularly charitable lead trusts. Right now is probably the most

opportunistic time to establish a charitable lead trust. In fact, these

are the best conditions in the past two decades. It is expected that

the low AFR will be in place for the remainder of the year 2008.

What a Charitable Lead Trust can do…

Acharitableleadtrustisonewaytomakeasignican

current gift to a charity while affording the possibility to transfer

assets to heirs free of federal estate and gift tax. This allows a

donor to only disinherit heirs temporarily rather than permanently

deprive them of assets as would be done through an outright be-

quest.

A gift of a charitable lead trust to the School of Dental Medi-

cinecanbenetstudents,programs,andfacultyrecruitment.Tondoutmore, visitwww.pitt.planyourlegacy.org. Ifyouwould

like to speak with someone about giving to the School of Dental

Medicine, please contact Mr. Paul Casey at [email protected]

or 412-383-7544.

Support your alma materand enjoy the

benefits!The University of Pitts-

burgh School of Dental

Medicine is committed

to excellence in education, re-

search and community care.

The school continues in its

mission of providing superior

dental education and training,

as well as high-quality dental

clinical services to the people

of the region. However, the

cost of a dental education

is astounding and can be a

limiting factor to entry into

the profession. Scholar-

ships and awards are of increasing importance to

our students, the school,

and our region.

We need your

help so that access to a den-

tal education is not denied because

ofnancialdifculties.

vvv

8/6/2019 Dental 4939



440 Salk Hall

3501 Terrace Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15261

NonprotOrg.

U.S. Postage

PAID

Pittsburgh, PA

Permit No. 511

Alumni Caedar

August25 GeneralAssembly&WhiteCoatCeremony,ScaifeHall,Auditoriums5&6,3-5p.m

September10 DentalAlumniAssociationExecutiveCommitteeMeeting,Room403,4:45p.m.

DentalAlumniAssociationBoardofDirectorsMeeting,Room457,6p.m.

October16-19 AmericanDentalAssociationAnnualSession,SanAntonio,Texas

October17 DentalAlumniAssociationReceptionatADAAnnualSession,GrandHyattHotel

CrockettRoomC/D,5-7p.m.

October23 PathwaystoProfessions:ACareerNetworkingEvent,AlumniHall,6-8p.m.

October24 HomecomingContinuingDentalEducationCourse,EdwardJ.ForrestContinuing

EducationCenter,8:30a.m.-3:30p.m.

DentalAlumniAssociationReceptionandTours,RoomTBA,3:30-5p.m.

PittAlumniAssociationReception,AlumniHall,TimeTBA

October25 Pittvs.RutgersHomecomingFootballGame,HeinzField,TimeTBA

December10 AlumniAssociationExecutiveCommitteeMeeting,Room430,4:45p.m.

AlumniAssociationBoardofDirectorsMeeting,Room457,6p.m.

February21,2009 SAVETHEDATE!–WinterAcademy,TheRitz-CarltonResortandBeachClub,

Naples,Florida

dental 4939

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