WesternU College of Dental Medicine spotlights research
Western University of Health Sciences’ College of Dental Medicine (CDM) continues to emphasize the importance of research, holding its third CDM Research Day and implementing a research course in its curriculum.
CDM Research Day, held April 21, 2025, featured 24 posters authored by CDM students and their faculty mentors. In addition, keynote speaker Ophir Klein, PhD, MD, from Cedars-Sinai, presented “Development and Renewal in the Mouth and Gut.” CDM Assistant Professor Miou Zhou, PhD, presented “The Role of CCR5 in Learning and Memory in Normal and Disordered States.”
Everyone in CDM is here to teach students, patients, and the community about health, said CDM Dean Elizabeth Andrews, DDS, MS. A patient might ask a staff member about fluoride or X-rays, so they should be prepared to respond.
“You always have to be knowledgeable and know where your sources are. That’s what this is all about, showing you unique things we found through our research process and how do we actually own that knowledge,” Andrews said. “You have to know the process I go through to understand how this patient might be impacted by what I’m doing, no matter what we’re doing.”
Second-year CDM student Deven Adams and his classmates studied the benefits, risks and alternatives to fluoride. As a future clinician, research is important to provide evidence-based education to patients, he said. Conducting this research with his classmates helped them build a strong team.
“We worked together to verify what are the facts and what we should focus on, what we should direct our attention on teaching the public,” Adams said. “It was a really important learning lesson for all of us.”
CDM student Katreen Zakery said research will help her educate patients about why they are getting a particular treatment.
“We need to learn how to find out the truth behind what works and what doesn’t work and what can be considered reliable resources to use,” Zakery said.
Having the title of doctor elevates people’s perception of the information you share, said second-year CDM student Gabriela Salazar. Even as a student, people ask her for dental advice.
“They take everything I say to heart,” Salazar said. “I want to make sure everything I say is accurate.”
The entire DMD Class of 2027 presented posters as part of a new CDM research course. Eight clinical faculty developed a research question that they are interested in. They paired with a basic science faculty member and together they mentored a group of students to conduct a thorough literature search on the topic. After developing their literature base, the students organized the information into an oral presentation, which they presented to their class, and a scientific abstract and poster, which they presented at Research Day, said CDM Professor and Assistant Dean for Research Jill Lewis, PhD.
“The course is fast paced, with 40 hours of dedicated time over a three-week period. This year, some of the groups were very close to completing a draft review manuscript and the hope is that interested students will continue to work with their mentors on expanding and submitting their work for publication,” Lewis said. “In addition, the positioning of the course at the end of the spring term of their second year means that some of the literature reviews may be used as the background information for laboratory investigations conducted by students during the summer.”
“The College of Dental Medicine developed its research course to empower future dental professionals with the skills to critically assess, contribute to, and advance oral health. Research is not just an academic exercise—it is the foundation of innovation, shaping the future of patient care and dental science,” Andrews said. “Every CDM student benefits from hands-on experience in conducting research, as it fosters analytical thinking, evidence-based decision-making, and a deeper understanding of the evolving challenges in oral health. By engaging in research, students not only enhance their clinical expertise but also uphold the profession’s commitment to continuous learning and discovery.”
