AAE Foundation Awards Grants to Two Endodontic Programs

AAE Foundation Awards Grants to Two Endodontic Programs

CHICAGO January 5 — The AAE Foundation recently awarded grants to the West Virginia University School of Dentistry and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry.

From left to right: AAE Foundation Trustee Dr. David Funderburk, WVU School of Dentistry Dean Dr. Tom Borgia, AAE/AAE Foundation Development Manager Alyson Hall, WVU School of Dentistry Associate Dean for Research Dr. Richard Jurevic and DENTSPLY Tulsa Dental Specialties Senior Territory Manager Terry Bennett.

 

The AAE Foundation/DENTSPLY Innovation in Research Grant will equip WVU with a dedicated endodontics research laboratory that will be used by faculty and students to prepare experimental samples and specimens. The 4,000-square-foot lab was developed in collaboration with the West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute.

Dr. David C. Funderburk, an AAE Foundation Trustee and West Virginia School of Dentistry alumnus, said WVU has a tremendous track record of advancing the endodontic specialty.

“The AAE Foundation and DENTSPLY Tulsa Dental Specialties are honored to present this award in recognition of WVU’s new initiatives to promote excellence in research,” Dr. Funderburk said.

From left to right: AAE President Dr. Terryl Propper, AAE Foundation Past President Dr. A. Eddy Skidmore, VCU School of Dentistry Dean Dr. David Sarrett, and VCU Director of Advanced Education Program in Endodontics and AAE Vice President Dr. Garry Myers.

 

The grant is given annually to one or more universities, chosen based on their achievements in research or their future goals for developing a research initiative at their institution. The intent is to highlight and promote excellence in endodontics research.

The Foundation also awarded a $100,000 Endowed Faculty Matching Grant to Virginia Commonwealth University. The grant will allow VCU to endow the R. Neil Dodds Professorship. The money from this endowment will be used to supplement the salary of the Endodontic Program Director for the graduate students. The grant was presented by AAE President Dr. Terryl A. Propper and Foundation Past President Dr. A. Eddy Skidmore.

“Our goal is to ensure that all endodontic residents will be exposed to the brightest minds, the latest information and the most current techniques in the specialty,” said VCU School of Dentistry Dean Dr. David C. Sarrett. “The endowed faculty position helps VCU School of Dentistry attract and retain top-notch endodontic educators. We are grateful to the donors who helped make this a reality and extremely thankful to the AAE Foundation for their support. Everyone is to be commended for their continued generosity.”

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