College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics

Dean's Message

It was wonderful seeing some of our alumni this past weekend at the Hawkeye game, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of you during our reunion weekend next weekend, September 15-16. We would love to reconnect with our alumni. especially those with class years ending in 3s and 8s. We hope you will join us to get in a few CE courses in, enjoy some time with good friends and classmates, and cheer on the Hawkeyes. Cheers! ~Clark Stanford

Updates for September 8, 2023–September 13, 2023

Sara Miller and Azeez Butali receiving their awards

Iowa faculty and staff receive research awards

Early this week, the Office of the Vice President for Research presented 2023 Discovery and Innovation Awards to Azeez Butali, professor of oral pathology, radiology, and medicine in the Iowa Institute for Oral Health Research, and Sara Miller, research manager in the Iowa Institute for Oral Health Research.

Butali received the Leadership in Research Award, a lifetime achievement award recognizing research and scholarly accomplishments over a career.

Miller received the Distinguished Research Professional Award, recognizing staff members who performed exceptional service in support of research at the University of Iowa by conducting experiments, collecting, and analyzing results and performing operational duties associated with a laboratory or research program.

Iowa dental faculty serves as mentor in AADOCR program

Each year, the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR)'s MIND the Future (The AADOCR Mentoring an Inclusive Network for a Diverse Workforce of the Future) program selects 10 investigators from diverse backgrounds to participate in an educational program intended to offer experiences and opportunities that will aid them in establishing independent research careers dedicated to improving dental, oral, and craniofacial health. David Drake, professor in the Iowa Institute for Oral Health Research and the Department of Endodontics, is one of the mentors for the new group that was just announced, which he has done since the program started in 2020. Drake has long taken a keen interest in mentoring early-career researchers, and has worked extensively at Iowa and nationally to help underrepresented minorities in the biological sciences become independent researchers. To learn more about the program, check out the program's website.

Heather Heddens with her basketball memorabilia

Obermann Conversation features Heather Heddens

Before there was NCAA women's basketball, there was 6-on-6 girls basketball, a form of the sport that was played in Iowa until 1993. On September 12, an Obermann Conversation with University of Iowa faculty, including dentistry's own Heather Heddens ('80 DDS), a retired adjunct professor in Family Dentistry, and former players will contextualize the past, discuss the present, and look forward to the future of the sport. Last Spring, the Cedar Rapids Gazette published an article and interview with Heather Heddens on her 6-on-6 basketball playing days in the 1970s (to see her in action, watch this video).

Exciting CE Opportunities!

Our 2023 Fall Continuing Education lineup offers exciting opportunities across a wide variety of courses in various specialties from our world-class experts in the field. We want to highlight two upcoming opportunities:

Our Reunion Weekend has a great slate of courses and it is coming up fast on September 15-16.
Our Nowak (Pediatric Dentistry) Professorship CE course is on October 20, and it will be an exciting opportunity to hear about a variety of health care specialties in collaboration with UIHC that intersect with pediatric oral health care.

IDA Scholarship Profile: Sara Saey

The Iowa Dental Foundation (IDF) awarded six scholarships this year, including three scholarships to dental students at Iowa Dentistry. Learn about dental student Sara Saey and what receiving the scholarship means to her.

"My name is Sara Saey and I am looking forward to starting my fourth year of dental school at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry. I am originally from Illinois, but completed my undergraduate degree at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, IA.

While in dental school, I have been very fortunate to be able to serve as Co-President of the American Academy of Dental Public Health and Co- President of the Pediatric Dental Club. These roles have allowed me to organize and participate in events such as weekend mobile clinics, Give Kids a Smile, dental education nights, and a variety of community events. Additionally, I have greatly enjoyed being involved with the His Hands Free Dental Clinic in Cedar Rapids, where we are able to provide dental care to community members. Being involved in school and in the community has been so rewarding to me and is something I plan to continue to do in the future.

I am beyond grateful to have received this generous scholarship from the Iowa Dental Foundation. This award will allow me to continue learning and improving my skills so that I can provide the highest quality of care to my future patients. I feel incredibly fortunate to train as a future dental provider and I fully intend to use this training to make a positive difference for my future patients, while continuously working to improve the lives of others. Thank you again to the Iowa Dental Foundation for helping make these dreams a reality."

