Recent Events

1 // Bay Cliff Health Camp // Aug 18

Select dental students traveled to the Upper Peninsula to treat special needs campers at Bay Cliff Health Camp, including (left to right) Shelby Koschuck, DS4, Erica Eden, DS3, Brian Van Rooyen, DS3, Elizabeth Macchione, DS4, Steven Santarossa, DS3, Amelia Volkert D3 and Garrett Marchant, DS4. It was a wonderful experience for the students who now feel more comfortable treating special needs patients.

2 // Lucy Hobbs – Women in Dentistry // Aug. 22

The Lucy Hobbs Project YOU Event provided an empowering evening for women in dentistry. Professionals gathered for networking, mentorship and to celebrate one another. Special thanks to moderator, Aimee Matthews, DS3 and panelists (left to right) Stephanie Pajot, R.D.H. ’02, B.S. ’02, Tamika Thompson, D.D.S. ‘02, M.S. ’11, Khadije Hussein, D.D.S. ’18, Bianca Boji, D.D.S. ’16 and Erica Grunwald, D.D.S. ‘01

3 // ADA FDI Alumni Reception // Sept. 6

Approximately 50 alumni gathered for a reception at the ADA FDI Society World Dental Congress in San Francisco. It was a wonderful time to catch up with familiar faces including Kristen Kemmer, D.D.S. ’14, Gabriel Holdwick, D.D.S. ’14, Andrew Nguyen, D.D.S. ’14, and Tiki Lam, D.D.S. ’14.

4 // Titan 10 Unite // Sept. 12

Alumni who graduated less than 10 years ago and students gathered at Founders Brewing Co. to connect and network. Delicious food and craft beer are part of what drew guests, but the conversation is what made them stay! Photographed left to right: Jenna Zelek, R.D.H. ’01, B.S.’01, Kimberly Raleigh, R.D.H. ’01, M.H.S.A. ’06., Director of Alumni Relations, Michael J. Vilag, D.D.S. ’13, Basam Shamo, D.D.S. ’13, and Sarmad Alyas-Askar, M.S., D.D.S.’13, M.S.

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5 // Oral Cancer Walk // Sept. 14

SNDA shined a spotlight on oral cancer when the group hosted its annual Oral Cancer Walk in downtown Detroit. A free health fair for the public preceded the walk; in total, 20 individuals were screened for oral cancer. After the fair, 60 students, faculty, staff and friends of Detroit Mercy Dental walked through the city wearing matching shirts and carrying signs to spread their important message.

6 // Homecoming // Sept. 20-22

Professor Stephen Legel’s 1966 Ford Thunderbird Landau received the People's Choice award at the 2019 Homecoming Classic Car Show. Photographed (left to right) are Legel with Jennifer Bowen, who helped organize the show, and third-year dental students Michaela Wiseman and Bayan Aloran.

7 // Men’s Health Event // Sept. 21

For the ninth consecutive year, faculty, staff and student volunteers attended the MIUMen’s Health Foundation event at Ford Field. The group provided head and neck evaluations and oral cancer screenings to event attendees as shown by Grant Prior, DS3. It was a busy day with a total of 438 individuals screened; 50 received abnormal readings and five were referred for biopsy.

8 // Hard Hat Tour // Oct. 24

Select guests, including Michael Vilag, D.D.S. ’13, Mario Tomei, D.D.S. ’92, Peter Namou, D.D.S. ’17 and Sarmad Alyas-Askar, M.S., D.D.S. ’13, M.S. enjoyed an exclusive hard hat tour of the much-anticipated enhanced main entrance and patient reception area. The event included a reception in the library where guests also received a first look at two recent building renovations, the Misch Study Space and Alumni Study Space.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Vaijanthi Oza, D.D.S. ’98 will serve as a representing dentist on the Michigan Board of Dentistry Appointments, which was recently announced by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitner.