So many love stories begin with a simple smile – but for these four GSDM couples, a smile means much more. For this Valentine’s Day, GSDM Communications is highlighting a few heartwarming BU Dental Love stories.

Esteban Molina PROS 22, Clinical Assistant Professor of General Dentistry and Group Practice Leader for the Predoctoral Patient Treatment Center and Lea Hajjar PROS 22
Dating since 2020

When Esteban Molina arrived at GSDM in 2019 for his applicant interview, he didn’t anticipate that he would also meet his future girlfriend that day.  

During his interview day, Molina was introduced to some of the first-year PROS residents – including Lea Hajjar. Hajjar made a notable impression on Molina, as he said he vividly remembered her being “very kind and nice.”  

“I didn't know if I was going to get accepted, but then I wouldn't have thought that person that I met during my interview would [have] ended up becoming such an important person in my life,” Molina said. 

The initial lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic helped bring the couple together, Molina said. Molina and Hajjar, along with other colleagues and classmates, supported each other and bonded during quarantine. Slowly, the friendship turned into a relationship.  

Now, more than two years into their relationship, Molina said he is appreciative of her never-ending guidance and patience, from the days of helping each other successfully complete the prosthodontics program to the present day.  

“I'm so glad I met her, and I met her here. [She] made my time in Boston so much better,” Molina said. “And with all the struggles and the pandemic and everything, [it] definitely was a very high point to have that support and to have met her. She's an amazing person. I love her so much.”  

Hajjar said she is excited to see what the future has in store for the couple as they transition out of residency and into the next stages of their life.  

"Esteban has taught me so much first as a friend, then as a co-resident, and more recently as a partner,” Hajjar said. “I am forever grateful to have met him when I did. He has been my rock through it all and I cannot imagine what the last years would have been without him.”  

Melina Roncone DMD 23 and Michael Roncone DMD 23
Together since 2019, Married since 2022

It was fate that the first person Michael Roncone met in Boston would later become his wife. 

According to Michael, he met his wife-to-be, Melina, in 2018, two months before they both started a pre-dental Masters of Oral Health Sciences program. 

“We both attended the housing fair and toured the BU Medical Campus together,” Michael said. “Little did we know!”  

They began as friends, but something changed after the first semester of their master’s program, Melina said. Once their schedules got a bit lighter, they were able to interact in more social settings, leading to their first kiss after a night out with fellow friends in the program.  

“After [our first kiss], I knew I was a goner, he would either make me the happiest I've ever been or break my heart,” Melina said.  

Even at the start of the relationship, Michael knew there was something magical about Melina.  

“There was something that always drew me towards Melina even from our days in the OHS master's program, and if you know us today, it’s still the exact same way,” Michael said. “If you spot Melina, I’m usually not far behind.”   

When it was time to propose, Michael said he carried the ring with him for a month until he could find the right moment to pop the question. Then, during a visit to Melina’s family in Sarasota, Florida, the sun, beach breeze, and dolphins playing in the ocean created the perfect timing.  

“It seemed as if it was out of a movie,” Melina said. 

The couple both expressed how thankful they were to experience dental school together.  

“I honestly think Michael and I were meant to meet eventually. He's my best friend, but if it weren't for our passion for dentistry and our professional careers lining up so perfectly, we wouldn't have met so soon,” Melina said. “As student dentists, we are always assisting each other in clinic and have been each other's greatest support system in dental school.”  

After graduating from GSDM in May, the pair will move to Buffalo, New York, where they both matched to a general practice residency program that starts in June.  

“We have big plans for our future,” Melina said. “BU Dental and Boston will always have a special place in our hearts!”

Drew Czernick PERIO 14 and Marissa Kobewka DMD 15
Together since 2013, Married since 2018

It takes two to make a thing go right – and Drew Czernick and Marissa Kobewka can verify that.  

The pair met for the “first” time twice, Czernick said. They technically ate dinner together in 2011 at an event hosted by GSDM alums at the restaurant Fire and Ice but sat on opposite sides of the table and didn't interact.  

Later that same year, Kobewka started her periodontics clinical. Her instructor, Joseph Morcos, introduced her to his co-resident, who was also teaching the clinical component – Czernick. The rest is history.  

“He ended up teaching at the bay beside me,” Kobewka said.  

Czernick said there isn’t one particular moment that made him realize Kobewka was the one – he just always knew.  

“I kind of always felt like Marissa was going to be the girl I married from the first time we met,” Czernick said.  

In a sweet parallel to how they met, Czernick proposed twice: once while still at GSDM and the other post-graduation. 

“When we were still in school, we couldn’t afford to do anything fancy, so I made Marissa breakfast in bed and proposed to her there,” he said. “Once we graduated, I upgraded her engagement ring and planned a private dinner and glamping on the roof top of the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills.”  

Czernick said he’s thankful that he is sharing his life journey with a fellow dentist.  

“I think being married to another dentist is great because we understand the struggles that each other goes through,” Czernick said. “We can empathize with the other after a long day and talk about strategies to make things better for our patients.” 

Nowadays, they have one big priority – caring for their two-and-a-half-month-old son, Anderson Wells Kobewka Czernick.  

Derrik Johnson DMD 09 and Shannan Johnson DMD 09
Together since 2008, Married since 2010

On the first day of dental school, Derrik Johnson complimented a classmate’s coat – to which she rolled her eyes, walked away and did not talk to him again for a whole year. This is the story Derrik Johnson tells about how he first met his future wife, Shannan (Feeley) Johnson, although he said she would dispute some of the details.  

One story the pair can agree on: Their first date involved a football-related bet and an unexpected fancy sit-down meal.  

“[We] started dating in 2008, after I finally wore her down to go on a date with me. We made a bet on the Super Bowl, and when the Patriots lost, she had to take me out for dinner,” Derrik said. “I’ve been kind of a Giants fan ever since.”  

Since Shannan owed Derrik a dinner, she decided to bring him to get “the best salad in Boston.”  

“Unknowingly, she chose a very fancy restaurant on Newbury Street, white tablecloths, waiters in suits, etc. and they sat us at the nicest table next to a fireplace,” Derrik said. “I thought she was really into me. She later told me that she had no idea it was fancy and that she was really embarrassed the entire time thinking I was getting the wrong impression.”  

About six months into his relationship with Shannan, Derrik saw his best friends at a wedding and couldn’t stop talking to them about Shannan – that's when he realized she was “the one.” 

“They all told me I'd never talked about a girl like that before. On the flight home, I knew,” Derrik said. “I told her I loved her for the first time that night.”  

Derrik said it makes a big difference having the same career passion as his spouse, as they understand the stresses of the profession. He could not imagine being in the dental field now without her.  

“We'll be forever grateful to BU for bringing us together,” Derrik said. “And I'm quite certain we're the greatest love story BU has ever told.”

Nothing is more exhilarating than adjusting a slicked-back ponytail with a glittery hair bow moments before performing dare-defying stunts with a team of close friends.

After spending four years off the competitive cheerleading mat, Amanda Alon CAS 12 CAMED 14 DMD 18 missed that feeling, so when an opportunity arose to serve as head coach of the Boston University (BU) Cheer Team – a team she’s been involved with off and on since 2008 – she jumped.

“It’s a great team and it’s something very close to my heart and that’s how they get me to come back and coach,” said Alon, who joined the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) Division I team as head coach in November 2022.

Alon started cheering at nine when she joined a Pop Warner team and has been enamored with cheerleading ever since. She competed for BU as an undergraduate and during one year of her master’s program at BU, rotating through the three main cheerleading positions: base, flyer, and spotter. She competed in the NCA Collegiate Nationals in Daytona, Florida four times in 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2014.

The NCA gives cheerleaders five years of eligibility to compete, so when Alon started at GSDM in the summer of 2014, she still had one more opportunity to go to Nationals. The then-coach of the BU Cheer Team knew she was still in Boston, so asked her to return as a base for the 2015-2016 season.

After coordinating with Associate Dean of Students Dr. Joseph Calabrese on how to balance cheering with her dental studies, Alon was ready to hit the cheer mat for one more chance of winning at Nationals.

“A big thing for me when I was in dental school was that I’d be stressed about my next exam and then I’d go to cheerleading practice,” Alon said. “I’d go to cheering practice and worry about what bow I was going to wear. It was stress but completely different, so it was just always nice to have that for me.”

Once Alon finished her final competition in 2016, she transitioned from cheerleading to coach, staying on with the team as its head coach until 2018 when she graduated dental school and moved to New York for a residency program. Under Alon’s leadership, the team placed fourth in the D1 Advanced division at Nationals, the program’s best finish ever.

After a break from cheerleading — during which she finished her residency, began teaching, started working in private practices, and moved back to the Greater Boston area – Alon heard from BU in 2022 to see if she’d be interested in taking over as head coach again.

Nowadays, she is coaching a team of 30 members. She works closely with the team’s choreographer to lead practices two to three times a week and plans for collegiate competitions. While the choreographer organizes the routine, Alon works to perfect it and plan the stunts. Earlier this month, Alon coached a select team of 23 to a sixth-place finish at the 2023 Nationals.

“This team has really persevered because they only had half the season with me to get everything kind of squared away and ready to go,” Alon said. “[At first,] I didn’t think that we’re going to be able to go to Nationals with only half the year because we haven’t practiced together. Then, I practiced with them once and I was like, ‘You guys are great. We’re going.’ The competitive side of me was like – I cannot not take them.”

Currently, Alon is balancing her cheerleading duties with her role as an assistant professor of pediatric dentistry at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and her work at Marshfield Pediatric Dentistry in Marshfield, Massachusetts. It is a lot to juggle, she admitted, but said she is thankful for her team’s support.

“The team’s been awesome, accommodating with my schedule, and I have a lot of different friends that help me out in terms of choreography and helping me when I can’t do things or if I have to be late to something, they’ll supervise them for me, so it’s been nice,” she said.

Alon is already committed to more cheering, having agreed to be the team’s head coach for the 2023-2024 season. She said she wants an opportunity to work with the team for an entire season.

“I tell everyone I’m going to do one more year, and every time I do one more, I keep coming back, but I’m going to do one more year,” Alon said.

No matter what, the Boston University Cheer Team will always have a special place in Alon’s heart.

“I loved cheering when I was in middle school, but college cheerleading is a whole different ballgame of athletic ability, teamwork [and] camaraderie…” Alon said. “It’s just always been something that I’ve enjoyed doing, and it takes the stress off of other things.”

By Rachel Grace Philipson

Commencement: Then and Now (Photos from GSDM Archives)

GSDM alums do not stop being students the second they graduate. Dentists are forever learners, constantly educating themselves on new techniques, technologies, and teachings. We spoke to five GSDM alums about their paths after graduating dental school and what advice they have for the Class of 2023.  

