COMING UP
Indiana University School of Dentistry
Calendar of Events
August 2004
A Special Welcome to All New Students and Residents
Recognition Month for IUSD's
Support Services Staff
July 27 (Tues.)
ICE CREAM SALE helps support the IUSD Staff Council, today in the lobby from
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Guest seminar, Indiana Section of the American Association for Dental Research:
A MEDICAL APPROACH TO THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF DENTAL CARIES, by Dr. Wenyuan
Shi , of the Molecular Biology Institute at the University of California at Los
Angeles; noon in DS S117. All faculty, staff, and students are welcome.
July 30 (Fri.)
STUDENT RESEARCH SUBCOMMITTEE, 8 a.m. in DS S421
July 30-Aug. 4 (Fri.-Wed.)
NATIONAL DENTAL ASSOCIATION annual convention, Los Angeles, Calif.
2 (Mon.)
IUPUI Human Resources concludes its presentation of the eight-part Fundamentals
of Supervision series with the final class held today: MANAGING EMPLOYEES IN A DIVERSE
WORK WORLD, by Dan Griffith and Marilyn Bedford ; 1:30-4:30 p.m. in
DS212 (Gorman room). Registration is closed.
4-7 (Wed.-Sat.)
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ESTHETIC DENTISTRY annual meeting, Banff, Alberta, Canada
6 (Fri.)
Last day to contribute to the city's 2004 BACKPACK ATTACK for schoolchildren
in need in the community. The dental school contributes to this annual event through
IUPUI, one of the partners in the project. All types of school supplies are needed,
and items must be new. You'll find donation boxes in the basement and on the lst
and 3rd floors of the dental school. Tax-deductible donations are also
welcome: Make your check payable to the IU Alumni Association and give it to the
dental school's BACKPACK ATTACK coordinator, Kirk Smith , in the library.
For a list of items needed, go to
http://www.iupui.edu/~extaff/prom/backpack.htm.
13 (Fri.)
PROPOSAL SUBMISSION DEADLINE for Student Research Subcommittee's Aug. 27th
meeting
13-29 (Fri.-Sun.)
2004 SUMMER OLYMPICS, Athens, Greece. Olympic Games enthusiasts the world over
eagerly await the performance of American swimmer Michael Phelps to see if
he breaks the gold medal record of legendary Olympic champion Mark Spitz ,
a Californian who won seven gold medals at the Summer Games in Munich 32 years ago
(four for individual events, three for relays), and set or helped set world records
in each event. Those of us at Indiana University have a special interest in Mr.
Spitz's record, since he was a predental student on the IU Bloomington campus during
the years between his bids for the gold at the 1968 Games in Mexico City and the
'72 Games in Munich. He trained at IU under another legend in the annals of competitive
swimming -- Coach James "Doc" Counsilman . Mark intended to enter dental school
here in the fall of 1972, but after his amazing performance in Munich a tsunami-sized
wave of fame carried him to the shores of Hollywood instead. Even so, many people
are still under the assumption that Mark settled into life as a dentist. "I'm probably
the most famous dentist who never became a dentist in the world," he told Chicago
Tribune columnist Fred Mitchell in June. Mark says these days he is a
Panasonic representative, stockbroker, and financial adviser.
In Athens, Mr. Phelps, of Baltimore, Md., will be competing in eight events:
five individual and three relay. Will all eight performances shine with gold? Let
the Games begin! (And, for a bit of trivial pursuit, keep an eye peeled for Phevos ,
one of the two mascots for the 2004 Summer Olympics -- inside the Phevos costume
is IU alumnus and Indianapolis native Michael Zent , who is now a professional
actor living in Los Angeles.)
17 (Tues.)
Lunch Box Discussion: YOU CAN'T MAKE ME! -- HOW CAN WE ENCOURAGE AND ENFORCE
PROFESSIONALISM?, by Dr. Lawrence Garetto , associate dean for Dental Education;
noon-1 p.m. in DS S421. All faculty, staff, and students are welcome. No registration
is required.
18 (Wed.)
STUDENT AFFAIRS COUNCIL/DEAN'S STUDENT TOWN HALL, noon in DS S116
18, 19 (Wed., Thurs.)
ORIENTATION FOR 1ST AND 2ND YEAR DENTAL HYGIENE STUDENTS
20 (Fri.)
ORIENTATION FOR DENTAL ASSISTING STUDENTS
RESEARCH COMMITTEE, 8 a.m. in DS S421
23 (Mon.)
FIRST SEMESTER CLASSES BEGIN for dental assisting, dental hygiene, 4th
year dental, and upper-level graduate students
27 (Fri.)
STUDENT RESEARCH SUBCOMMITTEE, 8 a.m. in DS S421
8th annual IUSD STUDENT APPRECIATION PICNIC welcomes all new and returning
students, 12:30-4 p.m. at Riverside Park, Shelter #5. For all students, staff, and
faculty. Undergraduate and predoctoral clinics and classes are cancelled this afternoon,
and cancellation of graduate clinics and classes is at the discretion of program
directors. The picnic provides a great opportunity and a relaxed atmosphere for
IUSD's new students to get acquainted with faculty, staff, and upper level students
before the school year shifts into high gear. Bring an appetite!
People, Places, and Things
NIH AWARDS $1.3 MILLION GRANT TO DR. M. KOWOLIK. Dr.
