News from 2013

Inspiring Good Health and Promoting Higher Education

December 17, 2013

Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri along with Yanling Liu and Shivani Shirgavi, both AS 15, shared their oral health care expertise with students of the Salter School, which offers nine-month training for careers as professional medical assistants, health claims specialists, and massage therapists.

The GSDM volunteers gave a one-hour presentation on general and oral health to Salter School faculty, staff, and approximately 65 students. The presentation inspired questions and comments from the attendees, many of whom also expressed interest in learning more about careers in dental assisting and about becoming patients at the GSDM patient treatment center.

Lituri said, “It was a great opportunity to serve as a role model and encourage kids to do well in school and seek a higher education.”

Dr. Raul Garcia Receives the Gies Award for Outstanding Vision

December 10, 2013

The ADEA Gies Foundation will honor Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) professor Dr. Raul Garcia at the William J. Gies Awards for Vision, Innovation and Achievement celebration to be held on March 17, 2014, in San Antonio, Texas, in conjunction with the 2014 American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Annual Session & Exhibition. Dr. Garcia is Professor and Chair of the Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research at GSDM and Co-Director of the Northeast Center for Research to Evaluate and Eliminate Dental Disparities (CREEDD).

The Gies Awards, named after dental education pioneer William J. Gies, PhD, honor individuals and organizations exemplifying dedication to the highest standards of vision, innovation, and achievement in dental education, research, and leadership. For a complete listing of Gies Award winners, visitwww.adea.org/ADEAGiesFoundation.

Dr. Garcia’s major research interests are in health services research and oral epidemiology. He is focused on understanding the causes and consequences of oral health disparities and developing interventions to eliminate them. Dr. Garcia is also dedicated to identifying the relationship of oral conditions to systemic disease and health-related quality of life. His research includes longitudinal studies of oral health in diverse populations and the analysis of treatment outcomes. The work has included randomized controlled trials, observational studies, and community-based participatory research. Studies encompass the areas of oral epidemiology, health services research, and health policy.

“Congratulations to Dr. Garcia for being selected for this prestigious award,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. “His dedication to the elimination of oral health disparities is a model for all oral health care professionals.”

Dr. Garcia holds a Doctor of Dental Medicine, Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Periodontology, and a Master of Medical Science in Oral Biology from Harvard University School of Dental Medicine. He has held teaching appointments at the Harvard University School of Dental Medicine and Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. He has earned numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the Career Development Award in Health Services Research from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, American Dental Association Meritorious Award in Geriatric Dental Health Care, and NIDR Physician Scientist Award. He has served as the President for the Hispanic Dental Association and the Boston Section of the American Association for Dental Research.

APHA OHS Awards Showcase GSDM Leadership in Oral Public Health

November 26, 2013

(l-r) Anthony Westwater Jong Memorial Community Dental Public Health Pre-Professional Award recipients Jolie Goodman, DDS 15 (UCSF) and Aaron Mertz DMD 16 with Colgate rep Christine Ochsner and Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri

The evening of November 4, 2013, was dedicated to bringing together and recognizing people who work passionately to provide better oral health care to underserved communities. The occasion featured a reception, a tribute to the late Professor Anthony Jong, the presentation of the American Public Health Association (APHA) Oral Health Section (OHS) awards, and a dinner. The event was held at the Metcalf Trustee Ballroom at Boston University during the 141^stAnnual Meeting of the APHA, which took place November 2–6, 2013.

A prominent theme throughout the night was the leadership role forged by Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) in local and national advances in oral public health.

The guests were visiting from far and wide, having traveled from 4 countries and 15 states. There were more than a dozen GSDM Dental Public Health (DPH) alumni in attendance as well as some current DPH students and many pre-doctoral students who are considering Dental Public Health post-doctoral degrees.

The evening’s program began with a tribute to Professor Jong, former Associate Dean of the Boston University School of Dental Medicine and Chairman of the School’s Department of Dental Care Management. He tragically passed away from cancer in 1992 at the age of 53. Dr. Jong was recognized nationally for his passion for providing community service and improving the oral health status of the underserved.

Presiding over the tribute and awards was APHA Oral Health Section Chair Dr. Oscar Arevalo DPH 99.

Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter spoke, recognizing distinguished guests, who included representatives from 15 dental schools and programs,; representatives from professional organizations such as the American Dental Association, the American Dental Education Association, student chapters of the American Association of Public Health Dentistry, the American Association of Women Dentists, and the National Dental Association; and corporate partners, community health partners, and representatives from the Boston Public Health Commission.

Dean Hutter commemorated Dr. Jong’s outstanding career, including 19 years at GSDM, service as a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Public Health and as a consultant to the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare; the National Institutes of Health; Boston’s Head Start Health Program; and the Bridge Over Troubled Waters free dental clinic for homeless teenagers in Boston.

“On behalf of all the faculty, staff, students and alumni of the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine I want to personally thank the Westwater Jong family and all of you for being here on this very special evening, and allowing the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine to sponsor this evening’s reception,” said Dean Hutter.

Students and colleagues of Dr. Jong added to Dean Hutter’s commemoration, demonstrating Dr. Jong’s influence on leaders in oral public health in Boston and nationally. The speakers were Dr. Dushanka Kleinman DPH 76, Associate Dean for Research, Professor, and Chair of Health Services Administration at the University of Maryland School of Public Health; Dr. Mary Tavares DPH 81, Program Director, Dental Public Health Residency, Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology at Harvard School of Dental Medicine and Senior Clinical Investigator, The Forsyth Institute; Mark E. Nehring DMD 81, Professor and Chair of Public Health and Community Service at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine; and Dr. Woosung Sohn, Director of the Advanced Specialty Education Program in Dental Health and Associate Professor of Health Policy & Health Services Research at GSDM. Dr. Jong’s wife, Pat Westwater Jong, also spoke.

The Anthony Westwater Jong Memorial Community Dental Public Health Student Awards were presented by Oral Health Section Chair-elect Kathy Lituri MPH 03. Ms. Lituri is Clinical Instructor of Health Policy & Health Services Research and Oral Health Promotion Director at GSDM.

The recipients of the Jong Memorial Community Dental Health Pre-Professional Award (sponsored by Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) were Jolie Goodman, DDS 15 (University of California San Francisco School of Dentistry) and Aaron Mertz DMD 16. Mertz’s recent public health efforts have been aimed at encouraging organizations and health professionals to become more effective when using social media and the internet to provide fluoridation information.

