On Wednesday, January 24, 2018, two Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) long-time employees were honored at the 2018 Presidential Awards at the Yankee Dental Congress (YDC). Mrs. Roberta Flynn received the Elizabeth A. Baer Achievement Award, and Ms. Kathy Lituri received the Volunteer Award for Auxiliaries. Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter personally honored Mrs. Flynn and Ms. Lituri in his office on February 15, 2018.

Roberta Flynn, currently a Dental Assistant at GSDM, has been a Certified Dental Assistant for over 25 years, following her graduation from Southeastern Technical School for Dental Assisting. She currently belongs to multiple organizations that represent dental assistants such as The American Academy of Dental Assistants, The National Dental Assisting Board the Massachusetts Dental Assistants Association as Well as Massachusetts Dental Society. Mrs. Flynn has been volunteering at the Yankee Dental Congress for over 20 years, serving as both a room coordinator and presiding chair.

“When I think back on why I got into dental assisting, it was for my love of helping people,” said Mrs. Flynn. “Most who know me will agree, and so I feel blessed to receive such a distinguished award.”

Kathy Lituri has been part of the YDC since it first began. She has volunteered as presiding chair, room coordinator, speaker, and student poster contest judge. Most recently, she has led the organization of the HIV Dental booth on the exhibit hall floor. As the Oral Health Promotion Director in our

Department of Global & Population Health, Ms. Lituri is instrumental in the organization and coordination of all GSDM volunteer events, especially the Global Days of Service.

Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter had high praise for both of the award recipients. “On behalf of everyone at the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, I want to share my sincerest congratulations to each of you on receiving these well-deserved and wonderful awards.  Being recognized in such a manner is a wonderful accomplishment and one you should feel very proud in achieving.”

Mrs. Erica Stocks, Associate Director, Student Affairs at the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) was recently named a Member At-Large to the Massachusetts State Board of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. Erica has been at GSDM in the department of student affairs for ten years and was recently honored for her dedicated service at the Boston University Service Recognition Luncheon.

NASPA is the leading association for the advancement, health, and sustainability of the student affairs profession. They serve a full range of professionals who provide programs, experiences, and services that cultivate student learning and success in concert with the mission of their respective colleges and universities. Established in 1918 and founded in 1919, NASPA is comprised of over 15,000 members in all 50 states, 25 countries, and 8 U.S. Territories.

In her new role, Mrs. Stocks will work with NASPA board members on state-wide initiatives, programming, and professional development workshops for administrators in student affairs. The Massachusetts State Board of NASPA serves as a resource for colleagues in Massachusetts, offering professional development, networking opportunities, and collaboration with other professional organizations to better serve members.

“I would like to wish Erica our most sincere congratulations for this outstanding accomplishment,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. “Her decade of dedication to GSDM exemplifies why she is an excellent choice for this post, and we are very proud of her.”

At the GSDM annual Alumni Reception on Friday, September 21, 2018, Dr. Arghavan Shahidi DMD 01 was presented with the 2018 Distinguished Alumni Award for her leadership and her outstanding ethical and professional integrity in the field of dental medicine.

“Colleagues said that Dr. Shahidi is ‘a strong and inspiring leader’ who serves as an ‘exceptional role model,’” Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter said in presenting the award. “Her commitment to her patients was noted by those who nominated her, with another commenting that ‘her professional ethics and honesty are unquestionable.’”

Dr. Shahidi began her academic studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she majored in Molecular, Cellular, and Development Biology and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1994. Upon graduation, she conducted research at the University of California, San Francisco, in Genetics focusing on lipoproteins, and has published several papers in scientific journals. Dr. Shahidi then earned her D.M.D. degree at the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine in 2001, and later returned to her alma mater as a Geriatric Fellow from 2008-2010.

After earning her D.M.D., Dr. Shahidi worked in private practice in Tewksbury, Wilmington, and Boston. In 2017, Boston Magazine named her one of the Top Dentists in Greater Boston. Dr. Shahidi is a member of and involved with the American Dental Association, the Massachusetts Dental Society, and the Hispanic Dental Association. She organizes oral healthcare education seminars, and is greatly involved in outreach in her community and schools.

“Boston University has always been good to me,” said Dr. Shahidi, who said she met friends and colleagues through GSDM who she can still call today for help and advice.

“We are a network of people who keeps supporting each other,” Dr. Shahidi said. “I graduated a long time ago … and I stayed in Massachusetts because of the group of people that we are. We support each other. It keeps giving – it’s a wonderful community to be part of.”

Dr. Shahidi’s commitment to her colleagues and her profession was reflected in a nomination letter, which said: “This award is a way of celebrating and recognizing ethical and professional integrity in the field of dental medicine. Dr. Shahidi embodies those very same principles in the way she conducts herself every day; be it in the clinical setting with a patient or discussing cases and ideas with her colleagues. She inspires and encourages all those around her to follow the highest standards of ethical practice and professionalism.”

Dr. Shahidi is married to Dr. Hussam Batal DMD 98 OMFS 03. Dr. Batal is a Clinical Associate Professor in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and the Director of Clinical Services, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. Drs. Shahidi and Batal have three small children, “who will of course all go into dentistry – and if they’re really bright children, they’ll choose Endodontics,” Dean Hutter quipped to laughter from the crowd at the Alumni Reception.

Neal Fleisher DMD 84 PERIO 86, a clinical professor in the Department of General Dentistry at the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM), is one of two winners of the 2019 Metcalf Award for Excellence in Teaching.

“It is a privilege to call Dr. Fleisher a colleague, and I know I speak for the entire GSDM community when I say how deeply proud I am of him,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter.

