Dentistry News - School of Dentistry

Two new faculty have joined the UAB School of Dentistry Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. They represent a commitment by the department to remain at the forefront of teaching, research, and patient care, and build a diverse faculty of exceptional scholars and clinicians.

Dr. Abou-Arraj speaking at Fall EXCEL 2023

The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry has its own version of the football huddle. It’s called the EXCEL program (EXcellence through Continued Enrichment & Learning), and it enables SOD faculty and staff to periodically gather together in a casual setting to enhance their knowledge, discuss issues, and develop a gameplan for the future.

Shandra Coble, D.M.D., joins the 2023-2024 Blaze Leadership Academy cohort.

Since its earliest days, the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry has had a strong connection with the military. In fact, all 50 members of the inaugural SOD graduating class in 1952 were veterans.

Dr. Perng-Ru Liu family at memorial lecture

The first annual Dr. Perng-Ru Liu Memorial Lecture was a resounding success.

When it comes to training the next generation of dental researchers and academicians, the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry’s DART program hits the bullseye.

Michael Kase, D.M.D., has been elected as one of six members leading the American Academy of Maxillofacial Prosthetics (AAMP) board of directors. He will serve a three-year term that concludes in 2026.

The Global Center for Craniofacial, Oral & Dental Disorders is among twenty-five University-Wide Interdisciplinary Research Centers (UWIRCs) at UAB designated for UWIRC status and associated institutional funding in FY 25.

By the time the 1980s rolled around, the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry had been in existence long enough that it could look back and celebrate several decades of accomplishments. And that is exactly what the SOD did by, of all things, making a movie.

The 17th annual University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Dental Hygiene Symposium and Hinman Lectures was jam packed in more ways than one.

After the University of Alabama at Birmingham officially became an independent institution in 1969, it was inevitable that many things were about to happen for the first time throughout the rapidly growing campus. And the UAB School of Dentistry (SOD) was no exception.

Orthodontics isn't just about achieving that perfect smile. The discipline, which focuses on how to move teeth safely and effectively into their proper place, plays a crucial role in overall oral health and well-being.

Chin-Chuan Fu, D.D.S., M.S., has been selected to receive the 2023 UAB President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. The award recognizes her exceptional accomplishments in both didactic and clinical education.

Joana Cunha-Cruz, D.D.S., Ph.D., has been selected to participate in the 2023-2024 cohort of UAB Healthcare Leadership Academy which begins in October.

Ramzi V. Abou-Arraj, D.D.S., M.S., was named Interim Associate Dean for Academic Affairs effective September 1, 2023.

Mia L. Geisinger, D.D.S., M.S., was named acting chair of the UAB School of Dentistry Department of Periodontology. She steps in as Nicolaas Geurs, D.D.S., M.S., serves as the school’s interim dean.

Dr. Mark Bronsky (’87) grew up in Binghamton, New York. His father was an orthodontist so it was almost a foregone conclusion that he would follow in his father’s footsteps.

Welcoming its first cohort of four students, the University of Alabama College of Community Health Sciences has launched the Rural Dental Scholars Program in partnership with The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Dentistry. The forward-looking program will help address the need for dental professionals in rural areas by providing a pathway for aspiring dentists from these communities.

Christine Blass, D.M.D., has been selected to the UAB Healthcare Educator’s Academy. She will represent the School of Dentistry as a member of the 2023-2025 cohort.

It often helps for a dentist to hear the words coming out of a patient’s mouth before venturing inside it. After all, it is important to discern what a patient is experiencing in order to best treat the situation.

Children leaving home in order to go to college has been a common occurrence for generations. What’s unusual is having home follow along. In a way, that is what happened with Jennifer Wadiak, D.D.S, an assistant professor with the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry and director of the UAB Dentistry Comprehensive Care Clinic.

Ann Marie Karaki, Director of the Continuing Dental Education program for the UAB School of Dentistry was elected Vice President of the Association for Continuing Dental Education on August 8, 2023 at the ACDE annual session in New Orleans, LA.

Fu named chair of Restorative Sciences Department at UAB

Chin-Chuan Fu, D.D.S., M.S., has been named Chair of the Department of Restorative Sciences in UAB School of Dentistry. The appointment was effective in August 2023.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry was barely a decade old when the 1960s rolled around, and it already was receiving accolades. The time was right to start taking some major steps toward growth and progress.

Dr. Wadiak and Dr. McClelland cutting the ribbon

Dentists obviously are accustomed to working in tight spaces. After all, the average human mouth is only about 2 inches wide. Still, a little extra room is always appreciated, especially for student dentists who are learning the craft.

