Tightly Wired Issue No. 16 | Fall 2011 For alumni and friends of the UNMC College of Dentistry’s Postgraduate Orthodontic Program Dear Nebraska Orthodontic Alumni and Friends: This newsletter marks approximately the end of two years since I began as the program director. I am writing to bring you up to date on the section activities. As you know, our most valuable resources are the students, faculty and staff. We currently have nine residents and are getting ready to interview the candidates for the class entering in the summer of 2012. These candidates are extremely competitive and have excellent credentials. Our third-year residents are making good progress with their patient care and research projects. There is a good mix of clinically related basic science topics in the group, all of which are funded by the orthodontic section. Dr. Fouy Chau presented a paper in the Charley Schultz competition at the AAO in Chicago. The patient care pool is still varied and occupies the largest amount of residents’ time. A soft-tissue laser unit for the graduate orthodontic clinic was purchased using the Dr. James & Nancy Weesner memorial fund. The possibilities with the use of this laser unit should complement our clinical care. Our residents have successfully passed Phase II of the ABO examination and are becoming board certified. Dr. Peter Spalding, coordinator of the dento- facial program, continues to teach the growth and development graduate seminar and in the clinic. Peter was appointed to an AAO/ACPA joint task force to discuss issues of mutual interest between the two organizations. He made a presentation titled “Association Alliance to Optimize Access and Quality of Orthodontic Craniofacial and Special Needs Care” at the initial task force meeting at the AAO offices in St. Louis. Dr. Spalding served as chair for the oral Sundaralingam Premaraj From the director REPLACE Dr. Premaraj, orthodontic program director College of Dentistry session on orthodontic biomechanics and anchor- age at the 89th IADR meeting. He also acted as moderator for the session on early treatment at the 111th annual session of the AAO in Chicago. Dr. Sheela Premaraj directs the predoctoral teaching program (see article on page 6). Sheela is also director of the section’s research efforts with her interests centered on molecular microbiology. She will be a key figure in developing resident research projects in the future. Drs. Brett Cascini, Robert Glenn, Paula Harre, Rebecca Hohl, Robert Schoettger, and Kim Stafford continue to provide excellent clinical and didactic instruction for the program on a part-time basis. The contributions by all of these outstanding teachers are what make our program excellent. Please join me in extending our sincere appreciation for all their efforts. I am proud of the progress we have made each year and know that it would be impossible without the dedicated faculty, residents and staff. The alumni support we have seen has been gratifying, both in terms of time given to the program and financial assistance. I hope that it continues and that I have the opportunity to personally know more alumni each year. Our partnership with you as alumni and friends will continue to make new things possible in our program. I look forward to meeting with you at the at the Nebraska alumni reception at the AAO in Hawaii in May 2012. Go Huskers! Prem Sundaralingam Premaraj, BDS, MS, PhD, FRCD(C) Orthodontic Program Director
Transcript
Interim Chair CurtisKuster assists a student in the pediatric clinic.
Tightly Wired
Issue No. 16 | Fall 2011
For alumni and friends of the UNMC College of Dentistry’s Postgraduate Orthodontic Program
Dear Nebraska Orthodontic Alumni and Friends:
This newsletter marks approximately the end of two years since I began as the program director. I am writing to bring you up to date on the section activities.
As you know, our most valuable resources are the students, faculty and staff. We currently have nine residents and are getting ready to interview the candidates for the class entering in the summer of 2012. These candidates are extremely competitive and have excellent credentials. Our third-year residents are making good progress with their patient care and research projects. There is a good mix of clinically related basic science topics in the group, all of which are funded by the orthodontic section. Dr. Fouy Chau presented a paper in the Charley Schultz competition at the AAO in Chicago. The patient care pool is still varied and occupies the largest amount of residents’ time. A soft-tissue laser unit for the graduate orthodontic clinic was purchased using the Dr. James & Nancy Weesner memorial fund. The possibilities with the use of this laser unit should complement our clinical care. Our residents have successfully passed Phase II of the ABO examination and are becoming board certified.
