The Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department is pleased to announce the initiation of a newsletter designed to update you on faculty, residents and current events within the Department. As many of you know, the Hospital Dentistry Institute opened in the spring of 2001, and features a state of the art OMS clinic that most certainly rivals any in the United States. This coupled with our nationally ranked College of Dentistry in gives us a most enviable facilities base to call home. Central administration of our program begins with a most supportive Dean, Dr. David Johnsen. He has been steadfast in supporting our endeavors while promoting a fertile academic atmosphere in a time when many other OMS programs are struggling.

"We have as good a faculty in oral and maxillofacial surgery as any in the country. Terms like, "crème de la crème", "as good as any", etc. flow from national leaders in the field. At a time when many programs are losing faculty and on sad occasions, whole programs, Iowa is moving ahead. Our University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics agree. Their commitment to a new $5M clinic made a statement on their confidence in the department. Many of you have stepped forward to help us keep your program at the very top and we say THANK YOU for your invaluable help!"

David Johnsen, DDS
Dean, College of Dentistry

The Faculty

Dr. Richard Burton is the Graduate Residency Director for our OMS program. We were fortunate to recruit Richard to Iowa City from the Navy when he retired in 199?. While practicing the full scope of OMS, he has developed a special interest in the care of the pediatric craniofacial anomalies patient thereby increasing alveolar cleft grating procedures to unprecedented numbers. He is nationally and internationally known for his expertise in the area distraction osteogenesis for the treatment of craniofacial anomalies and airway disturbances. Richard is most active nationally with the AAOMS, and currently serves as Editor in Chief for the Knowledge Update series and on the continuing education committee (CCE).

Dr. Deborah Zeitler has expanded her role to include coverage at the VA Hospital in addition to UIHC and the College of Dentistry. She remains active in the full scope of OMS with special interests in the treatment of facial pain and complex orthognathic and dentoalveolar patients. Nationally she is the AAOMS representative to the American Medical Association Advisory Council on Violence and Abuse.

Dr. Teresa Morgan joined our faculty in July 2002 after completing our residency. See recently became certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (CONGRATULATIONS !). Teresa also practices the full scope of OMS with a special interest and expertise in the treatment of neurosensory disorders of the inferior alveolar and lingual nerves. She received additional training in this surgical discipline under the direction of Dr. John Zuniga in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Please welcome Teresa to our faculty.

Dr. Daniel Lew stepped down as Head of our Department in January of 2000 and continued on a full time basis. As you know, he is a past President of the AAOMS. In January of 2003 he began a 60% appointment arrangement taking Wednesdays and Fridays off to be with his daughter and to continue work on his PhD in European history. His special interests in trauma and reconstructive surgery add significantly to the education and development of our residents. He presently serves on the editorial board for the JOMS.

Dr. William Synan is our undergraduate director at the College of Dentistry. He is active with our graduate program as well at UIHC. He has recently been appointed as a site visitor for the ADA commission on dental accreditation for OMS programs. His clinical practice includes the full scope of OMS with an emphasis in complex dentoalveolar and implant cases. He recently received the 2002 University of Iowa Collegiate Teaching Award, as well as College of Dentistry Instructor of the Year in 1999.

News from the Department

Mary Ellen Rogers retired as our administrator in February of 2001. We thank her for more than 20 years of dedicated support of our Department and wish her well in retirement.

Marty Fields was tapped as our new administrator shortly thereafter. Her background includes an MBA degree. Marty joined the Department just in time to help coordinate the move to the new Hospital Dentistry Institute in the Pomerantz Family Pavilion from the old clinic in Boyd Tower/General Hospital. Her enthusiasm, loyalty and breadth of experience are notable and add significantly to the departmental mission.

Mary Ann Vercande also retired after more than 30 years of caring and devoted service in 1999. A scholarship in her name was initiated to recognize the predoctoral student showing the most empathy for their patients.

Connie Hamilton also retired from our department in 2001. As you remember, she began her tenure in Oral Surgery as an RN with Dr. Donald Osbon at University Hospitals and later transferred to the College of Dentistry to the position of nurse manager. Kate Kane replaced Connie as nurse manager and Ralph Daniello is currently our assistant nurse manager at the College of Dentistry. We are most fortunate that Connie is willing to fill in on a part time basis when needed.

The biannual Osbon Memorial Lecture will be held this spring on April 26, 2003. We encourage full participation at this outstanding opportunity. Dr. Raymond Fonseca has graciously agreed to provide introductory remarks regarding Dr. Osbon. The topic of the conference will be distraction osteogenesis and will feature:

"A 15 year review of Distraction Osteogenesis"
Dr. Joseph McCarthy

"The Iowa Experience with DO and Craniofacial Anomalies and Airway Disturbance"
Dr. Richard Burton
Dr. John Canady
Dr. Nancy Bauman
Dr. James Wheeler

The 2002 AAOMS meeting in Chicago marked the beginning (or resumption) of an annual reception including the Iowa Society of OMS and alumni of the University of Iowa residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. The event was well attended and served to renew old acquaintances and introduce new faces. The event is already being planned for the 2003 AAOMS meeting in Toronto, please plan to attend.

Our residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery continues to attract the best and brightest applicants in the United States. Our current residents are:

Incoming
Dr. Andrew Boyce (Creighton graduate)
Dr. Michael Broadbent (Louisville graduate)

First year
Dr. Dominic Morio (Iowa graduate)
Dr. Timothy Hopkins (Okalahoma graduate)

Second year
Dr. Steven Hyten (Southern Illinois graduate)
Dr. Scott Hoyer (Iowa graduate)

Third year
Dr. Andrew Hille (Pennsylvania graduate)
Dr. Wendy Pietz (Marquette graduate)

Fourth year
Dr. Jon Burton (Southern Illinois graduate)
Dr. Chris Burton (Iowa graduate)

Intern
Dr. Jill Merill (Minnesota graduate)

In September of 2001, I was elected to the Board of Directors of ABOMS and will ascend to the Presidency in 2006. This endeavor takes a great deal of time and involves many other national committee assignments as a representative of the Board. Daily administrative duties of Hospital Dentistry and the Department of OMS are a rewarding challenge and made possible by retaining the finest faculty in the nation.

Alumni News: Please send us an update of news and events in your lives. You may send your information electronically to marty-fields@uiowa.edu or by mail to Marty Fields, 51361 PFP, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City IA 52242. We look forward to hearing from you.