Highlights
NYU College of Dentistry: VA Selects NYU Dentistry as a Site to Address Gap in Dental Services for Veterans
New York University College of Dentistry (NYU Dentistry) has been selected by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement its new initiative, Veterans Oral Care Access Resource (VOCARE), as part of VA’s VETSmile pilot program. VETSmile/VOCARE began July 1 in partnership with the VA New York Harbor Healthcare System, and seeks to provide comprehensive dental services to Veterans in the New York City area who are not eligible to receive those services through the VA. Read more.
University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine: Dental Implant Surfaces Play Major Role in Tissue Attachment, Warding Off Unwanted Bacteria
When dental implants are inserted, saliva or blood plasma immediately coat them. The implants adsorb a thin layer of proteins from these fluids that help gum tissue attach, but also allow microorganisms – including potentially harmful bacteria – to grow on the implant surface. The surface of implants, as well as other medical devices, plays a significant role in the adsorption of oral proteins and the colonization by unwanted microorganisms (a process known as biofouling), according to a new study led by the University at Buffalo and the University of Regensburg. Read more.
Education & Training
Columbia University College of Dental Medicine: “You Belong Here”: Class of 2025 Joins Dental School “Family”
The 84 women and men of Columbia University College of Dental Medicine’s incoming class gathered on Aug. 20 for the school’s annual White Coat Ceremony, the formal launch of their dental education. The event welcomes new students and delineates the responsibilities of a health care professional. During the ceremony, each student ascends the stage and slides on an embroidered white coat with the assistance of a faculty member. When the donning is complete, the class reads the Oath for the Profession, committing to compassionate and ethical care. Read more.
Touro Dental Health Partners with NYMC OMFS Training Program
In an exciting, new collaboration, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residents from New York Medical College will now rotate in our Touro Dental Health’s Oral Surgery Clinic. In this collaboration, third-year NYMC OMFS Residents from the well-respected, four-year training program will provide care to TDH patients under the supervision of our surgical and anesthesia faculty. These Residents will further their experience in patient management and many procedures, including non-surgical and surgical extractions of erupted and impacted teeth, pre-prosthetic surgery, biopsies, and more. Additionally, this collaboration will enhance the care of TDH patients, allowing for easier referral and coordination of care for our patients requiring hospital-based surgical care. Rotations are set to begin this week.
Research
Eastman Institute For Oral Health, University of Rochester: Dry Mouth and Medication – EIOH to Study the Connection
Dry mouth is the most frequent side effect of medications taken by adults and can lead to aggressive and rampant decay, quickly destroying teeth. Evaluating the correlation between a person’s medications and oral health is the goal of a new study awarded to Szilvia Arany, D.M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor with Eastman Institute for Oral Health. Read more.
Faculty News
Columbia University College of Dental Medicine: Dennis Mitchell Named Columbia’s EVP for University Life
Dennis Mitchell has dedicated his life to the values of access and excellence. He also knows how to get things done. Under his leadership, Columbia’s College of Dental Medicine has increased its share of historically marginalized students by a factor of seven. As a Vice Provost, he has helped steward a transformative investment of more than $185 million for faculty diversity and advancement efforts. His latest move puts him at the head of University Life, working to deepen and expand its programs and initiatives in service of enhancing the student experience by engaging with them on the issues that matter most. Read more.
Touro College of Dental Medicine Receives Full Accreditation
Starting the first dental school in New York state in over 50 years was daunting…Ronnie Myers DDS, dean said, “We could not be more proud of all the students, staff and faculty who made this dream a reality. From an empty shell of an old building to a family of 440 students, 90 faculty, 60 staff, 200 patients a day, and a clinical facility that is second-to-none. In the years to come we look forward to growing our patient care programs, research endeavors, and new innovative academic initiatives.”
University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine: Dental, Civil Engineering Programs Among Top 10 in Nation, According to Shanghai Rankings
University at Buffalo programs in dentistry and civil engineering are among the top 10 in the United States, according to the 2021 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects by the Shanghai Ranking Consultancy. The rankings, regarded as one of the most prestigious and influential global rankings in higher education, place programs offered by UB’s School of Dental Medicine at No. 8 in the nation and No. 9 worldwide. Read more.
Awards and Grants
NYU College of Dentistry’s Saturday Academy Honored With INSIGHT Into Diversity’s 2021 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award
NYU College of Dentistry’s Saturday Academy has been named a recipient of the 2021 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the largest and oldest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education. The Inspiring Programs in STEM Award honors colleges and universities that encourage and assist students from underrepresented groups to enter the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Read more.
NYU College of Dentistry’s Dr. Aditi Bhattacharya Awarded NIH Grant to Study Oral Cancer Pain
Aditi Bhattacharya, BDS, MDS, PhD, has been awarded a two- year grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study oral cancer pain. Dr. Bhattacharya, an assistant professor in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and the Bluestone Center for Clinical Research, will investigate the role of the transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) channel in oral cancer pain. TRPA1 is a member of the TRP family of ion channels, which serve as molecular sensors on a variety of cell types, including neurons. Read more.
Touro College of Dental Medicine: North American Dental Group Awards Scholarships to Support Oral Health Students at the Touro College of Dental Medicine
Five dental students, soon to embark on careers as oral health professionals, have been named recipients of an inaugural scholarship program established this year by North American Dental Group (NADG). NADG, a leading dental support organization affiliated with 250 dental practices across 15 states, handed out scholarships in June to fourth-year students at Touro College of Dental Medicine at New York Medical College (TCDM). The students were selected by TCDM faculty based on financial need, academic performance, and for showing values closely aligned with NADG’s empathetic culture and drive for innovation in dentistry. Read more.