William (Bill) Eaves DMD 86  

Passion – that is the key thing the Class of 2023 needs to remember as they embark on their career.  

When Eaves was a student at GSDM, he didn’t have a game plan for after he graduated; his goal was to simply finish. He said he was fortunate to get hired at the Dorchester House, sparking his interest in community healthcare. This first job ultimately led him to becoming the Lynn Community Health Center Dental Director; he also runs a private practice, William Eaves DMD Family Dentistry. 

He urges the Class of 2023 to expose themselves to many specialties, but ultimately to focus on what makes them the happiest.  

“For me, I didn’t recognize that community health would be such a rewarding experience [regarding] delivering dental care to people, the operative word there being care,” Eaves said. “Dentistry is an intimate environment, and people are … entrusting you to deliver that care. So, if you care about how well you do that, that’s going to serve you well [in] the long term.”  

Eaves strongly encourages new graduates to continue to foster or to develop relationships with a mentor. While he knew he wanted to practice dentistry in the greater Boston area, he credits the Dorchester House director’s mentorship and guidance for his continued work in community healthcare, 37 years after his Commencement.  

“It’s important to find a mentor when you come out because you don’t know how much you don’t know,” Eaves said. “And being in the presence of someone who has done it for a while, made mistakes, learned from those mistakes, and can guide you, is a great way to matriculate forward. Because the day you graduate, and they give you a degree does not mean you’re a success.”  

When the new graduates enter the workforce, Eaves wants them to focus on the reason they got into dentistry and to maintain a balance between their personal and professional life.  

“I just recognize the blink of time that has transpired from my graduation in 1986 until now, and you have to find that balance,” he said. “You have to recognize, figure out why you went into it and what you want to get out of it.” 

James Lee CAS 09 CAMED 10 DMD 14  

Growing up above his father’s (Ted Lee DMD 86) dental practice, James Lee felt destined to become a dentist in the greater Boston area. He fell in love with the way his father was a fixture in the community. Immediately following his GSDM graduation, he joined his father’s practice, Boston Family Dental – at which he has been ever since – but he also wanted a platform to become a voice for patients in the community and for new dentists, like himself.  

In his latest role as the District 1 representative for the American Dental Association’s New Dentist Committee, he works to highlight issues and direct resources facing dentists in their first 10 years of practice, or “early career dentists,” to the dental leaders within the American Dental Association and the Board of Trustees.   

Lee wants new graduates to know that their voices are heard, and it is worth expressing their issues, as well as trying to help find solutions.  

“This year, I’ve gotten a chance to be a part of the conversations about shaping our profession and the direction of our profession,” he said. “And it’s so important that new dentists, like our new graduates, that their voice is heard; the issues, the policies, and the perspectives that are important to them. That their issues are heard, addressed, and valued. And I believe they are.”  

The Class of 2023 is joining the dental community of leaders, and they need to be aware of the power they now have, Lee said.  

“I think that dentists are leaders in the community,” he said. “I think that’s one aspect where sometimes students don’t think about that, that when they graduate, they’re going to be looked upon as leaders on not just dental health, oral health, but also health in general, also community issues. So, it’s on us to step up to the plate and make sure we live up to that responsibility.” 

He noted that, as leaders, it is the new graduates’ duty to ensure that they are continuing to learn and are always developing this skillset.  

“We are in an age where technology is changing, materials are improving, techniques; we need to make sure that we’re always open and always thinking about how we can bring the best care to our patients,” Lee said. “Part of that is to always be learning and always be growing and having that growth mindset about not being closed off to opportunities and innovation that’s going to happen throughout their career, which I think is super exciting.”  

Dr. Maryam Shomali CAS 87 ENDO 93 

Shomali always envisioned working as an endodontist in a Boston suburb and eventually owning her own practice. She has made that dream a reality, as she is now the owner of Wellesley Endodontics in Wellesley.  

Shomali advises the Class of 2023 to actively participate in online forums and attend Continuing Education (CE) courses as one way to achieve their own dental dreams. Within the forums and CE courses, there are opportunities to learn from others more experienced in the field and open discussions.  

“Dentistry is constantly evolving with new technology, research, and techniques,” Shomali said. “It is important to stay current with these changes.” 

Shomali also encourages the Class of 2023 to seek out mentors and build a one-on-one connection with someone who has more experience in the dental field.  

“A mentor can provide guidance, advice, and support as you navigate your career,” she said.  

Most importantly, she stresses that it’s vital that new dentists remember to take care of themselves physically and mentally.  

“Dental work can be physically demanding, and it’s important to take breaks, practice good ergonomics, and exercise regularly,” Shomali said. “Dental work can be stressful, so it’s important to find ways to manage your stress and maintain a work-life balance.”  

Michael S. Hauser DMD 77 

When Hauser came to GSDM as part of the first four-year graduating class, he had one plan in mind: following in the footsteps of his uncle by becoming an orthodontist.  

To his surprise, he found he didn’t enjoy working with wire during his preclinical orthodontics classes and soon realized he had to find another career path. He praises Dr. Thomas Kilgore, oral & maxillofacial surgery professor, saying his mentorship and his fourth-year oral surgery course led him to want to become an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. 

Hauser wants new graduates to realize that dental school is step one towards becoming a dental professional. By the end of his DMD program, he had a lengthy path ahead of him to become a surgeon.  

“Dental school, especially a really great one like Boston University, gives you about as strong a foundation as you can receive in this country, but, again, it’s only the foundation,” Hauser said. “You have to build on top of that.”  

After graduating from GSDM, he went on to a GPR residency at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, graduating in 1978, then a residency and a fellowship in oral and maxillofacial surgery at Harvard and the Massachusetts General Hospital, finishing in 1981. After his fellowship, he received his MD at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in 1983, then a PGY-2 at Harvard Surgical Service, ending in 1984.  

Once he completed his education, he stayed in dental academia in his roles of assistant professor at Emory University and associate professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery at Case Western Reserve University, the School of Dental Medicine. He also was chief of oral and maxillofacial surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio, and owned his own private practice.  

For the Class of 2023, he advises them to never stop learning about dental medicine. In an ever-changing and adapting field, there will always be more to learn. From obtaining more formal education to developing close relationships with mentors, Hauser said there are many resources to help build upon their dental education.  

“The dental medicine that you practice 30 years from now will be vastly different, much more technologically complex and involve concepts of care that are not even conceived now,” Hauser said. “When I graduated in 1977, there were no light cured composites, amalgam was everywhere on posterior teeth. There were no CAT Scans, no CAD/CAM, no implants, no lasers, no sleep dentistry, no oral sedation, and most dentists worked standing up with no assistant.”  

Hauser said the future of dentistry is in good hands with the Class of 2023.  

“I graduated in 1977 and I finished practicing in 2020, so that’s 43 years,” Hauser said. “Even at 42 years and 364 days, I learned something every day.” 

Frank E. Schiano CAS 01 DMD 06 AEGD 07 ORTHO 19 

As a rare quintuple terrier, Schiano holds BU and GSDM in a special place in his heart.  

Schiano said his GSDM didactic and clinical education was “second to none.” While at GSDM, he added that he made sure to take advantage of all his mentors, professors, and patients’ experiences, which gave him a strong foundation to get where he is today.  

“I have worked so hard to accomplish these goals and to arrive at a point in my life where I can genuinely say I have achieved professionally all the things I imagined as a child,” he said. “Now, I am serving in a role that I never thought possible and the major contributor to my success was being a part of the BUGSDM community.”  

Schiano urges the Class of 2023 to always strive to make themselves the best that they can be – both in the dental field and in life.  

“Associate yourself with family and colleagues that contribute to your consistent personal and professional growth,” Schiano said. “Time ticks faster than you could ever imagine. Take advantage of every opportunity to get to the next level.”  

After Commencement, he said it’s perfectly acceptable not to know exactly what comes next. Schiano urges those who are unsure to take their time to decide what their future holds and take advantage of different opportunities. For those who do know what they want to do, he wants them to seize the moment and focus on achieving their desired goal.  

“You have such incredible responsibility to your patients and colleagues to promote oral health and constantly strive to be a caring, empathetic, and proficient healthcare provider,” Schiano said. “Lean on your peers and don’t fear failure. “  

Although Commencement marks the end of their GSDM education, the GSDM community will always be there for support, Schiano said.  

“We are all here for you,” he said. “If you can think of a question, or if you are anxious and doubt your future, reach out.  The profession of dentistry is certainly changing, and you have all the resources necessary to help you adapt to the current and ever-evolving landscape.”  

By Rachel Grace Philipson

GSDM Dean’s Advisory Board member Dr. Mina Paul SPH 96 is expanding her involvement with Boston University with her latest role as a member of the Boston University Alumni Council (BUAC). Paul will attend her first official meeting of the BUAC in October 2023. 

Paul has had a wide range of experiences with BU – ranging from her own studies at SPH and Questrom School of Business to her daughter’s experience as a student at Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies – Paul said she has been impressed with how much value she has been able to contribute to the university as an alumna. She said she is eager to bring her perspectives to the BUAC to support BU and GSDM’s continued growth.  

“It was my work on the Dean’s Advisory Board that kind of showed me how important it is to stay involved, and how we can be a resource to support the school and the future of the school,” Paul said. “Since I’ve been on the Dean’s Advisory Board and been so engaged, [as well as] attending other BU functions both as a parent, as a student, and as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board, I’ve really seen a growth in the entire university that has really impressed me.”  

According to the BUAC website, the council is made up of members who have proven themselves leaders in their careers, communities, and involvement with Boston University. Throughout Paul’s dental career, including in her latest role as administrative dental director of East Boston Neighborhood Center, Paul said she had been offered multiple opportunities for leadership roles and the ability to affect change.  She wants to continue affecting change with the GSDM and next generation of dentists in mind.  

Paul said she noted university decision-making by the executive leadership often affects both the Charles River and Medical Campuses. Paul said it is critical for her to represent GSDM and make sure decisions are made with GSDM in mind. 

“From a dental point of view, I think it’s very important to have representation in the university and show how strong GSDM is and how important it is in a variety of ways,” Paul said. “I think it’s also an opportunity for me to give back, and I believe very strongly in giving back, whether it’s my time or my resources, to support an organization that I believe in.” 

During her time as a BUAC member, her goal is to accurately represent GSDM to members of the rest of the Boston University Medical Campus and Charles River Campus. She said she hopes her concurrent roles on GSDM’s DAB and the BUAC will create a healthy stream of communication between the two organizations and fuel new projects.  

