UTHSC College of Dentistry Magazine - Winter 2023

DENTISTRY

THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER

The Future of Dentistry in Tennessee

HELP SUPPORT THE DENTISTRY DEAN’S EQUIPMENT FUND

If the UTHSC College of Dentistry is to successfully pursue its vision of clinical excellence, it is imperative that students have access to the best equipment. The Dentistry Dean’s Equipment Fund is vital to ensuring the long-term viability of the college by helping us acquire and maintain state-of-the-art equipment for our students’ use. Donations will help the college address one of our top priorities – replacing dental chairs and updating operatories in the existing Dunn Dental Building predoctoral clinic.

Please donate to the Dentistry Dean’s Equipment Fund at giving.uthsc.edu/equipment

UTHSC Chancellor

Peter Buckley, MD

Dean

James C. Ragain, DDS, MS, PhD, FICD, FACD, FPFA

Associate Dean for Business and Financial Affairs

Daniel E. Brown, JD, CPA

Associate Dean for Postgraduate Affairs

Chair Department of Prosthodontics

David R. Cagna, DMD, MS

Associate Dean for Faculty and Student Affairs

Mojdeh Dehghan, DDS

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Edward J. DeSchepper, MAEd, DDS, MSD

Interim Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs

Paul Luepke, DDS, MS, FACD

Interim Associate Dean for Research

Interim Chair Department of Bioscience Research

Mustafa Dabbous, MS, PhD

Associate Dean for Institutional Affairs

Mark Scarbecz, PhD

Assistant Dean for Community Oral Health and Outreach

Orpheus Triplett, DDS

Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Syreeta McTavous, DDS

Chair Department of Dental Hygiene

Lynn Samons Russell, RDH, BS, MEd, EdD

Chair Department of Diagnostic Sciences

K. Mark Anderson, DDS, MS

Chair Department of Endodontics

Harry Cosby, DDS, MS

Interim Chair Department of General Dentistry

Joseph W. Parkinson, DDS, MPA, FAGD

Chair Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Jeffrey H. Brooks, DMD

Chair Department of Orthodontics

Richard A. Williams, DDS, MS

Chair Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Community Oral Health

Clarice S. Law, DMD, MS

Acting Chair Department of Periodontology

Douglas R. Dixon, DMD, MSD, PhD

Interim Vice Chancellor for Advancement

Charles “Charley” Deal, PhD

Associate Vice Chancellor for Development and Planned Giving

Bethany Goolsby, JD

Interim Senior Director of Development, College of Dentistry

Tim Lanier

Associate Director of Development, College of Dentistry

Ariel O’Brien

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Alumni and Constituent

Engagement

Chandra A. Tuggle

Director of Alumni Programs

Terri Catafygiotu

Vice Chancellor for Communications and Marketing

Sally Badoud, MBA

Editor

Peggy Reisser, MASC

Designer

Adam Gaines

Contributing Writers

Chris Green, Janay Jeans, Peggy Reisser Photographers

Houston Cofield, Caleb Jia, Sage Creative

On the cover: The UTHSC College of Dentistry is one of a handful of academic institutions to have the Yomi robotic device for dental implant surgery available for training future practitioners.

All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and admissions without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or covered veteran status.

Eligibility and other terms and conditions of employment benefits at The University of Tennessee are governed by laws and regulations of the State of Tennessee, and this non-discrimination statement is intended to be consistent with those laws and regulations.

In accordance with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, The University of Tennessee affirmatively states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or disability in its education programs and activities, and this policy extends to employment by the University.

Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color, national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), ADA (disability), Age Discrimination in Employment Act (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the Office of Equity and Diversity (OED), 910 Madison Avenue, Suite 826, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, telephone 901-448-7382 (V/TTY available). Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at the Office of Equity and Diversity. E073401(013-230823)

From the Dean

Dear Alumni, Students, and Friends

Our college of dentistry is experiencing a remarkable period of growth and progress. Founded in 1878, the College of Dentistry at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center is the third-oldest public college of dentistry in the nation and has a proud legacy and a very bright future. The theme of this year’s William F. Slagle Dental Meeting is appropriately, “Remembering the Past, Embracing the Present, and Shaping the Future of Dentistry.” We continue to build our college on the shoulders of our alumni. The generosity of our alumni with their active engagement and ever-increasing philanthropy, enables us to accomplish our mission of actively advancing oral health through excellence in clinical education, innovation in research, skilled clinical care, and engagement in public service.

In this issue of the College of Dentistry Magazine, you will read about the Healthy Smiles Initiative. This is an ambitious statewide program to increase the number of dental and dental hygiene students and to stimulate retention and relocation of our graduating dentists into practices in rural Tennessee. Healthy Smiles will increase the dental class to 130 and dental hygiene class to 50, encourage recruitment and retention of students from rural Tennessee, and help expand dental services across the state. This year we are working to add two additional extramural clinical rotations for our senior dental and dental hygiene students in East Tennessee (Crossville and Knoxville).

A historic memorandum of understanding was signed in the fall between UTHSC, East Tennessee State University, Ballad Health, and the City of Kingsport, Tennessee, to work toward establishing a major dental clinical training site in Kingsport. The Expanded Functions for Dental Auxiliary (EFDA) continuing education course for dental assistants and dental hygienists continues to thrive and has increased its reach to East Tennessee by establishing courses on the University of Tennessee-Knoxville campus. This is the first major training program offered by the college in East Tennessee.

We could not fulfill the mission of the Healthy Smiles Initiative without increasing our infrastructure on the Memphis campus. We are excited about the upcoming opening of the new $46 million Delta Dental of Tennessee Building. The 68,000-square-foot building includes a Special Needs Clinic, University Dental Faculty Practice, a large lecture auditorium, additional seminar and conference room spaces, 134 manikin stations in the preclinical dental technique laboratories, and much-needed faculty office space.

The College of Dentistry embraces the value of diversity in dental education. Our Moving Forward Committee is committed to a diverse student, faculty, and staff population through the work of dedicated professionals, whose mission is to address the needs of everyone in the field of dentistry.

We remain committed to excellence in dental education, research, and patient care. Thank you for your continuing support of our college.

From the Chancellor

On a recent tour across Tennessee to talk about the University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s statewide reach, I was honored to visit a community dental clinic in Chattanooga to talk about the work the College of Dentistry is doing there.

In that dental clinic run by the College of Dentistry to treat the underserved, fourth-year dental student Elvys (Elvis) Ferrufino talked passionately about patients who travel long distances for dental care by our third– and fourth-year students on rotations and supervised by our dental faculty.

This is only one of several UTHSC dental clinics across the state, with more opening this winter and spring. Each one trains the next generation of dentists for Tennessee and treats those in need of care.

In my short time as chancellor, I have been proud to see the College of Dentistry play a leading role in our efforts to improve access to health care across Tennessee.

The college has a proud history of nearly 150 years as an educator and trainer of the state’s dental workforce. It is continuing that mission, with an additional focus on ensuring that all citizens of Tennessee, from one end of the state to the other, have access to quality dental care that is so critical to overall good health.

Dean Ragain and the faculty, staff, and students of the college are embarking on the ambitious Healthy Smiles Initiative to increase the numbers of dentists across the state and provide care in rural areas where the need is great.

In addition to the new clinics, the college is expanding its footprint with additional residency programs in East Tennessee and is preparing to open a state-of-the art facility on the Memphis campus.

None of this would be possible without the support of our dedicated alumni. I want to express my thanks to you for your support of the college and for all your well wishes since I joined UTHSC. I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting so many of you and truly value your advice and support.

I encourage you to feel pride in your College of Dentistry and to connect with the college in whatever way you can.

Whether you share time, talent, or funds with the college, please know that you are making a difference, not only in your alma mater, but in the health of all who live in Tennessee.

Sincerely,

Peter Buckley, MD Chancellor

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

From the Alumni Board President

I am truly a lucky person to have become president of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s College of Dentistry Alumni Association Board of Trustees at this time. We are blessed to have one of the most supportive administrations we have ever had. From President Randy Boyd to Chancellor Peter Buckley, to Dean James Ragain, we have an organization that leads our College of Dentistry in a direction that has us back on track to our place as a top dental school in the country.

The renovations and expansion of the College of Dentistry campus in Memphis are coming together, allowing us to increase enrollment to help fill the shortage of practicing dentists in Tennessee. The vision of Dean Ragain and other leaders is coming to fruition by expanding the clinics for third- and fourth-year students into areas around the state. This will ease the burden of overcrowding the clinics in Memphis, and it will help ease the problem of inadequate access to care suffered by so much of our state.

Chancellor Buckley has said “Memphis is our home … Tennessee is our Campus.” I have had the opportunity to visit Kingsport and upper East Tennessee with Chancellor Buckley and Dean Ragain, and I can personally tell you that they are excited to see us have a presence there. Other areas are being developed as I write this, and they, too, anxiously await our expansion into their areas.

The quality of admissions and accepted dental students in our College of Dentistry continues to impress me. I have had the opportunity to meet with pre-dental study groups on several occasions. We are attracting the best and want to continue that. If you are aware of bright young people who might be interested in dentistry, send them in our direction with encouragement.

The Alumni Association holds its annual meeting in Memphis during the William F. Slagle Dental Meeting, March 3-5. Please consider attending, so that you can see firsthand what is taking place in our College of Dentistry.

I am asking each of you to be an advocate for our College of Dentistry by supporting with your goodwill and with your financial assistance. Dental schools are the most expensive of all schools to operate. There are multiple ways that you can add your name to those who are already making contributions. It is a thank you for your education in the past and an investment in the future of your chosen profession.

Thank you for allowing me to serve you.

DELTA DENTAL BUILDING NEARING COMPLETION

The future of dentistry in Tennessee is soon to be unveiled on the University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s Memphis campus.

The College of Dentistry’s new Delta Dental of Tennessee Building seamlessly wraps the existing Dunn Dental Building, offering a new façade and entrance that can be seen from busy Union Avenue.

“We’ve been known for many, many years for training excellent dentists, dental hygienists, and specialists,” said James Ragain, DDS, MS, PhD, FICD, FACD, dean of the UTHSC College of Dentistry. “We can continue that and add to that by attracting the most-talented students, faculty, and leadership that we can. If we can provide a state-of-the-art building that has all the latest teaching aids and the latest dental equipment the students can learn on, I think it attracts folks to our school.”

Construction on the new building began in early 2021. Throughout the process, however, the college has been intentional in ensuring that its clinics have remained open and patient care has continued unchanged.

The 68,000-square-foot building will house a Special Needs Clinic, an expanded faculty practice, and dental technique labs for first- and second-year students.

The entire grounds of the College of Dentistry, located at 875 Union Avenue, is called the Delta Dental of Tennessee

Oral Health Complex. The complex includes the new structure, the existing Dunn Dental Building, which retains its name and continues in use with upgrades, as well as clinics, and support structures.

The dean said the additional space, once fully operational, will allow the college to reach its eventual goal to expand its class size to 130 students, in order to meet the demand for dentists in Tennessee and the surrounding region, particularly in underserved rural areas.

“To accomplish this, we have to have more space to train our students,” Dean Ragain said.

The name of the new building honors the outstanding support from Delta Dental of Tennessee and its Chief Executive Officer Philip Wenk, DDS. Dr. Wenk is a 1973 graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and a 1977 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry. He also is serving his third two-year term as chair the UTHSC Advisory Board.

