Dear Colleagues,
The past year was full of opportunities for engagement. Connecting with you has allowed me to better understand the needs, interests, and desires of endodontists in different practice settings. Addressing your suggestions and concerns head on benefits the specialty of endodontics as a whole. The Board of Trustees is committed to just this; they are working tirelessly to move the needle on goals directly addressing endodontic research, education, access to care, and practitioner engagement. Some of our greatest achievements in 2023 are highlighted within the pages of this annual report. I speak for the Trustees when I say, we are grateful for your philanthropy, which directly supports the genesis of scientific research, honors the commitment educators make to the next generation, and provides much needed specialty care to underserved patients. You will be pleased to hear: • The Foundation & Specialized Dental Partners Domestic Access to Care program funded eight programs in full or in part in 2023. Each provided valuable specialty care to patient populations, including low-income veterans and seniors, and Ukrainian refugees. • In addition to our celebrated programs and grants, several new opportunities were developed and approved in 2023. Part-time educators and residents should be on the lookout in 2024! • The 2023 Endodontic Educator Fellowship Award was the 28th fellowship awarded by the Foundation. This program has helped support some of endodontics strongest and most committed educators. • The fourth year of the five-year Dentsply Sirona Research Fellowship unfolded in 2023. Dr. Annie Shrestha continues her progress toward extramural funding for her project “Immune Dysbiosis in Diabetes and Apical Periodontitis – Role of Cell Microenvironment.”
I encourage you to review the details of these accomplishments and more to fully comprehend the impact the Foundation is making on the future of our specialty. We are sowing seeds for the future, and I am proud of the outcomes and impact the Foundation has made. One of my objectives as president has been to strengthen the Foundation at its roots and carry our mission forward. I am excited for the remainder of my term. I am honored to serve you and our specialty.
With much appreciation,
Margot T. Kusienski, DMS, MSEd, MMSc President, 2022–2024
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What’s Inside?
Domestic Access to Care: Because No Act of Kindness Is Ever Wasted . . . . . 4 2022 Domestic Access to Care Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 TheFutureisNOW!............................. 7 ADEA 2023-2024 Scholarship Winner: Dr. Lorel E. Burns . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Contributing to the Academic Triad: 2023 Endodontic Educator Fellow Dr. Christopher Hogden . . . . . . . . . . 10 Winner'sCircle.............................. 12 2023 Competitive Research Grants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Research Fellowship: Year Four in Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Growing Our Reach: International Access to Care Expansion . . . . . . . . . 16 What'sNewin2024?........................... 18
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Domestic Access to Care: Because No Act of Kindness Is Ever Wasted
TEXAS The Grace Center Texas provides free comprehensive dental care to patients at or below the federal poverty level who do not have, or are not eligible for, private or state funded dental insurance. Dr. Kayla Tavares Tio has been the sole endodontist volunteer since 2019. As The Grace Center Texas patient population grows, this grant will provide more endodontic instruments and supplies to continue serving these patients. Dr. Tavares Tio will lead this project.
Thank you, Specialized Dental Partners, for your heartfelt support of this crucial program!
Photo credit: Matthew D’Agostino/UMB
CALIFORNIA Smile Unto Him is the only brick- and-mortar, free dental clinic in Riverside County, CA, providing free dental treatment to veterans and seniors whose income is 200% or less of federal poverty guidelines. Patients receive a comprehensive dental evaluation, treatment planning and treatment completion. The patients return for routine hygiene, to maintain oral health, and improved quality of life. Since 2019, the clinic has provided more than $1 million in free dental care. Dr. Sue Suh, president of Smile Unto Him, leads this project.
TEXAS The faculty and residents at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio (UTHSCSA) Department of Endodontics have established a partnership with the San Antonio Christian Dental Clinic (SACDC) for an annual day of charitable endodontic service. SACDC provides affordable, accessible dental care to underserved and homeless Bexar County adults living at or below 150% of the federal poverty line, with over 50% of them identifying as unhoused. This grant will allow the graduate endodontics department to participate in a much-needed service project. Dr. Nikita Ruparel, program director at UTHSCSA, will lead this program.