“We’re one building – one dental school in the entire university campus,” Paul said. “But, I think what we have accomplished over the years, in terms of alumni engagements, which is evidenced by all the new floors that we have built, the fact that we are a very strong factor in the dental world, in terms of the accomplishments of our faculty, and also how we are portrayed or viewed during the admissions process by prospective students. I think it’s very important to share that with the university and have them be well aware that we have a very strong effect in our profession, and are viewed very, very, very positively.”  

 She said she is enthusiastic to further expand the potential of her beloved alma mater.  

“I’m happy to donate my time and any resources that they need, and I’m looking forward really to working with yet another group of the university to get a sense of how the university functions and be able to bring the dental school and the university a little bit closer,” Paul said.  

By Rachel Grace Philipson

GSDM Dean’s Advisory Board member Dr. Mina Paul SPH 96 is expanding her involvement with Boston University with her latest role as a member of the Boston University Alumni Council (BUAC). Paul will attend her first official meeting of the BUAC in October 2023. 

Paul has had a wide range of experiences with BU – ranging from her own studies at SPH and Questrom School of Business to her daughter’s experience as a student at Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies – Paul said she has been impressed with how much value she has been able to contribute to the university as an alumna. She said she is eager to bring her perspectives to the BUAC to support BU and GSDM’s continued growth.  

“It was my work on the Dean’s Advisory Board that kind of showed me how important it is to stay involved, and how we can be a resource to support the school and the future of the school,” Paul said. “Since I’ve been on the Dean’s Advisory Board and been so engaged, [as well as] attending other BU functions both as a parent, as a student, and as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board, I’ve really seen a growth in the entire university that has really impressed me.”  

According to the BUAC website, the council is made up of members who have proven themselves leaders in their careers, communities, and involvement with Boston University. Throughout Paul’s dental career, including in her latest role as administrative dental director of East Boston Neighborhood Center, Paul said she had been offered multiple opportunities for leadership roles and the ability to affect change.  She wants to continue affecting change with the GSDM and next generation of dentists in mind.  

Paul said she noted university decision-making by the executive leadership often affects both the Charles River and Medical Campuses. Paul said it is critical for her to represent GSDM and make sure decisions are made with GSDM in mind. 

“From a dental point of view, I think it’s very important to have representation in the university and show how strong GSDM is and how important it is in a variety of ways,” Paul said. “I think it’s also an opportunity for me to give back, and I believe very strongly in giving back, whether it’s my time or my resources, to support an organization that I believe in.” 

During her time as a BUAC member, her goal is to accurately represent GSDM to members of the rest of the Boston University Medical Campus and Charles River Campus. She said she hopes her concurrent roles on GSDM’s DAB and the BUAC will create a healthy stream of communication between the two organizations and fuel new projects.  

“We’re one building – one dental school in the entire university campus,” Paul said. “But, I think what we have accomplished over the years, in terms of alumni engagements, which is evidenced by all the new floors that we have built, the fact that we are a very strong factor in the dental world, in terms of the accomplishments of our faculty, and also how we are portrayed or viewed during the admissions process by prospective students. I think it’s very important to share that with the university and have them be well aware that we have a very strong effect in our profession, and are viewed very, very, very positively.”  

 She said she is enthusiastic to further expand the potential of her beloved alma mater.  

“I’m happy to donate my time and any resources that they need, and I’m looking forward really to working with yet another group of the university to get a sense of how the university functions and be able to bring the dental school and the university a little bit closer,” Paul said.  

By Rachel Grace Philipson

Her heartstrings were pulled. That’s what Teresa Grygo DMD 86 felt when she first read about an opening for a dentist to treat people affected by homelessness. Now, after 16 years as the dental director at Healthcare for the Homeless–Houston, Grygo said the role is her true professional calling. 

“Those experiencing homelessness are just like everybody else,” Grygo said. “They are people that have come with their own excellent qualities, and some not so excellent qualities. They’re just people who have made mistakes, who have maybe not been in the best situations, [or] have had a bad history. They’re just lovable, like everybody. And you just try to see them, see the best in people maybe, and then just have a heart that forgives the worst and a mind that forgets the bad and you just look at them like everybody else.” 

Grygo was honored at the GSDM Alumni Weekend reception in September with the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award. Over 37 years of dental practice, Grygo has worked in private practice, corporate dentistry, and public health, but she said working with patients affected by homelessness has been the most rewarding. She said she accepted the award on behalf of all her patients, as those affected by homelessness tend to be “invisible,” and this was her way of making them seen.  

“I accepted the award wholehearted and very gratefully, because I just think that God gave me such an opportunity to help people in such a unique way,” Grygo said.

As the dental director at Healthcare for the Homeless–Houston (HHH), Grygo handles the clinical oversight of all dental care and services within the organization. The organization’s mission is to promote health, hope, and dignity for those affected by homelessness through accessible and comprehensive high-quality care. The organization provides care to anyone who needs it, regardless of their ability to pay. 

In Grygo’s remarks after accepting the alumni award, she said it can be emotionally strenuous working with patients affected by homelessness, as she is not only treating teeth; she is also mending troubled, scared, and vulnerable hearts. 

“I remember thinking to myself: My name is Teresa and I’m a mother, I can be like Mother Teresa! [I am] still working on that one,” she said. “I can honestly say that I had found my niche. I was there not only to restore teeth and smiles but also to build relationships, to serve the brokenhearted, to create a place of healing and learning. I was there to do wonderful things, and I found fulfillment and life, life in abundance.”  

For those trying to find their own dental niche, Grygo said one doesn’t have to be a dental director to treat those experiencing homelessness. She said she encourages people within the dental community–from pre-dental students to those who have already graduated/currently practicing–to volunteer, go on mission trips, and/or find a community health centers. She said she hopes others will feel inspired to work with those experiencing homelessness, as they are incredible individuals worthy of high-quality dental care.  

“It is such a beautiful experience,” Grygo said. “You don’t have to go out of the country to experience it, but it’s so heartwarming just to be able to reach out and just help that person that really, really needs it. It’s very special.”  

By Rachel Grace Philipson

For Valentine's Day this year, we are featuring five dental love stories, some close to home and some that transcend the globe, ultimately finding themselves at GSDM together. We believe that every type of love story is worth sharing. 

From our love stories to yours, Happy Valentine’s Day.  

Patricia Moraga DMD 17 and Jonathan Werbitt ORTHO 16
Together since 2014, Married since 2018 

Moraga and Werbitt first met at the Boston University Medical Campus barbecue in the fall of 2013, but they didn’t start dating until January 2014. Moraga fondly remembers the night the night she realized there was potential.  

She was out with her classmates in downtown Boston when a group of guys approached her friend group. Moraga said she didn’t like their vibe and was looking for an escape; that’s when she spotted Jonathan across the room. From that moment on, everything clicked together.  

“He had everything that I was looking for in potentially a future husband,” Moraga said.  

At the end of the fall 2016 semester, Moraga visited Werbitt in Montreal, where he had moved after graduating from GSDM.   

Her first morning in Montreal, Moraga woke up to a pleasant surprise.  

“When I woke up in the morning, he had made this sign out of a chalkboard that I still have framed in my bedroom,” Moraga said. “And then he wrote “Will you marry me?” He had a piece of chalk there and I had to check the yes box. Of course, I had said yes.”  

Werbitt had told her to bring something fancy to wear because they were going to go to a party while she was visiting—little did she know that she was going to be attending her own surprise engagement party with their friends. 

Nowadays, they both work in private practices in Westmount, Montreal—directly across the street from each other. Moraga said they even have some of the same patients.  

While they were united by their passion for dentistry, Moraga notes that they don’t discuss their day-to-day work stories as often as one may think—perhaps because their main focus right now is their eight-month-old daughter, Audrey.  

“When you're married and then you have a career and then you start a family, then things get a little bit more difficult and stressful at times,” Moraga said. “So, we've had our difficulties and I think I've learned that he is a very loyal and supportive person and that he cares a lot about my goals and what I want to have in our life.” 

Azeez G. Swarup DMD AS 15 and Divya Swarup DMD AS 15
Together and Married since 2008  

It was truly love at first sight for Azeez G. Swarup and Divya Swarup. The pair met when they were working in different specialties—orthodontics and periodontics, respectively--and got married just two months after that first meeting.  

“One day, we were just chatting, having food and then two months later we were married,” Azeez said. 

The pair said they quickly felt enamored by each other’s determination and hard-working nature. Both had similar goals for their future, and everything just came together. Right after they got married in 2008, they opened their own private in New Delhi, working as both general dentists and specialists. 

Years later, after owning their practice and subsequently working at a university in Saudi Arabia as course directors and heads of the orthodontics and periodontics departments respectively, they decided to go on a vacation, ultimately deciding on a 21-day, 3,500-mile road trip up and down the United States’ West Coast. On the plane ride back to Saudi Arabia, Azeez asked Divya if she thought they could live in the U.S. Her response was an immediate yes. From that moment on, they started preparing to apply to US dental schools. 

They couldn’t fathom both getting into the same dental school at the same time, but to their surprise, they were both accepted to GSDM in 2013, and said it could not have been a better fit. After navigating visa and loan issues, they were finally enroute to the U.S., this time not as tourists on the West Coast, but as dental students on the East Coast.  

Just six months before they graduated—and right during their Northeast Regional Board of Dental Exams (later renamed to Commission on Dental Competency Assessments)—Divya gave birth to their first child, a daughter named Aadya.  

The new mother and father were worried about completing their exams and graduating on time, but Azees and Divya said GSDM faculty and staff supported them every day through Commencement. In fact, Aadya attended Commencement, suited up in a BU onesie.  

“It was like BU took us under their wing,” Divya said. “They didn't let go of us at any point.”  

Following their joint commencement, the pair worked in private practices in Massachusetts and New Hampshire before moving to Canada in 2021. In late 2023, they opened their own practice in British Columbia.  

From discussing patient care methods to office management strategies, Divya said there was no one else but Azeez with whom she would want to have traveled all over the globe, pursuing their shared love of dentistry.  

“[Everything] would not have been possible if we didn't have each other to lean on,” she said. “It's just so easy for him to be in my shoes, even if he wasn't physically there to understand my feelings, which is perfect because I don't have to fight to be understood or I don't have to explain too much. He gets it.”  

Azeez said there are so many benefits to being with someone who is in the same profession. Simply put, they understand each other professionally and personally.  

“Every marriage is like a series of many small relationships; they evolve over time and may not be the same as they were in the beginning,” he said. “The things that might have drawn you to your partner to begin with might not be present there; likewise, there might have been some new qualities in your partner that might not have been there to begin with, but the core of trust and love is the thing that binds all of that together and does not change; this keeps us together for each other always and forever. This is how I feel our love life has been.” 

