Achievements & Awards

School of Dentistry faculty member Nisha D’Silva elected vice-president of AADOCR

March 15, 2024

Ann Arbor, Mich., March 15, 2024 – Members of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) have elected University of Michigan School of Dentistry faculty member Nisha D’Silva as vice-president of the national organization. Dr. D’Silva assumes the leadership position for 2024-25 at the conclusion of AADOCR’s 53rd annual meeting, being held …

University of Michigan School of Dentistry faculty member helps develop new recommendations for significant change related to dental X-rays

March 5, 2024

Ann Arbor, Mich., March 5, 2024 – A University of Michigan School of Dentistry faculty member helped develop a new recommendation by the American Dental Association (ADA) that is likely to affect millions of Americans during their future dental appointments. Dr. Erika Benavides was chair of an expert panel established by the ADA’s Council on …

School honors student, staff member with Ida Gray Awards on annual DEI Day

February 22, 2024

Ann Arbor, Mich., Feb. 22, 2024 – At its annual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Day on Tuesday, the School of Dentistry honored two individuals for their significant contributions to the school’s welcoming and inclusive community of students, faculty, researchers and patients. Since 1997, the centerpiece of the DEI Day program is a presentation of the …

February 19, 2024

Carlos Smith is the rare dentist who holds both a DDS degree and a Master of Divinity Degree. The combination of those interests has led Smith to a successful career in academia as a faculty member and Associate Dean at the School of Dentistry at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). In the process, he has gained …

Dr. Rodrigo Maia is new director of dental school’s Continuing Education program

January 24, 2024

Ann Arbor, Mich., Jan. 24, 2024 – School of Dentistry faculty member Dr. Rodrigo Maia is the new director of the school’s Continuing Dental Education program. This newly expanded position is responsible for leading the design and development of a continuing education program business plan for the school. Working closely with the Faculty CDE Advisory …

Student Profile: With a dual DDS and PhD, Ben Swanson brings a ‘clinician-engineer’ vision of scientific discovery and new technologies to clinical care

January 23, 2024

Ben Swanson’s seven-year sojourn in Ann Arbor has been an educational tour de force packed with clinical dentistry training, advanced scientific research, and business and entrepreneurial studies. When he leaves the University of Michigan School of Dentistry after commencement in May, he’ll hold a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree and a PhD in the Oral …

Jennifer Cullen appointed director of Dental Hygiene Division at School of Dentistry

January 16, 2024

Ann Arbor, Mich., Jan. 16, 2024 – School of Dentistry dental hygiene faculty member Jennifer Cullen has been appointed director of the school’s Dental Hygiene Division. Dr. Purnima Kumar, chair of the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, which oversees the division, announced the appointment Friday, ending a national search. Since 2016, Cullen has served …

Annual award presentation highlights staff service to School of Dentistry

January 3, 2024

Ann Arbor, Mich., Jan. 3, 2024 – During its annual event to acknowledge and honor the contributions of staff at the School of Dentistry, the school highlighted staff for service milestones as well as presenting the third annual Great Impressions Awards to staff in seven categories. The awards were presented in late November during a …

U-M Dental Student Wins Gold Medal in Parapan American Games

December 12, 2023

Ann Arbor, Mich., Dec. 12, 2023 – Fourth-year University of Michigan School of Dentistry student Leo Merle has added a world title to his resume. Merle recently returned from Santiago, Chile, where he took first place and the gold medal for Team USA in the 1,500-meter run at the 2023 Parapan American Games. The Parapan …

Dental school faculty member Isabelle Lombaert receives major innovation award

October 30, 2023

Ann Arbor, Mich., Oct. 30, 2023 – School of Dentistry faculty member Dr. Isabelle Lombaert, a principal investigator for research on finding solutions for dry mouth, or xerostomia, has received a major funding award of $500,000.  She is one of the 2023 recipients of the University of Michigan Medical School’s Frankel Innovation Initiative Award, a …