with alumni; and a system to provide academic and advisory support for incoming freshmen. Beginning this academic year, the Office of Diversity and Community Outreach also looks to build stronger bridges between the many cultural clubs within the School, such as the Student National Dental Association, and the Hispanic, Indian, Korean, and other
student dental associations. She also hopes to encourage the groups’ faculty advisors to develop stronger mentoring roles with the student members. “I would like to have the smaller cultural groups interact with and support each other,” says Dr. Crawford. “All students at the School will benefit from greater inclusion and collaboration.”
OKU officers and the 2010 inductees at Senior Farewell in May.
2010 OMICRON KAPPA UPSILON INDUCTEES Penn Dental Medicine’s ETA Chapter of the Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society (OKU) held an induction ceremony for graduating students and honorary members during the Senior Farewell Dinner for the Class of 2010 on May 11. Established to promote and recognize scholarship and character among dental students, the Society selects a number of seniors consisting of up to 12 percent of each year’s graduating class from a list of at least the upper 20 percent based on scholarship, exemplary traits of character, and potential qualities of future professional growth. This year’s inductees included: Sooyeon Caritas Ahn, Sirisha Bhandaru, Daniel Marshall Cummins, Heather Colleen Desh, Raha Ghafurian, Stephanie R. Golubic, Kaushal P. Kapadia, Lauren M. Kovaleski, Victoria Lindsey Martin, Banafsheh S. Mehrbakhsh, Eric Jordan Novison, Shruti Oruganti, Prem Bharat Patel, Julee Christine Plastow, and Seung-Won Yoon. Additionally, Dr. Olivia Sheridan (D’90, GD’91), Clinical Associate Professor of Preventive and Restorative Sciences, was inducted as a Dental Honorary member and Susan Schwartz, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, was inducted as a non-Dental honorary member. OKU also presented the Dr. William S. Kramer Award of Excellence, given to a rising junior student who has demonstrated scholarship, character, and the potential promise for advancement of dentistry and service to humanity; this year’s recipient was Justin Messina (D’11). Following the ceremony, a special award was given to OKU Secretary-Treasurer Dr. Arthur Steinberg, Clinical Professor of Periodontics, who was declared an honorary alumnus of Penn Dental Medicine. Dr. Steinberg was recognized for his dedicated service to the School and his long-standing commitment to its students. Dr. Thomas Sollecito (D’89, GD’91), Chair and Professor of Oral Medicine-Clinician Educator, was elected President of the ETA Chapter of OKU, following the tenure of Dr. Uri Hangorsky, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Director of the PASS Program, who served in the role since 2008.
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Dr. Shalin Shah Receives William S. Kress Research Award
Dr. Shalin Shah (C’99, CGS’02, D'06, GD’10), Clinical Associate in the Department of Orthodontics and 2010 graduate of Penn Dental Medicine’s postdoctoral program in orthodontics, was recognized for his research with the 2010 William S. Kress Dr. Shalin Shah (C’99, CGS’02, D'06, GD’10) Research Award, presented by the Middle Atlantic Society of Orthodontists (MASO). He was honored during the Member/Business Meeting at the MASO Annual Session, held October 1 – October 3, in Palm Beach, Fla. The William S. Kress Research Award is presented each year to a graduate resident with the most outstanding research thesis in MASO's geographical area. Dr. Shah was selected for the Kress Award for his thesis titled "Type III Collagen Deficient Mice Exhibit Altered Craniofacial and Skeletal Development.” Composed of 1,150 members, MASO’s region includes the American Virgin Islands, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, District of Columbia, and the states of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania (east of the Alleghenies). MASO is one of eight constituent organizations that comprise the American Association of Orthodontists. “I am a strong believer in research, and I was thrilled to learn that MASO supports the work of residents,” says Dr. Shah. “I share this award with my advisor Dr. Sherrill Adams, Professor of Biochemistry; Dr. Robert L. Vanarsdall, Professor and Chair of the Department of Orthodontics; and the Penn Dental Medicine community. This has been a gratifying and humbling experience.”