Michael Kowolik 's research interest in dental plaque as a risk factor
for heart disease has resulted in the awarding of a two-year grant by the National
Institutes of Health. Dr. Kowolik, professor of periodontics and director of the
school's Host Defense Laboratory, has learned that his grant application, titled
"Dental Plaque Accumulation as a Risk Factor for Coronary Heart Disease (CHD),"
will be funded by the NIH's National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research
through May 2006 for a total of $1,307,178.
The project, for which Dr. Kowolik serves as principal investigator, will be
conducted in clinics and laboratories at IU's dental and medical schools and at
the Oral Health Research Institute. Dr. Domenick Zero ,
associate dean for research and director of the OHRI, serves as co-investigator.
Dr. Kowolik's research is timely in an era when chronic infections in the body
are under increasing investigation for the role they may play in the development
of a number of health problems, including heart disease. Dr. Kowolik and his team
will focus their attention on oral infections, and will be working from a hypothesis
that the accumulation of dental plaque, which leads to gingivitis, has systemic
consequences and the potential for increasing CHD risk.
Working with human subjects, the team will test the hypothesis by employing an
experimental gingivitis model. The model is also designed to identify any variations
in local and systemic responses among individuals, thereby helping shed light on
disparities in CHD risk that may be governed by gender or race.
Many researchers from both the dental and medical schools will participate in
the project, says Dr. Kowolik. "The involvement in particular of
Melissa Mau as project administrator and her team at the Oral Health
Research Institute will be extensive," he says. "A special word of thanks also goes
to Dr. Sherie Dowsett , a postdoctoral fellow at
IUSD during the 2001-2002 academic year and now at Eli Lilly, who played a pivotal
role in the initial and final submissions of the grant application. I'm delighted
that she will continue to play a role in the grant."
The NIH project is in addition to ongoing research that Dr. Kowolik and his colleagues
have pursued in rural Guatemala for the past decade pertaining to genetic and environmental
aspects of periodontal disease as well as links between oral and systemic diseases.
In 2003, he received a grant from IU for use in establishing a collaboration with
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to extend these studies. For the
past year, he has also been working as the principal investigator on a $200,000,
Procter & Gamble-funded study that is employing experimental technology in the assessment
of clinical inflammation.
BY LAND AND BY SEA. Dr. Donald Arens , professor of endodontics, recently
presented two lectures to members of the Tulsa Dentsply Corporation. His lecture
in June, titled "The X-tip Anesthesia System," was given in Winnipeg, Canada. "Anesthesia
for the Hot Tooth" was July's topic, with the lecture being presented aboard a ship
during a cruise from Vancouver, Canada, to Anchorage, Alaska.
FELLOWSHIP FINALIST. Dr. Vanchit John , associate professor of periodontics,
has received word that he is one of three finalists for the American Academy of
Periodontology's Bud and Linda Tarrson Fellowship, a career development
award for full- and part-time academic periodontists. Funded by the Tarrsons through
the AAP's Foundation, the $30,000, three-year fellowship is named for the late Bud
Tarrson, who was the president and owner of the John O. Butler Company, and Mr.
Tarrson's wife. As the last step in the selection process, Dr. John and the other
finalists will be interviewed by the AAP's selection committee. The winner will
be announced at the AAP's annual meeting in Orlando, Fla., in November.
MOMS AND THEIR INFANTS NEEDED FOR OHRI STUDY. Mothers and their infants (up to
10 weeks old) are needed for a new dental study to test a chewing gum's ability
to reduce bacteria in the mouth that may cause dental cavities.
The study requires qualified mothers to chew a gum product and to attend five
study visits. Saliva tests will be performed on both the mothers and babies; each
mother will answer a questionnaire about her own dental habits and diet as well
as her infant's. The procedures, risks, and benefits of the study will be further
explained at the screening appointment. Women chosen for the study will be paid
for their participation.
If interested, contact the OHRI at 274-3740 and ask for the person who is screening
for the chewing gum study.
"PASS IT ON" AWARD GOES TO BARBARA BABBITT. Congratulations to Barbara Babbitt ,
a dental assistant in Comprehensive Care Clinic E, who is the newest recipient of
the Pass It On Award. Established this year, the award recognizes full-time dental
assistants whose special on-the-job efforts are reported to Patricia Huff ,
dental assistant administrator. Pat draws a name from the collection of nominations
four times a year.
Barb was nominated by Elizabeth Hughes , clinical assistant professor of
dental hygiene, for being extraordinarily helpful with dental hygiene students when
they are assigned to Clinic E, and for going out of her way to answer students'
questions and extend a helping hand. "Barb is not only willing to help but does
it with a smile," her nominator reported.
"As one of her supervisors, I can attest that Barb has proven to be an exceptional
employee, and I second the nomination that she does her job with a smile," says
Pat. "Barb is simply the best!"
Barb has been working on and off for the dental school for the past 34 years.
She got her start in 1970 in the former Department of Oral Diagnosis, working there
for 11 years. Since then, she has divided her time between positions in private
practice and jobs in the former Department of Oral Surgery, the oral surgery section
formerly housed at Long Hospital, and the Department of Periodontics and Allied
Dental Programs. She accepted her most recent post in Comprehensive Care in January
2003.
As the Pass It On Award honoree, Barb received a certificate, a bouquet of flowers,
and a gift certificate to O'Charley's restaurant.
End August 2004 Calendar
Send items for September calendar by Aug. 25: Indiana University School of Dentistry,
Room DS B32, 1121 West Michigan Street, Indianapolis IN 46202-5186. Fax: (317) 274-7188.
E-mail: smcrum@iupui.edu