Dr. Go Matsuo  (University of Maryland School of Public Health) received the Jong Memorial Community Dental Health Post-Professional Award (sponsored by DENTSPLY International).

The John W. Knutson Distinguished Service Award in Dental Public Health was awarded to Dr. Jared I. Fine. Dr. Fine has dedicated 25 years in dental leadership roles as a Dental Health Administrator and as part of the Center for Oral Health and the Alameda County Dental Society in California.

Photos from the evening are available on Facebook and Flickr.

 

GSDM Volunteer Efforts Endure at NDEC Dental Health Fair

November 26, 2013

On Tuesday, October 29, 2013, Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri and nine students volunteered at the Notre Dame Education Center (NDEC) Dental Health Fair. GSDM has regularly participated in the NDEC Dental Health Fair for the past few years.

GSDM American Student Dental Association (ASDA) officers Ingy Alhelawe DMD 15 and Neelam Shah DMD 14 organized the event in collaboration with Global & Population Health.

The volunteers screened 27 people at NDEC. They also offered oral health promotion, education, age appropriate activities, and referrals. NDEC students are eligible to enroll in the Boston University Student Dental Health Plan.

GSDM participants included: Ingy Alhelawe DMD 15; William Alvarez, pre-dental student; Rushil Dang AS 15; Cassandra Fevelo DMD 15; Justine Karanian DMD 15; Linda Linsinbigler DMD 15; Ramandeep Samra DMD 15; Neelam Shah DMD 14; and Albert Song, pre-dental student.

“Thanks to everyone who volunteered, especially Ingy and Neelam for organizing the event on behalf of ASDA leadership,” said Kathy Lituri. “The NDEC Dental Health Fair is always a valuable learning experience not only for the people enrolled there, but for the participating students as well.”

Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter praised the volunteers for their continued participation in this important Fair. He said, “The students’ efforts at the NDEC Dental Health Fair epitomize the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine’s commitment to serving the dental health needs of our community.”

 

Dr. Jonathan Shenkin Third in Command among Dentists Nationwide

November 13, 2013

The American Dental Association (ADA) announced on November 4, 2013, that Dr. Jonathan Shenkin of Freeport, Maine, clinical associate professor at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM), was elected ADA second vice president.

ADA vice president is a two-year position, with two VPs (first and second) serving at any time. In his second year next year, Dr. Shenkin will become first VP. Both VPs and the president-elect serve as voting members of the Board of Trustees, along with 17 others.

The election makes Shenkin the youngest member of the Board. The ADA House of Delegates also appointed Dr. Maxine Feinberg president-elect.

Dr. Shenkin is a faculty member in both the Department of Pediatric Dentistry and the Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research at GSDM. He joined Boston University in 2003.

“On behalf of all of us at GSDM, I extend my congratulations to Dr. Shenkin for this significant accomplishment,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. “We look forward to seeing how he will continue to positively influence the dental profession in this new role.”

Dr. Shenkin is well-known as an ADA spokesperson for pediatric dentistry topics. He regularly comments on public policy issues related to tobacco, unhealthy beverages, and a broad range of dental topics.

Dr. Shenkin’s early policy efforts centered on reducing the availability of soda in public schools. He was appointed to the Maine Legislature’s Commission to Study Public Health, and served as the chair of the subcommittee on Children, Nutrition and Schools. This role led to an invitation by the Institute of Medicine to serve on an expert panel on school nutrition.

Later policy efforts focused on banning smoking in cars with children, leading to the successful effort to ban smoking in cars in Bangor, Maine, the first city in the nation to do so. He later led the successful effort on the state level in Maine.

His current interests are in clinical decision making by pediatric and general dentists. He continues his long term interest in reducing the dental disease risk among young children.

Dr. Shenkin served as chair of the ADA’s Council on Communications for 2012–13 and was a longtime consultant on nutrition and community issues to the ADA Council on Access, Prevention and Interprofessional Relations. He has been an ADA member for 21 years. He is a past president of the Maine Dental Association and served on the board of the Maine Dental Political Action Committee.

He maintains private practices in pediatric dentistry in Augusta, and Waterville, Maine.

He is a member of the of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Dentists, International College of Dentists, and the Academy of General Dentistry.

He earned a DDS from Columbia University in New York. He also received an MPH and Certificate in Health Care Finance and Management from Johns Hopkins University and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Iowa. He completed a dental public health residency at the National Institutes of Health.

 

Dr. Jonathan Shenkin a Double Winner from Maine Dental Association

October 29, 2013

The Maine Dental Association (MDA) awarded the 2013 President’s Award to Clinical Associate Professor in the Departments of Health Policy & Health Services Research and Pediatric Dentistry Dr. Jonathan Shenkin. Dr. Shenkin won the same award in 2007 and is only the second dentist to be honored twice.

Shenkin received the award on Friday, September 27, 2013, during the President’s Dinner at the MDA Annual Meeting in Rockport, Maine. Immediate Past President Dr. Michelle Mazur-Kary presented the award.

Associate Dean for Global & Population Health Michelle Henshaw commented on Dr. Shenkin’s merit: “Dr. Shenkin was honored for his tireless efforts to promote public policies that effectively reduce disease risk among children, and to educate policymakers about the lack of benefits to treat what is a preventable disease.”

Dr. Shenkin is a spokesperson for the American Dental Association on pediatric dental topics and maintains a private practice in pediatric dentistry in Augusta, Maine. His advocacy focuses on effecting change in oral health policy, with particular attention to the oral health of children.

 

GSDM Students Promote Oral Care at Suffolk University Annual Health and Wellness Fair

October 8, 2013

Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri, Rushil Dang, and Marium Qureshi (both AS 15), volunteered at the Suffolk University Annual Health and Wellness Fair on Thursday, September 26, 2013.

The volunteers provided a wide range of oral health promotion, education, screenings, and referrals. Kathy, Rushil, and Marium fielded many questions of particular concern to college-aged students, including third molars, oral piercings, and tobacco use. They also explained how to access oral care through the Boston University (BU) Student Dental Health Plan. Suffolk University students are eligible for BU’s plan.

“Rushil and Marium did a terrific job addressing the oral health concerns of the Suffolk students,” said Kathy Lituri. “Many of the students were also interested in learning what it takes to be a strong applicant for dental school, so it was a valuable learning experience for them in that respect as well.”

 

Middle O! Gives Middle Schoolers a New Reason to Visit Fenway

September 10, 2013

On a sweltering summer day, 25 GSDM students and faculty set up in the halls of Fenway Park to educate teenagers about oral health and provide, in some cases, the youngsters’ first dental screenings. It was all part of Boston Public Schools’ Middle O! Middle School Orientation Event, offering resources for sixth graders entering middle school.

