2026 Berg Lecture

Date: Thursday, May 21, 2026
Time: 5:15 – 6:15 p.m.
Location: The LaSells Stewart Center, Construction & Engineering Hall
Please register to attend

A reception will follow the lecture.

The Department of Microbiology would like to thank alumni Ron and Ann Berg for the generous gift that endowed this lecture series.

About the speaker:

Racaniello is widely recognized for pioneering contributions to molecular virology, including the development of the first infectious clone of an animal RNA virus — a breakthrough that transformed the study of viral genetics and pathogenesis. His research has advanced fundamental understanding of how viruses replicate and interact with host cells, work that continues to shape modern approaches to infectious disease and global health.

Ostroverkhova’s research group works on low-cost, organic materials for optoelectronic applications, such as solar cells. Her contribution to the exhibit is part of a collaborative scientific effort with colleagues in OSU’s colleges of Forestry and Engineering. Together, they’re investigating fungi-derived pigments including xylindein, a highly durable pigment, used by artists for hundreds of years, as a promising possibility as a semiconductor material.

Xylindein, a pigment secreted by two types of wood-eating fungi, stains wood a blue-green color, which artists have used for centuries. The pigment is so stable that art made more than 500 years ago still retains the color. It has held up against prolonged exposure to heat, ultraviolet light and electrical stress.

“If something has sat on a church ceiling for 500 years and hasn’t degraded, I want to know why,” she said.

Maude David, associate professor of microbiology, works at the intersection of computer science and microbiome research. She contributed ideas and reflections about artificial intelligence, energy consumption and data ethics. She sees the abstract, immersive nature of the exhibit as a powerful tool for contemplation.

“AI is needed and it’s useful. In fact, I use it for my research. But what is the cost for our children?” she said. “More than 10% of the energy consumption in Oregon is just for data centers.”

Her wish for visitors is simple: stop and think. From pondering data storage’s environmental footprint to engaging with poetic critiques of AI culture, each part of the exhibit encourages personal reflection.

“We are the last generation where some of us grew up without a phone. My daughter’s pretending to make phone calls at three years old,” she said. “AI is difficult to see but technology is in the background of a lot of things we do.”

Graduate students at the College of Science are conducting crucial research that addresses critical challenges and benefits both local communities and the broader world.

To celebrate their accomplishments, the College will be hosting the inaugural Graduate Science Research Showcase from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Friday, May 16, 2025 in the Memorial Union Horizon Room.

Click here to RSVP!

This event offers a glimpse into the future of science featuring graduate research presentations, a poster session and a keynote address from renowned alumnus Jonathan Gallion, vice president of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for OmniScience.

Gallion, recipient of the College's 2024 Early Career Award, earned dual Honors bachelor's degrees in biochemistry and biophysics, and microbiology in 2012. His career began with an internship at SIGA Technologies, where he programmed robots to screen chemical compounds for antiviral medicines. At OmniScience, Gallion and his team utilize large language models to enhance clinical trial outcomes and improve human health. Their work accelerates decision-making and transforms data analysis in biotech, medtech, pharmaceutical and preclinical innovation. Rather than replace human expertise, their AI tools are designed to compliment it.

Schedule of Events

12 p.m.

Lunch

12:20 p.m.

Welcome from Executive Associate Dean Vrushali Bokil and Dean's Remarks from College of Science Dean Eleanor Feingold.

12:30 p.m.

Keynote speech from alumnus Jonathan Gallion, V.P. of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for OmniScience.

Keynote Talk Title - Beyond Automation: Agentic AI and the New Frontier of Life Science Innovation

Abstract: Artificial intelligence in the life sciences is moving beyond automation into a new frontier defined by agentic systems—AI tools capable of reasoning, planning, and autonomous action. As these AI agents continue to evolve from tools to collaborators, life scientists will need to rethink how we generate hypotheses, design experiments, interpret data, and generate insights. This keynote will examine how agentic AI is already transforming decision-making and accelerating innovation within clinical trial development and offer a perspective on how domain experts can adapt and lead at the intersection of scientific expertise and intelligent automation through AI.

1 - 2:30 p.m.

Five minute research presentations and dessert, followed by a poster session, showcasing the diverse research conducted across the seven departments in the College of Science. The session will highlight how Science graduate students are participating and contributing to this valuable research.

