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UCLA SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY

Preparing to meet the challenges of oral health care in the 21st century

EXCELLENCE

CARE

PASSION

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Excellence, Care, Passion

EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING

Internationally recognized faculty lead

students through a rigorous curriculum and

prepare them for careers as patient-centered

practitioners and leaders in the profession.

The UCLA School of Dentistry, supporte

UCLA School

For more information about theUCLA School of Dentistry, visit http://UCLASOD.DENT.UCLA.EDU�


COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE

Dedicated faculty, staff and advanced students

provide the highest quality of compassionate

care for all our patients and serve a vital role in

improving the oral health of the community.

OUTSTANDING RESEARCH

A cadre of stellar researchers continues to

advance the frontiers of knowledge in the

diagnosis, management and treatment of oral

and craniofacial diseases and dysfunctions.

orted by our dedicated individual, corporate and foundation partners, is committed to:

of Dentistry

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The UCLA School of Dentistry held

its first courses on September 21,

1964. In the four decades since then,

more than 3,300 students have earned

the degree of Doctor of Dental

Surgery, and more than 700 students

have completed one or more post-

graduate residency programs.

Countless thousands of oral health

care practitioners have attended the

School’s Continuing Dental Education

courses and workshops.

The School currently consists of 187

full- and part-time faculty members,

326 voluntary faculty members, and

224 staff members. Current enroll-

ment is 365 in the D.D.S. program, 83

in the various postgraduate residency

programs, and 47 in the master’s and

Ph.D. programs.

The UCLA School of Dentistry is

located in a wing of the Center for

Health Sciences, in the southeastern

quadrant of the UCLA campus. It is

comprised of a seven-story laboratory

and office wing and the three-story

clinical wing. The School has approxi-

mately 270 dental operatories at the

Westwood campus and 28 additional

dental operatories at two satellite

locations. Since 1996, the School has

conducted several capital campaigns

which have made possible the renova-

tion of many clinics and research

facilities.

ABOUT THE UCLA SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY

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I n just four decades, the UCLA School of Dentistry has evolved into one

of the leading dental schools in the world. The impact of this extraordi-

nary institution can be seen in its ability to attract academically excellent

and culturally diverse faculty and students; in its advances in multidisciplinary

research; and in an outstanding record of public service benefiting more

than 150,000 patients each year.

We now stand poised to build even further upon this remarkable record

by introducing a campaign to raise $30 million to strengthen the School’s

endowment. By doing so at this crucial time, we will be able to seize new

opportunities, develop new discoveries, and further the trajectory of excel-

lence that is our hallmark.

The School’s friends and alumni – dedicated individual, foundation and

corporate partners – play an integral role in our achievements. The

following pages demonstrate the vital link that exists between private

support and our ability to significantly advance the field of oral health.

We are deeply grateful for the confidence our donors place in our efforts,

and the encouragement they provide our students, faculty and staff.

My colleagues and I, along with the 4,000 alumni of our D.D.S. and post-

graduate residency programs, are proud of our role in improving the oral

health of our community, our state and our nation. We invite you to

explore the many opportunities that exist for becoming a partner in our

future, and for sharing our passion, care and excellence.

Sincerely,

No-Hee Park, D.M.D., Ph.D.

Dean

MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN

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The UCLA School of Dentistry’s world-class reputation

begins with teaching. Stellar faculty prepare top students

from around the country for the practice of dentistry, den-

tal specialties, academic careers and leadership roles. The

result is a vibrant community of learning that consistently

ranks among the nation’s finest dental schools.

Outstanding faculty attract outstanding students, and vice versa. Studentsadmitted to the UCLA School of Dentistry know they will be working withrenowned experts in the field. In fact, many of the top dentistry textbooks –from oral radiology to periodontics to pharmacology – are written by Schoolfaculty members.

Faculty, in turn, look forward to teaching and collaborating with some of thecountry’s brightest and most inquisitive young minds. In any given year, up to50 percent of graduates advance to postdoctoral programs in general dentistryand the dental specialties, one of the highest rates in the country.

