Research
An inside look into the future of dentistry By Jonathan Toma, Dental Class of 2022
In June 2019, several faculty, residents and student researchers attended the 97th General Session of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This year, the session was combined with the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) Annual Meeting, making it one of the largest dental conferences in the world. At the meeting, hundreds of lectures, presentations and demonstrations were provided by pioneers in the fields of dental materials, 3-D imaging, 3-D printing and more. Many of these presentations were to small groups, allowing attendees the opportunity to speak to the presenter to gain more insight about advancement in the field. As a student researcher, I was excited to represent University of Detroit Mercy in the AADR/Dentsply Sirona Student Competition for Advancing Dental Research and its Application (SCADA). This distinguished opportunity provided a unique perspective into dental research. During the two-day competition, I met dental students, faculty and dentists from around the world. I gained new insight into the breadth of dental student research and advancements in all facets of dentistry and oral health. This opportunity instilled in me a further understanding of the need for continued research and innovation in dentistry. The
Jonathan Toma, DS2 and assistant professor, Joshua Thomson, PhD.
future of dentistry is promising, and I saw this as I got an inside look at the research being done by colleagues. One of the best parts of the conference was learning more about the research of other students, residents and faculty at Detroit Mercy Dental. The research community at Detroit Mercy is full of amazing student researchers and wonderful mentors and our school had a large representation at the conference. My classmate, Nazanin Tanha, DS3, summed it up when she said, “We get the chance to elevate our knowledge, hang out with fellow researchers and
enjoy exchanging ideas and experiences in a friendly environment where everyone’s innovative ideas are respected and welcomed. At Detroit Mercy Dental, we have several research events each year organized by research faculty and students, but this conference was on a different level. This was an unforgettable experience!” Getting involved with research is something I would recommend to all students, even if you do not plan to pursue a career in academia. Attending the 2019 IADR was incredible, but only a small part of the gratification that being involved in research provides.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT Gabriel B. Holdwick, D.D.S. ’14 has volunteered as a speaker for the American Dental Association’s Success Program for the past several years. Through this initiative, the ADA sends guest speakers to dental schools around the country. He most recently spoke at Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry in Nashville, Tenn.
Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) Fellowship Award was presented to the following alumni at the Convocation Ceremony held during the 2019 AGD Scientific Session in July. Fellowship is obtained by completing extensive continuing education programs and passing the Fellowship Exam.
At the 2019 International College of Dentists Annual Convocation in September, Holdwick became a member of the International College of Dentists, a group representing 12,000 dentists from 122 countries around the world.
• Andrew Ambroski, D.D.S ’08 • Leena Bahu, D.D.S. ’00 • Heather Stratton, D.D.S. ’02 • Connie Tse-Wallestein, D.D.S. ’06 • Michael J. Vilag, D.D.S. ’13
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