| | Dean's Message
I hope you have all taken time to yourselves to rest and recharge for the upcoming academic year. Even though the volume of patients has diminished over the last several weeks due to the break for our DDS students, we have continued to provide high-quality dental care to patients thanks to our outstanding faculty members who remain to committed to patient care. Soon enough, our building and clinics will be full of eager students driven to expand their dental knowledge. Speaking of students, we have welcomed a new group of graduate students and residents to our college. We are excited to see what you will accomplish in Iowa City! I hope to run into you around the DSB. Cheers! ~Clark Stanford | | | Updates for July 26, 2024–August 1, 2024 | | | | Welcome to our new residents and graduate students Earlier this month, the UI College of Dentistry welcomed a new group of residents and graduate students to the Dental Science Building. Whether you see a familiar or new face around the building, be sure to say hi and welcome them to the college! | | | Peter Damiano, the Bernstein Endowed Professor of Preventive and Community Dentistry, was named a Co-Chair of the Advisory Board for the University of Iowa Center for Human Rights (UICHR). The UICHR Board supports and provides input on the Center's teaching, public programing, and scholarship. | | | | Get to know: new Assistant Dean of Education Dharini van der Hoeven Birthplace: A hospital of course!! Just kidding……I was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Family: My husband, Ransome; our two children, Kiran, who is 13, and Aanya, who is 9; our two fur babies, Rocco and Nibbles; Blue, the Beta fish; and Jerry, the snail.
Most interesting place ever visited: Peggy’s Cove in Nova Scotia. Although I lived in Halifax for 2 years, I had visited Peggy’s Cove only once and was mesmerized by its coastal scenery with rugged granite cliffs, picturesque fishing village, and the iconic Peggy's Point Lighthouse.
Recent good book and why: “Start with why” by Simon Sinek. Sinek's central thesis revolves around the idea that the most successful individuals and organizations start with a clear understanding of their "why" — their purpose, cause, or belief that inspires them. His view that clarity of purpose not only motivates action but also attracts like-minded individuals resonated with me.
Secret talent: Wiggling ears without touching them!!
Favorite hobby/non-work activity: Drawing is my passion, particularly sketching animals—whether they have scales, feathers, or wrinkles. I relish the challenge of capturing intricate details in my art.
Pet peeve: Noisy chewing.
In another life, I might have had a career as: An artist. Who knows? In that alternate reality, maybe my sketches and paintings would now adorn gallery walls, renowned around the world. I can dream, can't I?
Favorite place in Iowa City so far: Well, let's just say amidst the thrill of setting up the house (and practically becoming BFFs with the Coralville recycling center's cardboard box disposal crew), conquering the Iowa DMV, and achieving pet permit victory (rock on!), our sightseeing ambitions have taken an unexpected detour! However, I've truly admired the gorgeous wildflowers around Iowa City and enjoyed dining at a few great restaurants.
Favorite quote: “Non scholae sed vitae discimus” - Not for school but for life we learn has been the basis of my teaching philosophy. Another quote that recently caught my attention is “I need to listen well so that I hear what is not said.” — Thuli Madonsela | | | Undergraduate students participate in 2024 SHPEP This summer, undergraduate students participated in the UI College of Dentistry’s Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP), a free summer enrichment program focused on improving access to information and resources for students interested in health professions. Students performed hands-on activities in the Sim Clinic, including making a dental impression, waxing a tooth and placing a composite in plastic teeth. | | | | Ganesan invited to International Academy of Periodontology Research Conference From June 23-25, the International Academy of Periodontology Research Conference was hosted at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Sukirth Ganesan, associate professor and director of the advanced education program in the Department of Periodontics, was one of 80 participants invited from around the globe to join the conference. The event featured state-of-the-art research, encouraging new scientific collaborations, and new directions for periodontics research. | | | UI College of Dentistry grad Erin Sheffield ('09 DDS, '14 OS) was featured on Doctors & Dollars Podcast where she shared her journey to becoming an oral surgeon, how she balances motherhood and her career, and more. | | Events
August 2, Prospective DDS Student Interview Day
August 8, Prospective DDS Student Interview Day
August 14, Prospective DDS Student Interview Day
August 29, Prospective DDS Student Interview Day
September 6, Chew on This: Emerging Trends in Pediatric Dental Care CE course, 8:00 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
September 7, Guided Bone Regeneration in the Age of Digital Dentistry and Homecare Dental Products: Facts vs Fads CE Course, 8:00 a.m. -- 10:00 a.m.
September 7, Pregame Social Tailgate, Iowa vs Iowa State, Behind the DSB, 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. RSVP here
September 13, Prospective DDS Student Interview Day
September 13-14, Dentistry Alumni Reunion Weekend (years ending in 4s and 9s)
September 14, Selection Criteria, Shielding and Current Guidelines in Radiation Protection CE Course, 8:00 a.m. -- 10:00 a.m.
September 14, Pregame Social Tailgate, Iowa vs Troy, Behind the DSB, 12:00 p.m. - 3 p.m.
RSVP here
September 19, Prospective DDS Student Interview Day
September 30, Prospective DDS Student Interview Day
October 4-5, Iowa Mission of Mercy (IMOM), Sioux City, Iowa, Tyson Events Center
October 11, Endodontics Professional Program CE Course, 8:45 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
October 12, 1st: Oral Ulceration with Bone Sequestration; 2nd: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): Considerations and Treatment Options for Patients in Your Private Practice; and 3rd; Managing and Referring Patients with XIX/DMP Insurance CE Course, 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
October 18, Prospective DDS Student Interview Day
October 25, Let's Talk About Weed - Marijuana's Impact on Dental care CE Course, 8:30 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.
October 26, Pregame Social Tailgate, Iowa vs Northwestern, Behind the DSB, 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. RSVP here
October 30, Prospective DDS Student Interview Day (Virtual)
November 7, Prospective DDS Student Interview Day
Notes and Resources
Filling Station Menu
Hours: M-R: 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; F: 7:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
The Hawkeye Smile banner image shows dental students posing for a photo at the UI College of Dentistry's 2024 Commencement Ceremony inside Hancher Auditorium. | | | |
