| | Dean's Message
I am continually impressed at the impact that our college has. From our students who will go on to practice dentistry, many of them in Iowa, to our alumni who are changing the lives of countless patients and the dental profession along with it. From our faculty and staff who are dedicated to serving our students and our patients to our life-changing research discovery that transforms dentistry. And I also appreciate the everyday acts of kindness in our collegiate community. Your actions make a difference in the lives of so many. Know that I and many others see this, and we appreciate you. Please take the time to express what you appreciate and tell others how you've been impacted by fellow students, colleagues, faculty, staff, residents, and our alumni. Recognizing others can make a profound difference, especially given how easy it is to lose sight of how important you are. ~Clark Stanford | | | Updates for January 20, 2022–January 26, 2022 | | | | Steven "Steve" Vercande, a longtime staff member in the Department of Prosthodontics, passed away on January 18, 2023. He leaves a deep and abiding legacy at the college and the entire dental profession in Iowa. He will be missed. Information about arrangements are available on the College of Dentistry website.. | | | In December, the 2022 Freestyle World Cup for wrestling, which included male and female wrestlers competing for the first time in history, was held in Coralville. Wrestlers from all over the world competed, including a contingent from Iran. In Iran, wrestling is a national sport, and like the Soccer World Cup, many Iranians showed up to protest the subjugation and oppression of women in Iran, including our own Melika Farshad (shown with her black mask on in the photo), an associate in Clinical Administration and Patient Care.
Unlike the Soccer World Cup, however, the Iranian competitors were not participants in calling for change. Farshad was one of many Iranians protesting the government at the event, and she was interviewed by Voice of America. The decision to participate by Farshad was not without risks as the Iranian government has been targeting critics and their families in Iran. Numerous news organizations, including the Gazette, discussed the protests.
“For me, this past weekend was the first time in my life that I was a proud ‘Iranian’ unashamed to say it out loud rather than just identifying myself as ‘Persian’ to disassociate myself from the horrible acts of the Iranian regime,” Farshad said. | | | | Cyrus Mansouri is a fourth-year dental student from Wheeling, IL, and his research mentors are Izzie Wang, associate professor of periodontics, Hongli Sun, associate professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery, and Emilio Couso-Queiruga, a fellow the the University of Bern School of Dental Medicine.
Mansouri's research investigates how how dentists can preserve and/or regenerate bone and mucosa around teeth and dental implants. He began conducting research after his first year of dental school, and it opened doors for him in dentistry and academia. Mansouri will attend LSU Health New Orleans School of Dentistry for a three-year residency training in periodontics after he graduates. | | | Mary Young is a third-year dental student from Iowa City, and her research mentor is Azeez Butali, professor of oral pathology, radiology, and medicine, and her advisor is Teresa Marshall, professor of preventive and community dentistry.
This past summer, Mary had a research internship at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland where she worked on developing a novel tool to investigate neural crest cell fate decisions.
As for her future plans, Young says, "I am passionate about a lifetime commitment to evidence-based care, as new discoveries made can alleviate and even prevent diseases in years to come, leading to better clinical dentistry and improved patient care." | | | | Human Rights Week: MLK, Jr. Documentary The DEI Office will host a viewing of a Martin Luther King, Jr. documentary, with video segments highlighting aspects from Dr. King's life, today Friday, January 20 at 12:00–1:00 pm in Galagan C. Lunch will be served. | | | Cocoa, Coffee, and Conversations for Unity Week UI Unity Week is a campus-wide effort celebrating our welcoming and inclusive culture over the past year while looking ahead at the year to come.
The College of Dentistry’s International Affairs and Planning Committee, the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and the Staff Development Committee invite everyone to attend “Cocoa, Coffee, and Conversations” on Friday, January 27 from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm in W220B. Stop by for a cup of hot chocolate or coffee and a dessert. Feel free to bring your lunch and stay for a while! Catch up with old friends or meet someone new.
This event is for all students, residents, staff, and faculty. | | | | Each Hawkeye is unique and has a different set of needs. Hawkeyes know that we all grow best by supporting and helping one another. | | | Pedro Hsieh's review: "Dr. Sandra Cunha was very friendly, extremely attentive. She gave careful detailed explanation about the steps of treatment, its risks and benefits. Short waiting time. Reception greeting was great. I shall recommend The University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics without any reservations." | | | | Jurado CA, Afrashtehfar KI, Hyer J, Alhotan A. Effect of sintering on the translucency of CAD-CAM lithium disilicate restorations: a comparative in vitro study. J Prosthodont. 2023 Jan 7. doi: 10.1111/jopr.13644. PMID: 36609993.
This study was intended to generate independent data on the translucency of novel pre and fully sintered chair-side computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) lithium disilicate. The research team found that the translucency of chairside lithium disilicate single-unit full-coverage restorations manufactured with subtractive technology was significantly influenced by the brand and the number of sintering processes. More specifically, the traditional presintered IPS e.max CAD and the fully crystallized glass-ceramic n!ce Straumann considerably increased the translucency after one additional firing process, whereas Amber Mill decreased its translucency. | | | "Statistics show that two-thirds of the people in the United States needing dental care are not receiving it and that there are only enough dental practitioners to serve only half the population.
Present dentistry quarters are crowded and put a limit on the number of students who can be admitted to the College. The crowded conditions also put stress on students who are admitted.
With the pressing need for dentists, the College of Dentistry is eagerly anticipating construction of a $12.4 million Dental Science Building.
The new building will be large enough to accommodate the growing enrollment and at the same time provide adequate research and office space.
Donald Galagan, dean of the College, said the building would update the present training facilities for dentists, dental hygienists, and dental technicians.
In addition to the classroom training and experience, students in dentistry have the opportunity to learn in clinical situations and to tend to patients in eight public clinics operated by the University. Dental students also do service projects such as caring for the teeth of migrants' children." | | Events
January 20, Human Rights Week Martin Luther King, Jr. Documentary Viewing, Galagan C, 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
January 20, Dental Alumni Reception in conjunction with the Rocky Mountain Dental Convention, Maggiano’s Little Italy at Denver Pavillions, Denver, CO, 5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.
January 24, Seminars in Dental Research: David Johnsen, "The research side of critical thinking implementation for dental students from theory to practice," hosted by Eric Van Otterloo, Galagan B, 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
January 31, Seminars in Dental Research: Afsar Naqvi, "Viruses in Periodontal Disease Pathogenesis," hosted by Juhi Uttamani, W220A/B, 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
February 24, Dental Alumni Reception in conjunction with the Chicago Mid-Winter Meeting, Blackstone Hotel, Chicago, IL, 5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
May 5, Dental Alumni Reception in conjunction with IDA Annual Meeting, Cedar Rapids, IA, 4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
September 15-16, Dentistry Alumni Reunion Weekend
Notes and Resources
Lend a helping hand. Due to family caregiving needs, Alanna Keating has exhausted her sick leave and vacation. If you would like to help Alanna by contributing vacation time, please go to the following website: CAT Leave, and click on “Catastrophic Leave Donation Form.”
M-R: 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; F: 7:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
The banner Hawkeye Smile image shows Herky with Amanda Shoemaker, the director of alumni relations and continuing education. | | | |