“The addition of our second building on campus and the creation of the Delta Dental of Tennessee Oral Health Complex will facilitate our class size increases, which will ultimately increase the dental workforce in Tennessee and improve access to dental care and the oral health of our citizens,” Dean Ragain said.

From blueprint, through construction, to nearing completion, the Delta Dental of Tennessee Building has emerged as a showplace for dental education in Tennessee.

68,000 Square feet

$45 MILLION (Cost)

4 Floors

SPRING 2023

Expected completion

Expanded and modernized University Dental Practice (10 dental treatment rooms with updated radiographic equipment)

Special Needs Clinic (6 dental treatment rooms)

2 Large seminar rooms

12 Faculty offices

134 Manikin stations in preclinical dental techniques laboratories for dental and dental hygiene programs

132 Seats for students in large lecture auditorium

Locker spaces for students

Dean’s Suite (On top floor)

Additional study areas, student activity space, gathering areas

Turner Construction Company

HE ALTH Y SMILE S

Healthy Smiles Initiative to Expand Ranks of Dentists, Increase Access to Dental Care in Tennessee

The numbers tell a sobering story for Tennessee, one that the UTHSC College of Dentistry aims to rewrite.

• U.S. News & World Report ranks Tennessee 43rd in access to dentists for its citizens

• 86 counties are below the American Dental Association’s Health Policy Institutes’ recommendation of 61 dentists per 100,000 residents

• 26 counties have less than 20 dentists per 100,000 people

In that scenario, the College of Dentistry, in collaboration with the Tennessee Department of Health, is undertaking a $53 million project over the next five years to increase access to dentists and dental care across Tennessee, with a focus on the rural areas with the most need.

Funded by the state and called the “Healthy Smiles Initiative,” the ambitious project is a multipronged approach to tackling the current shortage of dentists in Tennessee and improving overall health across the state by making dental care more readily available.

“It’s a very exciting time to be part of our college,” Dean Ragain said. “The Healthy Smiles Initiative is basically a plan to increase our outreach across the state to the underserved population. We’re putting this plan in place to increase our workforce and to extend our extramural rotations across the state.”

Allen Stanton, formerly the director of the Turner Center for Rural Vitality at UT Southern, joined the college in December to serve as the administrative project manager for the Health Smiles Initiative.

“This project is meaningful for a number of reasons,” Stanton said. “It’s directly improving the health of our rural communities, and that impacts people’s lives in a lot of ways. Children with better oral health do better in school, and access to quality care is shown to help reduce poverty, and we’re contributing to the workforce of rural places. Healthy Smiles is about expanding access to dental care, but it also contributes to the wholesale improvement of our rural communities.

Training More Dentists for Tennessee

The College of Dentistry has a distinguished history of training the state’s dental workforce. However, as the older ranks of licensed dentists retire over the next 10 years, it is estimated that Tennessee will be 800-plus dentists short according to American Dental Association recommendations.

The Healthy Smiles Initiative allows for an increase in the number of dental students per class from the current 110 to 130 over the next few years. At the same time, the dental hygiene classes will increase from 35 to 48-50 students, with two class starts per year.

The new Delta Dental of Tennessee Building makes accommodating and training the larger classes possible. New faculty will also be hired over the course of the grant funding through FY 2027. New hires in the DDS program will total 29 and eight in the DHS program. Salaries for current faculty are also increasing in line with a recently completed market analysis.

Providing Care Across Tennessee

While educating and training future dentists is a major component of the Healthy Smiles Initiative, providing dental care to the underserved across Tennessee is also a primary focus.

This will be accomplished through expansion of external D4 rotations at clinics in areas of greatest need in the state. Based on the successful model of established UTHSC College of Dentistry clinics in Union City in West Tennessee, and Chattanooga and Bristol in the eastern part of the state, new clinics are being added in Crossville, Knoxville, Kingsport, Jackson, and Pulaski. These clinics are supervised by faculty and staffed by fourth-year dental students and second-year dental hygiene students on two-week rotations, allowing them to provide dental services and gain clinical experience.

In Kingsport, the college is working with Ballad Health, the City of Kingsport, and East Tennessee State University on a collaborative dental clinic that will house the D4 students and DH2 students on rotation. Located at 111 West Sevier Ave., the space will also be the site of an Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) program for that region. Providing clinical rotations for ETSU dental hygiene students, this Appalachian Highlands Dental Clinic is a major step toward a more robust academic and clinical presence for UTHSC in Eastern Tennessee. Additionally, new AEGD residency sites are being established in Knoxville and Jackson.

“The access to dental care in some rural areas of Tennessee is far below the national average,” Dean Ragain said. “We are actively recruiting potential dental and dental hygiene students from many of those counties. We hope that many of them would want to return home after their dental training.”

The dean said the Healthy Smiles Initiative is one of the largest statewide efforts of UTHSC. He said the College of Dentistry is truly fulfilling the motto, “Memphis is our home … Tennessee is our Campus.”

“It’s exciting to see the Tennessee legislature invest in the Healthy Smiles Initiative and ultimately the health of our neighbors,” said Phil Wenk, DDS, CEO of Delta Dental of Tennessee and chair of the UTHSC Advisory Board. “This project is the perfect example of a collaborative public-private partnership, as so many entities come together to increase the dental workforce in our state and work to ensure dental care is available and truly accessible. As a UTHSC College of Dentistry alum, I’m proud to see UTHSC and ETSU working together in an unprecedented way.”

HEALTHY SMILES INITIATIVE AT-A-GLANCE

• Budget: $52,905,200 over five years (FY 2023-2027)

• Increase DDS class size to 130 (one class start per year)

• Increase DH class to 48 (two class starts per year)

• Increase number of external D4 clinical rotations (Crossville, Knoxville, Kingsport, Jackson, Pulaski). Existing clinics in Union City, Chattanooga, and Bristol

• Additional AEGD residency sites (Knoxville, Kingsport, Jackson)

This building in Kingsport, Tennessee, will house a collaborative dental clinic as part of the Healthy Smiles Initiative’s effort to expand access to dental care across the state.

Triplett Honored with 2022 UT President’s Award

Orpheus Triplett, DDS, assistant dean for Community Oral Health and Outreach and associate professor in the College of Dentistry, received a 2022 University of Tennessee President’s Awards in the Optimistic and Visionary category. The President’s Awards honor the efforts and achievements of employees across the UT System. The awards represent the seven Be One UT values: Bold and Impactful, Embrace Diversity, Optimistic and Visionary, Nimble and Innovative, Excel in All We Do, United and Connected, and Transparent and Trusted. The President’s Awards are the highest honors an employee of the UT System can receive, and candidates are nominated by campus and institute leaders and selected from a system-wide pool annually.

2022 BSA Award Recipients

Dental student Alexandria DeLynn Dixon and dental hygiene student Za’kinna Conner were among seven students honored at the 30th annual Black Student Association (BSA) Awards Ceremony in February 2022. The awards honor the achievements of graduating Black student leaders at UTHSC. Conner from Marks, Mississippi, earned her degree in Dental Hygiene from the college in May 2022. She has mentored junior students and volunteered in the community through the Mid-South Mission of Mercy, Give Kids A Smile, and Love Thy Neighbor outreach programs. Dixon served as the treasurer of the Student National Dental Association and was the former treasurer and president of the Black Student Association among other activities.

SGAEC Excellence in Teaching Awards

Vinay Jain, DDS, MDS, MS, professor in the Department of Prosthodontics, and Audrey Selecman, DDS, MDS, associate professor and vice chair of the Department of Prosthodontics, were recipients of the 2021-2022 Excellence in Teaching Awards presented by the Student Government Association Executive Council. The awards are among the most distinguished honors that faculty members at UTHSC can receive. Each year, students nominate two faculty members from each college to receive the award.

Give Kids a Smile 2022

After a year interrupted by COVID, the College of Dentistry held the Give Kids a Smile event February 24. Under faculty supervision, 110 dental students performed 634 procedures, valued at $17,165. The dental clinic not only filled cavities and provided other free care for 62 middle school students from Freedom Preparatory Academy, but it also taught the children the importance of good oral health and exposed them to the profession of dentistry.

Dixon

Jain

Conner Selecman

Christiansen Named a 2022 Health Care Hero

Cassandra Holder Christiansen, EdD, RDH, MPA, associate professor and director of School-Based Programs and Community Outreach in the College of Dentistry, was chosen as one of the Memphis Business Journal’s 2022 Health Care Heroes. Dr. Christiansen was recognized in the category of community outreach, which honors individuals or organizations for the development of a program that enhanced access to quality health care in underserved areas.

Wasson Named 2023 Executive Academy Fellow

Delta Regional Authority named Waletha Wasson, DDS, MPA, professor in the Department of General Dentistry, a fellow of the 2023 Delta Leadership Institute Executive Academy. The academy is an extensive, nine-month executive leadership program for diverse leaders in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors in the Mississippi River Delta and Alabama Black Belt. It aims to provide the fellows with the tools, experiences, and networks needed to address challenges in their local and regional communities.

Student Wins Second Place in St. Jude Memphis Marathon

Third-year dental student Carl Oberfeitinger won second place overall in the St. Jude Memphis Marathon December 3. With a time of 2:34:04, Oberfeitinger ran a sub-six-minute mile for the full 26.2-mile race. The marathon is the largest single-day fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, raising millions of dollars each year to help research and treat childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

Halloween 2022

The College of Dentistry celebrated Halloween in 2022 with a day of fun featuring costumes and pumpkins. Dean Ragain made his appearance as Captain Jack Sparrow from the “Pirates of the Caribbean” film.

The Be One UT values were on display at the floss cutting for the College of Dentistry’s new EFDA program in Knoxville. UT System President Randy Boyd, left, and UTK Chancellor Donde Plowman joined College of Dentistry leaders to launch the program.

College of Dentistry Brings Inaugural Dental Education Course to East Tennessee

As part of its effort to expand access to dental care across the state, the College of Dentistry, with assistance from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, held its first dental education course in East Tennessee on Monday, April 25.

The Expanded Functions for Dental Auxiliary (EFDA) continuing education course took place in the UT Culinary Institute and Creamery on the UT Knoxville campus. A ceremonial “floss cutting” was held to kick off the class and recognize UTHSC College of Dentistry’s new presence in Knoxville.

The EFDA course trains credentialed dental assistants and dental hygienists to perform certain procedures currently done by licensed dentists, thereby expanding the delivery of dental care. These procedures include some restorative and prosthetic care, including placement of fillings, temporaries for crowns, and making impressions for various fixed and removable dental prostheses. Since the EFDA program began in 2006 on the Memphis campus, the College of Dentistry has qualified more than 2,000 dental assistants and dental hygienists to extend the work of dentists.

“The EFDA does play a big part in addressing the access to care crisis that we have in Tennessee,” said Jerry McKinney, DDS, FICD, assistant professor and director of the Expanded Functions Programs in the UTHSC College of Dentistry. “If you have an EFDA in your office doing restorative dentistry, it can increase the number of patients seen in an office a minimum of 15% up to 40%. That’s huge.”

