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Invitation to Participate in a Survey on Ergonomics and Wellness in Dental Practice
Wednesday June 04, 2025
Dear Colleagues,
I hope this message finds you well. My name is Ahmed Radwan, and I serve as the Dean of the College of Health Professions and McAuley School of Nursing at the University of Detroit Mercy. Together with my research team, I am conducting a study on the ergonomic and wellness practices currently being implemented in dental settings.
We would like to invite you to participate in our survey, “Ergonomics, Physical Activity, and Wellness Survey for Dental Professionals (EPAWS-DP)”. Your experience as a dental professional is vital to understanding how these strategies are being applied in practice and their impact on overall well-being within the dental community.
To be eligible, participants must:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Work as a dentist, dental hygienist, or dental assistant
- Be employed at least 35 hours per week in a dental practice
The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. It includes questions about:
- Your use of ergonomic strategies in the workplace
- Your physical activity levels
- Your current wellness practices
All responses are anonymous and will be reported only in aggregate form. We encourage you to share this invitation with other eligible colleagues in your practice.
To participate, please click the following link: Click this link for the Survey.
Thank you for your time and for helping us support the health and well-being of dental professionals across Michigan.
Sincerely,
AhmedAhmed Radwan, PhD, DPT, CPE, MBA
Dean of the College of Health Professions and McAuley School of Nursing
University of Detroit Mercy
4001 W. McNichols Rd.
Detroit, MI 48221-3038
T: 313.993.2454
aradwan1@udmercy.edu -
Detroit Mercy Dental wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday season!
Friday December 20, 2024The School of Dentistry will close at the end of normal business hours on Dec. 20 in observance of Christmas and the holiday season.
Normal business operations resume on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. McNichols Campus and School of Law classes resume on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025.
The Corktown Campus will adhere to the following hours during the Christmas and holiday break:
- Friday, December 20—closed at 8 p.m.
- Dec. 21-25: Closed and no access available.
- Dec. 26-27: Access limited to faculty/staff with approval from dean’s office.
- Dec. 28-Jan. 1, 2025: Closed and no access available.
- Jan. 2-3, 2025: Access limited to faculty/staff with approval from dean’s office.
- Jan. 4-5, 2025: Open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For those who are interested in making an end-of-the-year donation to Detroit Mercy, please visit https://dental.udmercy.edu/give.php
We hope everyone has a safe and joyous Christmas and holiday season!
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Happy Thanksgiving from UDM Dental
Tuesday November 26, 2024
The University of Detroit Mercy’s Corktown Campus will close for the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, Nov. 28, and open for regular business at 7 a.m. Monday, Dec. 2
Have a safe and joy-filled Thanksgiving! -
Vermont State Dental Society, UDM partner to bring dental health education center to Vermont
Friday September 20, 2024
The Vermont State Dental Society (VSDS), University of Detroit Mercy (UDM), Sen. Bernie Sanders and Sen. Peter Welch are partnering to bring an innovative Dental Oral Health Education Center to Vermont in fall 2027. This new dental clinic and education program would bring UDM students to Vermont to complete their final years of training – strengthening the dental care provider pipeline and expanding access to much-needed care across the state.
At a press conference on Sept. 20, VSDS, UDM, Sanders and Welch celebrated the program receiving its accreditation from the Commission of Dental Accreditation (CODA) – an essential step in establishing the teaching program in Vermont.
Dean Aksu at Vermont State Dental Society press conference
Sanders and Welch are working to secure $4.6 million in federal funding through the FY25 Congressionally Directed Spending process to support this historic initiative. The funding was recently approved by the Appropriations Committee and needs to be passed by the House and the Senate before being signed into law by President Joe Biden.
“By partnering with University of Detroit Mercy, we are opening doors to educational opportunities that haven’t existed before in Vermont, and increasing access to oral healthcare for Vermonters as well,” said Justin Hurlburt, board president of the Vermont State Dental Society. “We are excited to partner with Detroit Mercy on this opportunity to expand the dentistry workforce in the state,” he added.
“University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry has a long tradition of graduating practice-ready clinicians and it is an honor to help bring the Detroit Mercy DDS program to the Green Mountain State,” said Mert N. Aksu, dean of Detroit Mercy Dental. “UDM recognizes the need for dentists in Vermont, and looks forward to providing a program to educate and graduate dentists in the state.”
“The suffering that the dental care crisis causes Vermonters and people across this country too often goes unseen and unaddressed,” said Sen. Sanders. “Far too many, especially in rural areas like Vermont, do not have access to a dentist, which forces them to either travel long distances or go without the care they need. In some Vermont counties, there is a year-long waitlist. In others, there are no dentists at all who treat kids with Medicaid. And because we don’t have a dental school in the state, there’s no natural pipeline for dentists to train and eventually work in our communities. It is time for that to change. This historic initiative brings me a lot of hope for the care and education opportunities we can deliver to Vermont. I am proud to partner with the Vermont Dental Society, University of Detroit Mercy, and Senator Welch to make this a reality. Let’s get it done.”
“This accreditation is an important step forward in the process to expand access to dentists here in Vermont, so every patient can get the care they need. I look forward to working with Senator Sanders on this important issue, and will continue to advocate for more federal funding to support workforce development in dentistry and health care across our state,” said Sen. Welch.
University of Detroit Mercy-Vermont will increase oral health education opportunities and address the statewide dental provider shortage. The tentative location for the new center will be in Chittenden County.
VSDS, a nonprofit professional healthcare organization whose mission is to improve the oral health of Vermonters and to serve the profession of dentistry in the state, is pioneering the new institution with UDM as it brings more than 90 years of experience in educating dentists worldwide.
Beginning in the fall of 2025, the partnership between VSDS and UDM will include two years of foundational and preclinical education at the UDM School of Dentistry Campus in Detroit, followed by two years of clinical and didactic education at a new dental clinic based in Colchester. The University of Detroit Mercy-Vermont dental program will offer DDS dental education in the state of Vermont, accredited by the Commission of Dental Accreditation (CODA).
University of Detroit Mercy-Vermont will house modern classrooms with on-site clinics to support its clinical education program and serve as a public health Medicaid clinic to provide dental care to qualifying individuals. Extending its reach beyond its Colchester facility, the new dental program will partner with clinical organizations in Vermont to reach areas with a shortage of dental health professionals and underserved populations.
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Fourth-year dental student transforms smiles
Friday May 31, 2024
Join us as we celebrate one of our recent graduates, Mohammed Shbib, DDS ’24. As a fourth-year student, Shbib showcased his passion for precision and esthetics with a beautiful anterior case. Here is what Dr. Shbib had to say about the experience:
During my time as a fourth-year dental student at UDM Dental, I was privileged to lead a technique-sensitive cosmetic case involving six anterior ceramic crowns. This case was a significant milestone, showcasing the trust and guidance from my esteemed mentors, Dr. Rasha Ali, Dr. Mark Mortiere, Dr. Gary Bonior and Dr. Dincer Gurun.
UDM Dental’s rigorous curriculum and hands-on clinical training have been instrumental in preparing me for real-world dental challenges. The diverse patient pool and state-of-the-art dental facilities at UDM have equipped me with the skills necessary to tackle complex cases with confidence.
The journey through this case was challenging yet immensely fulfilling. The transformation of my patient’s smile was a profound reminder of why I chose this career path.
Thank you to my clinic leads, everyone at UDM Dental, and especially to my family who supported me throughout this journey. Despite living far away, their encouragement and belief in my abilities have been my anchor.
As I look forward to my career, my ambition is to become a distinguished dentist and continue making UDM proud. Ready to transform more smiles and make a lasting impact!
Respectfully,
Mohamed Shbib, MBA, DDS ’24Swipe to see the stunning before and after photos
Jeanette Andrade ’25 wants to help people. It’s what she envisions doing with her Dental Hygiene degree from Detroit Mercy’s School of Dentistry. But before helping others and finishing her degree, Andrade needed to pause her studies so she could take care of herself.
The 'Opportunity College and University' designation highlights UDM as a model institution for fostering student success and advancing research on effective campus practices.
February is Black History Month, and University of Detroit Mercy will celebrate with a series of enlightening events across all campuses.
This new dental clinic and education program would bring UDM students to Vermont to complete their final years of training – strengthening the dental care provider pipeline and expanding access to much-needed care across the state.
The 2025 Wall Street Journal/College Pulse ranking has put UDM at No. 43 in the nation, nine places higher than it ranked the University last year.
The world welcomed new Titans with more than 1,000 University of Detroit Mercy graduates receiving their diplomas across four Commencement ceremonies May 10-11 on the McNichols Campus.
Meet the Class of '24: Dental grad Maria Latorre Sanchez says “It’s not about what happens to you, it’s about how fast you get up.”
University of Detroit Mercy has recently received more than $2 million in grants to help educate students and their work in the community.
Detroit Mercy was ranked No. 52 nationally and second in Michigan, according to results released Sept. 6 by WSJ/College Pulse. UDM was the third-highest ranked Jesuit university and only Mercy institution ranked.
Recently, an international team of researchers led by Eric Krukonis of the Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry revealed for the first time the atomic structure of ToxR, a protein bound to the DNA of two promoters of the genes that control the virulence of Vibrio cholerae, the bacterium that causes cholera.
Each year, Detroit Mercy honors an alumnus from each of its seven schools or colleges for the way they have excelled in their professions and demonstrated leadership and service to the larger community.
As many of you know, the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn affirmative action on June 29, 2023, will have a significant impact on institutions of higher education throughout our country. We pray for all of our friends and member institutions who will experience an array of challenges due to this decision, but most importantly for all students who will be directly affected by the court’s actions.
More than 1,000 graduates participated in four ceremonies during 2023 Commencement at University of Detroit Mercy on Friday and Saturday, May 12-13.
The Vivere ex Missione awards are presented annually to four graduating students whose time at University of Detroit Mercy was marked by leadership, service and scholarship.
As a child, Trey Hester was bullied for having a misalignment with his teeth. His own dental work to fix it sparked his interest in dentistry, and the UDM School of Dentistry graduate pays it forward today.