StaffImpressions Program
Almost 200 prospective students from 29 universities, colleges and high schools throughout the Southeast attended The DCG Chapter of the Student National Dental Association’s 20th annual Impressions Program Feb. 9.
The program, coordinated by officers Phillip Gordon, Treyvon Merritt and Myra Morris, included mock admissions interviews, Dental Admissions Test counseling, hands-on dental tasks and tips on adjusting to dental school. Dr. Emmanuel Ngoh, an Augusta endodontist and DCG alumnus (‘94, and endodontics, ‘00), was the guest speaker.
Rueggeberg Honored
Dr. Fred Rueggeberg, professor of restorative sciences with joint appointments in the Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences and The Graduate School, has received the DCG’s 2018 Teaching Excellence Award, its highest teaching honor for full-time faculty. Rueggeberg was also the award’s inaugural recipient in 1992. Wrote one of his nominators, “. . . He is recognized globally as the leading expert in his field. As an educator, he is one of the most knowledgeable of his profession, trusted by others, and desires to motivate each student to reach their maximum potential.”
Interim Director Named
Dr. Jimmy Londono, associate professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences, has been named interim director of the Center for Esthetic and Implant Dentistry. He succeeds Dr. Gerard Chiche, who held the Thomas P. Hinman Endowed Chair in Restorative Dentistry and directed the center for nine years.
Hinman Scholars
The Thomas P. Hinman Dental Society awarded $217,000 in scholarship funding to 49 DCG students during its Hinman Scholars Reception July 17 in Augusta. “The average indebtedness of a DCG graduate is $179,000, which is $60,000 less than that of other U.S. public dental schools and $90,000 less than that of private dental schools,” said Dean Carol A. Lefebvre, “but clearly every penny counts, and we are immensely grateful to the Hinman Dental Society for its ongoing support of our students.”
Leadership Program
Dr. Jacqueline Delash, an instructor in the Department of Restorative Sciences, completed Leadership GDA, a six-month formal leadership and professional development program offered by the Georgia Dental Association. Through seminars, leadership and spokesperson training, Leadership GDA develops its participants into increasingly knowledgeable, effective and confident leaders within the dental community. Delash will continue her leadership role by serving as a council member on the GDA’s Education and Training Advisory Council, which selects relevant topics and speakers to ensure strong educational events and initiatives.
Contributing Editor
Emily Williams (’20) has been named a contributing editor for Contour, the magazine of the American Student Dental Association. Contour is published 10 times a year. Williams is the current ASDA chapter newsletter editor and ASDA District 4 newsletter editor.
Faculty Inducted
Dr. Kim Capehart, assistant professor in the Department of General Dentistry, and DCG Assistant Dean Nancy Young have been inducted into the International College of Dentists.
Basketball Tournament
The Student National Dental Association hosted its third annual basketball tournament Jan. 25 at A. R. Johnson Health Science and Engineering Magnet High School, raising $786 for the school’s dental lab. Eleven teams competed for the first-place prize of $150, with DCG’s second-year team, the Fluoride Tropics, claiming victory for the second year in a row.
Faculty Recognition
» Dr. Mohamed Al-Shabrawey, professor
of oral biology and diagnostic sciences,
has received the DCG’s 2019 Outstanding Faculty Award.
» Dr. Brian Bergeron, professor and program director for the Advanced Education Program in Endodontics, has been elected secretary of the American Board of Endodontics for 2019-20.
» Dr. Roger Arce, assistant professor in periodontics, has received the 2018 Colgate/Hispanic Dental Association Faculty Recognition Award.
» Dr. Yong Teng, assistant professor of oral biology and diagnostic sciences, has been elected to the editorial board of the Journal of Experimental and Clinical Cancer Research, the official journal of the Regina Elena National Cancer Institute.
» Dr. Mahmood Mozaffari, associate chair of oral biology and diagnostic sciences, has been elected to the Editorial Advisory Board of the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, a leading pharmacology research journal.
» DCG Vice Dean Kevin Frazier was appointed to a four-year term on the American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs at the annual ADA Meeting in October 2018.
» Dr. Amany Tawfik has received a $1.488 million five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health to study the role
of homocysteine in age-related macular degeneration.
» DCG Dean Carol A. Lefebvre was inducted as the 101st president of the Academy of Prosthodontics in May 2019.
Board Certification
Dr. Ahmed Zaher, assistant professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences, has passed all parts of the rigorous American Board of Prosthodontics examination and is now a board-certified prosthodontist. Dr. Zaher joined the faculty in 2015. Also, Dr. Jeffrey James, associate professor and program director in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, has passed the American Board of Facial Cosmetic Surgery examination in the area of General Facial Cosmetic Surgery.
Anniversary video
A video synopsizing the DCG’s 50-year history is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANVAjlHfLCc. The video, produced by Augusta University Senior Video Producer Tim Johnson, brings to life a half-century
of excellence.
Research award
Linah Shahoumi, a Ph.D. student in the Oral Biology and Maxillofacial Pathology Program, received the Excellence in Research Award at the 35th annual Graduate Research Day April 1. Her research, supervised by Dr. Andrew Yeudall, chair of the Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, focuses on phosphorylation of EPS8, an epidermal growth factor.
Prosthodontics Week
Dr. Eric Bailey, chief resident in the DCG Advanced Education in Prosthodontics Program, led a presentation of clinical cases to dental students during National Prosthodontics Awareness Week the third week in April. Restorative sciences faculty, residents and staff were also on hand to answer questions about prosthodontics advanced education programs.
Phi Kappa Phi
The Augusta University Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, recently inducted 55 new members, including DCG students Taylor Farr and Lisa Hong. Faculty and staff inductees were Dr. Jan Mitchell in the Department of Restorative Services and Dawn Gantt, coordinator of the DCG Dean’s Office. The honor society promotes academic excellence and community service.
Board Certification
Dr. Jeffrey James, associate professor and director of the Advanced Education in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Program, has been certified by the American Board of Facial Cosmetic Surgery.
Southern Conference
DCG Dean Carol A. Lefebvre and Georgia Board of Dentistry President Richard Bennett hosted the 64th annual meeting of the Southern Conference of Dental Deans and Examiners Jan. 25-27 in Augusta. Attendees included representatives from 11 southeastern dental schools, six state dental boards and several dental licensing boards. Vice Dean Kevin Frazier served as the program director. This year’s theme, “Responding to Challenges in Dental Education and Professional Practice,” included presentations by Associate/Assistant Deans Alan Furness, Regina Messer, Joseph Vitolo and Nancy Young. Topics included ethics and integrity in higher education, fitness for duty in health care education, patient supply issues for dental curricula and licensing board exams, and the impact of accreditation and licensing boards on curriculum reform.