The EFDA program has two tracks. The restorative class credentials dental auxiliary in restorative procedures, including placing composite or amalgam restorations after the dentist has prepped the tooth. The prosthodontics class allows graduates to perform procedures, including making master impressions, creating temporaries, and taking bites for crowns and bridges. All procedures are performed with supervision from a licensed dentist.

“Just about every UTHSC college has some sort of presence on the UTK campus, except for dentistry,” he said. “As far as we know, this is the first time there has ever been a presence of the UTHSC College of Dentistry on the UTK campus, which is a big deal for us.”

“We are proud to join with our colleagues at the UT Health Science Center and support the important work they do in providing critical training and supporting opportunities for people to get the care that they need,” said Donde Plowman, PhD, chancellor of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. “We are always looking for new ways to partner with our colleagues at UTHSC to benefit Tennesseans and beyond.”

Dr. McKinney said three EFDA classes were presented on the UTK campus last year. “For 2023 we have an ambitious plan for five classes at UTK,” he said.

“We are very excited about this opportunity,” Dean Ragain said at the time. “It has been proven that EFDAtrained dental auxiliaries increase the number of patients that can be treated by dentists. Therefore, this program factors into our plans of improving access to dental care across Tennessee. This collaboration between the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville is a fantastic example of our motto, Be One UT.”

Alumnus Dedicated to Helping CoD Train the Best Dentists Possible

By Chris Green

As an oral surgeon in Alabama, Hank McKay, DDS, has seen the difference a UTHSC education makes in a dentist’s career.

“Working in Birmingham, we get calls all the time from dentists here in town wanting to know if we could hook them up with a Tennessee (UTHSC) graduate, because when Tennessee graduates get out of school, they’re ready to go to work,” he said.

Dr. McKay, a 1990 alumnus of the College of Dentistry, serves as the student recruitment committee chair on the college’s Alumni Board of Trustees. In that role, he wanted to go beyond the typical meet-and-greets with prospective students and think of other things that would draw them to UTHSC.

“We’re trying to recruit the best students from all over the country, and if you’ve invested in cutting-edge technology, the school really stands out,” he said.

That’s where Yomi, the first and only FDA-cleared robotic device for dental implant surgery, comes in. Dr. McKay was an early adopter of the device, and it has become an integral part of his practice.

“At the time, there were only three colleges and universities in the world with Yomi robots, so I started investigating to see if UTHSC would qualify as a robotics center,” he said. In May, he invited representatives from Neocis Inc., a dental robotics company, to visit the College of Dentistry and demonstrate the technology. According to Dr. McKay, the company was blown away by the level of technology the college already had and decided it would be a perfect match.

“This just seemed to be such a good fit for what’s going on at a top-notch facility like UTHSC,” Dr. McKay said. “This level of technology needs to be only in the best schools, and they’ve laid the groundwork for UTHSC to be off the charts as far as quality and level of education.”

Dr. McKay donated funds to the college to purchase a Yomi robot, and training using the technology has already started.

Jeffrey Brooks, DMD, chair of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS), and Jill Gibson, DDS, OMFS chief resident, have completed the first robot-assisted dental implant procedures in West Tennessee. Dr. McKay is now working on a more robust robotics curriculum.

“We need to make sure that we’re staying at the highestlevel technology at the best price point for these students to get their education,” Dr. McKay said. “Dental school is expensive, and the students deserve an outstanding level of education for their investment.”

While Dr. McKay strives to recruit students from across the country, he has also successfully recruited a student from his own home. His son, Luke, is a second-year student in the College of Dentistry. Although, according to Dr. McKay, recruiting him wasn’t a conscious effort.

“I never really pushed dentistry on either of my sons. It was just something Luke discovered on his own because he was around our office so much. He saw that, at the end of the day, it didn’t matter how hard a day I had, I still loved going to work the next day,” Dr. McKay said. “There are no words to describe how proud I am of what Luke has done, and I’m so, so thankful he’s gotten the opportunity to have a UTHSC College of Dentistry education.”

As he watches his son succeed in the College of Dentistry, Dr. McKay hopes to continue to bring in other quality students so they can find success through the college as well.

“When these students come to a dental school or any professional school, they expect a certain level of excellence. UTHSC can give them that level of excellence,” he said. “I can vouch for it from my days in the College of Dentistry and I’m also seeing a continued high level of training my son is receiving. He is surrounded by excellent instructors and mentors. I’m thrilled with the quality of the experience he’s getting.”

Dr. Hank McKay (left) shown with son, Luke, a second-year dental student, donated a state-of-the-art robotic device for dental implant surgery to his alma mater.

Dr. Stueart Hudsmith (right) pictured with his son, Foster, a third-year dental student at UTHSC, is an active volunteer and supporter of the college in the hopes of helping future dentists be the best they can be.

“UTHSC is a special place. While I earned my education, I built a lot of friendships and I built a lot of camaraderie.”

– Dr. Stueart Hudsmith

Legacy of Service-Focused Dentists Continues in Family of UTHSC Alumni

By Chris Green

For Stueart Hudsmith, DDS, being a dentist is about helping people.

“I really like interacting with people and I love fixing their problems, usually with some immediate care,” said Dr. Hudsmith, a 1995 graduate of the UTHSC College of Dentistry.

While Dr. Hudsmith’s passion for serving is now actualized in a variety of forms, it all started at UTHSC. The inspiration to become a dentist initially came from his stepfather, David Weaver, DDS, who also graduated from UTHSC.

“He gave the university very high marks, and when I visited for my interview, there was no question I wanted to be there,” Dr. Hudsmith said.

Dr. Hudsmith served as class president all four of his years in the College of Dentistry. During that time, he learned of community involvement and leadership opportunities through the dean, William Slagle, DDS, as well as what Dr. Hudsmith called “excellent clinical skills” that prepared him to practice dentistry in the real world with no apprehension.

In addition to having his own dental practice in Memphis, Dr. Hudsmith serves as the clinic director for the MidSouth Mission of Mercy, a clinic that opens once a year to treat underserved patients for free. In its five years of operation, the clinic has treated 11,400 patients.

“The clinic provides a great service for the people in our community who can’t seek dental care on a regular basis,” Dr. Hudsmith said. “It’s very important – especially when you see somebody who is very self-conscious because they can’t smile – to serve people in a way that provides them a good self-image.”

While it is a large operation with almost 1,500 yearly volunteers, the Mid-South Mission of Mercy has become a family affair. Dr. Hudsmith’s wife and all six of their children volunteer for it, including his youngest son, Foster, who is currently a third-year student in the UTHSC College of Dentistry.

“I’m excited to have him as a colleague in the future, because I know he’s going to do extremely well,” Dr. Hudsmith said. “I respect him as a person, even though he is my kid. He’s done very well academically, he’s great with people, he’s been involved in community and

volunteer efforts – not just since he’s been in dental school, but throughout his whole life. He’s just a great person.”

Foster Hudsmith is following in his father’s footsteps, not only by attending the College of Dentistry, but also by being a leader in it. Through the American Student Dental Association, Foster and two other students led an initiative to give tours to incoming students who couldn’t visit the campus due to the COVID pandemic.

“We organized a day for them to come to the school and see what it’s like, because the whole process had been virtual,” he said. “It’s just our way to help them get their feet on the ground when they first come in instead of just showing up to a school they had never been in before.” For Foster, being in dental school not only continues his family’s legacy, but it also gives him a deeper appreciation for his father and the profession of dentistry.

“I never truly understood how much people care about their teeth until recently, and that has made me realize how much of an impact my dad has had on people,” he said. “Now that I’m having that same impact on people, it’s really something that you can’t put into words just how it makes you feel.”

Students like Foster are why Dr. Hudsmith has stayed involved in the UTHSC community. He has been very active as a volunteer with the College of Dentistry Alumni Board, currently serving as chair of the Faculty and Academic Support Committee, and he and his wife, Pam, continue to be generous supporters of the university and included the college in their estate planning.

“UTHSC is a special place. While I earned my education, I built a lot of friendships and I built a lot of camaraderie,” Dr. Hudsmith said. “As a leader, you want to make sure the institution is always teaching and providing the best information for future students. My goal is to always provide a future for students that’s even better than the one that we had.”

If you would like to learn more about ways to support the college, please call the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs at 901.448.5516 and ask for Tim Lanier or Ariel O’Brien.

CoD Student Committed to Uplifting Others

By Chris Green

One thing Shelby Schultz is passionate about is encouraging others – not just those in her personal life, but also in her academic and professional circles. As the inaugural president of the UTHSC College of Dentistry’s newly formed Student Professionalism and Ethics Association in Dentistry (SPEA), she has made it her goal to uplift others.

“Something I’ve tried to do as much as I can is making sure people know they’re worth being seen and worth being heard and that there’s no one right way to accomplish your goal,” Schultz said.

In a way, Schultz became the SPEA leader by accident. When Paul Luepke, DDS, MS, FACD, interim associate dean of Clinical and Extramural Affairs in the College of Dentistry, learned the college had no SPEA chapter, he reached out to student leaders to see if anyone would be interested in starting one, and Schultz responded.

“I very briefly skimmed the description of SPEA and I thought, ‘Yeah, that sounds cool,’” she said. “I’d like to start focusing more on a very professional and confident approach to practicing dentistry, since I have only 18 more months in school, so I thought I’d give SPEA a try.”

Schultz attended the national organization’s annual meeting, and when she returned home, she hit the ground running to create the UTHSC chapter. It now has an executive board with Schultz as president, a vice president, treasurer, and secretary. A couple dozen students have expressed interest in joining the SPEA, and according to Schultz, doing so would be for their own benefit.

“At the national meeting, it was just the most encouraging, warm, positive group of people I have ever been around all at one time,” she said. “That’s really the goal. We really want to be able to build people up in what their standards of care are right now, so when we are more independent and on our own after school, we’re confident in our ability to deliver that care.”

In a similar way to how she became the SPEA president by accident, Schultz’s interest in dentistry started accidentally as well. Her first attempt at higher education

didn’t go as planned. She couldn’t find an area of study that felt right for her, so she decided to take a break. When she went on a medical mission trip with her church, she discovered something she didn’t expect.

“I was never interested in science or any kind of health profession, but oddly enough, just being in rural Honduras and having an opportunity to work at the kind of makeshift dental clinic they had, it felt like it clicked for me,” she said.

Back home in Central Arkansas, Schultz started working as an orthodontist’s assistant and decided dentistry was the career for her. She went back to school at the University of Central Arkansas, continuing to work at the orthodontist’s clinic while completing her undergraduate degree.

When the time came to choose a dental school, staying close to home was important to Schultz. While the proximity is what initially drew her to UTHSC, it was the energy on campus that made her decision easier.

“I remember being super nervous and terrified because I had no idea what I was doing, and it felt like a huge process to apply to dental school, but everybody at UTHSC was very welcoming,” Schultz said. “I felt that they asked thoughtful questions in the interview, and it felt like a really calm and just a good place to be.”

Now in her third year in the College of Dentistry, she hasn’t been let down.

“It’s been lovely. It really feels like a family,” Schultz said. “I’ve been very fortunate to have professors who are just as passionate about dentistry as they are about helping us learn and figure out what works best for us.”

After graduating in 2024, Schultz wants to take her passion for encouraging others back to Central Arkansas. She plans on practicing general dentistry and hopes to spread her passion for that, too.

