Warm trade winds, palm trees, and Hawaiian shirts were the dominant themes on Friday, October 19, 2018, as more than 70 alumni, faculty and friends of the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) came together for an alumni reception held during the 2018 American Dental Association annual meeting.

Dean Jeffrey W. and Mrs. Kathleen Hutter hosted the reception, which was held at the Tapa Tower, Hilton Hawaiian Village. Guests mixed and mingled, catching up with former classmates and current colleagues, as they enjoyed views of the resort from the terrace adjoining the event space, and the Hawaiian-inspired menu, which included BBQ chicken sliders served on Hawaiian sweet bread brioche and lemongrass chicken pot stickers.

In his welcoming remarks, Dean Hutter recognized the alumni and faculty from the GSDM community inducted that week into either the American College of Dentists (ACD) or the International College of Dentists, celebrating their accomplishments, leadership, and contributions to the profession. He also thanked the GSDM faculty who had traveled to Hawaii to represent the school during the ADA conference.

Finally, Dean Hutter updated attendees on the progress of the addition and renovation construction project at 100 East Newton Street. The first phase of work, which will include a new patient entrance on Albany Street and renovations to the basement and first floor, is well underway and is expected to be completed in early 2019. Right now, an average of 70 to 80 workers are on site each day, and an additional 50 to 75 subcontractors are working on the project from other locations.

David Lustbader CAS 86 DMD 86, chair of the GSDM Dean’s Advisory Board and immediate past-president of the Massachusetts Dental Society, also thanked the crowd for coming to the event and for their ongoing support for GSDM. “Efforts like the new building are only possible because of the continued support and commitment of GSDM alumni,” he said.

Gigi Meinecke DMD 88, representing the GSDM Alumni Association at the event as its president-elect also provided welcoming remarks to the attendees and stressed the importance of the addition and renovation construction project as adding value to the alumni’s GSDM diplomas and certificates. Dr. Meinecke was also inducted into the ACD earlier in the week.

The event attracted a record number of GSDM alumni, faculty and friends, as well as other notable figures in the world of dentistry, including Dr. Jeffrey M. Cole, president of the American Dental Association and Dr. Howard Zolot PERIO 85 president of the Massachusetts Dental Society. Also in attendance were a number of aspiring dentists: pre-dental students who, as attendees of the Annual Session, made a point of stopping by the GSDM reception to learn more about the school.

View photos from the reception on GSDM’s Flickr page.

Twelve members of the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) community were respectively inducted on October 18, 2018 and October 19, 2018 into either the American College of Dentists or the International College of Dentists in recognition of their leadership and contributions to the profession.

The convocation ceremonies were held in Honolulu, Hawaii, during the American Dental Association’s annual meeting on Oct. 18-22, 2018. Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter attended both ceremonies to represent GSDM and to congratulate the newly inducted fellows.

“I know I speak on behalf of the entire Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine community when I say how proud I am of the accomplishments of each of this year’s inductees – and indeed, how proud each inductee should be of their achievement,” Dean Hutter said.

The American College of Dentists (ACD) was founded in 1920 to elevate the standards of dentistry. Nearly 100 hundred years after its founding, the ACD continues to recognize dentists who have exhibited outstanding leadership and made exceptional contributions to dentistry and society. Also founded in 1920, the International College of Dentists (ICD) was created to recognize dentists for “outstanding professional achievement, meritorious service and dedication to the continued progress of dentistry for the benefit of humankind.” Membership in both organizations is governed through a rigorous nomination and selection process.

This year’s inductees from the GSDM community of alumni and faculty were as follows:

Alumni from the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine gathered near and far in October and November at a series of receptions and dinners.

Most recently, more than 70 alumni, friends, and residents of GDSM’s Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) and Postgraduate Operative and Esthetic Dentistry (PGOE) programs gathered in Boston on Friday, November 9, 2018, for their annual alumni dinner and continuing-education course.

“These dinners are a wonderful opportunity for us to connect with our fellow alumni and with the school,” said Dr. John Ictech-Cassis, director of the BU Dental Health Center at 100 East Newton Street, and clinical director of the Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Operative Dentistry Program and the Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Digital Dentistry Program.

“It’s wonderful to see so many of you – hopefully we will see you every year,” he continued.

Joe Calabrese DMD 91 AEGD 92, who attended the dinner on behalf of Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter, thanked Dr. Cassis for maintaining the momentum of these annual alumni gatherings. Dean Hutter was unable to attend the dinner due to a previous commitment to attend the 2018 American Dental Education Association Council of Deans’ Conference in La Jolla, California.

“Thank you for making sure events like this happen, and recognizing the many talented individuals who have graced our programs,” Dr. Calabrese said.

Attendees had an opportunity to catch up with former classmates and professors over hors d’oeuvres and dinner before turning their attention to the continuation-education portion of the evening: a lecture by Gigi Meineicke DMD 88 on neuromodulation and dermal fillers for facial cosmetics.

Dr. Meinecke, who is president-elect of GSDM’s Alumni Association, has been active in the field of facial injectables since 2005 and is a regular contributor to the scientific literature in the field of injectables, covering subject matters spanning facial anatomy, gender esthetics, and ethical issues in the realm of cosmetic treatment.

Dr. Meinecke’s lecture was intended as an overview of the use of Botulinum toxin and Dermal Fillers in non-invasive facial cosmetic procedures. The subject is one for which she has a passion, said Dr. Meinecke: “It’s so rewarding to do this for someone,” she said.

However, Dr. Meinecke readily acknowledged during her lecture that injectables are not for every dentist. Her hope, she said, is that participants would leave the lecture knowing more about the field and whether it was right for them.

Click here for photos from the AEGD/PGOE alumni dinner.

Earlier in November, 42 alumni descended on the Marriot Waterfront in Baltimore on Thursday, November 1, 2018, for a reception held during the American College of Prosthodontists (ACP) Annual Session. The event was hosted by Dr. Dan Nathanson, professor and chair, Department of Restorative Sciences & Biomaterials, Dr. Hiroshi Hirayama, clinical professor, Department of Restorative Sciences & Biomaterials, and Dr. Alexander Bendayan, Assistant Dean of Digital Dentistry Development and Clinical Training. Also at the ACP annual session, the organization named GSDM alumnus Dr. Nadim Baba as its new president. (See separate story for more details.)

A few days earlier – and on the opposite coast and just a little farther north – more than 30 alumni joined Dr. Serge Dibart, professor and chair of Periodontology and director of the Advanced Specialty Education Program in Periodontics, for an alumni reception on Monday, October 29, 2018, during the 2018 American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) Annual Session in Vancouver, Canada.

The American College of Prosthodontists (ACP) recently named an alumnus of the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine as the organization’s new president.

