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A message from the deanMarch 2021 brought mixed emotions, introspection and hope. March marked the one-year anniversary of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in our province and the subsequent closure of the University of Manitoba and the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences to in-person teaching. I still remember the anxiety of the students, staff, faculty and administration as we wound down our clinical operations with reports of COVID-19 cases rising daily (although at the time we did not realize the case numbers were very small compared to what would come later). One year later, we have witnessed amazing progress and a significantly better understanding of this disease. Our ability to navigate the year in a safe manner at the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry was through the hard work, sacrifice and vigilance of all involved, and for that I am grateful. We now seem to have reached yet another turning point in our journey. The arrival of vaccines in Manitoba has started one of the most extensive public health drives to ensure everyone in our province will be vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. In order to facilitate this task a ministerial health order was announced inviting our students and clinical faculty members to become vaccinators. The community spirit amongst our students and faculty was impressive and was mirrored by the profession. Several students and faculty have now completed the Red River College vaccinator course and have been called upon to serve in vaccination centres. The response has been so positive that we are now investigating the proposition of introducing vaccination into our curriculum where future generations of health care providers will be taught the necessary skills to vaccinate safely. In addition to the provincial request for assistance, Ongomiizwin Health Services and the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences have also put out a call to faculty and students to assist in vaccination efforts for all First Nations communities in Manitoba. In both these instances we need to commit to these efforts to extend the umbrella of vaccine protection to as many of our fellow citizens as possible. This is a historic moment for our province and one that will only be successful in preventing more illness and death from the virus if we all contribute. I urge each and every one of you to commit to this effort, if you are able to do so. “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Dr. Anastasia Kelekis-Cholakis Dean, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry |
Dr. Anthony Iacopino retiringAfter a dedicated career as past dean and professor with the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry Dr. Anthony Iacopino is retiring. Iacopino has been with the college since 2007. He came to the University of Manitoba from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to be dean. "His hard work and commitment has been appreciated," said Dr. Anastasia Kelekis-Cholakis, dean of the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry. "His time with the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry has impacted many students, faculty and staff in all areas both within the college and at the provincial and national levels." See page 11 of the Bulletin to read more about Dr. Iacopino's career. |
Gift from Dr. Charles LekicDr. Charles Lekic, professor and former program director of pediatric dentistry, has donated an additional $10,000 towards the Charles Lekic Graduate Pediatric Dentistry Award. The award was established in honour of Lekic’s retirement from the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry. The endowment provides support for resident research in pediatric dentistry and any travel that is a direct result of supporting their research. Colleagues, friends and family contributed to the fund, and Dr. Lekic matched those gifts in 2017. Dr. Lekic’s new gift to the endowment will allow even more residents to benefit from his generosity. |
Career fairThe first-ever Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry career fair took place on the evening of March 16, 2021. Forty-six undergraduate dental and dental hygiene students had the opportunity to hear from 19 prospective employers from across Canada. Feedback was extremely positive and it could become an annual event. |
Remembering Dr. Christopher LavelleLongstanding academic Dr. Christopher Lavelle passed away on December 28, 2020. He joined the college in 1975 as the department head of oral biology. Dr. Lavelle remained a professor in the college for 30 years, influencing students with his pragmatism and great sense of humour. Our condolences go out to his family and friends. Read his obituary. |
Saliva samples from UM dental personnel to aid COVID-19 researchStudents, faculty and support staff in dentistry and dental hygiene at UM will be asked to contribute their saliva to a research study of COVID-19 at Canada’s 10 dental schools. Those who volunteer to participate will submit monthly samples of their saliva for analysis and complete a monthly online questionnaire. Read the full story at UM Today. |
Coming out of retirementDr. Olva Odlum, senior scholar in the department of preventive dental science, has come out of retirement to give COVID-19 vaccines. The 81 year old told CTV News Winnipeg that she wanted to make sure the province has enough personnel to successfully deliver the immunization campaign. Read the CTV article. The Winnipeg Free Press wrote a feature story about Dr. Odlum, who was the first woman to practice dentistry in Manitoba. Read the profile. |