Donors who provide resources for either student or faculty support in effectare assisting both areas, catalyzing a mutual attraction that is at the heart of theSchool’s ability to compete nationally.

MENTORSHIP

UCLA maintains the country’s premier apprentice teaching program, in whichfourth-year students teach and mentor new students as they navigate their firstyear, thereby filling the gap in qualified instructors and strengthening a sense ofcommunity in the student body.

EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING

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Assistant professors receive careful guidance fromsenior faculty as they advance their careers, as wellas seed grants for new research and bridge grantsfor support between projects.

LEADERSHIP

The School is committed to nurturing dentists whoare also leaders. Graduates hold high-level positionsin organizations such as the California DentalAssociation and the American Dental Association,and students represent the School at these andmany other organizations, including the AmericanDental Education Association.

SUPPORTING THE TEACHING MISSION

Our donors are key to ensuring quality, high-levelinstruction. Whether by endowing chairs, support-ing graduate fellowships or creating new teachingfacilities, their impact on the School’s teaching mis-sion is limited only by their philanthropic creativity,and is a primary reason that our graduates aresome of the most sought-after in the country.

“At the UCLA School of Dentistry we’re notjust training dentists. We’re creating leaderswho are committed to advancing the field.”

– Robert A. Lindemann,Associate Dean for Academic

Programs and Personnel

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A TEACHING LAB COMES INTOTHE 21ST CENTURY

Walking into the pre-clinical teaching laboratory at the UCLA School of Dentistry,you might think you’ve stepped into the engineering room of the Starship Enterprise.Here, the latest technological innovations,including simulation models that look like futur-istic robots, assist students as they prepare to become dentists.

Every UCLA dental student is intimately familiar with the lab. That is because studentsspend much of their first two years here,acquiring the essential skills that will allowthem to excel in the practice of dentistry.

But recently, 40 years of use had left the 1960s-era lab in dire need of updated equipment,improved ventilation and computer technology.

Then in 2002, a lead gift of $1 million fromBisco, Inc. propelled the lab and the studentswho use it into the 21st century.

The result, the Bisco Dental TeachingLaboratory, is a new, ergonomically healthful,congenial teaching environment that boastscomputer monitors at all 100 lab benches, aseparate room with 30 simulation cubicles anda multimedia teaching module. From a central control panel instructors are able tocommunicate with 100 students at once whilemonitoring their individual work.

According to Taylor Olsen, a third-year student,“The new laboratory offers studentsthe feel of chairside dentistry. The simulationlab further enhances this experience, coming as close as possible to a real-life situation.”

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A L AB MAKES

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The UCLA School of Dentistry is at the forefront of discov-

ery. From oral cancer to community-based health research,

our scientists are engaged in work that extends to the

broader field of medicine and our local, national and global

communities.

A COMMITMENT FROM THE TOP

The School’s commitment to research begins with its leadership, including deansand many faculty who are funded scientists actively involved in their ownresearch. Research is also encouraged among students through an innovativestudent research program that allows them to advance critical-thinking skillswhile creating knowledge.

The result is one of the most advanced andvibrant dental research programs in thecountry. The School ranks 11th in researchfunding from the National Institutes ofHealth, and in 2003-2004 conducted 58grant-funded research projects.

PARTNERSHIPS

The School’s research mission is uniquelystrengthened by collaboration. Partnershipswith the Henry Samueli School ofEngineering and Applied Science, the Schoolof Public Health, and many other institutionsat UCLA and elsewhere help to advanceresearch that changes lives.

SUPPORTING THE RESEARCH MISSION

Our donors provide vital resources forresearch seed grants, research equipmentand laboratory facilities, career developmentawards and many other areas. They help tocreate a climate of inquiry and one of themost fertile research environments of anydental school in the country.

OUTSTANDING RESEARCH

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The ability of our bones to heal diminishes as we getolder. Fractures take longer to mend. Tooth implantsand other dental procedures require more recoverytime. But Dr. Sotirios Tetradis is trying to speed thehealing process–by growing new, strong, healthy bonewithin the human body.

