When 8-year-old Lillington resident Leiah Patrick took home a flier from school inviting her to a children’s dental care event at the local ECU School of Dental Medicine Community Service Learning Center, her mother Brenda jumped at the chance to have her daughter screened for oral health problems.

Leiah Patrick and 50 other children received dental screenings, cleanings, sealants and fluoride treatments during a recent Give Kids a Smile event at the ECU School of Dental Medicine Community Service Learning Center in Lillington. (Photo by Peggy Novotny)

During the Feb. 4 Give Kids a Smile event, Leiah and 50 other Harnett County children hopped up into dental chairs and allowed teams of dentists, dental residents and students, dental hygienists, and dental assistants to screen their mouths for cavities, broken teeth, infections and other potentially threatening oral health problems.

The teams also delivered cleanings, sealants and fluoride treatments that will help defend the children’s primary and adult teeth from cavities in the short run.

Although Leiah didn’t have cavities, many of her peers did, along with infections and a range of other oral health problems.

ECU pediatric dentistry resident Dr. Laura Johnson was among the many volunteers delivering dental care at Greenville’s Give Kids a Smile event Feb. 3.

“I’m so happy about what’s happened here for Leiah,” said her mother. “Everybody has been wonderful. I’m really glad this center is here. We’ll definitely come back.”

Several parents scheduled follow-up appointments for their children to begin receiving care from the center’s dental faculty, residents, fourth-year dental students and staff. ECU offers dental care at reduced cost and accepts patients enrolled in North Carolina dental Medicaid.

The American Dental Association Foundation’s Give Kids a Smile program is the annual centerpiece of National Children’s Dental Health Month. In early February, many of the nation’s dentists provide free oral health care services to underserved children across the country while aiming to increase awareness of the ongoing challenges that disadvantaged children face in accessing dental care.

“Give Kids a Smile is another avenue for our school to improve oral health by letting kids who might not otherwise have the opportunity to see a dentist come in and receive screenings so they can get started on improving their oral health,” said Dr. Greg Chadwick, dean of the dental school.

“These events also raise awareness of our state’s access-to-care challenge and help get the public and community leaders engaged.”

ECU School of Dental Medicine pediatric dentistry resident Dr. Mark Cummings also joined the band of volunteers providing dental care at Greenville’s Give Kids a Smile event Feb. 3.

On Feb. 3 in Greenville, ECU School of Dental Medicine faculty, residents, students and staff joined forces with the East Central Dental Society to hold a Give Kids a Smile event at the office of Eastern Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry. Local dentists and volunteers completed crowns, extractions, fillings, x-rays and sealants for 100 children.

A display showing the amount of sugar in popular beverages caught the attention of many children and parents. Most were surprised to learn that a 12-ounce can of soda contains 10 teaspoons of sugar.

“There is a lot of public education to be done concerning oral health care,” said Dr. Christopher Cotteril, the dental school’s division director of pediatric dentistry. “Events like Give Kids a Smile are important, but families need to take responsibility for their oral health. Cavities are a preventable disease in most cases, and a daily regimen of brushing and flossing along with controlling diet and seeing a dental professional regularly can save suffering and expense.”

“Parents of young children need to know they cannot just hand a toothbrush to a 2-year-old and expect them to brush effectively. Brushing and flossing need to be supervised until children can do a good job on their own; for most children, that’s about the age of 8.”

The dental school’s Community Service Learning Centers in Ahoskie, Elizabeth City and Brunswick county also recently provided screenings, cleanings and fluoride treatments for local children. The Davidson County center will hold an event Feb. 11.

Many other health care organizations participated in Give Kids a Smile across the various locations, offering health screenings, nutrition information, medicine adherence counseling and referral services. Partners included the Pitt County Health Department, ECU’s Brody School of Medicine, ECU’s College of Nursing, James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at Vidant Medical Center, Harnett County Health Department, Campbell University and Central Carolina Community College.

Since Give Kids a Smile began in 2003, more than 21,950 volunteers across North Carolina have provided over $13.7 million in dental care to more than 185,000 children, according to the North Carolina Dental Society.

ECU dental student Melanie Smith (left) and pediatric dentistry faculty member Dr. Loren Alves with Dayton Cain Powers following his screening at the recent Give Kids a Smile event in Greenville. (Photos by Cliff Hollis)

Feb. 6, 2017
By Peggy Novotny
University Communication

As the gateway to the body’s internal organs, the mouth introduces the foods that keep us nourished and well. The mouth can also reveal signs of nutrition disorders to health professionals who know what to look for.

Dr. Geralyn Crain, dental faculty member and interim assistant vice chancellor for ECU health sciences interprofessional collaboration, guides workshop participants from the Department of Nutrition Science as they practice oral examination skills. (Photos by Cliff Hollis)

That was the focus of an April 7 workshop hosted by East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine faculty members for dietetic interns and master’s students in ECU’s Department of Nutrition Science.

“Today’s workshop is a ‘first’ for dental and nutrition science faculty collaboration,” said Dr. Geralyn Crain, dental faculty member and interim assistant vice chancellor for interprofessional collaboration for the ECU Division of Health Sciences. “I’d like to see the dental and nutrition science areas become regular partners,” she said.

Dental faculty members Dr. Nisha Ganesh and Dr. Troy Sluder shared a presentation that dealt with building an interprofessional oral health team. They illustrated normal structures in the oral cavity, demonstrated how to perform oral exams, and helped workshop participants perform oral exams on each other.

Keri Biles performs a practice oral exam on fellow dietetic intern Erin Jones.

Then the dental school’s pathologist, Dr. Bobby Collins, delivered a slide show about the oral manifestations of nutrition deficiency to help students recognize oral abnormalities that require nutritional and medical interventions.

Dr. Sylvia Escott-Stump, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition Science and director of East Carolina’s dietetic internship program, said that malnutrition includes not only under-nutrition, but also over-nutrition or obesity.

“What people assume, including some doctors, is that people who are overweight are well nourished, though their diet might be terrible, like eating all fats or all sugars,” Escott-Stump said. “So nutritionists need to be able to recognize signs of malnutrition, which can often be detected in the mouth and eyes.”

Dietetic intern Karen Neunzig said that oral exams are not part of nutritional assessments for patients at the Whiteville hospital where she works.

“I can see where using an oral-based exam in unison with lab values and diet recall could be quite effective in getting a clear picture of a patient’s nutrition status,” she said following the workshop.

Sarah Stephens practices an oral exam on Julie Johnson. Both are dietetic interns.

Crain and a leadership team from across the health sciences division are exploring ways to promote and support interprofessional practice, learning, research and service throughout the division as part of a growing trend toward a patient-centered, collaborative approach to health care.

“There is no fence blocking inflammation caused by periodontal disease – that is, the effects of diseases of the gums and bone structure around the teeth – from spreading to other organs of the body,” said Crain. “There is growing evidence in the connection between the inflammation caused by periodontal disease and heart disease, low neonatal birth weight and preterm delivery, and other disorders.

“It’s time to put the mouth back in the body and realize the importance of the mouth when assessing patient health,” Crain added.

Crain said there is a current trend among primary care doctors to include examination of the oral cavity as part of the routine exam that evaluates a patient’s head, ears, eyes, nose and throat.

Under Crain’s leadership, the School of Dental Medicine – the newest school in the Division of Health Sciences – joins the Brody School of Medicine, College of Nursing and College of Allied Health Sciences in the interprofessional work they have been engaged in for a number of years.

