Lasting Impressions | Fall 2017

30 © NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY NSU COLLEGE OF DENTAL MEDICINE © 31 Manjarres, D.D.S., assistant professor in endodontics. “We have a blast,” Bonilla said. Bonilla admits, however, that it took her a little time to warm up to Seltzer at first. “The beginning was hard, because you have to learn his sense of humor. But once you know him, you realize he is an unbelievable human being. I am honored to call him my friend,” she said. According to Manjarres, Seltzer’s relationship with his students takes a similar trajectory. “He loves his students. However, when first with them, he is very demanding, striking fear into them. Then, with the next opportunity, as the students start the clinic, they like him a little better, because he is very dedicated to teaching one-on-one. And, by their last year, they absolutely love him,” she said. Manjarres began working with Seltzer in 2004 as an adjunct faculty member. “He was the best boss one can have, as a person, a teacher, and a friend,” she said. “You can talk to him about any subject, and he will always have an associated story. He’s sarcastic, funny, and always forces you to see things from a different angle.” In fact, if there is one thing Seltzer takes pride in, it is the creative ways he engages his students and prepares them for their careers. For instance, drawing on his extensive experience, he presents real-life scenarios and situations to which the students have to respond. “I pretend I’m the patient, and I attack them,” Seltzer said, smiling. “No matter what they say, I turn it around and make them think. The key is the thinking.” With those words, he proudly showed off one of his favorite framed pieces on his office wall. It is a gift from his students when he left the New Jersey dental school, which in part reads, “You not only taught us what to do; you showed us how to think.” It never fails, Seltzer added, that students come back after graduation and report that they experienced in their practice the exact scenario he had presented in class. They then thank him for preparing them. Fredericka Salbo, D.M.D., gradu- ated from the CDM predoctoral program in 2014. After completing her residency, she began practicing at Pembroke Pines Endodontics Unlimit- ed. She credits Seltzer with inspiring her to choose endodontics and helping her learn and prepare for her career. “I loved what I learned in his class,” she said. “When I confided in him that I might want to do the endodontics specialty, he took time to talk to me about it to make sure I understood what I was getting myself into, because, of course, what we learned in school was different from actually practicing. He told me honestly that it’s not easy, but rewarding. I appreciated that.” Salbo said once she made the decision, Seltzer took her under his wing, always showing her what he was doing in the clinic, and eventually asking her to do the patient consulta- tions. “Because of that, by the time I got to my residency, I felt I was on a higher level from all I’d learned from him. He just cares about you as a person and about what’s going to happen to you after you graduate.” Faculty Impressions Salbo is even planning to come back and teach with Seltzer one day a week. “I want to go back so I can spend time with him, and because I know how important the program is to him,” she said. In addition to teaching classes and working in the clinic, Seltzer is the CDM representative to the Faculty Advisory Council, a member of the CDM Curriculum Committee, and a mem- ber of the CDM Clinic Policy Committee. “I only look good because I am part of a great team,” Seltzer said. “Professionally, Dr. Carmen Bonilla and Dr. Vivian Manjarres, as well as our adjunct faculty members, always work very hard to teach our predoc- toral students, and me as well. I truthfully believe that our predoc- toral program is second to none— the best in the country. Fortunately, our chair, Dr. Cem Sayin, also sup- ports and appreciates our efforts.” While Seltzer says he’s staying out of politics for now, he plans to keep on enjoying life with his wife (they have been married 49 years); their three children, Julie, Wendy, and Gregory; and seven grandchil- dren. He’ll keep boating, searching for treasures with his underwater metal detector, and having fun with his two dogs, the big tortoise, and his other pet turtles. Manjarres pointed out that the CDM is fortunate to have Seltzer. “He is an understanding professional and friend, a real team player, respectful, and funny.” u Third-year dental student Melanie Ross discusses a treatment plan with Robert Seltzer and Carmen Bonilla. Aditi Kulkarni , B.D.S., M.S., a 2016 postgraduate prosthodontics alumna, had the manuscript from her master’s thesis accepted for publication in the Journal of Prosthodontics . The manuscript is titled “Impact of Gastric Acid-Induced Surface Changes on Mechanical Behavior and Optical Characteristics of Dental Ceramics.” She also was a runner-up in the John B. Sharry Competition, making it through the first round of competition. Kulkarni’s committee chair was CDM professor Jeffrey Thompson, Ph.D., with professor Sharon Crane Siegel, D.D.S., M.S., M.B.A., and associate professor Rafael G. Castellon, D.D.S., M.S., also on her committee. Kulkarni currently is teaching at the University of Minnesota Predoctoral Program and is also in private practice. Salam Hetou , B.D.S., a 2017 postgraduate prosthodon- tics alumna, had her research project “Comparison of Cutting Efficiency of Different Rotary Instruments on Two Different Ceramic Materials Using Electric and Air-Turbine Dental Handpieces” accepted as a first-round winner in the John B. Sharry Competition. She submitted her manuscript for the next round and is currently writing her master’s thesis. Her committee chair is Sharon Crane Siegel, D.D.S., M.S., M.B.A., with Jeffrey Thompson, Ph.D., also on her committee. u CDM Impressions PG PROSTHODONTICS ALUMNI PUBLISHED Robert Seltzer is devoted to his pets, which include Ruby, a golden retriever he keeps shaved, and Solomon, a 60-pound tortoise he has had for more than 30 years.