The Metcalf Awards are one of the university’s highest honors and are given annually to members of the faculty who demonstrate excellence in teaching in the context of a research institution. Each year, the Provost’s Faculty Teaching Awards Committee selects one Metcalf Cup and Prize winner and up to two Metcalf Award winners.

Students, alumni, staff, and members of the faculty at Boston University are invited to nominate candidates for the Metcalf Awards. Over the course of the year, the committee solicits and reviews supporting materials from nominated candidates, and members of the committee visit the classes of the finalists, before presenting their recommendations to the University President. The Cup and Prize and the Awards are presented annually at Commencement.

Dr. Fleisher was educated to be a dentist, not a teacher. As he himself noted in an essay written as part of the award process, his knowledge of teaching was confined to what he had seen from his own teachers. Yet over his 33-year career with GSDM, he has dedicated himself to both the art and science of teaching, always seeking for innovative and effective ways to engage students in deep, meaningful learning.

This quest for improvement has led Dr. Fleisher to surprising places, like the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Dr. Fleisher found that leading students through careful observation of and discussion about art helped improve their observation and communication skills and their ability to listen to those whose opinions differed from their own.

Dr. Fleisher has also been a leading proponent for teaching GSDM students “critical thinking,” developing a standalone course on the subject and embedding critical thinking across the curriculum. He has taught, mentored, and advised thousands of students during his 33 years as an educator at GSDM – but he hasn’t limited his influence on GSDM’s educational environment just to students. Dr. Fleisher also “teaches the teachers,” as one nomination letter noted. He is exceedingly generous in mentoring his colleagues – many of whom, like Dr. Fleisher, were educated to be dentists, not teachers – and helping them improve their own pedagogical skill.

Dr. Fleisher graduated from GSDM in 1984 and completed a certificate of advanced graduate studies (CAGS) in Periodontology in 1986. He currently serves as director of Faculty Development, program director of Predoctoral Periodontology, clinical professor in the Department of General Dentistry, course director for Current Topics in Dentistry, Critical Thinking, Clinical Periodontics, Periodontology II, Preclinical Predoctoral Program, and co-course director for Pre-Clinical Implantology.

For more information on Dr. Fleisher and the other Metcalf winners, click here.

Forty-seven members of the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine Class of 2019 were recognized for their achievements during the Senior Awards Dinner on Wednesday, May 15, 2019, at the George Sherman Union.

“For you to be singled out among such a distinguished group is indeed an honor that speaks to your extraordinary abilities,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter during his opening remarks.

Each year, Dean Hutter and his wife, Mrs. Kathleen Hutter, host a senior awards event to celebrate graduates and recognize those who have excelled in their dental education. While the event is generally held in conjunction with a brunch, this year the event took place in the evening, as a dinner.

On May 15, more than 500 students, faculty, staff, and family members packed the Metcalf Hall, on the second floor of the George Sherman Union, to celebrate the achievements of the graduating class. Members of the Class of 2019 also received their yearbooks, titled “Final Impressions,” during the event.

Awards were presented by members of the faculty and honored guests. In total, 56 awards were presented to members of the graduating class. Additionally, three faculty and two staff members received recognition from the GSDM student body for their dedication to the school and students.

While Dean Hutter praised the students receiving awards during the ceremony, he also took a moment to congratulate all 200 predoctoral graduates for their hard work.

“Although you may not receive an award today, you must understand that each of you are winners, and the faculty and staff of the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine are extremely proud of your accomplishments and feel that it has been an honor and a privilege having you as students and colleagues in our school,” he said.

For a list of the 2019 senior awards winners, click here.

For photographs of the event, click here.

Twenty-three graduating students and two faculty members from Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) were inducted on Tuesday, May 14, 2019, into the Lambda Mu Chapter of Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society (OKU) during the society’s 11th annual Induction Ceremony and Dinner.

“Each of you being inducted into OKU this evening is to be commended for your remarkable academic achievement,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter during his opening remarks.

“As your dean, I take great personal pride in your accomplishment and I extend to each of the 23 student inductees and the 2 faculty inductees my heartfelt congratulations.”

During the ceremony, which was held in the Boston University Metcalf Trustee Ballroom, each new inductee received a certificate of induction, a stole to be worn with their regalia for graduation, and a symbolic key signifying their election to the prestigious national dental honor society. Dr. Stephen Polins, professor in Periodontology and president of the GSDM Lambda Mu chapter of OKU, presided over the ceremony, assisted by Catherine Sarkis, secretary-treasurer of the GSDM Lambda Mu chapter of OKU and clinical associate professor, department of Health Policy & Health Services Research.

Omicron Kappa Upsilon is a National Dental Honor Society that promotes and recognizes scholarship and character among students of dentistry. It was created in 1914 at Northwestern University Dental School, and currently has more than 50 active chapters at American and Canadian dental schools. GSDM established its Lambda Mu chapter of OKU in 1972.

According to OKU bylaws, membership is extended to 12 percent of the graduating class, who, “in addition to scholarship, have demonstrated exemplary traits of ethical character and potential qualities of future professional growth and attainments.”

Faculty members who have worked at the school where they are being nominated for either three years (full-time) or six years (part-time) and have made an “outstanding contribution to the art, science, or literature of dentistry” are also eligible for nomination.

During his remarks, Polins spoke of characteristics that OKU inductees display.

“When viewed as a composite, the scope of your successes validate that you are proven examples of what is possible when you are serious about your education and professional development, and, express not only the desire to meet expectations, but also the passion to excel and make a difference,” he said.