The GSDM chapter of the Student National Dental Association (SNDA) sponsored the community outreach opportunity. Students worked alongside Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri, Clinical Instructor Dee Devlin, and Clinical Instructor Ana Keohane. Many who were not SNDA members attended, including first-year students who plan to join SNDA this year.

Jobren Dingle DMD 17 entered GSDM this summer and Middle O! was his first volunteer event with the School.

“I was so thrilled to have the opportunity to promote oral health to young children and their families,” he said. “Some children at the event informed me that they have never been to a dentist before, so the oral screenings we provided were their very first time in a dental setting.”

He added, “I look forward to becoming more involved in community events while attending GSDM.”

Third- and fourth-year students screened children while younger dental students recorded the results. Volunteers gave out mouthguards, toothbrushes, and toothpaste and played oral-health related games that could earn the middle schoolers prizes.

This was the first time at Middle O! for SNDA Vice-President Daniella Rizzo DMD16. She appreciated the opportunity to educate incoming middle school students on the importance of oral hygiene.

She said, “Many young children have inadequate knowledge of proper brushing and flossing techniques, so I felt it was a huge responsibility to inform these children. Volunteering at Middle O! helped me grow as a caring and conscientious dental student while working with the Boston community.”

Several celebrities attended Middle O! too: Wally the Green Monster, and Buddha and Rosebud from Disney’s Super Buddies.

GSDM volunteers included: Reza Alavi DMD 16, Richa Bhatt AS 15, Heidi Borenstein DMD 17, Rushul R. Dang AS 15, Jobren Dingle DMD 17, Jessica Finkielsztein DMD 16, Andrew Grinsell DMD 17, Michael Lee DMD 15, Luri Lee DMD 16, Matt Mara DMD 16, Alyssa Mazzoli DMD 16, Alex Nguyen DMD 17, Ryan Pasiewicz DMD 15, Alyssa Peracchio DMD 16, Daniella Rizzo DMD 16, Marianella Romero AS 15, Michael Russo DMD 15, Himanshu Shah DMD 15, Paul (Kirpal) Toor AS 14, Divya Upadhyay AS 15, Josh Williams DMD 15, Yoshika Yamamoto DMD 15, and pre-dental students William Alvarez, Rachel Boschetti, and Rohit Gupte.

Photos from the event are available on Facebook and Flickr.

Tenth Chelsea Fair Sees Record Numbers

September 3, 2013

Approximately 1,500 students and parents (500 more than last year!) attended the 10th annual Chelsea Back to School Celebration at Williams Middle School in Chelsea on Thursday, August 22, 2013. Local school and community groups welcomed students back to school with games, prizes, giveaways, and resource information. About 36 groups attended, including GSDM Community Health Programs.

“GSDM continues to be an important partner in the Chelsea community through the Chelsea School Dental Center, which provides preventive and restorative services to thousands of children in need of care,” says Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. “The Chelsea Back to School Celebration is a wonderful opportunity to meet many of these children and their families and share the importance of oral health care.”

Six BU faculty and staff spoke to guests about the Chelsea School Dental Center and oral health in general: Clinical Instructor and event organizer Gladys Carrasco, Director of School-based Programs Corinna Culler, Smart Smiles Program Dentist Lina Benslimane, Clinical Instructor Martin Ugarte, Dental Assistant Brian Mahoney, and Coordinator Flor Amaya. GSDM volunteers provided toothbrushes, toothpaste, stickers, and informational flyers.

 

GSDM Helps Somerville Children “Countdown to Kindergarten”

July 16, 2013

On Friday, June 14, 2013, Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri and 13 students participated in Countdown to Kindergarten, Somerville at Boston Children’s Museum. Countdown to Kindergarten is a non-profit collaborative that engages families, educators, and community members in a city-wide effort to celebrate and support the transition of children into kindergarten.

The participating students were: John Costello DMD 16; Erika Dean DMD 14; Joseph Deschene DMD 16; Swapnil Gupta AS 14; Erum Hussain AS 14; Ramandeep Jhandi AS 14; Sukhjinder Kaur AS 14; Champaka Nagaraju AS 14; Amrita Patel DMD 15; Sonam Singh, pre-dental student; Raj Kamal Sohi AS 14; Vanessa Thai DMD 16; and Swathi Uppu AS 14.

They offered dental screenings, oral health information, and interactive activities to hundreds of children about to enter kindergarten in Somerville Public Schools.

“GSDM is always thrilled to participate in Countdown to Kindergarten events,” said Kathy Lituri. “It’s a great opportunity to promote oral heath to young children and their families. The student volunteers learned a lot about interacting with preschool children as well.”

Award Ceremony and Updates at GSDM Faculty and Staff Meeting

July 9, 2013

On Wednesday, June 26, 2013, the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) held a faculty and staff meeting that included a Henry M. Goldman Award for Distinguished Service award ceremony and many important updates regarding the future of GSDM.

Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter began the meeting by welcoming the audience, recognizing those individuals who had joined the staff and faculty since the December 17, 2012 meeting, and acknowledging the retirement of Dr. Douglas Riis after his 30 years of distinguished service to GSDM.  In addition, he congratulated Dr. Margaret Errante who was promoted from Clinical Assistant Professor to Clinical Associate Professor on March 12, 2013, Dr. Michelle Henshaw, who was promoted from Assistant Dean for Community Partnerships & Extramural Affairs to Associate Dean for Global & Population Health on February 1, 2013;  and Ms. Stacey McNamee whose title was changed from Director of Alumni Relations to Director of Alumni Relations & Annual Giving.

Dean Hutter then presented the Henry M. Goldman Award for Distinguished Service to Barbara McKenna, Clinic & Administrative Manager in the Department of Endodontics.

 

Young Visitors Express Appreciation, in Their Own Words

July 3, 2013

On Tuesday, June 11, 2013, 60 children from the Edward W. Brooke Charter School in Roslindale visited the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) for the Brooke School’s third annual field trip to GSDM. The three classes of children who attended wrote thank you letters to volunteers and recounted what they learned.

Students were divided into three groups named after three tooth types.

Alyxia said:

I learned that incisors are your biting teeth, canine teeth are the sharp ones, and molars are your chewing teeth.

