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

M E S S AGE F RO M T H E D E A N■ ■ ■ ■Dear Alumni and Friends:All of us who work to sustain and advance oral health are certainlyattentive to the future of dentistry. Research is an increasinglysignificant part of that future; compelling discoveries are findingquicker translation from the laboratory to the operatory. In many cases,these research discoveries exceed what we previously thought was possible— which is exactly what research should do.During first-year DDS orientation,I told members of the Class of2012 that they had the distinctionof watching thefuture of dentistrybeing created rightbefore their eyes duringtheir time at theSchool: the DentalSciences Buildingconstruction project began in dramaticfashion soon after theyarrived, with the demolition of theDental Research Center and DentalOffice Building by the end ofOctober. We remain very hopefulthat – serious budget issues for ourstate notwithstanding – the actualconstruction of this state-of-the-artfacility will begin in 2009.In reflecting on our School’shistory, I’m sure Old DentalBuilding, Brauer Hall and TarrsonHall – three other “giants” of theSchool’s complex – provided thesame inspiration and promise as theDental Sciences Building when theywere in their planning stages. We’vecertainly seen that promise realizedin the case of all three. And I haveto mention the now-demolishedDental Research Center, which wascrucial in helping the Schoolestablish national leadership inpatient-centered research.Looking back on the differencethese buildings have made in helpingthis School advance oral healthwithin our state can only increaseour excitement for the DentalSciences Building.Continuing on the subject ofresearch, a few months ago I readabout a University of Florida studysuggesting a possible link betweenchronic ear infections and obesity.These fascinating study findingsresulted from research led by UF’sCollege of Dentistry. A bit surprising,isn’t it? Ear infections, obesity,dentistry – maybe these are notassociations we would naturallymake, but our world will see manymore such intriguing discoveries inthe coming decade.Our own UNC School ofDentistry recently establishedits North Carolina Oral HealthInstitute, which will stresscollaborative new ways to combineresearch and community partnershipsto advance patient care. The2Institute plans to collaborate withcommunities statewide, otheracademic units at UNC, otherUNC system universities and stateagencies in its important work onbehalf of our state’s citizens.The Institute is temporarilylocated at the School’s leasedResearch Triangle Park space duringthe Dental Sciences Building constructionprocess.Our School of Dentistry’sresearch faculty and staff are to becommended for their forwardthinkingapproach and for makingcollaboration with other healthaffairs schools on- and off-campusand state programs a priority for theInstitute. With programs like this,internationally recognized faculty,committed staff, talented studentsand a 216,000-square-foot DentalSciences Building project, thisSchool is well-positioned to sustainand enhance its national leadershipin education and research.If you have traveled to ourSchool of Dentistry in the past fewmonths, you likely have thoughtabout the future of dentistry on theUNC campus, as represented