2024: A Year in Review
It’s been an exciting year at Adams School of Dentistry, and we’d like to look back at some of the impactful, poignant and amazing moments we’ve had during 2024.
In January, we had an all-school kickoff where Janet Guthmiller, DDS, PhD, dean, ASOD, gave an all-school address highlighting some of the good news to come this year, including SHRA salary adjustments. Faculty and staff were also able to complete training
and calibration in areas of interest. Two of our researchers also received an NIH planning grant to research TMD.
A DDS student plays a fishing game with a child.
February is always a favorite month for ASOD because of Give Kids a Smile, which featured an “Under the Sea” theme. We were able to offer free oral health care to kids and their families, and we enjoyed a visit from UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts. Our alumni were also doing great things during this month, and we featured the work ASOD Latia Smith was doing writing children’s books on oral health care.
March was a month for our researchers to shine during the annual Research Day event! Jennifer Webster-Cyriaque, DDS, was the featured speaker and attendees enjoyed presentations from every aspect of oral health research. We were also fortunate to receive an endowed gift for our Endodontics program, courtesy of ASOD alum Stuart Fountain. And of course, who could forget our favorite time of year, March Madness!
April saw our faculty, staff and students attend national meetings and make an impact in oral health care among peers in the industry. We were also able to hold our White Coat ceremonies for dental hygiene and DDS students.
Class of 2024 DDS graduates move their tassels as they graduate from UNC Adams School of Dentistry.
May is always a great time of year for us, as we hold our commencement ceremony! The annual Spurgeon Awards honored faculty and students who stand out among their peers and the oral health care profession.
June was a bittersweet month, as we wished Paul Gardner, our former associate dean for advancement, well in his retirement. We’re still missing Paul around here!
In July, research was published that highlighted how people with special needs can benefit from teledentistry. Researchers at UNC Adams School of Dentistry found that teledentistry could offer new avenues for treatments and diagnostics and could improve overall access to care.
August brought an exciting new school year for our dental hygiene and DDS students, and we held an all-school kickoff to welcome our students back and kick off the year in style. Two students stood out among their peers and wrote a children’s book about oral health care, inspired by a younger brother.
September featured an IPEP event, coordinated with the help of newly named ASOD IPEP Director Jeffery Stewart, DDS. The event brought together students from UNC’s health schools to learn more about each others’ professions and learn how to collaborate and improve health care for all.
ASOD’s favorite month of the year is October, and Halloween was another fun day for all! The ASOD Craniofacial Center also held several events, bringing together children with facial differences and their families. We held a successful DEAH DAY, where students, faculty and staff volunteered around the Triangle in honor of Deah, Yusor and Razan.
We had an exciting November for research, as TMD researchers were awarded an NIH grant. Researchers also made strides in orthodontics research, gaining national and global recognition for findings.
December is proving to be a great cap to an exciting year. We launched a new Research Seminar Series to explore topics across oral health care. And we’re looking forward to the annual Dean’s Holiday Breakfast to kick off the celebratory season!
We are looking forward to another great year in 2025. See you in January!
