School of Dentistry

We had a very productive year at the predoctoral clinic during the 2022-2023 academic year. I kept myself busy revising and improving the curriculum, planning new activities, and mentoring students. The curriculum restructuring allows the second and third year students to have more endodontic experiences earlier in their education, improving their critical thinking. Those experiences […]

Hello everyone. I have been working with residents on research projects focusing on root canal morphology. These include radiographic and CBCT analysis of three-rooted premolar anatomy and the association of the portal of exit of missed MB2 canals with apical periodontitis.  Ongoing research projects are directed towards vital pulp therapy. I am currently a part […]

It always amazes me how quickly time passes before our eyes. It has been more than a year since our last alumni newsletter, so there is much to share with you. Dr. Clara Spatafore retired from her position in June 2022. Since her arrival in October 2014, she served as interim and permanent chair of […]

Hello, alumni! Hope this update finds you well.  Last July we welcomed three incoming first year residents who, along with Dr. Aziz Mallik, make up VCU Endo’s Class of 2025. This has really been a great group of guys to work with. We’ve all meshed well together and have made the resident room not only […]

The MCV Foundation has announced it will award $4 million over four years to Virginia Commonwealth University to recruit highly qualified students from underrepresented backgrounds to the university’s five health sciences programs, including the School of Dentistry.

Program supports junior faculty, encourages continued research Rami Ammoun, D.D.S., M.S., CDT, FACP, has been named a Revere Scholar at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry. Revere Scholars exemplify the highest standards of the oral health profession as modeled by James H. Revere Jr. (D.D.S. ’65), former instructor, interim dean, fundraiser, mentor and friend […]

by Sharon Lanning, D.D.S. (cert. ’99/D) professor and chair Staff update This summer we said goodbye to two superb members of our clinical team. Charlene Chambers, former clinic manager, is assuming the role of full-time grandma. Austin Thomas, former surgical assistant, is pursuing his goal of becoming a dental hygienist. We appreciate their devotion to […]

Drs. Luciano Andrada, Amirreza Ghassemi, and Rafael Siqueira attended the School of Dentistry’s first annual new faculty retreat on Aug. 19, 2021. They were greeted by Interim Dean Clara Spatafore. New faculty, across all departments, enjoyed hearing about a number of topics including the use of technology in teaching, how to get involved in clinical […]

by Thomas C. Waldrop, D.D.S., M.S. (D.D.S. ’73/D) Congratulations to the Class of 2020! I am proud to acknowledge Jill Beitz (D.D.S. ’15/D; MS ’20/D), Peter Lee (M.S. ’20/D), and Denver Lyons (D.D.S. ’17/D; M.S. ’20/D) as new diplomates of the American Board of Periodontology. The Class of 2021 graduation reception was held on July […]

by Sharon Lanning, D.D.S. (cert. ’99/D), professor and chair Two endowments were recently established to help support the Department of Periodontics. Jean-Claude Kharmouche, D.M.D. (HS ‘97), alumnus of our graduate program and a devoted adjunct faculty member since 2005, provided a gift of $50,000 to support the needs of the Department. A target area for […]