They began the day in the School of Dental Medicine, room 301, where they enjoyed healthy snacks, participated in educational activities, asked questions of dental students, and met the decay-fighting superhero Captain Cavity Fighter. Playing the role on this day was Erum Hussain AS 14.

To Captain Cavity Fighter, Rebecca said:

Thank you for teaching me new facts and teaching me why it is important to brush your teeth, which I always do. Thank you for letting us visit the Henry M. Goldman School.

The day continued at the Simulation Learning Center, where children became “dentists for a day.” First, they heard presentations from GSDM dental students on topics such as how often to visit the dentist, how to brush properly, and how to keep the mouth healthy.

In her letter, Aileen said:

I learned that I should brush for two minutes, not one, and that I should brush after every meal I eat. I learned that the dentist is not someone you should visit every 10 years but once or twice a year.

The youngsters then dressed in protective yellow gowns, masks, and purple gloves and began their experiments. They used yarn (“floss”) and each other’s fingers (“teeth”) to practice correct flossing techniques. They took impressions of their thumbs and conducted the renowned GSDM sealant exercise:  brushing both plain and then sealant-coated walnuts, both covered in food, and comparing the results.

Charlene wrote to Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri:

Thank you for planning this field trip. It was really fun. I learned that you need sealants to protect your teeth so it is easier to brush. Plaque carries bacteria and is bad for you.

Schoolchildren ended their trip with a pizza party (including healthy snacks such as fruit, and water) back at 100 East Newton Street.

Kacee summarized the students’ experience at GSDM when she wrote:

I really really really want to become a dentist when I grow up.

Student volunteers included: Rohini Agawal AS 14, Emogefe Akajagbor DMD 16, John Costello DMD 16, Rana Gorges AS 14, Swapnil Gupta AS 14, Erum Hussain AS 14, Roli Malla Joshi AS 14, Sukjhinder Kaur AS 14, Snehal Lakhkara AS 14, Matt Mara DMD 16, Jessica Metcalfe DMD 14, Champaka Nagaraju AS 14, Nathan Ng DMD 14, Raj Kamal Sohi AS 14, and pre-dental students Bakr Arim and Clare Kim.

Staff and faculty volunteers included: Lina Benslimane, Cindy Cadoret, Gladys Carrasco, Corinna Culler, Joyce Ganas, Chelsea Johnston, Ana Keohane, Kathy Lituri, Brian Mahoney, Sheree Norquist, Thayer Scott, Martin Ugarte-Chavez, and Ben Wheeler.

Photos are available on Facebook and Flickr.

Annual Blackstone Field Trip: Inspiring Dental Careers & Good Health

June 25, 2013

On Thursday, May 30, 2013, 89 third-graders visited the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) for the 14th Annual Blackstone School field trip.

Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri, who plays a key role in organizing the trip each year said, “This day is a lot of fun and a great way for the dental students to inspire a young child to pursue a higher education and a maybe even a career in dentistry.”

The elementary students spent the first part of the morning in a 100 E. Newton Street classroom participating in lessons and activities. The children were given name tags that divided them into groups named after tooth types: canines, incisors, molars, and premolars.

Presenters talked about why healthy teeth are important and instructed the children on how to maintain good oral health by eating healthy foods, keeping their teeth clean, using mouth guards during physical activities, and by visiting the dentist regularly. Program Administrator Sheree Norquist presented a lesson on healthy eating. Following a break for a healthy snack, the children participated in a session of “Ask a Dental Student.”

The third-graders then took a trip to the Simulation Learning Center (SLC) to “play dentist” and learn more about oral health care and its associated professions. In a game of “dress-up,” the children were helped into protective gowns, masks, and (later) gloves. The educational activities included a hand-washing exercise performed by muddying two colors of glitter in a handshake; creating a thumb impression; and a demonstration in which the children brushed soda-soaked potato chips first from a plain walnut and then a sealant-coated walnut, comparing the results.

Captain Cavity Fighter was also on hand, caped and masked and prepared for oral health-preserving action.

Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter paid the children a visit at the SLC. Explaining first that he was like the principal at their school, he answered questions from the young students. One child asked Dean Hutter, “Is your job fun?” He replied, “Of course it is. I’m here with you.”

The field trip concluded on Talbot Green with a pizza lunch in the sunshine.

Student volunteers at the event included: Priya Bal DMD 15, John Costello DMD 16, Kayla Cuddy DMD 16, Hamid Fakhri AS 14, Matthew Green DMD 15, Greg Hein DMD 14, Alan Jue DMD 14, Zaina Kalthoum DPH 15, Clare Yeonju Kim (Pre-dental), Antonio Maceda-Johnson DMD 15, Keely Matheson DMD 15, Mary McClintock DMD 14, Amrita Patel DMD 15, Andrew Pham DMD 15, Kenia Rodriguez DMD 14, Sirisha Rao DMD 14, Rajkamal Sohi AS 14, Vanessa Thai DMD 16, Wyatt Traina DMD 14, and Karina Vergara DMD 14.

Faculty volunteers included: Cindy Cadoret, Gladys Carrasco, Kathy Lituri, Meg Loadholt, Ana Keohane, Scott Thayer, and Ana Zea. Staff volunteers included: Joyce Ganas, Brian Mahoney, Sara Menegonie, and Sheree Norquist.

Photos from the trip are available on Facebook and Flickr.

Service Abounds in the Month of April

June 11, 2013

Throughout April 2013 Boston University students, faculty, staff, alumni, and their families and friends participated inGlobal Days of Service, an initiative offering service opportunities to BU friends worldwide. At GSDM, Global and Population Health and Alumni Relations offered several volunteer opportunities designed specifically for our Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine family.

“I am so pleased to see our School continue its 50-year tradition of service,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. “The volunteer opportunities of Global Days of Service were a great way to get together as a team and make a positive impact on the community.”

Clothing (and more) drives

Each week in April, Global and Population Health organized collections for local organizations, including Cradles to Crayons (April 1–5), the Salvation Army and Orchard Gardens School (April 8–12), the Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) (April 15–19), and Rosie’s Place and Pine Street Inn (April 22–26). A total of approximately 560 items were collected.

Clinical Instructor Lina Benslimane, Assistant Professor Corinna Culler, Clinical Instructor Dee Devlin, and Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri helped organize the collections.

For Cradles to Crayons, GSDM volunteers collected clothes and shoes for children newborn to age 12.

For the Salvation Army, volunteers collected back-to-school supplies, including backpacks, markers, crayons, notebooks, lined paper, construction paper, pencils, pens, and rulers. For Orchard Gardens School, where GSDM often runs community health programs, volunteers collected soccer supplies for elementary and middle school children: cleats, shin pads, shorts, shirts, and new mouth guards and socks.