An associate professor of oral and maxillofacial radi-ology, Dr.Tetradis is at the forefront of the search forways to stimulate teeth and bone cells to reproducethemselves.

“Currently,” says Dr.Tetradis,“it can take up to sixmonths for the bone to heal from dental implants.Can we can get that down to less than a month?That would be a major benefit for patients.”

Dr.Tetradis’ investigation takes him on a journey deepdown into a complex cellular world in search of thegenes that are responsible for bone cell growth.

Identifying those genes would then make it easier fordentists to find ways to better address a whole rangeof dental problems, including periodontal disease, oneof the two most common causes of tooth loss.The implications of this research go far beyond thefield of dentistry, offering potential treatments for

systemic diseases, or diseases that affect the entirebody.

In osteoporosis, the bones of the human bodybecome porous and dangerously brittle. It is a disease Dr.Tetradis has close knowledge of, havingwatched a friend’s mother succumb to the pointwhere her grandchildren couldn’t hug her for fearthat they might break her bones.

Until recently, treatments for osteoporosis have largelyfocused on preventing further bone weakening. ButDr.Tetradis’ work could eventually lead to an actualreversal of the condition by changing the aging patternin the bone marrow.

He asks:“Can we take a 75-year-old woman and giveher the bones of a 35-year-old? That is one goal.”

He points out that such advances are all the moreimportant in light of our aging population. “As thepopulation gets older,” he says,“the dental problemsof those patients are going to increase. We want togive dentists more and bettertools to face these new prob-lems.”

“Can we take a 75-year-oldwoman and give her thebones of a 35-year-old? That is one goal.”

– Dr. Sotirios Tetradis

BUILDING BONE IN THE HUMAN BODY

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Imagine walking into your local drugstore and buyinga simple test that can tell from a swab of your salivawhether you are at risk for one of many life-threat-ening diseases. Within minutes the test indicatesthat you may be in the early stages of oral cancer.You see your doctor immediately for a more thorough workup, and your treatment plan begins.

Thanks to an inexpensive over-the-counter test, youhave just dodged the potential ravages of oral cancer.

Such a scenario is closer than you might think.Dr. David Wong, chair of the Division of Oral Biologyand Medicine and director of the Dental ResearchInstitute, and his team are on the verge of introduc-ing the first-ever non-invasive saliva test for oral cancer and a panel of high-impact human diseases.

The testing device, called a biosensor, checks for theprotein markers for oral cancer. It is about the sizeof a deck of cards. Within minutes of placing one’ssaliva on a microchip, it determines with extraordi-nary accuracy whether or not one is at risk.

Dr.Wong and his colleagues are now analyzing whatappear to be very promising data on a similar testfor breast cancer, and diabetes is waiting in thewings.

Says Dr.Wong,“We eventually want to reach a pointwhere for a few dollars you can purchase a home-care product that will test for one or two or moremajor diseases. That’s still a journey away, but allindications are that we will be able to do it.”

“We represent a generation of oral healthresearchers who are trying to reach out to thelarger community at UCLA and nationwide.”

– Dr. David Wong

A NEW TEST FOR DISEASE RISK

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TAKING CAVITIES OUT OF THE PICTUREDr. Wenyuan Shi is out to eliminate cavities. Permanently.

“Like polio,” he says,“cavities are going to become one of those things peopleread about but have no experience with.”

And he wants to eliminate them by eradicating the very microbes that causethem. Dr. Shi is a medical microbiologist and the director of the School ofDentistry Oral Microbiology Lab.

Modern dentistry has traditionally focused on mechanically repairing the problem, whether cavity or gum disease. But Dr. Shi saw an opportunity toattack the problem before it begins – by looking for ways to destroy the tinymicrobes that are the source of tooth decay.

The first major breakthrough in his work came in figuring out how to diagnosethe level of cariogenic, or cavity-causing, bacteria in a person’s mouth.

Then he and his team went on to create a new generation of antibiotics todestroy the bacteria. Traditional antibiotics, he says, take a “carpet-bombing”approach, killing both good and bad microbes. “What we did was to add a homing device to kill only the bad ones,” he says.

