Word of Mouth Fall/Winter 2012

FALL/WINTER 12Georgia Health Sciences University

A LOOK INSIDE: Good Sports 22 Hair Today 24 Campus Facelift 28

The Drisko EraDean to Assume New Role After Overseeing Unprecedented Growth

G H S U C O L L E G E O F D E N T A L M E D I C I N E

Connie Drisko, D.D.S.Dean and Merritt Professor

FROM the DEAN

FALL/WINTER 12

“

”

Now that we’ve settled into our amazing new digs, I think this is a great time to catch our collective breath

and enjoy the view. And what a view it is—both literally and figuratively. Look outside the windows of the new College of Dental Medicine building and you’ll see sweeping vistas of both our beautiful city and our ever-growing campus. How proud I am to welcome our students, faculty and staff to such prime real estate—a spectacular setting for the state’s only dental school. Figuratively, the view is even more stunning. As I survey the surroundings, I see innumerable examples—both tangible and intangible—of our incredible progress over the past few years. Our class size has grown from 60 to 80 per class in the past decade. Our residencies have increased from 34 to 47. We have transformed our curriculum to optimize clinical training and continuity of care. We have been nationally recognized for student diversity programs. Our students consistently maintain exemplary board scores and retention, on-time graduation and licensure exam pass rates.

These are just a few examples that distinguish our invaluable role both statewide and nationally, and I couldn’t be more proud. You’ve no doubt heard by now that I’ll leave my role as Dean in July, and you can read more about the transition in this edition of Word of Mouth. But the upshot is that I’m leaving the school in outstanding hands. I’ll have plenty of time to share my sentiments and extend my undying gratitude to the many who have supported me throughout my tenure (and remember, I’m not going anywhere!), but in the meantime, I present this edition of our magazine as proof positive of the stellar service of our College of Dental Medicine family. Our college’s best days lie ahead, with voluminous new opportunities springing from our imminent consolidation with Augusta State University. How proud I am to have played a role in this magnificent success story. n

Dear Colleagues,

Our college’s best days lie ahead, with voluminous new opportunities springing from our imminent consolidation with Augusta State University. How proud I am to have played a role in this magnificent success story.

OPENED WIDE

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From the President 2

News BITES 3

Student BITES 17

Student Voice 18

Faculty BITES 20

Development 31

Honor Roll of Donors 32

DEPARTMENTS

The Drisko EraDean to relinquish role in 2013

24Hair Today

Green Tea Shampoo offers healthier alternative

F A L L / W I N T E R 1 2

Building Bridges 6College Opens Clinic in Peru

Good Sports 22Special Smiles for

Special Olympians

One-Stop Shopping 23Flea Market Initiative a

Seven-Year Success

Mileage Touches Millions 26Colgate’s Mobile Van Takes

Dentistry on the Road

All-Discipline Honor Society 26Phi Kappa Phi an Honor on Campus

Campus Facelift 28Laney Walker Project to Begin Soon

Economic Powerhouse 29Billion-Dollar Enterprise for

Local Economy

Dr. J. Harold Harrison Commons Building 31Facility to Enhance Education

Far Into the Future

w o r d o f M O U T H

When we celebrated the 44th annual Family Day at GHSU Sept. 8, I shared a few thoughts with our

happy audiences . . . thoughts of the great promise ahead, of the journey of learning, of legacy and of gratitude. I reminded the attendees that the future of the university is bright and promising, that our imminent consolidation with Augusta State University has the principal purpose of building greater value for our students, their families and their colleagues. Consolidation will enable us to build the next great comprehensive research university in Georgia, providing greater opportunities not only to local students, but to students throughout the state and many parts of South Carolina. The greater opportunities center around the greater diversity of academic programs our students will enjoy from the day of consolidation, such as business training for health professionals or training in health care management for business students. Opportunities will grow in research, in creative pursuits, in pipeline programs, in shared international experiences. The number of faculty and mentors will grow. Opportunities will grow for both current and future students. Students represent the lifeline and bloodline of universities—lifeline because our students and trainees represent the raison d’etre of universities, the reason we exist. We can conduct research, provide health care, engage the community in the arts and support intercollegiate and recreational athletics, but at the end of the day, it’s all about our

students’ academic and life success. As our bloodline, students represent the future of our academic lineage, ensuring that what they learn today will carry over to future generations, to a future time, when many of us will be long gone. I reminded the students to enjoy the journey of learning. Success isn’t just about reaching a goal; these goals are actually more artificial than real. Learning is a lifelong process, a never-ending journey. The well-being of their colleagues, clients, customers, patients, student and families, today and in the future, depends on their ability to continuously learn. Their worst day would be the day they cease to learn. I encouraged them to enjoy their current journey, noting that today’s opportunities will rarely be repeated for them. Today they have national and world experts eager to teach the secrets of their knowledge, today they have world-class and growing facilities and resources, all designed for their learning and training. They are in a university that genuinely cares about its students and their success. A rare privilege, as many of us who completed our formal training years ago can attest to. And I spoke of legacy—personal and class legacy. It’s never too early to begin to think about our legacy. What do we want to be remembered for? What good will we leave for our patients, our fellow students, our community? And what will the legacy of their class be? How will they be a collective force for good, today and tomorrow? How will they ensure that today’s benefits are available for students

tomorrow? Will they pursue a worthwhile goal like setting up a class scholarship or a building fund, or help the university grow its philanthropic base? Will they help ensure a better future for all students to come? It’s never too early to contribute to the university, both as an individual and as a class. The willingness of previous student bodies to pay it forward has enriched student life today. We should all, in respect, honor, understanding and gratitude, endeavor to ensure a continuing future. (For a stellar example of dental students’ willingness and eagerness to do just that, see “Excellent Stewards” on page 6.) And speaking of gratitude, I reminded the students that their journey and legacy represent a group effort. Their current and future success is and will be the result of countless acts of support by many—remembered or not—acts by friends and mentors, professors and teachers, siblings and parents. No matter how smart, how disciplined, how hard-working, how focused our students are, innumerable individuals have contributed to their success—a veritable village, as the saying goes. We should always strive to honor the memory and efforts of those who supported us in a myriad of ways along the long journey, through our actions and intentions. I look forward to next year’s Family Day, when again we can welcome new faces to our campus, sharing our pride in our growing university and its ever-growing value for our students. n

Ricardo Azziz:

Of Promise, Journey, Legacy and Gratitude: Family Day at Our University

azziz.georgiahealth.eduFollow his blog at:

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Georg ia Hea l th Sc i ences U n i ve r s i t y

3F A L L / W I N T E R 1 2

n The University System of Georgia Board of Regents has approved a mission statement for the university being created through the consolidation of Augusta State University and Georgia Health Sciences University. The Regents voted Jan. 10 to consolidate the universities and charged a 21-member Consolidation Working Group to oversee the process. The committee unanimously endorsed a draft of the mission after broad-based feedback from members of both universities before submitting it to the regents. The Regents on May 9 approved the mission:

to provide leadership and excellence in teaching, discovery, clinical care and service as a student-centered comprehensive research university and academic health center with a wide range of programs from learning assistance through postdoctoral studies. “It was important that the new mission reflect the true breadth and scope of the new comprehensive research university, which would include an aligned and integrated health system,” said GHSU President Ricardo Azziz, who will oversee the consolidated university. “Our focus will remain on educational quality, excellence and success, but it is important that our mission reflect the new reality: that we will be a completely new comprehensive university, competing with peers in the state and beyond, acting like the great American institution we will be, adapting and accepting change, responding rapidly and decisively, emphasizing the training and responsibility of our leaders and focused on growth and development.” The mission will become effective after accreditation by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, expected in January, after which the Board of Regents will formally approve the consolidation. l

News BITES

Distinguished Alumnus

n Dr. Grant Loo, a general dentist in Augusta and a 1990 graduate of the GHSU College of Dental Medicine, has been named the college’s 2012 Distinguished Alumnus. Loo has served on the college’s Building Imperative Steering Committee since 2006 and was an initial donor to its Thousand Thanks Campaign to raise money for the building. He is past President of the College of Dental Medicine Alumni Association and serves as a delegate of the Eastern District of the Georgia Dental Association. He is a member of the American Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry and the Thomas P. Hinman Dental Society. Loo is a member of the International College of Dentists and the Pierre Fauchard Academy. For more than 20 years, he has mentored GHSU dental students and hosted visiting foreign dental students. l