For a list of the inductees, click here. For photos from the events, click here.

Tarhyn Auger DMD 20 didn’t even know that she had been nominated for the Pierre Fauchard Oral Health Foundation Student Scholarship until she received a “cryptic email” asking her to meet with Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter.

“When I asked what the meeting was about, she [Executive Assistant Lisa Case] wouldn’t tell me anything—just that it wasn’t anything bad, just a meeting,” Auger remembered.

“So then I went into his office, and he told me….that you are going to be the recipient of the Pierre Fauchard Award.”

The scholarship, which is awarded by the Pierre Fauchard Academy, is awarded to one third-year GSDM student annually who has demonstrated potential for developing into an outstanding leader in the profession, academic excellence, and the need for financial support.

“On behalf of the entire GSDM community, I’d like to congratulate Ms. Auger for being awarded this prestigious scholarship,” said Dean Hutter. “To be chosen by faculty for this scholarship is an honor, and Ms. Auger certainly is a deserving recipient.”

The Pierre Fauchard Academy is an honorary dental service organization that was founded in 1936. The academy is named after Pierre Fauchard of France, who is recognized as the “Father of Modern Dentistry,” and has nearly 11,000 fellows worldwide.

The Oral Health Foundation of the Pierre Fauchard Academy serves as the philanthropic, non-profit organization for the Academy. The foundation offers student scholarships on an annual basis to all dental schools in the United States, Canada, and to selected dental schools worldwide.

At GSDM, Auger is involved with the Uniformed Dental Student Association, American Student Dental Association (ASDA), the Prosthodontics study club, and the Endodontics study club. She also volunteers at the Engagement Center.

Auger said she felt grateful to be selected for the scholarship.

“It feels good when you get recognition….to have the faculty notice the hard work that you’re putting in and think that what you’re doing is worth mentioning and worth recognizing,” she said.

Auger, who is originally from California, received her undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado Boulder. After graduation, she will serve in the U.S. Navy Dental Corps.

Auger said that, for her, the most rewarding part of dentistry is changing people’s opinion of the profession.

“I like making people happy,” said Auger. “I like being able to change their perspective on dentistry…I’ve had a lot of patients come in with trepidation and to see them change their mindset is super rewarding.”

Twenty-three students and residents were recognized for their research achievements during the annual Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) Student & Resident Research Recognition Luncheon, held in the Hiebert Lounge on Wednesday, April 3, 2019. The event, previously known as the Science Day Awards Luncheon, celebrated the achievements of student and resident researchers at GSDM and honored recent award recipients.

The program was led by Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter and Associate Dean for Research Maria Kukuruzinska, who jointly presented awards to the poster and oral research presentation winners from the 2019 Science Day. Joel Monteiro, New England Regional Manager from Dentsply Sirona, presented the AADR/Dentsply Sirona Research Award. Hutter and Kukuruzinska also recognized other student research accomplishments; the full list of honorees is available here.

Dr. Andrew Salama, associate professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and director of the Advanced Education Program in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, received the 2019 Mentor of the Year Award. The Mentor of the Year Award is presented to an outstanding mentor of student researchers, and is selected based on student nominations.

The GSDM Science Day award winners are:

POSTER PRESENTATIONS

DMD Students
Svitlana Koval, Caglayan Dicle, Arel Cordero, Lakshmi Garladinne and Melih Motro, Departments of General Dentistry and Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics: “Automation of Cephalometric Landmarking Using Deep Learning – Preliminary Results.”

Masters Students (MSD & 1st yr PhD/DScD)
Tyler J Guinn, Vrinda Dambal and Philip Trackman, Department of Molecular & Cell Biology: “In Vivo Analysis of Lysyl Oxidase Deletion in Mouse Osteoblasts, a Pilot Study.”

Postdoctoral Students
Ali Al Aqeeli, Safaa Ahmed, Thayer Scott and Elizabeth Kaye, Department of Health Policy and Health Services Research: “Association between Vitamin D Deficiency and Permanent Caries among US Population.”

ORAL PRESENTATIONS

DMD Students
Ariana dela Cruz, Vinay Kartha, Ronjuan Mi, Stefano Monti, Janicke Jensen, Kathrine Skarstein, Xaralabos Varelas and Maria Kukuruzinska, Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Norway, Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Norway and Molecular & Cell Biology: “Novel Transcriptome Subpopulations from Sjögren’s and Non-Sjögren’s Salivary Gland Epithelia.”

Masters Students (MSD & 1st yr PhD/DScD)
Kanwal Maheshwari, Chang Zhang and Laisheng Chou, Departments of Endodontics and Restorative Sciences & Biomaterials: “Effect of Simvastatin on the Biocompatibility of Human Dental Pulp Cells.”

Postdoctoral Students
Ningyuan Sun, Yuhei Uda, Alejandro Kochen, Roberto Nunes, Campos Santos and Paola Divieti Pajevic, Department of Molecular & Cell Biology: “Osteocyte Metabolism.”

Boston University faculty, residents, students and alumni flocked to the university’s Medical Campus on Wednesday, May 29, 2019, for the 10th annual Donald F. Booth Education Day, a day of research presentations and continuing education.

The Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine and Boston Medical Center Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) hosted the event, which was held at the Boston University Medical School.

“It gives me great pleasure to see so many of our faculty, staff, students, and residents gathered together for this annual event, dedicated to research and the importance of continuous learning,” Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter said. “This event would not be possible without the leadership and dedication of the OMFS faculty, particularly Dr. Pushkar Mehra, Dr. Andrew Salama, and – of course – Dr. Donald Booth. And indeed, it is thanks to that leadership that our Advanced Education Program in OMFS is the finest program in the U.S.”

