Dean's Message

After an exciting reunion weekend and faculty and staff retreats this past week, I wanted to take a moment to highlight why we do what we do. As dental professionals, we are committed to promoting the wellbeing and health care of our patients. Providing excellent patient care is the goal that each of us are striving toward—whether it is our alumni, our dentists, our support staff, our research, our residents and graduate students, or our dental students. Each of us is jointly working toward improving the oral health care of our patients, some of us directly and some indirectly. Let's work together as we strive toward that common goal.  Cheers! ~Clark Stanford

Updates for September 23, 2022–September 29, 2022

2022 Dental Alumnus of the Year: Rebecca L. Slayton, D.D.S., M.S., Ph.D.

Rebecca Slayton (’92 DDS, ’98 PEDO, ’98 PhD) started dental school at Iowa knowing that she wanted to be an academic. She earned her DDS, certificate in pediatric dentistry, and PhD in genetics at Iowa. With this training in hand, she went on to become a leader in pediatric dentistry at Iowa, the Oregon Health & Science University, and the University of Washington for almost 20 years. Rebecca Slayton’s passion for and dedication to serving others in her field of pediatric dentistry has made a profound difference at each of these institutions and to pediatric dentistry more generally. She has influenced countless patients, students, and faculty members through her efforts. It is, thus, with great pleasure that the University of Iowa Dental Alumni Association and the College of Dentistry recognize Rebecca Slayton as the 2022 Alumnus of the Year. 

Mike Callan receives 2021 Humanitarian Award

The American Association of Orthodontists presented the 2021 Humanitarian Award to Mike Callan, clinical assistant professor of orthodontics at the University of Iowa. The award recognizes Callan’s significant contributions to improve the quality of human life that extend beyond the usual scope of his private practice, academic functions, or organized dentistry.

Dean Stanford receives President's Award

Clark Stanford, dean of the University of Iowa College of Dentistry, received the 2022 President’s Award from the Illinois State Dental Society recognizing his special contributions to dentistry and the dental profession. Before coming to Iowa as dean, Stanford served as dean of the University of Illinois-Chicago College of Dentistry. 

Did you know that American Gothic has an alumnus in it?

Byron McKeeby (1894 DDS) was the man wielding a pitchfork in Grant Wood's American Gothic portrait. McKeeby was Grant Wood's Iowa-educated dentist in Cedar Rapids.

The College of Dentistry welcomes Christopher Kepros

The College of Dentistry welcomes Riley Stevenson

Riley Stevenson is a new student employee. Riley is an undergraduate student at Iowa and on the pre-dental track. Outside of class, she enjoys working out at the Fieldhouse and watching Hawkeye sports!

Orthodontics Spotlight: Mike Callan

Although it is great to be recognized by external organizations, it also means a great deal to be respected by your peers who work with you day in and day out. With his recognition for the Humanitarian award from the American Association of Orthodontists, we also wanted to highlight what Mike Callan's colleagues in orthodontics said about him—both as an orthodontist and as a person. 

In response to the American Association Association of Orthodontists video about Tom Southard receiving the Jarabak award, Jim Woods commented that the award was well-deserved!

Collaborative and innovative research

Remy MT, Ding Q, Krongbaramee T, Hu J, Mora Mata AV, Haes AJ, Amendt BA, Sun H, Buchakjian MR, Hong L. Plasmid encoding miRNA-200c delivered by CaCO₃-based nanoparticles enhances rat alveolar bone formation. Nanomedicine (Lond). 2022 Sep 20. doi: 10.2217/nnm-2022-0151. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36125080.

The restoration of craniofacial bone defects is surgically complex and requires the combined use of bone grafts and regenerative biomaterials. miRNAs are small biomolecules that have been shown to improve bone regeneration in large bone defects. The aim of this work was to develop a nanoparticle-based delivery system to sustain the release of miRNAs to improve the restoration of craniofacial bone defects. The results of this study demonstrated that CaCO₃ nanoparticles extend the delivery of miRNAs to enhance bone formation in a craniofacial bone defect animal model in a therapeutically safe manner that improves upon conventional nanoparticle materials for bone regeneration. The findings attest to the regenerative properties of miRNAs and further indicate the potential application of CaCO₃-based nanoparticles in restoring large bone defects.

Hawkeye history: First Latinx Dental Graduate

In 1913, the University of Iowa College of Dentistry had our first Latinx graduate. Aciscol Bravo Guevera was from Puerto Rico, and he returned to pursue dentistry in Puerto Rico after he graduated. Guevera was one of 6 graduates that year who went "beyond the boundaries of the state" when he went back to "Porto Rico" according to the 1913 Iowa Alumnus, the alumni magazine for the University of Iowa at the time. 

Events

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 11, Sriram Ravindran, “Engineering and Delivery of MSC Exosomes for Bone Repair," hosted by Clark Stanford, Galagan B, 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.

October 14, Fall 2022 Interview Day for Prospective DDS Students

October 18, Bruno Lima, “Investigating Streptococcus gordonii surface protein regulation and biofilm formation," hosted by Cristina Vidal, Galagan B, 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.

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 8, Shillpa Naavaal, “Oral Health and Pregnancy: Role of Programs, Policies, and Practices in Supporting Women's Oral Health and Overall Health," hosted by Julie Reynolds, via Zoom only, 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.

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.
Closed Tuesday, September 20

The banner Hawkeye Smile image shows Herky with Austen Hawthorne, the revenue cycle manager in the dental business office.