D.M.D./Ph.D. UAB dental student Caris Smith encourages others to explore a different side of dentistry.

Read more: Reinforcements to the Rescue

The Extraordinary Journey of UAB’s Dr. Larry Alley

Ask any endodontist who completed their endodontic residency at UAB or the Birmingham VA hospital from 2000 to 2019 about Dr. Larry Alley, and chances are they’ll crack a big smile and start gushing.

The sparks flew on Saturday, June 3 when the UAB School of Dentistry Class of 2023 prepared to take the next steps in their professional journey. The school honored more than 75 Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) graduates at its 71st commencement ceremony, held at UAB’s Bartow Arena.

Alumni Nelson and Carlson forged a lifetime bond as dental students in the 1950s.

Dr. Timothy Trulove, DMD, MS, of Montgomery, Alabama was installed as the President of the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) on April 23, 2023 at the annual conference of the American Association of Orthodontists in Chicago. He had served as the director of the southern component of the ABO since 2016.

Anthony Morlandt, D.D.S., M.D., F.A.C.S., was named first holder of the Peter D. Waite Endowed Professorship in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery by the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees during its April 2023 meeting.

The School of Dentistry’s first dean also was UAB’s first president.

About seven miles west of the Alabama/Mississippi state line is the town of Scooba, Miss., boasting a population of 732 according to the 2010 census. And until he entered his ninth grade year in 1960, Scooba was home to UAB School of Dentistry alumnus Dr. Don Weaver.

There are two unusual bonds that bind the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry’s Class of 1952. First, all 50 graduates of that class were military veterans, and most had served in some capacity in World War II.

For much of his career, Jack Lemons, Ph.D., has been a man in the middle. Lemons has straddled the line between dentistry and engineering, providing a valuable link between those who create and improve dental and other medical devices, and those who actually use them.

In today’s world of multi-media, social media, and bright lights, you’ll be hard pressed to find a thriving dental practice that doesn’t have its own web site. If you start searching for Dr. Jiann-Jang “Eric” Wu’s endodontic practice in Winter Park, Florida you won’t find a website, because he’s never had one.

Basmah Aref was not some wide-eyed novice when she arrived at UAB in 2021 to start her training at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry. In fact, she was already a dental school graduate with a year of experience working as an assistant at a pediatric practice.

Five years ago, Peyton Billingsley could not have imagined that she currently would be a first-year student in the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry.

The School of Dentistry Alumni Association’s 2023 Alumni Weekend was another huge success, with more than 1,900 total participants.

The UAB School of Dentistry kicked off its 75^th anniversary on February 2, 2023 in conjunction with the school’s alumni association Alumni Weekend in Birmingham, Ala. One of the highlights of the weekend was the presentation of two special alumni awards.

The eighteenth annual UAB School of Dentistry Scholars Symposium will be held Thursday, March 2, 2023. The symposium will feature Esra Sahingur, DDS, MS, PhD as keynote speaker and Ping Zhang, DDS, PhD as the faculty presenter. The day will begin with poster presentations held in UAB Hospital, West Pavilion Atrium from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m.

An injury on the football field led to a career in dentistry for Warren Arrasmith, D.M.D.

Pulling people together can be difficult when you can’t physically get together. That was the challenge facing the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry Staff Council during much of Nancy Parsons’ recently completed 18-month term as council president.

Dr. Michael Kase in his white coat and glasses.

Not long after arriving at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry in 2017, Michael Kase DMD struck up an Instagram collaboration with an overseas oral surgeon, Eugene Fresenko PhD, who that same year was helping start a new dental journal.

A mere 25 years after graduating from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry, Sonya Mitchell D.M.D., M.S.H.A., is about to enter private practice.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry recently lost a longtime and beloved faculty member with the passing of Perng-Ru Liu, DMD, DDS, MS.

UAB School of Dentistry’s annual Alumni Weekend, February 2-5, 2023, will kick off the school’s yearlong 75th anniversary celebration.

Students come to the UAB School of Dentistry for both the traditional classroom instruction and the valuable real-world experience obtained through clinic work.

One might say Dr. O. William “Bill” Reeder, Jr. (’71) has taken the scenic route throughout his life. That not only surmises his professional life but his choice of residences as well. Born in Andalusia, AL and raised in Luverne, the UAB School of Dentistry alumnus was influenced to pursue a dental career by long-time Luverne dentist and also UAB alumnus, Dr. Billy Beall. “The UAB School of Dentistry had a great reputation. I thought my education was fair but very tough and my education put me in a position where I could make a difference,” said Reeder.