In recent collaborations, students in the accelerated second-degree Bachelor of Science in nursing program helped screen patients for the dental school’s clinics;general dentistry practice residents provided instruction in oral health screening and examination for nurse-midwifery students in ECU’s College of Nursing. And dental students helped to establish a Prenatal Oral Health Program in collaboration with the Brody School of Medicine’s obstetrics and gynecology clinic.

Dental faculty member Dr. Troy Sluder demonstrates how to perform an oral exam during a recent workshop that dental faculty held for nutrition students and dietetic interns.

“The learning between professions needs to go both ways,” Crain said. “For example, we are exploring ways to incorporate more nutrition science education into the dental school curriculum and clinics, and we’ll look to our nutrition science colleagues at ECU for partnership. There are so many ways that the health sciences can collaborate that will lead to reduced health care costs and enhanced patient outcomes.”

April 10, 2017
By Peggy Novotny
University Communication

The ECU School of Dental Medicine is proud to have graduated the Class of 2017 on May 6. Listed here are the names of the graduates, their towns of origins in parentheses, and their immediate professional plans.

The school is also proud to list awards and honors earned by the graduates. We will miss these exceptional dentists and wish them every success in their future endeavors.

ECU SoDM Class of 2017

Doctor of Dental Medicine Graduates

Class of 2017

Elise Cameron Brace (Wilmington, NC)
Private Practice, Raleigh, NC

Kurtis A. Bryan (Winnabow, NC)
General Practice Residency, Palmetto Health Center, Columbia, SC 

Terrence Lamont Campbell (Raleigh, NC)
Orthodontics Residenc, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Daria Parice Clegg (Harrisburg, NC)
Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency, ECU School of Dental Medicine CSLC—Davidson County, NC

Gustavo Andres Delgado (Charlotte, NC)
Private Practice, Charlotte, NC

Molly Brock Elliott (Durham, NC)
Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Fayetteville, NC

Jeremiah J. Faw (North Wilkesboro, NC)
Wilkes County Public Health Dental Clinic, Wilkesboro, NC

Rebekah Esther Finger (Lincolnton, NC)
Private Practice, Henderson, NC

Johnique Althia Fonville (New Bern, NC)
General Practice Residency, Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center, Bronx, NY

Ernest Anderson Garner, Jr. (Garysburg, NC)
Private Practice in Charlotte, NC

Mariann Isis Ghaly (Charlotte, NC)
General Practice Residency, University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville, TN

Saul Gonzalez (Garner, NC)
Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency, ECU School of Dental Medicine CSLC—Lillington, NC

Boone Haynes Groce (Jonesville, NC)
Private Practice, Taylorsville, NC

Nikki Ray Harrold (North Wilkesboro, NC)
Wilkes County Public Health Dental Clinic, Wilkesboro, NC

Mark Edward Herring (Wilmington, NC)
Pediatric Dentistry Residency at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia/University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

Taylor Lee Hewett (Advance, NC)
Private Practice, Clemmons, NC 

Zachary Scott Holcombe (Greenville, NC)
Private Practice, Asheville, NC

C. Craven Jameson II (Kitty Hawk, NC)
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency, Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT

Kristen Fischer Jilg (Goldsboro, NC)
Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency, Lutheran Medical Center, Snow Hill/Greenville, NC

Crystal Anne Joyce (Cary, NC)
Private Practice, Midlothian, VA

Eric Scott Kelly (Raleigh, NC)
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Internship, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY

Caroline Elizabeth Kennedy (Hickory, NC)
Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency, ECU School of Dental Medicine CSLC—Ahoskie, NC.

Michael Brandon Landreth (Advance, NC)
Private Practice, Charlotte, NC

Kenneth Boyd Lewis, Jr. (Fayetteville, NC)
Private Practice, Fayetteville, NC

Bradley Joseph Macdonald (Greensboro, NC)
Private Practice, Archdale, NC

Pooja Rajendraprasad Makam (Cary, NC)
Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Dayton, OH

Craig A. Marva (Jacksonville, NC)
Private Practice, Kinston, NC

Andrew Steven McCoy (Washington, NC)
Private Practice in Washington, NC

Caitlin Leigh Miller (Pinehurst, NC)
Private Practice, Lexington, NC

Shenee Denise Mitchell (Fayetteville, NC)
Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency, ECU School of Dental Medicine CSLC—Brunswick County, NC

Kaaenaat Sayyieda Mustafa (Cary, NC)
General Practice Residency, Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center, Bronx, NY

Katrina Jessica Myers (Belmont, NC)
Oral Medicine Residency, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC

Jennifer Ming Pan (Greensboro, NC)
Prosthodontics Residency,Veterans Affairs Medical Center,  San Francisco, CA

Hunter B. Perry (Rocky Mount, NC)
Private Practice, Rocky Mount, NC

Katlin Brooke Povich (New Bern, NC)
Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency, Veterans Affairs Medical Center,Fayetteville, NC

Scott Zachary Pugh (Sparta, NC)
Private Practice, Winston-Salem, NC

Janay Braxton Purdie (Greenville, NC)
General Practice Residency, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC

Jennifer Halley Rominger (Advance, NC)
Pediatric Dentistry Residency, Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital, Richmond, VA

Yuliya Rudnitsky (Harrisburg, NC)
General Practice Residency, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE

Scott Steven Smith (Wilmington, NC)
Private Practice, Charlotte, NC

Christopher David Sparks, Jr. (Burlington, NC)
Private Practice, Hendersonville, NC

Parisa Tashakkori (Boone, NC)
Private Practice, Raleigh, NC

Andrew Nicholas Troupes (Charlotte, NC)
Private Practice, Charlotte, NC

Jordan Ransome White (Pedleton, NC)
Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency, Lutheran Medical Center, Juneau, AK

LaJoi Elaine Wiggins (Raleigh, NC)
General Practice Residency, Oklahoma University Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK

Sneha Chitra Yerra (Roanoke Rapids, NC)
Private Practice, Roanoke Rapids, NC

Jeffrey Christian Zackeru (Supply, NC)
Private Practice, Winston-Salem, NC

Academic Honors and Awards

Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society
Established in 1914 to promote and recognize scholarship and character among students of dentistry

Kurtis A. Bryan
Rebekah Esther Finger
Mariann Isis Ghaly
Michael Brandon Landreth
Caitlin Leigh Miller
Parisa Tashakkori

Academy of Dentistry International Student Servant Leadership Award Recognizing leadership, community service, and an outstanding compassion for serving patients through patient care and patient education
Parisa Tashakkori

Academy of General Dentistry Senior Student Award
Recognizing the potential to become an outstanding general dentist
Michael Brandon Landreth and Caitlin Leigh Miller

Academy of Operative Dentistry Student Award
Recognizing excellence and outstanding achievement in Operative Dentistry
Rebekah Esther Finger

Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Predoctoral Student Award
Recognizing promise in pediatric dentistry
Mark Edward Herring

American Academy of Oral Medicine Award
Recognizing proficiency in the clinical management of medically complex patients and academic achievement and interest in the discipline of Oral Medicine
M. Janay Braxton Purdie

American Academy of Periodontology Dental Student Award
Recognizing the highest level of academic and clinical achievement related to Periodontics Rebekah Esther Finger

American Association of Endodontists Student Achievement Award in Endodontics
Recognizing an interest, involvement, and academic achievement in Endodontics
Michael Brandon Landreth

American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Dental Student Award
Recognizing high academic standing for outstanding performance in study and clinical training in the area of oral and maxillofacial surgery and anesthesiolog
C. Craven Jameson II

