By Edward F. Rossomando, DDS, PhD, MS, and Mathew Moura
Biodontics seminar at the University of Michigan
Dr. Edward Rossomando and Mathew Moura held a seminar on Biodontics as part of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry’s Scholars Program in Dental Leadership on April 14. Dr. Russell Taichman, director of the Scholars Program and professor of dentistry in the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, invited Dr. Rossomando and Mr. Moura to present their seminar titled, “Biodontics: An Educational Program To Prepare You for Dental Practice after Graduation.”
Begun in August 2006, the Scholars Program in Dental Leadership (SPDL) completed a very successful first year. The participation of Dr. Rossomando and Mr. Moura in the SPDL represents an expanding collaboration with outside universities to promote Biodontics and the Biodontics Educational Programs.
Product Education and Research Laboratory expands
On March 30, 2007, Dr. Rossomando visited the headquarters of A-dec, Inc., in Portland, Ore., to discuss the expansion of the Product Education and Research Laboratory (PERL). Paula Vogel, director of marketing for A-dec, has worked with Dr. Rossomando and the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine’s administration on possibilities for PERL’s future.
The PERL program, one of the first facilities of its kind at any dental school in the world, was first developed at UCONN’s SDM by American Biodontics Society Certified Fellows Jason Tubo and David Sherberg, in conjunction with Dr. Steve Lepowsky, associate dean for clinical affairs, and Dr. Edward F. Rossomando, director of the Biodontics educational program and PERL faculty advisor.
The products and technologies used in the PERL program are loaned to the program by the dental industry. The goal of the program is twofold: dental students will have the opportunity to use dental products and technologies in the market but not in the dental school curriculum, and dental industries get their products and technologies tested by students - their next-generation customers.
Biodontics West Coast tour
From March 28 to April 10, Dr. Rossomando visited the Schools of Dentistry at the University of California Los Angeles and the University of Washington to promote the Biodontics Educational Program. At UCLA, Dr. Rossomando was the guest of Dr. David Wong, associate dean of research and a professor in the Division of Oral Biology and Medicine. At the University of Washington, his host was Dr. Martha Somerman, dean and a professor of Periodontics. Dr. Rossomando presented a talk on Biodontics titled “Dentistry: Your Career May Be at Risk.” His talk outlined the need for more bio-based technologies in the dental clinical experience.
Editor’s Note: Dr. Rossomando is the professor and director of the Center for Research and Education in Technology Evaluation (CRETE) and the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine in Farmington, Conn. He can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].