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The Foundation for Endodontics' & Specialized Dental Partners' Domestic Access to Care Program encourages endodontists to provide free endodontic treatment to underserved patients across the United States. ILLINOIS Patients are referred to the Southern Illinois University (SIU) School of Dental Medicine from all over the region and no patient is turned away, regardless of their economic standing. All treatment will be performed on campus, where the endodontic residents practice along with the AEGD Program and the Implant Fellowship Program. The grant will assist with the cost of supplies associated with endodontic surgical procedures which are not covered by Medicaid, allowing the residents to provide, and patients to receive, additional needed treatment. Dr. Leigh Speer, director of post-graduate endodontics at SIU, will lead this new program.
Community service and goodwill are important to endodontists and the Foundation is honored to support those values. A record number of Domestic Access to Care projects were funded in 2023, serving a wide range of patient populations in a variety of settings. Providing care to people who otherwise might have none, these projects will have a profound impact not only on the patients, but also on the endodontists involved. These grants represent a $60,000 investment in Domestic Access to Care initiatives. Congratulations to this year’s awardees! Together, they will serve hundreds of deserving patients in the coming year. Check back often for updates as these projects progress.
NEW YORK The “Lift As We Climb” program will provide endodontic specialty care, from access through restoration, to underserved populations in Brooklyn. This project aims to increase access to specialty care and divert emergent visits to nonurgent or semi-urgent, less expensive, and more effective, oral health care and treatment. Patients who present in the hospital’s emergency room for dental pain will be diverted to the program in hopes of saving natural teeth and increasing oral health literacy. Dr. Marcus Johnson, Chief of Endodontics at One Brooklyn Hospitals, leads this project.
FLORIDA In the face of the humanitarian crisis stemming from the Ukrainian conflict, the Department of Endodontics at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) College of Dental Medicine, along with the Ukrainian Refugee Resettlement Project, will render endodontic care to the Ukrainian refugees resettled in the South Florida community. This grant will enable the refugees to receive necessary endodontic services, thereby alleviating their pain and discomfort, addressing or avoiding infection, and preventing the unnecessary loss of teeth that could otherwise be saved through endodontic treatment. Dr. Yehuda Benjamin, director of post-graduate endodontics at Nova, leads this project. MARYLAND The Trident Save-a-Smile Foundation is a collaborative program that provides free endodontic treatment to needy, pre-screened patients one day a year. Since its establishment in 2018, the team has provided 114 pro bono root canal procedures. All team members, including providers, dental assistants, sterilization technicians, patient coordinators, and administrators, have graciously donated their time and skills one Saturday each year, bolstering communities in Howard and Montgomery counties. Dr. Ronald Taylor, founder of Trident Endo, leads this project. PENNSYLVANIA Patients who are referred to the I.B. Bender Division of Endodontics within the Albert Einstein Medical Center in need of endodontic treatment are treated by endodontic residents under the direct supervision of endodontic faculty. This program will benefit both patients and clinicians in that people who would not ordinarily seek specialty care will be able to access it. Also, residents who might not ordinarily assess and treat severe disease will have the opportunity to learn how to manage such cases. Dr. Frederic Barnett, chairman and program director at Einstein, will lead this project.
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2023 Foundation for Endodontics & Cornerstone Dental Specialties Resident Research Grants
2022 Domestic Access to Care Impact
2 projects funded
374 procedures conducted
$ 22,871 spent
141 patients served
141 volunteer hours
The Foundation for Endodontics is grateful for the support of Cornerstone Dental Specialties who graciously supported each one of the 161 Resident Research Grants funded in 2023. One hundred and twenty-six of these grants were for first time recipients, and 35 were for residents who spent their first on research specific expenses (allowing them to apply for a second $500 grant). This storied program provides funding to every resident at accredited endodontic post- graduate program to fund activities related to research or education. In 2023, residents applied their award funding in a unique variety of ways: • Laboratory supplies • Travel to present research • Software • Equipment lease • Board review course • Confocal training and usage • Laser tips • Genomic center services • Statistical services
The Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry at the University of Southern California (USC) received a grant to partner with the Union Rescue Mission (URM) Dental Clinic in providing free dental care to Los Angeles’ homeless population in the Skid Row district. Dr. Yaara Berdan leads USC residents in performing root canals onsite, ensuring more patients receive the endodontic treatment they need as part of comprehensive rehabilitative services.