American Association of Orthodontists Award
Recognizing exceptional interest in the study of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
Caroline Elizabeth Kennedy

American Association of Women Dentists Eleanor J. Bushee Senior Dental Student Award
Recognizing achievement of academic excellence and demonstration of outstanding leadership
Nikki Ray Harrold

American College of Dentists Outstanding Student Leader Award
Recognizing a combination of both outstanding scholastic performance and demonstrated leadership
Rebekah Esther Finger

American College of Prosthodontists Predoctoral Student Prosthodontic Achievement Award
Recognizing a student who excelled in Prosthodontics
Jennifer Ming Pan

American Student Dental Association Award of Excellence
Recognizing the spirit of volunteerism and student participation or leadership in service to the school or local community
LaJoi Elaine Wiggins

Community Commitment Award
Recognizing enthusiastic devotion to the mission of the East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine and potential for further fulfilling the mission of the school Sponsored by Practicon, Inc.
Kurtis A. Bryan

International College of Dentists Student Humanitarian Award
Recognizing the potential to continue to be a leader and a participant in humanitarian outreach programs after graduation
Jordan Ransome White

International College of Dentists Student Leadership Award
Recognizing demonstrated leadership and the potential to continue in leadership roles after graduation
Terrence Lamont Campbell

North Carolina Dental Society Student Leader in Organized Dentistry Award
Recognizing exceptional leadership and interest in organized dentistry
LaJoi Elaine Wiggins

Old North State Dental Society Community Commitment Award
Recognizing exceptional commitment to community service and organized dentistry and demonstrated activism in keeping with the school’s mission and selfless servitude toward the underserved population of North Carolina, and more specifically Greenville.
Terrence Lamont Campbell

North Carolina Schweitzer Fellows
For emerging professionals who enter the workforce with the skills and commitment necessary to address unmet needs Funded by the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Foundation of North Carolina.
Mark Edward Herring and Michael Brandon Landreth

Major General Thomas R. Tempel, Jr., Commanding General of the U.S. Army Regional Health Command, delivered the dental school’s Graduation Convocation address on Saturday, May 6, 2017, in Wright Auditorium.

Tempel told the 47 graduates that after paying a visit to the dental school’s Community Service Learning Center in Ahoskie, N.C., he had considered rewriting his speech. “I was so impressed with the model of education and the great people I met,” he said. “You are very lucky to have been selected to attend ECU’s dental school.”

Temple stressed the growing importance of interprofessional collaboration in healthcare. He spoke of how an Army dental assistant had recognized a soldier’s mental depression during a recent appointment. The dental assistant reported this to the dentist, and the young soldier was referred to mental health services. Later, the parents of the soldier wrote a letter thanking the dental team for saving their son’s life.

“Where I see interprofessional collaboration between dentistry, medicine, nursing, bioengineering and other disciplines, the results are spectacular,” said Temple. “We can’t achieve overall health without a team effort.”

Major General Thomas R. Tempel, Jr.

Tempel advised the new dentists to “Seek opportunities to serve your community, your state and our nation through civic activities and organized dentistry. The greater the challenge, the greater the reward, and the greater the difference you can make to those we serve.”

Major General Tempel, Jr. assumed duty as the 27^th Chief of the US Army Dental Corps in May of 2014 and as Commanding General of the U.S. Army Regional Health Command—Central in December 2015.

He graduated and received his commission from Gettysburg College in 1987 and then attended the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. He completed a one year dental internship at Fort Jackson, S.C., and then a two year residency in comprehensive dentistry at Fort Bragg, N.C. In addition, he has a master’s degree from the US Army War College and has been appointed as professor of the practice of military dentistry in the Army Postgraduate Dental School, within the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences.

He has led at all levels in the Army Medical Department, from commanding a dental company in Landstuhl, Germany, which included a year in Iraq with Task Force 44^th MEDCOM, to serving as the commanding general of a regional health system. Highlights of his career include service with several special operations units and leading medical and dental units throughout the United States and Europe.

Major General Tempel is a Diplomate of the Federal Services Board of General Dentistry, the American Board of General Dentistry, and a Fellow in the International College of Dentists and the American College of Dentists.

The ECU School of Dental Medicine held a Convocation on May 2, 2017 to honor six candidates from the DMD Class of 2017 (alumni members) and one candidate from the dental faculty for the Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society Beta Eta Chapter.

Omicron Kappa Upsilon Candidates for Alumni Membership

Kurtis A. Bryan
Rebekah Esther Finger
Mariann Isis Ghaly
Michael Brandon Landreth
Caitlin Leigh Miller
Parisa Tashakkori

Omicron Kappa Upsilon Candidates for Faculty and Honorary Membership
Christopher Allen Cotterill, DMD

William S. Kramer Award of Excellence Recipient
Kaitlyn A. Spencer, DMD Candidate 2018

Omicron Kappa Upsilon Beta Eta Chapter Officers
Michael D. Webb, DDS, MEd, President
Robert Keim, DDS, President-Elect
Janet G. Hood, DDS, MEd, FAGD, Secretary-Treasurer

About Omicron Kappa Upsilon

The Omicron Kappa Upsilon Society was organized “to encourage and develop a spirit of emulation among students in dentistry and to recognize in an appropriate manner those who shall distinguish themselves by a high grade of scholarship.”

Candidates for Alumni Membership in Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society include (left to right) Parisa Tashakkori, Michael Brandon Landreth, Caitlin Leigh Miller, Mariann Isis Ghaly, Rebekah Esther Finger, and Kurtis A. Bryan

The name and key of the society are built upon the words, which represent the dental ideal-conservation, teeth, and health. Soteria, for conservation; Odus, for teeth; and Hygeia for health. In the design of the key, the most prominent letter is Sigma, which is the initial letter of Soteria (conservation), the initial letters of the last two words—Odus (teeth) and Hygeia (health), are Omicron and Upsilon; these are united by Kappa, the initial letter for the Greek word Kai, our English word “and.” Thus the motto of the society symbolizes the ideal for which the dental profession is striving—the conservation of teeth and health.

The number of component chapters has steadily increased over the years. From the first chapter at Northwestern University (Alpha Chapter) in 1914 to our most recent chapter, Beta Eta, at the East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine in Greenville, N.C., seventy-four chapters have been chartered. Thirteen chapters have become inactive, as their dental schools have closed. There are presently 61 active chapters.

At the present time, there is a component chapter at every dental school in the United States. In addition, one chapter is located in Canada and one chapter in Puerto Rico.

Members are of the following categories: Alumni, Honorary, and Faculty. Alumni members are elected from each graduating class, the number being limited to twelve percent of the class roster. Faculty and Honorary members are elected based on their outstanding contribution to the art, science, or literature of dentistry.

Sjögren’s Syndrome (SS), a chronic auto-immune disorder most frequently diagnosed in women over the age of 40, is becoming progressively more evident in juvenile patients.

Oral Health Care, 2017

Jamie Smolik1, Rob Taylor2, Victoria Wilson1, Margaret Weber1, Iquebal Hasan3, Ershal Harrison2, and Madeline Aulisio2

Sjögren’s Syndrome (SS), a chronic auto-immune disorder most frequently diagnosed in women over the age of 40, is becoming progressively more evident in juvenile patients. Coupled with the fact that there is no set diagnostic criteria for diagnosing SS in the pediatric population and the finding that SS manifests differently in pediatric and juvenile patients than in adults, diagnosis in younger patients is often difficult. This review seeks to address this situation by examining proposed diagnostic criteria, advances made in identifying diagnostic markers for juvenile Sjögren’s Syndrome, and viable treatment methods for both primary and secondary SS. Although a wide spectrum of possible manifestations of juvenile SS as well as its low prevalence may complicate research studies, the knowledge gained will serve to better organize future research while assisting clinicians and benefiting patients.