Gihan Zanati DMD AS 24 and Mohammed Ghidan DMD AS 24
Engaged in 2016, Married since 2018  

Gihan Zanati and Mohammed Ghidan’s first spark happened at an unlikely setting: a bus stop. While trying to pass the time between his two jobs--teaching prosthetics at a dental school in Egypt and working at a public hospital--Ghidan was going for a walk and noticed Zanati, one of the dental interns from the prosthetics department, waiting at a bus stop.   

He stopped to say hello, and found himself talking to her for an hour, discussing everything from their families and their shared passion for standup comedians. Seven months later, they were engaged.  

Before he met Zanati, Ghidan said his life was so busy with work that he wasn’t prioritizing socialization and the little things in life. Ever since that fateful conversation at the bus stop, his work-life balance has been changed for the better. 

“My life was black and white and with her, my life is full of colors,” Ghidan said.  

The couple was moved to the U.S. permanently in 2021, which is when they started to apply to dental schools—and both were accepted for the Advanced Standing program at GSDM.  

A few months after starting the program, the couple faced another life-changing moment, the birth of their first child, Zain, during Intersession in 2022. Although there have been stressful moments, Zanati said she couldn’t imagine being a fellow student and first-time parent with anyone else.  

“[He has taught me] to be more patient about things, like good things will happen,” Zanati said.
“I'm learning from his past how to be patient in order to have a good life in the future.”  

While they are balancing being full-time students and parents, Ghidan said he can’t help but look back to their first conversation at the bus stop. He said the key to a good relationship is making time for each other and remembering to have fun.  

“When she finishes her day [and] I finish my day, every day we talk and we have this relief when we talk to each other about what we have in our minds and about our past, about our present, and what we feel for the future,” Ghidan said. “That is the thing that initiated the spark of love between us. Make something a little thing every day.”  

Hitesh Vij DMD AS 20 and Ruchieka Vij DMD AS 20
Together since 2004, Married since 2007  

Hitesh Vij and Ruchieka Vij met during the first year of their oral pathology residency at Manipal University in India. The pair jokes that Hitesh never formally proposed to Ruchieka; He simply told her he liked her, and they have been together ever since.  

“We were talking to each other every day, going out for coffee breaks and lunches together,” Hitesh said. “Once we started talking, we were [saw how our] common interest matched. That's how I started feeling that I should be serious."  

The couple knew they wanted to come to the U.S. but wanted to improve their financial stability before applying to dental programs. After completing their residencies in India and spending a few years in Saudi Arabia, they took their board exams and applied to dental programs, including GSDM.  

The pair noted how much they appreciated that the late Dr. David Russell, former GSDM assistant dean for admissions, advocated that couples do the Advanced Standing program together. Ruchieka said it was a blessing they were together, both from a professional and familial point of view (their son was in third grade when they started the program).  

“[It] did work out easier,” Ruchieka said. “Because we were in the program at the same time, we understood the intensity we both had with the program.”  

Both became super immersed in their roles at GSDM, most notably Hitesh becoming the DMD AS 20 class president and Ruchieka placing in the top ten of their class. Together, they felt unstoppable.  

Nowadays, they continue to be a dynamic duo, co-owning a private practice in Massachusetts. 

“I feel I studied because of her,” Hitesh said. “I did well in my residency program, and I totally owe it to her because we would talk [and] it was more of a reason to go for a date and just talk and be in a library and together. I feel that that was a big, big advantage.”  

Shahla Izadian DMD AS 24 and Bahman Derakshan DMD AS 24
Together since 2003, Married since 2005 

Shahla Izadian and Bahman Derakshan—the loves of each other’s lives--each have different dreams within the dental profession and have worked together to make sure they can both accomplish their goals.  

The pair first met at Mashad University in Iran when Izadian was an undergraduate student in the DMD program and Derakshan was a resident in the oral surgery program. Following a mutual friend’s birthday dinner in 2003, they started talking and as they were dating, Shahla realized he was "the one.”  

But before they got married, the pair realized they had different dreams: Izadian wanted to immigrate to the U.S. to practice dentistry and Derakshan wanted to become an oral surgeon. While Izadian graduated the year they met, Derakshan still had five more years in his residency program. But they decided to figure out a way to make it work.  

“We did not exactly have the same point of view about our future at that point, but we really liked each other during that time, so we wanted to have each other,” she said.  

In 2007, Izadian was accepted into the Advanced Standing program at GSDM but didn’t enroll as Derakshan wanted to finish his residency and start working as an oral surgeon in Iran. The pair ultimately owned a private practice together for almost a decade before jointly deciding in 2021 it was time to come to the U.S. This time, they both applied and got accepted to GSDM.  

“We try to be flexible and compatible with each other for many years, and we adjusted our dreams, our feelings, our futures, everything for each other,” Izadian said. “At some point, I did the sacrifice to stay with him [in Iran], and right now, he is doing the sacrifice for us to come here.”  

It has been a blessing and gift to be at the same program at the same time, Izadian said. It ended up being perfect timing for their family. Sometimes dreams look different than they once were.  

“It helped us to reconnect better to each other and to our commitment to our family,” Izadian said.  “It was really worth it. It was such a great experience to be together. We didn't expect that we can be classmates sitting and having exams together.”  

After being married for 20 years, Izadian said the core to a successful marriage is sticking to family and love, working every day to nourish the love. With a husband who shares her same passion for dentistry, it’s been an incredible journey growing together. She is eager to see what will happen next in their dental pursuits.  

“We can learn from each other, and also when we have the same dream, we can work harder as a team together,” Izadian said. 

Editor's note: All photos were provided by the couples. 

By Rachel Grace Philipson

During this year’s Yankee Dental Congress, the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) community reunited in the alumni lounge, expanded their knowledge with continued education classes, and mingled at the alumni reception.  

Stacey McNamee, director of Alumni Relations & Annual Giving, said it was great to see so many familiar faces during this year’s Yankee Dental Congress, which was held from January 25-27 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. 

“Yankee Dental Congress is the perfect place to catch up with those from the GSDM community and honor everyone who is doing great work in the field,” McNamee said. 

Read on for some highlights from this year’s event. 

Two GSDM alumni inducted into Pierre Fauchard Academy 
Two GSDM alumni were inducted into the Pierre Fauchard Academy during the dental honor society’s annual breakfast meeting on Friday morning. Fellowship in the Pierre Fauchard Academy is by nomination and is designed to honor past accomplishments in dentistry and encourage future productivity. The fellows are selected based on contributions to dental literature, service to the profession, and service to the general community. 

• Michael Mayr CAMED 12 DMD 16 
• Frank Schiano CAS 01 DMD 06 AEGD 07 ORTHO 19 

Six GSDM faculty/alumni named to MDS “10 under Ten” list
GSDM alumni and/or faculty members accounted for more than half of the Massachusetts Dental Society’s (MDS) 2024 “10 under Ten” recipients. The award recognizes dentists who have made significant contributions to the field and have been in the profession for 10 years or less.    

• Matthew Mara DMD 16 AEGD 17 Wheelock 19, assistant professor of general dentistry 
• Dr. Kelly Sayre, assistant professor of oral & maxillofacial surgery 
• Sonya Hasan Wheelock 09 DMD 15 
• Mohammad Abbas Khan DMD 17 
• Hitesh Vij DMD 20 
• Trinh Vo DMD 13 

Catching up in the Alumni Lounge 
The alumni lounge was hopping throughout the three-day conference, welcoming members of the GSDM community and offering them a chance to catch up with each other and to learn more about current happenings at GSDM.  

The GSDM Development & Alumni Relations team stocked the lounge with new giveaway items for alums, including GSDM-branded chip clips, pens, and coffee sleeves. (To learn more about how McNamee prepared for Yankee Dental Congree, check out our “Behind the Scenes” article.)  

“The alumni lounge was as busy as ever,” McNamee said. “Just like every year, at the end of the three days, Yankee Dental is starting to wrap up, and I still have all my alumni mingling in the lounge.”  

GSDM students receive awards from MDS, ACD
Tia Patterson DMD 24 was the GSDM recipient of the Matthew Boylan Award. This award is presented annually during Yankee Dental Congress to a Massachusetts resident and dental student who has provided distinguished service to organized dentistry and the community. 

Patterson has been volunteering with the Boston-based nonprofit organization Community Servings Kitchen since 2019 and is a top 5 percent lifetime volunteer.  

Mary Morcos DMD 24 was this year’s recipient of the American College of Dentists (ACD) Outstanding Student Leader Award. This award is given to one fourth-year dental student from each of the five New England dental schools who represents ACD’s principles of high achievement, strong leadership, and high ethical standards.  

DMD students participate in debate
Julia Dudek DMD 27 and Suleman Shaikh DMD 27 represented GSDM at the 15th Annual Massachusetts Dental Society (MDS) and the American Student Dental Association (ASDA) District 1 Student Debate on Saturday.  

In addition to GSDM, University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, University of New England College of Dental Medicine (UNE), Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, and a pre-dental team competed in the debate.  

GSDM went up against UNE in the first round on the topic of whether tele-dentistry increases access to care or creates new problems. GSDM argued well in favor of the latter position, but UNE ultimately won the round.”

The final round was between UNE and Harvard on the question of whether pediatricians should be trained and reimbursed for providing fluoride varnish. Harvard won the debate.  

Special reunion event for two predoctoral classes
GSDM collaborated with representatives from the predoctoral classes of 2004 and 2007 to plan special reunion events on Thursday for the members of those respective classes—the first time an event of this kind was held during Yankee. Members of both classes enjoyed an evening of mingling and merriment in the private room at MJ O’Connors in the Westin.  

“It’s special to be able to create opportunities for members of a specific class to catch up, especially as Yankee Dental can be so busy,” McNamee said. “We hope to do this type of class-specific event more in the future.”  

Hundreds attend alumni reception
The trademark event of Yankee Dental Congress, the alumni reception, was a huge success, said Amanda Modelevsky, GSDM director of meetings & events.  

More than 500 attendees checked into the alumni reception at the Plaza Ballroom in the Seaport Hotel on Friday, including alumni, current students, faculty, staff, and friends of GSDM.  Modelevsky noted that the members of the school’s Alumni Board helped with check in, using a new electronic process that proved to be quick and efficient. 

“It was such a warm and fun atmosphere at the event on Friday,” Modelevsky said. “It was so nice to see everyone enjoying themselves… signs of a successful event!”  

By Rachel Grace Philipson

Three GSDM alums were named winners of the American Dental Association’s 2024 “10 Under 10” Awards.   

Ana Keohane DMD 16, Dr. Jessica C. Williams DPH 23, and Dr. Austin Lee AEGD 16 were recognized for their significant philanthropy, leadership, and/or advocacy efforts in the dental field. The “10 under 10” awards are given to American Dental Association (ADA) members who graduated dental school less than 10 years ago.  

