Unstoppable and Shining Brightly: GSDM Predoctoral Class of 2026 Recognition and Awards Dinner Honors Graduates’ Drive and Devotion
Nearly 60 awards were presented to members of the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine Class of 2026 during the Predoctoral Class of 2026 Recognition and Awards Dinner on Wednesday, May 13, at Boston University’s Agganis Arena.
The annual event celebrated the graduating DMD and DMD Advanced Standing classes’ well-deserved accomplishments and welcomed them as the newest GSDM alumni. Four awards were also given to GSDM faculty/staff.
“You met all challenges head on and artfully turned them into opportunities,” said Dean Cataldo Leone. You learned a tremendous amount, improved the lives of your patients, and made friends along the way. You have been an extraordinary class.”
Leone said it was incredibly special watching the Class of 2026 persevere and thrive in their respective programs. Now, he said, it will be exciting to witness the graduates transition into alumni, fellow oral healthcare practitioners, and colleagues.
Associate Dean of Students Dr. Joseph Calabrese said it was a pleasure to witness the Class of 2026’s positive contributions in the classroom and the Patient Treatment Center. He applauded those who had additional responsibilities within student organizations, ambassador programs, and research opportunities.
“We will remember the Class of 2026 as a kind, friendly, diverse, and compassionate group that will forever share a special bond,” Calabrese said.
The evening’s two student speakers—Gabriel Chavez CAMED 22 DMD 26 and Yutika Maharaj DMD AS 26, president and vice president of their respective classes—were chosen based on nominations from their peers.
Chavez said the reason why he wanted to be a dentist is to honor his late brother, a caring individual who maintained a smile through hardship. He got emotional as he shared that he witnessed his brother’s spirit live on in his classmates through their DMD program.
“I’ve seen the way you support each other. I’ve seen the way you care for your patients,” Chavez said. “I’ve seen the long hours you put in, not to be good but to be great. You’re a group of dentists who will always go the extra mile [and] who will always make their patients feel comfortable, cared for, and confident. I leave you with one last obligatory cheesy message: Go and put a smile on someone else.”
Maharaj, who is originally from South Africa, said her fellow DMD Advanced Standing classmates helped her make Boston a home away from home and expanded her worldview. She recognized the determination of her classmates, who came from more than 30 countries, who left behind first languages, loved ones, and familiar landscapes in pursuit of their greater dental ambitions. At GSDM, they were able to turn their dreams into reality.
“We leave as people shaped by perseverance, driven by compassion, and defined not by where we came from, but by everything we overcame to get here,” Maharaj said. “Diamonds can only be forged under intense pressure and tonight you all shine brightly. We have all reached an extraordinary moment in our lives and if dental school has taught us anything, it’s [that] we are capable of more than we ever thought possible, and that’s what makes us unstoppable.”
A full list of individuals recognized at the dinner is available here.
To read our full commencement coverage, please visit the Commencement 2026 page.
Check out our 2026 Awards Dinner album on Flickr to see more photos.