Nadim Z. Baba PROS 99 MSD 00 was sworn in for a one-year term at the 48th Annual Session of the ACP, held in Baltimore, Maryland, from October 31 to November 3, 2018.

“It is a great honor to serve and be part of the ACP,” Dr. Baba said in a press release. “I believe the strength of the College comes from the diversity, knowledge, and passion of the individual members, and their collective dedication to furthering the specialty.”

A native of Lebanon, Dr. Baba received his DMD degree from the University of Montréal in Canada. He attended GSDM in the late 1990s and early 2000s where he received a CAGS in Prosthodontics and a master’s degree in Restorative Sciences in Prosthodontics.

Dr. Baba is a prolific author and speaker on topics related to fixed and removable prosthodontics and implants. He is part of the editorial process for multiple scientific journals, including the ACP’s official publication, the Journal of Prosthodontics. Dr. Baba serves as a professor in the Advanced Education Program in Prosthodontics at Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, and maintains a part-time private practice limited to prosthodontics and implant dentistry in Glendale, California, according to a press release from the ACP.

“It’s a great honor to have a member of the GSDM alumni family named to this important leadership position within the ACP,” Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter said. “I’m sure I speak for the entire GSDM community when I say that I’m extremely proud of Dr. Baba and that I wish him the best of success in this new role.”

More than 600 people attended the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine alumni reception held on Friday, February 1, 2019, as part of the Yankee Dental Congress in Boston, Massachusetts.

By all indications, it was a record turnout for the event, which is one of the school’s most popular annual events and attracts everyone from current students and residents to alumni to faculty and staff.

“Each one of you is an integral member of our community, and it means a great deal to me to see you all gathered together to celebrate both our accomplishments and the incredibly bright future of our School,” Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter said in his welcoming remarks, noting that “when we gather here in one year, we will have a building that you will not recognize.”

Dr. David Lustbader DMD 86 CAS 86, chair of the GSDM Dean’s Advisory Board, echoed this sentiment and encouraged everyone in the room to visit the school to see the transformation that is underway as part of the addition and renovation construction project.

“You need to see it because what is happening is truly magic,” he said.

American Dental Association president Dr. Jeffrey Cole attended the alumni reception, and Dean Hutter surprised him with an honorary hard hat and construction vest, mementos from his hard-hat tour earlier in the week of the construction work at GSDM. Cole accepted them with a laugh, and immediately put them on.

“You have one awesome dean in charge of your school,” he told the assembled crowd.

For pictures from the event, please click here.

The theme of BU Giving Day 2019 was “BU Moves”—and the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine certainly did that, moving up the leaderboard during the sixth annual BU Giving Day, which took place Wednesday, April 3, 2019.

GSDM started the day ranked 15th among Boston University’s 17 schools and colleges, but finished in sixth place for both participation and money raised. While the gifts are still being tallied, initial estimates from GSDM’s Office of Development and Alumni Relations put the donations raised by GSDM at almost $100,000.

BU Giving Day is a 24-hour fundraising drive that takes place every April. Gifts made on Giving Day earn bonus funds for schools and colleges thanks to donors who match contributions, and the University’s schools and colleges engage in a friendly competition with each other. This year, BU raised more than $3 million collectively—a number that is still growing, as more donations are counted.

“I am so grateful to the members of the GSDM community who made Giving Day a success,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. “This is a very exciting time for our school, and their gifts will support GSDM’s programs, initiatives, and generations of students to come.”

On April 3, as students, residents, fellows, faculty, staff, and patients streamed through the Patient & Visitor entrance at 635 Albany Street, they were greeted by Stacey McNamee, director of alumni relations & annual giving, and Katie O’Shea, alumni officer. Red, purple, and white balloons danced in the air, while a large cardboard cutout of BU mascot Rhett grinned in the corner.

McNamee and O’Shea were on hand to help individuals in the giving process, directing them to the online site and receiving physical donations. Donors were encouraged to write down the reasons they chose to give back to GSDM on a whiteboard and pose for photographs, which were posted online. Sunglasses, decks of cards, and wind-up miniature robots were among the gifts offered to participants.

This year, every gift made to GSDM earned bonus dollars from Uday Reebye DMD 98, member of GSDM’s Dean’s Advisory Board, while every staff gift was matched with a $10 gift by McNamee.

“I’m constantly amazed by the generosity displayed by students, faculty, staff, and alumni on Giving Day,” McNamee said. “Though GSDM may have a smaller alumni base when compared to some of the other colleges within the University, we consistently rank among the top in both participation and funds raised during Giving Day.”

In the days leading up to Giving Day, students and faculty shared their motivations to give back to GSDM.

“It’s really important, in some way, to give back to the place that has given me so much,” Krupali Patel DMD 20 said.

Individuals who missed Giving Day, but are still interested in donating can do so here. And for more photos of the event, click here.

Clad in red “BU Volunteers” T-shirts, jeans, and work gloves, the nine-person crew was hard at work.

Some hauled bright yellow buckets full of mulch up and down the rows of dirt while others gathered armfuls of hay from a wheelbarrow, spreading it on the ground. Easy chatter and the satisfying “clank!” of shovels mixed with the ambient sounds of the city. Above the volunteers’ heads, wispy clouds floated through a bright blue April sky.

April 11, 2019, was a far cry from a normal Thursday afternoon for most of these volunteers, who were staff members at the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. Instead of sitting at their desks in the Fuller building, Office of Admissions, or on the third floor of 560 Harrison, they were working at Victory Programs’ Urban ReVision Farm as part of Boston University’s annual Global Days of Service (GDS).

Global Days of Service is a university-wide month of community service that encourages alumni, students, residents, faculty, staff, and their family and friends to give back to their local, national, and international communities. Throughout April, other red-shirted volunteers—many of them from the GSDM community—convened around the city and across the world to participate in the event.

As of April 25, about 145 members of the GSDM community had volunteered for a total of 410 hours at a variety of events.

“I’m grateful to all members of the GSDM community who gave back to our greater community during this year’s Global Day of Service event,” Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter said. “GSDM has a long and illustrious history of service, which was upheld by our faculty, staff, students, residents, and alumni this year.”

Kathy Lituri, oral health promotion director in the Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research, served a crucial role in the planning and organization of most events, often volunteering at the events herself.

“Thank you to all that volunteered this year—whether you served individually or with a group,” Lituri said. “Your involvement made Global Days of Service 2019 a success.”

In addition to the events offered by the university, GSDM’s Office of Global and Population Health organized 19 events for which the GSDM community could volunteer.