The endodontic and pediatric residents at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UMSOD) collaborated to provide cross-disciplinary dental care to children of undocumented migrants. Dr. Ina Griffin is overseeing the development of UMSOD’s pediatric-focused clinical and academic curriculum, resulting in graduates who are confident in their ability to treat children and adolescents.
“ The patients at Union Rescue Mission are unhoused individuals working towards improving their future. It is clear from our interactions with these patients that we are restoring not just teeth, but their dignity and self-confidence. The care we are able to provide, thanks to the generosity of the Foundation for Endodontics, is instrumental in allowing these individuals to become employed and to achieve a more promising future. ” Dr. Yaara Berdan Co-Chair, Department of Endodontics and Periodontics Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry
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The Future is NOW!
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Scholarship, Teaching, and Service: Dr. Lorel E. Burns demonstrates these pillars as the recipient of the Foundation for Endodontics & Specialty1 Partners ADEA Scholar
The Foundation for Endodontics and Specialty1 Partners sponsor an endodontic educator's participation in the American Dental Education Association’s (ADEA) Leadership Institute. The program helps to further develop dental faculty and enables a growing pool of outstanding academicians to become academic leaders in dental institutions.
We had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Burns, the 2023-2024 scholarship recipient. Dr. Burns shared how she has ventured down various paths to create a multifaceted and service- oriented career in endodontics and academia while embracing the pillars of scholarship, teaching, and service.
Q: When in your school experience did you decide to become an endodontic educator? A: I was in college during the height of the healthcare reform movement. I became interested in healthcare policy and studied healthcare markets, so I always saw things within this bigger context. Not only did I decide relatively early that I was interested in endodontics, but I also began evaluating how I could make dentistry the career that I wanted for myself. I knew the answer was broader than clinical practice, only. I didn’t initially think that that would mean a career in academia, but I started to realize in residency that for me to have this more macro impact – to be able to provide patient care, assess policy implication and engage in evidence-based research – that academia was
the perfect environment for addressing all these things. The opportunity to have access to the power and resources of an educational institution motivated me to enter academia full-time,
immediately after finishing my endodontic training. I became committed to focusing on academia as a career, so it was not something that I fell into. Q: How did you first get involved with the Foundation and how has it been beneficial to you? with the Foundation when I applied for the Endodontic Educator Fellowship. At that time, it was clear to me that the Foundation was there to support educators, and that it was going to be a resource for the things that I wanted to do throughout my career in academia. I've been so grateful for the support I've received through the Educator Fellowship, and A: I first became engaged
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that's what first introduced me to the Foundation and opened my eyes to the many facets of support. I saw the opportunity to become involved with the ADEA Leadership Institute, and there is some truth in that if you want to exceed in dental education, you've got to do this program. You'll learn so much. You'll meet so many people who are also taking their pursuit of dental education seriously. It has been great to meet people from other schools and at other I was eager to apply, and I'm thrilled to have the support of the Foundation. It's a learning commitment and it's expensive, so the support of the Foundation makes it feasible. I knew that I was going to be my district representative on the AAE Board of Directors, and I wanted to have some of that training to help me fulfill that responsibility early in the program. It is a one- year program, divided into four phases. We just finished Phase I, and I can already see how what I'm learning is going to benefit the work that I do with the AAE. stages in their career and learn from them. I don't even want to ask the Foundation for anything else, but my take-away is that it is there to support people who are committed to furthering the profession and to giving back - whether it's through teaching, research, or service to patients in disadvantaged, underserved populations. I view the Foundation as this amazing giving resource, which helps advance the specialty forward!