Contact: Dr. Iquebal Hasan, hasani16@ecu.edu, 252-737-7158

Dr. Iquebal Hasan, BDS

Dr. Luis Henrique Schlichting received the Outstanding Faculty Award from the School of Dental Medicine’s graduating Class of 2017. Class president Dr. Taylor Hewitt and vice president Dr. Rebekah Finger announced the award at the school’s Graduation Convocation on May 6.

Alternating remarks, the class leaders said . . .

“During the past four years, we have had the opportunity to work with many excellent faculty members, and each year the graduating class recognizes a faculty members who has gone above and beyond in their dedication to teaching students.

The Class of 2017 would like to recognize an outstanding faculty member for demonstrating unwavering dedication to students through excellence in teaching.

The recipient of this year’s award is someone who has dedicated their time to educating students by being in clinic and providing students with coverage beyond what they were called to do. This faculty member sacrificed time with their own family and spent time after hours teaching students cutting-edge techniques in dentistry.

Whether it was a simple or complex case, this professor was eager to engage in the opportunities to teach students and deliver optimal treatment to patients in need. This faculty member also never missed a chance to provide students with positive feedback. Their expertise in dentistry, unjaded excitement to teach, and patience with students prompted our class to make this nomination.

On behalf of the Class of 2017, it is a privilege to present the Outstanding Faculty Award to Dr. Luis Schlichting!”

Dr. Schlichting joined the faculty of the ECU School of Dental Medicine in 2015 as a clinical assistant professor in the Department of General Dentistry. He earned a DDS degree from the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil, in 1995; received a specialty certificate in operative dentistry in 1999; master’s degree in 2006; and PhD in 2010. As part of his PhD program, he was a visiting research associate at the University of Southern California, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, Los Angeles. Dr. Schlichting’s work focuses on ultraconservative approaches based on biomimetic restorative dentistry.

Dr. Luis Henrique Schlichting

The East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine is pleased to announce that Bryson Rominger, DMD Candidate 2019, has been awarded an American Dental Association Foundation (ADAF) Predoctoral Dental Student Scholarship for the 2017-2018 academic year.

The Foundation awards 30 to 50 scholarships of up to $2,500 annually to help academically gifted predoctoral dental students defray a part of their professional education expenses. Students must be nominated by faculty to receive a scholarship.

Bryson Rominger ’19 received the American Dental Association Foundation (ADAF) Predoctoral Dental Student Scholarship for the 2017-2018 academic year. Dean Greg Chadwick (at left) and Vice Dean Maggie Wilson were pleased to present Bryson with the scholarship.

Bryson, who is from Granite Falls, North Carolina, in Caldwell County, is treasurer of the School of Dental Medicine’s Student Professionalism and Ethics Association (SPEA) and a leader of the Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDA). He also serves as a didactic peer tutor at the dental school. He earned a bachelor of arts in sociology from Wake Forest University.

“Bryson’s exemplary academic record and his alignment with the mission of the ECU School of Dental Medicine led us to nominate him for an ADA Foundation Scholarship. We were delighted to learn that he was selected as a scholarship recipient,” said Dr. Margaret Wilson, vice dean of the School of Dental Medicine. “We are confident that Bryson will play a key role in fulfilling the mission of our school through his dedication to improving oral health care for vulnerable communities.”

Bryson said, “I hope to become a great dentist, leader, and friend to people in my hometown so they have a health professional to look up to and count on. Winning this award serves as motivation to keep working hard and pursuing my dreams of someday serving my community. It is also a humble reminder of how truly blessed I am.”

As a rising third-year dental student, Bryson serves dental patients under the supervision of dental faculty in Ross Hall, the school’s teaching and clinical facility at ECU. During his fourth year, he and his classmates will complete rotations at the school’s dental learning centers in eight rural and underserved communities across the state, a unique opportunity among dental schools.

The East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine is pleased to announce that Raynald Desameau, DMD Candidate 2019, has been awarded an American Dental Association Foundation (ADAF) Underrepresented Minority Predoctoral Dental Student Scholarship for the 2017-2018 academic year.

The Foundation awards 30 to 50 scholarships of up to $2,500 annually to help academically gifted predoctoral dental students to defray a part of their professional education expenses. Students must be nominated by faculty to receive a scholarship.

Raynald Desameau ’19 received the American Dental Association Foundation (ADAF) Underrepresented Minority Predoctoral Dental Student Scholarship for the 2017-2018 academic year. Dean Greg Chadwick (at left) and Vice Dean Maggie Wilson were pleased to present Raynald with the scholarship.

Raynald, who is from Fayetteville, North Carolina, in Cumberland County, is an active member of the Student National Dental Association (SNDA) and the American Student Dental Association (ASDA). He serves as a mentor for the ECU Health Science Academy and the School of Dental Medicine Preparing Tomorrow’s Dentists program. He graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a bachelor of science in biology.

“Ray’s strong academic achievements and his dedication to community engagement led us to nominate him for the ADA Foundation Scholarship, and we are incredibly pleased that he was chosen as the recipient,” said Dr. Margaret Wilson, vice dean of the School of Dental Medicine. “Ray shows his dedication to improving oral health care each day as a student, and we are confident that he will continue to live out this mission as an oral health practitioner in the future.”

Raynald said, “My goal is to become a competent and holistic dental provider, maintaining every effort to continue learning and striving toward excellence. I view the ADA Foundation scholarship as motivation to continue working to be the best practitioner that I can be.”

As a rising third-year dental student, Raynald serves dental patients under the supervision of dental faculty in Ross Hall, the school’s teaching and clinical facility at ECU. During his fourth year, he and his classmates will complete rotations at the school’s dental learning centers in eight rural and underserved communities across the state, a unique opportunity among dental schools.

The School of Dental Medicine’s Student Research Group (SRG) has elected officers for the 2017-2018 academic year. Officers include Maria Isabel Rego, president; Caitlin Mehaffey, vice president; Luke Current, treasurer; and Jessica Shamberger, secretary. V. Wallace McCarlie, DMD, PhD, clinical assistant professor in the Division of Orthodontics, serves as SRG advisor.

School of Dental Medicine Student Research Group (SRG) officers for 2017-2018 include, left to right, Luke Current, treasurer; Maria Isabel Bel Rego, president; Caitlin Mehaffey, vice president; and Jessica Shamberger, secretary. Also pictured is Dr. V. Wallace McCarlie, clinical assistant professor in the Division of Orthodontics, who serves as SRG faculty advisor.

The Student Research Group is an organization dedicated to advancing involvement in dental research for students with interest as well as growing appreciation and understanding of evidence-based dentistry. The organization is part of the American Association for Dental Research National Student Research Group, a student-run organization, which fosters research among dental students.

Maria Isabel Bel Rego ‘19 holds a bachelor of arts degree in biology from Salem College and a master of arts in health education and promotion from ECU. She is a certified health education specialist (CHES) and has been involved in health equity and literacy research with underserved and minority populations since her sophomore year of college. As a dental student, Bel is part of a research study on oral health and orthodontic literacy in eastern North Carolina. She has been interested in oral health literacy research since her master’s work, when she completed a systematic literature review on oral health literacy interventions for an independent study project. The project was recently selected for presentation at the American Public Health Conference in 2017.

