SIU SDM Research Day Highlights Impact of Exploration and Investigation
The Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SDM) emphasized the significant, global impact of research and scholarship for practitioners and patients at its 2016 Research Day held Tuesday, April 12.
The event began with a presentation on “The Role of the Astute Clinician in Therapeutic Innovation” by guest speaker Dr. Sharon Gordon, the inaugural associate dean for research and chair of foundational sciences at the East Carolina School of Dental Medicine.
“We have the need to continually validate evidence and modify our practice in light of new evidence,” Gordon said during her presentation. “The intent is not just to improve patient care, but also the public health. What we see in our research might be called efficacy, but what we see in the population we serve is effectiveness.”
Following the plenary speaker, SDM Y2, Y3 and Y4 students, displayed their research posters. The Student Table Clinic Exhibition featured 16 mentored projects, involving students and faculty, and two faculty produced projects.
“Sometimes as students you take a very short-term approach to the curriculum, thinking of the day-to-day needs like Monday’s quiz or next week’s exam,” said Anita Joy, PhD, director of research at the SIU SDM. “But with research, it allows students to do very detailed work and think of the bigger picture, the global impact.
“These students may be working with something in a petri dish or testing a particular material. What may seem like a low-key project, in the long run, may have a significant impact on how they will treat patients and how they will potentially change the face of therapeutics and diagnostics.”
Student Joshua Welborn, Y2, was named the winner of the student table clinic competition for his research project “Genetic Comparisons in Normal and Cancerous Human Salivary Gland Cells.”
“My project was trying to determine genetic differences between normal and cancerous human salivary gland cells,” Welborn said. “We used a fairly new technique to measure the levels of gene expression in those cell lines, and determined significantly different levels in the cancerous cells.”
Welborn’s research is a foundational project that could lead to more unique and impactful research in the future, including further investigation into inhibiting the progression of cancer.
His first place prize includes an all-expense paid trip to present his research at the ADA/DENTSPLY Student Clinician Research Program being held October 2016 in Denver.
Also receiving accolades for his research is SDM Y4 student Brandon Yeager. Yeager won the Best Student competition at the American Association of Oral Medicine for his research on a potential new way to diagnose diabetes.
“I’m passionate about research because it’s something that continues to inspire and develop new ideas,” said Yeager. “My research is looking for a molecule in saliva that can be used to diagnose diabetes in a way that is easier for our patients and more effective for the practitioners.”
“The bottom line is do no harm to your patient,” Joy concluded. “Each of these projects are small steps that as student and faculty members we take to further that motto. Ultimately, that’s what the SDM is – a dental school training competent clinicians to ethically and scientifically ‘do good’ for their patients.”
Photos: The event’s guest speaker was Dr. Sharon Gordon, the inaugural associate dean for research and chair of foundational sciences at the East Carolina School of Dental Medicine.
Student Joshua Welborn, (L) winner of the student table clinic competition receives his award from ADA/DENTSPLY representatives.
