College of Dental Medicine Scholars Day

The annual James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine Scholars Day  showcases research from pre-doctoral dental students, graduate students, and post-doctoral residents.

• Keynote Speaker
• 2023 Award Recipients
• Schedule of Events
• Participant Information

 

2024 Keynote Speaker 

Alfred Griffin, D.M.D., Ph.D.
Founder & CEO, LightForce Orthodontics

Dr. Griffin founded LightForce Orthodontics in 2015. He received his BS in Biochemistry from the University of Virginia, after which he completed a D.M.D. and Ph.D. at the Medical University of South Carolina while lecturing internationally in craniofacial biology. Dr. Griffin also has a Masters of Medical Science and Certificate in Orthodontics from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, where he currently serves as faculty, and he is an ABO-certified practicing orthodontist.

 

2023 Award Recipients

Predoctoral Category

SCDA Annual Session Award

Michael Azzer, Nima Ghorbani, & Thomas Watson
Emma Barnett, Alexis Goodson, & Emma Hughes
Katie Bell, Ashwini Pilla, & Sutton Reamer
Madison Covington & Caroline Norris
Nico Farrar
Clayton Greer & Benjamin Hardy 
Ashley Hughes & Kayla Schell
Reilly Kelly & Hannah Miller
Ed McMillan, Jason Stroud, & Josh Wright
Carlo Negroni & Daravuth Pel

Hinman Student Research Symposium Award

Brooks Swanson

Thomas P. Hinman Dental Meeting Award

Hudson Gray, Lacy Hylton, & Ruhi Patel

Student Competition for Advancing Dental Research and its Application Award

Gurbir Malhi

Resident (Years 2+) Category

First Place – Dr. Waqar Ahmad
Second Place – Dr. Waleed Alkakhan
Third Place – Dr. Michael Bocklet 

Ph.D. Student (Ph.D. years 1-4) Category

First Place – Megan Tennant
Second Place – Bridgette Wellslager
Third Place – Charles Holjencin 

Ph.D. Student (Ph.D. years 5+) Category

First Place (tied) – Jaden Lee
First Place (tied) – Matthew Carson

AADOCR Student Research Day Award

2023 Winner – Bridgette Wellslager
2024 Winner – Charles Holjencin

Post-Doctoral Scholar / Fellow & Staff Scientist Category

First Place – Dr. Catherine Mills
Second Place – Dr. Brianyell McDaniel Mims
Third Place – Dr. Cherice Hill 

 

2023 Schedule of Events

Wellness Center Gymnasium

8 – 8:30 a.m. Posters – Set Up

8 – 9 a.m. Vendor Fair – Set Up

8:30 – 11 a.m. Scholars Day Posters Viewing; Scholars Day Posters Judging
8:30 – 10 a.m. Predoctoral Judging
8:30 – 11 a.m. Residents and Senior Categories Judging

9 – 11 a.m. ASDA Vendor Fair
9 – 10 a.m. D3, D4 and Residents
10 – 11 a.m. D1 and D2

11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Additional Poster Viewing and Collaboration Time
for Senior Categories

11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Lunch Break

 

Drug Discovery Auditorium (DD110)

12 – 1 p.m. Keynote Speaker:
J. Timothy Wright, D.D.S., MS
Editor in Chief, The Journal of the American Dental Association, James Bawden Distinguished Professor, Pediatric and Public Health - UNC Adams School of Dentistry
“Developmental Dental Defects: Translating Discovery to Therapy”

1 – 1:30 p.m. Scholars Day Awards Presentation
Hosted by Joe Vuthiganon, D.M.D.

2 p.m. Predoctoral Classes and Clinics Resume (Delayed Start)