Lisa Collins, assistant director for the International Elective Exchange program, Office of Global and Population Health, was the team leader for the GSDM team that volunteered at the Urban ReVision Farm—and when she and her fellow volunteers arrived at the farm on April 11, they found there was plenty of work to be done.

Urban ReVision Farm is an innovative, community-based urban agriculture project that grows produce at two different sites in Dorchester. Despite its small size, the farm can produce up to 2,560 pounds of vegetables each growing season; this produce is distributed to families participating in Victory Programs’ housing programs and is sold at farmer’s markets in the area.

“The urban farm has a new director who is changing the structure of the beds to focus on getting higher yields of crops,” Collins said. “When we volunteered, they were just starting that process, and our job was to help with that restructuring,”

Volunteers put down mulch between the beds to help identify the walking paths between plant beds. They also dug new beds and spread hay on another part of the farm.

“It was a gratifying experience,” Collins said. “You could clearly see in the before and after photos, the progress we had made, and the people we helped were very impressed with the amount of work that we accomplished.”

Urban ReVision farm was just one of many sites that members of the GSDM community spent time volunteering at during Global Days of Service—from the Greater Boston Food Bank to the Pine Street Inn, they spent hours aiming to make the city of Boston a better place.

At Haley House, volunteers arrived at 5:30 a.m., while it was still dark, to cook meals for homeless or food-insecure men, while at the Greater Boston Food Bank, volunteers sorted through boxes of food. Members of the GSDM community donated blood, walked in the Relay for Life, hosted dental information events at Head Start Early Start—and while volunteers signed up to give back, they also benefited from the experience, too.

“I got to spend time with people I already know and like, as well as make connections with people I have only met a couple times,” Collins said about her time at Urban ReVision Farm. “We really felt like a team. I could not have asked for a better group of people to spend a day on the farm with.”

To see more photos from this year’s Global Days of Service events, click here.

With a gentle tug on each end, the long piece of paper peeled back to reveal the conference room’s new name: the Mina Paul and Ajay Saini Admissions Conference Room.

Applause filled the Office of Admissions suite, as the namesakes—Mina Paul SPH 97 and Ajay Saini Questrom 82—turned and smiled at the crowd that had gathered in the Office of Admissions located on the first floor of the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine on Friday, April 5, 2019, for the conference room’s dedication.

“I know I speak for every member of the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine community when I say how blessed I feel to have access to this space – and how grateful I am to Mina and her husband Ajay for their generous donation that made it possible,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter during his opening remarks.

“Their leadership and generosity toward this project were critical in helping build broader support for the effort across the GSDM community and the university.”

Dr. Mina Paul is an alumna of the University’s School of Public Health, currently serves as adjunct clinical associate professor of General Dentistry at GSDM. She is also the administrative dental director at East Boston Neighborhood Health Center. Paul sits on the GSDM Dean’s Advisory Board and is the former chair of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Dentistry and past-president of the American Association of Dental Boards.

Her husband, Ajay Saini, has since held a variety of leadership roles in the corporate and nonprofit worlds. Both Saini and Paul recently completed the Nonprofit Management and Leadership certificate program at the Questrom School of Business.

“Dr. Paul, as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board, has often provided invaluable counsel to me, and I deeply appreciate the perspective and insight she contributes to every discussion,” Dean Hutter said.

“I must add that Ajay, never one to shy away from a good discussion, has also been a confidant as he shared his excellent guidance and counsel on many an occasion.”

The conference room, which seats 10 people and is located in the Office of Admissions suite, officially opened on January 2, 2019, as part of the completion of the first phase of the GSDM addition and renovation construction project.

During the dedication ceremony, Paul acknowledged her mother and Saini’s mother, who were sitting in the audience.

“Our parents came to this country and started over to give us an education.” she said. “The whole reason we are doing this is because we value education.”

To see more photos from the event, click here.

Neal Fleisher DMD 84 PERIO 86, a clinical professor in the Department of General Dentistry at the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM), is one of two winners of the 2019 Metcalf Award for Excellence in Teaching.

“It is a privilege to call Dr. Fleisher a colleague, and I know I speak for the entire GSDM community when I say how deeply proud I am of him,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter.

The Metcalf Awards are one of the university’s highest honors and are given annually to members of the faculty who demonstrate excellence in teaching in the context of a research institution. Each year, the Provost’s Faculty Teaching Awards Committee selects one Metcalf Cup and Prize winner and up to two Metcalf Award winners.

Students, alumni, staff, and members of the faculty at Boston University are invited to nominate candidates for the Metcalf Awards. Over the course of the year, the committee solicits and reviews supporting materials from nominated candidates, and members of the committee visit the classes of the finalists, before presenting their recommendations to the University President. The Cup and Prize and the Awards are presented annually at Commencement.

Dr. Fleisher was educated to be a dentist, not a teacher. As he himself noted in an essay written as part of the award process, his knowledge of teaching was confined to what he had seen from his own teachers. Yet over his 33-year career with GSDM, he has dedicated himself to both the art and science of teaching, always seeking for innovative and effective ways to engage students in deep, meaningful learning.

This quest for improvement has led Dr. Fleisher to surprising places, like the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Dr. Fleisher found that leading students through careful observation of and discussion about art helped improve their observation and communication skills and their ability to listen to those whose opinions differed from their own.

Dr. Fleisher has also been a leading proponent for teaching GSDM students “critical thinking,” developing a standalone course on the subject and embedding critical thinking across the curriculum. He has taught, mentored, and advised thousands of students during his 33 years as an educator at GSDM – but he hasn’t limited his influence on GSDM’s educational environment just to students. Dr. Fleisher also “teaches the teachers,” as one nomination letter noted. He is exceedingly generous in mentoring his colleagues – many of whom, like Dr. Fleisher, were educated to be dentists, not teachers – and helping them improve their own pedagogical skill.

Dr. Fleisher graduated from GSDM in 1984 and completed a certificate of advanced graduate studies (CAGS) in Periodontology in 1986. He currently serves as director of Faculty Development, program director of Predoctoral Periodontology, clinical professor in the Department of General Dentistry, course director for Current Topics in Dentistry, Critical Thinking, Clinical Periodontics, Periodontology II, Preclinical Predoctoral Program, and co-course director for Pre-Clinical Implantology.

For more information on Dr. Fleisher and the other Metcalf winners, click here.

Across North America, from north to south, from east to west, members of the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) community congregated this spring for annual meetings, conventions, study clubs, and more.

Below are some highlights from the many gatherings that GSDM alumni attended.

O’Canada! GSDM community attends events in Toronto and Montreal
GSDM residents, students, faculty, staff and alumni met up cross the border—the northern border—for spring events held in Montreal and Toronto.

