L. Bruno Ruest
Current Position/Institution: Associate Professor and Director of the Oral Biology Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences; Director of Student Research, Texas A&M University College of Dentistry (Dallas, TX).
Ph.D. Institution: PhD in Experimental Medicine, McGill University Faculty of Medicine (Canada)
Earlier Positions: Assistant Professor (tenure-track, 2009-2016) and Research Assistant Professor (2006-2009), Department of Biomedical Sciences, Baylor College of Dentistry (now Texas A&M University College of Dentistry), Postdoctoral Fellow and Research Associate (2002-2006), Birth Defect Center and Department of Molecular, Cellular and Craniofacial Biology, University of Louisville School of Dentistry.
Teaching: Courses with significant contribution only [Current] Human Structure Function & Disease I (dental students); Human Structure Function & Disease II (course director, dental students); Growth & Development Mechanisms (course director, graduate students and dental specialty residents); Advanced Human Craniofacial Development and Craniofacial Anomalies (course director, graduate students and dental specialty residents); Applied Medical Physiology (course director, dental specialty residents); Biomedical Sciences I (undergraduate hygiene students); [Past] Physiology (course director, dental students); Oral Histology (dental students); Introduction to Evidence-Based Dentistry and Clinical Research (dental students); Application of Evidence-Based Dentistry (dental students)
AAA Committee/Roles: Advisory Committee for Young Anatomists (2011-2014, now Committee for Early-Career Anatomists/CECA); Short-term Visiting Scholarship Selection Committee (2014-2017); Organized and/or chaired symposiums (2012, 2013 and 2015)
Other Professional Activities: 2018-2021 Councilor, International and American Association for Dental Research (IADR and AADR) (representing the Craniofacial Biology Group)
Awards:
2019 Distinguished Teaching Award for outstanding contribution in the area of teaching, Texas A&M University College of Dentistry
2016 & 2015 Young Faculty Travel Award, American Association of Anatomists
2007-2008 Nominated, Mossman Award in Developmental Biology for Junior Scientist, American Association of Anatomists
2004-2006 Junior Personnel Award, Research Fellowship, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
1998-2001 Doctoral Research Award, Medical Research Council of Canada (now Canadian Institutes of Health Research)
Research Interest:
I am involved in both basic and educational research. I am investigating the function of endothelin signaling in neural crest cells during embryonic craniofacial and cardiovascular development, in pathological conditions such as periodontitis and, mechanisms regulating endothelin-A receptor expression. In regard to educational research, I aim to identify factors influencing dental student success in an integrated curriculum setting and to investigate whether the integration of active learning activities increases learning and long-term retention in dental education.
Candidate Statement:
Thank you for the nomination and opportunity to become a member of the Board of Directors of the American Association for Anatomy. This is a continuity of my involvement with the Association. I previously served on the Advisory Committee for Young Anatomists (ACYA, now Committee for Early-Career Anatomists/CECA) and on the Short-term Visiting Scholarship Selection Committee and I enjoyed these experiences and the camaraderie developed with other members. I also organized and chaired symposiums for the Association annual meeting.
I am not a classically trained anatomist teaching gross anatomy, but I do occasionally help in the lab. I became a member because the Association is more than just anatomy and is the right fit for individuals pursuing embryological and educational research or, are involved in teaching embryology, histology and developing new curriculum and course content. I want to become a board member because I want to work with the Association to continue these fields of interest. Since I am not an anatomist by formation, but rather an embryologist and physiologist, I can bring a different perspective and facilitate the dialog with other member associations of FASEB.
The Association has supported young scientists for a long period of time, either with dedicated oral and poster presentation competitions, awards, travel stipends and scholarships, setting the perfect example on how other scientific associations can help the development and nurture the next generation of scientists. As a director of a graduate program and of student research at my institution, I believe that such programs are essential and if elected as board member, I will intensely support them and see if they could be expended further. I support the Association’s mission to improve diversity, equity and inclusion.
As committee member, I am a dedicated hard-working team player. I was often appointed to difficult committees because of these qualities and I could get the job done. If I am elected to the Board of Directors, I will provide the same dedication.
Other Professional Memberships Currently Maintained: American Heart Association; American Association for Dental Research/International Association for Dental Research and Society for Developmental Biology.
Web Link: https://dentistry.tamu.edu/bms/facultystaffstudents/faculty/ruest.html