Continuing Dental Education Goes Virtual for Alumni Day and Beyond
As the education landscape changes rapidly due to COVID, the LSU Health New Orleans School of Dentistry (LSUSD) Continuing Dental Education program is flexing its virtual muscle to offer courses via live stream to the dental community.
One signature event, held on September 26, was the annual Alumni Day. Broadcasted to over 200 participants, the all-day continuing education (CE) course featured world-renowned experts in orofacial pain. A joint effort of alumni relations and continuing dental education, the program highlighted the life and contributions of the school’s late dean, Henry A. Gremillion, DDS, MAGD, who suddenly passed away earlier this year. Each of the presenters, who knew Dr. Gremillion both professionally and personally, provided great insight into how he shaped and strengthened the field of orofacial pain over the years. A special video memorializing Dr. Gremillion, as well as multiple video tributes from dental colleagues across the nation, were a part of the presentation.
Live-streaming CE enables dentists and dental hygienists in small rural communities to attend educational programs safely and easily without the added expense of traveling to larger cities, where most courses are held. According to Bob Leaman, LSUSD CE director, “Nationwide during 2020, we have seen the vast majority of continuing dental education courses convert from in-person courses to live-streaming courses. We have also seen the number of live “hands-on” courses decrease significantly. Next year, I believe we will continue to see a growth in the number of virtual courses offered, as well as growth in the number of “hybrid” CE courses that are part online and part in-person.” In the coming months, three of the school's largest CE courses will be held only virtually in light of the COVID pandemic.
The school's continuing education program operates under the umbrella of a separate non-profit organization -- the Louisiana Academy of Continuing Dental Education, Inc. Established over 40 years ago to provide quality continuing education to dental professionals in Louisiana and across the country, the organization has been a major contributor in support of the LSU Health School of Dentistry's four-fold mission of education, patient care, research and outreach.
Please spread the word and consider joining us virtually in the coming months. We appreciate your support!
New Advanced Education Program Directors
Dr. Dale Misiek was appointed the director or the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery residency program. He joined LSUSD as a professor in 1982. He received his DMD from the University of Connecticut and completed his oral & maxillofacial surgery residency at LSU in 1982. Dr. Misiek has been a longtime supporter of the program as both an alumnus and a faculty member.
A two-time graduate of LSU Health School of Dentistry, Dr. A. Fred McMullen was appointed as director for the Department of Endodontics postgraduate program. He received his DDS in 1987 and a certificate in endodontics in 1989. A longtime supporter, Dr. McMullen is past-president of the LSUSD Alumni Association and was named Alumnus of the Year in 2006.
Welcome to New Faculty Members
In July, Dr. Amir Nejat joined the Department of Prothodontics as an assistant professor.
Dr. Nejat completed the prosthodontics program at LSUSD this year, received his Master of Science in Dentistry from the University of Alabama in 2017, and his DDS from Mashhad Dental School in Mashhad, Iran.
Also in July, Dr. Jorge Perera joined the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry as a a clinical assistant professor. He graduated from LSUSD with a DDS in 1990.
In August, Dr. Eswar Kandaswamy joined the Department of Periodontics as an assistant professor. He joins us from The Ohio State University where he served as the chief resident in his graduate periodontics class this year. He is a graduate of the Sri Ramachandra University in Chennai, India.
|
Two OMS Residents Honored for Going Above and Beyond |
|
Two residents in the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery are being honored for their efforts during the early days of the COVID Pandemic. Residents Chris Kim and Michael Certa volunteered as "ICU interns" to care for critically-ill COVID infected patients. Many of the patients were on ventilators. Kim and Certa were the first LSU Medical students and the only medical students, as of now, who volunteered for the COVID-ICU at UMC. They provided 140 hours of care in late March and early April while continuing as full-time medical students at LSU Health. Under the supervision of Drs. Kantrow and Happel, Chris Kim and Michael Certa took first calls every four days. The pair have earned the title "Gold Humanism Honor Society Students" of the Spring 2020 semester. Thank you Drs. Kim and Certa for serving as an example of integrity, service, respect and empathy to your peers!
|
|
|