Dr. Wayne Primm with his extended family.

Dothan and dentistry through and through

Dr. Wayne Prim has always loved making beautiful things with his hands. Before he discovered dentistry, he was interested in pursuing a career as an architect.

Adobe stock image of woman at the dentist

Ask the Expert: Dr. Mia Geisinger

Anyone who knows Dr. Milton Essig (Class of ’70), knows his attention to detail and his love of dentistry. During his thirty five years as a UAB School of Dentistry faculty member, he trained hundreds of UAB students, and even more through organized dentistry.

Ramakiran Chavali, B.D.S., M.S., has been appointed Assistant Director of the International Dentist Program (IDP) in the UAB School of Dentistry effective September 1.

An inspiring mission trip turns into a passion for practice

Amjad Javed, Ph.D., has been named associate dean for research at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry following a national search. He served in an interim capacity since 2018.

Adobe stock image of man with dental pain

It is not uncommon for dental offices to use an image of a tooth in their signs or promotional materials. What you rarely see is an image of the gums. Yet gum health is an essential part of overall dental care. Nico Geurs, DDS, MS, Dean and Weatherford/Palcanis Endowed Professor in the Department of Periodontology at the UAB School of Dentistry, answers questions about the importance of not being dumb when it comes to the gums.

Bryant G. “Don” Speed, D.M.D., a beloved instructor who taught in the UAB School of Dentistry Department of Orthodontics, passed away in 2014.

The UAB School of Dentistry's Class of 2022 enjoyed a big slice of success regarding this year's new Integrated National Board Dental Examination.

A self-confessed continuing-education junkie, Young says it’s an exciting time to be a dentist

Julie Duchock, Lauren Brashear, and Kaytlyn McAllister.

UAB School of Dentistry honors Class of 2024 at 22nd White Coat Ceremony

Read more: Bridging a dental gap

Leslie Buckley, her husband, and children.

Graduates from the UAB School of Dentistry can guarantee they will leave with an excellent dental school education and clinical experience. Many will also take with them life-long friendships with classmates and faculty members, and fond memories of living in Birmingham. But every so often, students also leave with something (or, better yet, someone) even more special.

One of South Florida’s favorite and fastest sports is Jai-Alai. The ball used in Jai-Alai is called a pelota and it travels at nearly 200 miles per hour. The two contestants bounce the smaller than a baseball pelota off walls with a curbed wicker scoop to score points. The game is fast, furious, and hard to keep up with. The same can be said for Dr. Anissa Broussard Holmes (‘99), who now makes her home in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Growing up in Montgomery, Ala., Dr. Keri Miller’s childhood interests looked a bit different from what you might expect of an aspiring dentist. Instead of focusing on science and healthcare, Dr. Miller spent her childhood engrossed in the fine arts.

It was supposed to be just a quick bite of lunch. Instead, it turned into a chance meeting that propelled second-year UAB School of Dentistry student Gayle Shaffer down the path toward becoming Rear Admiral Gayle Shaffer, Deputy Surgeon General in the United States Navy.

Adobe Stock image of dentist using digital dentistry

A lot has changed in the dental industry since the days of George Washington’s dentures (which actually were made of ivory, not wood). Innovations and advancements have regularly taken place over the centuries, from the invention of the dental drill in the late 1700s to the creation of the modern nylon toothbrush in 1938.

When asked about her favorite aspect of being an orthodontist, Dr. Leigh Bayer Curtis doesn’t miss a beat.

Dara Johnson and Zoie McIntosh did not know each other when they arrived at the UAB School of Dentistry a year ago. But they have become such good friends since then that they are now embarking on a 13-month community health project together as members of the 2022-23 class of the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship of Alabama (ASF).

The 17th Annual Scholars Symposium will feature Gerald Kugel, DMD, MS, PhD, as keynote speaker. He will deliver an address entitled “Who Cares About Research, I’m a Clinician.” The talk will kick off the afternoon session, which will be held virtually on Thursday, April 7 beginning at 2:00 p.m.

Dr. Russell Taichman, Dean of the UAB School of Dentistry, used a couple of cliches to introduce the recipients of the School of Dentistry Alumni Association’s 2021 award winners. The recipients are pillars in dentistry and the Gadsden community.

School of Dentistry Alumni Association Officers

Every year, alumni from across Alabama and the nation converge on Birmingham, Ala for the Alabama Dental Alumni Association’s Alumni Weekend. This year it was different.

When it came to deciding on which career to pursue, Dr. Tara Moncus got a little help… from Oprah Winfrey.