Gift table at the FirstGen Awards banquet

1stGen@Iowa Award Nominations open

The UI First-Generation Task Force is now accepting nominations for the 2023 1stGen@Iowa Awards. Awards include the First-Generation Student Achievement Award and the Award for Outstanding First-Generation Student Advocacy. All current faculty, staff, and students are welcome to make nominations. Nominations are due Friday, October 6.

Iowa Dentistry: Your-One-Stop Total Care Dental Clinic

In one location, the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics offers a complete range of dental services for children and adults in ten dental specialties. We are your one stop total care dental clinic. Here is one patient's story.

Hawkeye Trivia: What year did the Hawkeyes first beat Iowa State?

The 1899 Iowa Hawkeyes were the first University of Iowa team to defeat Iowa State after losing for the first three years of the rivalry. The score was 5-0. Here's hoping that the Iowa offense is more prolific in 2023 than it was in 1899. Of course, a win is a win! Go Hawks! 🖤💛🖤💛

Events

September 8, Prospective DDS Student Interview Day

September 12, Research Seminar: Chad Novince, Medical University of South Carolina, "“Commensal Microbiota, a Dynamic Regulator of Skeletal Metabolism," hosted by Heidi Steinkamp, Galagan B, 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.

September 15-16, Dentistry Alumni Reunion Weekend

September 16, Pregame Professional Program: "Worn Dentitions: A Background and Introduction" by Dr. Clark Stanford "Xerostomia Treatment. What's New?" by Professor Karen Baker, 8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.

September 21, Research Seminar: Ana Bedran-Russo, College of Dentistry, University of Illinois Chicago, “Bioinspired Materials to Enhance the Lifespan of Teeth and Restorative Therapies,” hosted by Erica Teixeira, Galagan B, 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.

September 22, Prospective DDS Student Interview Day

September 30, Pregame Professional Program: "Salivary Gland Tumors: Diagnosis and Management" by Dr. Sherry Timmons; "Dental Manifestations of Systemic Disease" by Drs. Kari Maas and Mary Kay Hill, 8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.

October 5, Prospective DDS Student Interview Day

October 6, Dental Alumni Reception in Orlando, Florida (in conjunction with the ADA Annual Meeting)

October 7, Pregame Professional Program: "CBCT: Endodontic Applications and Interesting Cases" by Dr. Juan Pablo Castro Cuelllar; "Endodontic Irrigation: Principles and Application" by Dr. Chris Hogden, 8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.

October 10, Research Seminar, Ana Fugolin, School of Dentistry, Oregon Health & Science University, “Designing the Future: Exploring the Potential of Stimuli-Responsive Dental Biomaterials," hosted by Ariene Leme Kraus and Cristina Vidal, Galagan B, 12:00–1:00 p.m.

October 13-14, IMOM, Waterloo Convention Center, Sullivan Brothers Plaza, 200 W Fourth Street, Waterloo, IA.

October 20, Nowak Professorship: Pediatric Dentistry Course, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

October 20, Prospective DDS Student Interview Day

October 21, Pregame Professional Program: "Oral Pathology Patients that Taught Me the Most" by Dr. Steve Vincent; "Infection Control: What's Trending Now" by Dr. Carrie McKnight, 8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.

November 3, Prospective DDS Student Interview Day

November 9, Prospective DDS Student Interview Day

November 14, Research Seminar, Jamie Nichols, School of Dental Medicine, University of Colorado–AMC, title TBD, hosted by Eric Van Otterloo, Galagan B, 12:00–1:00 p.m.

November 15, Virtual Prospective DDS Student Interview Day

November 30, Research Seminar, Ronald Strauss, Adams School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina, "Blessings in Disguise: Finding Wisdom from Facial Difference", hosted by Steve Levy, Galagan B, 12:00–1:00 p.m.

Notes and Resources

Filling Station Menu

Hours: M-R: 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; F: 7:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
CLOSED: September 19

The Hawkeye Smile banner image shows Dean Clark Stanford with Jin Xie, associate dean for research, with Herky along with several others during the Iowa Section of the AADOCR in 2022.