Page 13 - Dentistry Magazine 2022

Campus Connections 13
Sangeeta Yadav, BDS, MDS, adjunct associate professor of prosthodontics, received the
Dr. Jacob Hyson Award for the best scientific article in the Journal of Pros- thetic and Implant
Dentistry. She won the award, presented by the Indian Prosthodontics Society—Kerala State Branch, for her work entitled “Aware- ness, knowledge and attitude of prostho- dontists and other dental practitioners towards precision attachments: a survey.” Yadav’s work, which stems from collabora- tions at her previous institution, explores providers’ comfort levels with precision attachments that aid in the support of removable and fixed prosthetics. Based on findings that suggest dentists need more support in using attachments, she hopes
to conduct workshops and conferences to train dentists, students and technicians in their use. “It felt great to receive the award,” Yadav reflected. “It is an excellent validation, and it gives me confidence that we can do more and do better.”
Students excelled in and out of the classroom this year, and they won the awards to prove it.
Mohammed Akl, DDS, MS ’22, received the
2022 University
of Minnesota President’s Student Leadership and Service Award. Each year, the award recognizes
the accomplishments and contributions of outstanding students and leaders at the University of Minnesota. Akl completed
his residency in prosthodontics before becoming a clinical assistant professor of prosthodontics. Akl appreciates the art involved in prosthodontics and the ability to change lives. “Most patients that present for complex prosthodontic care require very careful analysis, systematic treatment planning and thinking outside the box,”
he said. “Being able to directly impact so many different aspects with your arsenal of restorative dentistry skill sets makes prosthodontics a unique specialty.”
Sofia SooYoung Park, DDS ’25, won first place
in the Student Competition
for Advancing Dental Research Application Basic and Translational Science Research
category at the American Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research’s Annual Meeting. Her presentation stemmed from a project completed as part of the Student Summer Research Program under Kim Mansky, PhD, determining whether there are differences between osteoclast precursors found in the mandible and those found in the femur. Park was “shocked”
and grateful to receive the award, and considered it an inspiration to keep digging into questions that matter the most to her. “I learned so much through this experience, and it felt great to challenge myself and step out of my comfort zone,” she said.
“I am so proud of the work that we did in the Mansky lab, and was so happy to share the news with everyone.”
Dira Putri, PhD Candidate in the Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology Program, is the inaugural recipient of the Shelley N. Grimes Conference Travel Fellowship award. The fellowship honors Shelley Grimes, PhD, former professor and virology researcher who passed away in 2017. It supports a student researcher participating in a professional meeting
and presenting their research. Putri
used the funds to present her research
on Kobuviruses, a poorly-understood
and emerging viral pathogen, at the Keystone Symposia on Viral Immunity
and Respiratory Viruses. She is grateful
for the award and inspired by Grimes’s
own research in virology that continues to impact researchers today. “Although
I never got the chance to know her personally, I’m forever grateful for her dedication as a woman in virology,” Putri reflected. “Now that I’m the recipient of her award, I’m excited to carry on her legacy to persevere through the ups and downs of my scientific career.”
Find yourself on these pages.
Become part of the
Moos Tower community
as an adjunct professor for the School of Dentistry. Positions are available
in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Periodontics, Prosthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Operative Dentistry, Endodontics and Outreach. Visit hr.umn.edu/jobs/find-job to learn more.