Dr. Peter Spalding, coordinator of the dento-facial program, continues to teach the growth and development graduate seminar and in the clinic. Peter was appointed to an AAO/ACPA joint task force to discuss issues of mutual interest between the two organizations. He made a presentation titled “Association Alliance to Optimize Access and Quality of Orthodontic Craniofacial and Special Needs Care” at the initial task force meeting at the AAO offices in St. Louis. Dr. Spalding served as chair for the oral
Sundaralingam PremarajFrom the director
REPLACE
Dr. Premaraj, orthodontic program director
College of Dentistry
session on orthodontic biomechanics and anchor-age at the 89th IADR meeting. He also acted as moderator for the session on early treatment at the 111th annual session of the AAO in Chicago.
Dr. Sheela Premaraj directs the predoctoral teaching program (see article on page 6). Sheela is also director of the section’s research efforts with her interests centered on molecular microbiology. She will be a key figure in developing resident research projects in the future.
Drs. Brett Cascini, Robert Glenn, Paula Harre, Rebecca Hohl, Robert Schoettger, and Kim Stafford continue to provide excellent clinical and didactic instruction for the program on a part-time basis. The contributions by all of these outstanding teachers are what make our program excellent. Please join me in extending our sincere appreciation for all their efforts.
I am proud of the progress we have made each year and know that it would be impossible without the dedicated faculty, residents and staff. The alumni support we have seen has been gratifying, both in terms of time given to the program and financial assistance. I hope that it continues and that I have the opportunity to personally know more alumni each year. Our partnership with you as alumni and friends will continue to make new things possible in our program.
I look forward to meeting with you at the at the Nebraska alumni reception at the AAO in Hawaii in May 2012.
Go Huskers!
PremSundaralingam Premaraj, BDS, MS, PhD, FRCD(C)Orthodontic Program Director
BRACE YOURSELF for an always improving orthodontic program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry
The UNMC College of Dentistry’s orthodontics program continually strives for — and achieves — a superior level of clinical instruction complemented by progressive research that gives our DDS students and orthodontic residents a fantastic education. That outstanding University of Nebraska orthodontic training amply prepares class after class for career success.
But you should all “brace yourself,” because the orthodontic program’s dedicated faculty members and the hard-working staff and assistants in the program are always striving to improve and advance the educational experience for the residents.
Alumni donations are a critically important — and needed — link in keeping our orth-odontic program at the pinnacle, nationally. Alumni donations are needed to help the program support important efforts like equipment purchases and computer technology to better train our residents in modern, sophisticated environments, which they'll be expected, if not required, to have when they enter private practice. Alumni support is needed to help defray expenses for faculty and residents to attend and participate in state, regional, and national orthodontic conferences.
Alumni donations help fund the research projects our faculty and their mentored residents pursue, which ultimately contributes to the advancement of oral health knowledge as a whole. Alumni donations are needed to help our orthodontic program
From the director of development
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Tightly WiredFall 2011 | Issue No. 16
This newsletter is produced by the Orthodontic Section of the Department of Growth & Development of the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry.
Program Director: Dr. Sundaralingam Premaraj
Co-editor: Ms. Beverly Simons
Design & Layout, Co-editor:Mr. Kim R. Theesen
Principal Photography: Ms. Peggy Cain
For additional printed copies, submissions, and ideas, contact:Beverly [email protected](402) 472-4919
UNMC College of Dentistry2436 DENT (0740)Lincoln NE 68583-0740
www.unmc.edu/dentistry
By Susan Norby
see NORBY pg 3
Dr. Curtis Kuster, as planned, gave his time and talent to the department of growth and development (which now encompasses the orthodontic section, the pediatric dentistry section and GPR) this last year at the College of Dentistry. As the July 2011 date for Dr. Kuster’s retirement grew closer, we were curious to see what Dean
Reinhardt would do with our department next. All became very clear, and very comfortable, when the dean announced the appointment of Dr. Joan Sivers as our new interim chair.
Dr. Sivers has been with UNMC for 28 years. As an educator in the department of adult restorative dentistry and in her additional role as assistant dean of clinics, she has earned the respect afforded a good leader, a gifted problem-solver and an extremely hard worker. She holds high expectations for herself and for the projects she is handed, but with a sense of fairness (and a terrific, yet slightly secret, sense of humor some of us have experi-
enced) she gets the job done! We feel very fortunate to have Dr. Sivers agree to share her intellect, integrity and skills with us until Dean Reinhardt, through an official search process which will start soon, is able to locate and hire a permanent chair for the department of growth and development once more.