New Mission for New U

Co l l e ge o f Den ta l Med ic ine

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Georg ia Hea l th Sc i e nces U n i ve r s i t ynews BITES

Stand Up, Stand Out

n Georgia Health Sciences employees contributed $274,230.67—exceeding the goal by more than $70,000—in the fiscal 2011-12 employee giving campaign. “We are so grateful for those who supported Georgia Health Sciences during this campaign,” said Senior Vice President for Advancement and Community Relations Susan Barcus. “The campaign enabled us to show our pride in the work we do every day to lead Georgia and the world to better health.” Contributions to the “Stand Up, Stand Out” campaign will support GHS Medical Center renovations, the Education Commons construction, research expansion and other areas specified by donors. The donations also attract external support, Barcus noted. For more information, visit www.georgiahealth.edu/giving. l

Fall Festival

n The College of Dental Medicine hosted a fall festival October 24 for staff, faculty, students and residents. The festival, held behind the College of Dental Medicine building, included food and activities for all ages. l

New Grant Award

n Delta Dental’s Community Care Foundation has donated $10,000 to the College of Dental Medicine’s Give a Smile Foundation to improve oral health for underserved children and adults through treatment and education. The Community Care Foundation advances dental health and improves access to dental care for the underserved through professional and community support. l

Silver LEED Certification

n The College of Dental Medicine’s new building has earned Silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, becoming the first building on Georgia Health Sciences University’s campus to become LEED-certified. The building was officially certified in late October in a process that took about one year, said Chris Miller, Director of Facilities Services for Georgia Health Sciences Medical Center. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED is a voluntary program that provides third-party verification of green buildings, from individual buildings, homes, entire neighborhoods and communities. LEED certification requires scoring at least 40 points on a 110-point scale in categories including sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality and innovation in design. The College of Dental Medicine building earned 50 to 59 points to become Silver LEED-certified. The four LEED categories are certified, silver, gold and platinum. “The College of Dental Medicine is excited to have the first LEED-certified building on GHSU’s campus,” said Dean Connie Drisko. “This is a great accomplishment for our school and demonstrates our commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility. We are proud to have a state-of-the-art facility that is the result of careful planning and many people working together to achieve a common goal of sustainability.” “When comparing the old dental school with the new building, we are already noticing a significant savings in energy consumption,” said GHSU Vice President for Facilities Services Phil Howard. The building’s highly reflective green roofing system minimizes solar heat absorption, requiring less energy to cool the building. Water use is also controlled for toilets, restroom faucets and shower heads. The facility uses green power, and more than 20 percent of the structure’s construction materials were recycled. The building was recognized as the Best Higher Education/Research Project for 2011 from ENR Southeast, an industry magazine focused on construction news and trends. l


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Co l l e ge o f Denta l Med ic ine

Heart Walk

n The College of Dental Medicine will join thousands in the CSRA community who are walking the extra mile March 9 to fight cardiovascular disease and stroke. The 2013 Heart Walk, sponsored by the American Heart Association, raises the funds to improve the health of the 99 percent of Americans who fail to meet the AHA criteria for ideal cardiovascular health. The association’s goal is to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent by 2020. The CSRA team will walk on the North Augusta Greeneway. For more information or to make a donation, visit www.heartwalk.org. l

Simulation Cooperation

n GHSU dental students don’t always cross paths with their classmates in different disciplines. But the university is working to change that. The university launched its Interpersonal Education Program last summer, bringing together GHSU dental, allied health sciences, medical and nursing students, introducing them to a situation with a simulated patient where they all have to work together. “It’s about them working together as a team,” said Dr. Lori Schumacher Anderson, College of Nursing Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. “It’s about developing that communication between different disciplines.” The students work with the simulated patient, a mannequin that responds to their actions. The procedure is video recorded in a simulation room and the students review the simulation in a “debriefing” afterward to discuss strengths and weaknesses. The students work in teams of two, with one group watching the other in the simulator and providing feedback. The training reinforces the fact that in a real hospital setting, different disciplines work together, each contributing a role and responsibility, Anderson said, citing the importance of learning to communicate and interact with other disciplines. “It’s really neat how they all work together,” Anderson said. “We want to get the foundation laid in this program.” The students also found it very helpful. “The simulation is great because you can learn a lot from it and remember,” nursing student Beth Cutshall said. “You will look back and gain more than you think you will.” Wyatt Mobley, a student in the Clinical Nurse Leader Program, also found it invaluable. “It helps to have a bridge between reality and the classroom,” he said. “It is necessary to communicate well and you’re not going to learn how to do it unless you’re in the situation.” Instructors also think that the program can be a great learning tool. “I think the students really get a chance to see their communication,” Associate Professor of Physical Therapy Miriam Cortez-Cooper said. “It plants a seed and they really start thinking about it.” Anderson hopes this summer’s pilot program will be permanently incorporated into the curricula. “Most students have said that they would like to come back and do it again,” she said. “The program is about training to work together and to put the patient at the center of care, and the students understand how important that is.” l

CODA Approval

n The Commission on Dental Accreditation has granted “approval without reporting requirements” to the College of Dental Medicine’s Doctor of Dental Medicine Program and Advanced Education Programs in Endodontics, Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontics, Prosthodontics and General Practice Residency. The next accreditation site visit is in 2019. l

Excellent Stewards

n The College of Dental Medicine Class of 2012 presented a $25,000 donation to Dean Connie Drisko on May 7. The donation to their alma mater reflects their intention to be lifelong good stewards of the benefits their GHSU education will set in motion. For more information about sharing your resources to help advance GHSU’s mission, contact Tony Duva, Senior Director of Development for Gift Planning, at 706-721-1939 or [email protected]. l


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Georg ia Hea l th Sc i e nces U n i ve r s i t y


Building Bridges

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In Peru, a country with only one dental professional per 9,000 people and a 95 percent prevalence of dental cavities and periodontal diseases, the College

of Dental Medicine is reaching across international borders to help improve the standard of dental care in the region. In the city of Cusco, officials from GHSU joined Peruvian officials March 31 to celebrate the official opening of a dental clinic. “I often speak of building bridges, bridges that will ensure the strength, relevance and excellence of the Georgia Health Sciences enterprise and of the many communities we serve,” said GHSU President Ricardo Azziz, who attended

College Opens New Dental Clinic in PeruBy Sharron Walls

8



the ceremony with his son, Jonathon. “This bridge with Cusco is one of our farthest-reaching.” The collaboration between the university and the local health care community began in 2006 when Dr. Daron Ferris, Professor of Family Medicine at GHSU’s Medical College of Georgia, opened CerviCusco, a medical clinic to help treat and prevent cervical cancer in Peruvian women. The country’s pressing need for improved oral health care led to the opening last fall of a state-of-the-art dental clinic on the building’s third floor. Furnished with donated equipment and supplies, the clinic

hosts skilled dentists and students from the United States and other countries who consult with the Peruvian staff to expand oral health care.

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“This is a wonderful opportunity for us to work side by side with the talented, dedicated community dentists in Cusco to provide high-quality advanced services to Peruvians in need,” said Dean Connie Drisko, who also attended the grand opening. Other attendees included the clinic’s Dental Director, Dr. Jessica Rivera, and her staff; several GHSU dental and nursing faculty and students; local medical, dental and university officials; and members of La Fuente, a group of medical and dental professionals with ties to GHSU and Augusta.

“This is a wonderful

opportunity for us to

work side by side with

the talented, dedicated

community dentists in

Cusco to provide high-

quality advanced services

to Peruvians in need.”

