“The World is Ready for You:” GSDM Predoctoral Class of 2025 Recognition and Awards Dinner Toasts to Passion and Perseverance
Fifty-eight awards were presented to members of the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine Class of 2025 during the Predoctoral Class of 2025 Recognition and Awards Dinner on Thursday, May 15, held at Boston University’s Agganis Arena.
“You have been an extraordinary class,” Dean Cataldo Leone said. “We commend you for your perseverance and thank you for your partnership in achieving our mutual goals.”
Associate Dean of Students Dr. Joseph Calabrese said the members of the Class of 2025 were about to earn the most valuable award that they will ever receive.
“The Class of 2025 will be remembered most for the way the two classes grew together during their two- or four-year journeys,” Calabrese said. “Together, you have both persevered and now these two special groups of amazing young doctors have bonded together to become a part of the Boston University Dental School family.”
GSDM Alumni Association President Hongsheng Liu DMD 10 ENDO 12 said the Class of 2025 was about to join a big supportive family—the GSDM alumni community. He said his fellow GSDM alumni are always willing to lend a helping hand and are a simple click away on BU Connects, the professional networking platform exclusively for Boston University alumni, students, faculty, and staff.
“This school is not just where you learn dentistry; It’s where you grew, struggled, laughed, and yes, sometimes cried,” Liu said. “It’s where you made lifelong friendships and built memories that will stay with you forever. GSDM is more than a school; It’s a family. And no matter where life brings you, it always will be.”
The evening’s two student speakers—Rama Hakim DMD AS 25 and Han Chao Shi DMD 25—were chosen based on nominations from their peers:
Hakim said that, for members of the Advanced Standing class, their GSDM journey wasn’t about becoming dentists, but about becoming dentists again–this time in a new country. She said the Class of 2025 didn’t hide from this challenge, but rather rose to the occasion and thrived. Together, they supported each other professionally and personally through exams, treatment plans, homesickness, and parenthood, noting that 14 members of the class welcomed a child during the program.
“We will walk across the stage not only with a degree, but with something even more powerful,” Hakim said. “We walk forward as global citizens of dental medicine shaped by sacrifice, fueled by resilience, and held together by pressure.”
Shi shared that the following day’s commencement ceremony would be his first-ever in-person ceremony, as he was unable to attend his bachelor’s and master’s ceremonies due to COVID-19 regulations at the time. He was grateful to have the ability to celebrate his and fellow classmates’ achievements with GSDM faculty, staff, and their loved ones.
“As we go out into the world, we will become leaders in our communities,” Shi said. “We will be the ones to shape the world around us and be the frontline in treating the needs of our patients beyond just oral health. But through it all, I hope we’ll be there for each other as we were during our time at Boston University. We are a tightknit class with a bond that will last forever, so despite wherever we might end up, I know we’ll still be there for one another.”
Before the student speakers left the stage, Hakim and Shi surprised the crowd by revealing two hidden glasses from under the podium and raising one final toast to their classmates.
“I propose a toast to the wonderful memories and to a bright and bold future ahead,” Shi said. “The world is ready for you. Congratulations, doctor. I love you all.”
Sixty-three awards were presented throughout the evening, including five awards given to GSDM faculty/staff.
A full list of individuals recognized at the dinner is available here.
To read our full commencement coverage, please visit the Commencement 2025 page.
Check out our 2025 Awards Dinner album on Flickr to see more photos.