PerioDash Spotlight: University of Utah

PerioDash Dental school Spotlight: university of utah

Dr. david okano, professor (clinical), assistant dean for advanced dental education programs, section head of periodontics

What inspired you to bring PerioDash to the University of Utah, a dental school without a periodontics residency program?
As a previous board member of the AAP Foundation, I learned the value of PerioDash as a means to promote periodontics and inspire predoctoral dental students to gain interest in their perio courses and potentially apply to perio programs.

How has your team shaped PerioDash to fit your school community?
Since we do not have a postdoctoral perio program in place yet, we wanted to bring excitement and enthusiasm about periodontics to our predoctoral dental students. We opened PerioDash to the entire student body and had 57 students participate. We also had seven faculty and staff members and one alumnus currently in a periodontal residency participate this year. This has tightened the bonds among all of us.

You’ve achieved remarkable participation this year. What helps drive such strong interest and turnout?
Our students enjoy their interactions with the perio faculty and we wanted to extend that camaraderie into a social, fun event. Students talk about PerioDash throughout the school year. Immediately following this year’s event many were already asking about next year and wanting to participate again. Several are looking forward to receiving a PerioDash shirt and medallion for all four years of dental school.

You mentioned personally supporting student registrations to build goodwill and connection. How has this gesture strengthened relationships between students and the periodontics faculty?
I offer to pay registration fees for all students, and two of my periodontist faculty colleagues also contribute. Students recognize that the periodontics faculty care about them and appreciate that we spend our own money to create this experience. They greatly appreciate receiving a shirt, medallion, the food we serve, and especially the prizes we distribute. These are supported by the perio faculty, the Perio Club, and our Advancement Office. University of Utah School of Dentistry swag is also distributed to participants.

What did this year’s event look like?
Planning began shortly after last year’s event for a group of approximately 100 participants, including perio faculty, students, and family members. A planning committee handled student recruitment and registration, communication updates, food purchases, onsite preparation, shirt distribution, liability waivers, and other logistics. Student volunteers were key to creating an organized and enjoyable event. The committee met three times during the year and again the day before the event. They built the PerioDash balloon arch, set up tables for medallions and prizes, and managed cleanup afterward. We described PerioDash as a 5K where participants could walk, run, or engage to the extent they desired. Some completed only 2.5K, and that was fine as long as everyone had fun. We did not treat this as a race or competition. The goal was team building and shared participation.

How are students engaging with the Foundation’s mission or learning more about periodontics through PerioDash?
At the start of the event, we explain the Foundation’s role in generating interest in and advancing the specialty of periodontics. We consistently emphasize the importance of perio during PerioDash. I often share that periodontics is the “foundation” upon which restorative and prosthetic care and smiles are dependent upon. Known as “Dr. Foundation” at the school, I use this event to reinforce both the periodontal foundation and the importance of the AAP Foundation to the growth and advancement of our periodontal specialty.

What kind of impact has PerioDash had on your school culture and sense of community?
The Perio Section is widely known as the most organized and cohesive section at the University of Utah School of Dentistry. Events like PerioDash continue to reinforce our influence at the school. We have created a collaborative environment where students enjoy learning about perio and working with the perio faculty. Non-perio faculty and staff observe what we have created with PerioDash and have wanted to be a part of what we enjoy with our annual event.

What advice would you give to other dental schools that might want to organize their own PerioDash, especially those without a residency program?
Working with AAP Foundation staff has been very important. Regular conversations tapping into their experience and advice helped shape our event. Recruiting student volunteers to serve on an organizing committee is also critical. Consulting with others who have hosted PerioDash events at their schools has provided excellent advice. I would be happy to help those interested in starting PerioDash at their institutions or practice communities. Most of all, have fun with this event! PerioDash is a great team building activity that everyone enjoys.