On week three, the volunteers collected non-perishable food items for the GBFB.

On week four, Rosie’s Place and Pine Street Inn received toiletries, new socks, and reading glasses.

Rosie’s Place, Boston

On Tuesday, April 2, both pre- and post-doctoral students volunteered to serve food at Rosie’s Place, a sanctuary for homeless, displaced, and battered women, located in the South End.

Post-doctoral students in the Dental Public Health program served lunch. They are: Osama Felemban MScD 12, DScD 13; Tarek Elmajie CAGS 14, MScD 14; Solafa Ayoub DScD 15; and Zaina Kalthoum DScD 15; along with Instructor Thayer Scott.

Five pre-doctoral students who are members of the BU student chapter of American Association of Women Dentists volunteered to serve dinner. They include: Shelby Curtis DMD 16, Sirisha Kovvali DMD 14, Mary McClintock DMD 16, Nora Nakshabendi DMD 16, and Amanda Yip DMD 16.

The Food Project, Lincoln, Massachusetts

Volunteers convened at the Food Project in Lincoln on the morning of Saturday, April 6, to get the fields ready for the planting season. Since 1991, the Food Project has built a national model of engaging young people in personal and social change through sustainable agriculture. Each year, more than 150 teenagers and thousands of volunteers farm 40 acres in eastern Massachusetts in the towns and cities of Beverly, Boston, Lincoln, and Lynn. Food from the farms is distributed through their community-supported agriculture programs and farmers’ markets and donated to local hunger relief organizations.

“We spread mulch between the blackberry bushes, weeded the raspberry bushes, and exposed 2,500 garlic plants by removing the straw that had covered them for the winter,” said Kathy Lituri.

The goal was to make a difference for those who lack healthy, affordable food in the Greater Boston area.

Volunteering: Clinical Instructor Cindy Cadoret, Kathy Lituri, Zara Nensey DMD 14, Jay Patel DMD 14, Khamir Patel DMD 14, Associate Professor and Director of the Advanced Specialty Education Program in Dental Health Woosung Sohn and his wife Mia Kim, and Jaspreet Wirring DMD 14 and her boyfriend, Jesse Singh.

Photos are available on Facebook and Flickr.

The Greater Boston Food Bank

On the morning of Tuesday, April 9, GSDM staff and faculty met at the GBFB. GBFB is the largest hunger relief organization in New England and among the largest food banks in the US. Last year, GBFB distributed almost 41 million pounds of food, enough to provide healthy meals to as many as 545,000 people. The organization is committed to increasing its food distribution in 2013 to provide at least one meal per day to every person in need in eastern Massachusetts.

Volunteers received a customized educational and team-building experience. They sorted, packed, and inspected food and groceries for people in need.

Volunteers included: Coordinator, School-based Programs Flor Amaya; Lina Benslimane; Administrative Manager Sharon Boyle; Jobina Cabrea; Wanda Cox; Dee Devlin; Research Project Assistant Krystal Garcia; Dental Health Educator Krissie Gibbs; Assistant Professor Kathy Held; Professor Elizabeth Kaye; Research Project Assistant Ramona Lara; Director of Alumni Relations & Annual Giving Stacey McNamee; Hector Mendoza; Program Administrator Sheree Norquist; Martin Pantages; Andrew Soule-Hinds DMD 15; and Swathi Uppu DMD 14.

Photos are available on Facebook and Flickr.

Relay for Life, Boston University

BU Relay for Life took place at the Track and Tennis Center on the Charles River Campus beginning at 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 13, and running until 6 a.m. Sunday. This is GSDM’s fifth year participating in the 12-hour, overnight event, where participants walk the track to honor cancer survivors, remember people who died of cancer, and raise money for the American Cancer Society. Three GSDM teams raised more than $1,700!

The team members were: Yasmin Alayyoubi CAS 10, DMD 14; Dalal Alhajji CAS 10, DMD 14; Ingy Alhelawe DMD 15; Chris Atchinson; Nicholas Baldelli DMD 13; Danielle Berkowitz DMD 13; Christopher Bickford DMD 13; Andy Brito DMD 13; Kathleen Burnside DMD 14; Assistant Dean of Students Joseph Calabrese with wife Michelle and sons Joe and Tommy; Clinical Instructor Gladys Carrasco; Sean Cater; Shelby Curtis DMD 16; Nadia Daljeet DMD 13; Michelle DaRocha; Dee Devlin; Michael Donovan DMD 13; Rebecca Dorfman; Danielle Fernandez DMD 14; Kelsey George DMD 16; Johnny Gonzalez DMD 15; Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter and wife Kathy; Homan Javaheri DMD 14; Usman Javed DMD 13; Delphine Jeong; Roli Malla Joshi; Rabinder Kaur AS 13; Clinical Instructor Ana Keohane; Professor Tom Kilgore; Francis Kniskey; Andrea Lam DMD 16; Emma Lattouf; Lana Le; Luri Lee CAS 12, DMD 16; Stephanie Leung DMD 15; Michelle Li DMD 14; Linda Linsinbigler DMD 15; Kathy Lituri; Jenny Lorenzo DMD 13; Rachel Lukas DMD 13; Antonio Maceda-Johnson DMD 15; Matt Mara DMD 16; Keely Matheson DMD 15; Kelley Mclaughlin DMD 14; Richa Mehta DMD 14; Jessica Metcalfe DMD 15; Champaka Nagaraju DMD 14; Michael Navy DMD 16; Maidelys Oliva DMD 14; Fransheska Ovalles DMD 13; Khamir Patel AS 14; Thomas Pepe DMD 16; Caitlin Reddy DMD 13; Daniella Rizzo DMD 16; Ramandeep Samra DMD 15; Amrita Sandhu DMD 15; Fernando San Juan DMD 14; Clinical Assistant Professor Frank Schiano; Neelam Shah DMD 14; Muhammad Ali Shazib DMD 14; Hajra Sheikh AS 14; Sara Sheikh AS 14; Jackie St. Pierre DMD 14; Wyatt Traina DMD 14; Clinical Assistant Professor Tina Valades; Karina Vergara DMD 14; and Joey Yu.

Photos are available on Facebook and Flickr.

Cradles to Crayons, Brighton

Members of the School’s Hispanic Student Dental Association (HSDA) led two volunteer sessions at Cradles to Crayons in Brighton on Wednesday, April 17. Voted 2012 best local charity by Boston A-list, the organization provides children from birth through age 12 living in homeless or low-income situations with the essential items they need to thrive, free of charge.