“I am so proud to see three of our GSDM alums being recognized for the 2024 ADA ‘10 Under 10’ Awards,” Stacey McNamee, director of alumni relations & annual giving, said. “It’s incredible to see our recent graduates already doing amazing work for the dental community.” 

We spoke to the three winners about their win. Here’s what they had to say.

Dr. Ana Keohane DMD 16GSDM Director of Predoctoral Urgent Care and Clinical Associate Professor of General Dentistry 

In addition to her GSDM faculty positions, Keohane is the chair of the Boston District Dental Society Executive Committee and has served as president of the Massachusetts Hispanic Dental Association and treasurer of the Hispanic Dental Association. 

“It is a true honor to receive the ADA ‘10 under 10 Award.’ I am humbled to be recognized for what I have done throughout my dental career. This award inspires and motivates me to continue working hard for our practices, mentor our future dentists, and improve the quality of care for our patients.”

Dr. Jessica C. Williams DPH 23

Williams is a dental public health specialist who worked in rural Iowa as part of the National Health Service Corps. She has worked to improve dental public health on a state and national level by working with organizations including Iowa Public Health Association, American Association of Public Health Dentistry, American Public Health Association, and National Coalition of Dentists for Health Equity.

“I’m very honored to have been selected along with a bright, dynamic group of dentists who are improving dentistry and health care, overall!”

Dr. Austin Lee AEGD 16  

Lee is a restorative dentist and the owner of Orbis Dental Group in San Antonio, Texas. He serves on the board of directors and chairs the New Dentist Committee at the San Antonio District Dental Society. He also serves on the Council on Governance and Peer Review Committee for the Texas Dental Association. 

“I am absolutely honored for this award of ADA 10 under 10. However, these ‘achievements’ always have been and [always] will be a team effort of many great leaders around me. This award shows that our effort in organized dentistry is recognized by others and that we as colleagues, friends, and fellow members of various groups, still have a lot to work to do to make a better tomorrow for dentistry and our profession.”  

By Rachel Grace Philipson 

The lives of every graduate in the GSDM Class of 2024  are about to change, as they prepare to embark on an emerging dental career. The graduates are joining an extensive alumni network of exceptional clinicians, researchers, entrepreneurs, and innovators who are spread across 63 countries and 49 states. We asked GSDM alumni to give motivating advice to the latest GSDM graduates about life after dental school. Here’s what they had to say.  

Note: Featured alumni submitted photos from their commencement days and/or present day. 

Khamir Patel DMD 14

“As you step into the real world of dentistry after leaving Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, remember, this adventure, though it may seem tough, is incredibly rewarding. Your journey isn’t just about fixing teeth; it’s about making a real difference in people’s lives with your unique skills. Dentistry combines science and art in ways that let you improve your patients’ smiles and well-being. Strive to be the best at what you do, and always remain a lifelong student, constantly evolving and learning in your craft. Dive into the challenges with a positive spirit and don’t hesitate to learn from experienced dentists out there. Good luck, and always feel free to lean on the dental community. We’re all here to cheer each other on!”

Kristen Forehand DMD 23

“One of biggest pieces of advice in my limited experience as a dentist is to be humble. You may feel like you know everything coming out of dental school, or feeling confident in particular areas, but you will run into things you’re not sure of. It’s hard to admit that you don’t know how to go about a treatment plan or diagnosis, or how to go about communicating things to the patient. This is where you need to use your resources and hopefully a mentor to guide you through the unknowns so that you can continue to learn every day. There will always be someone who knows more than you. Be humble and understand where you lack to make you better at those things. On top of this, I’ve found that showing my patients I care not only about them but the quality work that I’m providing to them, has helped me build great trust and relationships with patients. Don’t treat them just as another dollar sign but act as though it’s a family member and give your honest advice, even if it’s not what they want to hear. The right patients will appreciate that.”

Zhiqiang Huang DMD 08

“Congratulations to the Class of 2024! Soon, you will be practicing promising and rewarding real-world dentistry without worrying about the intense dental school schedule. However, do not stop learning, as you cannot succeed without continuing to learn. Dentistry is constantly changing. The concepts, techniques, and materials are updated at an incredibly fast pace. While you enjoy treating patients without the need for checks or approval, it is still highly recommended that you find a mentor in the early phase of your career. The best way to find a mentor is to connect with your local GSDM alumni. Your success is our success too.”

Kadambari Rawal AEGD 10 DPH 18
Clinical Associate Professor of General Dentistry

“Don’t look back, changing the past isn’t possible but… give back because the future is in your hands. Give back to your profession, your alma mater and most importantly, to those in need. Taking time out of your busy life to volunteer and participate in outreach will truly bring a smile to a lot of faces including your own. Truly, there’s nothing more rewarding!”

Karen Chileuitt DMD 22

“As you embark on your journey as dental professionals, remember to soak up every moment – from cherished time with friends to invaluable lessons from professors. Engage in social and philanthropic activities, attend lectures, and embrace every opportunity. These experiences will shape you beyond dentistry. Seek out mentors, nurture meaningful connections, and continuously learn from everyone around you. Never cease to ask questions, each question fuels growth. Know that with each day’s dedication, you evolve into a better version of yourself. Embrace this transformative journey, it molds not only your career but your character.”

Mira Khouzam DMD 16

“Being a dentist is a privilege. Approach each day with that mindset. You will have great days and difficult ones. Celebrate your wins, no matter how small, and learn from your mistakes. Be kind to yourself. Define your core values and build a working life that encompasses that. Find yourself a mentor. Establish connections with your peers. Be teachable! Remember, to stay afloat, you have to keep moving! And most of all, enjoy your work and take pride in it, you have worked so hard to be where you are right now!”

Reem Al Shaltoni PROS 23
Clinical Assistant Professor of Restorative Sciences & Biomaterials

“Class of 2024, congratulations on reaching this milestone! As you gear up for your post-dental school journey, remember to cultivate clinical expertise. Continue learning beyond the classroom, staying updated on advancements in dentistry, and honing your skills. Embrace mentorship opportunities to gain insights from experienced professionals. Develop strong communication skills to build rapport with patients and colleagues. Stay resilient amidst challenges and prioritize self-care to maintain your well-being. Most importantly, never lose sight of your passion for improving oral health and enhancing lives through dentistry. Good luck, you’ve got this!”

Tadasha Culbreath DMD 89

“Have a long-term strategy for your career. A beginning, middle and end. Continue to learn those skills you are interested in. Congratulations!!!”

By Rachel Grace Philipson

Fourteen alumni co-presented diplomas to their loved ones during GSDM’s 2024 Convocation Ceremony on Friday, May 17, continuing a tradition first started in 2012.

GSDM allows alumni who are immediate family members (parent, grandparent, sibling, or spouse) of a graduate to co-present the diploma alongside the dean or program chair. Typically, 14-15 alumni participate each year.

Three alumni co-presenters shared with GSDM Communications about what this one-of-a-kind experience meant to them. Here’s what they had to say.

Dr. Alan Friedman PROS 17 said it was wonderful watching his son, Corey R. Friedman DMD 24, receive a doctorate from his alma mater. He is looking forward to seeing his son thrive in the profession.

“As a 1977 BU PROS alumnus, to see your child follow your footsteps by graduating from [your] alma mater with no ‘pushing’ on my part [is] a proud moment,” Friedman said. “He should only enjoy this new endeavor with [the same] enthusiasm and zeal that I have experienced over the years. Dentistry is a physical and mental challenging profession, yet rewarding, and I hope he is ready for the challenge!”

Fadi Fares DMD 95 said co-presenting his son, Jacob Fares CAMED 20 DMD 24, with his diploma will always be one of his most treasured memories.

“It was an experience filled with joy, enthusiasm, and gratitude that I will never forget,” Fares said. “I couldn’t be prouder of Jacob’s accomplishments, a reflection of his dedication, resiliency, perseverance, and hard work.”

Nazila Bidabadi-Hakimi CAS 82 DMD 87 said it was a full-circle moment giving her son, Ardeshir Hakimi DMD 24, his diploma.

“Not only was this a celebration of his great achievement, and the continuation of our family legacy, but also it was a great moment to stand shoulder to shoulder with some of those professors who were involved with my own education at Boston University,” Bidabadi-Hakimi said.

A complete list of the alumni and their respective graduates is as follows:

• Alan Friedman PROS 17 and Corey R. Friedman DMD 24
• Fadi Fares DMD 95 and Jacob Fares CAMED 20 DMD 24
• Nazila Bidabadi-Hakimi CAS 82 DMD 87 and Ardeshir Hakimi DMD 24
• Asia Yip SAR 14 CAMED 15 DMD 19 and Gagan Dhaliwal DMD 19 ENDO 24
• Hiren Patadiya DMD AS 21 and Vrunda Adeshara DMD AS 24
• Pasquale Carpinito DMD 87 and Stephen Carpinito CAS 18 CAMED 19 DMD 24
• Aseel Ismail DMD 21 ORTHO 24 and Ahmad Ismail DMD AS 24
• Tamanna Gandhi DMD 18 ENDO 21 and Raju Gandhi DMD 24
• Persiah Baradar PEDO 23 and Kevin Baradar DMD 24
• Rajesh Agarwal DND AS 16 and Shilpa Agarwal DMD 17 PEDO 24
• Victor Perez PERIO 23 and Angie Perez-Celis PERIO 24
• Bruce Crawford PERIO 90 and Garrett Crawford PERIO 24
• Marjan Fakhri DMD 14, Shahram Navid DMD AS 13 and Bardia Navid CAS 20 DMD 24

By Rachel Grace Philipson

On Saturday, June 8, 60 volunteers from the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM), Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, and Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences provided oral healthcare services to athletes participating in the 2024 Special Olympics Massachusetts Summer Games as part of the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes^® Special Smiles program.

Special Smiles volunteers screened 88 Special Olympics athletes between two stations at the Harvard Athletic Complex, providing instructions on proper brushing and flossing techniques to participating athletes.

“It is the dedication and commitment of our volunteers, students, staff, and faculty alike, that makes events like Special Olympics Healthy Athletes^® Special Smiles possible,” Kathy Lituri, GSDM clinical assistant professor of health policy & health services research, said. “We are confident that the athletes/families/caregivers/coaches they interacted with had a very positive dental experience.”

The Special Olympics Healthy Athletes^® program was started by GSDM alum, Dr. Steve Perlman PEDO 76, in 1993. In its inaugural year, 750 athletes were screened and received access to the healthcare system. The program has since expanded and is currently the largest public health program internationally for patients with intellectual disabilities with eight health disciplines.

Stacey McNamee, GSDM director of alumni relations & annual giving, said Perlman’s dedication to patients with intellectual disabilities remains valuable.

