Lasting Impressions | Winter 2014

28 x LASTING IMPRESSIONS A dental education never ends—whether one is a recent graduate of the College of Dental Medicine or an alumnus who has been practicing for years. The Office for Professional Development has been created to better serve the needs of all dental college alumni by placing Alumni Relations and Continuing Professional Devel- opment under one area of responsibility, led by Bart Whitehead, D.M.D., M.Ed. , e M.B.A., assis- tant dean. The new office will provide resources to advance dental education and to encourage communication among professionals. To promote networking, the College of Dental Medicine Alumni Society kicks off this year. It is open to graduates and students of all the dental college’s degree, postdoctoral, and specialty programs. Non-alumni dental pro- fessionals, friends of the college, and faculty and staff members may join the Alumni Society as associate members. The Alumni Society is scheduling a variety of activities, including reunions, service proj- ects, student recruitment, social events, schol- arship opportunities, mentoring, networking, professional development, and symposia with national speakers. During fall 2014, the Office for Professional Development also will organize networking events outside of South Florida so alumni can “stay connected,” said Whitehead. “We want updates and feedback from our alumni, who are the backbone of our college. Our alumni—and the friends of our college—are part of our family, and we want them to become active members.” In addition, a Dental Alumni Society Advi- sory Board is being established to provide leadership for the Alumni Society, assist with annual giving, provide counsel for the dean, and act as ambassadors for the college. The board will organize its work around four stand- ing committees: Alumni Society Engagement, Alumni Society Study Clubs, Annual Alumni Giving, and Leadership Gifts. For more information, call the Office for Professional Development at (954) 262-1811 or email dentalce@nova.edu . For information on the college, visit dental.nova.edu . Alumni can update their information at dental.nova .edu/alumnirelations . ◆ OFFICE FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO SERVE ALUMNI Underserved and uninsured elementary school students in the North Miami Beach area are once again receiving dental care services this academic school year, thanks to a grant from the Dr. John. T. Macdonald Foundation. NSU’s College of Dental Medicine is using a $70,000 grant from the foundation to provide dental services—such as oral examinations, cleanings, fluoride application, sealants, and oral hygiene instruc- tion—to the uninsured students of participating elementary schools in North Miami Beach during the 2013–2014 academic year. The John T. Macdonald Foundation has supported NSU’s College of Dental Medicine for the past few years with a recurring grant that provides free dental care to North Miami children. ◆ Ronald Renuart, D.O., a 1990 graduate of Nova Southeastern University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine and three-term Florida House of Representatives member, has been honored with the 2013 Florida Dental Association Legisla- tor of the Year Award. Renuart practices internal medi- cine in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, and is recognized as a leader in health policy in the Florida House of Representatives. He was ac- knowledged for his efforts during the 2013 legislative session. ◆ ALUMNUS NAMED FLORIDA DENTAL ASSOCIATION LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR DR. JOHN T. MACDONALD FOUNDATION GRANT PROVIDES DENTAL SERVICES