With abstract submissions now complete and participation expected to approach last year’s record-setting total, UAB School of Dentistry’s upcoming Scholars Symposium will highlight the strength of student research across the school while bringing nationally recognized expertise to campus.
The keynote lecture will be delivered by Alex DaSilva, DDS, DMedSc, William K. and Mary Anne Najjar Endowed Professor of Oral Health Sciences at the University of Michigan. He directs the Headache & Orofacial Pain Effort (H.O.P.E.) Laboratory, where multidisciplinary teams investigate the brain as both a source of discovery and a pathway for therapy in trigeminal pain disorders.
His work integrates neuroimaging, neuromodulation, and emerging artificial intelligence technologies to advance the understanding and treatment of migraine, temporomandibular disorders, and related chronic pain conditions. He also serves as contact principal investigator for a national NIH-supported collaborative center focused on AI and data science approaches to TMD.
The faculty lecture will be presented by Yu Shin Kim, MS, PhD, Presidential Scholar and Professor in the Department of Endodontics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. His research examines functional peripheral neural circuits and the biological mechanisms underlying pain and itch, contributing to a deeper understanding of sensory disorders affecting the craniofacial region.
Scheduled for March 5, the 21st annual program will center on the theme of Craniofacial Pain, offering student investigators an opportunity to situate their work within a rapidly evolving landscape of discovery and clinical application.
By pairing the internationally visible scholarship of these lecturers with UAB’s institutional expertise, the symposium provides a framework for student investigators to connect fundamental discovery with clinical relevance.
The annual event continues to serve as a cornerstone of the school’s research environment, emphasizing mentorship, collaboration, and the preparation of future leaders in oral health science.