“Joining a Legacy:” Annual White Coat Ceremony Welcomes DMD 27 and DMD AS 26 Classes into GSDM Patient Treatment Center
Members of the Doctor of Dental Medicine Class of 2027 and the Doctor of Dental Medicine Advanced Standing Class of 2026 marked the half-way points in the dental educations on Friday, June 27, when they received their white coats during GSDM’s annual White Coat Ceremony, which celebrates the students’ entrance into the school’s Patient Treatment Center.
Hundreds of family members and friends attended the event, which was held in the Metcalf Hall at the George Sherman Union on the University’s Charles River Campus.
In his opening remarks, Dean Cataldo Leone congratulated the DMD Class of 2027 and the DMD AS Class of 2026 for reaching this significant milestone in their professional careers.
“You now will have the wonderful privilege, but also the heavy responsibility, of providing comprehensive oral healthcare to your own patients,” Leone said. “Daunting perhaps, and even a little frightening, but please rest assured that our faculty, your teachers, will continue to guide your development.”
Dr. Richard J. Rosato, president-elect of the American Dental Association, delivered the event’s keynote speech. Rosato said Boston is a city of champions that knows what it means to fight hard, play smart, and lift each other up. This mindset doesn’t only apply to the football field or basketball court, he said, but also to the profession of dentistry.
“As you dawn your white coats, you’re stepping into a new role, not just as clinicians, but as leaders in health. You will pledge to uphold ethics, to uphold integrity, and patient-centered values that have defined this profession of dentistry for generations,” Rosato said. “You’re joining a legacy that has earned the trust of our communities, and now that trust is being extended to all of you, it’s your turn to carry it forward for generations to come.”
Rosato told the students they were entering dentistry at a time where bold thinkers, creative minds, and big hearts are needed. He urged students to stay curious during their careers and always stay open to new ideas, innovative technologies, and imaginative ways of serving patients and the profession.
“Let your creativity drive you forward. Let your ethics guide every one of your decisions and let your heart stay open to the many ways that you can serve,” Rosato said. “You are the future of this profession. You are leaders, and you are healers. You are the champions of dentistry.”
Following the keynote address, students walked on stage in groups of five—to a soundtrack of whistles, waves, and whoops—to be “coated” by representatives from the school’s faculty and staff.
“In looking back, it really was not so long ago that these students joined our community, and they have already enriched us tremendously by their presence,” Leone said in his closing remarks. He added, “We are proud of all of their accomplishments thus far, both professional and personal. Furthermore, we are confident that they will demonstrate continued diligence during the second half of their programs.”
During the ceremony, several awards were presented:
- Hallie Feldman DMD 27 was awarded the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dr. William S. Kramer Award of Excellence, which is presented annually to a rising third-year dental student who has demonstrated outstanding scholarship, character, and potential promise for the advancement of dentistry and service to humanity.
- Ebrahim Hmedan DMD AS 26 was awarded the International College of Dentists Student Leadership Award, which recognizes a DMD Advanced Standing student for demonstrating outstanding leadership, academic accomplishment, and character that focuses on service to the community and our profession.
- Melissa Oueld Es Cheikh DMD 27 was awarded the 42 North Dental Graduate Scholarship Award, which is presented annually to GSDM students thanks to 42 North Dental’s generous donation to support opportunities for advancement at GSDM.”
- Nicole Setterington DMD 27, Nicholas Graziano DMD 27, Madison Hubbard DMD 27, Ofori Addo DMD AS 26, and Maria Pia Zina Rahme DMD AS 26 were honored with the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine Spencer N. Frankl Scholarship Award, which is given annually to students who best exemplify the spirit of the school’s second dean, Dr. Spencer N. Frankl, and who have had outstanding academic achievement.
Check out our White Coat Ceremony 2025 album on Flickr to see more photos.