“There is no doubt that the athletes who stopped at the hygiene table loved the puppets and enjoyed learning more about keeping their mouths clean,” McNamee said. “Thanks to our alum, Dr. Steve Perlman PEDO 76, experiences like these helps our students graduate from GSDM knowing how to treat individuals with disabilities.”

Here is what some of this year’s volunteers had to say about their experience:
(Please note: Some quotes were edited/shorten for clarity)

Dr. Haris Asikis, clinical associate professor of General Dentistry and practice Leader for the pre-doctoral patient treatment center, Special Smiles faculty supervisor
“This being the 10th consecutive year of me participating in Special Olympics, [it] gives me a sense that I’m part of something bigger, a team of old and new friends, who share common values like commitment to inclusion, respect and dignity, and building a community of embracing and acceptance.”

Ana Caroline Serrao DMD AS 25, Special Smiles general volunteer
“I have a brother with autism and cerebral palsy, and I want to continuously contribute to events like this.”

Kate Winebrake DMD 25, Special Smiles screener
“I found joy in educating athletes about their oral health in a way that made dentistry feel approachable and even fun. It felt like coming full circle since my high school days when I first volunteered at Special Olympics. My favorite part of my SOSS experience this year was meeting the athletes and hearing their stories. One remarkable athlete shared her 25-year journey with Special Olympics, starting when she was just 8 years old. Witnessing her dedication was a testament to the profound impact of Special Olympics on people’s lives.”

Kadambari (Kady) Rawal, clinical associate professor of general dentistry, Special Smiles faculty supervisor
“[It was great] seeing all the enthusiastic athletes who came to the oral health tent with medals around their necks, with their proud parents & caregivers who told us all about the sports they play and why. [We] noticed that a good percentage of athletes who visited our tent had excellent oral health; It clearly demonstrates what it means to have good access to care. Their caregivers shared with us how they had regular visits to all their healthcare providers to ensure continuity of care. This was good to hear.”

Dr. Joseph Calabrese, associate dean of students and clinical professor of general dentistry, Special Smiles faculty supervisor
“It’s a great opportunity to interact with participants from across the state and share with the athletes and their family members what resources are available for them today. We have come a long way but there is more to do! What is so special is that the joy that we bring to the athletes is only a fraction of what I feel I get in return. The value of being paid in hugs and smiles is priceless. Even after 30 years this is still the community event that I look forward to the most.”

Ana Lorena Izaguirre Sanchez DMD AS 25, general volunteer
“It was a touching experience for me, and I will definitely want to participate next year. I hope we continue to support these activities because they have a positive impact for the athletes.”

Ameer Ahmed DMD 25, screener
“Being able to gain experience working with patients with disabilities is essential in the dental field, and this opportunity provided that. We know how to treat patients with other conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, so treating patients with disabilities should be no different for us. Special Olympics Special Smiles was an incredible learning experience and I urge others to get involved.”

Jennier Chin DMD 25, screener
“My favorite part about participating in Special Olympics Special Smiles was being able to interact with different athletes of all ages. I loved hearing about the sports each individual participated in and how excited they were.”

Paul Wiley DMD 26, general volunteer
“The best part of the event was interacting with all of the athletes and their families! It was a big highlight for them, and we were happy to be a part of it!”

By Rachel Grace Philipson

Dr. Tim Penberthy ENDO 95 was named president of the Idaho State Dental Association (ISDA) for a one-year term, effective July 1.

Penberthy said, in his new role, he is looking forward to continuing supporting local dentists and connecting them with the best resources possible.

“It seems that more and more dentists aren’t wanting to be involved, but we have to have some organized dentistry to help our dentists,” Penberthy said. “I always felt like I should give back to the dentists that were before me and helped get where I am.”

The ISDA, a constituent of the American Dental Association (ADA), aims to empower dental professionals in Idaho to provide high-quality dental healthcare to the public. Penberthy has several short- and long-term goals aligned to this mission that he’d like to achieve over the next year.

One of Penberthy’s aspirations is to ensure that patients receive best value from their dental plans by shifting the state’s dental loss ratio to increase the percentage of dental insurance premiums that a carrier spends on patient care instead of overhead. He also wants to diversify the ISDA’s revenues to reduce its reliance on member dues, and to integrate the dental association with the hygiene and dental assisting associations.

Most importantly, Penberthy wants every dentist in the state of Idaho to feel at home with the ISDA. The association currently represents more than 70 percent of Idaho dental professionals; Penberthy wants to get to 100 percent.

“It doesn’t matter if they’re in private practice or they work for a dental company, we want them all to be members of our association and have a say in how the state runs,” Penberthy said.

Penberthy is a Northwest native and was a dentist in solo practice for five years in Post Falls, Idaho, before attending GSDM for his endodontics residency. Following his commencement in 1995, he said members of ISDA approached him, asking him to get involved. They were persistent, and Penberthy became first a trustee, then president of a local society, and then eventually a member of the ISDA’s executive committee. He said it was easy for him to become involved–and that ease hasn’t changed.

Being involved in a state dental association is more than assisting the current generation, Penberthy said. It’s about fostering a positive dental profession for the next generation–which includes his three children, two of whom– Skylar ‘Grizz’ Penberthy ENDO 22 and Brittney Penberthy—work alongside him at a specialty private practice limited to endodontics in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and Spokane, Washington. His third child, Jeremiah Penberthy, will be starting his GSDM endodontic residency next year.

“It’s our future and we have to take it by the reins,” Penberthy said. “We have to guide our future. Otherwise, someone else will do it for us.”

By Rachel Grace Philipson

GSDM Dean’s Advisory Board member Dr. Mina Paul SPH 96 is expanding her involvement with Boston University with her latest role as a member of the Boston University Alumni Council (BUAC). Paul will attend her first official meeting of the BUAC in October 2023. 

Paul has had a wide range of experiences with BU – ranging from her own studies at SPH and Questrom School of Business to her daughter’s experience as a student at Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies – Paul said she has been impressed with how much value she has been able to contribute to the university as an alumna. She said she is eager to bring her perspectives to the BUAC to support BU and GSDM’s continued growth.  

“It was my work on the Dean's Advisory Board that kind of showed me how important it is to stay involved, and how we can be a resource to support the school and the future of the school,” Paul said. “Since I've been on the Dean's Advisory Board and been so engaged, [as well as] attending other BU functions both as a parent, as a student, and as a member of the Dean's Advisory Board, I've really seen a growth in the entire university that has really impressed me.”  

According to the BUAC website, the council is made up of members who have proven themselves leaders in their careers, communities, and involvement with Boston University. Throughout Paul’s dental career, including in her latest role as administrative dental director of East Boston Neighborhood Center, Paul said she had been offered multiple opportunities for leadership roles and the ability to affect change.  She wants to continue affecting change with the GSDM and next generation of dentists in mind.  

Paul said she noted university decision-making by the executive leadership often affects both the Charles River and Medical Campuses. Paul said it is critical for her to represent GSDM and make sure decisions are made with GSDM in mind. 

“From a dental point of view, I think it's very important to have representation in the university and show how strong GSDM is and how important it is in a variety of ways,” Paul said. “I think it's also an opportunity for me to give back, and I believe very strongly in giving back, whether it's my time or my resources, to support an organization that I believe in.” 

During her time as a BUAC member, her goal is to accurately represent GSDM to members of the rest of the Boston University Medical Campus and Charles River Campus. She said she hopes her concurrent roles on GSDM’s DAB and the BUAC will create a healthy stream of communication between the two organizations and fuel new projects.  

“We're one building - one dental school in the entire university campus,” Paul said. “But, I think what we have accomplished over the years, in terms of alumni engagements, which is evidenced by all the new floors that we have built, the fact that we are a very strong factor in the dental world, in terms of the accomplishments of our faculty, and also how we are portrayed or viewed during the admissions process by prospective students. I think it's very important to share that with the university and have them be well aware that we have a very strong effect in our profession, and are viewed very, very, very positively.”  

 She said she is enthusiastic to further expand the potential of her beloved alma mater.  

“I'm happy to donate my time and any resources that they need, and I'm looking forward really to working with yet another group of the university to get a sense of how the university functions and be able to bring the dental school and the university a little bit closer,” Paul said.  

By Rachel Grace Philipson

Her heartstrings were pulled. That’s what Teresa Grygo DMD 86 felt when she first read about an opening for a dentist to treat people affected by homelessness. Now, after 16 years as the dental director at Healthcare for the Homeless–Houston, Grygo said the role is her true professional calling. 

“Those experiencing homelessness are just like everybody else,” Grygo said. “They are people that have come with their own excellent qualities, and some not so excellent qualities. They're just people who have made mistakes, who have maybe not been in the best situations, [or] have had a bad history. They're just lovable, like everybody. And you just try to see them, see the best in people maybe, and then just have a heart that forgives the worst and a mind that forgets the bad and you just look at them like everybody else.” 

Grygo was honored at the GSDM Alumni Weekend reception in September with the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award. Over 37 years of dental practice, Grygo has worked in private practice, corporate dentistry, and public health, but she said working with patients affected by homelessness has been the most rewarding. She said she accepted the award on behalf of all her patients, as those affected by homelessness tend to be “invisible,” and this was her way of making them seen.  

“I accepted the award wholehearted and very gratefully, because I just think that God gave me such an opportunity to help people in such a unique way,” Grygo said.

As the dental director at Healthcare for the Homeless–Houston (HHH), Grygo handles the clinical oversight of all dental care and services within the organization. The organization’s mission is to promote health, hope, and dignity for those affected by homelessness through accessible and comprehensive high-quality care. The organization provides care to anyone who needs it, regardless of their ability to pay. 

In Grygo’s remarks after accepting the alumni award, she said it can be emotionally strenuous working with patients affected by homelessness, as she is not only treating teeth; she is also mending troubled, scared, and vulnerable hearts. 

“I remember thinking to myself: My name is Teresa and I’m a mother, I can be like Mother Teresa! [I am] still working on that one,” she said. “I can honestly say that I had found my niche. I was there not only to restore teeth and smiles but also to build relationships, to serve the brokenhearted, to create a place of healing and learning. I was there to do wonderful things, and I found fulfillment and life, life in abundance.”  

For those trying to find their own dental niche, Grygo said one doesn’t have to be a dental director to treat those experiencing homelessness. She said she encourages people within the dental community–from pre-dental students to those who have already graduated/currently practicing–to volunteer, go on mission trips, and/or find a community health centers. She said she hopes others will feel inspired to work with those experiencing homelessness, as they are incredible individuals worthy of high-quality dental care.  

“It is such a beautiful experience,” Grygo said. “You don't have to go out of the country to experience it, but it's so heartwarming just to be able to reach out and just help that person that really, really needs it. It's very special.”  

