PhD Graduate

Vivian Y. Wahaidi, BDS MSD PhD

*** ******* **.

Harleysville, PA 19438

Phone: 317-***-****

Email: *******@*****.***

*******@*****.*******.***

Education

• PhD Dental Science, Indiana University (IU) School of Dentistry, Indianapolis, IN (2010). GPA, 3.96

• MSD (Master of Science in Dentistry) in Preventive Dentistry IU School of Dentistry, Indianapolis IN (2004). GPA, 3.9

• BDS (DDS equiv) University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan (1997). GPA, 3.0

Honors and Awards

• 2011 IU School of Dentistry Maynard K. Hine Award for Excellence in Dental Research (for Best Research Manuscript) – 1st Place

• Volpe Prize Finalist in the 2009 Volpe Prize International Periodontal Competition

• 2009 IU School of Dentistry Maynard K. Hine Award for Excellence in Dental Research (for Best Research Manuscript) – 1st Place

• 2008 IU School of Dentistry Maynard K. Hine Award for Excellence in Dental Research (for Best Research Manuscript) – 1st Place

Research Experience

PhD (2004-2010), Department of Oral Biology, IU School of Dentistry

• Mentor: Dr. MJ Kowolik, Professor, Department of Periodontics, IU School of Dentistry

• Dissertation: “The Systemic Inflammatory Response to Dental Plaque Accumulation”

• Research Studies Conducted:

I) Dental Plaque Accumulation as a Risk Factor for Coronary Heart Disease

A multilaboratory clinical investigation that employed the experimental gingivitis model (no toothbrushing for 21 days) to examine the role of dental plaque accumulation as a risk factor for coronary heart disease and to determine whether gender/racial disparity in the systemic inflammatory response to dental plaque accumulation exists

This investigation examined changes in the level of systemic inflammatory markers including circulating neutrophils, serum inflammatory cytokines, acute phase reactants, hemostatic factors, markers of lipid metabolism, markers of metabolic change, and systemic endotoxin, all with potential atherogenic consequences

Primary role included collaboratively working with a large team of scientists in designing and conducting this study, isolation of peripheral blood neutrophils and using a chemiluminescence assay to assess the change in metabolic oxidative activity of systemic neutrophils, and being actively involved in directing the analysis, interpretation, and publication of the data

II) Bacteremia and the Systemic Host Response Following Toothbrushing

A multilaboratory clinical investigation that examined the role dental plaque accumulation in eliciting bacteremic episodes and inducing systemic inflammatory responses that are associated with heart disease, following toothbrushing in healthy adults

Primary role included contribution to the design and conception of the study, conducting chemiluminescence assays to evaluate the oxidative activity of systemic neutrophils, and being actively involved in directing the analysis, interpretation, and publication of the data.

III) The In Vitro Response of Human Peripheral Blood Neutrophils to Fusobacterium Nucleatum

An in vitro investigation of the role of F. nucleatum in activation of peripheral blood human neutrophils

Primary role included contribution to the design and conception of the study, conducting microbiology techniques and chemiluminescence assays, and being actively involved in directing the analysis, interpretation, and publication of the study findings.

Graduate courses in IU School of dentistry and IU School of medicine – molecular biology, oral microbiology, immunology, clinical research, scientific writing, research ethics, and biostatistics

MSD (2001-2004), IU School of Dentistry

Major: Preventive Dentistry

Minors: Operative Dentistry and Dental Materials

• Mentor: Dr. RL Gregory, Professor, Department of Oral Biology, IU School of Dentistry

• Thesis: Role of Immunoglobulin A and Oral Biofilm Proteins in Streptococcus mutans Adherence and Caries Formation

• Area addressed: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and confocal laser scanning microscopy were used to determine the role of oral biofilm Immunoglobulin A and other salivary proteins in dental caries formation

• Practiced clinical dentistry in Graduate Operative Dentistry clinic

Academic Appointment with IUSD Department of Periodontics and Allied Dental Programs

2011- Present: Writing Scientific Manuscripts focusing on the Systemic Response to dental plaque accumulation

Teaching Experience

• Mentoring and teaching PhD and Masters dental students on research projects

• Tutoring dental students in problem-based learning, IU School of Dentistry (2001-2005)

Clinical Experience

• General dental practice, Amman, Jordan (1997-1999)

• Operative dentistry, IU School of Dentistry (2001-2002)

Published Abstracts

• Endotoxemia and the Systemic Host Response Experimental Gingivitis. 89th International Association of Dental Research (IADR) General Session and Exhibition of the IADR, San Diego (2011)

• The Experimental Gingivitis Model as a Systemic Inflammatory Challenge. 88th IADR General Session and Exhibition of the IADR, Barcelona, Spain (2010)

• Dental Plaque as a Risk Factor for Coronary Heart Disease. 87th General Session and Exhibition of the IADR/American Association of Dental Research (AADR), Miami Beach (2009)

• The In-vitro Response of Human Neutrophils to Fusobacterium nucleatum. 87th General Session and Exhibition of the IADR/AADR, Miami Beach (2009)

• Bacteremia and the Systemic Host Response following Toothbrushing in Adults. 86th annual meeting of the IADR, Toronto (2008)

• Experimental Gingivitis Model: Experience and Clinical Outcomes by Race/Gender. IADR/AADR 85th General Session and Exhibition, New Orleans (2007)

• Role of Oral Biofilm Proteins in Streptococcus mutans Adherence. 32nd annual meeting of the AADR, San Antonio (2003)

Invited Presentations

• The Systemic Inflammatory Response to Dental Plaque Accumulation. Presented at the Indiana Section of American Association of Dental Research, Indianapolis, IN (2009)

• The Systemic Inflammatory Response to Dental Plaque Accumulation. Presented at the Research Seminar Series on Infectious Diseases, IU School of Medicine (2009)

Publications

• Wahaidi VY, Dowsett SA, Eckert GJ, and Kowolik MJ. Neutrophil Response to Dental Plaque by Gender and Race. J Den Res. 2009;88:709-14.

• Wahaidi VY, Kowolik MJ, Eckert GJ, Galli DM. Endotoxemia and the Systemic Host Response During Experimental Gingivitis. J Clin Periodontol. 2011;38:412-7.

• Wahaidi VY, Eckert GJ, Gregory RJ, Kowlik MJ, and Galli DM. The in-vitro response of human peripheral blood neutrophils to Fusobacterium nucleatum. Accepted for publication in Int J Clin Den. 2013 Volume 6 Issue 1.

• Wahaidi VY, Dowsett SA, Eckert GJ, Allen SD, and Kowolik MJ. Bacteremia and the Systemic Host Response Following Toothbrushing (In Preparation).

• Wahaidi VY, Dowsett SA, Eckert GJ, Allen BL, and Kowolik MJ. Dental Plaque Accumulation as a Risk Factor for Coronary Heart Disease (In Preparation).

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