Presenters include:

Oluwasen Adu (Integrative Biology)
Advisor: Michael Blouin
Talk title: Genome Wide Association Study of Biomphalaria glabrata snail and its Schistosome Parasite

Vera Alenicheva (Chemistry)
Advisor: Vincent Remcho
Talk title: A Microfluidic Paper-Based Assay for the Quantification of CBD and THC

Lucas Allan (Chemistry)
Advisor: Tim Zuehlsdorff
Talk title: FC2DES: Modeling 2D Electronic Spectroscopy for Harmonic Hamiltonians

Hallee Boyd (Chemistry)
Advisor: May Nyman
Talk title: Characterization of Trivalent Lanthanide Keggin Phosphomolybdate Sandwich Clusters

Daniel Malone Buoy (Statistics)
Advisor: Claudio Fuentes / Sarah Emerson
Talk title: Representative Sampling Methods for K-Fold Cross Validation

Olivia Burleigh (Integrative Biology)
Advisor: Virginia Weis
Talk title: Transcription Factor-targeted ChIP-Seq for Smad3-mediated TGF-β Signaling in Heat-stressed Aiptasia

Jun Cai (Integrative Biology)
Advisor: Virginia Weis
Talk title: Effect of Sphingolipid Metabolic Pathway Inhibition and Knockdown on Cnidarian-Algal Symbiosis

Giovanni Crestani (Integrative Biology, Ph.D.)
Advisor: Molly Burke
Talk title: Genomics of experimentally-evolved postponed reproduction in Drosophila melanogaster

Ushasi Datta (Chemistry)
Advisor: Marilyn Mackiewicz
Talk title: Unveiling the Hidden Properties: How Nanomaterial Surface Chemistry and Biomimetic Systems Shape Reflectance and Contrast

Konstantin Drallios (Chemistry)
Advisor: Thomas Osborn Popp
Talk title: 3D Printable Radiofrequency Coils

Rudranil Dutta (Chemistry)
Advisor: Claudia Maier
Talk title: Identification and Quantitation of Bioactive Alkaloids in Withania Somnifera

Arpa Ebrahimi (Chemistry)
Advisor: Claudia Maier
Talk title: Characterizing the Lipidomic and Proteomic Profile of the 5xFAD Alzheimer’s Disease Mouse Model: A Comparative Study Using MALDI Imaging Mass Spectrometry

Jessica Etter (Chemistry)
Advisor: Claudia Maier
Talk title: LC-QTOF and LC-TIMS-qQTOF MS Analysis of Fecal Inoculum Biotransformation Products and LC-MRM-MS Analysis of Human Withanolide Pharmacokinetics of an Ashwagandha Supplement

Caroline Hernandez (Microbiology)
Advisor: Maude David
Talk title: Whole-Cell Crosslinking Reveals Direct Lactobacillaceae and Rhizobiaceae Interactions with Host Duodenal Neuropods

Esteban Hernandez (Chemistry)
Advisor: Jennifer Field
Talk title: Experimental pKa Values of Substituted and Unsubstituted Perfluoroalkyl Sulfonamides via 19F NMR

Lucas Kolanz (Physics)
Advisor: Davide Lazzati
Talk title: Cosmic dust bunnies

Weiqi ‘Grace’ Li (Statistics)
Advisor: Yuan Jiang
Talk title: Reframing spatial transcriptomics prediction: From regression to classification

Sarah Louie (Biochemistry & Biophysics)
Advisor: Richard Cooley / Ryan Mehl
Talk title: Optimizing genetic code expansion technology to access post-translationally modified proteins

Praveeni Mathangadeera (Mathematics)
Advisor: Małgorzata Peszyńska
Talk title: Computational Modeling of the Nonlinear Heat Equation in Frozen Soil and Snow

Anshika Nagar (Chemistry)
Advisor: Marilyn Mackiewicz
Talk title: Shielded Nanoparticles: Advancing X-Ray Fluorescence Microscopy with Oxidant-Resistant Nickel and Cobalt

Luke Nearhood (Physics)
Advisor: Patti Hamerski
Talk title: Computing the Tension

Joline Nguyen (Biochemistry & Biophysics)
Advisor: Sarah Clark
Talk title: Isolation of Scarce Membrane Protein Complexes from C. elegans

