During his 32 years with the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry, alumnus and former faculty member Perng-Ru Liu, DMD, DDS, MS, demonstrated a commitment to continuing education. He did so by constantly continuing to educate, lecturing on a volunteer basis multiple times each year beyond his regular classroom instructions.
Dr. Liu's family and friends at Dr. Liu Memorial Lecture 2023Following Liu’s passing in 2022, the school decided to keep this spirit going with the creation of the Dr. Perng-Ru Liu Memorial Lecture and Young Alumni Meeting through its Office of Continuing Dental Education. The second-annual event will be held Sept. 20-21 at the Vestavia Hills Civic Center.
“Dr. Liu committed so much of his time to education, both in teaching UAB students but also taking his personal time to support the entire dental community in Alabama,” says Ann Marie Karaki, SOD Director of Continuing Dental Education. “So we want to offer these lectures on his behalf to honor the way he always supported everybody at the School of Dentistry and the dental community at large.”
Last year’s inaugural one-day event proved to be so popular that it is being expanded to two days this year. A pair of national speakers will hold presentations on Friday Sept. 20, followed the next day by a series of classes and lectures provided by UAB faculty members and residents.
The focus of the Friday lectures will be split between dentists and hygienists. Dr. Chris Campbell, a 1998 graduate from the South Carolina School of Dentistry, will offer a presentation entitled, “Tips and Techniques for Dentists.” The course will discuss both direct and indirect restorative cases, with a review of the “what and why” of material selection as well as preferred techniques to optimize clinical results.
Dr. Liu working with student.Meanwhile, Tricia Osuna, past president and Fellow of the American Academy of Dental Hygiene, will provide a lecture entitled “Change Your Thoughts and Improve Your Outcomes: An update on protocols, products and treatment options.” The course will help hygienists sort through all the new advances in products and technology and determine when and how to integrate those advances into regular use.
Then on Saturday Sept. 21, UAB SOD Associate Professor Dr. Kiran Chavali will hold a one-hour presentation on “Infection Control in the Dental Office.” That will be followed by three additional one-hour presentations from Chavali and Dr. Maninder Kaur, SOD Associate Professor and Predoctoral Periodontal Program Director: “HIV/AIDS Oral Health Care,” “Ethics and the Dental Office” and “Implant Maintenance.”
In addition, several UAB Prosthodontics faculty members and residents will present one-hour lectures providing updates on digital dentures, tooth erosion, and crown lengthening.
“Dr. Liu was a prosthodontist, and the department has several faculty and residents coming out to lecture that Saturday,” Karaki says. “Having that addition is an especially nice way to recognize him.”