Message from Alumni Association President

Dear Fellow Alumni,

When I joined the Alumni Board five years ago it was because I wanted to make a difference for the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) alumni. I have always felt that our alumni are an extremely important part of GSDM. The education we received at the School has given us an amazing foundation on which to build our professional lives. I am continuously amazed at how well our alumni have done throughout the world.

What I have seen is that our alumni are inventors, teachers, oral health care providers, deans of dental schools, researchers, philanthropists, administrators, entrepreneurs, and lawyers. Our alumni have big hearts and care about their patients, communities, the dental students, their staff, and each other. Our profession is important to us. This is what helps to make us happy.

I have enjoyed teaching at the School for the past 25 years. One of the realities I have found as faculty is that just when we get to know the students well, it is time for them to graduate. It is time for them to start the next stage of their lives—we would not have it any other way, but we miss them.

The really great thing about being Alumni Board president is that I get to go to many areas of the country to be a part of the events that we have planned for our alumni. There is no doubt in my mind that an increase in alumni participation will increase our standing as a school of dental medicine and as a University. Dean Hutter, the School, and the Alumni Association are working hard to make all of the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine graduates feel connected to the School and their fellow alumni. With this in mind we have made the commitment to have signature events on an annual basis. Some of these events are already planned for next year. In June we will have a Napa, California, event. Several events will also be planned in the New England area, as well, since 1,700 alumni are in Massachusetts alone. September 21–23, 2012, will be Reunion Weekend for Boston University and the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine.

The School and Alumni Association have planned several events for the dental students. We want the students to feel a part of the Boston University family from their very first days at GSDM. For the last two years, Dean and Mrs. Hutter have welcomed all the incoming DMD and AS students at informal gatherings at their home. The Alumni Association hosts lunch for the incoming post-doctoral students during Orientation week and we have alumni who sponsor what have become annual events for the incoming students. The Alumni Association also sponsors end-of-year events for each dental class to acknowledge their accomplishment and show our support.

We know it is important to engage our students from day one. The last two years, the graduating students have shown how much they appreciate the School by making class gifts. This is an exciting time to be an alum of the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine!

Sincerely,

Tina M. Valades DMD 84
Alumni Association President