First, members of the GSDM community attended the American Association of Endodontists (AAE) Annual Meeting at the Montreal Convention Center from Wednesday, April 10, 2019 to Saturday, April 13, 2019.

Nine GSDM alumni were recognized for fulfilling the requirements to become Board Certified specialists in the field of Endodontics and received their American Board of Endodontics (ABE) Diplomate pin during a ceremony held on Thursday, April 11—the most GSDM has ever had recognized at once.

GSDM hosted an alumni reception on Thursday, April 11, 2019 in the Inspiration Room at the DoubleTree Hilton Montreal. More than 100 alumni and guests attended the get-together. Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter, Dr. Sami Chogle, chair of the Department of Endodontics and director, Advanced Education Program in Endodontics, and Mark Desrosiers ENDO 06 provided remarks. For pictures from the event, click here.

One month later, members of the community again met up north of the border, this time in Toronto for the Ontario Dental Association (ODA) Annual Spring Meeting at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The Annual Spring Meeting is the signature dental conference and trade show of the ODA, and one of the largest and most respected dental conventions in North America; this year’s event ran from Wednesday, May 8, 2019, until Saturday, May 11, 2019

For the first time at ODA, GSDM hosted an alumni reception, which was attended by about 35 people. Attendees were treated to views of Lake Ontario from the Stratus Restaurant as as Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter updated them on the GSDM Addition and Renovation Construction project. To see photos from the event, please click here.

Kevin Holland, assistant dean for Development & Alumni Relations, said the event was “enormously successful,” attracting both recent graduates and individuals who graduated close to 40 years prior. “We will certainly now plan on holding an annual alumni reception at the ODA Spring Meeting in Toronto,” said Dean Hutter.

Study Clubs in the Big Apple
Meanwhile, on the East Coast, GSDM’s Greater New York Alumni Study Club hosted two continuing education events, which each attracted about 20 alumni and guests. Both events were held at the Cornell Club in New York City.

First, on Wednesday, March 13, 2019, Dr. Frank Celenza, an assistant clinical professor at Rutgers University School of Dentistry, gave a presentation titled “Ortho / Perio in the Aligner Age.”

The presentation explained the philosophy behind orthodontic movements utilized for their beneficial impact upon the periodontium—for example, forced eruption, molar uprighting, embrasure management, root torqueing and implant interactions—and introduced clinical cases that illustrated those methods.

Then, Dr. David M. Momtaheni, a clinical professor in the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Columbia University, presented on “Dentistry and Sleep Related Breathing Disorder” on Wednesday, May 22, 2019.

The presentation reviewed non-surgical and surgical modalities for sleep disorders and reviewed how general dentists, orthodontists, and oral surgeons could work together as part of a treatment plan.

Orthodontics in La La Land
Some members of the GSDM community traded the overcast skies of a Boston spring for the sunshine and palm trees of Los Angeles to attend the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) 2019 Annual Session, which took place Friday, May 3 to Tuesday, May 7, 2019, at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

During the annual session, on Saturday, May 4, 2019, Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter, Dr. Leslie Will, chair and Anthony A. Gianelly professor, Department of Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics, and the GSDM Orthodontic Alumni Association hosted an alumni reception at the 10e restaurant in downtown Los Angeles for about 30 alumni and guests at which Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter provided an update on the GSDM Addition and Renovation Construction project. To see photos from the event, please click here.

Pediatric Dentistry in the Windy City
Nestled against the shores of Lake Superior, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) gathered in Chicago for its annual session, which ran from Tuesday, May 21 to Sunday, May 26, 2019, at the Hilton Chicago. In conjunction with the annual session, GSDM hosted an alumni reception at the Hilton Chicago on Saturday, May 25, 2019, for about 35 alumni and guests. Dr. Thanos Zavras, chair of the Department of Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthodontics, provided an update as to the many activities and accomplishments of the Advanced Education Program in Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics, while Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter provided an update on the GSDM Addition and Renovation Construction project.

Then, not one, but two GSDM alumni were recognized for their dedication and contributions to serving special needs or underserved populations on Sunday, May 26, 2019, during the President’s Farewell Dinner, the annual session’s closing event.

Richard Mungo PEDO 75 was honored with the Manuel M. Album Award. Established in 1997, this award is presented annually to the individual or organization that has made the greatest contribution to the oral health of children with special needs. The award honors AAPD member Manuel M. Album, who devoted an entire career in pediatric dentistry toward improving the oral health of children with special needs

Steven Perlman PEDO 76 was honored with the Ann Page Griffin Humanitarian Award. This award, established in May 2010 by Healthy Smiles, Healthy Children: The Foundation of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, honors Ann Page Griffin, AAPD member and president and founder of Practicon and is given to an AAPD member dentist who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to alleviating suffering and improving the oral health of under-served populations in the United States or abroad.

Making history is always exciting—but for Gigi Meinecke DMD 88, doing it at her alma mater is even better.

“I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would have an opportunity to teach the facial injectables course at my alma mater,” she said. “I can’t express the depth of excitement and pride that I feel.”

In May 2019, Meinecke taught a four-day facial injectables course at GSDM—the first of its kind for predoctoral dental students in the United States.

“By choosing to offer this course, GSDM continues to build a reputation as a forward-thinking institution dedicated to using cutting-edge technology to educate the next generation of oral health professionals,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter.

Meinecke taught the course from Tuesday, April 30, 2019, to Friday, May 3, 2019, at various locations on the GSDM campus, using both lectures and hands-on practice to instruct students in facial injectables. Facial injectables are minimally invasive, non-surgical treatments used to correct and/or harmonize facial asymmetries and deformities as well as the flaws and irregularities associated with aging. The course was offered to 200 third-year DMD and second-year DMD Advanced Standing students.

In lectures, Meinecke touched upon a wide range of topics, including a review of embryology, the cranial nerves, biology of the skin, and biochemistry of different products used in facial injectables. Meinecke also walked students through possible adverse events and how to handle them.

“There’s a lot of basic science associated with the course.,” Meinecke said. “I felt that brought a lot to the total understanding, and the approach to doing facial injectables,”

Students also reviewed cranial anatomy using three cephaluses, on which Meinecke had performed facial dissections.

“Many of the students haven’t seen a cadaver since two or three years ago—maybe in some cases longer,” Meinecke said. "It’s really a good review.”

In the hands-on portion of the course, students rolled up their sleeves and started working with injections, which Meinecke said is not difficult to learn for dental students.

“Dentists, to be quite honest, are very good at injections—they probably give more injections than any other healthcare practitioner out there,” she said.

“Because dental students understand the anatomy, once they understand how deep the muscle is, or how superficial it is, or what plane they need to be in…the learning curve is not steep.”

