Media Advisory: Dental Workshop to Stage Medical Emergencies in Simulation Center

The University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine will host two hands-on workshops to teach Western New York's practicing dentists how to assume the role of first responder during office medical emergencies on Friday, June 17, at the UB Behling Simulation Center, on the fourth floor of Farber Hall, South Campus. Press are welcome to arrive for interviews or photos from noon to 1 p.m.

The workshop simulations will address medical crisis situations that can strike a patient during a dental visit like chest pain, heart attacks, high blood pressure, respiratory distress, allergic reactions and seizures. The simulation mannequins the dentists will be using as patients during the workshop can talk, breathe, gasp and gurgle.

The UB Behling Simulation Center focuses specifically on inter-professional collaboration and education for health care providers and this is the first time the UB dental school will be using it.

Clinical associate professor of oral diagnostic sciences, Michael N. Hatton, DDS, and clinical assistant professor of oral diagnostic sciences, Elizabeth R. Hatton, MD, will be on site as co-facilitators.

Michael Hatton states, "Hands-on simulation helps teams and individuals develop preparedness and insight that is best learned and practiced in realistic conditions. This translates into improved real-world communication, collaboration, teamwork and crisis management."

Press arrangements: Sara R. Saldi, Office of University Communications, at 716-645-4593; and Michael Hatton, onsite, at 716-445-4397.