“My goal is to make people the most excited to be general dentists, just because there’s so much possibility and so much to explore.”

“Something I’ve tried to do as much as I can is making sure people know they’re worth being seen and worth being heard and that there’s no one right way to accomplish your goal.”

– Shelby Schultz Third-year dental student

“UTHSC has always had a great reputation for training great clinical dentists, and I knew that’s what I wanted to be.”

– Caleb Winkler

Fourth-year dental student

Student Keeps Focus on Family While Working Toward Dentistry Degree

By Chris Green

Caleb Winkler is a family man. Not only are he and his wife creating a family now, with a baby expected in May, but he has also found a family in the UTHSC College of Dentistry.

Family has been at the center of Winkler’s biggest life decisions. He always knew he wanted to work in the medical field, and he’s been on medical mission trips to Israel, Paraguay, Ghana, and several cities in North America. On those trips, Winkler said he’s seen the difference health care professionals can make in people’s lives.

“I knew I wanted to develop a skill I could use to help people,” he said, “but I also always knew that I wanted to be an involved husband and father. I wanted a career that wouldn’t tie me down timewise and would give me some freedom and flexibility to be there for my family, and dentistry fit the bill.”

Winkler received his undergraduate degree from the University of Arkansas, just a couple hours from his hometown of Little Rock. He wanted to stay close to his family while he attended dental school, too. UTHSC has the closest dental school to Little Rock, but that was just one factor that led him to Memphis.

“UTHSC has always had a great reputation for training great clinical dentists, and I knew that’s what I wanted to be,” Winkler said. “So, when they offered me a spot, I happily accepted.”

Now in his fourth year in the College of Dentistry, Winkler is part of a family of classmates who build each other up. “I think we’ve got one of the best classes that’s ever come through UTHSC,” he said. “We’re a class that really works well together and we pride ourselves on that. We sacrifice for each other and do everything we can to see each other be better.”

Winkler plays an important part in that support system, serving as his class dependency and addiction representative. In that role, he acts as a resource for students who are struggling with addiction, offering a listening ear and a connection to professional resources if needed.

“I think students are less likely to seek help from people they don’t trust, because there is a fear that there would be judgment before relationship,” Winkler said. “We’re not trained therapists or anything, but if someone has a classmate they see on a daily basis in lab, in clinic, or in class, they form a genuine friendship, and some people need that.”

Winkler also represents his classmates as president of the college’s Honor Council, which works to bridge the gap between the students and the faculty and administration. “I think we’ve made some really positive moves in our council. The students are feeling more heard than they have in the past and I think the students and faculty are starting to see the value of that.”

Darton Taylor, DDS, assistant professor in the College of Dentistry and Honor Council faculty representative, described Winkler as disciplined, structured, and eager for all around him to succeed. “I have enjoyed my time watching Caleb perfect his leadership skills and make sure his fellow College of Dentistry students have a voice,” Dr. Taylor said.

Winkler is set to graduate in May, just days before his first baby is due. He and his wife of more than three years are planning to move back to Little Rock, where Winkler hopes to practice general dentistry, while spending plenty of time with his growing family.

Dentistry SGA President Driven to be a Voice and Serve

By Janay Jeans

Elvys (Elvis) Ferrufino, fourth-year dental student and president of the College of Dentistry’s Student Government Association, discovered his passion for dentistry after receiving significant dental care and volunteering at a clinic in his hometown.

“I knew I wanted to do something hands on, and I shadowed other specialties, medicine and pharmacy, but dentistry was the only one where I saw an impact where the patients come in and leave happily,” he said.

At a young age, he experienced several accidents that led to dental trauma. The compassion he received when he sought treatment from his dentist inspired him to pursue dentistry.

“One time at my pediatric dentist, a family arrived, and a child was experiencing pain and swelling due to an infection, and the parents couldn’t speak English and they didn’t have money or insurance,” he said. “However, the dentist told them not to worry about the finances and that they will take care of their son. At that moment I was astonished.”

Ferrufino, from Dardanelle, Arkansas, graduated from Arkansas Tech University with a degree in biology. During his undergraduate studies, he began volunteering and interpreting at a local Christian clinic that offered affordable medical, dental, and optometry services. “I started interpreting and later asked to transition into the dentistry section, and I noticed that this is what I wanted to do,” Ferrufino said. “I don’t regret it at all, this is an amazing field.”

He chose the UTHSC College of Dentistry because of the variety of academic programs that are offered. “I had interviews and acceptances at other colleges, but the reason why UTHSC won was because they have every specialty in this program,” he said. “I knew I wanted to go to a school that offers students the experience of every dental specialty, and this building and institution has that.”

He also serves on rotation at the college’s dental clinic in the Dodson Avenue Community Health Center in Chattanooga, extending health care to those in need. “These clinics

provide care to patients who can’t afford dental care, so to them, these clinics mean everything,” he said.

He acknowledges the value of clinics for the community and the importance of students to serve in more clinics, because of the hands-on experiences they provide. “Students need more sites because, while we’re practicing dentistry in school, we only see a few patients, but these rotations allow us to gain real-world experiences,” he said.

Ferrufino serves in the college in multiple ways, including his current leadership role as the 2022-2023 president of the College of Dentistry’s Student Government Association. “It gives me a great opportunity to represent the College of Dentistry and give it a voice on the Student Government Association Executive Council,” he said.

“As a member of the SGAEC, along with all the SGA presidents of the UTHSC colleges, collaborate, discuss issues brought upon students, and filter communication between the students and administration,” he said. “We have meetings where we not only address the issues, but also create solutions that would benefit UTHSC. This is a great opportunity to learn and help each other’s colleges, and this role has allowed me to meet many bright individuals who will impact the world in the future.”

Ferrufino has become a member of several organizations including the Imhotep Society, the American Student Dental Association, the Hispanic Dental Association, the Student National Dental Association, Remote Area Medical, and Xi Psi Phi Fraternity.

Upon graduating from UTHSC, he looks forward to working in the Memphis area, while his wife, Madison Rose Ferrufino, completes her dental hygiene program at Concorde University. “We still have one more year after I graduate, so I plan to work around here, and afterwards, we will see where the wind takes us. I want to travel back to my hometown, where the Christian clinic is, and visit the community that helped me realize my passion.”

Elvys Ferrufino, in blue scrubs, met with UTHSC Chancellor Peter Buckley, left, and UT System President Randy Boyd, back row, second from right, at the UTHSC dental clinic in the Dodson Community Health Center in Chattanooga last fall.

“UTHSC has brought me out of my shell. I was always a quiet person. I knew when I got started that I would be interacting with a lot of people, and I had to be more open and comfortable with communicating and being around many people at a time.”

– Aaliyah Threlkeld

Dental Hygiene Student Motivated by Caring for Others

By Janay Jeans

Aaliyah Threlkeld chose to study dental hygiene because of a desire to help loved ones and others with oral health improvement needs.

“I went to the University of Memphis to find what route I would want to pursue, and I have family members who do not have the best oral health,” said Threlkeld, now a senior dental hygiene student. “I thought this would be a great way for me to help the people that are around me daily.”

Threlkeld graduated from the University of Memphis with a degree in health sciences in 2019. As a native Memphian, a desire to represent her hometown led Threlkeld to choose the College of Dentistry at UTHSC. “I didn’t want to graduate from another college, because I want my home to be where I pursue my career,” she said. “I want to represent where I have been throughout my entire journey.”

Threlkeld is a member of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and the Student American Dental Hygienists’ Association. She has been involved in serving the community through volunteering with the Red Door Urban Missions nonprofit organization in Memphis and the Love Thy Neighbor program in the College of Dentistry, which prepares and dispenses food boxes to individuals in need throughout the city.

“With the Red Door, we went to a low-income community and provided dental screenings for them, interacted with

kids and parents in the neighborhood, and informed them of the College of Dentistry,” she said. “It was a great experience being there.”

Threlkeld said the Love Thy Neighbor program has opened her eyes to being grateful about everything she has experienced.

After she graduates in May, Threlkeld aims to start her career in Memphis.

“UTHSC has brought me out of my shell,” she said. “Because I was always a quiet person. I knew when I got started that I would be interacting with a lot of people, and I had to be more open and comfortable with communicating and being around many people at a time.”

Her academic journey has also given her the opportunity to learn from many distinguished faculty members in the college. “They all have different personalities and teach differently, and I think it is good to have those professors, because we all will not be taught the same thing in the same way,” she said. “It’s great to have professors who are OK with here’s one way to do it and here’s another approach, but as long as you have exactly what you need to get to where you’re trying to go, then you’re good.”

Dentistry Student Helps Mentor Underrepresented Pre-Dental Students

By Janay Jeans

Addison Glover, a third-year dental student, wants to help increase diversity in the field of dentistry and to support future dental students from underrepresented communities. Glover has created a new program in the College of Dentistry to help future dental students from underrepresented communities prepare for dental school. The Pre-Admission Workshop for Underrepresented Pre-Dental Students, which will have its inaugural session this spring, will provide guidance, resources, and relationshipbuilding opportunities for dental school applicants.

The workshop offers information about the dental school application process, financial aid and scholarship resources, mock interviews, application review with admissions personnel, hands-on experience in the dental simulation clinic, professional headshots, and other resources. The program is designed to increase the number of successful dental school applicants from historically underrepresented groups and create a support network of dental students and experienced dentists.

Glover earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Medicine, Health, and Society from Vanderbilt University. During her sophomore year, she researched programs for pre-dental students and found a pre-admissions workshop for Native American students, created by Cristin Haase, DMD, MPH, at A.T. Still University.

“In undergrad, I did independent research on the oral health landscape of Native Americans, and for a population with one of the worst oral health statistics, there are very few Native American dentists. There are around 3,000 Native American and Alaska Native dentists and there are fewer female Native American dentists,” Glover said. “Going to that program was grounding and got me through the next two years of undergrad, because in that program we were all in the same boat of not having doctors or dentists to turn to.”

“It was life-changing to me that when I discovered the Diversity and Inclusion Mini-Grant that is available across UTHSC,” Glover said. “I contacted Dr. Haase and asked to replicate her program, and she said absolutely, and that I had her full support.”

Glover sought to give the resources she received to future pre-dental students from any underrepresented group. “I made the decision to open it to any underrepresented student, because it is important to work together,” she said. “We all have very different stories but the obstacles we face are similar, and I think we can help each other.”

In high school, Glover, who is from Mustang, Oklahoma, saw her oldest sister, now a third-year medical student, serve at the Oklahoma City Indian Clinic. She knew she wanted to help others, and she was inspired by her sister to pursue dentistry and shadow at the same clinic.

“I ended up shadowing about 200 hours in high school and I loved it,” she said. “One of the dentists there was a woman, she was so good with her patients, and it was the first time I have ever met a female dentist.”

Since then, she has returned to complete internships at the clinic. “Their dental clinic is the best and they do important work,” she said. “And seeing that there is an option where I can be a dentist, become my own boss, and work in a system that helps people, was great to see.”

When applying to dental schools, Glover wanted to continue studying in Tennessee, and chose UTHSC, after seeing the college’s interest in her research experience.

“In my interview, they asked great questions about the research I did in undergrad, in which I conducted stress and trauma research in children and infants, it was an interesting take on trauma and interpersonal relationships,” she said. “I thought it was nice that they took the time or interest in that.”

