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by Cindy Abole
Public Relations
It was a day filled
with dialogue and collaboration as
participants celebrated science and their
progress made in oral health-related
research as part of the James B. Edwards
College of Dental Medicine Scholars Day
Feb. 21.
This was the third
consecutive year that more than 150 dental
students, faculty and staff, residents and
post-doctoral fellows converged on the
Drug Discovery Building's lobby and
auditorium for this event.
 Drs.
Gabriel Ingraham, left, and Stephane
Malley, College of Dental Medicine Oral
Rehabilitation, grade a student's poster
presentation during the annual Dental
Medicine Scholars Day Feb. 21.
Martha J. Somerman,
DDS, Ph.D., director of the National
Institute for Dental and Craniofacial
Research, (one of eight centers that make
up the National Institutes of Health)
which is focused on improving oral, dental
and craniofacial health through research,
training and education, provided the key
note address.
Somerman, who is a
periodontist, researcher and educator,
spoke about how the institute is
structured, both physically and
financially, within the NIH as well as
highlighting important projects that
involve or interest students.
"Research is my passion
as are students. It is these students who
are our next generation of scientists. I
love the buzz, enthusiasm, questions and
energy of being in the presence of
students. I want them to realize that all
research is important. As NIDCR director,
my role is as a messenger for others in
research communicating their work and
progress," said Somerman, who makes an
effort to attend at least three or four
research day events nationally.
The event featured
table clinics and poster competition with
prize awards in three categories – junior
(dental students), senior (graduate-level
students) and postdoctoral (doctoral and
master of science in dentistry). First
place winners in the junior category will
compete in the 2013 American Dental
Association Meeting in November in New
Orleans. Second place winners will attend
the Hinmann Dental Meeting in March in
Atlanta and 10 honorable mention designees
will present their research at the S.C.
Dental Association Annual Session in May
in Myrtle Beach.
Keith L. Kirkwood, DDS,
Ph.D., associate dean for research and
professor and chair in the Department of
Craniofacial Biology and the Department of
Microbiology & Immunology, worked with
the College of Dental Medicine Research
Committee and other support staff in
managing this year's Scholars Day.
Kirkwood recognizes MUSC's research
status, growth and ongoing progress
achieved in the areas of oral and
craniofacial research.
Kirkwood, who is the
director of MUSC's Center for Oral Health
Research, manages NIH funding support
through an NIH Center grant mechanism to
grow research and develop the campus'
corps of basic and clinical oral health
scientists through the Training in
Craniofacial and Oral Health Research.
T-COHR is an integrated
training program that supports the
college's Dental Scientist Training
Program, doctoral-level training leading
to a doctorate in biomedical sciences or
bioengineering and post-doctoral research
training for dental scientists or
non-clinical doctoral scientists in the
areas of basic, translational or
bioengineering sciences research. The
program also provides support in
mentoring, career development and
scientific advancement.
Currently, MUSC's
dental school ranks in the top one-half of
NIH funding. It is a significant change
since the school was not in the ranking
almost 10 years earlier, Kirkwood said.
"We've experienced
significant growth under the vision of
College of Dental Medicine Dean John
Sanders (DDS). I'm proud to be part of
this growth," he said.
Friday,
March 15, 2013
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