UConn School of Medicine and Dental Medicine recently received faculty honors and promotions include:

National Honors for REI Fellow
The Center for Advanced Reproductive Services (CARS), affiliated with the UConn School of Medicine, had a strong showing at the 2017 American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s Scientific Conference. Most notably, Dr. Erica Anspach Will, the most recent graduate from the UConn School of Medicine Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) Fellowship Program, was recognized for having the best poster presentation out of 900 presenters. She did her research in the lab of John Peluso, professor of cell biology and obstetrics and gynecology, studying the role of progesterone in pregnancy.

Mina Mina Named AAAS Fellow
Dr. Mina Mina,  professor and chair of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at UConn School of Dental Medicine, has been named a 2017 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). As a member of the Dental School’s Department of Craniofacial Sciences and director of its DMD/PHD program, she joins the ranks of other prestigious AAAS Fellows specializing in Dentistry & Oral Health Sciences for her distinguished contributions to the fields of craniofacial development, organ formation and regeneration, and for service to the NIH and other organizations for 25 years. This year’s 396 fellows joining the AAAS tradition that began in 1874, will be honored on Feb. 17 at the  AAAS Annual Meeting in Austin, Texas.

Linda Barry Selected for AAMC Leadership Role
The Department of Surgery’s Dr. Linda Barry has been elected by the AAMC to be one of the leaders of the Steering Committee for its Group on Diversity and Inclusion (GDI). GDI serves as a resource for the AAMC member institutions to assist on local, regional and national levels to promote diversity in academic medicine. She has served in the role of the GDI representative for UConn School of Medicine for over four years. In this new national role, she will represent the interests related to diversity and inclusion for all of the medical schools in the Northeast. This summer, Barry was also appointed to the new role of director of Multicultural and Community Affairs at UConn School of Medicine. In this capacity, she will focus on initiatives to promote diversity among students, residents and faculty. She will also facilitate community-based opportunities to address health disparities via mentored experiences and research.

Medical and Dental Faculty Promotions and Appointments
The Academic Affairs Subcommittee of the UConn Health Board of Directors during its November meeting approved a number of faculty promotions and appointments.

School of Medicine Faculty Appointed To:

Professor – In Residence
Dr. Ketan R. Bulsara – Surgery

Professor – Affiliated
Dr. Peter N. Robinson – (The Jackson Laboratory) – Genetics and Genome Sciences

Associate Professor – In Residence
Dr. Bradford P. Whitcomb – Obstetrics and Gynecology

School of Dental Medicine Faculty Promoted To:

Professor (Tenured)
Dr. Ivo Kalajzic, Center for Regenerative Medicine & Skeletal Development

Associate Professor with Tenure
Dr. I-Ping Chen, Division of Endodontology

Associate Professor (In-Residence)
Dr. Peter Maye, Center for Regenerative Medicine & Skeletal Development
Dr. Liansheng Song, Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Dr. Madhur Upadhyay, Division of Orthodontics
Dr. Sumit Yadav, Division of Orthodontics

Clinical Associate Professor (Clinical Category)
Dr. Ajay Dhingra, Division of Prosthodontics

Promoted Volunteer Faculty:

Clinical Associate Professor (Clinical Category)
Dr. Elie Ferneini, Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery