Forensic Dentistry Fellowship Announcement

We've had a lot going on here and I'm excited to share some new professional developments that have taken place. I was recently appointed Clinical Assistant Professor in the department of General Dentistry for the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine! I'm thrilled to be a part of this exceptional program and look forward to working with everyone there.

Here is the full announcement that was issued as well as the announcement of our first fellow to participate in the program:

Forensic dentistry, sometimes used to aid in solving criminal cases involving bite marks, is the method of identifying people through the unique characteristics of their dental structures. While these techniques are often featured in crime scene dramas, there are only just over 100 dental experts in the United States and Canada certified by the American Board of Forensic Odontology. The requirements for board certification are rigorous, and until now an academic-based program for dentists has not been available in the United States.

Using resources available through the Regional Forensic Center, the Department of General Dentistry has launched the first Forensic Dentistry Fellowship, chaired by O. Lee Wilson, DMD. Paige Smalley, DMD, Dentistry Residency alumnus, is the first fellow to participate in the one-year program. She said that board certification is a four-year process, but using the knowledge and advanced expertise gained from this program, she hopes to earn board certification.

Under the guidance of Murray Marks, PhD, Associate Professor of General Dentistry and Regional Forensic Center forensic anthropologist, the program will expose Dr. Smalley to the training she needs including workshops on Civil Litigation, Age Estimation, Disaster Victim Dental Identification, and Bite Mark Analysis. The fellow must also complete 30 dental identifications including oral autopsies and bite mark analysis. The Forensic Dentistry Fellowship will also include didactic training with rotations in Pathology, Radiology and Forensic Pathology.

Dr. Smalley will also participate in a research project with Dr. Marks and William Bass, PhD, founder of UT’s forensic anthropology program, looking at the length of time it takes the periodontal ligament to decompose, which releases the teeth from the alveolar bone after exposure to a variety of natural elements such as temperature. The goal of this project is to provide forensic experts with another tool to determine approximate time since death.

In addition to Dr. Marks and Dr. Bass, Forensic Dentistry Fellowship faculty include Mike Tabor, DDS, and Richard Weems, DMD. Dr. Tabor is Chief Forensic Odontologist for the office of the state medical examiner for Tennessee and Davidson County in Nashville.  He has served as president of the American Board of Forensic Odonotology, as well as section chairman and Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Science. He is presently a consultant to the Criminal Investigation Division for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. He has now been appointed as Clinical Assistant Professor in the department of General Dentistry.

Dr. Weems is retired Associate Professor of Dental Radiology at University of Alabama School of Dentistry in Birmingham, Alabama. He now serves as chief forensic odontologist for the Office of the Medical Examiner of Jefferson County in Birmingham. He is current president of the American Society of Forensic Odontology and past odontology chairman of the American Academy of Forensic Science and secretary of the American Board of Forensic Odontology. He is now Associate Clinical Professor in the department of General Dentistry.

Dr. Smalley said she did not aspire to be a forensic odontologist when she went to dental school, but she developed an interest in the field through exposure during her residency program. She said that she sees dental identification as a way to use her skills and expertise to help families.

"I find it interesting that by using something as little and unique as a tooth, I can help families identify a loved one," she said.

To visit the website click here. 

This Writer Was Thrilled!

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Mike Tabor with New York Times best selling thriller author Brad Taylor

I just got back from one of the most exciting mystery writer’s conferences imaginable - the International Thriller Writers Association held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in the Big Apple. There's nothing like rubbing shoulders for three days with the likes of David Baldacci, Lee Child, Michael Connelly, Scott Turow, and Linda Fairstein!  Besides having some of the most interesting lectures and panel discussion about mystery writing, we got the opportunity to interact with most of the writers on all aspects of what it takes to be a successful mystery writer.

I was asked to serve on a panel of doctors who were also mystery writers. What an experience that was! There will be a link up on our website here in a few days if you’d like to listen to our program entitled, "What’s Your Cutting Edge? Medical Advances That Create Thrills." One of the panelists, D.P.Lyle, M.D., is the ‘go to’ guy for forensic facts in fiction. He has written three very interesting reference books helping mystery writers with all the little tidbits and facts about autopsies and crime scene investigation material to make sure their writing is as scientifically accurate as possible. He has even written a book Forensics for Dummies, an extremely interesting piece that all of you would recognize by the characteristic black and yellow striped cover.  

For an hour we fielded Q/A's on all aspects of the medical profession in writing mystery thrillers. Our topics ranged from identification of bodies on September 11th to how future science may turn to genetic coding into another world previously thought to be inconceivable. I consider it a true honor to have been asked to participate on this panel. Be on the lookout for some pictures from the ITW’s official photographer who should have them up on their website thrillerfest.com any day.