The Reimagined GSDM at Yankee Experience: 2026 Yankee Dental Congress Round-Up
Members of the GSDM community received numerous honors, learned from dental industry leaders, and reconnected with friends, colleagues, and fellow alumni at this year’s Yankee Dental Congress, held in late January at the Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center.
“Seeing returning alumni at Yankee Dental Congress is always a delight and this year was no exception,” said Stacey McNamee, director of alumni relations & annual giving.
Read on for some key takeaways from this year’s Yankee Dental Congress.
GSDM introduces GSDM Alumni Suite
GSDM took a new approach to its alumni experience at this year’s Congress, hosting an alumni suite on the Exhibit Hall. The space, exclusive to GSDM alumni and faculty, served as a location to take a break, connect with former professors, and mingle with friends. Memorable moments included Coffee and Conversation with Dr. Carl McManama, Lunch and Learn with APEX with Dr. Ana Zea, and a happy hour with Dean Leone.
“This year, we ‘reimagined’ how we can continue to make Yankee Dental Congress a positive experience with our new Alumni Suite,” McNamee said. “We hope that it made it easier to connect with fellow alumni, faculty, and members of the broader BU Dental community.”
Two GSDM alumni inducted into Pierre Fauchard Academy
The Pierre Fauchard Academy is an international dental honor organization with a mission to recognize and develop outstanding leadership in the dental profession. Fellows in Pierre Fauchard are selected based on contributions to dental literature, service to the profession, and service to the general community.
This year’s GSDM alumni inductees are:
- Yuko Torigoe DMD 01
- Hiren Patadiya DMD 21
GSDM Alum received DLN Lifetime Achievement Award
Sean Rayment DMD 97 Oral Bio 00 received the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award for Massachusetts from Dental Lifeline Network during the organization’s annual awards ceremony. Dental Lifeline Network is a non-profit organization of volunteer dentists and labs that provides free comprehensive dental care to geriatric patients, veterans, and other individuals with dental needs who are medically compromised.
GSDM Faculty/Alumni Named to the MDS 10 Under Ten
The Massachusetts Dental Society’s (MDS) “10 under Ten” award recognizes dentists who have made significant contributions to the field and have been in the profession for 10 years or less.
This year, MDS named the following GSDM faculty/alumni to the list:
- Chiho Ahn DMD 17, clinical assistant professor of general dentistry
- Jessy Ajram DMD 22, clinical assistant professor of general dentistry
- Armen Balabanyan DMD 22
- Divya Mudumba DMD 20
- Hiren Patadiya DMD 21
- Naman Rao DMD 22
GSDM students receive awards from AGD, MDS, and ACD
Jessica Siu DMD 26 received the 2025 Dr. June Warren Lee Leadership Recognition Dental Student Scholarship from the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) Region 01. The award ceremony took place during the AGD Region 01 Meeting on Saturday, January 31.
Siu serves as the president of GSDM Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) Student Chapter. She also holds leadership positions for the BU Student Dental Aesthetics Society and the BU Chapter of the American Association of Women Dentists.
Anthony Raneri DMD 26 received the 2026 Massachusetts Dental Society Matthew Boylan Award. This award is presented annually during Yankee Dental Congress to a Massachusetts resident and dental student who has provided distinguished service to organized dentistry and the community.
Raneri has served in leadership positions on several GSDM student organizations, including as a member of the Executive Board of the GSDM chapter of the American Student Dental Association. In this role, he acts as the legislative liaison, the Advocacy Committee chair, as well as oversees the Ethics and Professionalism committee and the Community Outreach committee.
Saher Arora DMD 26 received the 2026 American College of Dentist Outstanding Student Leader Award. This award is given to one fourth-year dental student from each of the five New England dental schools who represents ACD’s principles of high achievement, strong leadership, and high ethical standards.
Arora has served as the GSDM’s ASDA chapter vice chair of diversity, equity, and inclusion, president of GSDM’s Student Professionalism and Ethics Association, and social media chair for District 1 ASDA. She has also been an ASDA Peer Mentor and Boston University’s Medicaid Policy Lab research assistant. Arora participated in an exchange program in Beijing, China, observing international approaches to pediatric dentistry and oral surgery.
DMD students win ASDA District 1 debate
Mya Leonardo DMD 29 and Matt Foshay DMD 29 won representing GSDM at the 17th Annual Massachusetts Dental Society (MDS) and the American Student Dental Association (ASDA) District 1 Student Debate on Saturday, January 31.
In the championship round, Leonardo and Foshay faced off against a team from the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine on the question of whether dental licensure should rely on live patient clinical competency assessments rather than manikin-based exams. They argued the opposing side, in favor of manikin-based exams.
The other participating debate teams were from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, University of New England College of Dental Medicine, and a cohort of predental students.
The last time GSDM won first place was in 2022 with the team of Max Prince DMD 25 and Michael Barbato DMD 25.
Read more about Leonardo’s and Foshay’s win here.
See GSDM Yankee Dental Congress 2026 photos here.