May 8, 2012 Branch named Dentist of the Year: Warren B. Branch, D.D.S., was named the 2011 Dentist of the Year by the Texas Academy of General Dentistry, one of the most prestigious honors a Texas dentist can earn
May 8, 2012 Maestros of dental care: After graduating from Dental School at the UT Health Science Center in 1979, Tom Cockerell Jr., D.D.S., established his practice in 1980. Eventually his experiences providing dental care to medically compromised patients led to his conception of "Dental Symphony" software.
May 8, 2012 New facility for Dental School clinics approved: The University of Texas System Board of Regents this year authorized a $95 million oral health care center at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio. The new four-level 172,000 gross-square-foot building will be named the Center for Oral Health Care at the MARC and will be constructed adjacent to the university’s Medical Arts & Research Center (MARC) on Floyd Curl Drive.
March 26, 2012 AADR renames award to honor first recipient: The American Association for Dental Research (AADR), a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing research and increasing knowledge for the improvement of oral health, has announced Dr. Bjorn Steffensen as the recipient of the newly renamed Irwin D. Mandel Distinguished Mentoring Award. Steffensen received the award during the AADR annual meeting and exhibition held on Wednesday in Tampa, Florida.
February 27, 2012 Regents approve new oral health care center : The University of Texas System Board of Regents this month authorized a $95 million oral health care center at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
February 27, 2012 Edgewood students receive preventive dental care at the HSC: The children received dental screenings, fluoride treatments and dental sealants from more than 350 dental students and 60 dental hygiene students, working under the supervision of over 50 faculty members.
January 30, 2012 Dental Science Symposium seeks abstracts by March 2: Join us for the 30th Annual University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio Dental Science Symposium. The symposium embraces a broad spectrum of research and scholarly activities. We welcome participants from all UTHSCSA schools. The highlight of our symposium will be a competitive oral and poster session being presented by predoctoral students, postdoctoral students and UT Health Science Center faculty. Prospective authors are invited to submit abstracts already accepted for presentation as well as original research.
January 30, 2012 Anaplastologist Colette Shrader joins Dental School: The UT Health Science Center Department of Comprehensive Dentistry would like to introduce their new anaplastologist, Colette Shrader, M.S.
January 25, 2012 Three dental faculty begin national leadership roles: Kenneth Kalkwarf, D.D.S., M.S., dean of the Dental School, has been named vice president of the American College of Dentists (ACD). Lily T. Garcia, D.D.S., M.S., professor and director of the Division of Advanced Education and External Affairs in the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry, was named president of the American College of Prosthodontists. And Bjorn Steffensen, D.D.S., M.S., Ph.D., has been accepted as a fellow in the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Leadership Institute.The Implant Clinic offers state-of-the-art affordable dental and implant therapies with an emphasis on the expeditious completion of patient care. For more information or an appointment for an evaluation, please call 210-567-5433.
December 6, 2011 Stone Oak Orthodontics earns national LEED certification: Stone Oak Orthodontics has achieved a Green Interior rating from the U.S. Green Building Council for investments Dr. Robert “Tito” Norris made in the office for environmental sustainability.
November 23, 2011 The Implant Clinic Opens in the Dental School: The Dental School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio recently opened The Implant Clinic, a new patient care center. The clinic is under the direction of Ilser Turkyilmaz, D.D.S., Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry.
The Implant Clinic offers state-of-the-art affordable dental and implant therapies with an emphasis on the expeditious completion of patient care. For more information or an appointment for an evaluation, please call 210-567-5433.
November 9, 2011 Outstanding faculty members honored at reception : A reception was held Oct. 19 to honor 63 faculty members who received promotion and/or tenure appointments, and three faculty members who were recognized for receiving the title of Distinguished Teaching Professor from the University of Texas System.
April 20, 2011 Dr. Summitt receives Leeper Award for Teaching Excellence: James B. Summitt, D.D.S., M.S., a tenured professor in the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry, received the award from Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU), the national dental honor society. The award was presented March 13 at the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Annual Session & Exhibition in San Diego, Calif.
April 5, 2011 Dental School receives $6.5 million in HRSA grants: The Dental School at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio has received more than $6.5 million in grants from the Health Resources and Services Administration. The five grants are funding programs and projects being implemented during the current academic year in the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry.
November 18, 2010 Dr. Burke: Supermom and Pedodontist: Supermom Linda Burke, President of Linda T. Burke, DDS is the mother of six children and principal of her own company. When asked how she does it all, Dr. Burke responded with, “My accomplishments are possible because I am surrounded with great people.
