Welcome to the first edition of the eImages newsletter that will arrive to you in the first three quarters of the year via email, while the printed Dental Images will be mailed in the fourth quarter. In reaching out to alumni, you overwhelmingly requested to receive this type of communication. So we listened and responded accordingly.

Using the electronic newsletter format, we will keep you apprised of school and alumni news, continuing education, research, practice transitions, awards, alumni stories and updates in the field.

Success in digital communications rests on a valid list of email addresses, so we will continue to build a robust email list to expand our reach so we can share the latest information with you – our valued Marquette School of Dentistry alumni.

Sincerely,

Dr. William Lobb
Dean and Professor of Developmental Sciences
Marquette School of Dentistry

An altered final year due to COVID-19 – but perhaps an even better experience for one student

When picturing her final year of dental school, Chelsie Morasko never imagined she and her fellow students would face education during a global pandemic. However, that was the hand we were all dealt in 2020. “Looking back on the year, I felt that the pandemic made our profession and my educational experience better,” states Chelsie who’s a D4 dental student from Montana who plans to return to her home state and join a private practice. “We learned how to adapt to changing situations, and realized what challenges we may face in practice after graduation.”

Chelsie felt the dental school responded appropriately, putting student safety as its number-one priority. “They responded by developing new protocols, installing barriers throughout the school, reducing clinic capacity, and implementing additional PPE and ensuring we had enough PPE to maintain safety.”

On top of the pandemic’s challenges, Chelsie and her husband also had a baby boy on January 6. So she had to think beyond her own safety and the safety of her patients –considering how her actions impacted her unborn child.

“I was thoroughly impressed with the dental school’s response during these uneasy and difficult times,” notes Chelsie. “There were many unknowns throughout the pandemic as we learned more about the virus. I felt that the school adapted to these new findings and always put student safety first when making decisions. This speaks great volumes about the efforts of the school, as contact with hundreds of individuals was inevitable as I worked toward completing my clinical experience.”

Dental education during the pandemic – clinical studies carried on

Dr. Conrad Nenn, associate dean for Clinical Affairs, shares changes the school made during COVID-19:

• Only emergency care was provided at the school in the Advanced Care Clinic from the March 2020 closure until June 4.
• Faculty and staff who were not on furlough provided emergency care.
• One clinic was open from June 4 to July 6 for remaining D4 students to complete requirements.
• On July 6, all clinics were opened at 50 percent capacity and all aerosol-generating procedures required an assistant.
• Entry to the school had to be through the South Entrance.
• The atrium was reorganized for patient, faculty, staff and student entry so COVID-19 screenings could occur. Hand sanitizing, mask wearing and social distancing were required upon entry.
• An online case-based exam in periodontics was developed as an alternative assessment method. Dr. Swati Rawal and Dr. Arndt Guentsch wrote a paper describing this project, which was published in the Journal of Dental Education.

Dr. Nenn feels the school should be proud that there were no COVID-19 transmissions between providers and patients. In addition, approximately 500 faculty, staff and students are fully vaccinated with the help of Infinity Pharmacy. The school is now 80 percent open for patient care.

School of Dentistry News

Faculty promotions - Congratulations

• Dr. Brian Hodgson, promoted to professor, Developmental Sciences
• Dr. Swati Rawal, promoted to clinical professor, Surgical Sciences
• Dr. Luis Almeida, promoted to clinical associate professor, Surgical Sciences
• Dr. A. Patrick Longo, promoted to clinical associate professor, General Dental Sciences
• Dr. Evelyn Donate-Bartfield, promoted to professor emerita, Developmental Sciences
• Dr. Albert Abena, promoted to clinical professor emeritus, Clinical Services

Achievements

Congratulations to Austin Dodge who placed 2nd in the oral presentation category at the 2021 Midwest Society of Periodontology Graduate Student Research Forum, and to Jeffrey Garcia who placed 2nd in the poster presentation category.