–Dean Connie Drisko

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The Drisko Era



Dean to Assume New Role After Overseeing Unprecedented Growth

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College of Dental Medicine Dean Connie L. Drisko, who has overseen an era of unprecedented growth at the state’s only dental school, will leave her leadership role as

Dean effective July 1. She will remain on the college’s faculty. “Dean Drisko has led the College of Dental Medicine through an extraordinary period,” said GHSU Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Gretchen Caughman. “Her skill and tenacity during a time of major curricula reform, increased class sizes, residency program growth, expanded local, state and international outreach, and a new state-of-art facility will be felt for decades to come. We are truly appreciative of her dedication, service and outstanding contributions.” Drisko became the college’s third Dean in 2003. During her tenure, student enrollment has grown from

By Sharron Walls

DR. JUDSON C. HICKEYDean, 1966-1987

DR. DAVID MYERSDean, 1988-2001

DR. CONNIE L. DRISKODean, 2003-2013

Co l l ege o f Den ta l Med ic ine


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60 to 80 per class and residencies have increased from 34 to 47. By 2016, the college is expected to house 400 students, 78 residents and more than 100 faculty. To accommodate such growth, Drisko directed the funding, design and construction of a $112 million, five-story, 269,000-square-foot clinical facility, one of the largest of its kind in the country. Opened in 2011, the building houses 316 clinical operatories, the college’s eight residency programs, clinics for junior and senior dental students, simulation labs, an expanded faculty practice, the College of Allied Health Sciences’ dental hygiene program and an operating room and recovery unit for outpatient surgery. Drisko also transitioned the college’s curriculum to a coordinated Comprehensive Care

model representative of dentistry in private practice, leading to better clinical training for students and better continuity of care for patients. Under Drisko’s leadership, the college has twice received full accreditation by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association and has been nationally recognized for student diversity programs that prepare under-represented minority and low-income students for dental practice. GHSU students consistently maintain exemplary National Board scores and retention, on-time graduation and licensure exam pass rates. In recent years, the college has established an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency program; opened an interdisciplinary Center for Esthetic

and Implant Dentistry; expanded its global outreach to China, Peru, France, Italy and Africa; extended student rotations and patient care regional outreach to 25 sites in 13 Georgia cities; and increased average annual faculty and student research by more than 40 percent. Prior to joining GHSU, Drisko was Associate Dean for Research, Associate Dean for Academic Planning and Faculty Development and Director of the Dental Education and Research Center at the University of Louisville School of Dentistry in Louisville, Ky. She had previously served as Associate Professor of Periodontics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and as a Clinical Dental Hygiene Instructor at Tyler Junior College in Texas and at the University of Oklahoma. Drisko was a practicing dental



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hygienist for 16 years before earning a dental degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1980. She received her certification in general practice dentistry from the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Kansas City, Mo., then a periodontics certificate from the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Leavenworth, Kan. She is a member of the Omicron Kappa Upsilon honor society. She has chaired the American Dental Education Association Women’s Advisory and Legislative Advisory committees, is a longtime member of the Dean’s Council and the Gies Board of Trustees and is on the organization’s Leadership Institute faculty. Drisko is a member of the American Dental Association’s Joint Commission on National

Co l l ege o f Den ta l Med ic ine


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Dental Examinations and the Georgia Society of Periodontists Executive Committee; a Diplomate and former Director and Chair of the American Board of Periodontology; and a Fellow of the American College of Dentists, the International College of Dentists, the Pierre Fauchard Academy and the Executive Leadership Academic Medicine program. She serves on the Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA Board of Directors and received the 2011 Woman of Distinction Award from the Girl

Scouts of Historic Georgia. “Dr. Drisko’s service has been exemplary by any standard, and her leadership supporting the development and construction of a state-of-the-art new building will ensure her legacy for generations to come,” said GHSU President Ricardo Azziz.



“Dr. Drisko’s service has been exemplary by any standard, and her leadership supporting the development and construction of a state-of-the-art new building will ensure her legacy for generations to come.” –GHSU President Ricardo Azziz

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The College of Dental Medicine is celebrating nearly a decade of growth and has touched

many lives through service and outreach in the process, said Dean Connie Drisko during her State of the College Address on Oct. 26. In her address, “Making a Difference: Impacting Oral Health through Volunteerism, Service and Outreach,” Drisko discussed the college’s focus on community outreach and service, increases in inpatient visits and school enrollment for under-represented minorities and achievement of fundraising goals. College of Dental Medicine students have provided care for those in need at 25 public health sites across the state. They have served numerous children, many of whom suffered from dental decay and caries and otherwise wouldn’t have had access to dental care, Drisko said.

“We’re the state’s only dental school. Our mission has to include the entire state. I think we can be very proud of the fact that we have done an incredible job reaching out across the

Making a DifferenceSuccess of Dental College ‘Just a Start,’ Dean Says

By LaTina Emerson

“We’re the state’s only dental school. Our mission has to include the entire state. I think we can be very proud of the fact that we have done an incredible job reaching out across the state and have been able to touch a lot of lives.”–DEAN CONNIE DRISKO

Col l ege o f Den ta l Med ic ine


state and have been able to touch a lot of lives,” Drisko said. To care for the underserved, faculty have applied for and received more than $7 million over the last seven years through the Medicaid administrative grant and multiple Health Resources and Services Administration and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grants that have supported $200,000 in unreimbursed care, as well as faculty and staff salaries, cultural competency programs at 25 outreach sites and student loan forgiveness. Dental students have initiated over $60,000 in Give a Smile Foundation funds to help underwrite patient care. They have also led cancer screenings and provided oral health information at the Barnyard Flea Market, Drisko said. The College of Dental Medicine has experienced substantial growth in the number of its faculty, student applicants and class size in the last decade. From 2003 to present, the full-time faculty has grown from 67 to 74, student applicants have grown from 163 to 366 and the class size of the dental school has grown from 54 to 80. The total number of enrollees has increased from 226 to 299, in 2003 and 2012 respectively, she said. By 2016, Drisko anticipates that class size will grow to 100. The college is also focused on recruiting diverse faculty, students and residents and will need to increase residency enrollment to meet future needs.

The College of Dental Medicine has also experienced growth in clinical services. In 2003, students, residents and faculty had 24,793 patient visits, which grew to 69,063 by 2012. Patient procedures have also increased from 51,159 to 124,141, in 2003 and 2012 respectively. In addition, extramural grants and contracts have increased from $1.37 million in 2003 to $3.59 million in 2012. The college has also expanded its academic offerings to include a general dentistry department and general practice residency. In the future, it plans to offer D.M.D./M.B.A. and D.M.D./M.P.H. dual degree programs, as well as develop an oral and maxillofacial surgery/M.D. or M.D. completion program, Drisko said. During the last decade, the College of Dental Medicine has formed global partnerships, including reaching out to China and establishing a dental clinic in Peru. “We are much more connected around the world than we have ever been, and we’re just getting started,” Drisko said. The College of Dental Medicine has also expanded its buildings. In 2011, the college completed a 269,000 square foot, state-of-the-art dental facility and is on target with its fundraising goals for the Education Commons building. Since 2007, more than $12.5 million has been raised, she said.

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Full-time faculty:

67 to 74

Student applicants:

163 to 366

class size:

54 to 80

Enrollees:

226 to 299

Patient visits:

24,793 to 69,063

Patient procedures:

51,159 to 124,141

Extramural grants and contracts:

$1.37 million to

$3.59 million

The Drisko NumbersGrowth from 2003-2012

Dr. Saiprasad M. Zemse, a third-year periodontal postgraduate student, has received one of two national 2012 Abram and Sylvia Chasens Teaching and Research Fellowships from the American Academy of Periodontology Foundation. Recipients of the $15,000 fellowship plan to conduct periodontal research and teach full time in the United States.

2012 College of Dental Medicine graduates Ann Downer, Kristina Mohme, Jose Navarro, Arjun Patel, Dhruti Patel, Shivani Patel, Anna Schultz, Shannon Thorsteinson, Meg Whitney and Claire Worthy were honored at the Alpha Upsilon Phi Service Honor Society ceremony May 9. The celebration recognizes achievements in service and leadership.

Seven 2012 College of Dental Medicine graduates were recognized at the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Honor Society Convocation May 3. The organization recognizes excellence in scholarship growth potential. The students are Ann Downer, Chris Kragor, Becky Paquin, Emily Parks, Arjun Patel, Shivani Patel and Kristen Shaw.

First-year dental student Joy Jenn has received the Paul Ambrose Scholarship, enabling select students in the health professions to gain exposure to influential public health professionals and to hone skills in addressing population health issues locally and nationally.

Two oral biology students received 2012 Graduate Research Day awards. Sean Connolly received the Ji Cheng Memorial Award for Excellence in Research. Connolly, who was mentored by Dr. Doug Dickinson, was the highest-rated overall second-year student. Inas Helma, who was mentored by Dr. Wendy Bollag, was honored for Excellence in Oral Biology.

