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

The University of Iowa College of Dentistry is pleased to announce the 2025 Seed Grant Awards. This is the fifth year of the seed grant program, and these grants fund innovative projects from early-career investigators or established investigators who are developing a new line of research.

The University of Iowa College of Dentistry has received a competitive renewal of a grant from the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health to expand its Patient-Centered Dental Home (PCDH) project. Led by Dr. Julie Reynolds and Dr. Pete Damiano, the project will pilot new adult-focused quality measures, test care delivery standards, and explore patient-reported outcomes to improve dental care quality and integration with broader health systems.

Dr. Huojun Cao (Endodontics) and Dr. Eric Van Otterloo (Periodontics) have been awarded a $3 million NIH R01 grant to investigate how genetic programs guide the development of oral, dental, and skin tissues in the lower jaw.

Professor Emeritus Bruce Justman joined an international volunteer team providing free dental care to more than 600 patients across St. Lucia, West Indies.

Dr. Jeff Banas was appointed the UI College of Dentistry's next Associate Dean for Research.

Dr. Franciele Floriani, clinical assistant professor in the department of prosthodontics, has published a new book designed to help educators, and professionals bring their research ideas to life.

The University of Iowa College of Dentistry is proud to highlight Dr. Maura Vroman, whose journey in orthodontics has had a profoundly positive impact on both her patients and her students in the classroom. With a career dedicated to continuous learning and putting the patient first, Dr. Vroman has become a valuable resource within our adjunct faculty.

A recent graduate from the Department of Periodontics, Dr. Jeremy Bobera, has been named one of eight finalists in the prestigious Balint Orban Memorial Competition.

Dr. John J. Warren has received a five-year, $1.86 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to enhance the University of Iowa’s Dental Public Health program. The funding will support tuition, travel, and stipends for trainees, while expanding hands-on training in Iowa’s public health clinics. The initiative aims to better prepare dental professionals to serve underserved communities across the state.