The Dean’s High 5 – December 2019

Everyday, there are special achievements and newsworthy headlines happening at the School of Dentistry. In effort to give proper acknowledgement 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.

Congratulations on your hard work – you make Detroit Mercy the place to lead and learn.

Professor Zhou featured on cover of Journal of Clinical Periodontology

Zheng Zhou, D.D.S., Ph.D., associate professor, and his team’s research was featured on the cover of the December 2019 issue of the Journal of Clinical Periodontology. Their study revealed that cannabis components can promote periodontal wound healing and regeneration by enhancing cell adhesion and migration. The title of their article was “Activation of cannabinoid receptors promote periodontal cell adhesion and migration.”

Third-year dental student awarded prestigious scholarship

Congratulations to Mouhamadou Seydi, DS3, who was awarded a scholarship from the Wolverine Dental Society (WDS). The scholarship was awarded to only three SNDA students. Wolverine Dental Society was founded in 1934 by a small group of African American dentists in Detroit; it was created as a direct result of the racism and exclusion experienced by black dentists in the other professional organizations. WDS has continued to grow and work diligently to advance opportunities for the African American Dentist, build relationships throughout the dental community, and to serve their patients in underserved communities.

Student Services initiatives awarded grants from the University

The University awarded two Mission Micro Grants to the School of Dentistry to improve Student Services initiatives. One grant will fund supplies and materials for a lactation room to continue to support student parents. The other grant will help to sustain the school’s Our Family Pantry initiative.

Fourth-year dental student recruits at Health Professions Fair

Fourth-year dental student, Antonia Neal represented the School of Dentistry at the Bowie State University (BSU) in Bowie, Md. on Wednesday, Nov. 13. BSU hosted a Health Careers Open House, which included a Health Professions Fair where pre-health students could learn about various programs they may wish to pursue in the future. Neal, a Maryland native, provided interested students with a first-hand perspective on the learning experience and student life at Detroit Mercy Dental, serving as an influential representative in assisting us recruit top candidates to join the School of Dentistry.

Happy Holidays!

Thank you to all of you who do so much for our students and alumni. We wish each of you and your families a safe and meaningful holiday season! May this time of year give us all a chance to demonstrate compassion and good service to one another. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!