Mehra, professor of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, chair and associate dean for Hospital Affairs, Dr. Richard D’Innocenzo, clinical professor and director of predoctoral OMFS, and Andrew Salama, associate professor and director, Advanced Education Program in OMFS, kicked off the event with a presentation titled “OMS at BU/BMC: Today and Tomorrow.”

This year’s guest speaker was Dr. Larry Cunningham, who is chief of the Division of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Kentucky. Cunningham presented twice during the morning session, first giving an update on the surgical treatment of maxillofacial trauma patients, and then discussing the management of inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injuries.

During the afternoon session, OMFS residents gave a series of presentations before updating the audience on their research efforts. Presentations included:

• Mohamed Bayoumy DDS (PGY3) presented on the “Role of virtual surgical planning in OMS Residency Training Programs”
• Rushil Dang DDS (PGY3) presented on “Career Satisfaction amongst US Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Re-categorization of Tumor Stage in Node-Negative Tongue Cancer Patients”
• William Lane DMD (PGY3) presented on “Utility of CT Angiogram imaging in mandible fracture patients” and Dr. Ibrahim Lakkis DMD (PGY3) presented on “Three Dimensional evaluation of the airway.”

After a light dinner, residents and faculty from the Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery training programs at Boston University (BU), Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), and participated in a combined grand rounds. Dr. Ibrahim Lakkis from BU, Dr. Jason W. Lee from MGH, and Dr. Jonathan Bishop from Tufts presented on the topic of “Novel applications for virtual surgical planning.”

In addition to presentations, Hutter and D’Innocenzo took time to present GSDM student Haley Harris DMD 20 with the William H. Bell Predoctoral Award.

This annual award was created in 2018 by the American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (ACOMS). Each accredited dental school in the United States may select one recipient in their third year of dental school who has exhibited academic excellence and interest in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

When Roberta Flynn, dental assistant in the department of Periodontology, was announced as the winner of the 2019 Kristen Donovan Award during the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) Faculty and Staff meeting on Thursday, June 13, 2019, she was greeted with a standing ovation—one that made her cry.

Her first steps, however, were not onto to the stage to receive the award. They were to Bob and June Donovan, Kristen’s parents, who were sitting in the first row.

“I know this family lost someone who was very precious to them,” Flynn said. “And I hope that…I was exactly the person they were looking for to receive the award—someone who did emulate their daughter…and for me, it was an honor, and a pleasure. And that’s why my first step was to go over and thank them first.”

Flynn joined the GSDM community in May 2015 as a dental assistant in the Department of Periodontology, and as Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter said, “she has excelled in every respect.”

The dean continued, “I am sure I speak for the entire School when I say how lucky we are to have Roberta on our team, and I am thankful for all the hard work she puts in every day.”

The Kristen Donovan award is presented annually to a member of the staff who has been employed by the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine for less than five years, and who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to the school and improved its community by working to fulfill the school’s mission. It was established in memory of Senior Patient Coordinator Kristen Donovan, who passed away in 2012.

As a dental assistant in the department of periodontology, Flynn is responsible for a variety of tasks, ranging from refilling water bottles and wiping down chairs to providing chairside support to residents and patients during procedures.

“She is always looking out for the residents…she takes time to listen to their needs,” wrote one nominator.

Flynn is also popular amongst patients in the Periodontology department. “I had one the other day give me a hug and say, ‘I’m so glad you were the one that assisted,” she said.

“When patients are coming in and saying, ‘Hi Roberta!,’ and they’re smiling, then I know that I’ve done well by them,” she said.

Patricia Dirksmeier, clinical assistant supervisor in the Department of Periodontology, said that Flynn is a dedicated employee.

“She always goes over and above for the residents and for patients,” she said. “She’s always someone I can count on, to do something—to take on an extra task, or stay late, or adjust her schedule.”

“This award is meant for people like her, that really stand out and really shine amongst the rest,” she added. “It’s nice to see that she’s [being] recognized for her positive attitude, her strong work ethic, and the fact that [she] treats everyone the same.”

Flynn said she was excited to be chosen as this year’s recipient—and it motivated her to continue to go above and beyond.

“I felt this real big burst of energy,” Flynn said. “People see what I do and know what I do and really appreciate what I do— for me, I don’t do it for that. I do it for the good of everybody around me.”

The 2019 American Dental Association (ADA) Federation Dentaire Internationale (FDI) World Congress was a week to remember as one of the largest groups of faculty and alumni from the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) in recent memory received recognition for various accomplishments during the conference, which was held September 4-9, 2019, in San Francisco, California.

Members of the GSDM community were inducted into the American College of Dentists (ACD) and the International College of Dentists (ICD) during separate convocation ceremonies; additionally, a GSDM faculty member was honored for being named a top new dentist by the ADA in a ceremony on Friday, September 6. Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter attended each ceremony to congratulate the alumni and faculty being honored.

“I know I speak on behalf of the entire Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine community when I say how proud I am of the accomplishments of our alumni and faculty,” said Dean Hutter. “They certainly did a wonderful job representing our community during the ADA FDI World Congress.”

Read on for some highlights from the week.

Three inducted into the American College of Dentists

On Thursday, September 5, 2019, three members of the GSDM community proudly sported black robes with red and lavender trim crossed the stage to receive a pin marking their admittance into the ACD.