Caitlin Mehaffey ‘20 holds a bachelor of science in biology from ECU. During the past year, she has participated with faculty mentors in research projects that include “Determining the Prevalence of Tobacco Use Among Patients at the ECU School of Dental Medicine” and “Oral Health Literacy Correlated with Oral Health Status in Eastern North Carolina.” With the help of faculty mentors and role models, Caitlin has gained experience with developing and presenting research projects. The SRG was the first student organization that she joined in dental school.

Luke Current ’19 earned a bachelor of science in biology from UNC-Chapel Hill. He participated in research projects as an undergraduate and participated in ECU’s Research Scholars Summer Program before starting dental school. Luke has been involved in a series of research projects including Pediatric-Offspring-Dentistry with dental medicine faculty Dr. Christopher Cotterill and Dr. Linda May. He selected the ECU School of Dental Medicine because of the school’s mission to provide oral health care in underserved communities and dedication to research. As treasurer of the SRG, he hopes to continue building excitement about research among dental students.

Jessica Shamberger ’19 earned a bachelor of science in public health from UNC-Greensboro. Like Luke Current, she also participated in ECU’s Research Scholars Summer Program before entering dental school. Recently, her research has focused on “Experience with Dental Emergency Department Visits” with ECU faculty and staff mentors G. Mejia, K. Gise, K. Brewer, H. Luo, G. Camargo, D.  Peaden, J. Friedrich, A. Taha, and S. Gordon. Jessica hopes to combine dentistry, public health, and research after dental school to help improve the oral health of all people, especially North Carolinians. She looks forward to the SRG’s further achievements through leadership, education, advocacy, and teamwork. Jessica believes that the SRG can provide leadership not only at the School of Dental Medicine but also in North Carolina and the nation.

Mary Bec Keith, fourth-year student at the East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine, has received a 2017 Pierre Fauchard Academy Foundation Dental Student Scholarship.

Ms. Keith, originally from Kinston, N.C., is a Fellow of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of North Carolina Albert Schweitzer Program. In 2015, she and a classmate completed a project as Schweitzer Fellows that raised awareness among dental students, medical students and patients about the importance of oral health care during pregnancy.

Mary Bec Keith ’18 received a 2017 Pierre Fauchard Academy Foundation Dental Student Scholarship. Dean Greg Chadwick and Vice Dean Maggie Wilson presented the scholarship to Mary Bec.

Ms. Keith served as vice president for the Dental Student Government during the 2016-2017 academic year and has filled leadership roles in the ECU chapter of the American Association of Women Dentists, Tomorrow’s Professional Planning Committee, and the DMD Social and Service Organization. She was an invited speaker at Kinston High School’s Academic Banquet in 2015. Prior to dental school, she earned a bachelor of science in biology from UNC-Chapel Hill.

“I am sincerely grateful to receive the Pierre Fauchard Academy Foundation scholarship for my final year of dental school,” said Keith, “and I’m honored to have been selected by our faculty. I will strive to uphold the high standards of the Academy.”

“Ms. Keith’s academic achievements and her strong leadership skills make her a good choice as ECU’s Pierre Fauchard Academy Foundation Scholarship recipient for 2017. She is an excellent ambassador for the School of Dental Medicine,” said Dr. Margaret Wilson, vice dean of the dental school.

Keith says her goal is to be a well-rounded general dentist with the skills and knowledge to provide patients with comprehensive patient care. She hopes to practice dentistry in eastern North Carolina in the vicinity of Kinston after graduation.

In the coming year, Keith and her classmates will gain hands-on clinical experience treating patients during 3 nine-week rotations at the school’s community service learning centers in underserved areas across North Carolina.

The Pierre Fauchard Academy is a global organization focusing on professionalism, integrity, and ethics for the advancement of dentistry worldwide. Its Foundation offers scholarships annually to selected dental schools for presentation to students who have demonstrate high leadership characteristics and above average academic qualifications. Scholarship recipients are selected by the dental faculty. Read more about the organization at http://www.fauchard.org/.

At first glance, it looks like a singles speed-dating event in a reception room in the new ECU Health Sciences Student Center.

You hear “Where are you from?” and “Why did you get into medicine?” But listen closer and you find out the event is focused on future health care workers working together.

“Too often educationally and in practice, we operate in silos, medicine or dental or nursing. The goal of this was really to begin to break down those barriers,” said Dr. Timothy Reeder, an associate professor of emergency medicine at ECU’s Brody School of Medicine. He is also the director of ECU’s Leaders in Innovative Care (LINC) Scholars program, which hosted this interprofessional lunch.

The lunch group was made up of 10 medical students, who are all LINC Scholars. They paired off with dental, nursing and physician assistant students and had five minutes to talk about their educational backgrounds and why they decided to get into the field they are studying.

“People from different backgrounds of health care have different opinions of health care and so as a future physician, my opinion is very different from someone else who’s got a dental background or a PA background,” said LINC Scholar Chirag Patel. “So understanding their background and understanding their interest really helps us determine what direction our health care will move in the future.”

ECU Brody School of Medicine student and LINC Scholar, Chirag Patel, said he enjoyed learning about the different backgrounds of his health care peers who he could end up working with in the future

The LINC Scholars track aims to give future physicians greater clinical exposure to a person-centered career that includes leadership and change management skills, and interprofessional team-based care.  LINC Scholar, Ben Mack, summed up the lunch conversations best when he said, “It really takes a village (to care for) for each patient.”

“Just exploring what we’ve done today, if we had a patient, we would be able to take care of their oral health, the health of their body and we would have support staff,” said Mack. “And I think we would be able to all work together in order to effectively communicate and give the best care that we can to our population.”

Physician assistant student Alexis Gomez said, “I think just the understanding of the importance of the other professions. I think by me learning that now, when I get out into the field, I can really reach out to them when I need help.”

ECU dental student, Akeadra Bell, talks with a medical student about their backgrounds and views on health care.

Ten ECU graduate students will spend the next year making health care more accessible to populations that are often overlooked.     

The students — five from the School of Dental Medicine and five from the Brody School of Medicine — have been named North Carolina Albert Schweitzer Fellows for the 2017-2018 academic year. They represent nearly half of this year’s Schweitzer class, which comprises 23 students from ECU, Duke University, Wake Forest University, North Carolina Central University and the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.

Dental students and Schweitzer fellows Kevin Holley, left, and Trevor Staton will deliver oral health education to elementary students in Pitt County. (photo by Cliff Hollis)

The fellows will partner with community-based organizations to implement service projects that address health disparities. At the same time, they will undergo leadership development training so they can inspire the next generation of health care professionals to improve the well-being of those who experience barriers to care.

“Many of our fellows go on to build impressive professional careers. The process of moving their fellowship projects from an initial concept to completion teaches them valuable skills in working with others in allied fields,” said Dr. Bruce Auerbach, chair of the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship Board of Directors. “As Schweitzer Fellows develop professionally, this skill is critical to their ability to effect larger-scale change among vulnerable populations.”

The five dental medicine fellows are Kiersten Bethea, Kevin Holley, Trevor Staton, Allen Bunch, and Morgan Stroud.

Dental treatment and long-term primary care for the homeless

Third-year dental student Kiersten Bethea and first-year medical student Samantha Forlenza are teaming up to provide no-cost dental treatment and primary care for homeless patients.

Kiersten Bethea

They are establishing a clinic — based in Ledyard E. Ross Hall and supported by the School of Dental Medicine — where dental students will treat patients’ emergency oral health needs. With their dental needs met, patients will then see medical students who will administer an HIV test and perform medical screenings to check basic measures of wellness such as heart rate, blood pressure and blood glucose.

