25 Members of GSDM Community Join Ranks of OKU
The Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) Lambda Mu Chapter of Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society (OKU) held its 6th annual OKU Induction Ceremony on Thursday, May 9, 2013, at the Metcalf Trustee Ballroom. The induction was presided over by Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter, OKU chapter President Dr. Stephen Polins, and Secretary Ms. Catherine Sarkis. This year 22 graduating students, 2 faculty members, and 1 honorary member were inducted into OKU.
The student inductees included: Anca Aurelia Andronesi, Varun Arya, Nicholas Ray Baldelli, Anne Elizabeth Barnes, Christopher Robert Bickford, Michael Griffith Donovan, John Houston Greiner, Misi Huang, Michael Yury Kobakov, Hilary Jean Linton, Shuxin Liu, Nadia Malik, Martha Lucia Neely, Olutayo Adepeju Odusanwo, Fransheska Ovalles, Caitlin Marie Reddy, Danny Tse On Shum, Marjorie Silva Rapose, Melissa Michelle Smith, Taylor Nicholas Snider, Prachi Shridhar Sontakke, and Heni Tufa. Faculty inductees were Dr. Shiro Kamachi, Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of General Dentistry and Dr. Steven M. Morgano, Professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences & Biomaterials. Mr. Andrew Burke, Associate Director for Facilities & Operations, was inducted as an honorary member.
“There are few things in life that we can be as sure of other than facing a future that will challenge you to test more than just your skills in clinical dentistry. Your character and your ethical and professional foundation will be challenged as well,” said Dr. Polins. He continued:
Given the issues that exist in our current and future state of the health care system, you will be called upon to not only competently manage your patients’ oral health status, but to also fulfill the social contract that you will have with your communities. Fundamental to demonstrating the commitment to be responsible health care professionals is the reminder that although we are often identified as persons of action, we should never stop being persons of reflection. It is only through self-reflection and life-long learning that each of us can evaluate objectively and adjust accordingly while keeping our own and our patients’ best interests the primary goal.
Dean Hutter said, “As your Dean, I take personal pride in your accomplishment and I extend to each of the 22 student inductees, the 2 faculty inductees, and our honorary inductee my heartfelt congratulations.”
Inductees received OKU stoles to be worn at Commencement, certificates, and a symbolic key signifying their election to the prestigious national dental honor society.
“You are the best of the best and I know that I speak for the entire faculty and staff of the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine when I say that we feel privileged and deeply gratified that you made the decision to attend our School and while doing so set a standard of excellence for all of your classmates to emulate,” said Dean Hutter.
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