Brittany McCarthy DMD 06, Gina Terenzi DMD 91, and Kadambari Rawal AEGD 10 DPH 18 (and also a clinical assistant professor of Restorative Sciences & Biomaterials) were all inducted into the ACD during a convocation ceremony at the Hilton Union Square.

The American College of Dentists (ACD) is the oldest major honorary organization for dentists. In order to be granted fellowship, candidates must be nominated by other fellows in the college.

Dr. Kadambari Rawal honored at New Dentists Conference

Rawal was also recognized during the conference as one of the ADA’s 10 under 10, an annual award honoring new dentists.

The ceremony, which took place on the morning of Friday, September 6, 2019, kicked off the second day of the New Dentist Conference at the Moscone Center.

Rawal, along with the nine other dentists named to the list, were introduced to attendees and awarded a translucent plaque honoring their accomplishments.

Each year, the ADA selects 10 dentists with less than 10 years of experience who are making a mark on their profession. Those selected are chosen for making a difference in science, research and education; practice excellence; philanthropy; leadership; and advocacy.

To read more about Dr. Rawal, click here.

ICD inducts 18 members of the GSDM community

A record-breaking 18 GSDM alumni and faculty were inducted into the ICD during a convocation ceremony on Friday, September 6, 2019 at the Hilton Union Square in San Francisco.

As music played in the background, the inductees entered the ballroom wearing black robes trimmed with green, gold, and lavender. Along with the other inductees in their respective districts, GSDM alumni and faculty crossed the stage one by one to receive a plaque honoring their induction, before posing for a group photograph.

“Your induction into [this] fellowship indicates that you have made significant contributions to your profession and or the society,” said keynote speaker Dr. Theodore M. Roberson, the former president of the ICD USA Section foundation.

The ICD has 12,000 members in over 122 countries. Fellowship in the organization is by invitation only and is granted in recognition of an individual dentist’s outstanding professional achievement, meritorious service and dedication to the continued progress of dentistry for the benefit of humankind.

To see more photos from the ACD, ICD, and ADA 10 under 10 ceremonies, visit our Flickr page.

For Mark Desrosiers ENDO 06, the equation is simple: giving back is its own reward.

“It has been said that there are three things that we can give—time, talent, and treasure,” he said. “To the extent that I can, I’ve tried to give all three—and I’m asking each of you to do that, because truly in giving, I think that’s how we get our rewards.”

For that selfless commitment to his profession, his School, and his community, Desrosiers was named the 2019 Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine Distinguished Alumnus. He received the award during the annual Alumni Weekend reception on Friday, September 20, 2019, at the Four Seasons Hotel.

The award is presented annually to an alumnus who has made outstanding contributions to the School, to the profession, or to his or her community. The award can be given to an alumnus in recognition of contributions in any one of those categories, or for contributions across all three.

“Mark…..is neither flashy nor attention seeking,” Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter said. “Rather, he is someone who quietly goes about his work, relentlessly pursuing excellence in his own practice while supporting his community and mentoring aspiring dentists and endodontists. When he sees a chance to get involved and make a difference, he takes it – and then works tirelessly behind the scenes to make positive change happen.”

In 2018, Desrosiers received the President’s Award from the American Association of Endodontists (AAE); the award is one of the highest honors given out by the Association. He has held a variety of leadership positions with the American Dental Association, AAE and Connecticut State Dental Association.

Desrosiers, who maintains a private endodontics practice in Connecticut and serves as a volunteer faculty member at the school, received his DMD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in 1984 and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in endodontics from GSDM in 2006. Desrosiers is married to Susan Desrosiers, and the couple has two children, Matthew and Sarah.

As he accepted the award, Desrosiers spoke about his love for GSDM’s tight-knit community—and the importance of supporting that sentiment among the next generation of alumni.

“When I was a resident, going to meetings like this…..[there was a] sense of family that I got from BU,” he said. “I want to stress how important that was, for me….and how important it is for us, to make sure that the upcoming students realize and appreciate that.”

Pediatric dentistry resident Dr. Miriam Walker feels a sense of connection with Dr. Elizabeth “Bessie” Delany.

Delany was the second African American woman licensed to practice dentistry in New York State as she managed and operated a practice in Harlem for many years. She was also active in civil rights, and openly defied the segregation laws of her time. At the age of 101, she and her sister Sarah “Sadie” Delany co-authored “Having our Say: The Delany Sisters’ First 100 Years,” which became a New York Times bestselling book.

“One thing that was really special about [Delany was] that regardless of inflation, of how the trends were going in dentistry—she never increased her fees for those who needed dental work and services the most,” Walker said. “She really gave back to her community.”

“I plan on going back to Tennessee [after residency] and plan on serving the less fortunate, or those who may not have the best access to dental care,” Walker said. “The research I’ve done in the past and do now has a lot to do with helping children who may not have the best access to care…..and that’s why I relate to the missions that Dr. Delany had.”

It is fitting, then, that Walker, a pediatric dentistry resident at the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM), is the 2019 recipient of the Dr. Bessie Delany Scholarship Postdoctoral Award, which she received during the National Dental Association (NDA) convention, held in Washington D.C. in July 2019.

The scholarship is given annually to a female African American dentist who is pursuing an additional degree in an area such as public health, administration, pediatric dentistry, research, or law.

“Congratulations to Dr. Walker for her well-earned scholarship,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. “I know that I speak for the entire school when I say it is truly wonderful to see a resident like Dr. Walker receiving recognition for her dedication and hard work.”

Walker, who is from Nashville, Tennessee, received her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry in Nashville. She chose GSDM for her residency because of the variety of opportunities it offered—and because of its location in Boston, which she called a “city of thinkers.”

