Afternoon Tea with Ministry

While all of us are adapting to living with a new reality of social distancing amidst COVID-19 we are trying to find new ways to connect with one another! University Ministry is starting a new social media video series called “Afternoon Tea with Ministry.” During the week in the afternoons we are going to be sharing reflections on life, faith, or other things that people are up to during this time. We will also be posing a question to everyone at the end of each reflection to think about. We want you to respond and engage with us. 
I invite you to follow us on Instagram (udm_ministry) or to like us on Facebook (Detroit Mercy University Ministry) to stay tuned! Also check out our first video đź™‚

The Science of Hand Washing

The Science of Hand washing: Rub, Don’t Scrub and Do Hydrate

 As we brace ourselves against the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that we promote simple and safe practices such as regular hand washing.

 The ubiquitous advice to wash our hands to hinder the spread of COVID-19 has led to a catch-22, some of us may be overdoing it.

 The apparent ease with which COVID-19 spreads means that healthcare workers are washing or sanitizing their hands hundreds of times each day…whether at work or within our homes.

 Washing with harsh soaps over and over again may clear any infectious agents from the skin, but at the same time it may destroy the protective barrier that protects us from other pathogens. Our skin is the first line of defence against pathogens and we do not want to lose this.

We don’t necessarily need to stop washing our hands as often, but we need to put moisturizer on damp skin to trap water and give our skin what it needs to heal.

 The stratum corneum breaks down when it senses dehydration and because the pH of skin is acidic and most soaps have a pH higher than 7, they disrupt acid balance in the skin.

 And errors in technique add to the inherent pitfalls of constant hand washing.

 Rub Palm to Palm, Back to Back of Hands, over the Fingers Into the Web Spaces, Around Nails, and Up the Wrists. Covering the entire hand is necessary, but there’s a fine line between rubbing and scrubbing.

 The biggest mistake is using super-hot water which we erroneously feel is necessary to leave washed hands germ-free. Lukewarm or cool water works just as well when combined with soap to remove pathogens, but isn’t as likely to cause irritation that leads to chapping and subsequent skin infections.

 Please stay safe and use these simple tips to keep yourself and your family healthy.

2020 Summer Financial Aid

The 2020 Summer Financial Aid Application is now available. If you would like summer financial aid, you must fill this application out and turn it in to Angela Orlando. Summer aid pays out on May 18th, so you will have your refund within a week of that date if you have direct deposit set up. You apply for summer aid at any time during the semester.

****REMEMBER********

Summer aid is optional. It’s a complete refund to you, since you don’t pay us anything in the summer. If you don’t need any money, you simply don’t have to take summer.

HFHS CME Courses

Detroit Mercy Dental faculty, staff, and students are invited to attend the below CME programs offered through the Henry Ford Health System.

*Saturday, April 18, 2020
Head and Neck Cancer Symposium (5.25 CMEs)

**Tuesday, April 28, 2020
Ballistic Trauma (2.25 CMEs)

**Tuesday, September 29, 2020
Facial Feminization Surgery (2.25 CMEs)

**Tuesday, December 1, 2020
Scar Management (2.25 CMEs)

*Complimentary for students and $50 dentists/ $20 allied
**Complimentary for all attendees

For additional information, or to register, see the information in the linked flyers.

Did you know?
Dentists, registered dental hygienists, and registered dental assistants can apply category 1 CME credits towards their license renewal CE requirements.  Dentists can apply a maximum of 30 hours per renewal period, and the RDH or RDA can apply a maximum of 18 hours per renewal period.

Pistons Dental Night: Date Change

The Pistons Dental Night has been rescheduled for March 25th at 5:30pm. Team dentist Dr. Di Pilla (Detroit Mercy alum) will be speaking as well as two of his colleagues. More information can be found at: pistons.com/dental

Everyone who buys a ticket will receive a Dental Night T-shirt and a Post-Game shot on the court as well!

Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI)

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion promotes academic and personal growth of traditionally underserved students or underrepresented minority students.

