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Department of Pediatric Dentistry has a variety of funds
that sustain our educational, research and patient care
programs. Your support will help insure continued excellence
in our efforts to ensure that all children are given an
opportunity for optimal oral health.
Funds Supporting Professorships:
Endowed professorships allow the recruitment and retention
of the very best clinicians, educators and researchers in
the field of pediatric dentistry. Once endowed, they provide
support for salary, research and other professional activities
directed at fulfilling our mission.
James W. Bawden Distinguished Professorship
Fund: This Professorship honors Dr. Jim Bawden
a pediatric dentist who served the specialty and UNC-CH
School of Dentistry through his extensive research endeavors
and leadership roles including Dean. This Professorship
was fully funded through a grass roots effort that established
a permanently endowed professorship in the Department of
Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Tim Wright currently holds the
Bawden Distinguished Professorship.
William W. Demeritt Distinguished
Professorship Fund: This Professorship honors Dr.
“Willie” Demerit who served as the first Chair
of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at the UNC-CH School
of Dentistry and was recognized as a great clinician and
educator. Dr. Demeritt stated in his “Jungle of Weeds”
speech that – “if we neglected our plants as
we do our children’s oral health we would soon be
living in a jungle of weeds”. This Professorship is
fully funded and Dr. William Vann currently holds the William
Demeritt Distinguished Professorship.
Dr. Donald and Mrs. Alexandra Henson
Distinguished Professorship Fund: This Professorship
honors Dr. Donald Henson and his wife Alexandra who are
committed to helping ensure the educational excellence in
Pediatric Dentistry. The Hensons’ dedication to improving
the oral health of children is perpetuated for future generations
through this Professorship.
Dr. Michael Roberts currently holds the Henson Distinguished
Professorship.
Graduate Education Funds: Graduate
education funds are used to support specialty education
in Pediatric Dentistry. The funds are used specifically
to enhance leadership and educational enhancement opportunitiesin
the areas of patient care, education, research, and child
health advocacy. One hundred percent of gifts to the graduate
education fellowship funds goes directly to the residents
to support their stipends and educational opportunities.
Mary Jean Breeland Fellowship:
This Fellowship was endowed by a planned gift from Ms. Breeland.
It was her wish to support our pediatric dentistry residents
that are natives of North Carolina or plan to remain and
practice in North Carolina following completion of their
residency. Ms. Breeland stated that she did not have good
oral health as a child and wanted future generations to
have the opportunity to have healthy smiles.
James Congleton Fellowship:
Dr. Jim Congleton has long served as a community leader
and champion of oral health locally and nationally. Interest
from this Fellowship provides leadership training support
to the pediatric dentistry residents allowing them to work
with national leaders and child health advocates while attending
the annual meeting of the American Academy of Pediatric
Dentistry.
Jack Menius Fellowship: This
Fellowship honors Dr. Jack Menius who is a tremendous supporter
and advocate of patients with special needs. Interest from
this Fellowship provides stipend support to the pediatric
dentistry residents who serve rotations and provide dental
care at the Gateway Education Center (Greensboro, NC). Gateway
is a school for children with special needs, such as cerebral
palsy.
Theodore Oldenburg Fellowship:
This Fellowship is a tribute to Dr. Ted Oldenburg and his
years of leadership and education in the Department of Pediatric
Dentistry. He served as the Chair of our department and
Associate Dean for the School of Dentistry. In addition,
Dr. Oldenburg was elected by his peers as president of the
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. He also served
as a Director of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.
Interest from this Fellowship provides stipend support to
the pediatric dentistry residents serving as Chief Resident-Hospital,
and Chief Resident-Administration.
Sandy Marks Fellowship Fellowships:
This Fellowship honors a beloved past faculty member of
the department. Dr. Marks was instrumental in establishing
a dental school in Africa and was well known for his work
with special needs patients. This fund is used to provide
additional educational opportunities and support for the
pediatric dentistry residents working with craniofacial
patients.
Patient and Department Funds:
Poor oral health continues to ravage our children - But
is preventable! Despite the startling facts about the oral
health of our children in America, there are currently inadequate
resources available to treat all children and to provide
educational opportunities for oral health care providers
of the future.
• Dental decay is the most prevalent disease of childhood
in America, surpassing asthma and hay fever.
• North Carolina has a shortage of dentists and is
ranked 48th in the nation for dentist/patient ratio.
• Children with special health care needs continue
to have unmet oral health care needs.
• Optimal health care gives children the opportunity
to grow and develop free of pain and infection.
• Dental caries is preventable and all children can
have the wonder of a happy, healthy smile.
These funds go to directly support treatment
costs for children and the mission of the Department of
Pediatric Dentistry.
Patient Treatment Fund: One
of four children in North Carolina begins kindergarten with
untreated dental decay and dental caries in the 2 to 5 year
old age group is increasing. Many children do not have access
to dental care due to the family’s lack of financial
resources. This fund supports dental care for children by
covering the dental treatment costs of children that would
otherwise not receive treatment due to a lack of finances.
Pediatric Dentistry Unrestricted Fund:
This fund supports the general administration and programs
of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry.
You can support the kids and help ensure all
children have a chance for a healthy smile by giving to
any of the named professorships, fellowships and the patient
treatment fund or through donations to the Pediatric Dentistry
Unrestricted Funds. Additional information on how to make
gifts and pledges to any of these funds or fellowships can
be obtained through the Dental Foundation of North Carolina,
Inc.'s website or by contacting Kelly Almond, Interim Executive
Director, at (919) 966-2731.
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