Victory Chiamaka Obieke (Mathematics)
Advisor: Vrushali Bokil
Talk title: Compatible Energy Preserving Discretizations for Nonlinear Optical Wave Propagation: The Maxwell-Duffing Approach

Emily Palmer (Statistics)
Advisor: Yuan Jiang
Talk title: A Group Penalization Framework for Detecting Time-Lagged Microbiota-Host Associations

Madison Phelps (Mathematics)
Advisor: Małgorzata Peszyńska
Talk title: Nonlinear Solvers in Permafrost applications

Kevin Rice (Microbiology)
Advisor: Maude David / Kenton Hokanson
Talk title: Electrical Characterization of Primary Enteroendocrine Cells: Developing Tools to Screen Novel Microbial Neuroactive Compounds

Casey Rummelhart (Chemistry)
Advisor: Addison Desnoyer
Talk title: Frustrated Lewis Pairs Ligand for the Transformation of Carbon Dioxide to Chemical Feedstocks

Pavel Sengupta (Chemistry)
Advisor: Dipankar Koley
Talk title: Quantifying Dissolved Oxygen in Biofilms with Non-invasive Flexible Amperometric Oxygen Sensors

Michael Sieler (Microbiology)
Advisor: Thomas Sharpton
Talk title: Modeling the zebrafish gut microbiome’s resistance and sensitivity to climate change and parasite infection

Gavin Tovar (Statistics)
Advisor: Robert Trangucci / Sarah Emerson
Talk title: Sequential Approach to K-Fold Cross-validation---Computational Reduction Technique

Hao Yue (Chemistry)
Advisor: Marilyn Mackiewicz
Talk title: Targeted X-ray Imaging Agents for Visualizing Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Sima Ziyaee (Chemistry)
Advisor: Claudia Maier
Talk title: Exploring Cellular Heterogeneity through Single-cell Proteomics

Join us to celebrate the future of science — and the graduate students who are making it happen.

College of Science Inclusive Excellence Award

Hannah Stuwe, graduate student in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, received the Inclusive Excellence Award.

Department Head Elisar Barbar, who nominated Stuwe, said she has engaged in a wide-ranging set of service, outreach and training that is truly impressive. First, Stuwe conducted a GFP protein purification activity for middle and high school students from the Chemawa Indian School, Jewell High School (Seaside), and visited groups of black and Latinx students from the Portland area.

She planned, wrote and edited a handbook of science experiments geared towards middle school aged students, their parents, and teachers to fill the void of not having a BB summer camp. This handbook now serves as a free and open access resource for community members.

Stuwe is the founder of the non-profit organization Corvallis Music Collective. They have engaged in community service and activism by providing live music for events and rallies. Recent events include the Basic Needs Center Fall Welcome Party, the Disabled Students Union Disability Justice Rally and Jackson Street Youth Services National Runaway Prevention Month “Skate Park After Dark” Show.

Gladys Valley Award for Exemplary Administrative Support

Amy Timshel, assistant to the department head in the Department of Microbiology, received the Gladys Valley Award for Exemplary Administrative Support.

Her colleagues describe her as proactive, always seeking ways to improve processes and deeply committed to making the department a better place for everyone. She is highly regarded by students, faculty and staff for her professionalism, broad knowledge and ability to get things done. In fact, Department Head Anne Dunn noted that when she polled faculty on department strengths during strategic planning exercises, Timshel's critical role in the department was consistently highlighted.

"Her ability to provide a wealth of information on a variety of administrative issues is unparalleled, and she approaches each interaction with a warm smile and an eagerness to assist," said a Ph.D. candidate nominator.

She has a deep understanding of university policies and constantly looks for ways to improve them. She listens, advocates for students and colleagues, and takes initiative to make the department more inclusive and equitable. For example, her work on the Core Values Committee led to the addition of gender-neutral restrooms in Nash Hall and improvements to scholarship and travel fund policies.

Beyond her administrative role, Timshel actively fosters a sense of community within the department. She organizes fundraisers and charity events and regularly attends student events to show her support.

Distinguished Service Award

Elaine Cozzi, assistant head and associate professor in the Department of Mathematics, received the Distinguished Service Award for her impactful service to her department, the College and the broader mathematics community.

Cozzi served as interim associate dean of academic and student affairs for the College in Spring of 2024, managing various projects, including the university’s revision of its undergraduate advising system, assessing teaching resources and addressing countless student issues. She was overwhelmingly generous with her time in responding to the many challenges and the needs of her colleagues.

Before and after serving as associate dean, Cozzi served as assistant department head for mathematics, responsible for scheduling upper-level courses and ensuring adequate staffing for the Department’s teaching mission. This affects the hiring of instructors, graduate students and undergraduate graders.

Jon Kujawa, Department of Mathematics head and Cozzi’s nominator, noted, “It is hard to overestimate the impact of Elaine’s planning on the smooth operation of the teaching side of the department. And she readily pivots when unexpected events disrupt the plans.” Additionally, Elaine led the assessment of the Mathematics undergraduate program for several years, playing a crucial role in student success, he shared.

Cozzi also contributes significantly to the mathematics profession as Associate Editor for the American Mathematical Monthly – the most widely read mathematics journal in the world. She is also an active member of SIAM, a professional society for applied mathematics, where she helps organize meetings and contributes to administrative efforts and regularly serves as a grant evaluator for the NSF and the Simons Foundation, helping to shape the future of mathematical research.

Champion of Science Award

Virginia Lesser, Department of Statistics Head, received the Champion of Science award for her significant contributions to the field of statistics and to Oregon State University throughout her distinguished career. After earning her Ph.D. in Biostatistics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she joined OSU’s Department of Statistics in 1992.

A year later, she became Director of the Survey Research Center, a role she held until her retirement in December 2024. Lesser's expertise in probability sampling, survey design and data collection methods ensured that the center upheld the highest standards. Under her leadership, the center became a premier institution, offering expertise in survey methodology, sampling and data analysis – supporting projects that inform policy, environmental monitoring, economic studies and public opinion research. Its work has helped agencies such as the Oregon Department of Transportation, the Oregon State Marine Board and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife make data-driven decisions, not to mention numerous initiatives within the University.

Lesser's groundbreaking research in survey methodology, environmental statistics, applied statistics and ecological monitoring has advanced the field and influenced practice. She has authored over 55 journal articles and conference proceedings, earning national and international recognition – including being named a Fellow of the American Statistical Association and an elected member of the International Statistical Institute.

Lesser's leadership also transformed the statistics department and elevated Oregon State University’s role in the field as department head from 2011 to 2018.

Lesser has also been a dedicated mentor and advocate for students and colleagues. Over the course of her career, she guided more than 220 graduate students and fostered a welcoming, supportive community within the department. Her colleagues regard her as an exceptional mentor and an inspiring leader, someone who consistently goes above and beyond – whether leading major academic initiatives or simply making sure the department potluck had a home-cooked turkey.

Olaf Boedtker Award for Excellence in Academic Advising

Eric Cole, academic advisor in the Department of Integrative Biology, received the Olaf Boedtker Award for Excellence in Academic Advising.

Students state that Cole is encouraging and relatable, and he helps students confidently navigate their academic and career paths. Cole shows an exceptional level of empathy and consistency in his advising, and he takes the time to understand student’s unique challenges, offering personalized support and consistent follow-up.

“I am glad to say he is my advisor, and everyone needs someone like Eric,” one student nominator wrote.

Cole is a dedicated, empathetic and reliable advisor who consistently goes the extra mile for his students. His students appreciate his down-to-earth nature, including his famous flip flops.

Loyd F. Carter Award for Outstanding and Inspirational Teaching in Science (Undergraduate)

Malcolm Lowry, assistant professor (senior research) in the Department of Microbiology, received the Loyd F. Carter Award for Outstanding and Inspirational Undergraduate Teaching in Science.

Lowry is known for his engaging teaching style that is highly contemporary to current events in the world. Specifically, students noticed his excitement for teaching and passion for class materials.

“Dr.Lowry is by far the best professor I’ve had in my educational career. He encourages students to reach out for issues and I’ve never felt so safe in a classroom before. He connects with us and treats the classroom like home,” one student nominator wrote.

Students also appreciated his use of attention-grabbing moments and explanations during lectures, which are strengthened by his use of new technologies and current research in the field.

