Winter 2009 - UNC School of Dentistry - The University of North ...

D E N TA L F O U N D AT I O N N EWS■ ■ ■ ■New Year, New Building to SupportDear Friends:Autumn has always struck me as a seasonof preparation. Nature, in its falling leavesand in the activities of our birds and othercreatures, shows us just how much activity isinvolved in preparing for the future.Well, this autumn, a group of people whodeeply value the UNC School of Dentistrylaunched a truly exciting initiative withpreparation for the future in mind. This is ourconcerted effort to help the alumni and othersupporters of this wonderful School learnmore about what the UNC Dental SciencesBuilding will do for dental education and howthey can be a part of the joy of bringing thisfacility to life.The Dental Sciences Building CampaignSteering Committee members have givenfreely of their time and wisdom to get us tothe point of launching this fund-raisingcampaign. Dr. Chuck Norman and I arechairing the steering committee, and I cantell you that it has been both an honor and aprivilege to work with Chuck, Dean Williamsand Brad Bodager and with the committeemembers. Through our meetings over thesummer, Chuck and I heard our fellowcommittee members ask questions and sharetheir own excitement about the DentalSciences Building. We count ourselves veryfortunate to go forward with their guidance.The Dental Sciences Building CampaignSteering Committee continues to work hardto organize events and gatherings where alumniand friends can learn more about the UNCDental Sciences Building project and howthey can support this great facility. Ourcommittee has set a fund-raising goal of$6 million.The Dental Sciences Building will have216,000 square feet of education, research andoffice and administrative space whencompleted in late 2011. We establishedworld leadership in dental research, which hasbeen housed in a 40-year-old building thatwas antiquated and had inadequate space.Approximately one-third of this new buildingwill be set aside for research.And just imagine returning to the Schoolto hear a renowned expert in dentistry speakthat evening in the 220-seat auditorium. Orcatching up with a classmate you haven’t seenin a while in the new atrium – with a caféconveniently nearby.Best of all, when I think about this newbuilding, I think of how the new classroomspace will enrich the lives and the educationof the students who learn at our dental schooland the faculty and staff who support them.All of us know a lot of great educationtook place in the two Quonset huts thatconstituted the dental school’s first buildings.Our School has a remarkable tradition ofexcellence in education, wherever it tookplace.But we all know, too, that technology andresearch are bringing changes to the practiceof dentistry, and it’s a remarkable opportunityto create a new building that will prepare ouryoung people and support faculty – withclassrooms that have the most up-to-datetechnology and flexibility.I well remember the days when NorthCarolina did not even have a dental school.Now look where we are! Thank you for allyou are doing to support the UNC Schoolof Dentistry and its missions of education,service, research and patient care.James A. Harrell Sr., DDSDental Sciences Building Campaign SteeringCommittee Co-ChairDENTAL SCIENCESBUILDING CAMPAIGNSTEERING COMMITTEEDr. Nona BreelandChapel HillDr. James “Jim” ElliottAshevilleDr. James Harrell Sr.Co-Chairman, ElkinDr. Jim HelsabeckWinston-SalemDr. Eugene “Gene” HowdenPinehurstDr. Richard Hunt IIIRocky MountDr. Mark HymanGreensboroDr. Bettie R. McKaigRaleighDr. Evan MillerCharlotteDr. Charles “Chuck” NormanCo-Chairman, GreensboroDr. B.C. RaynorGarnerDr. Kenneth M. SadlerWinston-SalemDr. Robert P. StoweWinston-SalemDr. Michael “Mike” TaylorBooneDr. Jack TeagueAshevilleDr. Mickey WebbCharlotteDr. William “Billy” WilliamsGreenvilleDr. Henry Zaytoun Jr.RaleighDr. Ted RobersonExecutive Director, UNC DentalAlumni AssociationBrad Bodager, JD, LLMExecutive Director, DentalFoundation of North CarolinaDr. John N. WilliamsDean, UNC School of DentistryWHAT IS THE DENTAL FOUNDATION OF NORTH CAROLINA?Chartered in 1950 by the UNC School of Dentistry’s founders, the Dental Foundation of North Carolina is the School’s non-profitfoundation. It raises funds from alumni, friends, corporations and foundations to provide exclusive support for students, facultyand programs at the UNC School of Dentistry. Assets in the Dental Foundation are overseen by its Board of Directors, most ofwhom are UNC School of Dentistry alumni. All contributions to the Dental Foundation of North Carolina are tax deductible andare, in short, contributions to the UNC School of Dentistry.33