“Ready, Willing, and Dedicated:” Annual GSDM Professional Ceremony Celebrates DMD 29 and DMD AS 27 Classes
The Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine community celebrated its newest members on Friday, August 1, during the 2025 Professional Ceremony.
The annual ceremony is the culmination of the school’s Predoctoral Matriculation Week, a week-long program designed to prepare students for a successful dental school experience. During the Professional Ceremony, the students from the Doctor of Dental Medicine Class of 2029 and the Doctor of Dental Medicine Advanced Standing Class of 2027 recited the dental professional oath for the first time and received a Boston University pin to commemorate their entry into the school.
“As you begin your program, more than 500 faculty and staff now stand ready, willing, and dedicated to ensuring that you have a world class experience,” said Dean Cataldo Leone in his opening remarks. “You’ll quickly come to understand the depth and breadth of what makes this school, one of the country’s premiere schools, and why you made a good choice in choosing Boston University.”
Dr. Joseph Calabrese, GSDM associate dean of students, shared that the Doctor of Dental Medicine Class of 2029 and the Doctor of Dental Medicine Advanced Standing Class of 2027 set the record for being the most engaged and talkative cohort of students throughout the week-long Matriculation.
“We hope Matriculation was exciting and informative for everyone, and that this week is the beginning of what turns out to be two more great classes in our school’s history,” Calabrese said. “Based on the buzz in the classrooms and the Hiebert lounge all week, I am confident that we are off to a great start.”
Katelyn Pan DMD 21, clinical assistant professor of general dentistry, delivered this year’s keynote address. She said dental school is a roller coaster of emotions, filled with triumphs and frustrations. During her time at GSDM, she shared that she had days of feeling unstoppable but also faced moments of self-doubt. But, Pan urged students to remember that a bad practical exam or a difficult patient doesn’t define a dental professional.
Pan advised the students to have persistence and perspective. She also recommended that students find people who will support them throughout this journey—and these people may just be the classmates sitting next to them.
“Take a breath. Trust the process,” Pan said. “One day, you’ll look back and realize that the long days where the moments that shaped you into the clinician, the professional, [and] the person will become. One day not too far from now, you will wish you could go back just for a moment to feel the excitement and uncertainty of where you sit today. Soak it in.”
In his closing remarks, Leone said dental school success requires commitment, diligence, and hard work. He and the GSDM faculty have high expectations for the DMD Class of 2029 and DMD AS Class of 2027, he said, noting that he looks forward to seeing all that they will accomplish.
“Whether you realize it or not, you have entered into a contractual relationship,” Leone said. “The faculty pledge to teach you all that they must, and you are pledging to learn all that you can in a collegial, respectful, and supportive environment… Let’s begin this incredible journey together.”
For photos from the event, see our Professional Ceremony 2025 Flickr album.