Educator/Research Committee
Dr. Mark Felton
Through the Educator/Research Committee, the SWSO once again committed funding this past year to the professional development of faculty at the four university orthodontic programs within the SWSO geographic region. The program is in its fourth year during which time a total of almost $100,000 has been distributed for orthodontic faculty development. Additionally, the program is still unique among the constituents of the AAO. In addition to professional development, it also provides an opportunity for faculty to network with their area colleagues regarding important issues facing orthodontic education. Each department received just over $5,600 for professional development of individual faculty members.
Faculty members were also encouraged to compete for an award contributing to the funding of research projects. After reviewing applications from each of the four orthodontic programs, Dr. Tarisai Dandajena from the University of Oklahoma was chosen as the 2006 recipient. His research project was entitled Role of Osteoblastic HIF Signaling as an Upstream Factor in Osteoclast Activation-Maturation. This research could eventually lead to a process of speeding up orthodontic movement. The award this year was in the amount of $6,000. After receiving the funds from the SWSO, Dr. Dandajena applied for and was awarded matching funding from the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry boosting the final award to $12,000.
The third and newest portion of the program consisted of a half-day Educator/Research Meeting, which took place during the SWSO Annual Session in September 2006 in Kansas City. Faculty representatives from all four university-based programs and the military program at Wilford Hall in San Antonio were in attendance. A wide range of subjects was discussed during this session. Everyone present agreed that these meetings are very positive and allow the programs to interrelate and learn from one another.
As I end my tenure on this committee, I want to thank the SWSO for its proactive and innovative efforts in supporting orthodontic educators. I also want to thank the other committee members, Drs. Hank Bussa and Kirt Simmons, for their great contributions. Dr. Tony Stretesky has been appointed to the committee. Additionally, Dr. Bussa is now chair of the committee.