In other words, an antibiotic “smart bomb.”

Dr. Shi’s lab is now developing an array of systems to deliver the new antibiotics to patients. One particularmethod can’t help but bring a wry smile to Dr. Shi’s lips.“We’re actually testing a sugarless antibiotic lollipop,” hesays. “We’re using the very sucker that was so much ofthe problem to begin with as a delivery device to attackthe disease.”

“Cavities are going to become apart of medical history, one ofthose things people read aboutbut have no experience with.”

– Dr.Wenyuan Shi

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JANE AND JERRY WEINTRAUB

CENTER FOR RECONSTRUCTIVE

BIOTECHNOLOGY

A handsome gentleman in his 60s hears the news:“I’m sorry, but you have cancer.”

A strong and determined fight beats the disease,but treatments result in the loss of most of hislower jaw. It is likely he will have severe difficultyspeaking and eating, in addition to the dramaticchanges in facial appearance.

As part of a project being conducted at the Janeand Jerry Weintraub Center for ReconstructiveBiotechnology, UCLA surgeons reconstruct theman’s jaw by transplanting bone and tissue from his leg, while Weintraub investigators provide prosthetic restorations to restore his ability to chew, swallow and speak, as well as improve aesthetics and self-perception.

“They put me back together,” the man says smiling.

Completed in July 2002, the Weintraub Center atthe UCLA School of Dentistry is the premier com-prehensive center for oral and facial rehabilitationand research in the world. The Center challenges avariety of clinical problems related to facial defects

due to massive tissue removal following cancertherapy, and injury or congenital deformity.

In the Center’s laboratories, research is under wayto determine which of the new and existing treat-ments are the most effective means for restoringoral function and quality of life. In addition,researchers are convinced that it will be possible inthe not-too-distant future to restore facial featuresthat have been devastated by birth defects, cancer,or trauma by regenerating skin, bone, nerves andsoft tissues.

By vastly improving the quality of life for countlessindividuals who suffer from the ravages of disfigure-ment, the Weintraub Center has assumed its placeamong other laboratories in the world that arerenowned for ongoing contributions to biomedicalresearch and patient care.

It will be possible in the

not-too-distant future to

restore facial features that

have been devastated by

birth defects, cancer or

trauma.

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Since its inception, the UCLA School of Dentistry

has strived to fulfill its potential as a resource for

our local communities. By establishing ties with

organizations throughout Los Angeles, the School

ensures that a constant stream of services and

information reaches those who need it most.

A COMMUNITY PARTNER

Most visible among the School’s public service initiatives are the gen-eral and specialty clinics. The UCLA Children’s Dental Center at theEdward R. Roybal Comprehensive Health Center is a low-cost dentalclinic dedicated to the treatment of underserved children in East LosAngeles. The Wilson-Jennings-Bloomfield UCLA Venice Dental Centerprovides comprehensive dental care to an ethnically diverse, lower-income population in West Los Angeles.

UCLA’s dental education program interfaces with the communitythrough oral health fairs as well, at community centers and schoolsacross Los Angeles County. A partnership with Nara Bank is bringing oral health fairs to bank branches in the Koreatown section of Los Angeles.

COMMUNITY RESEARCH AND ADVISING

In addition to the School’s basic science investiga-tions, research is also conducted on communityneeds through collaborations with organizationssuch as the Regional Research Center for MinorityHealth.

More broadly, the School’s national advisory rolecannot be overstated. Its public service impactreaches beyond Los Angeles and beyond the statethrough faculty participation on national healthcare issues, reviews of grant proposals and advisingon other college programs.

COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE

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Five-year-old Lucy has never been to a dentist,and neither has her little brother. Her parentshave no dental insurance and can’t remember thelast time that either one of them saw a dentist.But today the family sits in the Wilson-Jennings-Bloomfield UCLA Venice Dental Center awaitingtheir turns in the dental chair.

Founded in 1969 by the UCLA School ofDentistry, the Center has grown from a five-chairstorefront unit to a 20-chair state-of-the-art clinicthat handles more than 15,000 patient visits annu-ally. The Center is adjacent to the Venice FamilyClinic, the nation’s largest free clinic and UCLAaffiliate, from whom the Center receives a majori-ty of its referrals.