Q: What advice would give residents who might be interested in teaching? A: If you're interested in
The ability to be engaged in scholarship and learning with my students as part of a paid job is awesome! Having a large part of my formal role being engagement in service is one of the things that keeps me in academia. Dr. Lorel Burns is a full- time endodontic educator at NYU School of Dentistry. She lives in New York City in Manhattan. She and her husband love to explore the food scene, and she is an active member of her neighborhood community garden.
teaching, don't write off a full-time commitment. Take the time to really explore it. I think one of the turn- offs to pursuing full-time academia is the perceived discrepancy in salary, but there is so much more than the financial compensation and there are ways to still engage in private practice. I'm still in private practice despite being committed to full-time academia, and it is so very fulfilling. It allows you to serve your patients and serve the profession in ways beyond clinical interaction. I tell my students who consider academia that it's more than just the sticker price. I view myself as an academic and seriously embrace the pillars of scholarship, teaching, and service. I try to engage in all those pillars. Most of my time in academia has been focused on research, as mandated by grant funding, and in trying to establish my specific expertise and niche within the profession.
“ It's not just about being a better teacher, it's about being a better leader. ” Dr. Lorel Burns Endodontic Educator at NYU School of Dentistry
It's not just about being a better teacher, it's about being a better leader.
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Contributing to the Academic Triad: 2023 Endodontic Educator Fellow Dr. Christopher Hogden
Assistant Professor Dr. Christopher Hogden is fully committed to the mission of the University of Iowa Department of Endodontics, which is to instill a thorough understanding of the basics of endodontics and the initial clinical skillset required to practice endodontics as a general dentist. This commitment and competence, among other qualities, led Dr. Hogden to be selected as the 2023 Endodontic Educator Fellow. The selection committee was impressed with his professionalism, dedication, and approach to teaching. He is humbled to receive the fellowship knowing his name will be listed among talented individuals, including one of his mentors Dr. Anne Williamson. He aims to successfully follow the path Dr. Williamson and others have forged, while making his own impact on endodontics. While he is committed to strengthening endodontic education at the predoctoral level, he does have realistic expectations. “I recognize that almost all our dental students are not interested in pursuing a career in academics, that the vast majority will not become endodontists, and that many will choose not to perform root canal treatment in practice. Partially for these reasons, my main objective for my students is to foster a sense of curiosity, a desire to learn, and the ability to critically think. I care less about their ability to regurgitate an answer to a multiple-choice examination question and more about their ability to apply the information that they know and reason through a problem. Then, when confronted with a problem they do not have the information or ability to solve, to know the steps required to generate understanding.”
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The process of mentoring and teaching comes organically to Dr. Hogden. “I always enjoyed school; even when others did not. The opportunity to learn and apply new information, particularly in mathematics and science, has been enjoyable since I began my formal education,” explained Hogden. This natural inclination led him to begin his role as an educator early; as a high school student, he tutored his peers, and he found joy in sharing in the success of others. Although his interest in teaching was always prevalent, he had a strong interest in business, and for many years aspired to own a dental practice. These interests mixed in with engagement in basic/translational research, led Dr. Hogden on an exploratory mission to uncover the best career opportunity for himself. It was during his dental school training, when he continued tutoring his peers, that he recognized that his strong interest in research and the gift of conveying knowledge would ultimately lead to a career in academia. Between his predoctoral and endodontic training, both at the University of Iowa, Dr. Hogden accepted an opportunity in the Medical Research Scholars Program (MRSP) at the National Institutes of Health. His time in the MRSP in Bethesda allowed him to fully invest in several research projects while continuing to explore the dental specialties. When he was admitted to the Advanced Program at Iowa, he also became a Fellow Associate within the Department following completion of his certificate. The fellowship allowed him to cover the clinic for the predoctoral students and residents multiple
times per week, lecture in both the predoctoral and resident courses, and perform research. Following the conclusion of the fellowship, he joined the faculty as a tenure-track Assistant Professor.
The Foundation looks forward to Dr. Hogden's contributions to endodontics and the academic triad: patient care, research, and education.