“We were all so impressed with the whole Cradles to Crayons operation,” says HSDA organizer Fransheska Ovalles, “from the enormous, yet well-organized, warehouse filled with donations to the warm people who keep it going. It was amazing to be a part of this event. HSDA will make this another one of its annual community service traditions.”

Volunteers included: Gladys Carrasco, Cindy Cadoret, Krissie Gibbs, Grace Hannawi SAR 13, Wendy Heinstein, Professor and Associate Dean for Global and Population Health Michelle Henshaw, Marian Ibarra DMD 13, Asween Marco SPH 12, Rachel Meshell, Tam Nguyen DMD 13, Fransheska Ovalles DMD 13, John Paul DMD 14, Chelsea Randall DMD 13, Kenia Rodriguez DMD 14, and Karina Vergara DMD 14.

Photos are available on Facebook and Flickr.

Several people from GSDM volunteered on their own in April. They are: Debora Heller PERIO 16 at the First Parish Church, Ana Keohane at Strong Women Strong Girls in Boston, and Clinical & Educational Operations Coordinator Carina Pina with Belle of the Ball.

Schweitzer Fellow Andrew Soule-Hinds DMD 15: On a Mission to Improve Dental Care for Underserved

April 30, 2013

Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) student Andrew Soule-Hinds DMD 15 was chosen in March 2013 for the highly selective Boston Albert Schweitzer Fellowship. He joins the nearly 500 Schweitzer Fellows who have collectively delivered over 90,000 hours of service to communities in and around Boston and Worcester since the program’s founding in 1992. Each Fellow executes a yearlong project that provides service to the local population.

According to the Schweitzer Fellowship website, “the Boston Schweitzer Fellows Program is the oldest of thirteen Schweitzer program sites across the U.S. dedicated to developing a pipeline of emerging professionals who enter the workforce with the skills and commitment necessary to address unmet health needs.”

According to Associate Dean for Global and Population Health Dr. Michelle Henshaw:

The Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, in collaboration with Boston University’s School of Medicine, School of Public Health, and Sargent College, sponsored Boston University’s membership in the Schweitzer Fellowship Program’s Consortium of Universities.  The fellowship provides talented students from diverse health professions the opportunity to become leaders in service by learning from nationally recognized experts and from each other.   By entering into the consortium, the University has ensured that the four remarkable Schweitzer Fellows from Boston University will have a structured venue to share their knowledge, skills, and expertise with each other and the opportunity to jointly design and implement an outreach project for an underserved community in Boston.

Dr. Henshaw continues:

Past fellows have had a tremendous impact on the health and quality of life of the communities they served and report that the fellowship was one of the most meaningful experiences of their education. I predict that this year’s Interprofessional collaboration will have a synergistic effect, enhancing the experience for the students and the positive impact on the community. I can’t wait to see what Andrew and his peers accomplish during their fellowship year.

This is the second year in a row that a GSDM student has chosen to dedicate their service to the community under a Schweitzer Fellowship. As a 2012–13 Schweitzer Fellow, Dhara Shah DMD 13 has been working on a mission to establish a sustainable and duplicable dental program with Harbor Area Early Childhood Center.

The target population for Soule-Hinds’s project is survivors of human trafficking living in the greater Boston area, typically women in their twenties. These survivors usually have had little or no health care while being trafficked, including oral health care. Soule-Hinds discusses his choice of this topic: “Not even a month ago I was unaware that human trafficking was something that existed in my area. Knowing that such a horrific problem exists, and knowing that it exists in our own neighborhood was a harsh realization for me. As I learn more about the problem, and what can be done to help, I look forward to sharing what I have learned with others.”

A significant part of Soule-Hinds’s project is dedicated to learning more about the needs of human trafficking survivors, especially gaining specialized sensitivity training to understand how to customize a treatment environment for people who have endured this specific type of trauma. He will be working with the non-profit organization Amirah, dedicated to providing “whole person aftercare for survivors of commercial exploitation.” His goal is to add oral health care to the health services offered by Amirah.

The execution of Soule-Hinds’s project will entail coordinating oral health care for the human trafficking survivors. These appointments will take place in a customized environment where the survivors will be treated by GSDM practitioners who have undergone sensitivity training. The long-term goal is to establish a working relationship with Amirah so that GSDM can continue to help survivors of trafficking.

Soule-Hinds first became aware of populations underserved in medical and oral health care as he grew up in rural Maine. Though he didn’t know what form it would take, he knew that he wanted to bring oral health care to people who would otherwise not be able to obtain it. Says Soule-Hinds:

At the end of the fellowship I will have created a successful project linking an under-served population with the oral health care that it needs. In doing so I hope to have developed the organizational and leadership skills required to coordinate other multidisciplinary health projects in the future. I feel that giving back to others is one of the best ways I can appreciate opportunities that have been given to me.

Said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter, “Congratulations to Andrew on becoming a Schweitzer Fellow. His plan to provide oral health care to an underserved population exemplifies the mission of the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine to promote excellence in community service and to improve the overall health of the global population.”

GSDM Helps BU “Spread the Health” at Annual Wellness Fair

April 16, 2013

On Wednesday, March 27, 2013, Boston University (BU) held its “Spread the Health” Wellness Fair in the George Sherman Union on the Charles River Campus. The Fair is held annually for BU undergraduates and addresses a variety of relevant issues, including oral health.

Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri and four student volunteers participated in the Fair.

The volunteers were: David Cheng DMD 16; John Costello DMD 16; Grace Hannawi SAR 13, DMD 17; and Minh-Phuong (Lana) Le DMD 16.

The GSDM group offered oral health promotion, education, age appropriate activities, screenings, and referrals. Their information included details about: third molars, oral piercing, the oral health consequences of alcohol, tobacco and sugar, and dental careers. Many of the undergraduates who visited the GSDM table were interested in careers in dentistry and are currently on the pre-dental track.

“The Fair is well-organized, inclusive and offers information on all kinds of topics relevant to this age group,” said Kathy Lituri. “It’s a great venue for GSDM to educate college students about the importance of dental health.”

“I’m so pleased to see GSDM students participate in Boston University’s “Spread the Health” Wellness Fair every year,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. “The Fair’s focus on all aspects of health provides an excellent opportunity to educate BU students about oral health.”

