Alumni News - Prosthodontics, Spring 2025

The Division of Prosthodontics at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine continues to advance both in clinical care and educational excellence. We are proud to share some of our recent accomplishments and exciting updates:

Anastasaki Joins Prosth Faculty

We are pleased to welcome Dr. Katerina Anastasaki, our newest faculty member, who joined the division in January 2025. Dr. Anastasaki comes to us from Greece and completed her Prosthodontics training at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). With her specialized expertise and international experience, Dr. Anastasaki brings valuable insights and a fresh perspective to our division, strengthening our commitment to providing the highest quality education and clinical care to our residents.

Enhancements to the Postgraduate Program

The Division recently implemented a more integrated approach to patient care within the Postgraduate Prosthodontics and Postgraduate Periodontology programs. This new collaboration provides a complete digital workflow for full-mouth implant-supported reconstruction, enhancing both the educational experience and treatment outcomes for patients. D3 predoctoral students are also participating in this advanced clinical setting through weekly rotations, exposing them to cutting-edge technology and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. Additionally, the Division is now collaborating with the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) Program to further enrich our Postgraduate Prosthodontics Program, promoting a more integrated approach to complex patient care and ensuring comprehensive treatment planning.

Grant Submission for New Digital Workflow for Full-Mouth Reconstruction

We are excited to report that we have submitted a grant proposal for the development and implementation of a new digital workflow for full-mouth implant-supported reconstruction. This initiative was led by Drs. Pimenta and Wu and aims to integrate prosthodontics and periodontology in a seamless patient care model, providing our residents with hands-on experience using the latest advancements in digital dentistry. We anticipate a positive outcome and look forward to the impact this will have on our educational and clinical programs.

Implementation of Navident for Computer-Guided Implant Placement

The Division is now implementing the use of Navident, a state-of-the-art technology for computer-guided implant placement. Our residents are actively using this technology to place implants on their patients, enhancing their skills with precision and accuracy. This integration of digital tools into our clinical workflow ensures that our residents are well-prepared to incorporate the latest advancements in implant dentistry into their practices.

New ICOI Grant for Mini Dental Implants

We are excited to announce that the Division has received another grant from ICOI titled "Evaluation of Mini Dental Implants for Supporting Mandibular

Overdentures Opposing Maxillary Complete Dentures." Dr. Pimenta is the Principal Investigator (PI) on this project, with Dr. Wu serving as Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI). This grant will not only support critical research but also benefit patients by offering affordable treatment options for those requiring mini dental implants, making quality care more accessible.

Generous Donation from Great Gums

The Division is deeply grateful to Great Gums for their generous donation of approximately $65,000 in equipment and funds. This contribution will significantly support our ongoing research initiatives, providing essential resources to advance our work and improve the care we deliver to patients.

Celebrating Dr. Clinton Spicer's 30 Years of Service

We are proud to celebrate Dr. Clinton Spicer, who has completed an impressive 30 years of service as a faculty member in the Division of Prosthodontics. Dr. Spicer’s dedication to education, mentorship, and clinical care has had a profound impact on the Division and its residents, and we are thankful for his years of service and contributions.

Recent Lecture by Dr. Kenneth Kurtz

We are grateful to Dr. Kenneth Kurtz for recently delivering an insightful lecture to our residents, focused on Maxillofacial Prosthodontics, with an emphasis on the treatment of patients born with cleft lip and palate. His session provided valuable insights into the unique challenges and solutions in this area of care, further enriching our residents' knowledge in this critical field of Prosthodontics.

Dr. Jo’s Research Training at Columbia University Irving Institute

Dr. Jo completed a research training as part of her faculty development at the Columbia University Irving Institute. During this training, she had the opportunity to deepen her knowledge of statistics, which has significantly enhanced her ability to guide our residents in the statistical aspects of their research. Dr. Jo’s expertise is now a valuable resource for our residents as they navigate the complexities of research design and data analysis.

Congratulations to Our Residents on the National Prosthodontic Resident Examination

We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to all our residents for their outstanding success in the National Prosthodontic Resident Examination. The Division of Prosthodontics at CDM was ranked 14th in the nation out of a total of 49 postgraduate Prosthodontics programs. This achievement reflects the hard work and dedication of our residents, and we are incredibly proud of their accomplishments. It is a great sign of the quality of our residents and the program, and we are confident that we will continue to improve our rank in the years to come.

Successful Alumni Engagement

Our alumni community continues to shine with impressive achievements. We would love to hear from our graduates about their recent milestones, whether it’s in research, clinical practice, or academic advancements. If you have any updates or awards to share, please let us know so we can feature them in our upcoming newsletters!

Looking Ahead

As we move forward, the Division of Prosthodontics remains committed to excellence in teaching, clinical care, and research. We are excited about the future of digital dentistry and look forward to continuing to make strides in our mission to provide outstanding educational opportunities and world-class care for our patients.

Thank You to Our Volunteer Faculty

We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to our volunteer faculty: Dr. Dennis Morea, Dr. Nicolas Elian, Dr. Ben Rich, Dr. Joe Maniscalco, Dr. Seunghyun Jae, and Dr. Sung Kim for their unwavering dedication to the predoctoral and postgraduate programs. Our students and residents truly appreciate your contributions and willingness to share your expertise and experiences. We are also working to welcome two additional volunteer faculty members, Dr. Alex Drew and Dr. Daniel Min, who will be joining our team soon.