Glover aims to explore the various avenues available in dentistry. “I want to be ‘all in,’ I want to say yes to everything, and with dentistry it gives me a great way to do that,” she said.

She is also driven to serve the special-needs community. “I have done a lot of work with special needs students, and in the interview, I was told they are opening a Special Needs Dental Clinic, and that was it for me,” she said. “The specialneeds community is one that I am passionate about working with and making a core population in my future practice.”

Glover serves in multiple organizations, including as the secretary of the American Association of Women in Dentistry and the community service coordinator for the Public Health Dentistry chapter. She is also a member of the Society of American Indian Dentists, the American Student Dental Association, and Xi Psi Phi dental fraternity.

As a recipient of the Indian Health scholarship, a scholarship program for Native American students through the Indian Health Service, Glover will be working for the Indian Health Service for three years after she completes her studies at UTHSC. In the future, she aims to have her own dental practice and mobile dental van.

“I want to be ‘all in,’ I want to say yes to everything, and with dentistry it gives me a great way to do that.”

– Addison Glover

Third-year

dental student

Congratulations to Our 2022 Graduates!

The College of Dentistry’s 2022 Spring Commencement Ceremony was held May 10, at 4 p.m., at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Memphis. Chancellor Peter Buckley conferred the degrees, and UT System President Randy Boyd gave remarks.

DOCTOR OF DENTAL SURGERY

Sarah Mariam Alouani

Emily Arnoult

Jacob Auprey

William Bentley Banister

Lakyn Meredith Bell

Shailja Bhatt

Beau Bolding

Katherine Harlan Bolding

Alexis Mae Bourgeois

Camryn Ruggeri Bryant

Collin Patrick Bryant

Thomas Henderson Butler IV

Tim Call

Christopher Clark

Jonathan William Curlin

Anne Marie Currie

Mark Simon Dagher

Thomas Baker Darlington

Evan Christopher Davis

Bradley Alexander Deckelman

Sonali Demla

Andrew Denning

Granit Dervishi

Alexandria DeLynn Dixon

Steven William Dorris

Allyson Dunn

Scott Enlow

Sean Fitzhugh

Logan Malone French

Jonas M. Funderburk

Mark Gilbert

Hillary Gore

Phillip Griggs

Betsy Crisp Henson

Christopher Heye

Payton D. Holmes

Hayden Huett

Megan Huynh

Jose Francisco Ibarra Jr.

John Hennelly Irvin

Luke Aaron Jamison

Hong Jia

Shelley Johannesson

Alicia Johnson

Anne Larrah Johnson

Christopher Ryan

Franklin Jones

Hana Kayali

Victoria Irene Lansdale-Graves

John Vincent Law

Jackson Brian Lowery

Michael William Luethke

Chase D. Karrington McKinney

Bryce Alexander McPherson

Caroline Spainhour Mehaffy

Tala Melhem

Heath Meyer

Maria Luz Monserrat

Sahar Mokhtari Moshref

Aquil Muhammad

John Murchison

Lance Bronson Myers

Eleeka Nejat

Charles Noland

Randall Nutt

Sydney Kathryn Olson

Taylyn J.W. Padgett

Preston Davis Parrish

Neil Patel

Zachary Parker Payne

Drew Perry

Hannah Phipps

Jacob Pinkerton

Anita Pitts

Bryson Noel Popp

Taylor John Portschy

Darby Cecile Martin Presley

Dylan Sean Ragan

Scottie Allen Reagan II

Raven Reese

Ian Alexander Reuter

Dustin Rhoads

Jacob B. Riddle

Katelyn Ridley Robertson

Austin Rogers

Kylie Rozelle

Austin Dean Runyon

Spenser Ryan

Miles Franklin Sawaya

Evan Scarbrough

John Joseph Schuetz

Bryan Shannon

Solomon Shokouh-Amiri

Andrew Tanyous

Anna Marie Waugh

Kayla Webb

Brandon Wells

Christopher White

Allison Kelly Wright

Andrea Lavonne Zaandam

Joshua Nicholas Zarabi

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN DENTAL HYGIENE

Bailey Kathryn Ballard

Katrenna Bass

Grace L. Bell

Autumn Christine Bradley

Sierra Danielle Byrum

Nikki Lauren Carter

Amanda N. Champion

Addison Nicole Chapman

Za’Kinna O. Conner

Autumn Glynn Cooper

Emilee Katherine Curtis

Molly Beth Daniel

Cheyenne Davis

Peyton Nicole Edmondson

Mikayla Ruth Eidson

Cassie Anne Glatt

Amber Nicole Goode

Marina Bibi Hashmi

Ruben Earl Johnson

Nina Kiyani

Jennifer Grace Long

Kenisha Miller

Kari Danielle O’Steen

Ashley DeLynn Sanders

Madison Lee Story

Becca Claire Tarkington

Searra Nicole Wells

Meredith Anne Worlow

Outreach Targets Potential Students Early

Increasing the numbers of health care professionals in Tennessee and beyond starts by connecting early with potential students interested careers in health care. That’s exactly what the “Our Future is Now” program in the College of Dentistry does.

Now working with its third cohort, the program provides mentorship for middle and high school students in the Memphis-Shelby County Schools, who have an interest in dentistry or other health care professions.

Cassandra Christiansen, RDH, MPA, EdD, director of School-Based Programs and Community Outreach for the college, leads the program. She said initially the program was designed only for students interested in dentistry but has expanded to include mentors and mentees in other health care fields.

For the first year, the dental student mentors outnumbered the mentees, approximately 30 to 25. That was during the pandemic, and the outreach program operated virtually.

Last year, the number of mentees increased to 53, and the program was opened to mentors from all the disciplines across the campus.

For its third year, the program has 100 mentees, will run through May 2023, and will be conducted in a combination of virtual in-person sessions.

“Our virtual sessions feature speakers from various health professions and the speakers are either in their final year of school or they are fairly new in the profession,” Dr. Christiansen said. “We try to have young speakers, who can share their story, and we try to have as many points that students can really relate to and see themselves on this particular journey.”

The in-person program components focus on character development, she said. Student mentors create character development videos, talking about various traits like professionalism, citizenship, honesty, confidentiality, and others that they will need their professional lives.

“In our face-to-face sessions, we always try to do something very interactive,” Dr. Christiansen said. This includes campus tours and simulation in the Center for Healthcare Improvement and Patient Simulation on the Memphis campus.

2022 CoD Scholarship and Award Winners

The College of Dentistry would like to thank all our scholarship donors and offer our congratulations to all the recipients of scholarships and awards.

AMERICAN FAMILY DENTISTRY SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Kelly Teer - D3

DR. JAMES T. ANDREWS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Katherine Bolding - D4

Logan Smith - D3

Kelly Teer - D3

DR. DEBRA GRAY KING SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Allyson Dunn - D4

James Beckner - D3

BATEMAN FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Michael Koen – D3

John (Vince) Law – D4

DR. AND MRS. LOWELL DALE BLEVINS SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Bryan Truong – D2

DORIS COSTELLO BOWYER MEMORIAL LEADERSHIP AWARD

Miles Sawaya – D4

DR. AND MRS. NOAH DAVID BRITTON SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Granit Dervishi – D4

DR. ANDREW M. BURTON III ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP

Andrew Robbins – D2

DR. JOHN T. (JACK) CAMP SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Allyson Dunn – D4

Noah Hill – D1

Nia Marshall – D2

James Warner – D3

BRENT R. CARMONY, M.S., D.D.S., SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT

Christopher White – D4

HAROLD CLOOGMAN, D.D.S. SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

James Beckner – D3

Sarah Brown – D3

Andrew Byram – D2

Lauren Estes – D2

Robert Heck – D3

Betsy Henson – D4

Zachary Payne – D4

Matthew Phillips – D3

Mark Pozega – D2

Molly Ramsey – D2

Rebecca Reed – D2

Andrew Robbins – D2

Oliver Taylor – D2

Jordan Thompson – D2

Kayla Webb – D4

DR. WILLIAM LEE AND BONITA R. CRABTREE SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Keifer Hartwig – D2

Mia Lewis – D3

DELTA DENTAL OF ARKANSAS SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Madison Craig – D2

Jordan Gall – D3

Allison Wright – D4

DELTA DENTAL OF TENNESSEE SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Mahmuda Akter – D2

Rebecca Reed – D2

Jordan Thompson – D2

Ty Green – D3

Michael Koen – D3

Geoffrey Pippin – D3

Sarah Alouani – D4

John (Vince) Law – D4

Randall Nutt – D4

DENTAL SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT FUND AWARD

Megan Huynh – D4

Jose Ibarra – D4

Sonali Demla – D4

DENTISTRY STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Lance Myers – D4

DINSMORE ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP

Ashley Lash – D3

DR. WINFIELD C. DUNN SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Shelley Johannesson – D4

Raven Reese – D4

E. MAC EDINGTON, JR., D.D.S. AND LINDA KAY EDINGTON SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Bryan Shannon – D4

WILLIAM J. EELLS, D.D.S. SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Thomas Butler – D4

William Harris – D3

ELIZABETH CLUB SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Betsy Henson – D4

DR. R.O. AND FANNIE B. FORD SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Mia Isabel Rodriguez – D1

DR. KENNETH L. FRAME AND SARA JO FRAME-MAZUR SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

John Hennelly Irvin – D4

John Franklin Murchison – D4

HELEN FLANAGAN FRY SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Katrina Eccles – D2

Robert Heck – D3

DEAN JAMES T. GINN SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Jacob Pinkerton – D4

DR. JOSEPH W. GRAHAM, SR. SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Anne Marie Currie – D4

Layla Norbash – D3

GUTHRIE FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Allyson Dunn - D4

Kayla Webb – D4

DR. AND MRS. F. PAYNE AND DR. MARK HARDISON SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Lauren Allen – D3

DR. EARL O. HENRY SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Jackson Lowery – D4

THOMAS P. HINMAN MEETING SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Kelly Teer – D3

DR. & MRS. NORRIS HOWELL SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Ian Reuter – D4

DR. BOB & KATHY JOLLY SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT

Paxton Evans – D1

JOSEPHINE CIRCLE SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Anne Larrah Johnson – D4

Sarah Pierce – D3

DR. GERALD R. KARR FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Ynhi Ho – D2

Brandon Wells – D4

DR. W.C. “DUB” LADY SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Eliza Taylor – D3

Tanner Trent – D3

LEADING WITH GOOD HANDS ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP

Sean Fitzhugh – D4

DR. AND MRS. DAVID LIBBY SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Charles Hughes – D3

DR. MATONE FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Elvys Ferrufino-Mejia – D3

DR. MCCORD FAMILY ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Jake Ramsey – D3

O.D. AND RUTH MCKEE SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Emalyn San Miguel – D1

Baylor Terrell – D3

WILL MCPHERSON, D.D.S., ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP

Christopher Heye – D4

DRS. JOE AND CHRIS MILLER SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Logan French – D4

DR. JOE AND PAT MOSIER SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Dennis Molina – D3

BEVERLY & DR. TOM NASH SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Patrick Nabholz – D3

DR. AND MRS. THOMAS ONSTOTT SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Foster Hudsmith – D2

DR. MALCOLM OVERBEY STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARD

Sonali Demla – D4

Phillip Shockley – D3

DR. MAURICE E. PETROVSKY SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Preston Parrish – D4

