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$125,000 in services provided on Dental Day
February 4, 2008 on 10:30 am | Dental Day | No CommentsDental Day video on YouTube
February 4, 2008 on 8:31 am | Dental Day | No Comments|
Video from Dental Day activities at the College of Dentistry has been posted on YouTube. About $125,000 in dental care was provided to about 230 underserved from several different Nebraska communities during Dental Day. Click on the headline below to see footage from the event. UNMC College of Dentistry Dental Day Video 1 |
UNMC 2007 Research Awards
January 14, 2008 on 2:08 pm | Kudos | No CommentsCongratulations to Doctors Keith Johnson and Jim Wahl, Department of Oral Biology, who are recipients of UNMC 2007 research awards. Dr. Johnson received the Distinguished Scientist Award, which is presented to those who have a history of leading an outstanding research program, publishing the results in journals of the highest quality, and showing the ability to attract and retain extramural funding. Dr. Wahl is the recipient of the New Investigator Award, which is presented to those who have won their first NIH research award in the most highly competitive “R” series.
Did you know…
December 7, 2007 on 10:23 am | News | No CommentsThe UNMC dental class of 2009 had a 100 percent passing rate on the National Dental Board Examination, Part 1 and ranked No. 4 among the 56 dental schools in the United States?
UNMC College of Dentistry class of 2007 is No. 1 on national board exam
October 10, 2007 on 10:00 am | News | No CommentsLisa Spellman, UNMC public affairs
The results of part two of the national board exam for the 44 dental students, who graduated this year is in and the UNMC College of Dentistry is celebrating. The graduating class of 2007 had the highest overall average score in the nation on the examination taken by all of the nation’s dental students.
Students in their final year of dental school take Part 2 of the American Dental Association’s National Board Examination via computer sometime during their senior year. UNMC recently learned that, when all the scores in the U.S. were compiled and averaged, its students finished first on the test. There are 56 dental schools in the United States.
“We have never finished number one before,” said John Reinhardt, D.D.S., dean. “I’m really proud of our students and the faculty who taught them.”
In looking at records dating back to 1991 the UNMC College of Dentistry has only reached the number two spot for highest average score on part two of the national board exam, he said. The average comprehensive standard score for UNMC College of Dentistry students was 84.9, which is 4.1 points above the national average of 80.8.
“Students entering the UNMC College of Dentistry have had the highest grade point average for 10 years out of the past 14,” Dean Reinhardt said. “During the past 14 years the UNMC College of Dentistry or Harvard’s School of Dental Medicine have been the only two schools which have had the distinction of having the highest entering G.P.A,” he said
Alumnus Dr. Bernard Doyle gives gift to dental college
September 26, 2007 on 8:52 am | News | No Comments| by Dorothy Endacott of the University of Nebraska Foundation |
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A UNMC College of Dentistry alumnus has made a major gift to the University of Nebraska Foundation to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his graduation. Bernard J. Doyle, D.D.S., M.D., a resident of Texas, has made a gift of more than $100,000 to create an endowed faculty position at the dental college. Doyle’s gift will be announced at a dinner Thursday evening to coincide with the college’s annual dental reunion celebration weekend. “Supporting faculty is a top priority, and Dr. Doyle’s generous gift will allow us to create a fully endowed fellowship at the college,” said College of Dentistry Dean John Reinhardt, D.D.S. A fellowship allows the college to provide a salary stipend to a faculty member to enhance teaching, research and/or program development. Fellowships are generally awarded to faculty based on their teaching and research ability and accomplishments. Dr. Doyle credits his professional success to the University of Nebraska. “The University of Nebraska made me the person I am today,” he said. “I am deeply indebted to the University of Nebraska College of Dentistry and I hope my gift will make some difference.” Dr. Doyle said that in addition to the camaraderie of his small class, it was the faculty of the dental school that made his experiences at the university so meaningful. Read more… |
Dentist fills need in small town
September 19, 2007 on 11:41 am | Alumni | No Comments
by Elizabeth Kumru, UNMC public affairs
Jesse Neal, D.D.S., knew that opening a dental clinic in Alma, Neb., population 1,214, would mean a significant out-of-pocket investment. What he didn’t realize was the payoff waiting for him and the community.
In Alma, an agricultural town with a tourist appeal on the northwest shore of Harlan Lake, the average person is 46 years of age and makes around $28,600 a year.
There are about 600 houses within the city limits, which covers less than a square mile. Unemployment is 3 percent and the cost of living is 28 percent below the national average. The last dentist closed shop five years ago and until October 2006, Alma residents traveled at least 30 miles to Holdrege or Franklin for dental care. For people living in the town’s retirement center, a dental appointment meant a group bus trip.
Dr. Neal, a 2003 UNMC College of Dentistry graduate and North Platte native, changed that when he set his sights on Alma about a year ago.
“I heard, for a long time, that Alma needed a dentist and then I saw their information at the college’s practice fair in the spring of 2006. My wife and I visited the town, and we were impressed. We thought it would be a great place to raise our young family,” Dr. Neal said.