Students also learned how to work with Kybella, also known as deoxycholic acid, an injectable for double chin treatment.

“For Kybella, there’s a grid you have to apply so that you know where your dosing is, and where you place your needles,” Meinecke explained. Students practiced applying the grid on each other’s necks and chins.

“If you can get a really good grid placement on that area you’re going to inject, the rest of it is extremely easy,” Meinecke said.

Meinecke praised Dean Hutter for his commitment to bringing new methods of dental education to GSDM.

“This course is a product of the most forward-thinking dean that I’ve ever had exposure to,” she said.

Meinecke said that she had originally approached a dental school some years ago in regards to teaching a facial injectable course, but found them less receptive to the idea.

“I got moved around through the cycles, and I got the sense that they were not committed to it,” she said.

Years later, however, Meinecke taught a course at the Academy of General Dentistry’s annual Scientific Session. Dean Hutter stopped by and observed.

“He said…we really need to talk about having this as part of the curriculum,” Meinecke remembered.

The University approved the course at the end of 2018, and it was held for the first time this semester. The course will be held annually going forward.

Meinecke said that she hoped to instill a sense of excitement in the students regarding facial injectables with the course.

“I wasn’t there to sell them on this,” she said. “I was there to deliver all the information and have them come to their own decision as to whether this was something they were interested in. I hope they were able to see my enthusiasm for this…..I hope they continue to move down the path of facial injectables if they have the excitement that I have for this realm in our field.”

Meinecke received her RN and BSN from the College of New Jersey and her DMD from GSDM in 1988. She is a clinical associate in the GSDM Department of General Dentistry, president elect of the GSDM alumni board, the chair of the ADA Council on Communications, and is currently serving on the Academy of General Dentistry’s Dental Practice Council, Social Media Task Force, and as a consultant for the Legislative and Governmental Affairs Council. She was also the keynote speaker at the 2018 GSDM commencement convocation.

She has been teaching courses on Botox and dermal fillers nationally since 2010 and is a leading figure in cosmetic and facial esthetic procedures as she maintains a general dentistry practice in Potomac, Maryland.

Harvard Athletic Complex was a busy place on Saturday, June 8, 2019. Music drifted through the air, punctuated with the sounds of laughter. Athletes—some proudly displaying medals, most dressed in jerseys and t-shirts from their town or region—streamed down the walkways with their coaches, family, and friends not far behind.

In the middle of it all, sandwiched between the Murr Center and the Bright-Landry Hockey Center, a small white tent full of volunteers and athletes bustled with activity.

Athletes sat on chairs as volunteers examined their mouth and teeth; in the opposite corner of the tent, volunteers applied fluoride. Toward the back, athletes honed their tooth-brushing skills on stuffed animals. Steam drifted into the air from boiling pots of water, used to soften mouthguards.

In total, 173 athletes received oral healthcare services from 94 volunteers as part of the Healthy Athletes® Special Smiles® program during the 2019 Special Olympics Summer Games.

Volunteers from the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM), Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Harvard University School of Dental Medicine, and Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences provided oral screenings, health education, prevention services, and referrals to athletes who needed follow-up care. Athletes also received individually-fitted mouth guards and goodie bags with oral hygiene-related products.

Students, faculty, staff, and guests from all four schools were joined by Steven Perlman PEDO 76, adjunct clinical professor of Pediatric Dentistry and global clinical director and founder of the Special Smiles program, Charita Boseman, manager, Special Olympics Special Smiles, and Karen Raposa, a registered dental hygienist, public speaker, and co-author of “Treating the Dental Patient with a Developmental Disorder” (along with Perlman).

“As always, I am very proud of the care that members of the GSDM community provide each year as part of Healthy Athletes® Special Smiles®” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. “The volunteers at Special Smiles reflect GSDM’s commitment to service and to aiding underserved populations.”

Stacey McNamee, director of Alumni Relations & Annual Giving, organized the event, coordinating with Special Olympics Massachusetts and Healthy Athletes® Special Smiles® to ensure the success of the program, putting together goodie bags in the week leading up to the event, setting up at Harvard, providing support to volunteers, and more.

“I thought it was a great day,” said McNamee. “The weather was perfect, we were set up at a central location, and we had a great team.” McNamee mentioned that Dr. Joseph Calabrese, clinical associate professor of General Dentistry, director of Geriatric Dental Medicine and associate dean of students, Andrew Burke, director of Facilities & Operations, Alumni Officer Katie O’Shea, and former GSDM professor Dr. Andrea Dickhaut were vital to the event’s success.

This year’s summer games took place Friday, June 7, 2019, to Sunday, June 9, 2019, on the Harvard and Boston university campuses and marked the end of the spring season for Special Olympics Massachusetts. More than 10,580 athletes and partners competed in gymnastics, power lifting, swimming, tennis, track & field, volleyball matches, and games races and competitions.

Healthy Athletes® Special Smiles® dates back to 1993, when Perlman worked with Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver and other members of the GSDM community to start the program, which aims to increase access to dental care for Special Olympics athletes and people with intellectual disabilities.

A record number of students, faculty, staff, residents, and alumni attended the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine’s annual alumni reception at the 2019 American Dental Association (ADA) FDI World Congress. More than 90 people attended the event, which was held in the San Francisco Marriott Marquis on Thursday, September 5, 2019, and hosted by Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter and Mrs. Kathleen Hutter.

“When you ask current students why they chose to attend GSDM, many of them will tell you that they just felt at home when they visited the school,” Dean Hutter said to the assembled crowd.

“That community – each and every one of you – is a huge part of what makes the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine such an excellent school. It means so much to me, as your dean, to see the ongoing commitment you all have to our School and to being an ongoing part of this community we have built together.”

During the two-hour event, guests caught up with classmates and colleagues as they sampled hors d'oeuvres and sipped beverages while soft music and a slideshow depicting the progress made in the GSDM Addition & Renovation Construction Project played in the background.

In remarks delivered during the event, Dean Hutter congratulated all the GSDM faculty and alumni who were recognized during the conference, including the new inductees for the American College of Dentists (ACD) and the International College of Dentists (ICD).

“Induction into these societies is bestowed upon those individuals who have exemplified excellence throughout their careers, and thus it is no surprise to have so many of our alumni and faculty members being inducted this year,” he said.

For photos of the event, click here.

For two days in June, members of the Boston University Italian Alumni (BUIA) group gathered in the Eternal City for presentations—and for pasta.

About 60 people attended the 20th BUIA Symposium, which took place June 28-29 2019, at the NH Hotel Collection in Rome, Italy.

“Congratulations again to BU Italia for another successful symposium,” Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter said. “It is so wonderful to see alumni gathering around the world to share their knowledge of dentistry and their memories of GSDM.”