Loyd F. Carter Award for Outstanding and Inspirational Teaching in Science (Graduate)

Denis Drolet, senior instructor I and advisor in the Department of Chemistry, received the Loyd F. Carter Award for Outstanding and Inspirational Graduate Teaching in Science.

Drolet is an exceptional educator whose dedication and passion leave a lasting impact. He is known for making learning both interesting and entertaining, effectively conveying complex concepts in a relatable and engaging manner. Drolet goes above and beyond to support his students, showing genuine care for their success. His passion for teaching is evident in his ability to make learning fun and engaging, while simultaneously creating a positive and stable learning environment.

“He is an exceptional professor,” one student nominator wrote. “He is extremely down to earth, demonstrates clear passion towards his teachings and sincerely cares about his students on a personal level, despite having thousands of them. I was extremely sad when I couldn’t sign up for his class next term due to how fast they filled up, which demonstrated just how great of a professor he is.”

Fred Horne Award for Sustained Excellence in Teaching Science

Margaret (Margie) Haak, senior instructor II and head advisor in the Department of Chemistry, received the Fred Horne Award for Sustained Excellence in Teaching Science.

To quote her nominators, Haak has given her heart and soul to the Chemistry Department” over the past 30 years. Her innovative teaching methods have transformed learning experiences for countless students. She was the first to introduce electronic homework platforms in Chemistry courses and created the "Atoms First" approach in general chemistry, significantly improving the flow and understanding of the course material.

Haak also pioneered the use of computers in chemistry labs and integrated active learning strategies into the general chemistry sequence long before active learning was a common practice. She worked to introduce the flipped classroom model for the introductory general chemistry sequences, creating the foundation of the curricular model that supports the course, and thousands of OSU students, today.

The student nominator mentioned how much Haak helps students feel like they belong in science and like they are visible people in a huge class of many students. This student states “I have always felt a bit out of place, but she made me feel at home. I knew in her class I would be seen as myself and not judged for my disabilities. She did everything she could to provide me with a successful learning experience.”

McFall-Ngai is a scientist and educator, renowned for her work on symbiosis between animals and bacteria, particularly the symbiosis between the bobtail squid and V. fischeri.

Many invertebrates and most, if not all, vertebrates acquire their bacterial symbionts by horizontal transmission; the symbionts are not present during embryogenesis but are recruited from the environment during or after birth or hatching. This presentation will cover how the embryo prepares the host animal for the first interactions with environmental V. fischeri and then how specific selection of this bacterial species occurs “against all odds.”

The model symbiosis between the Hawaiian bobtail squid Euprymna scolopes and its luminescent bacterial partner V. fischeri offers the opportunity to study the underlying mechanisms of the symbiont-acquisition process in the marine environment.

McFall-Ngai has also contributed to understanding how tissues interact with light, discovering the first protein-based animal reflector called reflectin, which has applications in industry and biomedicine.

McFall-Ngai was a Guggenheim Fellow in 2010, a Caltech Moore Scholar from 2011-2013 and an Andrew D. White Professor-at-Large at Cornell University between 2010 and 2016. She is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Academy of Microbiology.

She is a Senior Staff Scientist at Carnegie Science and a Faculty Associate in Biology and Biological Engineering at Caltech. She was the first hire for Carnegie’s newly launched research division for Biosphere Sciences & Engineering in November 2021. Before joining Carnegie Science, she was a professor and director emerita at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s Pacific Biosciences Research Center.

Read about the 2024 Berg Lecture, highlighting biophysicist Jeff Gore.
Learn about the 2023 Berg Lecture, featuring soil scientist Jo Handelsman.

Clinics draw people from Oregon Coast and beyond

Members of Oregon State's Pre-Dental Club began organizing the annual dental clinic three years ago in partnership with Caring Hands Worldwide, an Oregon-based nonprofit that provides free dental care through similar clinics throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Club members gather dentists, hygienists, dental assistants, translators and other volunteers for the clinic. They perform a variety of tasks such as sterilizing dental instruments and checking in patients. They also raise money for the clinic and spread the word to patients.

A story last spring in the Daily Barometer, Oregon State's student newspaper, went a long way in spreading the word, said club Vice President Yasmeen Koborsi.