“ I hope to instill in my students that failure is not only inevitable, but also desirable. For when we fail, we can find the ways in which we can improve, the ways in which we can grow, and the information we would otherwise not know we didn’t know. Understanding the setbacks we experience through this lens can help students develop a sense of resilience, an important attribute for the practicing dentist. When they are faced with a challenge, they can respond appropriately, knowing what is in their control and focusing their effort on whatever that may be. ” Dr. Christopher Hogden Assistant Professor, University of Iowa Department of Endodontics
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Dr. Lauren Rotondi is a second-year resident at the University of Toronto in the Master of Science in Endodontics program. She first decided to pursue endodontics with a desire to become an expert in helping people save their teeth through root canal treatment. Dr. Rotondi is thankful for the guidance of her supervisor, Dr. Kishen, and all the other faculty members at the University of Toronto. In her spare time, she enjoys being with her family and spending time outdoors.
Dr. Lauren Rotondi SPRING 2023 Resident Winner
Dr. Lauren Rotondi’s research proposal titled, Investigating the Role of Cell Adhesion Molecules in Macrophage - Stem Cell from Apical Papilla Interactions Using a 3D Organoid Model, explores regeneration as a biologically based procedure. Her basic science research will contribute to a better understanding of the biology of periapical healing and regeneration by investigating how immune cells and stem cells communicate to guide this repair process. Dr. Rotondi is interested in applying her research to immunomodulation strategies and cell-based regeneration therapies. Dr. Rotondi’s findings will improve our understanding of the biology mediating periapical wound healing and regeneration. The project will also further validate the use of the 3D collagen based organoid model to better simulate in vivo conditions compared to a 2D co-culture model. She is hoping her results can help guide immunomodulation strategies and cell-based regeneration for patients with necrotic young permanent teeth, so that they can be retained as long as possible. Dr. Rotondi first heard about the Foundation when Dr. Kusienski, Foundation President, came to visit the University of Toronto to speak to residents. Dr. Rotondi said the Foundation’s support has made a big difference in supporting their research by providing funding for access to the Imaging Centre at The Hospital for Sick Children, ordering many antibodies, and purchasing the numerous kits needed for the project. Her research would not have been possible without the Foundation's support.
Dr. Frederico Martinho FALL 2023 Faculty Winner
Dr. Martinho’s Fall 2023 Competitive Research, titled Piezoelectric Device and Dynamic Navigation System Integration for Bone-window Guided Surgery: A Cadaver Study, will explore the DNS technology integrated into the piezoelectric device for bone-window-guided surgery. DNS was initially used in implant dentistry and has been extensively studied for implant surgery. After demonstrating the feasibility of DNS for endodontic procedures and identifying limitations through challenging the technology in selected treatments, we began integrating the system with other technologies such as augmented reality (AR) and, most recently, the piezoelectric device. Dynamic navigation systems (DNS) have recently been widely explored in endodontics. The DNS, inherited from implant dentistry, is like a 'GPS' for the handpiece, utilizing anatomy from the CBCT as a 'road map.' The surgical procedure is
During the spring and fall competitive research grant cycles, the highest-scoring resident and faculty proposals receive a $500 personal cash award. The goal is to pay tribute to those applicants whose efforts reflect the highest quality science.
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pre-planned in the CBCT scan, and the treatment is further delivered under dynamic navigation. DNS technology has multiple applications in endodontics, including non-surgical and surgical procedures. Dr. Martinho’s research group has been awarded numerous competitive grants from the Foundation to explore DNS applications. Their early DNS research projects mostly focused on determining the accuracy and efficiency of DNS in delivering surgical procedures and comparing it to conventional freehand techniques. Later, they shifted their interests to challenging the DNS technology against static navigation techniques using surgical guides. Recently, they have demonstrated the feasibility of integrating DNS into augmented reality (AR) and piezoelectric devices. During his free time, Martinho enjoys traveling and learning about new cultures. He also enjoys sports, weightlifting, and horseback riding.
The objective of her study is to evaluate the effect of access cavity design and degree of pulp chamber roof removal on the microstrain distribution patterns under different levels of functional loading using a digital moiré interferometry (DMI). Dr. Stein hopes the study will provide more information on how the use of minimally invasive techniques influence biomechanical forces on dental hard tissue following endodontic treatment. Dr. Stein is fortunate to be performing her research with The Kishen lab, which is the only lab in North America with access to the high-resolution DMI technology. She is grateful for the guidance and support from her supervisor, Dr. Kishen, a prolific contributor to the field of endodontics, and the Foundation’s support, which has been crucial to fund her research and to achieve her project goals. Dr. Stein remarked that the process of writing the grant proposal to the Foundation was beneficial, and helped to crystallize her own understanding of how and why her research is being done. To date, Dr. Stein has completed preliminary trials to finalize her experimental protocols precisely. She is the principal investigator of the proposed study. Dr. Dani Stein-Meyerson obtained her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Dentistry in 2020, where she was awarded the Student Leadership Award in her graduating year. Following her dental school graduation, Dr. Stein worked as a general dentist in Thunder Bay, Ontario for one year prior to entering her endodontic residency. Currently, she is in her final year of the 3-year Masters in Endodontics Program at the University of Toronto, where she serves as Chief Resident. She and her husband enjoy travelling and hiking with their two dogs, Dobby and Noodle.
Dr. Dani Stein-Meyerson FALL 2023 Resident Winner
Dr. Dani Stein-Meyerson’s highest scoring research proposal, Photomechanical Investigation on the Impact of Endodontic Cavity Design on the Biomechanical Response in Mandibular First Molar and Premolar Teeth, focuses on how strain distribution in teeth might be influenced by endodontic access cavity design.
Congratulations to the members of the 2023 Winner’s Circle! This is just a sampling of each of these talented endodontists' accomplishments. Read the full articles on each of these researchers, their goals, and outlook on endodontics!
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Competitive Research Grants
Name
Institution
Project
Award
The Efficiency of Laser Activated Irrigation Versus Sonic Irrigation on Hard-Tissue Debris Removal After Conservative Instrumentation and Their Influence on Obturation
Alexander Huynh
Texas A&M
$9,390.70
Investigating the Role of Cell Adhesion Molecules in Macrophage - Stem Cell from Apical Papilla Interactions Using a 3D Organoid Model
Lauren Rotondi*
University of Toronto
$24,249.58
Total Funding for SPRING 2023
$34,140.28
Factors Affecting the Time Lapse Between Restorations and Pulp Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Shivani Desai
University of Toronto
$4,401.13
Christopher Hawkins
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Outcomes of Vital Pulp Therapy with Tricalcium Silicates in a Dental School Patient Population
$8,600.00
Piezoelectric Device and Dynamic Navigation System Integration for Bone-window Guided Surgery: A Cadaver Study
Frederico Martinho**
University of Maryland
$15,675.00
Root Canal Microbiome Composition and Genes Encoding Toxins in Subjects with Periapical Bone Loss
Ronald Ordinola-Zapata
University of Minnesota
$19,791.00
Photomechanical Investigation on the Impact of Endodontic Cavity Design on the Biomechanical Response in Mandibular First Molar and Premolar Teeth
Danielle Stein-Meyerson*
University of Toronto
$7,895.00
Total Funding for FALL 2023
$56,362.13
Total Overall Funding
$90,502.41
Apply now for a competitive research grant.
* Indicates residents who received $500 awards for the highest scoring proposal. ** Indicates faculty who received $500 awards for the highest scoring proposal.