PEDIATRIC DENTAL ASSOC/ ORTHOD SCH FD

John Hennelly Irvin – D4

REDWINE-MITCHELL SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Lindsey Cash – D3

Annabel Kisling – D3

SECOND DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Korin Kaczocha – D2

Purvi Patel – D2

SINQUEFIELD FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Shelley Johannesson – D4

SLAGLE FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Steven Dorris – D4

Katherine Eisberg – D3

DR. H. CLIFTON SIMMONS, III, DDS, SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Kylie Rozelle – D4

DR. ROY M. SMITH SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Victoria Lansdale-Graves – D4

DR. BUFORD AND LYNDA SUFFRIDGE SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Bryson Popp – D4

Dustin Rhoads – D4

TENNESSEE DENTAL ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Thao Phan – D2

CECILY W. TIPTON SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Alexis Balisterri – D3

Hillary Gore – D4

Jordan Thompson – D2

Kelly Teer – D3

DR. AND MRS. THOMAS N. WEEMS SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Beau Bolding – D4

Hong Jia – D4

Jackson Lowery – D4

Chase McKinney – D4

Taylor Portschy – D4

Meraj Sayyed – D3

John Schuetz – D4

Caroline Spainhour Mehaffy – D4

DEAN JACK WELLS, DDS, SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Danielle Schaeffer – D2

DR. ROBERT N. WILSON SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Nathaniel Altman – D3

Jason Ross – D3

Andrea Zaandam – D4

XI PSI PHI FRATERNITY SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

John (Vince) Law – D4

DENTAL HYGIENE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

Community Service Award

Amanda N. Champion

Scholarly Research Award

Amanda N. Champion

Marina Hashmi

Nina Kiyani

Professional Leadership Award

Emilee Katherine Curtis

Colgate Star Award

Molly Beth Daniel

Sigma Phi Alpha

Mikayla Eidson

Kari O’Steen

Meredith Worlow

Golden Scaler Award

Ruben Johnson

Valedictorian

Kari O’Steen

OTHER DDS/DH AWARDS

Clinical Achievement Awards

Autumn Christine Bradley – BSDH

John Vincent Law - DDS

The William F. Slagle Faculty Medals

Kari O’Steen - BSDH

John Vincent Law - DDS

Recognition of Military Graduates

Ruben Johnson

Jackson Lowery

Class of 1999 Endowed Faculty

Award Presented by the Class of 2022

Dr. Marlin Duff

ASDA Award for Leadership

Anne Marie Currie

ASDA Award for Outstanding Faculty

Dr. Russell Wicks

ASDA Award for Community Service

Anne Larrah Johnson

Omicron Kappa Upsilon Scholastic Award and Membership (OKU)

John Vincent Law

Sarah Alouani

John Irvin

Randall Nutt

Evan Scarbrough

Allison Wright

Thomas Butler

John Murchison

Ian Reuter

Steven Dorris

Betsy Henson

The IMHOTEP Society

Katherine Harlan Bolding

Thomas Henderson Butler

Anne Marie Currie

Sonali Demla

Betsy Crisp Henson

Alicia Johnson

John Vincent Law

Sahar Mokhtari Moshref

Lance Bronson Myers

Miles Franklin Sawaya

Anna Marie Waugh

Academy of Osseointegration Outstanding Student Award

Jose Ibarra

American Academy of Oral Medicine Award

Andrew Tanyous

American Academy of Periodontology for Achievement in Perio

John Schuetz

American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Award

John Vincent Law

American Association of Oral Biology “Oral Biology Award”

Miles Sawaya

American College of Prosthodontics Award

Collin Bryant

Sidney Freidman Award in Periodontics

Betsy Henson

WhipMix/Hanau Prosthodontic Award

Shelley Johannesson

American College of Dentists Outstanding Leader Award

Anne Marie Currie

Jack Wells Dedication to Dentistry

Raven Reese

Dean’s Leadership Award

Miles Sawaya

Henry Schein Cares Award for Clinical Excellence

Lance Myers

International College of Dentists Student Leadership Award

Sonali Demla

International College of Dentists

Humanitarian award

Anne Larrah Johnson

Pierre Fauchard Academy Award

John Hennelly Irvin

Dr. Malcolm Overbey Student Leadership Award

Alexandria Dixon

Dr. Wisdom F. Coleman, Jr. Student Leadership Award

Raven Reese

Academy of Dentistry International “Student Servant”

Shelley Johannesson

Dean Society

John Vincent Law

Sarah Alouani

John Hennelly Irvin

Randall Nutt

Evan Scarbrough

Allison Wright

Thomas Butler

John Murchison

Ian Reuter

Steven Dorris

Betsy Henson

Kayla Webb

Granit Dervishi

Logan French

Hillary Gore

Christopher White

Kylie Rozelle

Victoria Lansdale-Graves

Anne Larrah Johnson

John Schuetz

Brandon Wells

Shelley Johannesson

Lance Myers

Allyson Dunn

Evan Davis

Caroline Mehaffy

Taylor Portschy

Miles Sawaya

Zachary Payne

Jackson Lowery

Certificate of Merit – Graduating with Highest Honors

John Vincent Law – DDS

Kari O’Steen - DH

Certificate of Merit - Graduating with High Honors

Sarah Alouani

Thomas Butler

Steven Dorris

Betsy Henson

John Irvin

John Murchison

Randall Nutt

Ian Reuter

Evan Scarbrough

Allison Wright

Certificate of Merit - Graduating with Honors

Evan Davis

Granit Dervishi

Allyson Dunn

Logan French

Hillary Gore

Shelley Johannesson

Anne Larrah Johnson

Victoria Lansdale-Graves

Jackson Lowery

Caroline Mehaffy

Lance Myers

Zachary Payne

Taylor Portschy

Kylie Rozelle

Miles Sawaya

John Schuetz

Kayla Webb

Brandon Wells

Christopher White

Mikayla Eidson – DH

Meredith Worlow – DH

Molly Daniel – DH

Autumn Bradley - D

FACULTY AWARDS

Bowyer Faculty Awards

Dr. Amaar Abidi

Dr. Ashanti Braxton

Dean’s Appreciation Awards

Dr. Mark Anderson

Dan Brown

Dr. Nechama Citrin

Dr. Shawna Clark

Dr. Staley Colvert

Dr. Harry Cosby

Dr. Ayman Al Dayeh

Dr. Katie Decolibus

Dr. Mojdeh Dehghan

Dr. Patricia Dingledein

Dr. Marlin Duff

Dr. Ray Galvan

Dr. Franklin Garcia-Godoy

Dr. Anne Hill

Dr. Raja Johnson

Dr. Jeff Kalmowicz

Dr. Mark Lackey

Dr. Layne Levy

Dr. Frank Luther

Dr. Jerry McKinney

Dr. Syreeta McTavous

Dayna Myers

Dr. Jeff Nordin

Dr. Vernon Pennington

Dr. Ed Reese

Dr. Lynn Russell

Dr. Leroy Selvidge

Dr. Mohammed Shafter

Dr. Werner Shintaku

Dr. Courtney Sievers

Dr. Charlotte Taylor

Dr. Darton Taylor

Dr. David Umsted

Dr. Jackie Venturin

Dr. Anthony Versluis

Dr. Yanjui Zhang

Distinguished Faculty Award

Dr. George Huang

Charles Edrington Faculty Award

Dr. Anasastasios Karydis

Faculty Enrichment Awards

Dr. Sarah Aquirre

Pam Albin

Michelle Miles

Beth Mobilian

Dr. Jeff Phebus

Dr. Shane Rasner

Colette Stewart

Kiesha Werlitz

Samuel H. Hardison Faculty Award

Dr. Waletha Wasson

Hinman Faculty Fellowship Awards

Dr. Jeff Brooks

Dr. Stan Covington

Dr. Mustafa Dabbous

Dr. Ed DeSchepper

Dr. Paul Luepke

Dr. Will Pledger

Dr. Mark Scarbecz

Dr. Audrey Selecman

Junior Faculty Awards

Dr. Pooja Ajitsankardas

Dr. Simran Flagg

Dr. Joseph Parkinson

Carl Don and Glenda Mabry

Faculty Award

Dr. Bard Levey

John S. Diggs Nelson Graduate Faculty Enrichment Awards

Dr. Doug Dixon

Dr. George Martin

Dr. Wanda Claro-Woodruff

Tennessee Dental Association Faculty Award

Dr. Daranee Versluis

Kirby and Pat Walker Faculty Enrichment Award

Dr. William Callahan

As the College of Dentistry has moved into the future with new buildings and programs, it has also celebrated promotions and welcomed new faculty.

Promotions

Mojdeh Dehghan, DDS

Dr. Dehghan is now the associate dean of Faculty and Student Affairs in the College of Dentistry. She previously served as the chair of the Department of General Dentistry. Dr. Dehghan earned her DDS from Baylor College of Dentistry in 1990 and has more than 25 years of private practice experience. In 2020, she graduated from the University of Tennessee Executive Leadership program. She was selected as a 2021 fellow of the American Dental Education Association Leadership Institute.

Joe Parkinson, DDS, MPA, FAGD

Dr. Parkinson is the interim chair of the Department of General Dentistry and an associate professor. Dr. Parkinson received his DDS and completed his residency in Advanced Education in General Dentistry from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry. Prior to starting his career in dental education, he owned a private practice in Kansas City, Missouri. He completed his fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry in 2011.

New Faculty

Brett Dagen, DDS

Dr. Dagen is an alumnus of the UTHSC College of Dentistry class of 2014. He joined the faculty as an assistant professor in the Department of Endodontics. He returned to the Advanced Specialty Program in endodontics in the college and earned his certificate in endodontics in June 2022.

Brad Harris, DDS

Dr. Harris joined the faculty as a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Endodontics. He is also an alumnus of the UTHSC College of Dentistry class of 1974. He earned his certificate in endodontics from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1982. Dr. Harris has served in the UTHSC College of Dentistry since 1974 as an instructor, lecturer, and assistant professor. He serves in many free clinics in the Mid-South.

Michael James, DDS, MDS, MPH

Dr. James joined the college as an assistant professor in the Department of Endodontics. He is an alumnus of the UTHSC College of Dentistry class of 2013, after receiving his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. He earned his certificate in endodontics and his Master of Dental Surgery from the college in 2018.

Ali Mohamed, DScD

Dr. Mohamed joined the faculty as an assistant professor in the Department of General Dentistry. He earned his BDS degree from Tripoli University School of Dentistry in Tripoli, Libya, in 2011. He earned his Doctor of Science in Dentistry in Dental Biomaterials and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Operative and Digital Dentistry from Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dentistry in 2022. He previously served as a clinical instructor in the Department of Operative Dentistry at Tripoli University and practiced as a general dentist in Tripoli.

New Faculty (cont.)

Donald K. (Trey) Mauney, III, DDS, MDS

Dr. Mauney is an alumnus of the UTHSC College of Dentistry class of 2020. He joined the faculty as an assistant professor in the Department of Endodontics. He earned his certificate in endodontics and his MDS in 2022. He has been committed to volunteering for the Mid-South Mission of Mercy and other local free clinics.

