Touro College of Dental Medicine Students Bring Dental Care to Remote Areas on Second Trip to India

A second cohort of six third-year dental students from the Touro College of Dental Medicine (TCDM), representing campuses in New York and New Mexico, traveled to Mukata, Maharashtra, India—a remote area five hours north of Mumbai with extremely limited access to dental care. TCDM faculty member Dr. Robert Weber accompanied the group.

Working in partnership with the local NGO Gabriel Project Mumbai, the team set up a temporary clinic in an unused building and provided screenings and emergency dental care over three days. Services included extractions, scaling, restorative procedures, and diagnostic care for patients suffering from severe and long-neglected dental conditions. The building had no lights, suction or water, with sparse electricity and the team relied on portable chairs, sterilized instruments, and headlamps for light. Many patients arrived in significant pain, often with severely decayed or broken teeth. For most, it was their first encounter with dental care.

Dr. Weber said the experience pushes students beyond what traditional clinical settings can offer. “There’s no other environment where they’re dropped into a situation like this and have to make it work,” he said. “They learn quickly—and they learn together.”

Following this trip’s success, TCDM’s Office of Global Health and Community Outreach, a division of Touro University, looks forward to expanding its global health mission trips in 2026 and beyond.

Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine: A Record-Setting Day of Research and Discovery

Advancing innovation and expanding the frontiers of dental science, Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine (SDM) held its annual Research Symposium on March 3 at Stony Brook University’s Student Activities Center (SAC). A record 54 presenters— including undergraduates, dental students, residents, as well as master’s and PhD candidates—shared original research spanning a wide range of disciplines. Read more.

Student & Alumni News

University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine: Young Visitors All Grins During Fun, Interactive ‘Give Kids A Smile’ Event

Getting a dental exam is infinitely more enjoyable when it comes with a brightly colored stuffed animal to hold, glow rings and stickers to take home, and loads of reassurance from smiling dental students. Forty-eight young children from three Buffalo schools got that very experience on Feb. 6 during the 25th annual “Give Kids A Smile” (GKAS) event hosted by the School of Dental Medicine. Read more.

Columbia University College of Dental Medicine: Alumna Adele Della Torre Honored With Betty Hubbard Maternal and Child Health Leadership Award

Columbia University College of Dental Medicine alumna Adele Della Torre, DDS’81, has been named a recipient of the Betty Hubbard Maternal and Child Health Leadership Award, a statewide honor presented by the Minnesota Department of Health, recognizing individuals whose work has made a lasting impact on the health and well-being of women and children. Read more.

Research

NYU College of Dentistry: Children With Crohn’s Have Distinct Gut Bacteria from Kids with Other Digestive Disorders

New research led by Dr. Deepak Saxena, professor of molecular pathobiology and director of research innovation and entrepreneurship, identifies a unique microbial pattern in children with Crohn’s disease. The study, published in the journal Physiological Reports, finds higher levels of pro-inflammatory bacteria and fewer protective microbes compared with children who have other gastrointestinal conditions.

The findings suggest that analyzing the gut microbiome could help improve diagnosis, monitor disease severity, and guide personalized treatment strategies for pediatric Crohn’s disease. Read more.

University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine: Study Shows That Key Protein Can Slow Aging

The United States is a rapidly aging country. By the year 2050, nearly 1 in 4 Americans will be 65 or older, and many will live into their 90s and beyond. This leads to health care and social support concerns and also begs the question: What is the quality of life in those later years? Read more.

Faculty News & Grants

Eastman Institute For Oral Health, University of Rochester: EIOH’s 2026 Conferences Bring Leading Experts and Emerging Science to Dental Professionals

From its early commitment to interdisciplinary care to its nationally recognized continuing education programs, Eastman Institute for Oral Health has built a reputation for delivering clinically relevant, research-driven learning experiences that translate directly into better patient outcomes. In 2026, that legacy continues with a collection of impactful conferences designed to equip dental professionals for the evolving demands of modern practice. Read more.

NYU College of Dentistry Holds Third Faculty Leadership Institute

From Wednesday to Friday, January 22nd to 24th, 13 full-time faculty members participated in the College’s third Faculty Leadership Institute, an initiative of the NYU Dentistry Center for Oral Health Policy and Management. Participants in the intensive leadership program explored practical strategies for career advancement and were provided tools to navigate internal and external opportunities and confidently step into new leadership positions. Read more.

Columbia University College of Dental Medicine: CDM Receives Dalio Center Grant to Launch Boca Sana – Keeping Northern Manhattan Children Healthy at Home

The Columbia University College of Dental Medicine has been awarded a new grant from the Dalio Center for Health Justice to launch Boca Sana: Keeping Northern Manhattan Children Healthy at Home, an ambitious, community-centered initiative designed to break the cycle of untreated dental disease among low-income children in Washington Heights and surrounding neighborhoods. Read more.

More News

NYU College of Dentistry PROHmotion Blog: “Keeping Up with AI”

The latest NYU Dentistry PROHmotion blog post continues the conversation regarding the ways in which dental educators and health professionals are beginning to navigate the AI-infused reality that is quickly impacting practice. Read more.

Eastman Institute For Oral Health, University of Rochester: From Fear to Purpose – Finding His Calling at Eastman

Brian Dewind’s story begins with cleaning supplies, quiet hallways, and completing his work when most people aren’t watching. For years, Brian built a cleaning business that later carried him into Eastman Institute for Oral Health, a seven-story building that has more than twice the traffic it was originally designed for. Read more.