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Research Fellowship: Year Four in Review
• A. Shrestha*, Yi Zhu, A. Ali . High Fat Diet Influences Dendritic Cells and T Cells Infiltration in Apical Periodontitis in Mice, Journal of Endodontics. • Y. Zhu, D. Winer, C. Goh, A. Shrestha* . Injectable Thermosensitive Hydrogel to Modulate Tolerogenic Dendritic Cells Under Hyperglycemic Condition. Biomaterials Science Journal – The Royal Society of Chemistry 2023, DOI: 10.1039/ D2BM01881K. INVITED PRESENTATIONS • Challenges Associated with “I Prefer to Save It”. A. Shrestha and G. Malkhassian. Update in Dentistry. Aging Gracefully: Enhancing Dental Care for Older Adults. October 20, 2023. Toronto. Canada. • Potential of Immunotherapy in Apical Periodontitis with Systemic Diseases. Hong Kong Endodontic Society. October 10, 2023. Hong Kong, Republic of China. • Endodontic Infection and Immunomodulation. North American Key Opinion Leaders Forum (Dentsply Sirona), July 27, 2023. North Carolina, Charlotte, USA. • Regenerative Endodontics: What’s New? Hong Kong University Endodontic Graduate Program. June 29, 2023.
Over the past four years, Dr. Annie Shrestha has made significant progress on her project, entitled “Immune Dysbiosis in Diabetes and Apical Periodontitis – Role of Cell Microenvironment,” aimed at elucidating the role of immune dysbiosis in adaptive immune cells in the development of apical periodontitis and increasing understanding of how diabetes mellitus influences this process. As the Dentsply Sirona Research Fellow, her goals are to contribute to the scholarship of endodontics and harness the extramural resources necessary to advance the specialty. While Dr. Shrestha works tirelessly to serve endodontics, the Foundation, with corporate support from Dentsply Sirona, has been pleased to create a pipeline to support her in becoming an impactful and independent clinician-scientist. In addition to research support, the fellowship also focuses on career development. The Foundation is pleased to recognize Dr. Shrestha’s milestones and successes during her fourth year. PUBLICATIONS ACCEPTED • Y. Zhu, C. Tao, C. Goh, A. Shrestha* . Innovative Biomaterials for the Treatment of Periodontal Disease. Frontiers in Dental Medicine. Research Topics: Rising Stars in Dental Materials. 10.3389/ fdmed.2023.1163562. • M. Ghaffari, A. Kishen, A. Shrestha* . Endocytic Internalization Mechanism of Bioactive Antibacterial Nanoparticles by Fibroblasts, Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology. Volume 15, June 2023, 100179.
Research Fellow
STUDENT PRESENTATIONS • Y. Zhu, C. Goh, A. Shrestha . The Immunomodulatory Mechanism of a Chitosan- Based Composite Hydrogel on Dendritic Cells Under Hyperglycemia. 2024 IADR/ AADOCR/CADR Annual Meeting. March 2024. New Orleans, USA. • J. Wu, Y. Zhu, A. Shrestha . Mechanism of Dendritic Cells Modulations by Resveratrol and Resolvin-D1. 2024. IADR/ AADOCR/CADR Annual Meeting. March 2024. New Orleans, USA.
FINAL YEAR (2024) FELLOWSHIP GOALS • 2024 Project Grant, NIH RO3 – submission in preparation • 2024 Project Grant Program, Canadian Institute of Health Research (Fall 2024) • Discover Grant Program, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada – submitted.
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Growing Our Reach: International Access to Care Expansion
Thanks to corporate support from the Henry Schein Cares Foundation, the International Access to Care Program has seen monumental growth since its launch in 2016. More than 40 Foundation volunteers have provided over 400 endodontic procedures to underprivileged patients.
While we celebrate our past successes as we shift our focus to the future. In 2024, the Foundation is teaming up with Great Shape! Inc. Great Shape gives children and families in Jamaica and throughout the Caribbean by providing access to education and health care. This new partnership will provide even greater opportunities for endodontic residents and mentors and for those living in the region without adequate access to endodontic care.
Watch for updates as
this program continues to grow throughout the year!
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The Foundation proudly thanks these companies for their generous contributions to support endodontic research, education and access to care.
