TODAY news - Oct 10, 2002 - School of Dentistry news

Thursday, October 10, 2002 TODAY

School of Dentistry news

Brian Preston selected for School of Dentistry ESP for 2002-2003

A Friday evening meal was provided at the home of Sylvia and Jerry Davis to honor and welcome Brian Preston, who has joined the early selection program (ESP) for the School of Denitstry. Previous recipients of ESP awards were invited to meet Mr. Preston. Included were Mueni Mutinga, DDS, the first student selected for the program in 1995; fourth-year dental student Phillip McIver; and Trevor Fraser, second-year dental student. Ron Forde, DDS, director, service learning department, also a graduate from Oakwood College, assisted Ms. Davis as a host for the event. Pictured are (from left): Mr. Fraser, Dr. Mutinga, Dr. Forde, Mr. McIver, Mr. Preston, and Ms. Davis. Ms. Davis is director of admissions for the dental school.

The School of Dentistry early selection program (ESP) was established in 1994 to identify qualified students enrolled in Seventh-day Adventist colleges and universities who are from under- represented communities in the School of Dentistry student population. The program gives a student an opportunity to learn more about the dental profession and provides an early transition in the dental school curriculum. Students selected for the program participate in a four-week session at the dental school, visit alumni in their private practices, and sit in on several of the summer courses.

Brian Preston, a student from Atlanta, Georgia, who has been enrolled at Oakwood College in Alabama, was selected as the ESP student for the 2002-2003 school year. He brings to the program experience in mission work in Trinidad, as well as a sincere desire to bring Jesus Christ and his unconditional love to patients and to colleagues.

Mr. Preston came to the School of Dentistry in August. He has shadowed in the offices of Drs. Donald Pearson, Alan Woodson, Michael Lee, Chris Wacker, Judy Strutz, and Shahrokh Shabahang. He spent time in the orthodontics clinic under Roland Neufeld, DDS, assistant professor; the oral surgery clinic under Alan Herford, DDS, MD, chair, department of oral and maxillofacial surgery; and the Center for Implant Dentistry with assistance from Maria Melgoza, clinic supervisor for implant dentistry. He is also preparing for the DAT at the local Kaplan Center and participated in the ABLE 111 program in early September. He will be taking coursework with the class of 2006 (first-year dental students) during the fall quarter. He is applying through Associated American Dental Schools Application Service to the school in September, 2003.

Mr. Preston will return to Oakwood College in December to complete his BS degree in biology. The admissions office and the diversity committee of the school, chaired by Ron Forde, are pleased that Mr. Preston was accepted into the program and hopes that it will be possible for him to be at LLU as a full-time dentistry student in the fall of 2003.

[Top] [email this page]

Dental school family gathers for second annual celebration

During the second annual celebration $5,700 was awarded in door prizes. Here Joni Stephens, professor, dental hygiene (second from left), is assisted by (pictured, from left) Marina Moore, clinical systems manager, Heidi Cooley (holding money bag), and "Chef" Joseph Caruso, DDS, MS, director, orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics.

The School of Dentistry second annual celebration event was held Monday, September 30, in the University Church of Seventh-day Adventists.

During the celebration, faculty, staff, and students joined to celebrate the strategic achievements of the past and plans for the coming future. The celebration also provided an opportunity for the entire school family to share in the personal experiences of students, faculty, and staff.

B. Lyn Behrens, president and CEO, Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center, offered prayer. She paused with a moment of silent personal prayer in memory of Matthew Chun, a second-year dental student who passed away August 24, due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident.

The celebration focused on three areas: clinic, curriculum, and communication, with presentations made in each area.

Musical performances by Jessica Buenjemia, third-year dental student; Youngjoo Kim, third-year dental student; Jonathan Buenjemia, first-year dental student; Heather Pundt, second-year dental student; Ben Bowen, second-year dental student; Scott Dexter, first-year dental student; James Jeffrey, fourth-year dental student; and Richard Cross, dental school photographer, provided uplifting interludes.

Students, faculty, and staff were able to explore the school's new motor home, a gift from Procter & Gamble. The motor home will be used to provide dental care in surrounding communities.

Joseph Caruso, DDS, MS, director, orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics, served as program emcee. Dr. Caruso outlined some of the activities of the strategic planning committee during the past year including a proposed administrative organization model that was developed during the committee's annual retreat held in August.

During the celebration, a number of students, faculty, staff, and a patient described positive experiences they have had at the School of Dentistry.
After the program in the University Church, the celebration continued with lunch served under tents with colorful balloons, and door prizes on the University mall.

Philip Boyne, DDS, department of oral and maxillofacial surgery (far left), won $500. Also pictured are (from left) June Barrientos, Anna Koon, and Victoria Quihuis. Ms. Quihuis selected the winning envelope.

Department and individual donations provided the 60 cash door prizes, totaling $5,700. The two top prizes of $500 each were won by Lana Hay, assistant clinic manager for the department of orthodontics, and Philip Boyne, DDS, MS, department of oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Approximately 600 people attended the celebration, made possible through the participation of more than 100 faculty, staff, and students who helped to make it a success.

Following is a list of departments and individuals who generously donated $5,700 for door prizes:

Department donations:
$250 to $500

Employees Association; International Dentist Program; Biomaterials Research Laboratory; Biocompatibility and Toxicology Research Laboratory; Graduate Program in Implant Dentistry; Advanced Education in Prosthodontics; department of restorative dentistry; department of dental hygiene; department of endodontics; department of pediatric dentistry; department of periodontics; department of dental Anesthesiology; surgery center for dentistry

Individual donations:
$500 to $1,000

Anonymous

$100 to $500

William Loveless
Curtis and Cindy Wiggins

[Top] [email this page]

Thursday, October 10, 2002 TODAY | School of Dentistry