Sivers appointed interim chair
Curtis Kuster
Joan Sivers
bring special guest lecturers to speak to our faculty and residents, and also to help pay for recruiting pre-eminent candidates for the residency program. All of these areas of investment are needed on an annual basis to sustain the level of excellence for which our orthodontic program has long been respected as a national leader.
Dr. Paula Harre, who earned her DDS and also her orthodontic postgraduate certificate at the UNMC College of Dentistry, recently told me why she and her husband, Dan Duncan, choose to give back on an annual basis and also why they decided to establish an endowed fund for the orthodontic program.
“When I look back on my career and the fulfillment it's given me professionally, as well as the lifestyle and opportunities I've had resulting from my career, it was an easy decision to start giving back,” Dr. Harre said. “Dan and I wanted to endow something for the
orthodontic program to build a perpetual resource of charitable aid for the orthodontic program, some-thing that will grow over time and will last forever. It’s a way to give back, to say thanks to the college and program that helped launch my career. We look at giving back as actually ‘paying it forward,’ so other young students and residents now and far into the future can get a great education in orthodontics. I know I wouldn’t be where I am today professionally without the great education I received at the University of Nebraska’s orthodontic program; it just feels good to give back, knowing that our gifts help not only individual residents, faculty, and patients in the program, but also, we look at our donations as a way to help the future of orthodontics.”
All of the faculty at the orthodontic program — Drs. Sundaralingam and Sheela Premaraj, Peter Spalding, and all of the many part-time faculty members, too — along with College of Dentistry Dean John W. Reinhardt, and I join together in saying a huge “THANK YOU” for donating in the past. We also urge you to continue contributing on an annual basis at whatever amount is financially comfortable for you. Pledges payable over time are also a great way to provide even more support in a time frame and payment schedule that works for each individual. Bequests through one’s will or trust are also a super way to make a planned gift to the program.
I am available to talk confidentially about a personalized giving plan that fulfills your charitable giving goals. The most important thing is to please send in your contribution annually — every single gift is appreciated and needed! My contact information is below; please feel free to call or email me any time.
Fall 20113 |
NORBY continued from page 2
Dan and I wanted to endow something for the orthodontic program to build a perpetual resource of charitable aid for the orthodontic program, something that will grow over time and will last forever.”
“
On July 1, 2011, three new residents began their journey toward becoming graduates of our program. Corwyn Hopke, who earned a BA at Harvard University, an MS at Stanford University, and graduated from Columbia College of Dental Medicine with a DDS in 2011, moved to Lincoln in June. We also have the wonderful young woman from Wyoming – Callista (Callie) Owen – who earned her DDS right here at UNMC in May 2011. We watched her succeed in dental school and feel lucky to have her stay in our lives for
30 more months! Each of these new residents brings special gifts to the program and will, no doubt, be assets to the profession. And Nima Mirmoghtadaei (he, thankfully, goes by “Mir” for short) is our third newest student. Mir received his DDS in 2011 from the University of Southern California, but due to his Canadian citizenship and home in Ontario, feels pretty confident about handling Nebraska winters. We’ll have to see how he feels in February! Everyone has truly enjoyed
working with them since July 1 and we look forward to participating in their education in orthodontics here at the college.
Three new residents start the program
L to R: Hopke, Owen, and Mirmoghtadaei. Welcome!
Paula Harre, Class of 1995
Paula Harre (1995) & Husband Dan Duncan
Susan S. NorbySenior Director of DevelopmentUniversity of Nebraska Foundation1010 Lincoln Mall, Suite 300402-458-1183, [email protected]
Tightly Wired | 4
Alumni reception at 2011 AAO in Chicago, Illinois
Marcos Lenza (1992), Sarandeep Huja (former faculty) and Sheela Premaraj (2010 & current faculty) must be smiling about the great food.
Casey Warren (2009). Has something new been added to that smile? He can now relate better to his teenage patients!
Sharing memories and a laugh are Richard Risinger (1994) and Paula Harre (1995 and part-time faculty). Paula continues to serve as a vital member of our admissions committee.
It appears that Mike Crosby (2007) is autographing a napkin for star-struck Mark George (current resident). Mike still owes the program for miles of wasted wire!
2007 Mini Reunion: Paul Robinson (L) and Mike Crosby (R) pose with Director Prem. It’s great to see those familiar faces!
Well, it looks like Peter Spalding and John Pobanz (1998) have decided, “Yeah, so, waddya gonna do about it?”
