XI XI CHAPTER(2007)

Xi Xi Chapter News-

Under the leadership of Chapter President Michael A. Kahn and the Executive Board this 2006-2007 year has been a banner year of accomplishments for the XI XI Chapter at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.

Our bi-annual newsletter was sent out to all members of the chapter presenting our goals and recent activities and the need to be current on dues. We encouraged all members to make a separate donation so the chapter could put forward more generous awards to deserving students - - the positive response was tremendous. As a result, XI XI chapter was able to present a $2,000 OKU scholarship award to a second year dental student. Applicants for this award were required to submit a written statement explaining its planned use and financial need. The winner, Douglas Laliberte, was chosen by an ad hoc committee composed of three members of the Executive Board.

Each year in March, Tufts sponsors a research day known as Bates-Andrews Day. Students who are mentored by faculty in various research projects present their projects at a table clinic session. From these presentations, winners are selected by members of the faculty with prizes ranging from a trip to the annual ADA session to cash awards. Due to the generosity of OKU members, an OKU award, the Hilde Tillman Bates Day Award was given to John Patrick Murphy, D'09, for his presentation entitled “Microenvironmental Control of Cell Survival in E –catherin-deficient Oral Carcinoma Cells."

XI XI Chapter also presents a monetary award to two third-year dental students who achieve the highest grade point average in the basic and clinical sciences courses. This year our chapter proudly presented a $500 check to Jordon Lissauer who received the highest grade point in both. This is only the second time in the award’s history that one student has won both categories.

At the chapter’s annual general Business meeting this past March, two new honorary faculty members were selected - - Dr. Louis Farrugia, Associate Professor of General Dentistry and Dr. Laura Castro, Associate Professor of Pediatric Dentistry. Also, in honor of her many outstanding contributions and dedication to Tufts and to the Department of General Dentistry, Ms Patricia DiAngelis was granted honorary membership. At this meeting, it was also voted to allow the graduating D’07 members to wear their OKU stoles purchased by the chapter at graduation. Furthermore, it was determined that for the D’08 convocation, the chapter would seek mentors from within the membership to both sponsor each new graduate at the annual convocation and to help in the purchase of a stole for each to keep after graduation. Several mentors have already been recruited.

A new slate of officers was elected for the 2007-08 year - - Dr. Nopsaran Chaimattayompol, Division Head of Prosthodontics as President, Dr. Roger Galburt as Vice President and Dr. Arthur Weiner, a past chapter president, remains as Secretary-Treasurer.

The chapter’s annual dinner convocation was held in May at which the new alumni members received their OKU pins and certificates. The chapter President, Michael A. Kahn and Dr. Arthur Weiner were able to successfully seek financial aid from Dean Lonnie Norris resulting in the ability to invite recent OKU alumni graduates from 2005 and 2006 and their guest to attend at no expense. The overall response was tremendous with the largest participation ever. The purpose of this initiative was to stimulate interest in OKU and increase participation in the yearly activities of the Chapter by its members. The Chapter also supported the convocation dinner fee for two guests of each of the newly elected alumni. The convocation guest speaker was nationally syndicated and award winning sportscaster, Mr. Bob Ryan, of the Boston Globe newspaper. His presence was greatly appreciated by all who attended and his presentation added greatly to the festivities of the evening.

All in all XI XI Chapter has had a banner and fulfilling year, with many outstanding activities and plans are under way to even surpass even this past year’s accomplishments.

Group Photo of Newly Elected Alumni Members
along with Guest Speaker, Mr. Bob Ryan (top row, third from left)

2007 Alumni Members At Graduation With Their OKU Stoles