Every day, special achievements and newsworthy headlines are happening at the School of Dentistry. In an effort to give proper acknowledgment and share these successes, please tune in for the monthly Dean’s High 5 as we acknowledge those responsible for the top five stories happening at Detroit Mercy Dental.
If you have news to share, click here to submit your story for a chance to be featured in an upcoming Dean’s High Five!
Kinaia and Sherman Surgical Suite**
Detroit Mercy Dental celebrated the dedication of the Kinaia and Sherman Surgical Suite, honoring the leadership and generosity of Assistant Director of Graduate Periodontics and Associate Professor Bassam M. Kinaia, D.D.S. ’99, M.S. ’08, and recognizing Adjunct Professor (ret.) Donald B. Sherman, D.D.S. ’63, M.S.cD., for decades of mentorship, teaching, and service.
The suite will continue to serve students and patients, and its new name recognizes the impact Kinaia and Sherman have had on generations of learners and the broader dental community.
We celebrate this enduring legacy and the remarkable contributions of Kinaia and Sherman.
ASDA Giving Tree Inspires Service and Community at Detroit Mercy**
University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry students participated in the American Student Dental Association (ASDA) Giving Tree initiative, which provided holiday gifts to two families in need. By coming together during the holiday season, students put compassion, service and whole-person care into action.
The ASDA Giving Tree reflects Detroit Mercy’s Jesuit and Mercy traditions, emphasizing community engagement, social responsibility and service to those most in need. Through this collective effort, students made a tangible impact while strengthening their connection to the mission and values that guide Detroit Mercy.
We commend the students involved for their generosity, leadership and continued commitment to service within the Detroit Mercy community.
Baghaie Excels in Historic Norwegian Foot March
Farzad Baghaie, a third-year Detroit Mercy Dental student, completed the Norwegian Foot March at Sheppard Air Force Base, finishing fourth among 140 competitors. He completed the 18.6-kilometer march in full uniform with a 30-pound rucksack in 3 hours, 50 minutes, earning the Norwegian Foot March Badge and military recognition.
The Norwegian Foot March is a long-standing endurance event and respected NATO tradition that recognizes physical readiness and perseverance. We congratulate Baghaie on the impressive accomplishment.
Kulbersh Honored with the Albert H. Ketcham Memorial Award**
Associate Professor Richard Kulbersh, D.M.D., M.S., will be honored by the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) as the recipient of the Albert H. Ketcham Memorial Award, one of the organization’s most distinguished honors. The award will be presented during the ABO Awards Night on Sunday, May 3, in conjunction with the American Association of Orthodontists Annual Session in Orlando, Florida.
The Albert H. Ketcham Memorial Award recognizes exceptional contributions to the specialty of orthodontics through education, research and service. Kulbersh’s career reflects a deep commitment to advancing the profession and mentoring future orthodontists.
We congratulate Kulbersh on this well-earned recognition and thank him for his leadership and dedication to the orthodontic community.
Michigan AADOCR Hosts First Joint Student Event**
The Michigan section of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR), led by Professor and Assistant Director of Research, Eric Krukonis, Ph.D., and Clinical Assistant Professor Manuela Spinola, D.D.S., M.Sc., Ph.D. along with Andrea Pobocik, D.D.S., Ph.D., M.S. from the University of Michigan, hosted Michigan’s first joint AADOCR student event. The program brought together students from the University of Detroit Mercy and the University of Michigan. Fourth-year dental student Ryan Elliot shared strategies for balancing research with the demands of dental school.
**These stories are mission and identity moments that highlight activities that reflect our Jesuit and Mercy values.