 

Awards, Presentations, & Celebration at AADR Annual Meeting

April 2, 2013

Faculty, staff, and students of Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) represented the School in full force at the International Association for Dental Research (IADR)/American Association for Dental Research (AADR)/Canadian Association for Dental Research (CADR) General Session & Exhibition in Seattle, Washington, from March 20 to 23, 2013.

The GSDM community seized the occasion of the AADR General Session to raise the School’s profile in education and research. For the first time, GSDM highlighted the School’s research with a booth in the exhibition hall. The GSDM booth had many visitors during the conference. The meeting featured 40 presentations by GSDM researchers and several GSDM researchers received awards at the meeting in recognition of their research excellence.

On Thursday evening of the AADR General Session & Exhibition, alumni, staff, faculty, students, and friends of GSDM gathered for a reception at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel to connect, reconnect, and to celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of the School’s founding.

A full list of GSDM presenters and presentations is available here.

Professor and Chair of Health Policy & Health Services Research and Director of the Northeast Center for Research to Evaluate and Eliminate Dental Disparities (CREEDD) Dr. Raul Garcia served as a panelist for the IADR Global Oral Health Inequalities Research Agenda discussion, “On Oral Health Inequalities—What Directions Should Future Research Take?”

Said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter, “It is through efforts like those shown at this conference that we convey to the global community the School’s mission to be the premier academic dental institution promoting excellence in dental education, research, oral health care, and community service to improve the overall health of the global population.”

Photos are available on Facebook and Flickr.

 

GSDM Addresses Teens’ Oral Health Issues at 10th Annual Safe Love Dance and Resource Fair

March 5, 2013

On Thursday, February 21, 2013, students from the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) volunteered at the 10^th Annual Safe Love Dance and Resource Fair. The event was sponsored by the Generation Next Academy (GNA) Teen Center. At GNA, adolescents learn and grow through education and experience.

GSDM students joined Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri at the Fair. They offered oral health promotion, education, age appropriate activities, screenings and referrals for teens and their parents/guardians. The GSDM team addressed issues relevant to teenagers such as healthy snack suggestions, tips on fighting bad breath, and detailing how to maintain clean and attractive looking teeth. Around 200 families attended the event.

The participating students were: Amanda Brogly DMD 15, Therese Comeau DMD 14, Arsalan Elahi DMD 14, Heta Jasani AS 13, Hyunji Kim DMD 15, Alejandro Lander DMD 16, Luri Lee DMD 16, Antonio Maceda-Johnson DMD 15, Jasnoor Mann Kaur DMD 16, Alyssa Mazzoli DMD 16, Amrita Patel DMD 15, and Daniella Rizzo DMD 16.

It was the first time GSDM participated in the Fair and Kathy Lituri was pleased with the outcome. “It was great to get a glimpse into the lives of teenagers,” said Lituri. “They had some great questions pertaining to their oral health.”

GSDM Student Awarded ADCFP Fellowship

February 19, 2013

Marc Horton DMD 14 was recently selected for the 2013ADEAGies/AADR Academic Dental Careers Fellowship Program(ADCFP). Chair of the Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research Dr. Raul Garcia and Associate Dean for Global & Population Health Dr. Michelle Henshaw will serve as his Mentors.

The ADCFP Fellowship Program provides dental and allied dental students at US and Canadian institutions with an opportunity to experience the benefits and rewards of teaching and an academic career.

Horton was among 10 students selected for the ADCFP Fellowship. During his yearlong Fellowship, he will interview Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter and several other faculty members from different departments at the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) to learn about academic dentistry. Horton will also assist with instruction in a classroom (didactic course), a pre-clinical lab, a small-group conference, and in the patient treatment center.

Horton, Dr. Garcia, and the other ADCFP Fellows and Mentors will attend a training session and participate in a number of events at the 2013 ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition this March in Seattle. The purpose of these sessions is to familiarize Fellows and Mentors with the Fellowship goals and explain how the Mentor-Fellow relationship works within that framework.

At the end of the Fellowship, Horton and the other Fellows will present a poster detailing their experience and participate in a seminar at the 2014 ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition in San Antonio, Texas.

“I am honored that I was selected for the fellowship, and I am grateful for the support of Dr. Garcia, Dr. Henshaw, and the administration at GSDM,” said Marc Horton. “I look forward to working with my mentors, and to learning more about academic careers.”

Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter praised Horton’s achievement. “Congratulations to Marc Horton. The Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine is so proud he was selected for this prestigious Fellowship,” said Dean Hutter. “Thanks also to Drs. Garcia and Henshaw for their invaluable Mentorship.”

GSDM Promotes “Healthy Teeth, Healthy Families” at Lawrence Oral Health Fair

February 19, 2013

On Saturday, January 26, 2013, Clinical Instructor in the Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research Dr. Ana Keohane and Dental Assistant for School-Based Programs Joyce Ganas participated in the 2^nd Annual Lawrence Oral Health Fair.

This year’s “Healthy Teeth, Healthy Families” Fair was organized by the Mayor’s Oral Health Task Force in response to a chronic need for low cost and no cost dental services in The Greater Lawrence area.

Dr. Keohane and Ganas distributed oral health information, toothbrushes, and toothpaste. Around 300 people of all ages attended the Fair.

Project Stretch provided dental screenings, sealants, and fluoride to roughly 75 people and provided 30 free cleanings.

“The opportunity to offer dental screenings through Project Stretch made a big difference,” said Dr. Keohane. “The fair was a great success.”

Dr. Joseph Boffa Featured in Metrowest Daily News

February 12, 2013

Associate Professor in the Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research Dr. Joseph Boffa guest authored an op-ed article, “Don’t sacrifice health to cut deficits,” in the January 18, 2013, issue of the Metrowest Daily News.

“Congress must do the right thing,” he says, “in order to preserve some of the programs that actually work to keep America healthy.”

Dr. Boffa urges Congress to avoid cuts in Medicare Part D, citing both research and cases he witnessed personally as Executive Director of HealthLink Wellness of New England. He praises Part D for lowering non-prescription drug medical spending and hospital admissions and saving billions overall.

“Preventing and managing chronic diseases among our retirees should be a national priority,” he says, “not a ledger to balance.”

GSDM Celebrates Year of the Snake at TetInBoston Festival

February 12, 2013

On Saturday, February 2, 2013, students from the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) and Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri rang in the Vietnamese New Year at the 2013 TetInBoston Festival.

TetInBoston is an annual Vietnamese New Year Festival organized by the Vietnamese-American Community of Massachusetts and the Intercollegiate Vietnamese Student Association. The Asian Dental Student Organization (ADSO) at GSDM participated in collaboration with the Tufts Asian Dental Association.