“When I came to BU, I felt like it was a place where you could do research, and in so doing, make an impact on the world,” she said. “I felt like BU had the best of what Boston had to offer.”

As a pediatric dentistry resident, Walker has rotated through four different sites, spending time in the patient treatment center at GSDM, Boston Medical Center, a community health center in East Boston, and Franciscan’s Children’s Hospital in Brighton.

“All four sites are very different,” she said. “We really get a wide variety in regards to our experience.”

In addition to her time in the patient treatment center, Walker is working on a research project where she examines the bacteria load in children.

“We have a chair side method of testing streptococcus mutans, which are the bacteria that causes cavities,” she said. “Then we correlate that to their actual decay, missing, filled and treated teeth that they have.”

Walker said that she finds working in pediatric dentistry particularly rewarding because of the difference she gets to make in childrens’ lives.

“The habits you instill on a child, and the experience that a child has while they’re still young, carries….it’s with them for their entire life,” she said. “I felt like if I really wanted to make a difference in how people view oral health, and taking care of their teeth, I felt like I should start young—they’re receptive, they’re very open, they’re very curious….they house the best of what humans have to offer.”

The Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) has become the first U.S. dental school to acquire, install, and use two surgical robotic devices for dental implant surgeries.

These devices will provide an opportunity for the School’s predoctoral students and postdoctoral residents to learn how state-of-the-art robotic technology, with its accuracy and precision during dental surgery, can augment and enhance clinical practice and patient care.

The robot-assisted surgical device, known as Yomi, was developed by Miami-based healthcare start-up Neocis. It is the first (and to date, only) such device cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for dental implant surgery.

“This technology is truly revolutionary and will change – and improve – the way we approach dental implant surgeries at the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine,” said Dr. Alexander Bendayan, GSDM’s assistant dean of digital development & clinical training. “Introducing this advanced technology to our patient treatment centers will ensure that our predoctoral students and postdoctoral residents are prepared to be leaders in the field and will help to establish new standards of care for the profession.”

Using the Yomi system, the provider performing the surgical procedure first creates a virtual plan for the placement of a dental implant using detailed 3D scans of the patient’s mouth. The system then uses physical cues to guide the provider along the precise implementation of that plan – but is also able to adjust dynamically to accommodate mid-procedure changes. Yomi augments a provider’s ‘feel,’ giving real-time feedback via haptic technology to guide a provider along the treatment plan. But the provider controls the handpiece at all times: By design, the Yomi system complements, rather than overrides, a provider’s clinical expertise.

“We believe that Yomi may become a new standard of care for dental implants, and are thrilled to be working alongside the faculty, students, and residents at GSDM to implement this technology,” said Dr. Alon Mozes, co-founder and CEO of Neocis, and a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board at GSDM. “By embedding the technology at the dental-school level, we are building comfort and skill with this technology from the ground up.”

The School, with the assistance of trained technicians from Neocis, completed installing and calibrating the robotic devices in late September. GSDM faculty members participated in a rigorous two-day trainings on the Yomi system on September 25-26, 2019; additional two-day trainings will be held throughout October, and November. Once trained, faculty members will use the Yomi system on their own patients and will also instruct GSDM predoctoral students and postdoctoral residents on the technology. Neocis will provide ongoing service and support.

With the acquisition of Yomi, GSDM continues its commitment to pioneering new dental technologies in its predoctoral and postdoctoral educational programs. In 2015, GSDM became the first dental school in the U.S. to implement CAD/CAM guided dental implant surgery, first using CEREC and SICAT guides and then, in 2018, introducing Nobel Biocare guides. All predoctoral students at GSDM currently have the opportunity to place a dental implant using guided surgery – a rarity for U.S. predoctoral dental programs – and soon will be able to also gain experience using the first robot-assisted dental surgical system in the U.S..

“At the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, innovation is more than a buzz word: It’s a mindset,” said Dr. Jeffrey W. Hutter, dean and Spencer N. Frankl professor in dental medicine. “Our School has always been a leader in embracing cutting-edge dental technologies, and I am proud to continue that tradition of innovation with Yomi.”

Weihao Wang DMD 20 won a Basic Science Research Award at the 25th annual Hinman Student Research Symposium for his project, “Early Determinants of Ductal Patterning in the Developing Submandibular Gland.” More than 100 dental students and trainees from across North America gave oral and poster presentations on their research projects during the Hinman Symposium, which was held in early November 2019 in Memphis, Tennessee. Ten outstanding projects were selected for awards, five for basic science research and five for clinical research.

Wei conducted his research in the laboratory of Dr. Maria Kukuruzinska, associate dean for research and ad interim chair and professor of Translational Dental Medicine at GSDM. They studied the development of the submandibular salivary gland, specifically focusing on presumptive duct formation in early embryonic mice, aiming to map the development pattern of salivary glands on a molecular level. This research represents an important step towards efforts to regenerate human salivary glands in patients who suffer from Sjogren’s syndrome and from side effects of radiation therapy.

Wei’s research career began as an undergraduate at SUNY Albany, where he worked in the laboratory of Dr. Melinda Larsen on salivary gland tissue development. During his time there, he won multiple awards and STEM fellowships for his research work. After graduating from dental school, Wei plans to continue his research into regenerative endodontics therapy while using his strong evidence-based skills to practice dentistry in the patient treatment center.

The Hinman Student Research Symposium is sponsored by the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry and co-sponsored by the Hinman Dental Society. The event aims to recognize and encourage student dental research. This year’s Symposium featured Dr. Martha Somerman, director of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) as the keynote speaker.

Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter and Dr. Kukuruzinska presented Wang with his award during a ceremony in the dean’s office on Monday, January 6, 2019.

“I’m very honored to receive this award,” said Wang. “I’m happy to see all my hard work pay off, and in the future, I want to use this honor and also my enthusiasm to strengthen my career path and become a better clinician.”

Eleven alumni of the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine were inducted into the American College of Dentists on October 15, 2020, via a virtual, live-streamed ceremony. The Convocation of Fellows included the affirmation of fellowship, the roll call of new fellows, an awards presentation, and remarks from guest speaker Major General Richard W. Thomas, President of the Uniformed Health Services University.

• Fahad Al-Harbi PROS 00
• Susan Camacho DPH 81 DMD 90
• Pelly Chang DMD 89
• Reza Iranmanesh PROS 88
• Bassel Kano DMD 00 ENDO 04
• John P. Kiang MED 07 DMD 10
• Celeste Kong PROS 84 DMD 87
• I. Blake McKinley ENDO 97
• Joseph Pezza ORTHO 83
• Nadia Stymiest DMD 13
• Howard Zolot PERIO 85

“Achieving fellowship in the American College of Dentists is a wonderful accomplishment and one that each of these alumni must feel very proud in achieving,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter.

The American College of Dentists (ACD) is the oldest major honorary organization for dentists. In order to be granted fellowship, candidates must be nominated by other fellows in the college. Typically, the organization holds an in-person convocation for its newest fellows during the American Dental Association’s annual meeting; this year’s event was moved online due to the ongoing pandemic.

The International College of Dentists, which also typically inducts new fellows during the ADA’s annual meeting, expects to hold a virtual convocation ceremony later this year.

Maryam Shomali CAS 87 ENDO 93 joined organized dentistry after graduating from dental school in 1990—but it wasn’t until 10 years ago that she became actively involved with her Massachusetts Dental Society (MDS) district, the Metropolitan District Dental Society (MDDS).

“I was a quiet member—I would attend a meeting on and off— but it wasn’t until the last 10 years that I got more involved,” Shomali said. “For me, it brings a camaraderie between you and your colleagues. Organized dentistry can be an isolating field. You’re in your room with your patients all the time. It wasn’t until I became involved with all of these volunteer positions that I realized … it’s nice to hang out with your friends, your colleagues, tap into their knowledge, get guidance from them, give back to the community.”

Shomali has come a long way since her days as a “quieter” member: She was recently named the winner of the MDDS’ 2020 Burke Volunteer award, which is presented each year to an MDDS member “in recognition of the outstanding efforts and contributions which have been put forth by the recipient for the betterment of the dental society, the practice of the dental arts, and the entire dental community,” according to the MDDS.

“I was actually very surprised,” said Shomali, “and I felt honored and humbled because I know that [it’s] a very prestigious award.”

Shomali has held a variety of leadership positions in the Metropolitan District Dental Society, which consists of several towns in the greater Boston area; she currently serves as MDDS treasurer and previously served as the organization's chair. She has also served as president of the Charles River Study club, chair of the Continuing Education Committee, and as a member of the Social Event Planning Committee. Shomali is also the president-elect for the GSDM Alumni Association.

Shomali also has volunteered for several years at the Metropolitan District’s “Give Kids a Smile” event, where children in need have the opportunity to partake in dental exams, x-rays and cleanings.

“It’s seeing those kids’ faces, their smiles—they’re so excited to learn how to brush their teeth, and the parents are so grateful about having this program that’s free to them,” Shomali said. “They feel like the dental community is taking care of them.”

Shomali said that her time at GSDM—in particular, the opportunity to study under the late Herbert Schilder, who chaired the GSDM endodontics department from 1963 to 2003—inspired her to get involved in organized dentistry.

“He [was] adamant that his residents become a member of the American Association of Endodontists (AAE),” she said.

Shomali graduated from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, where she received her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree. After practicing general dentistry for a year, she entered GSDM, where she was awarded a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies  in Endodontics in 1993. Shomali has worked in private practice for the last 27 years, and holds the rank of clinical assistant professor at GSDM.

Nutrition is a vital component of any healthcare professional student’s education—but what if there was a more exciting  and engaging way to learn about it? 

Annce Kadri DMD 22, Skelly Enabulele (UMass Med 21) and Robert Gargano (GMS 18, NYU Dentistry 22) hope to answer that question with the help of a seed grant they won during the Innovate@BU Community Impact Challenge in November 2020. The grant will support the trio’s efforts to teach healthcare professional students about nutrition – and how to communicate about nutrition – through interactive, virtual cooking lessons. 

“Our goal is to educate healthcare professional students—medical, dental, nursing and public health students— on how to communicate with their patients and to provide education in a culturally competent way,” Kadri said. 

Innovate@BU is a University-wide initiative to enable all BU Terriers to become drivers of innovation in their own lives, careers, and communities. This fall, Innovate@BU challenged BU students to develop ideas to support and promote wellbeing in their communities at BU and beyond. Kadri and his team entered their project – which they titled “Teeth n’ Bones” – into the local-community category and were selected as one of 10 finalists to receive a $500 seed grant. On November 20, they participated in a “Finalists Showcase,” where they pitched their idea to participants in the hope of receiving additional funding. 

Due to the COVID-19 social distancing restrictions, the showcase was hosted virtually. Each team had one minute to pitch their idea. Participants were then able to “visit” each team at a showcase “table” to learn more about the idea or share feedback. Participants then voted for their favorite team to receive additional funding—and Teeth n’ Bones was one of two teams to receive additional funding.  