Adepitan Owosho, DDS, DABOMP, FAAOM, FAAOMP

Dr. Owosho joined the college as an associate professor in the Department of Diagnostic Sciences and Oral Medicine. Dr. Owosho earned his DDS from Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria in 2010. He completed his residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pennsylvania. After he completed his Oral/Dental Oncology clinical research fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, he served as an assistant clinical professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Oral Medicine in the College of Dental Medicine at the University of New England in Maine.

Bill Powell, DDS, MDS

Dr. Powell is an alumnus of the UTHSC College of Dentistry class of 1967. He earned his certificate in endodontics and MDS in 1972 from the University of Iowa. Dr. Powell is a board-certified endodontist and joined the faculty in 2021 as an assistant professor.

Brandon Scott, DDS

Dr. Scott is an alumnus of the UTHSC College of Dentistry class of 2013. He returned to the Advanced Specialty Program in Endodontics and earned his certificate in endodontics in June 2019. He also serves in many free clinics in the Mid-South.

Kevin Wells, DMD, MDS

Dr. Wells joined the college as an assistant professor in the Department of Endodontics. He has served in the department since 2011. He earned his DMD and DDS from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 2006. In 2010, Dr. Wells earned his certificate in endodontics and his MDS from Ohio State University. He is also the current president of the Memphis Dental Society.

New Faculty (not pictured)

Albert Gruber, DMD, MPH

Dr. Gruber joined the college as an assistant professor in the Department of General Dentistry. He earned his DMD from Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine and a Master’s in Public Health from Columbia Southern University. Dr. Gruber is a retired U.S. Army Veteran in the Dental Corps and has more than 29 years of private practice experience.

Calvin Suffridge, DDS, MS

Dr. Suffridge is an alumnus of the UTHSC College of Dentistry class of 1996. He earned his MS and certificate in endodontics from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2002. He became a board-certified endodontist with the American Association of Endodontists (AAE) in 2014. He is a captain in the United States Navy and has joined the College of Dentistry as an assistant professor in the Department of Endodontics.

College of Dentistry Musicians March to A Different Drummer

By Peggy Reisser

On a Sunday afternoon in a spacious garage filled with instruments and sound equipment, the band launches into “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.” They have not been together in a few months, but they are in sync and, as the song says, “It’s all right now.”

This band is the University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s answer to The Rolling Stones, with a twist. It is made up of faculty members from the College of Dentistry, plus a few colleagues.

The Dentones came together in the summer of 2016 in response to an invitation to play at a dental fraternity charity fundraiser. They’ve stayed together because they’re having a blast.

“It’s great,” says James Ragain, DDS, dean of the College of Dentistry, who plays electric bass guitar and sings. He’s the guy in the black Beatles wig. “We have this Dentone

persona, which is totally different than our day jobs. You get to go up there and act a little bit, dress up and just kind of let yourself go.”

In addition to Dean Ragain, the roster includes: Tim Lanier, UTHSC interim senior director of development, lead singer and electric guitar; Mark Anderson, DDS, chair of the Department of Diagnostic Sciences and Oral Medicine, lead guitar; Vernon Pennington, DDS, assistant professor and group leader in the Department of General Dentistry, keyboards; Kyle Fagala, DDS, part-time faculty and an orthodontist in private practice, drummer; Ron Staples, DDS, assistant professor in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, trumpet; and Darryl Jones, DDS, an assistant professor in the Department of General Dentistry, saxophone.

Dean Ragain, Lanier, Dr. Anderson and Dr. Pennington are original members of the band. At times students have sat in

Left to right: Vernon Pennington, Kyle Fagala, Mark Anderson, Ron Staples, Jay Ragain, Darryl Jones, Tim Lanier | Photos by Houston Cofield

on the drums—until graduation, that is. Adam Gaines, creative services manager for the UTHSC Office of Communications and Marketing, also subs in on drums when needed.

Three decades separate the members. The oldest are in their late 60s. The youngest is in his late 30s. But, when they’re jamming, the differences disappear.

“It’s an interesting generational thing,” Dean Ragain says. “We all feel really pumped and enjoy it. And it puts us in like a different place. You know, we can step out of our comfort zones from our day jobs and do something that we all have a strong passion for.”

Rock and rollers, The Dentones cover songs from the Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Led Zeppelin, The Yardbirds—’60s and ’70s hits— some of which the students they play for might not even recognize. But, no worries, it takes only a few minutes to break the ice before the audience is on their feet.

On this Sunday, they cycled through the Rolling Stones to Van Morrison’s “Gloria” and on to the Beatles’ “A Hard Day’s Night”, with a bit of Johnny Rivers’ “Secret Agent Man” in between. The beat was strong, the sound loud, and the enjoyment palpable.

This band is not without a music pedigree. Dr. Anderson is an accomplished blues guitarist. Drs. Staples and Jones are members of the Memphis Wind Symphony, where the sound is a different kind of classic music.

Dr. Jones is proud that music, his first passion, provided him with scholarships that financed his education.

“It’s a different genre of music and allows me to have fun with it,” he says.

“They invited us to play with the band (The Dentones), and it’s been a barrel of monkeys ever since,” Dr. Staples says.

Dean Ragain played in rock-and-roll bands in high school and during his military service. All have been involved in music one way or another throughout their lives, though for most, real life and dentistry pushed it to the back burner.

“There are quite a few dentists who do play instruments or have played instruments in the past,” the dean says. “What happens is, they spend so much time in school, and they get busy doing their practice, and they kind of leave it behind. But I know several faculty members here who play in

orchestras. We could probably put a mega-band together if we wanted to.”

The original members of this band had talked individually from time to time about playing together, but it wasn’t until that student fundraiser that the group coalesced.

They met for the first time in the music room at Dean Ragain’s house. Each proposed some songs, and they got to work.

That first student fundraiser held at Young Avenue Deli in Memphis was a big success.

“They said, ‘You can come back anytime,’” Dean Ragain says proudly. And they have played the student event several times since.

They did a few gigs a year, including the annual Slagle Dental meeting, until the pandemic put a halt to practices and performing.

“We did not get together for 15 months,” he says. “When we first felt safe to come back, we played our first song and were ready to go; all the old songs came right back.” Still, finding time to practice isn’t easy with busy work schedules.

“We pick our song list, and then we independently, on our own time, work out our parts so that when we come together it’s basically stopping, starting, timing, figuring out harmonies and things like that. So, we try to maximize what time we do have to practice. And then, as we get closer to a gig, then we try to get more practices in.”

Last year, they had four or five appearances on the books, including the NightinGala for the College of Nursing last spring and the UTHSC Employee Appreciation Day and Golden Graduate Homecoming at The Peabody hotel in the fall.

Even as their bookings increase, The Dentones are not focused on making it big. They march to a different drummer.

“Plain and simple, it is just a lot of fun to be a part of The Dentones,” Lanier says. “Whether we are rehearsing or performing, we have a great time.”

This story was first published in the Fall 2022 issue of Our Tennessee magazine.

ALUMNI AWARDS

The College of Dentistry Alumni Association annually presents alumni awards during the College of Dentistry Alumni Weekend and the William F. Slagle Dental Meeting. These awards were created to give special recognition to graduates who have distinguished themselves in their dental practices, their professions, and their communities. Honored in 2022 were Danny Weiss, DDS, and B. D. Tiner, DDS, MD, FACS. Honored this year at the 2023 Alumni Awards luncheon during the Slagle Meeting Friday, March 3, are James Kendall Dillehay, DDS; Julia A. Prince, DDS; and Joseph F. Rainey, DDS.

Outstanding Alumnus Award 2022 ALUMNI AWARDS

Danny Weiss, DDS

As the son of a dentist, Dr. Weiss knew from a young age that he wanted to be an orthodontist. He is a lifelong Memphian who attended East High School, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and graduated from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry in 1966 with a DDS. He achieved a master’s degree in orthodontics from UTHSC Graduate Orthodontics program in 1969. He has been in practice for 52 years and has loved helping people have beautiful smiles and even greater self-confidence.

Dr. Weiss has been active in the Memphis Dental Society and has held many offices, including secretary and treasurer. Ultimately, he served as the president in 1982-1983 and was a recipient of the Memphis Dental Society Humanitarian Award.

Having a passion for charitable causes, Dr. Weiss has been an instrumental member of the Mid-South Mission of Mercy (MidMOM), a free two-day dental clinic held annually for underserved and underinsured individuals in Memphis and the Mid-South.

Dr. Weiss has been married to his wife, Saralyn, for 57 years and has three children, and eight grandchildren. He has been a lifelong member of the Baron Hirsch Synagogue and served on the Board of the Memphis Jewish Community Center.

Dr. Weiss continues to be active in sports. He is an avid golfer but was very competitive in the recent past in racquetball and running races, including several marathons.

Outstanding Alumnus Award

B. D. Tiner, DDS, MD, FACS

Dr. Tiner grew up in Arkansas and received his undergraduate degree in zoology from Arkansas State University in 1972. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry in 1975 and his Doctor of Medicine degree at the University of Texas Medical School at San Antonio in 1987. Dr. Tiner’s postgraduate training included an Internship in anesthesia at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA) from 1980-1981. He successfully completed a residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery in 1984 at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio.

Dr. Tiner is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and a Fellow in the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. He is a Fellow in the American College of Surgeons. Additionally, Dr. Tiner is an active member and past president of the Southwest Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and the Texas Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. In 2009, Dr. Tiner was awarded the Texas Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon’s L. Jack Bolton Distinguished Service Award. He served as president of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in 2008-2009 and currently serves as an ambassador for the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Foundation. In October 2020, Dr. Tiner became the president of The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

From 1989-1996, Dr. Tiner served full time on the faculty for the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and the Department of Surgery at UTHSCSA. His academic career culminated as the residency program director in 1995-1996 for the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery training program at UTHSCSA as a tenured associate professor. Currently, he is an adjunct clinical professor in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the UTHSCSA. Dr. Tiner’s private practice encompasses all areas of oral and maxillofacial surgery including the management of obstructive sleep apnea, the correction of jaw deformities (orthognathic surgery), dental implants and pathology of the maxillofacial region. He has authored or co-authored numerous scientific publications and book chapters.

Dr. Tiner maintains active hospital staff privileges at Southwest Texas Methodist Hospital and Stone Oak Methodist Hospital. Dr. Tiner proudly served in the United States Navy for 25 years and retired in 2000 as a captain. He lives in San Antonio with his wife, Brenda. They are the parents of two adult children, Lauren, and Colby. His outside areas of interest include national and state politics, travel, and physical fitness.

2023 ALUMNI AWARDS

Outstanding Alumnus Award

James Kendall Dillehay, DDS

Dr. Dillehay grew up on a small family farm in Carthage, Tennessee. After graduating from Castle Heights Military Academy, Dr. Dillehay earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Mississippi. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1979 and Master of Science degree in 1982 from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry. After completing his residency, Dr. Dillehay entered an orthodontic private practice in Wichita, Kansas, and has been practicing since 1982.

In addition to his dedication to his patients, Dr. Dillehay is a leader in local, state, and national professional dental organizations. Dr. Dillehay is the orthodontic specialty examiner and consultant for the Kansas Dental Board. He has served as the president of eight professional dental organizations, including the University of Tennessee alumni Board of Trustees. He served as the vice president of the American Dental Association, and most recently, Dr. Dillehay served as the president of the American Association of Orthodontists in 2021-2022.

