Prof. Michael Josef Kowolik

mkowolik@iupui.edu

Indiana University School of Dentistry

1121, West Michigan Street, DS 260

Indianapolis, IN, 46202

(317) 278-0223

(317) 274-1363

 

 

Professional Biography:

Michael J. Kowolik, B.D.S, F.D.S., Ph.D., is currently Director and Professor of Graduate Research in the Department of Periodontics and Allied Dental Programs at the Indiana University School of Dentistry in Indianapolis, IN. He is also an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Oral Biology at IUSD, Department of Oro-Facial Genetics at IUSD, Department of Public Health at the Indiana University School of Medicine, the IU Center for Bioethics, and the Department of Dental Diagnostic Science at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, TX. In addition, he is a Visiting Professor and Distinguished Faculty of the Graduate School of Periodontology at the Universidad Autonoma de Nueva Leon in Monterrey, Mexico.

On August 1, 2015 Dr. Kowolik was presented with the TUMS Distinguished Visiting Professor Title by TUMS Director of International Relations, Accreditation and Ranking. Since then, his contribution to TUMS has countined for duration of eight years.

Research Interests:

  • Basic and applied studies of inflammatory cell function

  • Clinical studies of inflammatory disease, including genetics

  • Oral - systemic disease associations and clinical models

  • Helicobacter pylori transmission and the oral cavity

  • Clinical, global and ethical issues in research

 

Interview with Prof. Kowolik:

In return of the July 2015 visit of TUMS Chancellor Dr. Jafarian, and Director of International Relations, Accreditation and Ranking Dr. Nekoofar, Dr. Michael Josef Kowolik traveled from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) to Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) Schools and Research Centers and met with officials of the university.

 

On August 1, 2015 he visited the different school departments and facilities of Dentistry. The next day, he visited various TUMS affiliated hospitals including Sina hospital, Shariati hospital and Tehran Heart Center, Digestive Diseases Research Institute (DDRI) in Tehran and also National Museum of History of Medical Sciences.

On the third day of his stay in Tehran, he visited International Campus of Dentistry, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine and facilities of the center and its expert faculties. On Tuesday, August 4th Dr. Kowolik visited Research Centre for Biomedical Technology and Robotics in Imam Khomeini Hospital of TUMS.

 

Professor Kowolik had a meeting with TUMS Vice-Chancellor for Global Strategies and International Affairs, Dr. Arabkheradmand, on August 1, 2015 and also had meeting with TUMS Chancellor, Dr. Jafarian on August 3, 2015.

 

Dr. Kowolik planned to visit TUMS for the second time to follow up the collaboration between the two universities, therefore he and Dr. chu, Associate Dean for Research at School of Dentistry and the officials of School of Dentistry of IUPUI traveled to Iran on July 2016.

They met with Dr. Bayat, Dean and Dr. Khami, Vice-Dean for International Affairs of School of Dentistry, Dr. Nekoofar, director of International Relations, Accreditation and Ranking of TUMS, and Ms. Tania Azadi, Accreditation Senior Officer of TUMS to follow up the accreditation activities on July 31th. Meanwhile, they provided the audience with the details of CODA program and how it works and also the standards that must be met for getting accredited by CODA. They also provided TUMS officials with their suggestions and recommendations.  

 

Right after the meeting, Dr. Chu visited a few departments of the School and Dr. Kowolik had another meeting with Dr. Khami and Dr. Bonabi to follow up an unfinished joint project.

 

On the same day, Indiana University delegations visited Research Center for Biomedical and Robotics at Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex. They met with Dr. Ahmadian the Dean of Research Center and were amazed by the latest technologies in the research center.

 

Dr. Kowolik and Dr. Chu visited Children Medical Center Hospital and met with Dr. Nima Rezaei, Vice-Dean for International Affairs of School of Medicine on 1st of August. In the meantime they got introduced with Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN) for further cooperation. They also got to know the different cultural activities performed by this center for the patients. 

Later the delegation paid a visit to TUMS Core Facilities Laboratory. Dr. Lotfi, Vice-Dean for International Affairs of School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine gave thorough explanation about the center and its activities to the guests.

 

In their final visit, Dr. Kowolik and Dr. Chu spent two hours in Dental Research Center. Dr. Akhoondi, Dean, Dr. Etemedmoghadam, Vice-Dean for International Affairs, Dr. Shahabi, Vice-Dean for Research of the Research Center welcomed to the gusts and introduced the center activities and different labs. In the conclusion meeting, both parties expressed their hopes for future collaboration in joint programs and research projects. 

 

Dr. Kowolik delivered a lecture entitled “Inflammatory Response to Infectious Challenge” at the school of dentistry on August 1, 2015. He also delivered an unplanned, brief lecture during his visit of International Campus of Dentistry on the third day of his stay in Tehran.

 

Hopes for the Visiting Professor Programme:

“IUPUI does not wish to have a lot of MoUs with international institutions which never become practical but the purpose is to have a few MoUs which we can put into action and implement them. Political relations should never affect academic relations of the different countries’ universities and institutions.” which Dr. Kowolik mentioned at the meeting with TUMS Vice-Chancellor for Global Strategies and International Affairs. 

On behalf of the next chancellor of IUPUI who will be Dr. Naser Paydar, Dr. Kowolik expressed his willingness toward establishing collaborations between the two parties at the meeting with TUMS Chancellor, “In order to have the MoU signed by IUPUI it is necessary to suggest an implementation plan,” he stated. The TUMS Chancellor pointed out that he was hopeful to start the collaboration with the TUMS School of Dentistry and expand the activities with the Department of Bioengineering at IUPUI.  

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