The participating students were: Jenny Lee GMS, Tam Nguyen DMD 13, Sarah Sheikh AS 14, Danny Shum DMD 13, and Michelle Vo DMD 13.

The GSDM volunteers offered oral health information, activities, and distributed toothbrushes and toothpaste. The Festival attracted around 7,000 attendees and hundreds of vendors.

It proved to be a productive event for the students. “We educated parents and teenagers on the importance of oral health,” said ADSO President Michelle Vo.

ADSO Treasurer Tam Nguyen mentioned that GSDM volunteers enjoyed teaching and meeting with the Festival attendees. She added, “We all had a great time interacting with members of the Vietnamese community.”

New Position for Dr. Michelle Henshaw

February 5, 2013

Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter appointed Dr. Michelle Henshaw to the position of Associate Dean for Global and Population Health, effective February 1, 2013.

In this capacity, Dr. Henshaw will lead efforts related to developing and showcasing the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine’s (GSDM) position as a world leader in global health and interprofessional care initiatives. She will lead a new Office of Global and Population Health. “I have every confidence that Dr. Henshaw will excel in her new role,” said Dean Hutter. He continued, “Establishing the Office of Global and Population Health is an important strategic expansion for our School as we continue to contribute to the global profile of Boston University.”

The Office of Global and Population Health will actively support students, faculty, and staff in their efforts to improve the health of the world’s populations, and facilitate interdisciplinary health research, teaching, and practice across all departments and programs at GSDM and the University, with a special emphasis on global health and interprofessional care. Dr. Henshaw will retain her previous responsibilities related to Community Health Programs, the Northeast Center for Research to Evaluate and Eliminate Dental Disparities (CREEDD), and Community Partnerships and Extramural Affairs. She will also retain her appointment as Professor in the Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research.

Dr. Henshaw has been charged with: establishing an organizational structure that identifies and addresses the challenges of developing and conducting global health training, research, and service projects; working with the School of Medicine, School of Public Health, and health-related professional schools on the Charles River Campus to create programs that will rigorously prepare trainees for collaborative practice and interprofessional care; administering national and international community-based educational programs; administering and expanding the GSDM community service and service learning programs; and seeking funding for innovative research and educational programs that will catalyze the development of interdisciplinary translational research projects that provide a firm scientific base for clinical practice and public health policy.

Dr. Henshaw received a BS in Psychology from Columbia University in 1989, a BS in Dental Science and a DDS from the University of California at San Francisco in 1993, and a MPH with a dual concentration in Epidemiology/Biostatistics and Health Services from Boston University School of Public Health in 1996. She was a General Practice Resident at the Brockton Veterans Administration and a Faculty Training Fellow in Geriatric Dentistry for the US Department of Health and Human Services/Bureau of Health Professions at  Boston Medical Center/Boston University School of Medicine from 1993–1994. Dr. Henshaw earned a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Dental Public Health at GSDM in 2000.

Dr. Henshaw has been a Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Health Services Research at GSDM since 2008. She previously served that department as an Associate Professor from 2004–2008 and Assistant Professor from 1997–2004. Prior to that, she served as Assistant Professor in the Division of Dental Care Management from 1996–1997.

Dr. Henshaw has served as the Project Director at the Chelsea School Dental Center, the Director of Community Health Programs at GSDM, Dental Director at the Boston Center for Refugee Health and Human Rights at Boston Medical Center, and Co-PI for Clinical and Community Liaison Core at the CREEDD. She has served as Co-Director at the CREEDD since 2005, and as Assistant Dean for Community Partnerships and Extramural Affairs at GSDM since 2006.

Dr. Henshaw has received numerous awards and honors including: ADEA Gies Foundation 2011 William J. Gies Award for Innovation in the Dental Educator category; NIH-NCMHD Health Disparities Scholar, 2004–2007; Oral Health Care Access Program Scholar, Santa Fe Group and ADTA, 2002; Community Campus Partnerships for Health Fellow, 2002; Spencer N. Frankl Excellence in Teaching Faculty Award, 2000; Geriatric Dental Fellowship Award, Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine, 1997; Best Overall Presentation and Use of Graphics, University of Iowa Health Sciences Center, 1997; Omicron Kappa Upsilon Society, Member, 1993–Present; Chancellors Award, University of California at San Francisco, 1993; Professional Development Award, University of California at San Francisco, 1991; California Dental Association Award, University of California at San Francisco, 1991; and Mendelson Scholar Award, University of California at San Francisco, 1989–1993.

Dr. Henshaw is a member of several professional organizations including: American Association for Dental Research; American Association of Public Health Dentistry; American Dental Association; American Dental Education Association; American Public Health Association; International Association for Dental Research; Massachusetts Dental Society; and Massachusetts Public Health Association.

Dr. Henshaw has written numerous articles for several dental health publications including the American Journal of Public Health and the Journal of Dental Education.

 

GSDM Students Promote Oral Health at Boston Sikh Sangat Society Oral Health Fair

February 5, 2013

On Sunday, January 27, 13 students from the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) and Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri participated in the Boston Sikh Sangat Society Oral Health Fair.

The Fair was sponsored by the School’s Division of Community Health Programs (CHP) and organized by GSDM students Varun Arya, Harminder Kaur, and Satinder Pandher, all AS 13.

“The event turned out to be a huge success,” said Varun Arya. “We were thrilled to see so many kids who asked us such relevant questions pertaining to oral health.”

The volunteers were: Varun Arya AS 13, Jithendar Bhonagiri AS 13, Ramandeep Jhandi AS 14, Harminder Kaur AS 13, Sukhjinder Kaur AS 14, Satinder Pandher AS 13, Ryan Pasiewicz DMD 15, Kabir Sandhu Ram AS 13, Neelam Shah DMD 14, Ritu Singh AS 13, Kanchan Thind AS 13, Kirpal Toor AS 14, and Jaspreet Wirring DMD 14.

The GSDM volunteers offered health promotion, education, age appropriate activities, screenings and referrals. They screened 33 adults and 39 children, a total of 72 people.

“I am so pleased GSDM students participated in this Fair,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. “This hands-on training is a vital part of the learning process as is a dedication to community service.”

GSDM Students Participate in Notre Dame Educational Center Dental Health Fair

January 29, 2013

On Thursday, January 24, 2013, nine students from the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) and Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri volunteered at the Notre Dame Educational Center (NDEC) Dental Health Fair.