Dan Duncan (co-donor and spouse to Paula Harre, see article on page 2) shares a laugh with Rebecca Hohl (2004). Congratulations to the Hohl family on the birth of Sydney Lynn on August 15, 2011.
Jeff Chandler (2006) and Loren Short (2007). Jeff is, obviously, very happy about the way things are going in his practice in Utah. Very happy.
Tram Nguyen & Vivian Luong (current residents) and Paul McAllister (2009) take a moment to pose for Shyamaly Premaraj – our “official” reception photographer.
Always accompanied by a great smile and a kind heart, Paul McAllister (2009).
Will Peter Spalding (faculty) and Jeff Chandler (2006) break out in a duet accompanied by Jeff’s “nose flute”? Not at this moment, but time will tell.
Rebeca Hohl (2004) and Marc Welge (2005) engage in their annual AAO “Who’s Gonna Blink First - Stare Down” contest. Marc won again for the sixth year in a row.
Prem, Sarandeep Huja (former faculty), Paula Harre (1995) stop visiting long enough to smile for the camera. Say cheese!
Kimberley Stafford (1993 & loyal part-time faculty) and Marcos Lenza (1992) attempt a quick lesson in Portuguese. “Onde está o banheiro?”
Prem and John Ficke (1996) catch up on the latest in orthodontics or the Huskers next game. It’s hard to say which.
Vivian Luong (current resident), Jarom Sauble (2008), and Sheela Premaraj (2010, faculty) get caught in conversa-tion by the camera.
Fall 20115 |
Alumni get a chance to reminisce Photos courtesy of Shyamaly Premaraj
Michael Hoxie (1995) with Mike & Bre LaFerla. Dr. LaFerla, a UNMC dental grad and orthodontist in Missouri, is generously supporting our program both financially and in the area of practice management lectures.
Elizabeth Sheldon (2008) and Steven Swenson (2008) chat about the early years of starting a practice (or something much more fun).
Sheela Premaraj has worked hard for a long time to become an assistant professor in the orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics program of the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry, and we are glad she made it. Sheela earned both her BDS and diploma in medical microbi-ology in her home country of Sri Lanka. Then, ever striving for a challenge, she left Sri Lanka to earn a PhD in the field of anaerobic bacteriology from the Institute of Anaerobic Bacteriology, Gifu University School of Medicine, Japan.
Sheela spent several years teaching dental and medical students medical microbiology at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Coming to the United States in 2001, she worked as a postdoctoral researcher at The Ohio State University until 2006. Working with students to help them plan and structure their research for the best results is one of many things she does well.
Again, with her persistent drive to learn more, she applied and was accepted to our orthodontic program in 2008. She represented our program at the 2009 annual AAO meeting as the Charley Schultz Resident Scholar and earned second place in the basic science research category of the competi-tion. Sheela received her certificate in orthodontics in December 2010 and was soon ready for another challenge.
Our predoctoral orthodontic program, with a great deal of help from part-time faculty members such as Brett Cascini, Paula Harre, Rebecca Hohl, Paul Rallis and Robert Schoettger, had managed with only two full-time faculty members for several years. We were able to begin advertising to fill the third faculty position in late January. After the search and interview process was completed, Dr. Thyagaseely (Sheela) Premaraj accepted a full-time position on March 1, 2011.
With barely any time to get settled in, she began prepara-tions to teach the two predoctoral summer courses that start in May. Gratefully, Dr. Schoettger (who had gone through the summer classes twice and received a teaching award from the students for his very first year) was able to stay on to co-instruct ORT588 and ORT590 and facilitate the transition back to full-time faculty.
Sheela Premaraj joins orthodontic faculty
Tightly Wired | 6
An enthusiastic and well-deserved congratula-tions go out to Drs. W. Craig Shellhart (1988) and Benjamin R. Thornton (2006) for passing the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) clinical exam this past year.
Congratulations to Drs. Sundaralingam Premaraj and Casey Warren (2009) for passing the National Dental Specialty Examina-tion (orthodontics) administered by the Royal College of Dentists of Canada in June 2011. Drs. Prem and Warren were each conferred as a Fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada (FRCD) at the 46th annual convocation, held on September 24, 2011, in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Since then, Sheela has been one of the faculty members responsible for teaching the new residents Principles of Mechanics/Orthodontic Technique and Cephalometrics during their first few weeks in the program. She has been a mentor to one summer research fellowship student and worked with two others. She currently serves as the director of our section’s research efforts and co-instructs Current/Classic Literature Review and Clinical Case Presentations with the other two faculty members. Dr. Sheela’s evolution as a faculty member includes taking charge of our predoctoral teaching program. She will be the course director for Orthodontic Concepts I this spring.
