Hanny arrived at His Hands Dental Clinic in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with many teeth that were unrestorable or infected. Dr. Jeffrey Akey ('87 DDS) and six volunteer UI dental students came together to give Hanny her smile back.

Now a practicing dentist in Des Moines, Dr. Brian Dang ('24 DDS) still falls back on his relationship with mentor and adjunct faculty member Dr. Salvador "Buddy" Atienza ('94 DDS).

Dr. Azeez Butali has been awarded an NIH grant to identify rare genetic variants that contribute to orofacial clefts, the most common craniofacial birth defect. His work focuses on African populations and aims to improve early diagnosis, prevention, and care. The findings could lead to more personalized treatment strategies for children and families affected by clefts worldwide.

University of Iowa College of Dentistry third-year dental student Saba Manafi won second place in the prestigious Hatton Competition during the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) General Session, held June 25-28 in Barcelona, Spain.

The University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics made a strong impression at the 2025 International Association for Dental Research (IADR) General Session, held June 25–28 in Barcelona, Spain.

UI College of Dentistry alumni and friends are invited to join faculty and staff behind the Dental Science Building on three Saturdays before Iowa football games for food, beverages, and comradery.

Third-year dental student Emma Griffin was presented the Steve Vercande Award during a special ceremony on June 24, 2025.

Dr. Steven Levy is co-investigator on an NIH-funded study developing a clinically meaningful caries risk index using national survey data. He’s helping ensure that the tool reflects real-world dental practice, with the goal of improving risk assessment and patient outcomes in clinical settings.

Dr. Azeez Butali, professor of oral pathology, radiology, and medicine in the UI College of Dentistry, has been awarded a Fulbright to further his groundbreaking work in human genetics.

Dr. Azeez Butali was awarded the Honoris Causa Award from the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria. This prestigious award recognizes medical specialists who have demonstrated exceptional excellence clinical care and training.