UTHealth
School of Dentistry
Fellowship program
lets dental clinicians explore
academic careers
by Rhonda Whitmeyer
Dr. Vuvi Nguyen (far left), an assistant professor at UTHealth School of Dentistry at Houston, discusses how to teach anatomy using plas-
tinated specimens. Photo by Maricruz Kwon. Lower right photo: The Academic Health Careers Fellowship program concluded with a
“graduation” luncheon, where Dr. Harry Joseph (left) thanked his faculty mentor, Dr. C.D. Johnson. Photo by Dr. Carolyn Nguyen.
F
or most of the people in the room, gross anatomy is a
subject they studied years ago, but they never had a class
like this one.
“How did you study anatomy? With cadavers, right? I’m sure
you remember the smell,” said Assistant Professor Vuvi
Nguyen, PhD, as she began a session of UTHealth School of
Dentistry’s first Academic Health Careers Fellowship program
— a six-month professional development plan for clinicians
interested in exploring academic careers.
In 2016, the School of Dentistry acquired plastinated specimens
of real human bodies to use in anatomy classes, revolutionizing
the way the subject is taught. Nguyen explained that silicone
rubber replaced water and fat in the tissue, preserving the bod-
ies with almost no smell.
For the nine dentists and one dental hygienist participating in
the academic health career program, it was just one of the ways
education has changed since they were in school.
Meeting twice a month from April to September, each program
participant had a faculty mentor as a guide. They observed
teaching in the classroom, clinic, laboratory, and simulation
center and learned principles and methods used in health sci-
ence education. Other aspects of academic life were included,
too, with participants attending a faculty retreat and meeting
with students, department chairs, associate deans, and the
dean. The program culminated with presentations of scholarly
capstone projects.
Associate Professor and Center for Teaching and Learning
Director Harold Henson, RDH, PhD, and Associate Professor
Carolyn Huynh, DDS, EdD, directed the program, in collabora-
tion with Associate Dean for Professional Development and
Faculty Affairs Lisa Cain, PhD, and the School of Dentistry’s
PACE Center.
Henson said the fellowship will be offered again in 2019
and may be expanded beyond dentistry to other health care pro-
fessions. For more information, contact the PACE Center at
(713) 486-4028 or [email protected].
www.houstondentistrymagazine.com
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HOUSTON DENTISTRY
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