Three Grateful Graduates Show Appreciation to Inspirational GSDM Faculty and Staff
Behind every successful GSDM graduate are dedicated faculty and staff members who support them throughout their dental school journey. This guidance starts on day one, but the kind words and thoughtful actions from faculty and staff stay with students long after Commencement.
On the eve of Commencement, three members of the Class of 2025 shared stories about a GSDM faculty or staff member who inspired them and pushed them to be the best dental professional they could be.
Juan Ruiz DMD 25: Nana Phillips, Group Practice Patient Coordinator
The GSDM predoctoral patient treatment center is a fast-paced environment for students, faculty, staff, and patients alike. Juan Ruiz DMD 25 said Nana Phillips, group practice patient coordinator, works incredibly hard to maintain a calm presence.
“She is in constant [pressure], dealing not only with the students, but also with the patients [and] faculty,” Ruiz said. “She’s always receiving a lot of requests and demands from everybody. The way she handles it, how she’s always with a smile on her face, no matter if it is a huge line in front of her, that’s something that is admirable.”
Ruiz talks to Phillips frequently during any given week. He said she takes the time to help every student with a smile on her face.
As he launches his dental career, Ruiz said he plans to use Phillips’ mantra of going with the flow, trying to do things as best as possible, and always be smiling. He learned through her actions that being cranky doesn’t help anyone; it just makes stressful situations worse.
“No matter how difficult the situation is, keeping a smile on your face goes beyond whatever you are doing,” Ruiz said. “It makes a huge difference. It changes the whole interaction. Keeping that happiness regardless of how stressful it is at the moment is something that everybody should learn from. It is contagious.”
He hopes Phillips will continue to assist and inspire fellow predoctoral students like himself.
“I hope she stays [at GSDM] long because the work she does is valuable for the school [and] for the students,” Ruiz said. “I don’t think that we could be able to graduate [without her]. She’s a vital part of the whole process for us.”
Yohana Gonzalez Perez DMD AS 25: Steven Mollica DMD 89, Clinical Assistant Professor of General Dentistry, Recipient of the 2025 Spencer N. Frankl Award for Excellence in Teaching
Dedication, compassion, and the importance of serving others—that’s what Yohana Gonzalez Perez DMD AS 25 said she learned from Steven Mollica DMD 89, clinical assistant professor of general dentistry.
She said Mollica’s unwavering dedication to dental students’ growth and success has inspired her to be an empathic dental professional.
“He consistently went above and beyond his responsibilities to provide support and guidance,” Perez said. “His actions profoundly impacted my journey by helping me believe in myself during challenging moments and become a better dentist and person.”
When Perez had a severe allergic reaction to a temporary resin acrylic in the Simulation Learning Center (SLC), Mollica consistently checked in on her recovery progress and helped prepare her for an upcoming exam.
“Because of this allergy, I was unable to take the exam with my classmates, but he took the time to help me prepare and made sure no one around me was using that material during my time in the SLC,” Perez said. “His support gave me the confidence to push through and succeed. This experience reinforced the importance of perseverance and self-belief—values I hope to carry into my dental practice.”
Perez said the advice Mollica gave will stay with her even after graduation. He once told her to “always trust in your abilities and never hesitate to seek help when you need it.” That wisdom is going to motivate her throughout the rest of her career.
“His dedication has not only shaped my professional skills but also motivated me to extend the same level of care and support to my future patients and colleagues,” Perez said. “He has set a high standard of excellence and compassion that I strive to emulate.”
Megan Kelly DMD 25: Chelly Fianza, Patient Coordinator
Having a genuine compassion for others makes a monumental difference in a clinical setting, Megan Kelly DMD 25 said the hard work and enthusiasm demonstrated by Chelly Fianza, a patient coordinator, has been influential throughout her DMD program.
“She always has a smile on her face no matter what challenges she’s navigating,” Kelly said. “She goes above and beyond to help students and patients in any way she can.”
When Kelly was on her oral surgery rotation, she had a patient scheduled for a same-day denture appointment. On the day of the appointment, the denture hadn’t arrived yet at the oral surgery clinics and the team were trying to locate it. Kelly said Fianza went out of her way to find the denture and the patient was able to get their same-day denture–all thanks to Fianza’s efforts.
“Her actions demonstrated to me the importance of two key principles: dentistry is a team sport, and we should never label an issue as ‘someone else’s problem,’” Kelly said. “We can and should do what we can to help.”
Going forward, Kelly said she is going to keep Fianza’s optimism in mind as she enters the dental profession.
“Her positive outlook and genuine care for the students and patients she interacts with is evident every day,” Kelly said. “She wonderfully exemplifies how far a smile can go.”
To read our full commencement coverage, please visit our commencement 2025 page.