College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics

Dean's Message

Welcome to our new D1 students! You completed your D1 orientation yesterday, and we are so glad that you are here. We know it is an accomplishment just to make it this far. Yet you have so much to look forward to—forging new and long-lasting friendships, learning and growing as a person and a dentist, donning your white coat and serving your first patients later this academic year, and ultimately becoming independent, competent dentists ready to make us proud! As I told you in person, that last part is a little intimidating! We hope you have felt the characteristic Hawkeye welcome, and we look forward to being a small part of each of your journeys. Thank you to our our admissions and student affairs offices for organizing this week's orientation. Cheers! ~Clark Stanford

D1 students

Updates for August 19, 2022–August 25, 2022

Clark Stanford presenting Kyungsup Shin with the McLeran Award

Kyungsup Shin receives McLeran award

At the All-College Meeting on August 15, Kyungsup Shin was presented with the James H. and Hermine E. McLeran Faculty Award. Whether in research, teaching, or orthodontics care, Kyungsup Shin is committed to helping his students achieve their highest potential as he also offers and teaches patient-centered care and patient-centered clinical research.

Video showing pediatric dentistry participants

Pediatric dentists perform back-to-school screenings at Servolution

Each year, pediatric dentistry residents participate in back-to-school events before schools start locally in Iowa City and the surrounding area. This year, more than 100 children got a free dental screening on Wednesday evening, August 17, at the Coralville LIFEchurch. All dental screenings were done by University of Iowa's first-year pediatric dentistry students. Cathy Skowtowski, clinical associate professor of pediatric dentistry, organized the efforts. The residents provided dental screenings and applied fluoride treatments. Other services, including hair cuts, eye exam, backpacks, etc. were available as well. You can see CBS's coverage of the event by following the link.

Dentistry faculty receives industry-sponsored grant to evaluate a new 2-step universal adhesive

The Japanese company, GC Corporation, awarded Akimasa Tsujimoto a grant to investigate evaluate the fatigue bond strength to enamel and dentin of their new 2-step universal adhesive comparing it to other representative adhesives. This project shows the value of industry-academic partnerships to meet industry needs and improve clinical practices.

ADA council: Maintaining optimal fluoride levels important in face of additive shortage

Steven Levy is a national expert on fluoride and water fluoridation. He was recently interviewed for an article on a lack of water fluoridation supplies. An excerpt from the article is below:

"Steven M. Levy, D.D.S, the Wright-Bush Shreves Professor of Research and graduate program associate director of dental public health in the University of Iowa’s College of Public Health, said that studies have shown that cessation of community water fluoridation leads to more tooth decay in those communities. Dr. Levy had heard that the situation is more of a transportation issue than an actual product shortage issue, with sodium fluoride—like many other products — being a casualty of COVID-19 supply chain issues."

The College of Dentistry welcomes Kalei Strabala

Kalei Strabala is a new Support Service Specialist at the College of Dentistry. She is working both in the Geriatrics and Special Needs Clinic and in the Endodontics Clinic. Kalei comes to us from the UIHC Orthopedic Work Injury Recovery Center. She was born and raised in the Coralville/Iowa City area and got her bachelor's degree from Upper Iowa University. She majored in Human Services and minored in both Biology and Psychology. Kalei is excited to be joining us and already feels like a part of the team.

The College of Dentistry welcomes Lily Koufer

Lily Koufer is a new support services specialist that will be working in admissions. She has previously worked at Guidelink in Iowa City, the LBJ Presidential Library and Museum in Austin, Texas, and interned at the College of Dentistry as a social work intern. She lives with her cat, Josie, and likes to roller skate in her free time. She is excited to be back at the College if Dentistry!

