School of Dental Medicine Promotes Discovery at Annual Research Symposium

Continuing its tradition of promoting discovery and providing insights that advance the field of dentistry, Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine (SDM) held its annual Research Symposium on March 28, with more than 40 dental students, master's students and residents presenting their findings at the Student Activities Center (SAC) on Stony Brook University's West Campus.

Awards were given to nine presenters, including the American Association of Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR)/Dentsply Sirona Student Research Award, which was given to third-year student Lauren Mistretta, for her research titled "Wettability of Different Implant Surfaces Before and After Erythritol Treatment and Exposure to Different Xenograft Materials". With the award, Mistretta will receive funding from AADOCR to present at the organization's 54th annual meeting in New York City in March 2025.  

"This symposium is an event for which all students and their mentors can be so very proud," said Patrick Lloyd, dean of the School of Dental Medicine, which has hosted such annual research events for more than 40 years. "Each year, it is a wonderful opportunity for them to share they've learned only through countless hours of work, all while carrying a heavy load of didactic, clinic and lab coursework. All in one place, we are able to see their efforts result in discoveries that will only add to the knowledge base of our profession."

Dr. Timothy Wright, professor in the Division of Pediatric Dentistry and Public Health at The Adams School of Dentistry at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and editor-in-chief of the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA), delivered the Leo and Mickey Sreebny Distinguished Lectureship. Dr. Wright, a decorated educator, researcher and pediatric dentist, shared his presentation examining hereditary craniofacial conditions with more than 175 students, residents, staff and faculty on hand at the SAC's Sidney Gelber Auditorium.

"We were so very fortunate to have Dr. Wright visit with us to address our attendees with a lecture that was both highly informative and engaging," said Stephen Walker, interim associate dean for research at the SDM. "His presence added to what was a terrific day that undoubtedly advanced our profession and the careers of those presenting."

The lectureship was named for Dr. Leo M. Sreebny, past dean and longtime faculty member at Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Sreebny was committed to promoting discovery to SDM students and residents, and before his passing in 2020, he and his wife, Mickey, pledged their support for fostering such developments by backing the school’s annual Research Symposium.