The Iowa Mission of Mercy was held on October 13-14 in Waterloo. Over the weekend, the dentists and dental staff saw 1,080 patients. All dental care at the event is provided for free to those who come and are willing to wait. Services provided to the patients include cleanings, restorations, minor oral surgery, endodontic and periodontal care as well as removable prosthodontics (e.g., “flippers”).

Azeez Butali was named the Gilbert E. Lilly Professor of Diagnostic Sciences at the University of Iowa. Butali is a global leader in cleft lip and palate research and the world’s foremost expert in the genetics of these conditions in African populations.

Professor Dan Caplan, a 1988 graduate of the College of Dentistry and head of the college’s Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry from 2007- 2022, is named 2023 Educator of the Year. For Dan, who grew up in Iowa City in a family that valued education, the opportunity to shape future dentists and the school that teaches them has been a gratifying experience.

Kyungsup Shin was named the Ross D. Christensen Family Professor of Orthodontics on September 21. Shin is a shining example of Iowa's excellence in research, teaching, and clinical care.

Janet Guthmiller, dean of the University of North Carolina Adams School of Dentistry and a 1988 graduate of Iowa Dentistry, has been named Leader of the Year 2023. Janet was a faculty member at Iowa from 1997 to 2007 and credits this experience, and others in academia, with preparing her to take on top-tier leadership roles.

Bob Williams (73 DDS), a longtime supporter and advocate for Iowa Dentistry, was named 2023 Alumnus of the Year, an honor he says he is humbled to receive.

Julie Reynolds, assistant professor in the Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, received a $300,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health to study changes in Medicaid adult dental coverage and impact that these changes have on children's access to care.

Rima Desai, a second-year resident in Dental Public Health, received a Graduate Student Thesis award from the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation to support her survey of Iowa Dentistry alumni's treatment of underserved populations.

Sivaraman Prakasam has joined the dental faculty at Iowa and been named chair of periodontics. With a strong department under Prakasam’s leadership, the Department of Periodontics will continue to excel in clinical care, teaching, and research.

Dr. Waheed Awotoye is a current first-year resident at our Orthodontics Clinic and was selected as the winner of the AADOCR Hatton Award. At the competition, Dr. Awotoye presented his dedicated research in genomics and epigenomics of craniofacial birth defects which ultimately resulted in his nomination for the Hatton Award.