Publications

• Gonzalez CD, Hodgson B, Singh M, Okunseri C. Pediatric Dentists’ Knowledge and Attitudes Towards the Use of Hall Technique in the United States.
• Özgür B, Ünverdi GE, Güngör HC, McTigue DJ, Casamassimo PS. A 3-Year Retrospective Study of Traumatic Dental Injuries to the Primary Dentition. Dental Traumatology. 2021;00:1–9. 
• Şimşek H, Yazıcı AR, Güngör HC. In Vitro Evaluation of Different Protocols for Preventing Microleakage of Fissure Sealants Placed Following Saliva Contamination. Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry. 2020 Aug 1;44(4):240-248. doi: 10.17796/1053-4625-44.4.5.
• Özgür N, Ballıkaya E, Güngör HC, Ataç AS. Turkish Pediatric Dentists’ Knowledge, Experiences and Attitudes Regarding Child Physical Abuse. International Dental Journal. 2020;70(2):145-151.
• Scientific Abstracts of the 15th Congress of the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (EAPD), Hamburg, Germany July 3–4, 2020. European Archives of Paediatric Dentistry 21, 719–825 (2020).

Research

Decreasing aerosols in dental clinics – new research analyzes suction devices

Drs. Brian Hodgson and Louis Boryc teamed up with Dr. Guilherme Garcia from the Marquette College of Engineering/Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and submitted a proposal to investigate dental suction devices that flooded the market due to COVID-19. The team received $50,000 in funding through the MCW Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment.

“The COVID-19 pandemic put renewed interest in aerosols,” states Dr. Hodgson. “This grant will help measure particulate matter in general dental clinics to identify suction devices that best reduce aerosols.”

After receiving Institutional Review Board (IRB) approvals from MU and MCW for the clinical studies, the team will conduct preliminary air-particle sampling from the Simulation Lab. The team will perform normal dental preparations on dentoform teeth with water coolant and standard high-volume evacuation suction,” says Dr. Hodgson.

The research team will then test three supplementary suction devices to determine their effectiveness. From there they will repeat these experiments on live patients to test real-world efficacy.

In keeping with the research mission, the team also involved a D3 dental student, Maryam Tunio, in data collection. This research will provide valuable experience to the student and increase MUSoD’s representation at local and national/international research meetings.

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Alumni News

Achievements

Dr. Roger Alexander, D ‘64
Now retired from military service where he served as captain and as an emeritus professor for Texas A&M University College of Dentistry in Dallas, Texas, Dr. Alexander now serves as a trained volunteer ambassador for Patriot Paws Service Dogs, a charitable organization that raises, trains and certifies service dogs – then places dogs with disabled U.S. military veterans in 37 states.

Volunteer ambassadors give informational and donation-seeking demonstrations to groups and businesses, sharing details about the organization and training, and the impact these dogs have on the lives of those struggling to adjust to a normal life. When Dr. Alexander is not out talking about the miracles the dogs perform, he volunteers in the Veterans Coordination Office at Patriot Paws. In addition, Dr. Alexander volunteers for his church, serving as the Clerk of Session, managing the church’s 166 years of historical records, and assisting the pastor administratively.

Dr. Christopher Smiley, D ‘86

Dr. Christopher Smiley was recently awarded the 2020 Evidence-Based Dentistry Practice Award from the American Dental Association and the American Association for Dental Research.

Dr. Smiley is a full-time practicing general dentist at Smiley Family Dentistry in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also serves as editor-in-chief of the Journal of the Michigan Dental Association. In this role, he oversees the publication of tutorial articles to assist readers in applying the EBD process in clinical practice. This initiative includes presenting a monthly column called "10-Minute EBD," which demonstrates how EBD can improve decision-making across various clinical topics. Dr. Smiley served as a co-author of the ADA’s clinical practice guideline on the nonsurgical treatment of chronic periodontitis, as well as the guideline’s associated systematic review.

Wisconsin Dental Association new leadership

Election results of the 3,100-member Wisconsin Dental Association announced at the organization’s 150th House of Delegates, which was held virtually November 13-14, 2020 (See the full leadership list).

Dr. Paula Crum, D ‘83 – President
A resident of Green Bay, Dr. Paula Crum was sworn in as president. Dr. Crum serves as a periodontist at Green Bay Periodontics & Implant Dentistry, where she practices with her son, Dr. Phillip Crum. She has served the Green Bay area for more than 30 years. Dr. Crum is a 1983 graduate of the Marquette University School of Dentistry and of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry.

Dr. Cliff Hartmann, D ’75 – President Elect

Dr. Thomas Raimann, D ‘80 – Past President

Be the Difference – Marquette School of Dentistry Alumni National Awards 2021

Distinguished Alumna in Dentistry Award
Monica Dwyer Hebl, D.D.S., D ’85, Wauwatosa, Wis.
Dr. Monica Hebl equates success with the core Marquette value of cura personalis, caring for the whole person. Working in private practice in Milwaukee provides Monica the daily opportunity to care for people from all walks of life while also maintaining a practice that supports the Burleigh Dental family of employees.

Outstanding Dental Service Award
Tammy M. Boudry, D.D.S., H Sci ’99, D ’06, Fond du Lac, Wis.
As the class speaker at her Dental School graduation ceremony, Dr. Boudry encouraged her classmates to give back: “Marquette has given us the skills to make a difference. Let’s go out there and save the world one tooth at a time.” Dr. Boudry has taken her own advice and built upon it -- by caring for patients in need in her community and around the world.

Young Alumna of the Year Award
Wendy AuClair Clark, D.D.S., M.S., D ’07, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Dr. Wendy Clark recently transitioned to teaching dental students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, enabling her to inspire future dentists in the same way her Marquette professors did.

The awards program will be virtual this year. A link to view the program and information about nominating deserving individuals for future awards will be provided in the next electronic newsletter. (Learn more)

Practice Transitions – Your connection to students seeking new opportunities

Launched last summer, there’s an important new service on the Marquette School of Dentistry website that serves as your link to reach individuals looking for associate positions or practices for sale. Easy to post and navigate right from this page, you may include complete details about your offering and share practice photos to communicate the full scope of your opportunity as a virtual tour.

Run by Practice Transitions coordinator Katie Koncki, M.Ed., the online listing service is open to the public, free of charge and features more than 100 opportunities listed directly from dental offices – both in Wisconsin and nationwide. After six months, Katie will contact you to see if you would like to extend the listing. To learn more about this valuable service for both graduates and practicing dentists, visit the Practice Transitions webpage or contact Katie Koncki at (414) 288-3714 or katie.koncki@marquette.edu.

School of Dentistry 2021 Challenge

The School of Dentistry kicked off a month-long fundraiser on March 2, 2021 – Give Marquette Day. Thanks to alumni and friends, we already raised more than the $115,000 goal! Thank you to everyone who already participated.

If you didn’t have an opportunity to join us that day, no need to worry! Our campaign will run through Friday, April 2, so you still have a chance to join us and make your gift.

Additionally, gifts made in support of the School of Dentistry Class of ’67 Endowed Scholarship will be matched an additional $1 for every $1 raised.

New continuing education series

In our ongoing effort to offer a wide variety of quality continuing education programs, Marquette University School of Dentistry is excited to announce a new CE webinar series.

The Association for Continuing Dental Education (ACDE) is an organization of college- and university-based continuing dental education programs associated with accredited dental schools in the U.S. and Canada. Through our membership in ACDE, we have partnered with 30 other member schools to provide these sessions.

We are offering the live webinar programs at various times and dates covering a wide range of dental topics. Please join us for these wonderful programs! If you have questions, contact Nicole Schickowski at nicole.schickowski@marquette.edu or (414) 288-8549. Find more details as well as registration information here.

Like to share your vintage dentoforms?

Dr. Kenneth Waliszewski, D ’71, part-time faculty member, asks if you would help improve the School of Dentistry Museum collection of dentoforms to document what was taught through the years. Dentoforms reflect changes in the dental school's curriculum over time.

If you have a dentoform that’s looking for a new home, please consider gifting it to the museum’s collection. Please email Kenneth Waliszewski for details. Your dentoform will be valued, treasured and displayed at the museum.

Please share ideas for future editions of eImages

Thanks for reading the first issue of eImages newsletter from Marquette School of Dentistry. If you have achievements or ideas for topics you would like us to share in the next edition, please reach out to us at dentalimages2@marquette.edu.