Next, School of Social Work students will conduct depression screenings and connect patients with additional resources such as a food bank or counseling services. The students will refer patients to dental and primary care providers who can provide comprehensive, ongoing care.

“A lot of these patients have never seen a dentist in their life or haven’t had a cleaning in years,” Forlenza said. “Being able to access all of these services at the same time is crucial for this population.”

Forlenza and Bethea plan to launch their clinic in August with the goal of serving at least 75 patients by spring 2018.

Healthy teeth for elementary students

Second-year dental students Kevin Holley and Trevor Staton are picking up where an earlier Schweitzer project left off. In 2014-2015, two other dental students, who were also Schweitzer Fellows, worked with the Greene Access Program (GAP), part of Greene County Health Care, to deliver oral health lessons to over 1,200 elementary school children in Greene County. The fellows helped enroll the children in GAP clinical services, where they received preventive care such as dental sealants to reduce tooth decay.

Holley and Staton hope to expand GAP enrollment within selected Pitt County schools. Using public health data, Greene County Health Care has identified six schools in Pitt County with a high proportion of at-risk elementary students in need of dental services, both preventive and restorative.

An important part of the project is to engage school administrators and parents, after which the dental students hope to present oral health lessons in classrooms, enroll children in the dental sealant program, and assist in a referral program to help children and families establish dental homes.

“Our project aims to address the lack of oral health services for many elementary school students in Pitt County by offering classroom instruction as well as free dental screenings and sealants through partnership with the local federally-qualified health-care center known as Greene County Health Care,” Holley explained.

“Coming from an underserved part of the state, I feel that this project can provide me with good experience and knowledge that I can one day take back to my hometown,” said Staton, a native of Hayesville, N.C.

Tackling toddler oral health

Fourth-year dental student Allen Bunch and third-year dental student Morgan Stroud are expanding ECU’s Prenatal Oral Health Program (pOHP) by focusing on the pediatric population. Their project is modeled after the Baby Oral Health Program (bOHP) at the University of North Carolina’s School of Dentistry.

Allen Bunch

Bunch and Stroud are establishing a direct referral system from the ECU Department of Pediatrics to the ECU School of Dental Medicine’s pediatric dentistry clinic. This project will initially center on pediatric patients between the ages of three and five, as this is the age of patients identified at the dental clinic to be most in need of establishing a dental home.

Bunch and Stroud will provide awareness presentations for residents, physicians, and medical students of the ECU Department of Pediatrics about pediatric oral health including information on fluoride varnish, oral hygiene practices, and tools to examine and refer patients for routine dental care, dental urgencies, and dental emergencies.

“The care of pediatric patients offers a unique opportunity to educate both patients and caregivers on the importance of establishing and maintaining optimal oral health. There is no other point in life that the dentist will have the same level of parental concern, attention, and compliance,” said Morgan Stroud.

Morgan Stroud

Addressing unmet health needs — for life

Since 1994, the North Carolina Albert Schweitzer Fellowship Program has supported 425 fellows from many academic disciplines through funding from various foundations, academic institutions and individual donors. This year’s 23 North Carolina fellows join approximately 240 others nationwide.

Fellows all work with mentors at one of 14 program sites across the U.S. and in Lambaréné, Africa, where physician-humanitarian Dr. Albert Schweitzer founded a hospital in 1913. Upon completion of their fellowship year, awardees become Schweitzer Fellows for Life and join a vibrant network of more than 3,400 Schweitzer alumni nationwide who are skilled in – and committed to – improving the health and well-being of underserved people throughout their careers.

Dr. Carol F. Anderson, faculty director of the ECU School of Dental Medicine Community Service Learning Center-Elizabeth City, was honored recently with the title 2017 Woman of the Year at a banquet hosted by the National Association of University Women (NAUW) Elizabeth City Branch.

Dr. Anderson directs ECU’s dental center in Elizabeth City, N.C., where fourth-year students and residents gain experience caring for patients at reduced fees. The center, which opened in 2013, is one of ECU’s eight centers across the state addressing the shortage of dentists in rural and underserved regions.

“I was delighted to be nominated for the award,” said Dr. Anderson, “especially when I learned that the person who nominated me was one of our patients as well as a member of the National Association of University Women Elizabeth City Branch.”

Dr. Carol F. Anderson was named 2017 Woman of the Year by the National Association of University Women (NAUW) Elizabeth City Branch.

Dr. Anderson received her DDS degree from University of Maryland and holds a master of science in health science administration from Towson University. She completed a certificate in health care administration from ECU in June 2017. Prior to moving to Elizabeth City and joining ECU, she served as a faculty member at the University of Maryland Dental School in Baltimore, Maryland.

Her interest in dentistry began when a family friend of her parents “let” her work as his dental assistant. As she watched the dentist work she decided, “I can do that!” After dental school, she spent several years in private practice before entering dental education; first, overseeing daily operation of a student clinic and ultimately as the director of a satellite clinic.

Dr. Anderson split her time as faculty member treating HIV+ patients and providing clinical instruction to students working and treating patients with special needs.

She is also a former Harry O. Bruce Legislative Scholar with the American Dental Education Association. As a Bruce Scholar, her focus was researching and lobbying for dental education and continued funding for the Ryan White Care Act.

She believes that a healthy oral environment contributes to a person’s overall health and that prevention is key to achieving health.

Dr. Anderson is originally from Washington, D.C., but spent most of her formative years in suburban Maryland. She is married and has two grown children.

The NAUW banquet also honored Dr. Kiera Gilliam, an Elizabeth City pharmacist; Mrs. Wendy James, a registered nurse at the EC Veterans Center in Elizabeth City; Ms. Pamela Spruill, a registered nurse at Edenton Public Schools; and Mrs. Dianne Winslow, a member of the NAUW Elizabeth City Branch.

The National Association of University Women nationally dates back to 1910. The organization seeks to serve women, youth, and disadvantaged persons in the community and in developing countries by addressing educational issues, advancing the status of women’s issues, and strategically partnering with allied organizations.

Brianna Chavis-Locklear, a second-year student at the ECU School of Dental Medicine, has received a scholarship from the Society of American Indian Dentists sponsored by Proctor and Gamble.

Ms. Chavis-Locklear, who is originally from Pembroke, N.C., is a student member of the Society of American Indian Dentists and a member of the Lumbee Tribe. She earned a bachelor of science degree in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“The scholarship application included an essay section describing how receiving this scholarship would allow me to enhance and advance the dental health of American Indian people,” said Chavis-Locklear. “My main goal is to bring positive change through oral health care to the lives of other American Indians as well as other underserved North Carolinians.”

Brianna Chavis-Locklear ‘20 received a 2017 Society of American Indian Dentists Proctor and Gamble Scholarship. Dean Greg Chadwick and Vice Dean Maggie Wilson presented the scholarship to Brianna.

She also hopes to serve as a role model for American Indians who are considering pursuing dentistry and serving the oral health needs of the underserved, especially American Indians.

Dr. Margaret Wilson, the dental school’s vice dean and associate dean for student affairs, stated, “We are particularly proud of students like Brianna, who plan to use their skills as dentists to meet oral health needs within their own communities. Through such dedication, our graduates fulfill the mission of the ECU School of Dental Medicine.”

Chavis-Locklear serves as class representative to the ECU Student Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. As an undergraduate at UNC-Chapel, she was banquet co-chair for the Carolina Indian Circle; minority advisor for the minority advising program; and service coordinator for the Undergraduate Student National Dental Association.

