Columbia University College of Dental Medicine

As we continue highlighting faculty perspectives during Oral Health Month, Dr. Christie Custodio-Lumsden shares her insights on the powerful connection between nutrition and oral health.

A behavioral nutrition researcher and registered dietitian, Dr. Custodio-Lumsden examines how what we eat, how often we eat, and overall dietary patterns influence the underlying processes that drive cavities and gum disease. Her work focuses on helping families adopt healthy diet-related behaviors and reducing oral health disparities among children.

Join us for Prevention is Power: A Community Health Fair!

📅 Saturday, June 27, 2026
🕘 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
📌 Haven Plaza (Haven Avenue between Fort Washington Avenue and 169th Street)

Hosted by Henry Schein Cares and Team ROC in collaboration with the Columbia College of Dental Medicine, this free, family-friendly event offers free preventive health and wellness screenings for all ages, plus free dental cleanings and hygiene services for children ages 8 and under (first come, first served).

Beyond vital healthcare resources, enjoy:
🎵 Live DJ
🎮 Games
🍿 Snacks
🎁 Giveaways

Bring the whole family and take charge of your health while enjoying a fun-filled day focused on wellness and prevention.

Want to help make a difference? We're also looking for volunteers to support this exciting day of community care.

Sign up to volunteer: https://bit.ly/4oHsKO8

"Behaviors happen in a context."

As part of Columbia Dental Medicine's Dean's Distinguished Lecture Series, Building Bridges for Oral Health Research, Dr. Donald Chi explored how environment, behavior, and community realities shape oral health outcomes, and why lasting solutions begin with understanding the "why" behind health behaviors.

Read more here: https://bit.ly/4vSOMzH

Meeting Patients Where They Are: Dr. Donald Chi on Improving Oral Health Equity During a recent Dean's Distinguished Lecture Series talk, oral health equity researcher Dr. Donald Chi explored how social and behavioral factors shape oral health outcomes.

As part of Oral Health Month, Dr. Richard Yoon shares his perspective on the factors that shape oral health outcomes and the importance of supporting families beyond the clinic setting.

That philosophy is reflected in Boca Sana, a partnership between Columbia University College of Dental Medicine and the Dalio Center for Health Justice at NewYork-Presbyterian. The program provides families with education, resources, and support to help foster healthy habits and prevent oral disease from an early age.

One of the experiences auctioned off at this year's CDM Talent Show was dinner with Dr. Kang from Periodontics. Recently, he gathered a group of students, residents, and faculty for an evening of great food and conversation.

It's moments like these that make CDM special. Beyond the classroom and clinic, our community creates opportunities for meaningful connections, mentorship, and friendships across every stage of the profession.

At Clinician Ceremony, students were recognized as they prepare to begin treating patients and take on the responsibilities of comprehensive patient care. The ceremony marks an exciting transition from the classroom to the clinic and the next step in their journey to becoming dentists.

Congratulations to the Class of 2028 on reaching this important milestone! We are proud of all they have accomplished and look forward to the impact they will make on the patients and communities they serve.

Many people assume tooth loss is a normal part of aging, but it doesn't have to be.

As part of Oral Health Month, Dr. George Jenkins shares an important reminder: maintaining your oral health is an investment in your overall health and quality of life, especially as you age.

Congratulations to Dr. Sophie Zhu, DMD, a first-year resident in Columbia University College of Dental Medicine's Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology program, who received the Waldron Award from the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology (AAOMP).

The award recognizes the best poster presentation by a resident at the organization's annual meeting. Zhu's award-winning research, "Presentation of B-cell Lymphoma in the Oral Cavity: A Case Series," explored the diagnostic challenges these malignancies can present in clinical practice.

We also congratulate fellow residents Dr. Victoria Scarpa and Dr. Jonathan Ovetsky, who presented their research at the meeting, and Chief Resident Dr. Victoria Scarpa, DDS, who successfully passed the AAOMP Fellowship examination and earned the designation of Fellow of the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology.

Read more about Zhu's award-winning research here: https://bit.ly/4e4LfXO

What happens after a suspicious lesion is identified can be just as important as finding it in the first place.

As part of Oral Health Month, we're highlighting insights from Dean Dennis Mitchell's keynote address at the 3rd Annual Head & Neck Symposium: Focus on Oral Cavity Cancer.

A central theme of Dean Mitchell's remarks was the concept of the "warm handoff": a coordinated, real-time transition that helps connect patients to the next stage of care after a potential oral cancer diagnosis.

Drawing on lessons from public health, Dean Mitchell argued that disparities grow when patients are left to navigate the gaps between community outreach, dental care, diagnosis, and treatment on their own. He highlighted how Community Health Care Coordinators, integrated EPIC records, and stronger connections between dentistry, ENT, and oncology can help close those gaps and improve access to timely care.

After graduation, there's only one thing left to do: dance the night away! 🎉💃

Check out highlights from our Postdoctoral Formal at Chelsea Piers.