The Boston University Italian Alumni group consists of alumni from the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM), many of whom graduated from postdoctoral programs. This year’s symposium was especially memorable, as it marked the 20th year both of the group’s existence, and of their annual symposium.

The event kicked off with sessions on operative dentistry and bone regeneration. On the Symposium’s second day, the group held a closed meeting reserved to GSDM alumni, where they discussed a “reverse engineering” approach in implant rehabilitation and information regarding BUIA branding and marketing.

It wasn’t just continuing education, though. Attendees had plenty of time to catch up, share memories, and – of course – dine on delicious Italian food. There was a dinner on the first night of the event at Taverna Trilussa, a typical roman tavern located in Trastevere, one of the oldest and most famous neighborhoods in Rome. The group also gathered for a quick lunch on Saturday before saying their farewells.

John Cassis PROS 86 DMD 88 (and also a GSDM faculty member) attended this year’s symposium and was struck by the group’s passion for GSDM.

“What is remarkable is the enthusiasm, the love and the good memories that the [alumni] have about the school,” he said. “They’re very proud of the school, and they have great respect for all the faculty that they met there.”

Cassis said that the group puts together the annual symposium, which is open to non-GSDM alumni, to share the quality of education that GSDM offers.

“They keep putting the name of the school [out there] to let other people know, especially in Italy or other parts of the world…..they feel very proud of the standards,” he said.

Even as the sun began to set below the trees of Boston Public Garden, the Four Seasons’ Aujourd’Hui room continued to glow as alumni from the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) talked, laughed, and reminisced about their days in dental school during the School’s annual Alumni Weekend reception, held on Friday, September 20, 2019.

“It means so much to me, as your dean, to see your commitment to this community,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter during his opening remarks. “Whether that is by coming here tonight, attending other alumni events throughout the year, volunteering your time, or supporting the School philanthropically—we could not do what we do without your support.”

The first guests arrived at 7 p.m., and the room was soon packed as the record-setting 112 attendees chatted with friends and guests, listened to music from Vitamin B-3, and enjoyed food stations offering bite sized portions of tacos, dumplings, mac and cheese and more. A “selfie” photo booth allowed attendees to pose for photos with friends in front of a red BU background.

Dean Hutter emceed the evening’s speaking program, which featured updates on the Additional and Renovation Construction Project from Christy Murphy, a senior project manager with Compass Project Management, an important leadership transition in the School’s Alumni Association, and the presentation of the 2019 Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine Distinguished Alumni Award for Outstanding Service to the School. Alumni Weekend continued on Saturday, with a variety of events happening on both the Charles River and the Boston University Medical Campuses.

Passing the Gavel

Every two years, the alumni reception marks a change in leadership for the GSDM Alumni Association. During this year’s event, outgoing president Sean Rayment DMD 97 DSc 00 hit the ceremonial gavel for the final time, and then handed both the gavel and the presidency to Gigi Meinecke DMD 88.

“It has been a true honor to helm the Alumni Association over the last two years,” Rayment said. “I have the utmost confidence in Dr. Meinecke’s leadership capabilities, and am excited to see what the Alumni Association and its Board as a whole accomplishes in the future.”

In her remarks, Meinecke spoke of the tight knit community that GSDM’s alumni network presents—sharing and celebrating successes together, and inspiring school pride.

“This is your home, and this is your family—and just like your traditional family, we care about you,” she said. “We’re invested in your future….we miss you when you’re gone, and we get excited when you come back.”

Honoring an Alumni

During the alumni reception, Dean Hutter presented the 2019 GSDM Distinguished Alumni Award to Mark Desrosiers ENDO 06.

This award is presented annually to an alumnus who has made outstanding contributions to the School, to the profession, and/or to his or her community. The award can be given to an alumnus in recognition of contributions in any one of those categories, or for contributions across all three.

“When Mark sees a chance to get involved and make a difference, he takes it – and then works tirelessly behind the scenes to make positive change happen.” said Dean Hutter.

To read more about Desrosiers, click here.

Taking a Look Around

On Saturday morning, the GSDM building at 635 Albany Street was busier than usual as Dean Hutter led a tour of the school for visiting alumni. Clad in a hardhat, Dean Hutter highlighted the progress made in the Addition and Renovation Construction Project, including the first floor admissions suite and patient reception area and the new Central Sterilization Space in the renovated basement, as he led guests around the premises and the active construction site.

Celebrating a Campaign

Later on Saturday, the Agganis Arena on the Charles River Campus was a kaleidoscope of music and light as people from across the BU community came together for the Campaign for Boston University’s Victory Celebration.

Featuring speakers, live music by the Boston Pops, and skating performances, the event marked the end of a seven-year fundraising campaign in which BU raised $1.85 billion, and emphasized a theme of “innovation” as a concept central to the University’s future. About 50 members of the GSDM community attended the event, which featured many highlights from GSDM as was fitting for a performance centered on innovation. This included displaying an image of ‘digital dentistry’ moving swiftly across the skating rink and projecting the animated video showcasing the GSDM Addition & Renovation Construction Project on the large screen above the stage where the Boston Pops were performing.

“It was wonderful to see GSDM featured so prominently in the Victory Celebration,” said Stacey McNamee, director of Alumni Relations. “We are proud of the progress made in the last seven years and of the contributions our School made to such a monumental campaign.”

Going Back to School

Also on Saturday evening, the GSDM Class of 1984 headed back to school….for their 35th reunion. The event, a dinner, was attended by 26 people and took place in the patient reception area at 635 Albany Street, which was transformed into a dining area, complete with autumnal accents and live music. Neil Fleisher and Tina Valades, both DMD 84 and faculty at GSDM, served as reunion chairs and led the organization of the dinner.

“I so appreciate the vision that Drs. Fleisher and Valades had for how the Patient Reception Space could be transformed into an elegant room for their reunion dinner,” said Dean Hutter, who gave brief remarks at the dinner after attending the BU Victory Celebration earlier in the evening.

The Class of 84 was not the only year celebrating their class reunion. The Class of 1989 (30 years) and the Class of 1994 (25 years) both had large groups attend the alumni reception on Friday.

The 2019 American Dental Association (ADA) Federation Dentaire Internationale (FDI) World Congress was a week to remember as one of the largest groups of faculty and alumni from the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) in recent memory received recognition for various accomplishments during the conference, which was held September 4-9, 2019, in San Francisco, California.

Members of the GSDM community were inducted into the American College of Dentists (ACD) and the International College of Dentists (ICD) during separate convocation ceremonies; additionally, a GSDM faculty member was honored for being named a top new dentist by the ADA in a ceremony on Friday, September 6. Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter attended each ceremony to congratulate the alumni and faculty being honored.