Ashland Doomes and Robert (Bob) Wilson were honored by the Student Government Association as Senior Student Leader and Rising Student Leader, Class of 2014, respectively.The Student Government Association has elected the following 2012-13 officers:Caitlin Madigan, President (Graduate Studies)Brett Page, Vice President (Dental Medicine) Class of 2014Marissa Ludley, Secretary (Dental Medicine), Class of 2014Carlos Griswold, Comptroller (Dental Medicine), Class of 2013Katie Spitler, Humanitarian (Graduate Studies)

Outgoing officers are:Ashland Doomes, President (Dental Medicine), Class of 2012Samuel Herberg, Vice President (Graduate Studies)Amir Ghalehgol, Secretary (Dental Medicine), Class of 2012Ben Ham, Comptroller (Medicine)Caitlin Madigan, Humanitarian (Graduate Studies)

The Georgia Chapter of the American Student Dental Association has received the Most Creative Presentation Award, recognizing excellence in journalism, influential local leadership and chapter achievements. The award was presented at the first annual Gold Crown Awards ceremony.

2012 dental graduate Bradford Huffman has received the PFA Foundation Scholarship and senior Anushka Amin received the Mark Ritz Research Scholarship from the Georgia Section of the Pierre Fauchard Academy. The scholarships were presented at the 10th Annual Convocation and Awards dinner in February.

student BITES

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Co l l e ge o f Den ta l Med ic ine


student

BY ANNA K. SCHULTZClass of 2012

Lost: to absent oneself—mind, body, and spirit; to

become engrossed in everything and nothing at

the same time; a true art.

I’ve always loved doing that . . . but hardly ever seem to have the time. Get lost anywhere, really—the grocery store, an old bookstore, New York City, Cusco, perhaps. Maybe it’s because so much of our lives are filled with purpose, goals and ambitions that we rarely stop to breathe life in . . . to enjoy it for its simplicity, amid the intricacies that often occupy our minds. Alas, there’s always something to do, somewhere to be . . . and I’m usually late for pretty much all of it. But this day, this one beautiful day in Peru, deadlines and schedules don’t matter. We’re in a country in which we’ve never been, desperately trying to communicate and sometimes failing miserably, and navigating itineraries to places unknown. But something about it is very liberating—to spend a day without a plan, a map, commitments, checklists. We spend the day traveling to Pisac to see the Incan ruins (although nobody mentioned the “hiking” part of the itinerary as I walked out of the house in my Toms . . . naturally, a good hiking choice). We walk to La Avenida Cultura to catch a bus—past a small farm walled with adobe bricks and home to my 5 a.m. wake-up call each morning, past Los Toldos de Pollo, where we feasted on the best chicken I think I’ve ever had, and past the bakery and Casa de Cambia, where ripped American bills hold absolutely no value. The Servicio Rapido picks us up at the bus stop, and it is so much better than taking a taxi. Real culture permeates the streets of Peru—you don’t even have to enter a museum. Women with plastic sacks full of vegetables and babies swaddled on their backs, middle-aged men thumbing through the pages of their Peruvian novellas—it’s truly fascinating to me. One taxi ride and an oddly navigated bus switch up the side of a mountain later, through the winding roads and valleys of Peru, we arrive at Pisac. All I can stammer at the moment is that it is so breathtakingly beautiful . . . the kind of beautiful you only dream about, or see in Travel and Leisure magazine (which, coincidentally, is where I have seen many Peruvian pictures since). Almost as quickly as I take in the beauty, I unexpectedly face my underestimated fear of heights—not so much a fear of controlled heights, like airplanes and rollercoasters, but fear that one false step could send me down the side of that rocky

Getting Lost in Peru—and Loving It


w o r d o f M O U T H18

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mountain and into the river below (again, good choice with the Toms. Anna, could you have picked a shoe with less traction?). So with that thought, I scale the inside of the trail—hugging the mountain with each and every step. And there we are: four American dental students amid ruins of stone houses, agricultural terraces, stone passageways. All of us, being naturally adventurous, decide to walk back down the mountain in lieu of taking a taxi, which, for all intents and purposes, turns into a hike. A three-hour hike. Which begs the question: how many dental students does it take to get down a mountain? Apparently, four. Plus three Peruvian park rangers, and a National Geographic book on Peru that happens to include a few key phrases of their native language. We dip through passages of brush and puddles, down rocks on a not-so-worn path, and across the rumbling waters of the Urubamba, on what looks to be a homemade wooden bridge. When we cross the river, we notice three men washing their faces in the clear water. We obviously looked lost, or out of place, or something of the sort. They immediately make welcoming gestures, which we translate as their willingness to help. And despite our less-than-successful attempts at verbal communication, we immediately forge friendships in the face of language lost. So as the Peruvian park ranger in a tattered wool

sweater, faded jeans and black sandals, exposing his well-traveled feet, grabs my hand and helps me down the mountain through so much mud that my Toms are forever ruined, I know I love this country. And, its people. While rescuing me from a mud bath covering my shins and feet, we both laugh so hard that our sides hurt, navigating this and every passage in broken Spanish and hopeful trust. I am loving every uncertain minute of it. They laugh at me—my accent, my mud—and I at them. And then we laugh together. As we climb into the taxi home, I settle into the front seat with a ciabatta roll, a slice of cheese and a bottled Coca-

Cola. I roll the window down, take a breath of Peruvian mountain air, and I know something has happened here. We left the comforts of a brand-new dental school to travel to

a world unknown, wanting to help and change the lives of those we had yet to meet. Little did I know that this small clinic in the heart of Cusco, Peru was going to change me. And as I leave the confines of a beloved dental school community to embark on a new personal and professional journey as a practicing dentist, I carry with me a newly realized global understanding of dentistry: a career bound by neither language nor location, in which I, and many others, have the opportunity to serve not only our communities, but cultures all over the world.

“We left the comforts of a brand-new dental school to travel

to a world unknown, wanting to help and change the lives

of those we had yet to meet. Little did I know that this small

clinic in the heart of Cusco, Peru was going to change me.”



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facultyBITES

Dr. Gary Whitford, Regents Professor Emeritus in the College of Dental Medicine, has received the 2012 GHSU Research Institute Lifetime Achievement Award. A GHSU faculty member for 39 years, Whitford has analyzed fluoride in body fluids and hard tissues and developed therapeutic fluoride for anti-cavity benefits without impairing tooth enamel. He authored The Metabolism and Toxicity of Fluoride (S. Karger Press, 1996) and is a fluoride metabolism consultant to Peru, Sweden, Mexico, Brazil and Colombia, as well as organizations including the U.S. Public Health Service, the American Dental Association, the Pan American Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and the Environmental Protection Agency. He has received 10 National Institutes of Health grants and recently received a multi-year CDC contract to further his studies of fluoride analysis.

Dr. Van Haywood has received the 2012 College of Dental Medicine Teaching Excellence Award. He also has been named a Fellow and appointed Vice Regent of The Academy of Dentistry International. With members in 88 countries, the honor organization supports humanitarian projects and provides continuing dental education in lesser-developed countries worldwide. Haywood, who pioneered teeth-bleaching research, has directed or participated in over 74 continuing-education courses, lectured in 26 countries, published over 145 articles and been named a “Top Leader in Continuing Education” for over 10 years.

Dr. Franklin Tay has been named Chair of the Department of Endodontics. Tay received his Ph.D. from the University of Queensland and his doctorate from the University of Hong Kong, where he continues to serve as Honorary Professor in Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics. He recently received a National Institutes of Health grant to study quick-set material.

Dr. Jennifer Hill has been named Chair of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry. She was previously an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Texas School of Dentistry. She earned her doctorate of dental surgery and Ph.D. in oral biology from the University of Iowa, where she also completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry and pediatric dentistry residencies. She earned a doctorate of medical dentistry and certificate of orthodontics from the University of Ulm in Germany.

Dr. Ulf Wikesjö has been named Interim Chair of the Department of Oral Biology. He also serves as Professor of Periodontology, Oral Biology, Graduate Studies and Orthopedics. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology. Wikesjö earned doctorates in dental science and philosophy from Lund University and a doctorate of dental medicine from Temple University.