“During the showcase, our table was so full that REMO [the virtual table system] kept crashing on us because it couldn’t let everyone in,” said Kadri. “We ended up being the most voted-for topic, [so] we got the additional funding.” 

Kadri said that the next step for Teeth n’ Bones is to become a business in the state of Massachusetts. Once they’re recognized as an entity in the state, they hope to work with meal distribution companies to help with the logistics of distributing meal kits to accompany the teaching in the kitchen lessons. 

Long-term, he said that he hopes to see the project have a website, a partnership with a meal kit company and to invite guest chefs who specialize in a variety of cuisines to teach lessons. 

“We’ll have a database of culturally diverse recipes, so a dentist or physician could send their patient to our website—or to have the provider distribute them [to the patient] themselves,” Kadri said. 

He continued: “You’re not going to tell someone from Jamaica who moved here [to the U.S.] five years ago to eat something that you would tell an Eastern European immigrant to eat—they would have different palates and taste preferences, so we’re trying to develop recipes that would appeal to different cultures.”

Kadri said that it’s important for healthcare professionals to be educated on nutrition and to pass that knowledge along to their patients.  

“Preventative medicine is the best medicine,” said Kadri, noting that nutrition and medical conditions can be closely linked. “If we talk to [patients about nutrition], educate them in a sustainable way, appeal to what they like, I’m hoping we can chip away at their medical conditions and have better oral health and systemic health outcomes.” 

When Sean Rayment DMD 97 DSc 00 graduated from Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM), he found himself looking for ways to stay connected with his peers.

“When I was at BU, I was the president of my class for three years and did volunteer work with a couple of different committees, as well as the alumni organization,” Rayment said. “When I graduated, I just wanted to stay connected to everyone.”

Two decades later, Rayment is being recognized for his volunteer work with organized dentistry by the Massachusetts Dental Society, which recently named him the 2021 William McKenna Volunteer Hero. This recognition, named in honor of the late Dr. William McKenna, is the society’s way of thanking those members who go above and beyond to help the MDS achieve its goals, inspire colleagues, and advance the dental profession.

Rayment said he was surprised—but thrilled—to be recognized.

“There’s a lot of people who have been honored with the award in the past and they’ve done so much, so it was really humbling to be included in that category,” he said.

Rayment started volunteering at the Yankee Dental Congress after graduating from GSDM, doing everything from working in the information booth to serving as presiding chair of the event. He has also served on the Delta Audit Task Force, as a delegate to the MDS House of Delegates, Leadership Institute 2016-2018, Mentor Program, as a member of the Yankee General Arrangement Committee and MDS Ethics Subcommittee, and is an MDS Foundation donor and an MDS Political Action Committee supporter.

From 2016 to 2020, Rayment chaired the MDS Dentist Health and Wellness Committee (DHWC), which serves to provide resources and services to MDS members to improve their overall health and well-being.

“Over time, we’ve really built it up to being a much bigger program than it was 10 years ago, so we’re able to offer a lot of services and programs for members,” Rayment said. “I really enjoy it. We have a lot of fun, a terrific team of volunteers with the committee.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the DHWC stepped up to help MDS members, providing resources including a private Facebook group where members could connect and share wellness tips.

“We had our committee together basically the same day to talk on the phone, about everything that was going on—what we needed to do, services we needed to provide,” Rayment said. “We had no idea what we were going to need to do, but we knew it was going to be a difficult time.”

Rayment, who is also the immediate past president of the GSDM Alumni Board, said that organized dentistry provides ample opportunities to give back to the larger community.

“When you’re a part of these organizations, there’s a lot of volunteer opportunities available,” Rayment said. “I enjoy it. It’s a lot of fun and you feel like you’re giving back.”

Twenty-nine members of the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) community were inducted into the American College of Dentists (ACD) and the International College of Dentists (ICD) in 2021— a testament to the significant contributions that GSDM alumni and faculty have made to the dental profession. 

 “A person must be nominated by two current fellows for either of these honorary organizations and it truly is an honor to be considered for fellowship,” said Celeste Kong PROS 84 DMD 87, chair and professor of General Dentistry. “As a proud fellow for both of these wonderful organizations and the current deputy regent for Massachusetts ICD, I often recruit colleagues from GSDM as I believe we have stellar faculty who by virtue of their dedication to education and promoting oral health care, are already the types of fellows ICD and ACD are seeking.”  

 Twelve GSDM alumni or faculty were inducted into the ACD, which is the oldest major honorary organization for dentists in the U.S.. In order to be granted fellowship, candidates must be nominated by other fellows in the college. Typically, the organization holds an in-person convocation for its newest fellows during the American Dental Association’s annual meeting; this year, inductees were honored virtually during a ceremony on October 14, 2021.  

 Seventeen GSDM faculty or alumni also joined the ranks of the ICD during a virtual induction ceremony on December 3, 2021, which can be streamed here. The ICD has 12,000 members in over 122 countries. Fellowship in the organization is by invitation only and is granted in recognition of an individual dentist’s outstanding professional achievement, meritorious service and dedication to the continued progress of dentistry for the benefit of humankind. 

“Congratulations to all of our alumni and faculty who were inducted into the ACD and the ICD,” Stacey McNamee, director of Alumni Relations & Annual Giving, said. “Being inducted into these organizations is an honor—I know that I speak for all of us at GSDM when I say that we are proud of you!”  

We apologize if we missed any GSDM faculty or alumni who were inducted into ACD or ICD last year. Please email gsdmcomm@bu.edu to let us know if we’ve inadvertently overlooked you, and we will update our story.