"The word really got out on campus, and it was a true community effort," she said. "It was all of these organization leaders on and off campus who came together and wanted to take a moment and help spread the word."

Patients came from Corvallis, Lebanon and Philomath and as far away as the Oregon Coast and The Dalles. "A lot of these people had homes," said Koborsi. "They just didn't have insurance or other means to get dental work done for themselves or their children.”

Pre-Dental club proves rewarding for students

Phuvasate said the clinic is extremely meaningful to her on a personal level. "Volunteering at it for the past three years has helped me reaffirm my decision to go into dentistry," she said.

The Pre-Dental Club is rewarding in general, said Koborsi. "The club shows students different ways to connect with the community through service projects and how to apply to the dental program," she said. "It hopefully deepens their passion for dentistry for their future careers."

Koborsi also graduated this spring. Like Phuvasate, she will be attending Oregon Health & Science University in the fall to complete her dental education.

"I love that through dentistry you are able to give people hope and let them know you care about them," she said. "You show them that, for about one hour in their day, you have dedicated your time to them to make them feel good at the end of it."

Dr. Cam Little, a dentist practicing in Corvallis since 1996, is the advisor of the annual clinic. He works closely with pre-dental students in general. Students interested in careers in dentistry frequently job shadow him.

"I didn't feel that observation only was enough for the students," Little said. "Sometimes I would let them assist me chairside if possible. I found that this gave them real hands-on experience and a better understanding of what it is like to treat a patient."

Little began working with Caring Hands Worldwide in 2018 in Eugene, even before the Pre-Dental Club began organizing the Corvallis clinics.

Avery Esau, the Pre-Dental Club president in 2021, suggested starting clinics in Corvallis. "She took the information back to a club meeting, and they voted to start doing this as their main yearly philanthropic mission," Little said.

Esau and fellow pre-dentistry student Isabella Sandgren rallied a team and held the first clinic at the First Congregational United Church of Christ.

This year's clinic ran April 13 and 14 at the Benton County Fairgrounds and drew 150 patients.

"This event is a real benefit to the community and to those who cannot afford dentistry and have no access to care," Little said. "It is also of great benefit to the pre-dental students of OSU. They get an opportunity to organize and staff a major philanthropic event.”

"It just deepened my passion each year."

Koborsi said she just hopes they helped people. "We tried to make sure every person who came left with more than what they expected," she said.

She became involved in dentistry through the Undergraduate Research, Scholarship & the Arts program at Oregon State.

"I was in Dr. Philip McFadden's lab in the Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics through URSA during my sophomore year," Koborsi said. "That really opened my eyes to how much I love the science, and specifically the chemistry, behind teeth."

She volunteered at the first Impact Your Health Clinic in 2022. "That was the way that I fell in love with dentistry," she said. "It just deepened my passion each year."

Koborsi said she initially wanted to be a pharmacist. "I really enjoyed being able to have a job where I was able to meet with patients and have a connection with them," she said. "As a dentist, I would be able to even deepen those connections. I just really want to have a career where I can build a community and connect with people and make people feel welcome, included, safe and cared for."

Making it less scary to see a dentist

Phuvasate said she also finds the clinics inspirational. "They made me realize that the reason I want to go into dentistry is to help people overcome their feelings of shame and insecurity when they're in the dental chair," she said.

She chose to go into dentistry at the end of high school. "I wasn't entirely set on it," she said. "I started looking into it because I was interested in human biology. I also knew I wanted a career where I could work with the general public. I wasn't drawn to doing research or lab work behind the scenes. I decided to look into health care."

Although she considered being a physician, said Phuvasate, she heard too many physicians complain about burning out from their frustration with the health-care system. "Every dentist I talked with was extremely happy with their work/life balance and the personal connections they're able to make with patients," she said.

"As a kid, I never had any bad interactions with dentists," she added. "I actually looked forward to seeing my dentist. I didn't realize that many people have a phobia about going to the dentist. That also made me realize how much of an impact those interactions can have."

Phuvasate said she hopes some people are already more comfortable seeing a dentist because of the help she and her fellow Pre-Dental Club members provided at the annual clinics.

"Maybe they avoided the dental office because they're so used to being judged for the state of their teeth," she said. "We hopefully made people comfortable enough to talk about their dental health."