CSPD Foundation's Second Year News and Articles: 2002-2003

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October 2003

Foundation Launches 3rd Annual Giving Campaign

Building on a very successful first two years, the CSPD Foundation has launched the 3rd Annual Giving Campaign this month. As the primary source of funding both to support current programs and to build a corpus of funds for bigger and more ambitious projects in the future, nearly fifty percent of CSPD members have become contributors in the past two years since the Foundation’s inception.

The emphasis on this year’s campaign is to appeal to the other half of CSPD’s membership to join their colleagues in supporting this very important effort. In addressing the crisis in pediatric dental education, the Foundation will need to go outside for additional funding from other foundations and corporations. These organizations always look to see the level of support from within the organization as part of their decision making process.

This Foundation is uniquely focused on addressing the crisis in pediatric dental education in California. We are seeking and finding innovative ways to stimulate more young pediatric dentists to consider careers in academe, as well as to encourage older practitioners to become part time faculty at programs in their area.

The board hopes that many more CSPD members will show their commitment to the future of this specialty in California by sending in a check this year. Even a donation of $100 will help to show those on the outside the broadest possible support from within the CSPD family.

CSPD Foundation Calls for Grant Proposals

A formal Request for Proposal will be sent this month to all pediatric dental program directors and chairpersons in California. Last year the Foundation awarded more than $18,000 in grants, providing educators with the resources necessary to identify and mentor those dental students and pediatric dental residents who have the potential and the interest to pursue careers in academe.

Some of the 2003 Foundation grants included funding for a research project that will identify those students with predictors for academic success, a grant to enable a pediatric dental resident to present her research at the European Organizations for Caries Research Meeting in Germany, and funding for presentations and follow-up faculty/student dinners to expose students to the benefits of teaching while fostering student/ mentor relationships.

The Foundation encourages creative, innovative approaches to facilitating mentor relationships and invites all faculty to apply. For information or to request an application, contact Gila Dorostkar.

FOUNDATION AWARDS RESEARCH GRANT

The Professional Activities Committee of CSPD has selected a project by UCLA postdoctoral residents Kirk Robertson, DMD, and Christian Lopez, DDS, entitled "The Use of Mineral Trioxide Aggregate for Vital Pulpotomies in Primary Molars." A $1500 award in support of this research has been funded by the Foundation.

Foundation Board & Officers Installed

At the CSPD Annual Session in Victoria, the Foundation installed its new Board of Trustees and Officers for the coming year. Outgoing founding President, David Good, was recognized and thanked for his outstanding leadership of the Foundation through its initial two years as an organization.

The new Board of Trustees is composed of new trustees, Madeleine Brandli and Ann Azama, with continuing trustees, Michael McCartney, Gila Dorostkar and Lonnie Lovingier. The new officers are President Mark Lisagor, Secretary Richard Sobel, Treasurer Randall Wiley and Executive Director Mel Rowan. Lynne Marian continues as the Recording Secretary.

Student Groups Receive Support

The CSPD Foundation has recently presented supporting funds for the predoctoral pediatric dental study groups in the dental schools throughout California.

These groups focus on subjects of interest for students who wish to learn more about dental care for children. Students may participate in elective programs or may be exposed to specialty training in pediatric dentistry. Of prime importance is the developing of relationships with faculty members and encouraging the appreciation of academic roles in our profession.

We encourage all CSPD members to help support these groups by mentoring students or volunteering to participate in these programs.

Foundation Awards Internal Faculty Development Grants

The CSPD Foundation has been focusing on the shortage of full and part time teachers in our state's dental schools and pediatric dentistry programs, following a strategic plan which evolved from the Consensus Conference held at the Annual Session in Anaheim in the Spring of 2002.  A key finding from the Consensus Conference and follow-up discussions with academicians revealed that very often the relationship with a significant role model who mentored and encouraged the pursuit of a career in academe was the greatest decision to enter teaching .

One strategy to address this crisis is a project which will enhance the quality of the teaching experience for some of our most outstanding educators, providing them with the resources necessary to identify and mentor those dental students and pediatric dental residents who have the potential and the interest to consider careers in academe. The Internal Faculty Development Grant program was not designed to fund equipment purchases or research but rather to enhance these special relationships between our best faculty members and individual students who might benefit by this sort of special mentorship, the ultimate goal being to increase the number of people who choose careers in academe, both full and part time.

The following awards were announced at the Annual Session in Victoria:

Drs. Ken Troutman/ Nancy Kwon (UCSF)  $5,000

Funding will support presentations and faculty dinners with dental students interested in academe as well as a partial stipend for a resident teaching in the UCSF pre-doctoral clinic.

Clarice Law (UCLA) $2,625

This grant will fund a study project that will identify the unique strengths of career academicians and then compare those traits with current pediatric residents and, ultimately, second year dental students. The results will identify predictors of success in pediatric dentistry careers, especially academe. Those with predictors of success in academics will be counseled and encouraged to enter the Academic Track that is being developed at UCLA and offered a one-on-one mentorship with existing faculty members.

Jeffrey Wood (UOP) $4,900

This award will sponsor two dental students to attend a specialty meeting and present a research project as the guest of a mentor thereby introducing them to the pediatric specialty in an educational context and also building a mentor relationship.

Pam DenBesten (UCSF) $3,500

This project will aid in the costs of sending pediatric residents to Germany this summer for the European Organization for Caries Research Meeting to participate in the presentation of a research project. Attending this international conference with a mentor who will introduce them to the world of caries research will show the residents a side of academe that otherwise they would not be exposed to.

Jose Polido (LA Childrens Hospital) $2, 000

Sending faculty to an NIH sponsored seminar on the process of developing and presenting NIH research proposals will not only increase faculty probabilities of achieving grant support at the national level but also strengthen pediatric dental research in general. Funds from such NIH grants can in turn be used to recruit additional faculty members interested in research and also provide another opportunity for a motivated resident/student to become involved.

Each of these proposals provides an innovative and creative approach to fostering a mentoring relationship between promising residents/dental students and faculty.