Dr. Carol Lefebvre has been named Vice Dean of Administration and is the namesake of the American Academy of Fixed Prosthodontics’ Carol A. Lefebvre Scientific Poster Presentation Award of Excellence. The honor recognizes her service as editor of the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, the academy’s official journal. Each year, the award will recognize an exceptional presentation during the poster session at the annual scientific meeting. The award acknowledges excellence in prosthodontics as demonstrated by innovative research in patient treatment methods or materials.



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Dr. Carole Hanes has received a Health Resources and Services Administration Grant to States to Support Oral Health Workforce Activities. The three-year grant will advance the college’s clerkship program. Ketarya Dent is the Project Director.

Dr. Martin Salgueiro, Assistant Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, has been recognized as a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, signifying successful completion of an Oral Certifying Examination and adherence and dedication to the specialty’s highest standards.

Dr. William Brackett, Professor of Oral Rehabilitation, has been named to the Omicron Kappa Upsilon faculty. OKU is an academic dental honor society that honors excellence in scholarship and exemplary character traits and attributes for progressive professional growth.

Dr. Ronald Goldstein, a clinical faculty member, has received a Medal of Achievement for Meritorious Service to Dentistry from the Atlanta Chapter of the Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity.

Dr. Jane Martone, a clinical faculty member, has been named an honorary member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon.

Drs. Steven W. Looney (from left), David H. Pashley, Franklin R. Tay and additional collaborating authors have received the 2012 International Association for Dental Research/American Association for Dental Research William J. Gies Award for Biomaterials and Bioengineering Research for the article, Biomimetic Analogs for Collagen Biomineralization.

Drs. Richard Callan (from left), Mohammed Elsalanty and Kevin Plummer have been accepted into the GHSU Academy of Educators. The honorees were inducted into the academy March 9.

Drs. James Cray (from left), Franklin Tay and Ulf Wikesjö have received Institute of Regenerative and Reparative Medicine research awards. The institute seeks mechanisms for allowing the body to heal itself. In addition to startup funding from GHSU, the institute has a reserve of funding from external organizations, including the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense, to support research.



22 w o r d o f M O U T H

GHSU dental students recently volunteered to give special smiles to some special athletes.

College of Dental Medicine students partnered with Georgia Dental Association dentists and hygienists and hygiene students from GHSU, Middle Georgia Technical College and Western Georgia Technical College to provide dental screenings, fluoride varnish applications and oral hygiene education to athletes at the Special Olympics Master’s Bowling event Aug. 25 as a part of the Special Olympics program. They also distributed toothbrushes, toothpaste and dental floss. The event was held at the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins, Ga. The 800-plus volunteers included 17 GHSU faculty, staff and students, who helped screen 343 athletes. Special Smiles was developed by Dr. Steven Perlman in 1993 to address the dental needs of disabled athletes.

Adopted by the Special Olympics in 1997, it is recognized as an essential component of the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes initiative, which provides health screenings to improve athletes’ ability

to train and compete in the Special Olympics. Athletes requiring additional treatment are referred to Georgia Dental Association dentists who treat special-needs patients, as well as the DDD Foundation in Atlanta, which treats only special-needs patients. The athletes receive postcards following the event reminding them to address concerns identified at the screening. The Georgia Dental Association has been organizing the Georgia Special Smiles program since 1997, making Georgia one of the first states to implement the program, according to Dr. Jonathan Dubin, Clinical Director. Dubin, who has a GHSU faculty appointment, assumed the role as Clinical Director from Dr. John McNamara, who helmed the Georgia Dental Association’s Special Smiles program for 10 years. Dubin and his wife served as volunteers for the Special Olympics athletic events prior to the inception of the Special Smiles program. When the Special Smiles program was introduced in Georgia, Dubin shifted his efforts from athletics to Special Smiles. More than 1.2 million athletes in more than 100 countries have received screenings as a part of the Healthy Athletes program since its inception. Special-needs patients are largely underserved, although a great deal of their needs can be met in the office. This type of event provides a valuable opportunity for students to become

Students Give Special Smiles to Special Olympians By LaTrese Lawrence

Good Sports


A seven-year initiative to enhance access to dental care grows more successful every year—and all because a faculty member thought outside the box.

Dr. James Barenie, a retired College of Dental Medicine Professor, was contemplating how to serve local citizens who might otherwise lack access to dental care when he noticed the high traffic and customer diversity of a local flea market. What if the dental school set up shop there? He shared the thought with Dr. Carole Hanes, Associate Dean for Students, Admissions and Alumni, who heartily endorsed the idea and pitched it to Richard Stewart, owner of Augusta’s Barnyard Flea Market. Stewart was a more enthusiastic audience than they anticipated; his wife is a former dental assistant. He provided free space to GHSU, and Hanes began scheduling students and faculty to volunteer their services on weekends.

Since its founding in August 2005, the flea market project has served approximately 3,000 patients, screening them for oral health needs and making referrals for follow-up care when needed. Nearly 40 volunteer hours a month are devoted to the effort. “It is so rewarding,” said Dr. Andrew Kious, Associate Professor of Oral Rehabilitation. “We see everything from retirees to young adults. The primary objective is to help the patients and answer their questions.” The screenings enhance not only the participants’ oral health, but potentially their overall well-being, Kious said, emphasizing the oral screenings often signal systemic diseases such as diabetes and leukemia. The flea market screenings are among many College of Dental Medicine outreach efforts exposing students to complex dental issues among widely diverse populations—exposure they might otherwise lack, Kious noted.

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“acclimated to [the special needs] population” early in their career, according to Dubin, noting that it also encourages special-needs patients to feel at ease with dentists. “This was my first opportunity to volunteer with Special Smiles,” says Brittany Waters, GHSU dental student and liaison between Dr. Dubin and GHSU student volunteers. “The entire experience was so rewarding and we could tell that the athletes really appreciated us being there.” While Dubin credits dental suppliers, such as 3m, Benco, Delta Dental and Pulpdent for their donations, he also expresses appreciation for the oral hygiene professionals and student volunteers for their efforts and attitudes. “The dentists who volunteer for these events are happy to be here. The dental students are happy to be there and they treat these special needs with kindness, care and a happy attitude. And that rubs off on [the athletes],” says Dubin. Data collected during the event are compiled to depict the oral health of Special Olympics athletes worldwide and to encourage dental schools to increase special-needs instruction. Eunice Kennedy Shriver established Special Olympics in 1968 in Chicago as a nonprofit charitable organization. Today the event includes more than 20,000 annual competitions and 500,000 volunteers worldwide.

One-Stop ShoppingFlea Market Screenings Provide Out-of-the-Box Access

Dr. James Barenie

Dr. Andrew Kious



Hair Today. . .Researcher’s Shampoos Target Dandruff and Thinning

Adding to his growing line of green tea products, GHSU Professor of Oral Biology Stephen Hsu has developed two new shampoos: one to fight dandruff and another to thicken hair. Hsu credits the hair-thickening shampoo’s properties to antioxidants and plant compounds, including green tea, that improve the viability of hair follicle cells. “Our products are designed to make the cells that produce hair healthier,” Hsu said. “We cannot make people grow hair. We cannot make hair grow back, but we try to make the cells in better condition with powerful antioxidants and plant extracts.”

By LaTina Emerson and

Sharron Walls

Dr. Stephen Hsu


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The shampoo is one of two in his ReviTealize line of skin- and scalp-improvement products based on a patented formula. Hair follicle cells can become damaged from several factors, such as oxidative stress, chemotherapy, medication, diet and changes in hormone levels. Male baldness, for instance, results from changes in testosterone levels. The prototypes of the patented formula have been self-tested by more than 50 people, and Hsu is pleased with the outcomes. “When people try it, they usually see results in three to five days after they start using it every day. They feel the hair get stronger and notice fewer detached hairs when they comb or shower,” Hsu said. “We have achieved the purpose to provide a very good formula that contains natural plant compounds without any of the toxic chemicals.” People can use the shampoo daily and should keep it on their scalp for at least two minutes, he said. Columbia County resident Van Simpson, whose hair had been thinning over the past few years, has seen results after using the shampoo daily for several months. “I found that you didn’t have to use a whole lot of it for it to work,” Simpson said. “The product makes your hair feel a whole lot better. It definitely volumizes it. I saw great results from it. It looked like more hair was there. Over the past year, I’ve tried different products, and it seems to be working the best out of all of them.”