Dr. Dillehay has received numerous awards and recognitions. He was presented with the prestigious Dentist of the Year Award from the Kansas Dental Association and the Wichita District Dental Society. He was named Advocate of the Year from the American Student Dental Association. Additionally, he was awarded the Martin Dewey Award from the Southwestern Society of Orthodontists in 2022.

Community service is a passion for Dr. Dillehay. He is active in the East Wichita Rotary Club and was awarded the Service Above Self Award in 2009. Other involvement includes the Kansas Mission of Mercy, Habitat for Humanity, and Youth Entrepreneurs of Kansas.

Dr. Dillehay has been married to his wife, Becky, for 45 years. They have two sons, JK, his orthodontic partner, and Taylor, a practicing attorney, as well as three grandchildren.

Distinguished Service Award

Joseph F. Rainey, DDS

Dr. Rainey graduated from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville prior to earning his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry in 1959. Following his graduation from dental school, he served as a dentist in the United States Air Force and continued his service with the Tennessee Air National Guard until 1999, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. In 1989, Dr. Rainey received the Air National Guard Dental Officer of the Year Award, in addition to commendation and achievement medals from the Air Force.

Dr. Rainey practiced general dentistry for 47 years at his private practice in Clinton, Tennessee. In 1991, Dr. Rainey became a faculty member in the Department of General Surgery at the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine in Knoxville and continues his work as an instructor to residents and students to this day. In 2021, he was awarded the GSM Spirit Award, which recognizes a faculty member who exemplifies the spirit of the

Graduate School of Medicine, upholding and promoting the mission to colleagues, residents, students, staff, and the community.

Since 1961, Dr. Rainey has actively served on many professional organizations, such as the Tennessee Dental Association, American Dental Association, and the Second District Dental Society, and was honored as the Second District Dentist of the Year in 1998.

A Fellow of the American and International College of Dentists, he is the past chairman of the Seminars Abroad Committee and served as vice president from East Tennessee of the Tennessee Dental Association. Since 1968, Dr. Rainey has held various offices in the East Tennessee Academy of Dental Practice Administration and served on the board of directors at Delta Dental Plan of Tennessee from 1970–2014 and served as treasurer, secretary, vice chairman, and chairman of the board.

Dr. Rainey is active in his community and church. He has been on the Anderson County Election Commission since 1968 and is the current chairman. He is a member of the American Legion. He lives in Clinton with his wife, Pam. They have two daughters, two grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.

Recent Alumna Award

Julia A. Prince, DDS

Dr. Prince grew up in the dental community in Dyersburg, Tennessee, working with her father’s dental practice. She always knew that she would follow in his footsteps by pursuing a career in health care that involved helping people.

After graduating from Dyersburg High School, she obtained a biology degree from Lambuth University in 2006, and then earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry in 2012.

Dr. Prince is an active member of the American Dental Association, the American Academy of General Dentists, the Tennessee Dental Association, the Memphis Dental Society, and is a Fellow in the American College of Dentistry.

She serves on multiple professional committees in a leadership capacity, most recently as president of the New Dentist Committee for the Tennessee Dental Association and chair of the Judicial Committee for the Memphis Dental Society. Dr. Prince is a recipient of various professional awards and distinctions, including the Jack Wells Outstanding Young Dentist award in 2017 and the Tennessee Dental Association Fellowship Award in 2021.

Dr. Prince has worked with various organizations, including the Mid-South Mission of Mercy, Hope Smiles in Nashville, Give Kids a Smile, the Bellevue Baptist mobile dental clinic, and has attended many local health fairs with the American Association of Women Dentists. She has also volunteered with Habitat for Humanity in Mexico and the United States and been a part of the Regional Interfaith Association Soup Kitchen.

Dr. Prince has practiced dentistry at Scott Edwards Cosmetic and Family Dentistry since 2012. Since making Memphis her home, Dr. Prince loves to spend time exploring and supporting small local businesses when she is not working or volunteering. Dr. Prince is married to Taylor Pfohl, and they have a 3-year-old son, Rex Pfohl.

Remembering the Past, Embracing the Present and Shaping the Future of Dentistry

William F. Slagle Dental Meeting is set for March 3-5 at The Hilton Hotel – East Memphis, 939 Ridge Lake Boulevard.

For more than 25 years, the William F. Slagle Dental Meeting has been held in Memphis, offering entertainment, camaraderie, and continuing education opportunities for dentists, hygienists, and assistants.

The mission of the Slagle Meeting is to advance the delivery of quality dental care by providing the dental team with educational opportunities.

Course dates are subject to change. Please check our website for updates at uthsc.edu/dentistry/CE

Over the weekend, the entire dental team will have the opportunity to participate in courses designed to enhance their role in the field of dentistry and recertify in all required annual and biannual courses needed for licensure. Attendees can earn at least 15 CE hours.

The William F. Slagle Dental Meeting is sponsored by the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry and the College of Dentistry Alumni Association.

For more information: www.slagledentalmeeting.com

Leave Your Legacy

Have you thought about the legacy you will leave behind?

With a Planned Gift, you can:

• Simplify your estate for your family

• Reduce the tax burden applied to your assets

• Benefit causes you hold dear

Legacy donors become members of the Hershel “Pat” Wall Legacy Society

Dr. Wall’s more than 50 years of dedication to UTHSC as a student, faculty member, and administrator are unsurpassed. His legacy will live forever, as will the impact made by our donors.

For more information about planned gifts to UTHSC and Legacy Society membership, contact Bethany Goolsby at 901.448.5516 or estateplans@uthsc.edu

THANK YOU to Our Legacy Society Members!

Dr. and Mrs. Danny Adkins

Dr. Ruth E. Bailey

Dr. and Mrs. J. Newsom Baker

Dr. David E. Barto* and Mrs. Carol S. Barto

Dr. Jeannie Beauchamp

Dr. H. Alan Belinky

Dr. and Mrs. Lesley H. Binkley, Jr.

Estate of Gladys C. Bowyer

Dr. William R. Breeding

Dr. Carl F. Brown, Jr.* and Mrs. Linda Meltzer Brown

Estate of John T. Camp

Estate of Harold Cloogman

Dr. and Mrs.* William O. Coley, Jr.

Dr. William Max Couch, Sr.

Estate of Mrs. Lynne Craver

Dr. Jack N. Denton

Dr. and Mrs. Scotty A. Devine

Estate of Dr. Charles Edrington

Estate of Dr. Russell O. and Mrs. Fannye Ford

Estate of Mr. Robert C. and Mrs. Maud Fox

Dr. John A. Gholson III

Drs. Joe C. and Barbara Harris

Estate of Robert Henderson

Dr. and Mrs. Fred C. Heros

Dr. and Mrs. J. L. Hochstedler

Estate of Billy S. Howard

Dr. Stueart L. Hudsmith, Jr.

Dr. and Mrs. James H. Hutson, Jr.

Estate of Dr. John Jacoway

Dr. and Mrs. Brett J. Jaffrey

Dr. J. Dale and Mrs. Rebecca S. Kennedy

Estate of Dr. Lawrence Tennyson Kennedy, Jr.

Estate of Myra Key

Dr. Sarah E. Martin

Estate of Wayne L. McCulley

Dr. and Mrs. James W. McDaniel

Dr. and Mrs. John W. McElhiney

Estate of Dr. James P. McLemore, Jr.

Estate of R. Gary Moser

Estate of Sam D. Mount

Estate of Dr. John S. Nelson

Estate of Percy Nordlinger

Dr. and Mrs. Christopher Andrew O’Rourke

Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Overbey, Jr.

Dr. and Mrs. Tommy W. Page

Dr. and Mrs. Rush Abbott Peace

Estate of Maurice E. Petrovsky

Dr. Terryl A. Propper

Dr. and Mrs. James M. Pyle III

Dr. and Mrs. Morris Robbins

Dr. and Mrs. Robert W. Rockefeller

Dr. Alice Roemer-Toarmina

Dr. Judith A. Ross

Estate of Sam G. Sanders

Dr. and Mrs. Stephen M. Sawrie

Estate of Charles A. Scott Jr.

Dr. William F. Slagle

Dr. and Mrs. Millard B. Smith

Estate of Dr. Roy M. Smith

Dr. Ron and Doretha Staples

Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Frederic Starck

Dr. Robert C. Stetzel, Jr.

Dr. and Mrs. Buford J. Suffridge, Jr.

Estate of Dr. Mary Beth Throneberry

Dr. David A. Tipton

Dr. James L. Vaden

Dr. and Mrs. William Thomas Veal, Jr.

Dr. and Mrs. Kirby P. Walker, Jr.

Dr. William Earl Webb

Estate of Dr. Faustin Weber

Estate of Dr. and Mrs. Thomas N. Weems

Dr. Rosie Richmond Whalum

Ms. L. Adine Wheeler

Dr. and Mrs. Martin C. Wilhelm

Mrs. Debbie Wilhoit and Dr. Gary Wilhoit*

Dr. and Mrs. Michael D. Wooten

Estate of Richard Workman

Estate of Frances Farr Young

2022-23 Officers of the College of Dentistry Alumni Association Board of Trustees

PRESIDENT

William Powell, III, DDS, 1967

PAST PRESIDENT

Joseph Safirstein, DDS, 1999

CLINICS AND FACILITIES COMMITTEE CHAIR

Rick Guthrie, DDS, 1987

FACULTY AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT COMMITTEE CHAIR

Stueart Hudsmith, DDS, 1995

FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE CHAIR

Fred Heros, DDS, 1975

SLAGLE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE CHAIR

Chip Trammell, DDS, 2012

STUDENT RECRUITMENT COMMITTEE CHAIR

Hank McKay, DDS, 1990

DEAN

James Ragain, DDS, MS, PhD, FICD, FACD, 1984

Choose UTHSC CoD for Continuing Dental Education

2023 SPRING COURSE CALENDAR

MARCH

3-5

The William F. Slagle Dental Meeting Memphis - The Hilton Hotel – East Memphis

27-30

Expanded Functions for Dental Auxiliary – Prosthetic Class 2 (week 1 of 2)

APRIL

10-13

14 and 24-28

Why Make an Annual Gift to UTHSC?

Donating to UTHSC every year helps us provide scholarships, laboratory equipment, travel grants, community outreach initiatives, and many other benefits that would not be available using state or tuition-provided dollars alone!

Thank you for being a partner with our campus, our colleges, and our programs.

MAY

1-5

12-13

Your gift in any amount will make a difference.

Donate $100 or more and become a member of our 1911 Society!

For details, go to giving.uthsc. edu/1911.

2022 Golden Graduate Homecoming

For the first time in three years, UTHSC Celebrated Golden Graduate Homecoming. Alumni from four colleges, including 14 from the College of Dentistry, attended the three-day event in October to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their graduation from UTHSC. The participants were greeted on Wednesday at the historic Peabody Hotel, followed by dinner on campus at the newly renovated Mooney Library. The alumni and their guests enjoyed a breakfast together Thursday morning, and then headed to the UTHSC campus for individual college open houses and lunch followed by their Golden Graduate Homecoming ceremony. The celebration continued Thursday evening with the Golden Graduate dinner at the Peabody and concluded Friday morning with a farewell breakfast.