UFCD Dental Students Shine at 2021 Hinman

Romina Homayoun
Romina Homayoun, DMD Class of 2025

Congratulations to Romina Homayoun, D.M.D. Class of 2025, who was one of five students nationally to earn a Most Outstanding Presentation Award in the basic science research category at the 26th Hinman Student Research Symposium, which was held virtually on October 30 and 31, 2021, due to considerations related to Covid-19.

Homayoun, who is mentored by Mary Ellen Davey, Ph.D., presented on her research project, “Impact of Cortisol on Surface Translocation of Porphyromonas gingivalis.”

Homayoun was selected to present along with her classmate, Alec Simonson, both of whom participated in the UFCD Office of Research Summer Research Program in 2021. Simonson, who is mentored by Robert Caudle, Ph.D., presented his research project, “Warm Temperature Effects on Transient Receptor Potential Cation Channel, Subfamily M, Member 8.”

Homayoun and Simonson were two of only 33 student researchers selected for the Hinman symposium nationally from student-submitted abstracts across the United States.

“We are incredibly proud to have been so well-represented among dental students across the nation who are interested in pursuing research programs,” said Dean A. Isabel Garcia, D.D.S., M.P.H.

The program included scientific sessions and awards for best presentation. Rear Admiral Timothy Ricks, D.M.D., M.P.H., FICD, who is the assistant surgeon general and chief dental officer for the U.S. Public Health Service, was the keynote speaker for the symposium and presented on hot research topics in dental public health.

The Hinman Student Research Symposium features oral and poster presentations of research studies by dental students and graduate trainees from dental schools. The goal of the Hinman Student Research Symposium is to help raise and maintain the quality of dental research and education by encouraging participation of dental students, graduate trainees, and dental school faculty in research to improve oral health care globally.