Negotiations began with the Alma Development Corporation, and a match was made. Dr. Neal invested more than $300,000 to create a state-of-the art, digital office. Paper charts do not exist. He is especially proud that his is the first private dental office in the state
designated as a telehealth site, which means he can consult with UNMC experts in Lincoln and Omaha through a live feed.
Likewise, the town invested in its new dentist. As an incentive to move to Alma, the development corporation renovated the old dental clinic, gave Dr. Neal a year holiday on his lease and an option to purchase the building.
As a further incentive, the town of Alma, with state matching funds, promised to help Dr. Neal repay his student loans to the tune of $20,000 a year for three years.
Together, the town and development corporation blanketed the entire area with grand opening announcements, and Dr. Neal’s practice was off to a solid start.
For this one-time investment, the payback to the community is more than doubled every year, according to John Reinhardt, D.D.S., dean of UNMC’s College of Dentistry.
“Research has shown that, on average, the addition of a single dentist to a community has an economic impact of more than $1.2 million annually. This impact can be a tremendous boost to the local economy of a small town,” Dr. Reinhardt said, quoting an article from the Journal of the American Dental Association.
But, it’s not all about money and building a practice, as Dr. Neal discovered. It’s also about building a home.
When his wife was prescribed bed rest before their third child was born, the people of Alma helped with the children, cooked meals and cleaned their house.
“The people here not only opened their pocketbooks, they opened their hearts. They are generous of spirit,” he said.
Photo: Alma residents stand behind the town‘s new dentist, Dr. Jesse Neal. His wife, Seri, and children, Addison, 2, Isaiah, 4 months, and Jakin, 1, are part of his support system.
Article from Connect, a magazine for the alumni and friends of UNMC.
Incoming student’s GPA highest in the nation
September 11, 2007 on 10:09 am | News | No CommentsThe College of Dentistry brought in 45 first-year dental students as well as 24 new dental hygiene students. The new enrollees bring total enrollment in the college to 266, which includes 35 graduate and post graduate students. For nine of the past 13 years, the first-year dental students at the UNMC College of Dentistry have ranked number one with the highest grade point average (GPA) among all dental schools.That tradition could well continue this year, said Dean John Reinhardt, D.D.S., as this year’s GPA for entering students is 3.83.
He noted that 940 applicants applied for the 45 slots in this year’s dental class, and that the 26 women (58 percent) in the first-year dental class represent an all-time high. The dental hygiene class had a 3.57 GPA and includes four students at the Panhandle Health Center in Gering, Neb. “It’s interesting to note that two of these four dental hygiene students are men,” Dr. Reinhardt said, “and normally, most of our hygiene students are women.”
COD celebrates white coat ceremony
September 9, 2007 on 9:17 am | News | No Comments
The UNMC College of Dentistry in Lincoln recently welcomed 69 new students to its campus. Of those, 45 students are pursuing a doctorate of dental sciences degree and 24 are dental hygiene students. Their white coat ceremony was Aug. 24.
Photos:
Freshman dental student Jennifer Jones, sporting her new white coat, with her parents, Clayton and Joanie Jones.
From left, Dr. Shawn Powell presents a white coat to first-year dental student, Esther Pedersen.
College of Dentistry celebrates pediatric clinic renovation
August 14, 2007 on 9:23 am | News | No Comments![]() |
| Dental student Gary Lehn, aka “Ortho Man,” visits with a child undergoing treatment in the newly renovated pediatric dental clinic during Children’s Dental Day earlier this year at the UNMC College of Dentistry. The picture on the wall was created by College of Dentistry alumnus, Dr. Jane Bennett, and was added as part of the clinic’s renovation. |
LINCOLN — The UNMC College of Dentistry late last month celebrated recent gifts made to the newly renovated pediatric dentistry clinic. Private donations made through the University of Nebraska Foundation enabled the college’s pre-doctoral pediatric dentistry program to purchase 10 flat-screen televisions for patient viewing and four pieces of original art for areas of the clinic.
Scott Hamilton, D.D.S., director of the pre-doctoral pediatric dentistry program, said the gifts have created a more comfortable environment for both the patients and employees.
“Adding the monitors and the artwork to the clinic was a terrific finishing touch,” Dr. Hamilton said. “We get more of the ‘wow’ factor now from our patients and their families.”
Before the renovations and the gifts, Dr. Hamilton said the open clinic was in great need of renovation.
“The clinic first opened in 1968 and had never been updated or remodeled,” he said. “After years of use, it was time for everything to be redone.”
Dr. Hamilton said the 20-inch ceiling mounted TV screens are a hit among the young patients, who can now watch their favorite shows while getting dental work done.
“They help kids get through a difficult dentist visit and are terrific for helping kids who have some anxiety about visiting the dentist,” he said.
The high definition video system was a gift from Dr. Tom Barth, a pediatric dentist, and Sandy Barth, a dental hygienist, who are both graduates of the College of Dentistry and live in Manhattan, Kan. Read more…