September 20, 2010 UT Health Science Center gets fresh injection of stimulus funds: The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio is set to receive more than $4 million in federal funding to support equipment purchases and professional education.
May 18, 2010 Dental School celebrates 40th anniversary with gala: More than 530 faculty, staff, students, alumni, retirees and supporters of the Dental School at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio gathered May 7 to celebrate the school’s 40th anniversary with a gala at the Marriott Plaza Hotel.
May 18, 2010 President Henrich announces 2010 Ambassador Scholars : A master skydiver, decorated Air Force veteran, student dental leader, former AmeriCorps volunteer and graduate student cancer researcher were named April 20 as The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio Ambassador Scholars.
April 30, 2010 UTHSC researchers unlock keys to pain: Researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center have found a way to shut off a key part of the body's pain signaling system, said Kenneth Hargreaves, chairman of the endodontics department at the health science center's dental school.
April 7, 2010 Test detects oral cancer in minutes: In a study of San Antonio patients, an experimental rapid test for oral cancer that analyzes a few cells brushed loose from inside the mouth by a dentist proved as accurate as a biopsy read by a pathologist.
April 6, 2010 Dental Web site wins UT System innovation award: Joseph P. Connor, D.D.S., M.A., assistant professor of restorative dentistry, Gary F. Guest, D.D.S., assistant dean for predoctoral clinics, and Richard Ongkiko, database administrator, shared the award for their project titled, “Development and Implementation of an Online Screening Application at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio Dental School.”
January 14, 2010 Claudia E. Rodriguez, DDS and J. Patrick Pirtle, DDS: A Dentistry Duo Making a Difference: Dr. Claudia Rodriguez is a Brownsville native who early on, felt a need for child advocates in the Rio Grande Valley. She began working in a local dentist’s office in high school and fell in love with the concept of relieving children’s pain. Meanwhile, in Amarillo Dr. J. Patrick Pirtle was mirroring his future wife’s pattern by shadowing a dentist during high school and discovering his passion to serve all people with the highest quality of care, especially those who are often overlooked.
September 25, 2009 Dean, dental leader lauded as consensus builder: Dr. Kenneth L. Kalkwarf, this year's recipient of the ADA Distinguished Service Award, had a difficult decision to make during his earliest days in dental education.
September 22, 2009 Braces get a boost: For the 5 million in the United States and Canada who wear braces, better oral health, an attractive smile and enhanced self-image are just a few of the benefits. Yet, many orthodontic patients – particularly the one in five who are adults – testify that the much-anticipated date their braces are to be removed is a day they wish would arrive sooner.
September 15, 2009 Dental School Alum Named Healthcare Hero by the Houston Business Journal: Dr. K. Edward Oppermann, a native Texan who grew up in Houston, is more than a dentist, father and caring son. At work, he’s all about making people feel and look better. And his work away from the dentist’s chair brings him recognition as well.
August 25, 2009 Health Science Center employees honored for service: Service is at the heart of 43 UT Health Science Center employees who were honored for their lengthy service at the bimonthly service awards ceremony held Aug. 18
August 23, 2009 Dentist provides specialized care to seniors: After 18 years on the faculty at the University of Texas Health Science Center, Dirks redirected her study to focus on the unmet need in geriatrics. She served as clinical director of the geriatric dental clinic at the center until May 2007.
August 17, 2009 Former faculty member to be remembered during Mass, memorial run Aug. 19: In memory of Maria E. Yeung, Ph.D., a faculty member of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry from 1987 through 1999, the San Antonio Road Runners and Dr. Yeung’s family have organized a two-mile memorial run on Aug. 19.
August 10, 2009 New device could shorten, improve orthodontic treatment: A team of orthodontists at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio hopes to speed up and improve orthodontic treatment using a new device called the AcceleDent.
July 1, 2009 Dental honor society inducts 17 new members: Eleven UT Health Science Center alumni and six Dental School faculty members were inducted into the prestigious Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU) national dental honor society at the May convocation and banquet at Fair Oaks Country Club.
March 27, 2009 Dr. Olav Alvares Honored for his Work on the Journal of Dental Education: At the 2009 American Dental Education Association (ADEA) annual meeting in March, Periodontics faculty member Olav Alvares, DDS, MS was honored for his work as editor of the Journal of Dental Education (JDE). Dr. Alvares served as editor of the JDE from 2000 – 2009.
