Alumni Day <strong>2009</strong>Durinda Mattana, RDH, MS, Director <strong>of</strong> Continuing Education,and Michele Wheater, PhD, Director <strong>of</strong> ResearchThe Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Dearborn was buzzing with excitementon Friday, April 17, <strong>2009</strong> as over 200 <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Dentistry</strong> alumni,faculty, staff, and graduating dental and dental hygiene studentsgathered for the 8 th Annual Alumni Day. The day included amorning CE Program, the Alumni Recognition Luncheon, andthe Dean’s Reception.Alumni Board President Rodney Hyduk, DDS’74, MSD, providedwelcoming remarks and introduced the keynote speaker, John Sauk,DDS’67, MS, who presented the course, Oral and Crani<strong>of</strong>acialDisorders: Is it all a DNA ball game? The Alumni RecognitionLuncheon was held following the CE program. <strong>University</strong>President Gerard L. Stockhausen, S.J., PhD, provided the invocationbefore lunch. Following lunch, Dean Mert N. Aksu, DDS, JD,MHSA, provided an update on the innovations taking placewithin the <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Dentistry</strong>.Nicholas Fontana, DDS’72, presented the Alumnus <strong>of</strong> the YearAward posthumously to Dr. Paul Pokorny. Jonathon P. Wiens,DDS’73 MSD, then presented a $25,000 donation from Paul’sfamily, Semper Fi, classmates, collegues, and friends to completethe funding for the Pokorny Memorial. Paul had begun contributingtoward an operatory in the new clinic in recognition <strong>of</strong> hisfather, Dr. Don Pokorny. This contribution recognizes the entirePokorny family: father Don, son Paul, and grandson Aaron. Drs.Fontana and Wiens described the passion and commitment thatDr. Paul Pokorny displayed to his pr<strong>of</strong>ession and patients throughhis years <strong>of</strong> service to the <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Dentistry</strong>. Mrs. Rita Pokornytook the stage to accept the Alumnus <strong>of</strong> the Year award on behalf<strong>of</strong> her late husband, Dr. Paul Pokorny. Many <strong>of</strong> Paul’s familymembers and close friends were in attendance.Above: Raymond Skowronski, DDS’82, representingthe Academy <strong>of</strong> <strong>Dentistry</strong> International, presenteda check to Dean Aksu to support student researchat the <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Dentistry</strong>.Below: Speaker John Sauk, DDS’67, MSAlumni Board Member Mark Frenchi, DDS’78, MS, presentedthe Honorary Alumnus <strong>of</strong> the Year award to Larry Anderson, PhD,retired Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Biomedical Sciences, who taught anatomyat the <strong>School</strong> for 33 years. Dr. Anderson accepted the awardand shared humorous stories <strong>of</strong> his classroom experiences with22 The Leading Edge | Summer <strong>2009</strong>
Above: The Pokorny familyattending the luncheon. Left toright: Marci Pokorny (Don’swife), son Don Pokorny, wifeMrs. Rita Pokorny, brother-in-lawKevin Sullivan, sister PatriceDufour, <strong>of</strong>fice manager SuzanneGrose, and Paul’s mother Mrs.Patricia Pokorny.At right: Dean Aksu, <strong>University</strong>President Gerard L. Stockhausen,S.J., PhD, Jonathan Wiens, DDS’73,and William Berkowski, DDS’78,pose with the $25,000 checkmock-up for designation <strong>of</strong> thePokorny Operatory.At left: Left to right: RobertMarriott, DDS’75; MichaelMaih<strong>of</strong>er, DDS’78; andGeorge Bletsas, DDS’66.<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Detroit</strong> Mercy | <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Dentistry</strong> 23
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Dental Alumni Board2009-10President
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