Explorer WINTER 2025 . VOLUME 13
PENN DENTAL MEDICINE VERNON BRIGHTMAN RESEARCH SOCIETY NEWSLETTER
CONTENTS 2 VBRS Executive Board
2 Upcoming Events 3 Research Speed Dating 3 VBRS Faculty/Student Research Mixer
4 Student Programs 5 Jessica Winarto, D’26 6 DMD Research 7 AADOCR 8 Yu-Cheng Chang, DDS, MS, DMD
9 Bisrat Demissie, D’27 10 Hyeran Helen Jeon, DDS, MSD, DScD
11 Marvin Min, D’27 12 Chrissie (Nadasinee)
Jaruchotiratanasakul, DDS
13 Amy Lin, DMD 14 DMD Student Publications 15 2024 Student Presentations 16 John Button, D’26
A MESSAGE FROM VBRS C0-PRESIDENTS Dear Penn Dental Medicine, We are excited to present the Winter 2024-25 edition of PDM Explorer, brought to you by the Vernon Brightman Research Society (VBRS). As the primary student research organization at Penn Dental Medicine and the local chapter of the National Student Research Group (NSRG) affiliated with the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR), VBRS plays a vital role in connecting research activities at PDM with the broader student community. Named in honor of Dr. Vernon J. Brightman, a former faculty member and passionate advocate for student research, VBRS has carried forward his vision for more than twenty years. We take pride in our ongoing commitment to promoting interest and active involvement in innovative research across basic science, clinical practice, and public health within the dental field. In this thirteenth edition of PDM Explorer, we are thrilled to share the latest developments and our continued efforts to inspire student engagement in research at Penn Dental Medicine. To kick off the fall semester, we hosted a virtual Research Speed Dating Event, bringing together student mentors with expertise in basic and translational sciences, clinical research, and public health both at PDM and NIH/NIDCR. The event aimed to provide a snapshot of the broad and ever-evolving field of dental research, as well as to create a platform for student researchers to share their experiences and what motivated them to be involved with research. With continuous advancements in technology and innovation, the research landscape is expanding, as demonstrated by the diverse areas of expertise represented by our student panel. This event highlighted the wide range of research opportunities available to students across various disciplines. The highlight of the semester was our Annual Student-Faculty Research Mixer. With over 80 students and faculty of a wide array of disciplines participating, the event was a vibrant hub for networking and collaboration, providing a strong boost to student research at PDM. We are energized and inspired to continue advancing our mission of promoting and expanding student research at Penn Dental Medicine in the years to come. In this edition of the PDM Explorer, we are excited to spotlight some of the exceptional students and faculty who are at the forefront of driving research innovation and progress at PDM and beyond. You will also have the opportunity to read about our NSRG Nominee for PDM and a Resident Spotlight. We remain committed to advocating for increased student involvement in research and are grateful for your continued support. We hope you enjoy the Winter 2024-25 edition of PDM Explorer. Sincerely, JESSICA HAO D’26 AND JULIE HONG D’26 VBRS Co-Presidents