Faculty News

Dr. Dimitris Tatakis, a professor in the Division of Periodontology at the College of Dentistry, was honored as the 2019 recipient of the American Academy of Periodontology’s award for Outstanding Periodontal Educator. The national award, presented during the American Academy of Periodontology’s annual meeting, is given to one recipient annually who is “an exemplary periodontal faculty member,” and whose career “demonstrates excellence in teaching and is an inspiration to students.”

Dr. Tatakis serves as the Graduate Periodontics Program Director and the Director of Global Initiatives at the College of Dentistry. He is also a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology. ■

Dr. Brian Foster, an Assistant Professor in the Division of Biosciences, was recently chosen as the inaugural recipient of the 2020 International Association for Dental Research (IADR) Centennial Emerging Leaders Award. This honor recognizes his “achievements in dental research and the potential to further contribute to the IADR and the scientific community worldwide.”

A faculty member in the college since 2015, Dr. Foster’s research focuses on the molecular biology of tooth root development and mineralization, with a special interest in genes, mechanisms, diseases, and novel regeneration strategies. His work has been consistently funded by grants from the National Institutes for Health - National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research, and his research has appeared in such publications as the Journal of Dental Research; the Journal of Proteomics; Bone; and the Journal of Periodontology. ■

Dr. Joen Iannucci, a Professor-Clinical in the Division of Dental Hygiene, was one of ten university faculty members who recently received an Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching. The award recognizes “superior teaching” and is awarded annually to faculty members who “demonstrate teaching excellence.” Faculty members are nominated by present and former students and colleagues and are selected by a committee of alumni, students, and faculty.

Since joining the college faculty in 1987, Dr. Iannucci has received 42 Outstanding Instructor and Student Government Teaching Awards, as well as the college’s Postle Teaching Award. She is also the author of two widely recognized textbooks, Dental Radiography: Principles and Techniques and Radiographic Interpretation for the Dental Hygienist.

Dr. Iannucci is currently the Division of Dental Hygiene clinic director. In this role she provides leadership for the clinical education of dental hygiene students. She also teaches a variety of didactic, laboratory and online courses in the Division of Dental Hygiene’s Baccalaureate Degree and Baccalaureate Degree Completion programs. ■

Motivated by a concern for the underserved and vulnerable pediatric populations for whom she and her colleagues provide dental care, Dr. Kim Hammersmith, Director of the Advanced Education Program in Pediatric Dentistry for the College of Dentistry and at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, submitted a $2.25 M grant proposal that was recently funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The project’s numerous goals include the creation of a curriculum to support a combined degree program at Ohio State that would simultaneously offer a Master of Science in dentistry and a Master of Public Health degree; utilizing innovations in teledentistry to provide much-needed patient care; and recruiting pediatric dentistry residents from underrepresented backgrounds whose experiences prepare them to care for children in need. ■