She attended the 2017 Society of American Indian Dentists (SAID) Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio, in June and was recognized among dental students from across the country who received SAID scholarships.

During her fourth-year of dental school, she and her classmates will gain hands-on clinical experience treating patients during rotations at the school’s community service learning centers in eight rural and underserved communities across North Carolina, including a center in Robeson County near Pembroke.

The Society of American Indian Dentists (SAID) is a national, non-profit organization comprised of oral health professionals and students dedicated to promoting and improving the oral health of the American Indian/Alaskan Native community and providing advocacy for the American Indian/Alaskan Native dental professionals across the US, according to the organization’s website.

Need a dentist? This new Patient Welcome Video is a quick overview of the oral health services offered by our school in Greenville. Our eight Community Service Learning Centers across North Carolina also offer a full range of services. Learn more about our services by watching this video.

Dr. Kenneth Hargreaves, DDS, PhD

Dr. Hargreaves’ presentation “Regeneration Endodontics: From Stem Cells to Biologically Based Endodontic Procedures” resonated with faculty, residents, students, and staff attending the School of Dental Medicine’s annual Celebration of Research and Scholarship on August 23.

Hargreaves, a longtime endodontist and researcher, explained the steps involved in contemporary regenerative endodontic procedures designed to replace damaged tooth structures and promote healing within the tooth.

“Although much remains to be done to advance this field, progress has been made in clinical regenerative endodontic procedures, literally saving teeth by regenerating a functional pulp-dentin complex,” Hargreaves said.

Hargreaves, who also maintains a private endodontics practice, has received numerous national awards for his research and has published more than 160 articles, two textbooks, and serves as editor of the Journal of Endodontics.

Dr. Jay Golden, ECU vice chancellor for research, economic development and engagement; Dr. Greg Chadwick, dean of the School of Dental Medicine; and Dr. Sharon Gordon, the school’s associate dean for research, welcomed the faculty, staff, residents, and students seated in Ross Hall as well as those at Community Service Learning Centers across the state via teleconference.

Dr. Golden outlined ECU’s plans to double its research expenditures over the next five years. He said interdisciplinary research will be at the forefront. The university will form eight core research clusters bringing faculty and students together from across the campus. Researchers must work together “to provide the next generation of strategies to reduce chronic disease,” said Golden.

The annual celebration calls attention to the school’s research agenda and gives predoctoral students and their faculty mentors a forum for showcasing research with the potential to improve oral health.

Following the keynote address, Dr. V. Wallace McCarlie, clinical assistant professor in the Division of Orthodontics and advisor to the school’s Student Research Group recognized the winners of the day’s poster competition. Winners were selected by a panel of faculty and will represent the school at national conferences over the next year.

Luke Current

Third-year student Luke Current received the American Dental Association/Dentsply Sirona Clinical Research Program Award. Luke will be competing at the dental student research competition known as “SCADA” at the upcoming American Association of Dental Research (AADR) meeting in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, in 2018.

Third-year student Matthew Moore presented “Childhood Dental Caries Assessment: A Cross Sectional Study Comparing dmft Index of Fluoridated and Non-Fluoridated Counties in North Carolina.” Matthew will participate in the Hinman Student Research Symposium, a student-focused national meeting featuring presentations by students and graduate trainees from dental schools across North America.

Matthew Moore

First-year student Kayla Locklear presented “Geofencing: Mobile Technology as a Health Promotion Tool to Raise Awareness of a Dental Clinic in Rural North Carolina.” She will participate in the American Association of Dental Research (AADR) meeting in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

First-year student James Parker, Jr. presented “Antifungal Effect of Capric Acid Against Candida Albicans in Vitro.” James will compete at the SCADA competition during the American Dental Association Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., in 2019.

First-year student Bryan Yang presented “Antimicrobial Activity of Honokiol Against Periodontal Pathogen Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans: An In Vitro Study.” He will participate in the American Dental Association Foundation Colgate Dental Students’ Conference on Research sponsored by the American Dental Association in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

First-year student Tashana Detwiler presented “Prevalence of Elevated Blood Pressure Among Emergency Adult Dental Patients Presenting to an Emergency Dental Clinic.” She will participate in the American Association of Dental Research (AADR) meeting in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.First year students (left to right) Kayla Locklear; James Parker, Jr.; Bryan Yang; and Tashana Detwiler will represent the school at national conferences.

Posters presentations at the Celebration of Research and Scholarship included the following:

Developing a Pre-Clinical Mouse Model of HPV-driven Oral Cancer
A.L. Amelio, M.B. Carper, S. Troutman, K.M. Byrd, E.C. Henry, S.A. Montgomery, S. E. Williams, J. Kissil

The Detrimental Manifestations Surrounding Betel Quid Use:  A Narrative Review
Bryant, E. Qureshi, K. Weiss, A. Hasan

Effects of Expanding the Implementation of the Prenatal Oral Health Program
Davis, L. Karan, G. Crain, K. Gise, S. Smith, R. Spain

Prevalence of Elevated Blood Pressure Among Emergency Adult Dental Patients Presenting to an Emergency Dental Clinic
Detwiler, K. Gise

Risk Factors for Dental Outpatient Anesthesia and Sedation Procedures Derived from Deaths Reported in the Public Domain
R.A. Dionne

Antifungal Properties of Berberine Chloride on Various Species of Candida in vitro
Hasan, J.R. Parker, B. Yang, J. Cope Meyers, L. Ferreira, M. Murata

Geofencing:  Mobile Technology as a Health Promotion Tool to Raise Awareness of a Dental Clinic in Rural North Carolina
B.K. Locklear, A.  Rafferty, M. Tucker-McLaughlin, Winterbauer, W. Wright

Oral Health Literacy Correlated with Oral Health Status in Eastern North Carolina
V.W. McCarlie, S.V. Dave, C. Kennedy, L. Karan, V. Nguyen, E.C. Mehaffey, M.I. Baltar Rego, G.J. Eckert*, K.T. Stewart*

Antifungal Effect of Capric Acid Against Candida Albicans in vitro
J.R. Parker Jr., D. Hasan, L.E.N. Ferreira, J. Cope Meyers, R.M. Murata

Childhood Dental Caries Assessment: A Cross Sectional Study Comparing dmft Index of Fluoridated and Non-Fluoridated Counties in NC
M.I. Rego, A.C. Green, M.R. Moore, P.M. Kriska, E.B.W. Maltba, G. A. Camargo I. Hasan, R. Murata,

Matrix and Cell-Based Study of the Effect of Dietary Fruit Extracts on Bone Healing In Vivo
A.G. Robinson, J.M. Souza, Jr, S.A. Tuin, J.G.O. de Souza, M.A. Bianchini, P.A. Miquez

Antimicrobial Activity of Honokiol Against Periodontal Pathogen Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans: An In Vitro Study

Acela Martinez Luna, DMD, MS, clinical assistant professor of periodontology at the ECU School of Dental Medicine Department of Surgical Sciences, has been awarded a 2017 Straumann Scholarship for New Periodontists.

Through the generous support of Straumann, the American Academy of Periodontology competitively awarded 17 scholarships to new U.S. and Canadian periodontists. Dr. Martinez Luna received the scholarship award at the recent American Academy of Periodontology Annual Meeting in Boston at the student/new periodontist session titled, “Pearls and Pitfalls: What I Wish I had Known After Residency.”