UAB’s Student Research Group, a chapter of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) National Student Research Group (NSRG), has been recognized for having the greatest percentage of new AADOCR student members in 2021-2022.

Caris Smith, a DMD/PhD student, has been selected for the 2022-23 Gert Quigley Government Affairs Fellowship by the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR).

Dr. Bruce Camp (’84) grew up in Alabama, graduated from the UAB School of Dentistry, and has lived and practiced dentistry in Georgia for 37 years. For the better part of those 37 years, he has been crossing state lines to maintain a strong bond with the School of Dentistry and its alumni association.

Dr. Doug Smith is no stranger to long days and hard work. That is because, on top of serving the Dothan, Ala. community as a trusted dentist of almost forty-five years, Dr. Smith works on his family farm where he raises pure bred Black Angus cattle.

At the time she was growing up on the family farm in Western Kentucky, Dr. Stephanie Teichmiller (’90) had no inkling she would become a dentist.

Growing up, Dr. Jim Phillips, Jr. didn’t always know he was going to become a dentist. But he did know he was destined to love sports and Auburn University.

Dr. Clay Wright (’01) doesn’t look near as big or menacing as he did when he played linebacker and offensive guard for the Troy University Trojans, but he still carries many of the life lessons he learned on the gridiron.

Charleston, S.C. is home to several nonprofit dental and medical clinics that provide healthcare to underserved communities around the city. And chances are good that, if you walk into any one of these clinics, you might run into periodontist Dr. Bill Sasser.

If you’ve ever attended the Alabama General Dentistry (AGD) meetings in Destin, Fla., you’ve likely seen and heard the man who emcees the raffle drawing each year, possibly wearing a Hawaiian shirt and winning the crowd over with his laidback charm and clever one-liners. That’s Dr. Bob DeShazer, one of the most fun and easy-going dentists to have ever walked the halls of the UAB School of Dentistry.

In the fall of 1969, Dr. Charles “Scotty” McCallum, dean of the School of Dentistry at the time, hosted a meet-and-greet reception at his home for the School’s incoming freshmen. Among those in attendance were John Anderson, and his new wife, Mimi.

Amjad Javed, Ph.D. has been named director of the Global Center for Craniofacial, Oral and Dental Disorders (GC-CODED). He also serves as the interim associate dean for research and director of postgraduate education in the School of Dentistry.

Joana Cunha-Cruz, D.D.S., M.P.H., Ph.D., has joined the faculty of the UAB School of Dentistry to foster research collaborations and support the work of the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN).

An R21 award will help Hope Amm, Ph.D., further a lifelong journey of scientific discovery by advancing her research on genetics and signaling pathways in oral tumors.

There’s no question the rigors of dental school are just as demanding today as they were 50 years ago. While dentistry has changed in so many ways the past 50 years, the tight bonds developed between classmates remains a constant. Set to have their 50-year reunion in 2022, the Class of 1972 may be the tightest of them all.

UAB students in the 2021-22 class of Alabama Schweitzer Fellows

The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship (ASF) of Alabama recently announced the selection of its 2021-22 class of Alabama Schweitzer Fellows and UAB School of Dentistry is well represented.

Dr. Calvin Sanders attended Auburn University from 1965 to 1969, and remembers how much fun he had as an undergraduate student. Perhaps even a bit too much fun at first.

For one reason or another, the Medical College of Alabama in Birmingham chose not to accept Dr. Grady Price’s application to enter medical school for the fall of 1959. At the time, Dr. Price was studying pre-med at the University of Alabama and was preparing for a career as a physician when his plans abruptly changed.

Karter Smith accepts Dean’s Medal during Class of 2021 Commencement ceremony

UAB School of Dentistry honored over 150 Doctor of Dental Medicine graduates at its recent commencement ceremony. Held for the Class of 2021, the June 5 event also included members of the Class of 2020 who returned to celebrate in-person following a virtual ceremony last year.

Warren Arrasmith, D.M.D., associate professor and clinic director in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, was honored with the SSOMS Lifetime Achievement Award at the 72nd meeting of the Southeastern Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

The statue of Vulcan overlooking the Birmingham skyline.

Yuyin Lin, D.D.S., a third-year resident in pediatric dentistry, has been awarded the prestigious 2021 American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) Graduate Student Research Award (GSRA).

Whether it’s hunting big game, treating dental patients, or making a big time philanthropic gift, Dr. Bill Adams (’69) of Albertville, Ala., believes in going all out. Adams recently made an $800,000 planned gift commitment to endow a professorship for the UAB School of Dentistry. The dental school will realize the gift through his estate.