The College of Dentistry welcomes Derek Smith as Director of the Division of Biostatistics and Computational Biology and associate professor in the Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry. Smith’s research applies statistical methods to oral health and cancer care. He brings extensive experience in clinical research, graduate education, and national guideline development to his new role.

On the first Sunday of September, the Iowa American Student Dental Association (IASDA) hosted a barbeque to kick off the new academic year. This is the second year that IASDA has hosted the event.

Garland Hershey, Eric teDuits, and Sara Stuefen, were recognized as Iowa's Educator of the Year, Alumnus of the Year, and Rising Star Awardee on September 12, 2025 at The Graduate Hotel in downtown Iowa City.

Dr. Jeffrey Marschall, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon dually appointed at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and the University of Iowa College of Dentistry, has been recognized as a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (ACS).

Steven Levy and Shaoping Zhang are contributing to a new NIDCR-funded study developing statistical tools to explore links between dental caries and periodontal disease. The project uses national oral health data and will produce an open-source software package to help researchers improve analysis and support better patient outcomes.

The College of Dentistry is pleased to announce that Dr. Liu Hong has been appointed interim director of the Iowa Institute for Oral Health Research, where he will oversee daily operations of the college’s research laboratories and facilities. Dr. Hongli Sun has been named Director of the Graduate Program in Oral Science. A nationally recognized researcher and educator, Sun brings expertise in nano-biomaterials and regenerative medicine, along with a strong commitment to graduate training and mentorship.

Dr. Michelle McQuistan, associate professor in the Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, has received a CRISP grant to study whether the Teach-Back Method can improve patient understanding and reduce complications following wisdom tooth extractions. Her team will conduct a randomized trial to evaluate outcomes such as adherence to instructions, post-operative complications, and patient satisfaction as part of Dr. Ankita Vishwamitra’s thesis project in Dental Public Health.

Dr. Hiromi Saisho, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Dentistry, has received a CRISP grant to evaluate the mechanical performance of flowable resin composites. Her in-vitro study will assess fracture toughness and flexural strength across multiple formulations, aiming to guide clinicians in selecting materials that improve restoration longevity and reduce failure.

University of Iowa researchers, led by Dr. Brad Amendt, successfully tested a nano-sized packet that released a single gene to prevent craniosynostosis. The research team aims to begin human clinical trials in the next one to two years.

Dr. Marcela Hernandez was honored with the 2025 James H. and Hermine E. McLeran Faculty Award at the All College Conference on August 18.