Combating hair-thinning on another front—

with the primary objective of treating dandruff—Hsu’s other recently launched shampoo lacks common ingredients in conventional dandruff shampoos that can cause hair loss, he said. “Most current effective anti-dandruff shampoos contain ingredients that are toxic to humans and the environment,” Hsu said. “Our green tea shampoo is environmentally friendly, and it works.” Lipadan technology, Hsu’s patented green tea formulation, can penetrate the skin’s waterproof barrier, unlike water-soluble green tea. This enables the hair-friendly green tea components to combat major causes of dandruff: excessive cell growth, oxidative stress and inflammation. Coal tar, a common ingredient in conventional dandruff shampoos, works by slowing the production of skin cells, but it is carcinogenic in high doses and banned for cosmetic use in many countries. Anti-dandruff shampoos also typically contain selenium sulfide, sulfur and salt. Side effects can include scalp and skin irritation as well as hair loss, discoloration and dryness. “The manufacturers put all that in shampoos for people to put on their head,” Hsu said, noting that coal tar also stains and smells bad. “The goal of our research and development has been to replace those potentially hazardous agents with green components that have no risk for humans or the environment.” Green tea polyphenols promote

the skin’s metabolic equilibrium, shield against autoimmune diseases and provide antioxidant, anti-microbial, anti-cancer and anti-inflammation properties. “We cannot put green tea in a bottle and expect it to work. It has to have the Lipadan technology,” Hsu said. “We tried many times using a water-soluble molecule, but that will not work. It will not work, period.” The shampoos are manufactured by an FDA-registered facility in the United States. The fingernail-friendly design has a twist cap, and the bottle is slip-proof. Hsu began developing his products based on his “remarkable results” with tests on mice. His company, Camellix LLC, markets products based on his green tea technology. The business is supported by two grants from the Georgia Research Alliance, which helps entrepreneurs such as Hsu grow Georgia-based technology businesses while promoting innovation and local economic growth. Hsu has also filed patents for dry mouth and anti-viral products. Upcoming products may include shaving cream, body wash, dish soap, facial soap, hair conditioner and gel. Patents are shared with GHSU.

“Most current effective anti-dandruff shampoos contain ingredients that are toxic to humans and the

environment. Our green tea shampoo is environmentally friendly, and it works.” –DR. STEPHEN HSU

For more information

about the ReviTealize

hair thickening shampoo,

visit www.camellix.com.



All-Discipline Honor SocietyDental Administrators Among Phi Kappa Phi Chapter’s New Inductees

By Jennifer Hilliard Scott

A recent 152-mile drive enabled GHSU dental students to touch millions of lives recently. Hispanic Student Dental Association members partnered with

volunteer dental professionals to screen youths age 3-12 Sept. 29 in Colgate’s mobile dental van as a part of Colgate’s Bright Smiles Bright Futures program. The event was held at Foundation of Faith Missionary Church in Riverdale, Ga. The association, founded two years ago by GHSU graduate José Navarro, is comprised of dental medicine and hygiene students interested in the Hispanic culture. The organization regularly participates in community outreach, including the Hispanic Festival of Augusta and the Thanksgiving International Potluck Dinner. “Most of the people screened were patients who have neglected their teeth for many years and have no access to appropriate care. We recommended affordable nearby clinics to address their needs. I really look forward to continue reaching out to those in need,” said President Lida Paez. Colgate’s Bright Smiles Bright Futures program is an oral health education and prevention program designed to improve the oral health of underserved

children. The program began in 1991, offering free dental screenings, oral health education and dental referrals to children ages 1-12. The 30-foot-long van is staffed with two coordinators and dental professionals. In addition to dental services, visitors to the van can enjoy face painting, temporary tattoos and other treats. For more information about Colgate’s Bright Smiles Bright Future’s program, visit www.colgatebsbf.com.

Mileage Touches MillionsStudents Team with Colgate to Promote Oral Health

Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest, largest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Its chapters are on more than 300 campuses in the United States, Puerto Rico and the Philippines. Approximately 30,000 members are initiated annually and are elected from the top 7.5 percent of the junior class, the top 10 percent of seniors, plus graduate students, faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction. Benefits include access to more than $800,000 worth of educational scholarships, awards and grants.


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Three College of Dental Medicine administrators were among 30 new members inducted into GHSU’s recently formed chapter of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

The administrators—Dean Connie L. Drisko, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Advanced Education Phillip J. Hanes and Vice Dean Carol Ann Lefebvre—were inducted following an Aug. 14 chapter installation ceremony. The chapter’s charter members and new officers were also recognized. Phi Kappa Phi’s Board of Directors granted GHSU a charter during its March meeting in Baton Rouge, La. The approval followed a yearlong process led by GHSU Vice President for Student Services and Development Kevin Frazier and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Gretchen Caughman. Criteria

included forming a charter group consisting of existing Phi Kappa Phi members and members of other honor societies with similar standards, such as Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi, Frazier said. The new chapter allows membership from all five GHSU colleges, making it the first all-discipline honor society in the university’s history. “This organization is for everyone,” Frazier said. “Many GHSU students currently do not have the option for national scholastic recognition, and the discipline-specific honor societies we do have are very limited with regard to how many inductees are allowed.” “A Phi Kappa Phi Chapter enhances our reputation as a comprehensive university and can be used to promote our campus to prospective students,” Caughman added.

Charter members and their honor societies:

n Ricardo Azziz, GHSU President and Georgia Health Sciences Health System CEO, Phi Kappa Phin Gretchen Caughman, Phi Kappa Phi (President- Elect)n Sally Atherton, Regents’ Professor and Chair, Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Sigma Xin E. Andrew Balas, Dean, College of Allied Health Sciences, Phi Kappa Phin Kathy J. Davies, Associate Professor, Robert B. Greenblatt, M.D. Library, Phi Kappa Phi (Scholarships and Awards Officer)n Kevin Frazier, Phi Kappa Phi (President)n Carlos Griswold, Student, College of Dental Medicine, Phi Kappa Phi (Student Vice President)n Valera Hudson, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Phi Kappa Phin Andrew R. Kious, Associate Professor, Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Phi Beta Kappan Caitlin Madigan, Student, College of Graduate Studies, Phi Kappa Phi (Student Vice President)n Bernard L. Maria, Hawes Chair in Pediatrics and Professor of Pediatrics, Neurology and Neurosurgery, Phi Kappa Phin Lucy N. Marion, Dean, College of Nursing, Phi Kappa Phin Richard Sattin, Professor of Biobehavioral Nursing, Emergency Medicine and Medicine, Phi Beta Kappa n Barbara L. Schuster, Campus Dean, GHSU/UGA Medical Partnership, and Professor of Medicine, Phi Kappa Phi

n Sylvia B. Smith, Interim Dean, College of Graduate Studies, Phi Kappa Phi (Secretary)n Bonnie H. Troiano, Director of Business Operations, Office of the Provost, Phi Kappa Phi (Treasurer)n Jennifer Waller, Associate Professor of Biostatistics, Sigma Xin Nancy E. Webb, Professor of Pediatrics, Occupational Therapy and Graduate Studies, Phi Kappa Phin R. Clinton Webb, Kupperman Chair in Cardiovascular Disease and Regents’ Professor of Physiology, Phi Kappa Phi (Public Relations Officer)

New members in addition to the College of Dental Medicine inductees:

n T. Andrew Albritton, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Medical College of Georgian Lori Schumacher Anderson, Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs, College of Nursingn Sally Athertonn Susan L. Barcus, Senior Vice President for Advancement and Community Relations and Chief Development Officern Anna Elizabeth Pye Brigdon, Vice President for Institutional Effectivenessn Peter F. Buckley, Dean, Medical College of Georgian Patricia Lee Cameron, Acting Vice Dean, College of Graduate Studiesn Joseph Gerard Cannon, Associate Dean for Research and Kellett Chair, College of Allied Health Sciences

n Roman M. Cibirka, Vice President for Instruction and Enrollment Management and Associate Provostn Pamela Price Cook, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, College of Nursingn Varghese George, Chair, Department of Biostatisticsn Srisuda Siera Gollan, Student, College of Graduate Studiesn W. Kent Guion, Vice President for Diversity and Inclusionn Mark W. Hamrick, Senior Vice President for Researchn David S. Hefner, Executive Vice President for Clinical Affairs and Chief Executive Officer, Georgia Health Sciences Medical Centern Edward William Inscho, Professor of Graduate Studies and Physiologyn Clarence Joe, Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Radiologyn Douglas Keskula, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, College of Allied Health Sciencesn Andrew R. Kious n Kathleen Mood McKie, Associate Dean for Student Affairs, Medical College of Georgian Regina L. W. Messer, Associate Professor of Graduate Studies, Oral Rehabilitation and Oral Biologyn Andrew Newton, GHSU General Counseln Lester G. Pretlow, Associate Professor of Biomedical and Radiological Technologiesn Richard Sattin n Jennifer Waller n Elizabeth Wark, Assistant Dean for Faculty Practice, College of Allied Health Sciencesn Julie Kay Zadinsky, Interim Assistant Dean for Research, College of Nursing



Campus Facelift Laney Walker Project to Enhance Safety, BeautyBy Jennifer Hilliard Scott

Georgia Health Sciences University will begin construction later this year on a project that will enhance the section of Laney Walker Boulevard that runs through campus.

