Teaching and Learning

• Now known as the Indiana Model of Dental Education, the current curriculum was instituted in 1997 and is a dynamic blend of contemporary and traditional learning environments designed and continually refined to promote the principles of student centeredness, critical thinking, problem solving, evidence-based decision-making, competency-based clinical care, and lifelong learning. In addition, having now had ten years of experience with this curriculum, the faculty has undertaken an extensive two-year review and update, to ensure that the curriculum continues to be a leading and effective model.

• IUSD has remodeled both the Predoctoral Endodontic Clinic and the Graduate Periodontal Clinic. The clinics now include new state of the art equipment, digital radiography, electric handpieces for rotary instrumentation, two surgical suites, and other updates.

Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity

• Our faculty has been recognized for its aggressive approach to seeking external funding, especially federal support for research.  These efforts have resulted in funding from NIH as well as from prestigious health-oriented private foundations. 
• Among the current awards this year were:

• Dr. Andrea Ferreira-Zandona’s $3.4 million NIH/NIDCR R01 grant to study new methods for detecting early caries formation in high-risk populations is now in its second year.
• Dr. Margherita Fontana was awarded a $416,625 NIH-R21 grant to conduct a two-year exploratory study to address dental disparities through the use of dental sealants.
• Dr. Mythily Srinivasan’s research on CD80-binding peptides has resulted in a $215,170 NIH grant, titled “CD80 Binding Peptides as Therapeutic Agents in Arthritis,” and a $268,586 National Multiple Sclerosis Society award, titled “CD80 Binding Peptide Mimics in the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis.”
• Dr. Michael Kowolik recently completed an NIH-funded research project, titled "Dental Plaque Accumulation as a Risk Factor for Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)," for a total of $1,307,178.

• Our faculty continues to be involved in several Signature Centers and is using them as a springboard for future collaborative work:

• The Binational\Cross-Cultural Health Enhancement Center
• The Tobacco Cessation and Biobehavioral Center

Civic Engagement

• IUSD is emerging as a national leader in service learning in dental education.  In addition to their required rotations, 135 students volunteered to provide services to community-based public health programs. IUSD’s international service learning program added two sites, Guatemala and Brazil, to its long-standing annual programs in Mexico and Ecuador. 
• Closer to home, SEAL INDIANA continues to involve each fourth-year dental student in a three-day service learning rotation throughout Indiana.  The rotation, which includes broad preparation and reflection, increases students’ understanding of Title I (lowest income schools) Head Start programs, community health centers, homeless shelters, and programs for children of seasonal migrant workers.
• In 2008, an IUSD faculty member was presented an Indiana University Thomas Ehrlich Award for Service-Learning at Founders’ Day. Also, this year, two faculty members were named Community Fellows by IUPUI’s Center for Service and Learning. 

Diversity

• While our school recognizes that it needs to continue to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in the various dental school programs, we are also pleased to be participating in the campus diversity plan, which involves specific goals, performance indicators, tasks, and timelines.
• In June 2008, the school hosted two separate weeks of its inaugural Dental Summer Institute.  One week was designed for high school-aged participants and another for college-aged and beyond participants.  The Institute exposes underrepresented minorities to dentistry as a career option. 
• The school is particularly enthusiastic about enhancing its relationship with the local Crispus Attucks Medical Magnet High School by including a dental component in the student experiences. 

• IUSD has a very active Urban Pre-Dental Club.  The purpose of the club is to work with underrepresented minority students to assist them in becoming the most competitive dental school applicants they can be. 

Best Practices

• IUSD has purchased the software (Emago) and IT hardware necessary to move to digital radiography. We plan to have these in place in four clinics this year, while developing a plan to implement them school-wide next year.
• IUSD has undergone extensive planning and design for a state of the art preclinical patient simulation lab. The lab will contain 104 units consisting of a patient simulator, operatory light, and computer access to the simulated patient’s electronic health record (using Axium the school’s electronic health record software).

External Awards and Appointments

• Several of our faculty served or will be serving as leaders of their respective dental specialty organizations. Examples include Dr. Jeffrey Dean, President of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Steven Haug, Secretary Treasurer of the American Academy of Maxillofacial Prosthetics, and Dr. Susan Zunt, Vice President of the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology.

IUSD Achievements the Past Forty Years

• http://www.iusd.iupui.edu/about/Default.aspx