2019 CODA Site Visit Results & SECC Final Stats
As a follow up to the forum last week, I would like to again extend my deepest gratitude to all of you for your contributions leading up to and during the CODA site visit. Dr. Adriana Segura, Chair of the Self-Study Steering Committee, Dr. Dana English, Co-Chair, and all 6 of our Standard Chairs, Drs. Barbara MacNeill, Diane Sullivan, Stefanie Seitz, Juanita Pineda, Gary Guest, Brij Singh, are to be thanked for leading us through a successful assessment. Robin Druckman and Lori Morgan are also to be highly commended for managing the compilation of the predoctoral self-study report and the consultants' visit.
Good news travels fast, but if you haven’t heard, the CODA consultants were extremely impressed with all of our programs. Among the several strengths they commented on were our research program, our new curriculum and the integration of the Long School of Medicine’s basic science courses. Furthermore, the visitors complimented the collaborative nature of Dental Hygiene’s Advisory Board.
Our Advanced Education programs likewise caught the consultants' attention. I send my gratitude to Dr. Luis Yepes and Lupita Gomez in Advanced Education in General Dentistry, Dr. Suman Challa and Danette Besancon in Dental Public Health, Dr. Anibal Diogenes and Tammy Dobberstien in Endodontics, Dr. Ravikumar Anthony and Hope McDaniel in Orthodontics, Dr. Maria Jose Cervantes and Kelly Limehouse in Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Brian Mealey and Shirley Kraft in Periodontics, and Dr. Mattew Lamb and Nancy Smith in Prosthodontics for all their hard work. You and your teams of faculty and staff compiled your own self-study documents and highlighted your strengths expertly. This is a fantastic report and we should all be proud of the work we’ve accomplished together.
Faculty and Staff, your contributions to the future of patient care and research were undeniable as the consultants examined every standard. Not only did you shine in every area of dental education and research, but your participation in this year’s State Employee Charitable Campaign was one for the books. The School of Dentistry surpassed the 2019 SECC goal by $365, pledging an admirable $22,297 to United Way agencies.
SECC Champions, please accept our thanks for all your efforts in spurring us along and reminding us of the exciting events planned throughout the campaign. DJ Smith, our School of Dentistry Champion, Nelda DeLaCruz, Elissa Klein, and Estella Villanueva in Comprehensive Dentistry, Tricia Smith in the Dean's Office, Esther Tarango in Developmental Dentistry, Dr. Glenn Walters in Endodontics, Deli Arriola in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Clarice Perez in Periodontics, and Ariana Soto and Veronica Gonzalez for UT Dentistry; you have our appreciation.
In closing, this is a time of pride and celebration, but not of rest. We march onward to bigger and brighter possibilities together.
Kindest regards,
Peter M. Loomer, BSc, DDS, PhD, MRCD(C), FACD
Professor and Dean
School of Dentistry