The Laney Walker improvement project is primarily funded by a grant from the Georgia Department of Transportation with additional funds from the university. The current design concept is intended to make the roadway safer for the estimated 8,500 pedestrians who cross it daily and beautify the current streetscape. The GDOT Transportation Enhancement grant began conceptually in 2006, was submitted in 2009 and awarded to GHSU in September 2010. “Safety is a top priority,” said GHSU President Ricardo Azziz. “Foot traffic on Laney Walker is only increasing with the recent opening of the new College of Dental Medicine, an impending Education Commons building adjacent to that, and more nursing students on campus in light of the ASU/GHSU consolidation. This project will not only make it safer for the thousands of faculty, staff and students who cross one of our busiest thoroughfares, but also will make our campus more attractive.”

In March 2011, the GHSU Student Government Association sent Azziz a letter highlighting students’ safety concerns about the roadway. More than 200 students signed an endorsement of the Laney-Walker Pedestrian Mall project, which would have called for the closure of the road within the campus to create a pedestrian mall. However, many residents and business owners in the Laney Walker neighborhood had concerns regarding the road closure. “We continued to seek input from the community,” Azziz said. “And we listened. And it became clear that there were still lots of concerns regarding road closure. So we made a decision to go with the original road enhancement plan approved by GDOT.” The project will create two lanes of traffic, rather than the current four; eliminate curbside parking between 15th Street and R.A. Dent Boulevard; add bicycle lanes on either side of the road; incorporate slightly elevated crosswalks that are compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act standards; and add more trees, grassy areas and plant beds. Construction is expected to begin this winter and conclude by summer 2013.


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n The Georgia Health Sciences enterprise has a nearly $2 billion economic impact on the local economy, according to the latest reports. A Georgia Hospital Association study released in May reported that Georgia Health Sciences Medical Center pumped $1.04 billion into the local economy in fiscal year 2010, up $26 million from 2009 for

the not-for-profit health system. Additionally, GHSU’s academic and research initiatives generated more than $832 million locally, according to a 2010 University System of Georgia report, for a combined impact of $1.9 billion. “An academic health center is a powerful economic engine. As we fulfill our tripartite mission of education, research and health care delivery, the Georgia Health Sciences enterprise makes a tremendous impact on Georgia’s bottom line,” said GHSU President Ricardo Azziz. “As a medical destination, we provide our community and the Southeast with access to quality health care, including some of the nation’s top physicians. What’s more, we train future health care leaders and produce cutting-edge research that will lead to better care tomorrow.” Azziz also pointed out that the two reports do not include the economic impact of Georgia Health Sciences Medical Associates, the faculty practice group aligned with the enterprise, which he estimates adds another $100 million to $200 million in economic impact annually. The Selig Center study showed a $12.6 billion total impact from the University of Georgia’s 35 institutions on the state’s economy in 2010, and that, on average, for every dollar of initial spending in a community by a university system institution, an additional 38 cents was generated for the local economy. Seventy-eight percent, or $650 million of GHSU’s nearly $832 million total impact, reflects initial spending for salaries and benefits, operating expenses and student spending. Re-spending – the multiplier effect of those dollars as they are spent again in the region – accounted for the remaining $182 million, a very conservative estimate; re-spending typically approximates a doubling of initial spending. The total economic impact of hospitals to Georgia’s bottom line in 2010 was $38 billion, according to the GHA. Augusta-area hospitals generated nearly $2.6 billion, with GHS Medical Center’s contribution accounting for 41 percent of that total. The GHA report revealed direct expenditures of $453 million for GHS Medical Center; however, when combined with an economic multiplier developed by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis, the total economic impact of the hospital was $1,048,026,428. This value takes into account the trickle-down effect of hospital expenditures on other sectors of the economy, such as medical suppliers, durable medical equipment and pharmaceuticals. Using a household earnings multiplier, the GHA report determined that GHS Medical Center generated more than $417 million in household earnings in the local and state economies. The household earnings formula measures the increased economic contributions from households employed directly or indirectly by the medical center. Based on data from both reports, the GHS enterprise sustained more than 17,250 jobs in 2010. As a health care provider, GHS Medical Center helps meet the needs of uninsured and low-income populations. In 2010, GHS provided 42 percent, or approximately $37 million of the $88 million in uncompensated care in the Augusta area, the GHA reported. “These figures are a key indicator of the generous community benefit our health system delivers,” Azziz said.

Enterprise Pumps $1.9 Billion

By Denise Parrish

Economic Powerhouse

into Local Economy



By Jennifer Hilliard Scott

A $10 million leadership gift from a Medical College of Georgia alumnus has resulted in the naming

of a building that will enhance dental and medical education for generations to come.

The University System of Georgia Board of Regents has approved the naming of the J. Harold Harrison,

M.D. Education Commons for the late philanthropist, renowned vascular surgeon and 1948 graduate. The commons is slated to be a three-story, 172,000-square-foot building with classroom space for the College of Dental Medicine and the Medical College of Georgia and an interprofessional state-of-the-art simulation center. The total construction cost of the project, including the simulation lab, is $76.5 million. The state of Georgia is providing $42 million in bond funding, and the university is raising the additional $34.5 million through private philanthropy. “This extraordinarily generous gift will enhance the education of our students far into the future,” said College of Dental Medicine Dean Connie L. Drisko. “This new building, combined with our state-of-the-art clinical building, will provide a learning environment that is simply second to none.” GHSU Provost Gretchen Caughman concurred, saying, “We are leading the charge in expanding health care education in this state. With the addition of the J. Harold Harrison, M.D. Education Commons, we will be able to increase class sizes in the College of Dental Medicine and the Medical College of Georgia, educating more health care professionals to care for the citizens of Georgia.” Noted Susan Barcus, GHSU Senior Vice President for Advancement and Community Relations and Chief Development Officer, “Dr. Harrison’s legacy will live on through his commitment

to education. The impact of this transformational gift is immediate and will be felt for years to come. We have successfully leveraged Dr. Harrison’s gift to generate additional support for the Education Commons, including $5 million in support from Augusta donors and an $8 million gift from the Woodruff Foundation.” The Woodruff Foundation gift will help build an interprofessional simulation center in the building. “Partnerships like this one with the Woodruff Foundation are critical in advancing the vision of Georgia Health Sciences to be a globally recognized research university and academic health center, while transforming the region into a health care and biomedical research destination,” said GHSU President Ricardo Azziz. “Research has repeatedly shown that students and clinicians trained with simulation demonstrate markedly better knowledge, skills and behaviors at the bedside.” Harrison, who practiced medicine for more than 50 years, helped refine the repair and replacement of diseased arteries. He chose his specialty in 1953 when, during his residency at Grady Health System in Atlanta, he learned about a new technique for freeze-drying arteries for later use. Harrison and a Ph.D. student tried the technique on a patient with a blockage in his aorta. He decided to be a vascular surgeon the day he successfully completed that surgery. He joined the Emory University faculty in 1957 and later headed the Department of Surgery at St. Joseph’s Hospital of Atlanta, where he developed the nation’s first vascular training program in 1959. He operated on more than 7,000 blocked neck arteries before retiring as St. Joseph’s Chief of Surgery in 1999. Harrison was an active member of the MCG Alumni Association and the MCG Foundation, having served as President of both. He received the alumni association’s 1996 Distinguished Alumnus Award. A native of Kite, Ga., he lived with wife Sue on a cattle farm in Bartow, Ga., until his death on June 2.

