Stacey Hudson
JETER HONORED
Dr. Ray Jeter, assistant professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences, received the 2021 American Dental Association Standards Committee on Dental Informatics Chairman’s Award, which honors contributions to the development of dental informatics standards.
FELLOWS INDUCTED
Drs. Martha G. Brackett, professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences, and Gregory Griffin, assistant professor in the Department of General Dentistry, were inducted as fellows of the American College of Dentists, which elevates the standards of dentistry, encourages graduate study and grants fellowship rewarding meritorious work. Brackett also was inducted as a fellow of the International College of Dentists.
COORDINATOR CERTIFIED
Dr. Jaspreet K. Farmaha, research operations coordinator in the Department of Periodontics, passed the Association of Clinical Research Professionals’ Certified Clinical Research Coordinator examination. The credential requires demonstrated proficiency of specific knowledge and job‐related skills.
CHURCHVILLE AWARDED
Marie Churchville, administrative assistant in the Depart- ment of Endodontics, received the Sherry Barnett Customer Service Award, which rewards professionalism, understanding, respect, service and excellence. She has worked at Augusta University for almost 35 years and at the DCG for 14 years.
DEPARTMENT ACCOLADES
The Department of General Dentistry honored the following faculty and staff for their dedication and support: Dr. Eduardo Britton, assistant professor of general dentistry, the Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Dedication and Support to Students; Susi Hamilton, director of assessment and compliance, the Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Contributions and Support for an employee outside the department; and Dr. Nancy Young, assistant dean of student affairs, the Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Dedication and Support for an employee within the department.
DEAN NAMED ADVISOR
DCG Dean Carol Lefebvre is one of five U.S. dental deans selected to serve as a faculty advisor for the American Dental Education Association Leadership Institute, a year- long program that cultivates leadership skills in select individuals at academic dental institutions. Dr. Alan Furness, assistant dean of patient services, was accepted into the institute and was selected a 2022 ADEA/American College of Dentists Dr. Jerome Bright Miller Scholar in the institute.
MESSER HONORED
Dr. Regina Messer, assistant dean for student admissions, received an American College of Dentists Honorary Fellowship, recognizing the exceptional contributions of non-dentists to dentistry and society.
SERVICE IN ACTION
The Christian Medical and Dental Association Dental Fellowship student group partnered with the Washington Heights Baptist Church in Thomson, Georgia, to staff the Georgia Baptist Mobile Dental Van in November. Twenty-eight members of the association served in half-day increments over two days, providing 41 extractions and multiple restorations for more than 30 patients.
STUDENTS LAUDED
Olivia Fraser and Olivia Hoy, both DCG rising seniors, received the 17th annual Ralph McKinney Omicron Kappa Upsilon Professionalism Award, which rewards characteristics including trustworthiness, respect and kindness.
BLANKETS OF LOVE
The Augusta University chapter of the American Association of Women Dentists made blankets in November for patients at the Children’s Hospital of Georgia. The activity was coordinated through Project Linus, which provides warmth and comfort to pediatric patients.
TOYS DONATED
Members of the Christian Medical and Dental Association Dental Fellowship partnered with Augusta’s Warren Baptist Church to pack shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child. The dental and medical students packed 100 boxes of donated toys and art that were shipped all over the world for children.
ABREU AWARDED
Drs. Amara Abreu, associate professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences, and Doug Clepper, clinical assistant professor, received the Pierre Fauchard Academy Clinical Teaching Award.
COMMITTEE ACCOLADES
Recent MVP awards to honor faculty for their service on DCG committees include Dr. Cynthia Hipp, associate professor in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Admissions Committee; Dr. Van Haywood, professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences, Promotion and Tenure Committee; Dr. Fred Rueggeberg, professor in the Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Research Advisory/Research Table Clinic Planning Committee; Dr. Stephanie Sidow, associate professor in the Department of Endodontics, Student Affairs Committee; Dr. Weston Fortson, assistant professor in the Department of Orthodontics, Infection Control Committee; and Dr. Catherine Jauregui, assistant professor in the Department of Oral Biology & Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty Development Committee.
RIGGS HONORED
Dr. Bruce Riggs, associate professor in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, received the 2021 Teaching Excellence Award, the DCG’s highest teaching recognition. Riggs, who co-coordinates Give Kids a Smile Day, was praised for his positivity and preparedness.
BACHAND HONORED
Dr. William Bachand, associate professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences, received the 2022 DCG Outstanding Faculty Award and was inducted into fellowship in the Pierre Fauchard Academy. He joined the DCG in 2013, and his service includes co-chair of the CEPAC committee, AU Senator and as clinical faculty representative to the Administrative Council and clinical director of restorative dentistry for junior dental students. He has also served as deputy regent, District 4, with the International College of Dentists, chair of the Georgia Section of the American College of Dentists, president of the Eastern District Dental Society and chair of Membership for the Georgia Dental Association.
DONATION DRIVE
The DCG administration, as part of Augusta’s University Day of Service, hosted a donation drive for the Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home, collecting DVDs, snacks and personal care products for its 192 residents.
RETIREMENT RECOGNITION
Donald Mettenburg, a dental research equipment technician, was honored by the Department of Restorative Sciences upon his retirement after 25 years of service.
TIMOTHIUS HONORED
Dr. Celine Joyce Cornelius Timothius, assistant professor in the Department of Periodontics, became a diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology.
RESEARCH AWARD
Amber Durand, a rising senior, received a Mark Ritz Research Award from the Pierre Fauchard Academy for her research on the effects of chorda tympani nerve sectioning on taste receptor cells.
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
Dr. Regina Messer, assistant dean for student admissions, was named to the Ethics Committee and the Science Information Committee for the American Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research, the Ethics in Dental Research Committee for the International Association for Dental Research, and the American Society for Dental Ethics Board of Directors as a member-at-large for the American College of Dentists.
GIVING SMILES
Drs. Bruce Riggs and Michael Milano, associate professors in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, and Jennifer VanCise, an administrative assistant, coordinated the DCG’s participation in Give Kids a Smile Day. Dental students, dental hygiene students, faculty and staff teamed up to deliver exams, cleanings, fluoride applications, sealants, oral hygiene instructions, fillings, crowns, extractions and X-rays to patients from underserved communities.
STUDENT CONTRIBUTOR
Roslyn Joseph, a rising sophomore, is a 2022-23 editorial board contributing editor for the American Student Dental Association, a national student-run organization concerned with the rights, interests and welfare of dental students.
FRAZIER LAUDED
Dr. Kevin Frazier, vice dean, was honored by Augusta Technical College for his contributions to its dental assisting training program. Frazier has served on the program’s Advisory Committee for 25 years, linking it with the community, advising it of changes in the profession and helping revise the scope of practice and the requirements for accreditation and certification.
RESEARCH GRANTS
Drs. Abdulmohsin Alhashim, assistant professor in the Department of General Dentistry, and Kim Capehart, interim chair of the department, received Early Career Research Development Grants to support their research. Alhashim is studying sexual dimorphism in obesity-induced vascular injury, and Capehart is researching zirconia marginal adaptation.
Capehart also received the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Faculty Research & Scholarship Award.
BLISSIT AWARD
Dawn Gantt, Dean’s Office Coordinator, received the James & Erie P. Blissit Award for outstanding administrative support services and promoting a positive image for Augusta University. Gantt has served the DCG for 7 years and has been at AU for 11 years.