Making a good impression: Digital dentistry revolutionizes scanningStudents in the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry will use digital technology for the first time to create dental impressions of patients visiting the undergraduate clinic. The fourth-year students will use Planmeca Emerald intraoral scanners to create 3D models of patients’ teeth and gums. Read the full story in UM Today. |
Dr. Anastasia Kelekis-Cholakis, dean of the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, was named a Fellow of the International College of Dentists. Fellowship in the college is by invitation only and is granted in recognition of a dentist’s outstanding professional achievement, meritorious service and dedication to the continued progress of dentistry for the benefit of humankind. The following associate deans were elected to the Association of Canadian Faculties of Dentistry. Dr. Trenna Reeve takes on the role of chair, clinical affairs committee, and Dr. Raj Bhullar takes on the position of chair, research affairs committee. Dr. Kangmin Duan has been promoted from associate professor to professor. His application was approved by the University of Manitoba Board of Governors on March 23, 2021. Dr. Rodrigo França, associate professor in the department of restorative dentistry, received a scholarship from the Canadian Bureau for International Education under the Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program for the amount of $9,700. Dr. Ernest Cholakis [DMD/82] is an HONOUR 150 recipient. The award recognized 150 people from across the province who stood out for their role in making Manitoba an amazing place. Read more. Larissa Bubnowicz, a master’s in oral biology student and previous course coordinator, sessional instructor and researcher in the department of restorative dentistry, received a 2020 International Federation of Dental Hygienists Research Grant. Her research project is entitled Evaluation of silver diamine fluoride in arresting carious lesions in irradiated tooth structure. Stefan Mezibroski, a fourth-year dentistry student, successfully presented his B.Sc. (Dent.) poster 17-year survival Rates of Post and Core Foundation Restorations in a Dental School Environment at the annual American Dental Education Association student poster competition on March 12, 2021. He had more than 75 views in the hour allotted to the competition, which is better than average for views. Ana Carla Fernandes, a PhD student in the department of oral biology, received the 2020-21 CADR-NCOHR Student Research Presentation Award. The competition was judged by a panel of 31 dental researchers from across Canada. Carlo Sgarbanti, a master’s student in periodontology, was one of nine learners to receive the Dean of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences Graduate Student Achievement Prize. The award recognizes outstanding academic achievement, notable personal service and strong leadership skills of graduate students. Read the full story at UM Today. |
Dr. Rodrigo França, associate professor in the department of restorative dentistry, received a grant from the Network for Canadian Oral Health Research’s New Frontier Seed Grant Program for his project entitled Development and Application of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Targeted Drug Delivery in the Oral Environment. He will receive $20,000 for one year. |
Michelle Oshanyk has joined the Clinic Support Services team as the managing director. In August 2020, Oshanyk was seconded to us from Rady Faculty of Health Sciences to serve as the acting managing director of Clinical Support Services. Chelsea Wotton, patient care coordinator, and Marta Bhopalsingh, dental assistant, have joined the Graduate Prosthodontic Clinic. |
Hussein AS, Almoudi MM, Abu-Hassan MI, Schroth RJ, Saripudin B, Chinna K. Comparison of saliva and serum total 25(OH)D levels in young children: a pilot study. Journal of International Dental and Medical Research 2020;13(4):1405-10. Kyoon-Achan G, Schroth RJ, Sanguins J, Campbell R, DeMare D, Sturym M, Edwards JM, Bertone M, Dufour L, Hai-Santiago K, Chartrand F, Dhaliwal T, Patterson B, Levesque J, Moffatt ME. Early childhood oral health promotion for First Nations and Metis communities and caregivers in Manitoba. Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can 2021;41(1):14-24. Schroth RJ, Rothney J, Sturym M, Dong C, Dabiri D, Dabiri D, Grant C, Kennedy T, Sihra R.. A systematic review to inform the development of a Canadian caries risk assessment tool for use by primary healthcare providers. Int J Paediatr Dent 2021 Jan 26. doi: 10.1111/ipd.12776. Online ahead of print. Schroth RJ, Dhalla S, Tate R, Moffatt ME. Prenatal and early childhood determinants of enamel hypoplasia in infants. J Pediatr Perinatol Child Health 2021;5(1):005-017. Bayani A, Bayat AH, Hemmat M, Ahounbar E, Armoon B, Fakhri Y, Mohammadi R, Schroth RJ. The Association of Oral Health Status and Socioeconomic Determinants with Oral Health-Related Quality of Life among the Elderly: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Int J Dent Hyg. PH Freitas, CB André, BM Fronza, M Giannini, PL Rosalen, S Consani, Rodrigo França (2021) Physicochemical properties, metalloproteinases inhibition, and antibiofilm activity of doxycycline-doped dental adhesive. Journal of Dentistry 104, 103550, 2021
MM Ribeiro, KU Graziano, N Olson, R França, MJ Alfa (2020) The polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) channel model of cyclic-buildup biofilm and traditional biofilm: The impact of friction, and detergent on cleaning and subsequent high-level disinfection. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology 41 (2), 172-180, 2020
R França, M Bebsh, A Haimeur, AC Fernandes, E Sacher. (2020) Physicochemical surface characterizations of four dental CAD/CAM lithium disilicate-based glass ceramics on HF etching: An XPS study. Ceramics International 46 (2), 1411-1418 |
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