Commons Building to Enhance Education Far Into the Future

Dr. J. Harold Harrison


Over the past year, your Advancement team has been working diligently on a comprehensive strategy to raise significant funds to support the

priorities of our university and health system . . . priorities such as new and improved educational, research and clinical facilities, more endowed scholarships and chairs, enhanced cancer research and care . . . all efforts that will drive us toward our aspiration to be the next great American university. Raising millions of dollars in the current economic climate may sound like a tall order, but we’re strong out of the gate. This past fiscal year, we raised nearly $20 million in cash and pledges and secured commitments of approximately $24 million in conditional pledges. . . essentially quadrupling the previous year’s results. Among that support was a leadership gift of $10 million from alumnus J. Harold Harrison, M.D. to name the

Education Commons, a three-story, 172,000-square-foot building with classroom space for the College of Dental Medicine and the Medical College of Georgia and an interprofessional simulation center. As those of you in our dental family are well aware, one of the most beneficial characteristics of a fundraising campaign is the esprit de corps it builds—the very real sense that we are all in this together. The generous support provided by our College of Dental Medicine alumni and friends, for example, resulted in the construction of a magnificent clinical teaching space for our dental students—but it also demonstrated that through the collective effort of many, we could change the face of dental education in Georgia in a very short period of time. We leveraged your generous gifts to receive more than $102 million in state support. Our results are clearly visible—a state-of-the-art training facility that many view as the new standard for dental education. What made us successful and how do we capitalize on that success to move forward?

First, we have articulated a bold vision for the enterprise: to build the next great American university. We are in the midst of an amazing organizational transformation, and that will require a significant investment of resources. We simply must fuel the impressive growth that is currently underway—and we have to do that with resources beyond the support provided by the state of Georgia. We have also ensured that we are making investments that will generate positive returns. Modern facilities, for example, will create more opportunities for synergy and interdisciplinary work. Endowed chairs will better position us to recruit accomplished faculty in a market that is more competitive than ever. Investment in disease-specific efforts, such as cancer, will vastly improve our ability to bring the latest treatments and therapies to our patients. And scholarship support will help us attract

the best and brightest students and to retain those we successfully recruit. With the fundraising success of the College of Dental Medicine building and the J. Harold Harrison, M.D. Education Commons, we have demonstrated that we have alumni and friends who believe in our mission—believe in it enough to support it in a big way. So it is with great confidence that we look forward to working with our partners and friends to generate increasing levels of support for our growing enterprise. We have a strategic plan in place, our Advancement staff has grown appropriately to take on the large-scale effort, and we are in it for the long haul. In the months (and the years) ahead, we will be visiting with many of you—to hear your thoughts about our future and to invite you to join us in our effort to build the next great American university.

Susan BarcusSenior Vice President for Advancement/Chief Development Officer

Advancement

With the fundraising success of the College of Dental Medicine building and the J. Harold Harrison, M.D. Education Commons, we

have demonstrated that we have alumni and friends who believe in our mission—believe in it enough to support it in a big way.

31F A L L / W I N T E R 1 2

Co l l ege o f Denta l Med ic ine

A n n u a l H O N O R R O L L o f D o n o r s

American Student Dental AssociationDr. Whitney Kay BerelcDr. James F. BoyleDr. Jennifer A. Sherwood BraggCarestream Dental LLCDr. James L. CassidyDr. Gerard J. ChicheDr. G. Blake CollinsDr. Clayton R. DavisDr. Jamie A. DeStefanoDrs. Connie L. and Richard DriskoEastern District Dental SocietyDr. Emile T. FisherEmile T. Fisher Foundation for Dental Education in GeorgiaDr. Kevin B. FrazierGeorgia Academy of General DentistryGeorgia Dental Association and Insurance ServicesGHSU Department of Oral and Maxillofacial SurgeryGHSU Department of Oral RehabilitationGHSU College of Dental Medicine Class of 2012GHSU College of Dental Medicine Dean’s FundGeorgia Oral and Facial Surgery LLCGeorgia Society of Dentistry for Children

Dr. Thomas P. GodfreyG. Sanders Griffith IIIDr. Ronald E. GoldsteinDr. John F. Harrington Jr.Dr. Van HaywoodJean R. HickeyThomas P. Hinman Dental SocietyDr. Daniel A. HodgesDr. Stephan F. HolcombDr. Arthur H. JeskeDr. James E. KelleyDr. Michael L. KinsleyKLS MartinDebbie H. LaymanDr. Carol A. LefebvreDr. Ami K. MajmundarDr. Felix T. MaherDr. Wendy M. MeddersDr. Jeannie Harris MoranMorgan Stanley-Smith BarneyDr. J. Gregory MorrisHugh E. MortonDr. Michael J. Murray

The College of Dental Medicine’s tremendous success and reputation

would not be possible without the generous support of alumni, faculty, staff,

organizations, corporations, foundations and friends.

At the conclusion of the fiscal year, it is always our pleasure to thank

everyone who invested in the college. Following are donors who made new

pledges or contributed $1,000 or more from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012.

Every gift, large or small, makes a difference.

Dr. David R. MyersNorthern District Dental SocietyDr. David A. OwingsDr. Edward S. ParkerDr. Elmer Curtis PattersonDr. Michael E. PiepenbringProcter & GambleDr. Annette RaingeThe Scheinfeld FamilyDrs. J. Matt and Page SmithDr. George N. Snelling IIISynthes3MDr. T. Barrett TrotterUnited ConcordiaDr. Michael O. VernonDon L. WatersDr. Robert L. and Susan Waugh Jr.Linda WeatherredDr. Michael Adam WeilerDr. Stacey Cohen Weitzner

The above list reflects new annual gifts and pledges. All campaign pledge payments are most appreciated and will be recognized in other ways. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the Honor Roll. If you see an error, please accept our apology and notify us immediately at 706-721-9625. We will publish any needed corrections in the next edition of Word of Mouth.

T H A N K Y O U !

If you did not make a contribution last

year, please consider us in your philanthropic

plans for the coming years. Your support

helps us advance our mission and sustain our

excellence as the state’s sole dental school.


The mission of the GHSU College of

Dental Medicine is to educate dentists

in order to improve overall health

and to reduce the burden of illness

on society through the discovery

and application of knowledge that

embraces craniofacial health and

disease prevention. Its vision is to

be a premier college of dentistry.

GHSU is an affirmative action/equal

opportunity educational institution

that prohibits discrimination on

the basis of age, disability, gender,

national origin, race, religion,

sexual orientation or status as a

Vietnam War veteran. The GHSU

College of Dental Medicine believes

a diverse student body enhances

the educational opportunities for

all students and is beneficial to the

dental profession, the College of

Dental Medicine and the state of

Georgia.

Mission and Vis ion

w w w. g e o r g i a h e a l t h . e d u /d e n t a l m e d i c i n e

GHSU President: Ricardo Azziz, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A.

Dean, College of Dental Medicine: Connie Drisko, D.D.S.

College of Dental Medicine Publications Liaison: Donna Bellino

Editor: Christine Hurley Deriso

Photographer: Phil Jones

Writers: Christine Hurley Deriso, LaTina Emerson, Adrian Greer,

LaTrese Lawrence, Jennifer Hilliard Scott, Sharron Walls

©2012 Georgia Health Sciences University

FALL/WI NTER 12

w w w. g e o r g i a h e a l t h . e d u /d e n t a l m e d i c i n e

Office of Advancement1120 15th StreetAugusta, Georgia 30912

C H A N G E S E R V I C E R E Q U E S T E D

Non-ProfitOrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDBurlington, VTPermit No. 152

Wrong address? Need to update your information?Tell us by email at: [email protected] online to: www.georgiahealth.edu/updateinfoOr call us at: 706-721-4001

n ‘Grand and Promising Future’

In his Nov. 1 State of the Enterprise Address, GHSU President Ricardo Azziz promised a “grand and promising future” upon consolidation with Augusta State University. Citing the consolidated university’s ascendance as a great American university, he anticipates 20,000 students and a top-50 medical center nationwide by the year 2030.

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Word of Mouth Fall/Winter 2012

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