February 24, 2009 Dental students provide screenings, career inspiration to kids: Seven-year-old second-grader Hector Aguilar had been thinking about running for president of the United States when he grows up. But after getting an A+ at his dental screening at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio on “National Give Kids A Smile Day,” Feb. 16, he just may be thinking about becoming a dentist someday.
January 29, 2009 Small device helps sleep apnea sufferers in a big way : Imagine choking and gasping for air every time you fall asleep. Between 18 million and 20 million people in the United States suffer from these frightening symptoms because of a common disorder called sleep apnea.
January 23, 2009 Dental School Hosts Alumni Reception in Dallas: On January 23, the Dental School held a reception for alumni in the Dallas area and those attending the Southwest Dental Conference. Dean Kenneth L. Kalkwarf and Vice Dean William W. Dodge hosted a group of 20 people and updated them on the state of the school and the many new projects and events happening in San Antonio.
October 20, 2008 Drs. Cappelli, Chiang honored with Faculty Senate leadership awards: Dr. Cappelli, a 19-year member of the Health Science Center faculty, has a creative and multidimensional approach to dentistry, said his nominator, Barry Norling, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry.
October 9, 2008 Contagious Smiles: Peering into the mouth of a little girl, Sarah Payne, a dental student at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, was surprised to find something rather alarming.
October 9, 2008 Teeth prove to be susceptible to silent enamel-eating syndrome: Cavities or not, your teeth could be in more trouble than you know because of a silent and destructive phenomenon called dental erosion. A faculty member at The UT Health Science Center at San Antonio has found that the incidence of dental erosion, which is the steady loss of the teeth’s protective enamel, is on the rise in the United States.
October 7, 2008 Dental School exchange program bridges U.S. and Japan: Smiles sparkled all around in the UT Health Science Center San Antonio Dental School - but it was not from a typical trip to the dentist. Ten fifth-year dental students and two faculty members from Meikai and Asahi universities in Japan were participating in the Japanese 2008-2009 UT Health Science Center at San Antonio Dental School and Japanese Exchange Program. Twenty second- and fourth-year dental students from the Health Science Center participated in the program, which was conducted for 10 days in late July and early August.
October 6, 2008 First Dean of the Dental School Passes Away in California: Upon retirement with a rank of captain from the Navy, he was on the faculty at the University of California at Los Angeles, where he was assistant dean for graduate training and hospital affairs. After serving as founding dean of the new School of Dentistry at the University of Texas, San Antonio, he was appointed to the faculty of Loma Linda University Medical Center as chief of the oral and maxillofacial service. He was made emeritus professor in 2001
September 26, 2008 San Antonio picked to host national dental convention: San Antonio has been selected as the host city for the American Dental Association’s 149th Annual Session. This will mean that more than 30,000 dental professionals from throughout the world will be converging on the Alamo City.
August 28, 2008 $5 million grant will train students in oral health research: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has renewed a five-year, $5 million grant for the Craniofacial Oral-Biology Student Training in Academic Research (COSTAR) program at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. The first round of funding was received in 2002. The renewed grant will continue through 2012.
July 3, 2008 Dr. Olav Alvares receives IADR distinguished service award: Olav Alvares, D.D.S., Ph.D., associate professor of periodontics, received the 2008 International Association of Dental Researchers (IADR) Distinguished Service Award July 2 at the IADR annual meeting in Toronto, Canada.
July 3, 2008 South Central Texas AHEC holds annual awards ceremony: Fifteen individuals, faculty members and community partners were honored May 22 with awards from the South Central Texas Area Health Education Center (AHEC), sponsored by The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. The first AHEC Legacy Award was presented, in addition to the second annual Richard A. Garcia Jr. Spirit of AHEC Award.
July 3, 2008 Campus, community celebrate receiving CTSA Award: “In my eight years as president, this is an unparalleled milestone. It identifies our university and our partners as a top-tier consortium of excellence to benefit mankind.” With those words, Francisco G. Cigarroa, M.D., president...
May 14, 2008 Curtain to lift on 689 graduates’ health science careers: Six-hundred eighty-nine health professional students and biomedical scientists are scheduled to receive their degrees from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in ceremonies Friday through Sunday.
April 21, 2008 Dr. Minerva Garcia to hold UT Health Science Center’s first distinguished university chair in Laredo: Minerva Garcia, D.D.S., a Zapata native, will be named the holder of the first distinguished university chair of the Laredo Campus Extension of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. UT Health Science Center President Francisco G. Cigarroa, M.D., will make the announcement during a luncheon at 12:30 p.m. today at the Laredo Campus Extension, 1937 Bustamante Street.