“I know I speak on behalf of the entire Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine community when I say how proud I am of the accomplishments of our alumni and faculty,” said Dean Hutter. “They certainly did a wonderful job representing our community during the ADA FDI World Congress.”

Read on for some highlights from the week.

Three inducted into the American College of Dentists

On Thursday, September 5, 2019, three members of the GSDM community proudly sported black robes with red and lavender trim crossed the stage to receive a pin marking their admittance into the ACD.

Brittany McCarthy DMD 06, Gina Terenzi DMD 91, and Kadambari Rawal AEGD 10 DPH 18 (and also a clinical assistant professor of Restorative Sciences & Biomaterials) were all inducted into the ACD during a convocation ceremony at the Hilton Union Square.

The American College of Dentists (ACD) is the oldest major honorary organization for dentists. In order to be granted fellowship, candidates must be nominated by other fellows in the college.

Dr. Kadambari Rawal honored at New Dentists Conference

Rawal was also recognized during the conference as one of the ADA’s 10 under 10, an annual award honoring new dentists.

The ceremony, which took place on the morning of Friday, September 6, 2019, kicked off the second day of the New Dentist Conference at the Moscone Center.

Rawal, along with the nine other dentists named to the list, were introduced to attendees and awarded a translucent plaque honoring their accomplishments.

Each year, the ADA selects 10 dentists with less than 10 years of experience who are making a mark on their profession. Those selected are chosen for making a difference in science, research and education; practice excellence; philanthropy; leadership; and advocacy.

To read more about Dr. Rawal, click here.

ICD inducts 18 members of the GSDM community

A record-breaking 18 GSDM alumni and faculty were inducted into the ICD during a convocation ceremony on Friday, September 6, 2019 at the Hilton Union Square in San Francisco.

As music played in the background, the inductees entered the ballroom wearing black robes trimmed with green, gold, and lavender. Along with the other inductees in their respective districts, GSDM alumni and faculty crossed the stage one by one to receive a plaque honoring their induction, before posing for a group photograph.

“Your induction into [this] fellowship indicates that you have made significant contributions to your profession and or the society,” said keynote speaker Dr. Theodore M. Roberson, the former president of the ICD USA Section foundation.

The ICD has 12,000 members in over 122 countries. Fellowship in the organization is by invitation only and is granted in recognition of an individual dentist’s outstanding professional achievement, meritorious service and dedication to the continued progress of dentistry for the benefit of humankind.

To see more photos from the ACD, ICD, and ADA 10 under 10 ceremonies, visit our Flickr page.

For Mark Desrosiers ENDO 06, the equation is simple: giving back is its own reward.

“It has been said that there are three things that we can give—time, talent, and treasure,” he said. “To the extent that I can, I’ve tried to give all three—and I’m asking each of you to do that, because truly in giving, I think that’s how we get our rewards.”

For that selfless commitment to his profession, his School, and his community, Desrosiers was named the 2019 Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine Distinguished Alumnus. He received the award during the annual Alumni Weekend reception on Friday, September 20, 2019, at the Four Seasons Hotel.

The award is presented annually to an alumnus who has made outstanding contributions to the School, to the profession, or to his or her community. The award can be given to an alumnus in recognition of contributions in any one of those categories, or for contributions across all three.

“Mark…..is neither flashy nor attention seeking,” Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter said. “Rather, he is someone who quietly goes about his work, relentlessly pursuing excellence in his own practice while supporting his community and mentoring aspiring dentists and endodontists. When he sees a chance to get involved and make a difference, he takes it – and then works tirelessly behind the scenes to make positive change happen.”

In 2018, Desrosiers received the President’s Award from the American Association of Endodontists (AAE); the award is one of the highest honors given out by the Association. He has held a variety of leadership positions with the American Dental Association, AAE and Connecticut State Dental Association.

Desrosiers, who maintains a private endodontics practice in Connecticut and serves as a volunteer faculty member at the school, received his DMD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in 1984 and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in endodontics from GSDM in 2006. Desrosiers is married to Susan Desrosiers, and the couple has two children, Matthew and Sarah.

As he accepted the award, Desrosiers spoke about his love for GSDM’s tight-knit community—and the importance of supporting that sentiment among the next generation of alumni.

“When I was a resident, going to meetings like this…..[there was a] sense of family that I got from BU,” he said. “I want to stress how important that was, for me….and how important it is for us, to make sure that the upcoming students realize and appreciate that.”

As the leaves began to change this fall, members of the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) community gathered in cities across the country for a series of alumni receptions and meetings.

“I am always happy to see alumni attending our receptions,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. ”Events like these offer the opportunity for our graduates to connect, with both the school and with other members of the GSDM community.”

Below are some highlights from the many events attended by GSDM alumni, faculty, staff, students and residents:

AEGD/PGOE Alumni Dinner and Continuing Education Course

Almost 100 members of the GSDM community gathered on November 8, 2019, for the Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) and Postgraduate Operative and Esthetic Dentistry (PGOE) Alumni Dinner and Continuing Education Course, held in the Trustee Ballroom in the Rafik B. Hariri building on the Charles River Campus (CRC).

The event offered an opportunity for socializing and learning. The night kicked off with a cocktail reception, during which attendees had the opportunity to catch up with classmates, colleagues, and friends. After socializing, guests were welcomed into the ballroom for dinner and the continuing-education portion of the evening.

John Ictech-Cassis, clinical professor of Restorative Sciences & Biomaterials, clinical director, Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study Program in Operative Dentistry and Advanced Graduate Study Program in Digital Dentistry and director, Dental Health Center at 635 Albany Street, welcomed the attendees to the program and introduced Yong-Han Koo DDS, the keynote speaker for the event. Dr. Koo’s presentation, entitled “Digitally Guided Full-Arch Immediate Reconstruction: Current State & Future Concepts,” focused on the new innovations in the digital workflow for full guided, full-arch treatment.Participants learned to understand the key determining factors for long-term success criteria, utilize an efficient, modular full-arch digital workflow for precise execution in complex atrophic edentulous cases, and identify various sources of complications and their management.

For more photos, click here.

2019 Endodontic Alumni Association Fall Meeting

Faculty, staff, residents, alumni and guests of the GSDM Department of Endodontics came from all corners of the country in early October to meet in Burlington, Vermont, for the 2019 Endodontic Alumni Association Fall Meeting.

The four-day meeting, held from October 2-5, 2019, kicked off with a welcome reception in the Juniper Hall in Hotel Vermont. Over the course of the following three days, attendees participated in lectures and presentations of clinical cases. They also had some fun, cruising on Lake Champlain for a dinner cruise, taking a gondola ride to the top of Mt. Mansfield, shopping in the village of Stowe, and touring the Trapp Family Lodge.