As a community-oriented clinic that serves as amodel for community-based service and educa-tion, the Center serves indigent patients, the elderly, the homeless and ethnic minorities whoseneeds are great and whose resources are sorelylimited.

From the outset, the vision of the Venice DentalCenter has been to provide comprehensive den-tal care services at a much reduced rate to theunderserved community – and to provide aunique learning experience for the UCLA Schoolof Dentistry’s faculty, students and residents aswell as for hygiene students from local communitycolleges.

"The wonderful friends we make while helping the community,the joy of helping improve the lives of children and adults, and the feeling of purpose in our own lives are gifts that we receive by giving of ourselves."

– Dr. Jim Freed, Clinical Professor Emeritus

WILSON-JENNINGS-BLOOMFIELD UCLA VENICE DENTAL CENTER

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GIVING BACK TO THE SCHOOL OF DENTISTRYSometimes alumni of the UCLA School of Dentistry give back to the School by pro-

viding support for students. Sometimes they create endowed chairs to help attract

top-ranked faculty. Sometimes they provide resources to enhance patient care.

Dr.Thomas R. Bales ’76 has done all three.

Dr. Bales is a longtime volunteer and supporter of the School’s orthodontic resident

program. In 2003, he committed $500,000 to create the Dr.Thomas R. Bales Endowed

Chair in Orthodontics.

It is the School of Dentistry’s third such chair and, according to Dr. No-Hee Park, the

School’s dean, “The gift has amplified

our ability to attract one of the top

orthodontists in the country, and we

are proud to have Dr. Kang Ting fill the

chair at this critical time.”

The chair also provides resources to

enhance the residency program, thereby supporting students as well.

A past president of the UCLA Orthodontic Alumni Association, Dr. Bales has helped

raise more than $1 million to support the clinic and residency program. In recognition

of his commitment and volunteerism, the School recently named the renovated 28-

chair orthodontic clinic in his honor.

The Dr.Thomas R. Bales Orthodontic Clinic will treat nearly 5,000 patients this year

with needs ranging from braces to procedures for profound craniofacial deformities.

“I am very appreciative of the education I received while in the orthodontic residency program at UCLA.”

– Dr.Thomas R. Bales

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BECOME A PARTNER IN OUR FUTURE

Excellence in dental education is a complex and

increasingly expensive endeavor. At a time of

extraordinary promise for the UCLA School of

Dentistry, state support for higher education is

steadily diminishing. Consequently, private funding

is essential to our continuing success.

There are many ways to support the outstanding

faculty and students of the UCLA School of Dentistry.

Through a gift of cash, securities, real estate or other

categories of assets, a donor may derive significant tax

benefits while at the same time receiving the personal

satisfaction that comes from being part of a worthy

cause. The staff of the School of Dentistry’s

Development Office would be very pleased to

discuss these various giving opportunities with you

in confidence.

The preceding pages have provided a glimpse of

achievements and aspirations of the UCLA School of

Dentistry and the role that individual, foundation and

corporate support can play in the lives of our patients

and the health of our communities. Please consider

becoming a partner with the School as we meet the

challenges of oral health care in the 21st century.15


OUR CAMPAIGN GOAL

$30 MILLION

To ensure that the UCLA School of

Dentistry continues to fulfill its tripartite

mission of excellence in teaching, research

and public service, we seek the support of

individuals, foundations and corporations

in the creation of an endowment of $30

million dollars.

Please consider making an investment in

the future education of oral health care

practitioners and cutting-edge research

that holds such extraordinary promise

through the establishment of an endowed

chair, an endowed scholarship or fellow-

ship, an endowed research or special

needs fund or the general endowment

of the UCLA School of Dentistry.

Please join us in this vital campaign.


UCLA SCHOOL OF DENTISTRYDevelopment OfficeUCLA School of Dentistry53-038 Center for the Health SciencesBox 951668Los Angeles, CA 90095-1668 Tel: 310-206-6079

School of Dentistry


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