Acela Martinez Luna, DMD, MS

The scholarship includes a stipend to be used towards Annual Meeting expenses. Dr. Martinez Luna will also be recognized in the December 2017 issue of Periospectives, the magazine of the American Academy of Periodontology.

Dr. Martinez Luna joined the surgical sciences faculty in July 2017. She grew up in Mexico City in a family of dentists. Her mother is a practicing periodontist, and her father is a general dentist. She earned a doctor of dental medicine degree from Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi in Mexico in 2009. Thereafter, she completed certificate training in restorative dentistry at Centro de Estudios Odontologicos de Queretaro in 2011.

Following in the footsteps of her mother, Dr. Martinez Luna pursued specialty training and completed the advanced education program in periodontology at the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Dentistry (periodontics certificate and master’s degree in 2015). As a postdoctoral student and resident, she investigated the osteogenic activity associated with dental implant placement in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus under the mentorship of Dr. Stephen Offenbacher, UNC-Chapel Hill W.R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor.

Following her specialty training, Dr. Martinez Luna embarked on a one-year fellowship in advanced implant dentistry focused on complex implant treatment planning, bone augmentation, three dimensional imaging and printing uses (e.g., stent fabrication, guided surgery, prosthesis fabrication and delivery), and implant prosthodontics.

Dr. Martinez Luna is also the recipient of a Straumann S.U.P.E.R. Grant (2015), the North Carolina American Association of Dental Research Section Derek T. Turner Student Research Award (2015), and the UNC-Chapel Hill Elsie and Baxter Sapp Fellowship Award (2014).

Prior to joining ECU, Dr. Martinez Luna practiced periodontics and implant dentistry in the city of Queretaro, Mexico. She is a diplomate with the American Board of Periodontology.

According to its website, Straumann is a “global leader in implant, restorative and regenerative dentistry.” Learn more at http://www.straumann.com/.

The ECU School of Dental Medicine’s Dental Student Government (DSG) officers have been selected for 2017-2018. The officers include Maria Isabel “Bel” Rego, president; Kiersten Bethea, vice president; Taylor Windley, secretary; Alexis Webb, treasurer; and Briana Hudson, community service chair.

The DSG represents the dental student body and acts as a guide in all academic and social matters. The role of the officers is to develop and implement projects that advance the School of Dental Medicine and the dental profession overall.

When asked what the DSG hopes to accomplish this year, President Bel Rego said, “We want to promote leadership, unity, and integrity while fostering an inclusive environment that values our students’ perspectives, stands by the well-being of all students, and provides an opportunity for all.”

ECU School of Dental Medicine Dental Student Government (DSG) officers for 2017-2018 are (seated left to right) Bel Rego, president; Kiersten Bethea, vice president; (standing left to right) Alexis Webb, treasurer; Taylor Windley, secretary; and Briana Hudson, community service chair.

Maria Isabel “Bel” Rego, president, is a third-year student from Winston Salem, N.C. She became DSG president after a successful year as DSG treasurer in 2016-2017. She is a graduate of Salem College and has worked with health equity and minority research for several years at Wake Forest University School of Medicine’s Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity. She earned a master’s degree in health education and promotion from ECU in 2014 and is a certified health education specialist (CHES) and a member of the North Carolina Society of Public Health Education.

Kiersten Bethea, vice president, is a third-year student from Greensboro, N.C. She graduated from North Carolina A&T State University in 2014 with a major in biology. Prior to dental school, she worked as a dental assistant in an oral surgery practice. In 2016-2017, she served as community service chair for both the DSG and the Student National Dental Association, and she has served on several committees at the dental school. As a North Carolina Albert Schweitzer Fellow, Kiersten is collaborating with an ECU Brody School of Medicine student in working with community providers to offer oral health care to the homeless.

Taylor Windley, secretary, is a second-year student from Zebulon, N.C. As secretary, she serves as the communication link between the DSG and the student body. She graduated with distinction from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2016, majoring in biology and minoring in chemistry and archaeology. She is chair of philanthropy for the school’s DMD student organization. She is especially interested in research in the area of pregnancy and infants; she is a member of the school’s Research Scholarship Committee. Upon graduation from dental school, Taylor hopes to become the third generation of dentists in her family to practice in North Carolina.

Alexis Webb, treasurer, is a second-year student from Durham, N.C. She is a graduate of Johnson C. Smith University, where she earned a chemistry degree and was a leader on and off the volleyball court and softball field, participarting in community service and mentoring programs. She earned a master’s in medical sciences from Hampton University. As DSG treasurer, Alexis guides student organizations in the appropriate handling and use of funds. Following graduation, she hopes to practice dentistry and engage in community outreach in an underserved area of North Carolina.

Briana Hudson, community service chair, is a second-year student from Greenville, N.C. She is a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, where she majored in exercise and sports science. She completed a post-baccalaureate degree in pre-health at UNC-Greensboro. She has held several leadership positions at the dental school, including community service chair for the Class of 2020 and for the American Dental Student Association. She has also served as event and networking coordinator for the Student National Dental Association. As DSG community service chair, she helps coordinate the school’s student outreach projects. Upon graduation from dental school, Briana hope to practice dentistry in a rural area of the state.

“We are delighted to have such an excellent group of Dental Student Government leaders as our officers this year. I know they will carry on the tradition of outstanding DSG leadership and build upon the achievements of their predecessors. At the School of Dental Medicine, we are educating dentists AND leaders,” said Dr. Margaret Wilson, the school’s vice dean and associate dean for student affairs.

Leslie Pence, third-year student at the ECU School of Dental Medicine, has been selected as a 2017 Dental Trade Alliance Foundation scholarship winner.

The Dental Trade Alliance Foundation is awarding $5,000 scholarships this year to rising third and fourth-year dental students who have demonstrated academic excellence in dentistry and have an established commitment to community service.

Leslie, who is originally from Cleveland, N.C., in Rowan County, graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2015 with a major in environmental studies with a concentration in health and the environment and a minor in Spanish for medical professions.

Third-year student Leslie Pence has received a 2017 Dental Trade Alliance Foundation scholarship. She is pictured with Dr. Greg Chadwick, dean of the ECU School of Dental Medicine, and Dr. Margaret Wilson, vice dean and associate dean for Student Affairs.

As an officer of the ECU Student Chapter of the Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Leslie has assisted in coordinating several community service projects for children, including oral health screenings, oral hygiene instruction, and academic mentoring programs.

She and fellow dental students also travel distances to provide instruction in oral hygiene and nutrition for elementary school children in Green County, N.C.

“My passion for working with children is what drives my desire to pursue pediatric dentistry after graduation,” said Leslie. “I believe community service is an integral part of dentistry because it allows dentists to build relationships within their communities and better understand the specific needs of those they serve.”

Leslie’s goal is to become a pediatric dentist and mentor, advocate, and role model for children in an underserved area of North Carolina.

“We congratulate Leslie on receiving this award. Her selection recognizes her commitment to caring for underserved children and further promotes the mission of the ECU School of Dental Medicine,”said Dr. Margaret Wilson, vice dean of the dental school.

As a third-year dental student, Leslie serves dental patients under the supervision of dental faculty in Ledyard E. Ross Hall, the school’s teaching and clinical facility at ECU. During her fourth year, she and her classmates will complete rotations at the school’s community service learning centers in eight rural and underserved communities across North Carolina, a unique opportunity among dental schools.

According to its website, the Dental Trade Alliance (DTA) is an association of companies that provide dental equipment, supplies, materials and services to dentists and other oral care professionals. The purpose of the DTA Foundation is to broaden awareness of oral health’s impact on overall health and increase access to oral health care.