Collaborative and innovative research

Wongpattaraworakul W, Gibson-Corley KN, Choi A, Buchakjian MR, Lanzel EA, Rajan Kd A, Simons AL. Prognostic Role of Combined EGFR and Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Front Oncol. 2022 Jul 25;12:885236. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.885236. PMID: 35957892; PMCID: PMC9357911.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a general prognostic biomarker for head and neck tumors, but its prognostic value of EGFR in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is controversial. As immunotherapy has become central to cancer therapy, immune biomarkers are especially helpful to give an indication of the immune responses of a person. Expression of T cell markers is one such biomarker. The research team rfound that expression of pan-T cells was more effective than other forms of T-cells at improving the prognostic value of EGFG in OSCC patients. This project lays the groundwork for additional studies that if successful will have an important impact on potential treatment options for EGFR patients, who generally have poor clinical outcomes.

Hawkeye legends: Tom Huff ('67 DDS) inducted into Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame

Tom Huff ('67 DDS), an associate professor in prosthodontics for five years in the 1990s, was a 2022 Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee. There aren't many people that have pinned Dan Gable, but he was one of them. Read in his own words (p. 52) how he did so:

"Next I had to wrestle Gable for the chance to finish and and be invited to the Alamosa Camp. Now this was more than just another match - both of us being from Waterloo and all. For years Iowa fans were asking, Wonder who would win a Huff-Gable match?' We were both big deals in our careers at Waterloo West and then in college, even though I never won the NCAAs. Anyway, I was about six years Dan's senior and my pride wouldn't let me lose to an up-and-coming guy who was just a college sophomore. I took Dan down with my fireman's in the opening seconds and had him on his back but we went off the mat. Back up on our feet, I took him down again - this time in the center of the mat - and put him straight on his back His body got locked with his shoulders pinned and he didn't have a chance to bridge or turn. I didn't even have time to put in a half-nelson. He was pinned in just over a minute into the match. I had earned a trip to the Finals Camp in Alamosa."

Events

August 26, Fall 2022 Interview Day for Prospective DDS Students

September 8, Fall 2022 Interview Day for Prospective DDS Students

September 9, CE Course: Olin Family Visiting Lectureship, Peter Nordland, Utilization of Periodontal Plastic Surgery to Assist in the Esthetic Outcome.

September 10, Pregame Professional Program, Iowa v. Iowa State.

September 15, Fall 2022 Interview Day for Prospective DDS Students

September 16, Fall Meeting for the Dental Student Research Group, Galagans A, 12:00 p.m.

September 16, Alumni Reunion Weekend Reunion and CE-Classes Ending in 2s and 7s (details forthcoming)

September 17, Pregame Professional Program, Iowa v. Nevada (University Family Weekend)

September 17, Alumni Weekend Tailgate, Iowa v. Nevada

September 23, Fall 2022 Interview Day for Prospective DDS Students

September 30, CE Course: Elevating Patient-Centered Restorative Care: Integrating Technology and Biology to Optimize Outcomes

October 1, Pregame Professional Program (Michigan)

October 1, Alumni Tailgate, Iowa v Michigan

October 3, Fall 2022 Interview Day for Prospective DDS Students

October 14, Fall 2022 Interview Day for Prospective DDS Students

October 21, Fall 2022 Interview Day for Prospective DDS Students

October 28, CE Course: Pediatric Dentistry Legends in the Fall

October 29, Pregame Professional Program (Northwestern/University Homecoming)

October 29, Alumni Tailgate, Iowa v. Northwestern (University Homecoming)

November 4-5, Iowa Mission of Mercy, Des Moines

November 11, Fall 2022 Interview Day for Prospective DDS Students

November 11, CE Course: A Full Day Endodontic Experience

November 12, Pregame Professional Program (Wisconsin)

November 16, Virtual Fall 2022 Interview Day for Prospective DDS Students

Notes and Resources

Lend a helping hand. Due to medical issues, Stacey Jones has exhausted her sick leave and vacation. If you would like to help Stacey by contributing vacation time, please go to the following website: CAT Leave, and click on “Catastrophic Leave Donation Form.”

Filling Station Menu

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 Melika Farshad, an associate in clinic administration and patient care, with Herky. You can learn more about one of her projects WeMigrate on the College of Dentistry website.