*Glenn Clark, director of the Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine program, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Academy of Orofacial Pain. Recognized as a leading expert in the field, Clark was chosen based on his many research, clinical, and educational achievements as well as "charting new information and territory in the field."  He received the award at the group's annual session in Las Vegas this past March.

*Clark was not the only member of the Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine program to receive recognition.  Second-year resident Piedad Suarez won the Saul Kamen Scientific Report Award from the American Society for Geriatric Dentistry for her analysis of patient demographics and oral health at the school's Oral Medicine and Orofacial Pain Center.

Suarez, who came to the program from her native Costa Rica, will join the School of Dentistry faculty after completing her orofacial pain/oral medicine program this month.

*The American College of Dentists selected our Harold Slavkin as this year's William J. Gies Award recipient.  The annual award—the College’s highest honor— is given to an individual who has made unique and exceptional contributions to the dental profession and society.  The award was presented at the ACD Gala held during the California Dental Association's spring session in April.

*The Pierre Fauchard Academy Southern California Section recently honored two USCSD faculty members.  Part-time faculty member Cherilyn Sheets received the prestigious Honor Award based upon her many years of service to the community and leadership in the profession.

Sheets, a member of the school’s Board of Councilors, is the founder the Children's Dental Center in Inglewood which provides low-cost dental care to underserved children.  She is a past-president of the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry and American Association of Women Dentists, and a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry, American College of Dentists, International College of Dentists, Academy of Dentistry International and the Pierre Fauchard Academy.

*Leslie Kaneko was named USC Teacher of the Year by the Pierre Fauchard Academy.  The Teacher of the Year recipient is chosen each year by the senior class.  Kaneko joined the faculty in 1998.  A true Trojan, Kaneko completed her B.A. (1994), her D.D.S. (1994) and her certificate in prosthodontics (1998) at USC.

*ASPID Class of 2007 members Abheer Jayakar, Swati Vellanki, Safa Khaleel, and Lubna Syed placed third in the student table clinic competition at the California Dental Association's annual meeting in Anaheim.  The group's presentation on computer-guided implant imaging was conceptualized by Jayakar who said their success was due to "a lot of teamwork."

* The Class of 2006 celebrated their best and brightest at the Senior Banquet, May 11 at the Los Angeles Downtown Marriot.  Prior to an evening of dinner and dancing, faculty and students took a moment to acknowledge the 2006 award recipients (For a full list of awards and recipients click here).