By Rachel Grace Philipson

On Saturday, June 8, 60 volunteers from the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM), Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, and Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences provided oral healthcare services to athletes participating in the 2024 Special Olympics Massachusetts Summer Games as part of the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes^® Special Smiles program.

Special Smiles volunteers screened 88 Special Olympics athletes between two stations at the Harvard Athletic Complex, providing instructions on proper brushing and flossing techniques to participating athletes.

“It is the dedication and commitment of our volunteers, students, staff, and faculty alike, that makes events like Special Olympics Healthy Athletes^® Special Smiles possible,” Kathy Lituri, GSDM clinical assistant professor of health policy & health services research, said. “We are confident that the athletes/families/caregivers/coaches they interacted with had a very positive dental experience.”

The Special Olympics Healthy Athletes^® program was started by GSDM alum, Dr. Steve Perlman PEDO 76, in 1993. In its inaugural year, 750 athletes were screened and received access to the healthcare system. The program has since expanded and is currently the largest public health program internationally for patients with intellectual disabilities with eight health disciplines.

Stacey McNamee, GSDM director of alumni relations & annual giving, said Perlman’s dedication to patients with intellectual disabilities remains valuable.

“There is no doubt that the athletes who stopped at the hygiene table loved the puppets and enjoyed learning more about keeping their mouths clean,” McNamee said. “Thanks to our alum, Dr. Steve Perlman PEDO 76, experiences like these helps our students graduate from GSDM knowing how to treat individuals with disabilities.”

Here is what some of this year’s volunteers had to say about their experience:
(Please note: Some quotes were edited/shorten for clarity)

Dr. Haris Asikis, clinical associate professor of General Dentistry and practice Leader for the pre-doctoral patient treatment center, Special Smiles faculty supervisor
“This being the 10th consecutive year of me participating in Special Olympics, [it] gives me a sense that I'm part of something bigger, a team of old and new friends, who share common values like commitment to inclusion, respect and dignity, and building a community of embracing and acceptance.”

Ana Caroline Serrao DMD AS 25, Special Smiles general volunteer
“I have a brother with autism and cerebral palsy, and I want to continuously contribute to events like this.”

Kate Winebrake DMD 25, Special Smiles screener
“I found joy in educating athletes about their oral health in a way that made dentistry feel approachable and even fun. It felt like coming full circle since my high school days when I first volunteered at Special Olympics. My favorite part of my SOSS experience this year was meeting the athletes and hearing their stories. One remarkable athlete shared her 25-year journey with Special Olympics, starting when she was just 8 years old. Witnessing her dedication was a testament to the profound impact of Special Olympics on people’s lives.”

Kadambari (Kady) Rawal, clinical associate professor of general dentistry, Special Smiles faculty supervisor
“[It was great] seeing all the enthusiastic athletes who came to the oral health tent with medals around their necks, with their proud parents & caregivers who told us all about the sports they play and why. [We] noticed that a good percentage of athletes who visited our tent had excellent oral health; It clearly demonstrates what it means to have good access to care. Their caregivers shared with us how they had regular visits to all their healthcare providers to ensure continuity of care. This was good to hear.”

Dr. Joseph Calabrese, associate dean of students and clinical professor of general dentistry, Special Smiles faculty supervisor
“It's a great opportunity to interact with participants from across the state and share with the athletes and their family members what resources are available for them today. We have come a long way but there is more to do! What is so special is that the joy that we bring to the athletes is only a fraction of what I feel I get in return. The value of being paid in hugs and smiles is priceless. Even after 30 years this is still the community event that I look forward to the most.”

Ana Lorena Izaguirre Sanchez DMD AS 25, general volunteer
“It was a touching experience for me, and I will definitely want to participate next year. I hope we continue to support these activities because they have a positive impact for the athletes.”

Ameer Ahmed DMD 25, screener
“Being able to gain experience working with patients with disabilities is essential in the dental field, and this opportunity provided that. We know how to treat patients with other conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, so treating patients with disabilities should be no different for us. Special Olympics Special Smiles was an incredible learning experience and I urge others to get involved.”

Jennier Chin DMD 25, screener
“My favorite part about participating in Special Olympics Special Smiles was being able to interact with different athletes of all ages. I loved hearing about the sports each individual participated in and how excited they were.”

Paul Wiley DMD 26, general volunteer
“The best part of the event was interacting with all of the athletes and their families! It was a big highlight for them, and we were happy to be a part of it!”

By Rachel Grace Philipson

Gina Terenzi CAS 86 DMD 91 and Dr. Michelle Henshaw SPH 96 DPH 07, GSDM associate dean for global & population health, were presented with the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award for Service to the Community at the GSDM Alumni Weekend reception in September.

The Distinguished Alumni Awards are the highest award GSDM presents to alums for their outstanding service to the university, dental profession, and/or community.

“To both our awardees, we are honored by your achievements and proud that you both have been recognized as distinguished alums,” said Dean Cataldo Leone at the reception, noting that it was a “privilege” to present the 2024 awards to two such outstanding individuals.

Gina Terenzi CAS 86 DMD 91: Once a Terrier, Always a Terrier

The Boston University experience isn’t just about receiving an education; it’s also about building a community. And Terenzi couldn’t be more thankful for the endless support she’s received from her community of fellow Terriers.

While she is technically a double Terrier, completing both a BA and a DMD at Boston University, Terenzi sees herself as a “triple plus Terrier legacy” because her father, Antonio Terenzi Wheelock 62, went to BU and she married her husband, Tony, at BU’s Marsh Chapel.

“Over time… the more doors opened to me, and I’m convinced it’s because of the BU connection,” Terenzi said in her Distinguished Alumni Award acceptance speech. “The doors led me to cherish the values of excellent training and the importance of the commitment we all have to do right for the patients and communities we care for.

After graduating from GSDM in 1991, Terenzi completed post-graduate training in general dentistry and then went into private practice. From there, she decided to enter dental academia, first as an associate clinical professor in the Department of Dentistry at St. Francis Hospital and then as a clinical instructor at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in 1998. Terenzi is still at Tufts, and is currently the assistant dean of graduate clinic affairs, associate program director of the Advanced Education in General Dentistry program (AEGD), associate director of the general practice residency in dentistry (GPR), and a professor of public health. (Terenzi was the program director for both the AEGD and GPR for 25 years, and recently stepped down to the associate level.)

She said becoming assistant dean was one of the most meaningful professional accomplishments, particularly since both of her parents worked in education.

“Being invited to be an assistant dean was very significant because it meant that my colleagues trusted me,” Terenzi said. “With my parents being in education, I thought, wow, this is such a nice honor, they would’ve been so proud of me to see that [their] daughter rose to that [level] in education.”

Terenzi has received numerous awards and recognitions for her contributions, including the Tufts University President’s Distinction Award as a “Champion of Collaboration” and the ADEA Gies Award for Clinical Excellence as a team member at the Tufts Dental Facilities for Special Needs. While Terenzi has been deeply honored by these accolades, including the GSDM Distinguished Alumni Award, she said she never sought out to win awards. Her goal was to make a positive impact in the dental profession–and she will continue to do so.

“You can’t try to be great… You have to be passionate about what you do and what you’re trying to help your patients achieve,” Terenzi said. “At some point it, it works out. If you’re truly passionate, it’s recognized by others as being an impact on either other people or the community that you’re working with.”

Dr. Michelle Henshaw SPH 96 DPH 07, GSDM associate dean for global & population health: The Best is Yet to Come

Dr. Henshaw’s personal philosophy is that the only way to change the future of the profession is to help shape the dentists of tomorrow.

Looking back at her career, Henshaw said she is proud of her ability to foster the growth of GSDM’s global & population health office and adapt dental school curricula to give GSDM students numerous opportunities to be exposed to hands-on work within the greater Boston area early in their education.

“I want to continue to enhance the DMD curriculum in ways that provide our students the best experiential education possible and to form a continuum of didactic and experiential education that that provides them the opportunity to explore all different paths of dentistry and prepares them to be the best dental professionals they can be – whatever path they choose,” Henshaw said.

Like Terenzi, Henshaw is also a double Terrier, having completed an MPH at the School of Public Health and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Dental Public Health at GSDM. She joined the GSDM faculty in 1996 as an assistant professor in the Division of Dental Care Management–and has only expanded her responsibilities over the past three decades. She is now the GSDM associate dean for global & population health and a professor of health policy & health services research.

Henshaw has received numerous awards and recognitions for her work, including the school’s Spencer N. Frankl Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2000, the ADEA William J. Gies Award for Innovation in 2011, and the UCSF 150th Anniversary Alumni Excellence Award in 2014. Henshaw was honored to receive this year’s GSDM Distinguished Alumni Award, viewing it as a boost of support for all dental public health professionals.

“Being recognized as an alum from the Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study program was meaningful because I think it shows support [for] not only for me but for the field of dental public health,” Henshaw said.

Henshaw said receiving this distinction also serves as a reminder that the role of being a dental professional never stops. She is excited to keep playing a role in how the profession–and GSDM–continues to adapt.

“This award is not just a recognition of past achievements, but also a reminder of the responsibility we all carry as alumni of this great institution,” Henshaw said in her acceptance speech. “It inspires me to continue giving back to our school and the profession. I look forward to continuing to make a positive impact in our field, and I’m excited about what the future has in store for all of us.”

By Rachel Grace Philipson

Veterans Day is observed annually on November 11 to honor all who have previously and are currently serving in the United States Armed Forces. The day is also an opportunity to acknowledge military members for their courage, dedication, and sacrifice.

Military dentists play a crucial role in maintaining combat readiness in the different branches of the United States Armed Forces. Some of their key responsibilities include providing preventive/routine oral healthcare and treating dental injuries from combat or training.

For this Veterans Day, GSDM Communications spoke to three GSDM alumni from different branches of the U.S. Armed Forces (Air Force, Navy and Army) about the time with the military.

Patrick Ralph DMD 92: U.S. Air Force 
Dental Commander of 307th Medical Group 

Being a part of the United States Armed Forces is in Ralph’s DNA: his great-grandfather served in the U.S. Army during the Spanish-American War; his father was a fireman and photographer in the Navy; his uncle was a dental technician in the Navy; and multiple of his siblings serve in various branches as well.  

Ralph first joined the United States Air Force Security Forces after he graduated from high school. He is currently the dental commander of 307th Medical Group at the Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana.  

Being in the military wasn’t Ralph’s sole professional goal. He comes from a big family—one of eight siblings—and oral healthcare was not a priority growing up. His first dentist appointment was at age 11 at a dental office above a supermarket that prioritized pulling teeth instead of treating them. Ralph was distraught at this type of care and made the decision that he had to become a dentist himself to provide better care to others.  

