Dr. Dennis Sourvanos Awarded the 2022 American Society for Photobiology Frederick Urbach Student Travel Award

 

Philadelphia — Penn Dental Medicine postdoctoral student Dr. Dennis Sourvanos, (GD’23, DScD’23) was awarded the 2022 American Society for Photobiology (ASP) Frederick Urbach Student Travel Award, enabling him to present his research at the ASP Biennial Meeting, held in Albuquerque, NM, this fall. The award, officially presented at the meeting, supports ASP associate members (students and postdocs) with travel expenses to present work as the first author of a study. Sourvanos was notified of his selection in August 2022, allowing him to travel to the meeting and present his research.

“Being part of this renowned international scientific event for photobiology is a rare opportunity for a dental clinician-scientist as we strive to engage with multidisciplinary groups to enhance our research in dental medicine,” says Sourvanos.

At the ASP meeting, Sourvanos presented research on photobiomodulation treatment after dental surgery, with an emphasis on calculating dose and related mechanisms to induce tissue regeneration. He presented his study alongside an international group of photobiology research scientists during the “Photodynamic Treatments and Mechanisms” session.

Sourvanos, who is completing his postdoctoral training in periodontics along with a concurrent DScD degree, is a current fellow in the Center for Innovation and Precision Dentistry (CiPD)’s, NIDCR T90/R90 Postdoctoral Training Program. The CiPD is a collaborative center with Penn Dental Medicine and Penn Engineering and Applied Sciences.

Dr. Dennis Sourvanos, (GD’23, DScD’23)

As an NIDCR T90/R90 fellow, Sourvanos is part of a multidisciplinary collaboration with mentorship by Dr. Timothy C. Zhu and Dr. Theresa M. Busch, Department of Radiation Oncology, Smilow Center for Translational Research, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He is also mentored by Dr. Joseph P. Fiorellini and Dr. Rodrigo Neiva within the Department of Periodontics at Penn Dental Medicine and CiPD co-directors Dr. Michel Koo and Dr. Kathleen Stebe.

“I am very appreciative that the CiPD fellowship has helped recruit exceptional mentors from radiation oncology,” says Sourvanos. “Attending the ASP meeting was a testament to the NIDCR T90/R90-CiPD mission, and I am actively working toward a career as an independently funded academic investigator that is bolstered by scientific immersion, equitable access, and diverse mentorship.”