For photos, click here.

American College of Prosthodontists Annual Session

GSDM students, faculty, residents, alumni and friends gathered for an (extra spooky!) alumni reception on October 31, 2019, during the American College of Prosthodontists (ACP) Annual Session in Miami, Florida.

The reception was held at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach. Approximately 50 guests attended the event, which was hosted by Dr. Dan Nathanson, professor and chair, Department of Restorative Sciences and Biomaterials, and Dr. Hiroshi Hirayama, clinical professor and director, Advanced Education Program in Prosthodontics.

During the annual session’s Digital Poster Session, 11 residents and one predoctoral student from GSDM presented their research on a wide variety of subjects, ranging from “Low Temperature Degradation of Various Translucent Zirconias” to “A Novel Technique for Digitally Duplicating Mandibular Dentures.” The 12 participants were mentored by Dr. Dayana Escobar, clinical assistant professor of General Dentistry, and Dr. Hesham Nouh, clinical professor of General Dentistry, director, predoctoral Prosthodontics & Restorative Dentistry.

For photos, click here.

American Association of Periodontology Annual Meeting

Members of the GSDM community headed west—midwest, to be exact—for the American Academy of Periodontology Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois, from November 2-5, 2019. During the meeting, about 20 alumni, faculty, residents and students gathered for an alumni reception, which was hosted by Dr. Serge Dibart, professor and chair of Periodontology, and director of the Advanced Education Program in Periodontics, at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago on November 3, 2019.

For photos, click here.

Alexander Bendayan PROS 05 was appointed ad interim chair of the Department of Restorative Sciences & Biomaterials at the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM), effective January 1, 2020. Dr. Bendayan, who is the School’s assistant dean for digital dentistry development and clinical training, succeeds Dr. Dan Nathanson, who retired in December 2019 after 22 years as department chair.

As ad interim chair, Dr. Bendayan will serve as the direct link between the dean, the Executive Committee, and the teaching and support staffs of their respective departments. He will also be responsible for collaborating with the director and clinical director of the Advanced Education Program in Prosthodontics as well as the clinical director of the Certificate programs of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) in Operative Dentistry and Digital Dentistry on all aspects of the didactic, clinical and research components of the programs. While serving as ad interim chair, Dr. Bendayan will continue in his role as assistant dean of digital dentistry development and clinical training.

Dr. Bendayan earned a DDS from the Central University of Venezuela School of Dental Medicine in Caracas in 2000. In 2005, he completed a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) in Prosthodontics at the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, and then was appointed clinical instructor in general dentistry at the School. He was promoted to clinical assistant professor in 2006, and was promoted again in 2012 to clinical associate professor. From 2015 to 2017, he served as the clinical director of the Advanced Education Program in Prosthodontics in the Department of Restorative Sciences & Biomaterials; in April 2017, he was appointed to the newly established position of assistant dean for digital dentistry development and clinical training.

Since he first came to GSDM as a postdoctoral resident, Dr. Bendayan has demonstrated a deep and unwavering commitment to delivering excellent dental education and patient care, while continuing to explore and implement the innovations in dental technology. He has received recognition for his expertise and achievements in cutting-edge digital technology. In 2011, he was awarded Best Faculty Poster during the John McCahan Education Day, and in 2014 received the Best Educator Award at the American Academy of Fixed Prosthodontics annual meeting, as well as appreciation awards from the GSDM Advanced Education Program in Prosthodontics Classes of 2016 and 2017. In May 2017, he was presented the Spencer N. Frankl Award for Excellence in Teaching at GSDM’s Commencement Convocation.

Dr. Bendayan’s commitment to the profession extends beyond the School’s campus, as he is actively involved in many regional and national dental professional organizations, including the Massachusetts Dental Society, the Massachusetts Hispanic Dental Association, the International College of Dentists, and the American Academy of Fixed Prosthodontics, among others. He also holds membership in Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Honor Society and is a fellow of the International College of Dentists.

After a long and illustrious career as professor and chair of the Department of Restorative Sciences & Biomaterials at the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM), Dan Nathanson DPH 85 PROS 90 retired from the school’s faculty in December 2019.

In recognition of his many years of service and his contributions to the School, Nathanson was awarded the honorary title of GSDM Distinguished Scientist, a title and set of responsibilities conferred to individuals at the highest level of academic and research achievement. Nathanson is only the second individual to be so recognized in the school’s history. Nathanson also was appointed to the academic rank of emeritus professor of Restorative Sciences & Biomaterials, an appointment that honors his extraordinary level of commitment to academia and the dental profession during a career that spans nearly four decades at Boston University.

“Dr. Nathanson established himself as a renowned teacher, educator, clinician, and researcher,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. “It is a pleasure for me to honor these accomplishments as we celebrate Dr. Nathanson’s many contributions to our School and our profession.”

Nathanson graduated from Hebrew University School of Dental Medicine (Jerusalem, Israel) with a Doctor of Dental Medicine in 1972. He subsequently was awarded in 1975 a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Advanced Restorative Dentistry from Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and then completed a Research Fellowship in Dental Materials at the Forsyth Dental Center in 1976. Dr. Nathanson went on to earn a Master of Science in Dental Public Health at GSDM in 1985, and then in 1990, completed a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Prosthodontics, also at GSDM.

After stints at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine and the Tufts School of Dental Medicine, he joined the faculty at GSDM in 1982 as professor and chair of the Department of Biomaterials. In 1997, he oversaw the merger of the Department of Biomaterials and the Department of Prosthodontics to create the new Department of Restorative Sciences & Biomaterials; he served as chair of this new department from its creation until his retirement.

During his time at GSDM, Nathanson’s work significantly advanced the field of esthetic and restorative dentistry through clinical application and research. His list of publications includes nearly 300 scientific abstracts and nearly 100 published articles, textbooks and textbook chapters; Nathanson presented his work in 40 U.S. states and 42 countries.

“Over the last few decades, Dr. Nathanson has been both a transformative figure both at our school and across his field,” Dean Hutter said.

Even in retirement, Nathanson will continue to influence his field through the careers and work of the countless residents he has mentored and advised in his research laboratory throughout the years. Graduates of the clinical and research programs headed by Nathanson serve in academic, industry, and other positions of distinction around the globe, a tribute to his contributions to the profession and industry.

In addition to his leadership positions at GSDM, Nathanson held significant roles with national and international organizations, including the International Association for Dental Research, the American Association of Dental Research, the International Federation of Esthetic Dentistry, and many others. He holds fellowships in the Academy of Prosthodontics, the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry, and the Academy of Dental Materials.