He went on to receive his bachelor's degree in microbiology from the Xavier University of Louisiana in 1988 and his DMD from GSDM in 1992, partly thanks to being a National Health Service Corps loan recipient. (Ralph is a former member of the United States Health Service Corps where he provided pediatric care to underserved communities in New York.) He credits the U.S. military, and particularly his extensive work in the Air Force, for allowing him to achieve his dental dreams.  

“Not only has the Air Force given me an avenue to achieve success, but it also has impacted me both psychologically, emotionally, and intellectually,” Ralph said. “I truly believe that as a senior enlisted officer, there's not anything more that I can attribute to my life other than even say thank you to the military because without it, I wouldn't have had an education and I don't think I would've had the discipline that that's required to achieve the success I've had.” 

Throughout his military career, Ralph said he has made it a priority to educate Air Force personnel on the importance of taking care of themselves holistically, ranging from physical and mental needs, to help make sure they are combat ready.  

“The thing that's always amazing when you see very young airmen come in and they have no clue about oral healthcare and how it affects the rest of the body,” Ralph said.  

He has taken this holistic mindset to his civilian job at his pediatric dental practice, Passionate Dental Wellness, in Houston, Texas. Passionate Dental Wellness is Houston’s only pediatric holistic dental practice, meaning the practice focuses on oral health, physical health, and the mental wellbeing of their patients. Despite the clear differences between military and civilian pediatric dentistry, Ralph said everyone should use a holistic mindset for their healthcare.  

“In the military, you have to be disciplined, consistent and transparent,” Ralph said. “More importantly, you have to be loyal and have incredible integrity. Those core values that you learned in the military--it all just becomes automatic in your civilian life.”  

Kristi Erickson DMD 04: U.S. Navy
Assistant Professor and Operative Specialty Leader

Erickson has moved seven times in a Navy career that’s lasted more than 20 years—and she wouldn’t have it any other way. 

She was first commissioned as an ensign in the Navy Reserves via the Health Services Program Scholarship. She entered an inactive status while she completed the four-year DMD program at GSDM. After she graduated in 2004, she was commissioned as a lieutenant and has been in active duty ever since.  

Erickson completed a residency in general dentistry at Naval Dental Center Great Lakes in 2005. She went on to become a department head onboard the USS Tortuga (LSD-46) and USS Fort McHenry (LSD-43), running the equivalent of a solo general dental practice, for four years.  

In this role, Erickson experienced one of her biggest career highlights: being on the first ship up the Mississippi River to provide healthcare assistance in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.  

“Hurricane Katrina relief was definitely amazing and fulfilling and exemplified the fact that yes, I'm a dentist, but I was [also] a naval officer and a healthcare provider,” Erickson said. “I could work outside of what I'd been trained for and still feel successful.”

She has gone on to serve in numerous roles, including, but not limited to, assistant division officer in the Oral Diagnosis and Restorative Divisions, restorative division officer, and dental clinic department head of USS Osborne and Naval Medical Center Portsmouth assistant director and director of the advanced education in general dentistry program. As of June 2023, Erickson transferred to the Navy Medicine Leadership and Professional Development Command in Bethesda, MD, and joined the staff at the Naval Postgraduate Dental School, also in Bethesda, as a member of their full-time faculty. She teaches operative dentistry to endodontic, prosthodontic, and general dental residents.  

Erickson said there are many reasons why she enjoys being a U.S. Navy dental office, but she said her patients are the primary one. She is thankful that she can provide much needed dental care unhindered by finances.  

“We do the best we can to get our patients ready,” Erickson said. “Our patients are some of the most deserving patients who we have. We [sometimes] operate sometimes in really austere conditions, but we're still going to provide world class dentistry.”  

Dr. Tadros M. Tadros ENDO 17: U.S. Army  
Major of 804th Medical Brigade 

In 2018, Tadros first enlisted in the U.S. Army because he wanted to assist underserved communities. In August 2024, his dedication to the military was recognized as he was promoted to major in the US Army Reserve Dental Corps. He serves at the 804th Medical Brigade at Fort Devens, Massachusetts.  

As major, he is the sole dentist in this brigade overseeing the dental readiness for soldiers in New England. He said this is a significant milestone in his military career and he is eager to continue to serve in this capacity.   

“I think [being in the army has been] one of best the greatest experiences in my life to be part of such a supportive and great environment and people to be serving with,” Tadros said.  

Tadros’ civilian dental pursuits involve his multi-location dental practice in New Hampshire called Elite Endodontics of NH. He specializes in root canal treatments using state-of-the-art technology, including cone beam 3D imaging and conscious sedation. Tadros said his military background helps his civilian managerial approaches and vice versa.  

“When you're involved in a leadership capacity, you learn a lot about managing personnel [and] making important decisions on the go,” Tadros said.  “[My military and civilian duties] complement each other, and they help me to achieve good in both positions.”  

Tadros couldn’t pinpoint a single military career highlight—and that’s because everything he has done with the U.S. Army has been helping a great cause.  

“The whole experience is very rewarding and fulfilling,” Tadros said. “When you go on a dental mission, you're providing dental care to communities and rural areas that don't have dental services available or even affordable. We participate in making sure that our soldiers are ready and deployable at any time to go overseas to perform tasks. If we don't make sure that they are ready and treated, that could affect  the overall mission of the Army.”  

He urged dental professionals to be open minded about pursuing military roles. Tadros said he has learned and grown in innumerable ways over the past six years. He can’t wait to see what happens next—and that this internal improvement can be bestowed upon anyone who decides to serve.  

“I always encourage people to like to look at these options, look at what they can do, and to not be scared," Tadros said. 

By Rachel Grace Philipson

Thirty-two members of the GSDM community were inducted over the last few months into three prominent dental honor societies: the Pierre Fauchard Academy, the International College of Dentists, and the American College of Dentists.  

Pierre Fauchard Academy and the American College of Dentists recognized six and 10 GSDM community members respectively at ADA SmileCon 2024 in October. Sixteen GSDM alumni and faculty were sworn in as new inductees of the International College of Dentists in September at an event in Nashville, Tennessee.  

Pierre Fauchard Academy

• Cherae Farmer DPH 14
• Iqbal Petker DMD 94
• Karen Robinson DMD 86
• Jignesh Rudani DMD 17
• Jawad Tawil Implant 01
• Anchita Venkatesh DMD 18 

American College of Dentists

• Arifa Bakerywala DMD 18
• Jobren Dingle DMD 17
• Margaret Errante (faculty)
• Laurie Fleisher DMD 81 ENDO 83
• Russel Giordano (faculty)
• Mark Hartzler DMD 12
• Peixi Liao PROS 18
• Sara Sheikh DMD 14
• Marcelo Suzuki (faculty)
• Tadros Tadros ENDO 17 

International College of Dentists

• Mohammed Ahmed PROS 22
• Dayana Escobar (faculty)
• Daniel Feit PROS 96
• Michael Ferguson DMD 89 AEGD 90
• Angelica Gil-Levin (faculty)
• Theresa Guanci SAR 09 CAMED 10 DMD 14
• Swati Gupta DMD 23
• Eyad Haidar DMD 95 PROS 97
• Sandip Ladani DMD 16
• Michael Mayr CAMED 12 DMD 16
• Jignesh Rudani DMD 17
• Edward Suh DMD 02
• Marcelo Suzuki (faculty)
• Anchita Venkatesh DMD 18
• Garrett Wingrove DMD 17 ENDO 26
• Carol Yun DMD 87  

 Inductees are listed by organization in alphabetical order

Eight GSDM community members were appointed to the newly established Massachusetts Special Commission on Oral Health earlier this year. The Commision is tasked with studying oral diseases in the Commonwealth, identifying gaps in care, and developing strategic plans to address barriers to care.  

Dr. Matthew Horan, Massachusetts department of public health office of oral health dental director and GSDM instructor of general dentistry, said the Special Commission on Oral Health will allow a variety of experts, critical partners, and oral health advocates to develop and share statewide oral health needs assessment findings and recommendations.  

“Good oral health is required to achieve overall health and wellness,” Horan said. “Dental care is and must be a part of overall healthcare. Unresolved problems with oral health including tooth decay, gum disease, or other oral diseases, create health inequities in our state that can impact everyone.”  

We spoke to some of the GSDM-affiliated appointees about what they hope to accomplish on the commission. Here’s what they had to say. 

Dr. Meredith Bailey QST 23
Clinical Assistant Professor of General Dentistry and Group Practice Leader for the predoctoral Patient Treatment Center

“I am honored to serve on the Massachusetts Special Commission on Oral Health. I look forward to positively contributing with my experience in strategic planning, passion for ethics and ethical integration of technology in dentistry, and commitment to advancing public health. Together, we can collaborate and provide solutions to eliminate barriers and improve oral health outcomes for all residents of the Commonwealth.”

Hussam Batal DMD 98 OMFS 03 
Clinical Professor of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery  

“Being selected as a member of the MA Special Commission on Oral Health is a true honor. I look forward to collaborating with committee members across multiple disciplines and institutions to advance Oral Health for the citizens of the Commonwealth.” 

 Gina Terenzi CAS 86 DMD 91 

“It is an honor to be chosen to serve on the MA Special Commission on Oral Health. I am committed to the education and training of dentists who will be the future of public health in dental care. The needs of our special care and at-risk populations are many, and I will look forward to working with a group that shares a common goal to improve Massachusetts dental health programs.”  

Grace Hsieh Christianson SAR 19 DMD 24 

“Being appointed as a member of the Special Commission on Oral Health is a tremendous honor and responsibility! I am excited to help contribute to identifying gaps in access to oral health care as well as developing and proposing plans to improve oral health statewide. I am very thankful for this unique opportunity and hope to provide a dental student and dental resident perspective. I look forward to working alongside dedicated professionals to make a meaningful difference in Massachusetts.”  

Dr. Michelle Henshaw SPH 96 DPH 07
Associate Dean for Global & Population Health and Professor of Health Policy & Health Services Research 

“I am looking forward to working alongside such a talented and diverse group of individuals who are all committed to improving oral health in different segments of the population by using as many different perspectives as possible.” 

Dr. Myron Allukian Jr. 
Clinical Assistant Professor of Health Policy & Health Services Research 

“This Commission gives us the opportunity to assess our oral health needs statewide and what needs to be done to improve the oral health of our residents with a focus on prevention and access, especially for the most vulnerable. Having initiated the 2000 Special Commission and having helped write the 1968 Commission Report, I have high expectations for the 2024 Commission’s impact.”  

Other members of the GSDM community on the new Commission include Dr. Catherine Hayes, clinical professor of health policy & health services research and Dr. Siobhian Sprott, clinical assistant professor of pediatric dentistry.   

By Rachel Grace Philipson