$ 3,450,000
* $1,000,000 from Tulsa Dental Products
$ 740,000
$ 500,000
$ 245,000
$ 240,000
$ 200,000
$ 182,000
$ 177,500
$ 175,000
$ 150,000
$ 125,000
$ 110,000
$ 100,000
$ 80,000 Coltene $ 75,000 ACTEON North America $ 55,000 Endodontic Practice Partners
$ 50,000 Avalon Biomed Heartland Dental Pacific Dental Services XDR Radiology $ 30,000 Septodont, Inc. Vista Apex
$ 25,000 Endo Mastery Endodontic SuperSystems Komet USA Legally Mine PreXion Seiler Instrument and Manufacturing $ 5,000 Jordco, Inc.
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What's New in 2024?
Foundation for Endodontics & Specialty1 Partners Annual Meeting Resident Development Scholarship The AAE's annual meeting provides residents opportunities to learn, network, and seek professional resources as they begin their career in endodontics. The entire specialty benefits from the research residents conduct and present.
With generous support from Specialty1 Partners, the goal of the Annual Meeting Resident Development Scholarship is to financially assist endodontic residents who are attending and presenting either an oral research, poster research or table clinic presentation at the AAE's annual meeting. The scholarship reimburses up to $500 in expenses to eligible residents who attend and present at the meeting. Eligible expenses include AAE annual meeting registration, lodging, and/or travel. With a focus on the future, the program will see some exciting changes in 2024. New in 2024, the program is available to all AAE resident members who present an oral, poster, or table clinic research project at the meeting. Also for the first time, those residents presenting posters can request reimbursement for their printing costs. The Foundation hopes these changes will keep research within reach for more residents.
During 2022 and 2023, 53 residents received more than $25,000 in reimbursements through this program.
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Foundation for Endodontics & Dentsply Sirona Freedom Scholarship The Foundation for Endodontics, in collaboration with Dentsply Sirona, is proud to announce an initiative aimed at supporting the next generation of endodontic specialists. The Foundation for Endodontics & Dentsply Sirona Freedom Scholarship will provide substantial financial assistance to first- or second-year (in a three year program) endodontic residents, addressing the significant student loan debt faced by dental specialists. Three $50,000 scholarships will be awarded annually, between 2024 - 2028. The scholarship will be paid directly to the resident’s institution to cover the cost of post-graduate endodontic tuition, courses, equipment, books, and other training-related expenses in accordance with program guidelines. It will be a vital resource to ease the financial burden for deserving individuals. The formal application and review process, including eligibility and application requirements can be found online. The deadline for applications is March 15, annually.
“ This program not only supports the education
and development of future endodontic specialists but also addresses the student loan crisis within the dental community. We are grateful to Dentsply Sirona for their commitment to investing in the future of our specialty. ” Dr. Margot Kusienski President, Foundation for Endodontics
Part-Time Educator Development Grant With a focus on the future, the Foundation continues to find ways to ensure that endodontists teach endodontics at every level. One new tactic to achieve that goal comes in the form of the Part-Time Educator Development Grant. Similar to its full-time counterpart, this grant will reimburse AAE annual meeting or Insight Track registration fees for AAE members who teach less than full-time.
This program is being piloted in 2024 and 2025. There is a cap of 50 awards each year, and part-time educators can receive one award annually. Learn more about eligibility requirements and access the application online. Part-time educators are a vital component of many pre- and postdoctoral endodontic programs. The Part-Time Educator Development Grant program is one way the Foundation can express its gratitude for your service to the specialty.
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Thank You ALL for your commitment to the future!
180 N. Stetson Ave., Suite 1500 Chicago, IL 60601 P: 800-872-3636 or 312-266-7255 F: 866-451-9020 or 312-266-9867 foundation.aae.org
Thanks to the generosity of its donors, the Foundation is committed to strengthening the specialty and its clinicians while striving for stronger patient outcomes. We’d like to say THANK YOU to all the individuals and corporations who have contributed to the 2023-2024 campaign.
Check out the list of your colleagues who contributed to the campaign between May 7, 2023 and March 1, 2024.
It’s not too late to make a difference and serve the specialty through philanthropy! Giving is easily arranged. Staff is available to discuss options and payment plans for gifts, multi-year commitments, deferred gifts, and other vehicles. We hope you are inspired by the spirit of your colleagues and their commitment to strengthening the future of endodontics.
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