One mission of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) is to serve as a resource that facilitates and promotes a learning community of multicultural understanding and exchange through collaboration, dialogue, and action.  Under the collaborative direction of a Diversity and Inclusion Student Roundtable (DISRT) comprised of students, the ODI is committed to promoting and sustaining an inclusive atmosphere that fosters and enriches multicultural understanding among all members of the Detroit Mercy Dental community.   The ODI aims to provide a supportive and safe space on campus for its students, to challenge acts of prejudice and ideologies of intolerance while seeking to advocate for all marginalized communities and cultures.

Melvin Lunkins’ office (455) will serve as your safe space, open door policy, never locked, you will always have access.

Diversity and Inclusion Student Round-table (DISRT)

Diversity and Inclusion Student Roundtable- an independent student board located at University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry- OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS

Volunteers who are interested in facilitating change are asked to attend DISRT meetings that will take place once a month during lunch (lunch will be provided). The benefits of participating on the DISRT Board: 

  • The opportunity to give suggestions about what you would like to see here at the school in the areas of diversity and inclusion.
  • The opportunity to hear about exciting new initiatives happening at the school and the ability to give your input.
  • Frequent, candid communication to correct misperceptions about diversity and diversity programs.
  • Create an atmosphere of sensitivity and inclusion.
  • And much more…

Please reach out to Melvin Lunkins if you would like to participate.

Class of 2020 – register for Alumni Day TODAY!

As you know, Alumni Day 2020 is fast approaching! Student registration closes at noon on  Friday, March 13 (only one week from today). As a reminder, if you follow the below instructions, you will have an excused absence that doesn’t go against your bank.

As a member of the Class of 2020, you play a special role in Alumni Day as it is the first time your new colleagues have the opportunity to welcome you to the profession. As a gift to you, many of your soon to be fellow alumni and some of your faculty have graciously chosen to support your attendance; therefore we are pleased to announce that as a member of this year’s graduating class, you are invited to attend the 2020 Alumni Day as a no-charge guest.

Alumni Day information  is as follows:

  • Alumni Day will be held on Friday, March 27 at The Inn at St. John’s in Plymouth, Michigan
  • Registration opens at 7:30 a.m., and the course begins at 8:30 a.m.
  • Alumni Day consists of breakfast, continuing education, research presentations and a networking luncheon
  • The course titled, “Presenting the Best Treatment Plan AND Getting Your Patient’s Buy-in” is being taught by alumnus Jason G. Souyias, D.D.S. ’02. This course will be of great benefit as you transition from student to practitioner.

All members of the Class of 2020 are encouraged and welcome to attend at no charge and will have an excused absence from clinics when the following protocol is adhered to:

  • DS4 students are required to register by noon on  Friday, March 13. Students must then provide both their PSA and clinic lead a copy of their Alumni Day confirmation email.
  • DH2 students are required to register by noon on  Friday, March 13 and present their research posters as a component of Prof. Shepherd and Dr. Wheater’s Scientific Presentation course.
  • If you register, you are expected to attend. A copy of the attendance report will be accessible to the administration after the event.
  • If registration is completed 2 weeks in advance and you attend Alumni Day, you will be excused from the clinic on March 27 and will not need to use one of your allowed clinic absences from your bank.

For complete course information and to register for Alumni Day, please visit our website at: dental.udmercy.edu/alumniday. When registering, please use your Detroit Mercy email address and identify yourself as a student with your respective designation. Once all of the required information is complete, you will need to select a payment method; please select the “pay by check” option in order to complete your registration (although no payment is due).

Note: a login ID and password are required to register for this and for all Detroit Mercy Dental CE courses. The login ID and password is not the same as your Detroit Mercy email. If you do not have a CE login ID and password, please create one by clicking on “new users”. If you cannot remember your user ID and password, there is a forgotten ID/password link that will assist you. Should you encounter any problems, please contact me at Kimberly.Raleigh@udmercy.edu.