The University of Tennessee, College of Dentistry (UT COD) has embraced the concept of the “paperless office” by implementing Axium, a state-of-the-art clinical management system. The network will enable faculty and students to record and access all components of patients’ records. Axium is a comprehensive clinic management software package custom-designed for the dental school environment. UT COD is one of only 23 dental schools in North America to convert to this computer-based system of record keeping. The software will be completely customized to record all aspects of Tennessee’s previous paper format, while including new capabilities.

The Hinman Student Research Symposium is a national meeting of dental students and graduate trainees who have participated in dental research addressing three important areas of national need: Attracting outstanding students into careers in dental research and education; Equipping dental practitioners and educators to meet the challenges of advanced technology and emerging oral diseases; Increasing awareness among those in the dental profession of the scope, methods, and importance of dental research. The Symposium’s objective is to help raise and maintain the quality of dental education and research in the U.S. by encouraging participation of dental students, graduate trainees, and dental school faculty members in research to improve public oral health.

The UTHSC College of Dentistry dedicated its dental simulation center in recognition of a one million dollar gift from Delta Dental of Tennessee. The center is the first of its kind and includes a laboratory with 40 interactive, virtual-reality simulators in one room with eighty conventional simulators in another. Dean Gilpatrick said, “We are very grateful to Delta Dental of Tennessee for their generous ongoing support. This latest gift will be used to provide maintenance and upgrades to the facility which is now known as the ‘Delta Dental of Tennessee Dental Simulation Center.’”