In addition, Dr. Sheela continues her interest in research with a seed grant awarded in July for a project titled, “Molecular Bacteriological Analysis of Supra Gingival Plaque of Orthodontic Patients and White Lesions.” Involving our three new residents in gathering data for this project is providing an introduction to orthodontic research that will serve them well. Please join us in welcoming Dr. Sheela Premaraj to our faculty.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Sheela Premaraj
Dr. Sheela’s evolution as a faculty member includes taking charge of our predoctoral teaching program.
Dr. Henry Cech, 86, Lincoln, died June 20, 2011. He was a member of the dental class of 1956 and received his orthodontic certificate in 1958.
In addition to serving as a past presi-dent of the Nebraska Dental Alumni Association and the Lincoln District Dental Association, Dr. Cech’s member-ships included Westminster Presbyterian Church, Past President Lincoln Lions Club, Lincoln Country Club, “N” Club Alumni, Extra Point Club, UNL varsity basketball player, Director of Lincoln Ct #8 ROJ, Grand Marshall of Czech Festival, Green Fez, and Sigma Alpha Epsilon.
Dr. Cech and his wife Anne, in addition to other orth-odontic alumni, were instrumental in the funding of a seminar room and library for the department of growth and development in 2006.
He was a terrific and consistent supporter of the orthodontic program and visited several times a year. We were always glad to see his smiling face and to hear what he had to say. He had that effect on many people. All of us in the UNMC orthodontic program will remember Dr. Cech with a smile.
Grateful for the continued support of the Dr. Douglas K. Eversoll memorial fund, our program was able to send seven students to the annual GORP meeting in August this year. We are also planning to cover a large portion of the travel expenses for resident attendance at the 2012 AAO
meeting in Hawaii. Dr. Eversoll’s parents Duane and Deanna Eversoll, as well as the NSO, have tirelessly continued to honor his memory through contributions that provide meaningful support for the residents who represent his Nebraska orthodontic program. This memorial fund is a wonderful tribute to Dr. Douglas Eversoll’s professional contributions and personal pride in Nebraska.
James E. Weesner, DDS, 89, passed away peacefully on September 13, 2010. He attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he was affiliated with the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. He went on to earn a dental degree in 1945 and became an orthodontist through a preceptor program that preceded the current orthodontic program with Dr. Howard Yost. On September 21, 2007, in grateful recognition of dedicated years of service and faithful support, the orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics program acknowledged Dr. Weesner as an honorary orthodontic alumni member.
Dr. Weesner served in the U.S. military for 22 years, first in the Navy during World War II and then in the Naval Reserve until 1965. He retired as a commander and settled in Lincoln, Nebraska, with his wife Nancy, where he began his career in orthodontics.
He was past president of both Lincoln District Dental Association and the Midwestern Society of Orthodontists. He also served on boards for the University of Nebraska opera program and the Nebraska Historical Society and enjoyed his membership at the Lincoln Country Club.
During his life, Dr. Weesner loved spending time with his family, including his wife, children, and grandchildren, taking care of his patients, traveling, and, of course, watching Nebraska football. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Nancy.
He was a “class act” and a gentleman, renowned for his kindness as well as his treatment quality and precision. Countless students were influenced by his unfailing loyalty to the College of Dentistry and, in particular, his dedication to the orthodontic program. He taught orthodontics and supervised a clinic for many years. A multitude of orthodontists owe a debt of gratitude for their successful careers, in part, to Dr. James Weesner.
Fall 20117 |
In remembrance
James Weesner Henry Cech
Eversoll Memorial Fund Continues to Serve
This publication is also available online!
Visit www.unmc.edu/dentistry to share this news-letter and other UNMC publications with friends and colleagues.
Department of Growth and DevelopmentOrthodontic SectionP.O. Box 830740Lincoln NE 68583-0740
COLLEGE OF DENTISTRY
If you have any questions about charitable gifts, donation, options, pledges or bequests benefitting the orthodontic program, please contact:
