2023 Accolades
LEADERSHIP APPOINTMENTS
SUMAN N. CHALLA, BDS, MPH, associate professor, comprehensive dentistry, has been appointed as the interim chair of the Department of Developmental Dentistry. He will continue his roles as director of the dental public health residency program and associate dean of advanced education programs and strategic initiatives. Challa is a 2006 alumnus of the school’s dental public health program and has been on faculty since 2008.
MAGDA DE LA TORRE, MPH, RDH, clinical assistant professor, periodontics, has been appointed as the interim director of the Dental Hygiene Division. She has dedicated over 20 years of her career to education, and more than 35 as a dental professional. She is a recognized educator, honored for her teaching and leadership in health care organizations. Also an accomplished author, de la Torre specializes in areas such as behavioral health and cultural competency.
ANIBAL DIOGENES, DDS, PHD, professor, endodontics, was appointed as interim chair of the Department of Endodontics. He has served the department as vice chair since 2019. After completing his endodontic residency at the School of Dentistry in 2009, he accepted a faculty position while also maintaining a robust research profile. Diogenes has been recognized for his teaching and research excellence locally, nationally and abroad.
JENNIFER R. FARRELL, DDS, has been named the inaugural director of the Phil and Karen Hunke Special Care Clinic within UT Dentistry. She moved to San Antonio from Chicago, where she provided for patients with special needs at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center for more than 28 years and directed the Special Patient Care Dental Program there for 13 years. Farrell is a diplomate of the Special Care Dentistry Association.
ELENA RICCIO LEACH, DDS, MS, clinical assistant professor, comprehensive dentistry, was appointed to the position of director for the International Dentist Education Program in August 2023. She is also an alumna of the program, graduating from the School of Dentistry in 2016. Riccio has been on faculty since 2018, most recently appointed as an assistant general practice group leader overseeing the daily clinical activity of dental students.
SCOTT STAFFORD, DDS, MBA, FICD, was named interim chair of the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry. He has been on faculty since 2001. Stafford developed and has directed the Dental Practice Readiness Curriculum for the past 18 years, which teaches predoctoral dental students dental practice economics and management skills. Seven other dental schools are now using the curriculum. Stafford will continue his role as director of Continuing Dental Education. He is an alumnus of the class of 1996.
SHAN ZHAO, MBA, FACHE, joined the school’s leadership team as the vice dean of finance and administration on March 1. Zhao brings more than 25 years of experience in health care finance and administration to the school.
PRESIDENTIAL AMBASSADOR SCHOLAR
TYLER CHILDS, a third-year dental student, was appointed as a 2023 Presidential Ambassador Scholar by university President William L. Henrich, MD, MACP. Childs will represent School of Dentistry students and the university at official functions throughout the academic year.
PRESIDENTIAL AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
DAVID OJEDA DIAZ, DDS, clinical assistant professor, comprehensive dentistry, received a 2023 Presidential Award in Teaching Excellence- Emerging for demonstrating emerging excellence and innovation in teaching and gaining regional and national recognition by making an educational impact in his field of oral medicine.
ICD-WUDAA SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
MAX SHAW, senior dental student, was awarded a scholarship from the International College of Dentists and the Washington University Dental Alumni Association Scholarship Program. Shaw is the third consecutive UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry student to be selected. Shaw has demonstrated his passion for global oral health through his active roles in organized dentistry and clinical volunteer work.
DANIEL M. LASKIN AWARD
Residents MARY KATHERINE SPINELLA, DMD, MD; JASON P. JONES, DDS, MD; and MEGAN A. SULLIVAN, DMD, MD; and faculty members FELIX JOSE AMARISTA, DDS; and EDWARD ELLIS III, DDS, MS, in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, were awarded the 2023 Daniel M. Laskin Award for having the year’s most outstanding article published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. The article is titled “Most Facial Fractures Do Not Require Surgical Intervention.”
MASTER CLINICIAN AND OUTSTANDING RESEARCH AWARDS
ANGELA PALAIOLOGOU-GALLIS, DDS, MS, professor, periodontics, and NIKITA B. RUPAREL, DDS, PhD, MS, endodontics, were selected as the School of Dentistry’s 2023 Master Clinician Award recipients for consistently demonstrating in-depth knowledge in their fields of practice and providing compassionate high-quality patient care.
ARMEN AKOPIAN, PhD, professor, endodontics, was named the School of Dentistry’s 2023 Outstanding Research recipient due to his 27 years of exceptional pain research and multidisciplinary approach that includes electrophysiology, behavioral physiology, anatomy, pharmacology, biochemistry and cell biology.
PROFESSOR OF THE YEAR
School of Dentistry faculty JOHN P. HANLON, DMD, clinical assistant professor, comprehensive dentistry; EDWARD F. WRIGHT, DDS, MS, professor, comprehensive dentistry; and HALEY L. NATION, PhD, associate professor/clinical in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, were named Professor of the Year by the dental classes of 2024, 2025 and 2026, respectively.
JOHN F. PRICHARD GRADUATE RESEARCH COMPETITION WINNER
BRANDON BREARD, DDS, periodontics resident, was selected as the winner of the 2023 Southwest Society of Periodontists’ 2023 John F. Prichard Graduate Research Competition in the Basic Science category. MASHAEL AL THUNAYAN, DMD, fellow resident, also participated in the competition and was selected as one of six finalists.
