Remembering Foundations, Forging Ahead: 2026 GSDM Commencement Ceremonies
Nearly 300 predoctoral students and postdoctoral residents were recognized for fulfilling their degree and certificate programs during the 2026 Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine Predoctoral and Postdoctoral Commencement Convocation Ceremonies at Boston University’s Agganis Arena on Thursday, May 14.
Dean Cataldo Leone opened both ceremonies saying the Class of 2026 arrived at GSDM with eagerness and aspirations to excel—and now, they have achieved their goals. As they transition from student and residents to oral healthcare leaders, the graduates have a life-long responsibility to positively influence the dental profession, he said.
“The school has endeavored to cultivate in you a mindset that embraces innovation and continuous improvement,” Leone said. “Lean in to this mindset, for it will ensure that you remain ever curious, and ever learning—that you will never cease aspiring to learn more, to do more, and to be more for your patients, your community, and your profession, while not forgetting that these apply also for your families and yourselves.”
This is the first year GSDM held separate ceremonies for postdoctoral residents and predoctoral students. At both ceremonies, the pinnacle moment was the presentation of certificates and diplomas. The graduates walked across the stage, each with a big smile on their faces. Twenty-one Class of 2026 graduates were joined on stage with alumni co-presenters to receive their diploma from a loved one. In another first, predoctoral graduates had the opportunity this year to be hooded on stage. Notably, mother-and-son duo Fatema Abdo DMD AS 26 and Mohamed Hussein DMD 26 took the one-of-a-kind opportunity to hood each other.
Postdoctoral Commencement Convocation
Postdoctoral graduates had to arrive at Agganis Arena first thing in the morning for their ceremony, but it was clear that all attendees were eager to jumpstart the celebration. Graduates gathered in the Burke Room at Agganis to line up and filled the waiting time with group selfies, hugs, and last-minute adjustments to look perfect.
The graduates processed in, walking down a flight of stairs to the floor of Agganis Arena, and were greeted by various hand-made signs, such as one that read “Dad, Congratulations on your BU Graduation.” During the ceremony, each chair or program director addressed their graduates directly with intimate anecdotes and heartfelt congratulations.
The postdoctoral commencement keynote speaker was Dr. Maxine Feinberg, the current chief strategy officer for Velmeni, a dental artificial intelligence company, delivered the keynote address at the postdoctoral ceremony. Feinberg is a former American Dental Association president and Commission on Dental Accreditation chair.
Feinberg said artificial intelligence is quickly transforming the dental profession, but GSDM graduates have the empathy, expertise, and ethics to best determine how to integrate new technology into their emerging careers.
“You understand the layered complexity of care—that every patient’s treatment exists within biological, emotional, and social dimensions that no algorithm can fully capture,” Feinberg said. “You will not just be adopting tools; you will be shaping the future standard of care by teaching these systems what good dentistry looks like.”
During the ceremony, Dr. Lisa Gabrish, clinical assistant professor of pediatric dentistry, was presented with a 2026 Spencer N. Frankl Award for Excellence in Teaching. The award is in honor of the late Dr. Spencer N. Frankl, the second dean of the school, who provided outstanding leadership for the school.
Predoctoral Commencement Convocation
Later on Thursday, the school’s predoctoral graduates and their loved ones starting arriving for the afternoon ceremony, narrowly avoiding rain. Friends and family members entered the stands to get seats close to the stage, while graduates mingled together in the Burke Room, soaking in their final dental school moments. The predoctoral Class of 2026 processed into Agganis Arena to the tunes of “Pomp and Circumstance” and cheers from their loved ones.
Dr. Nader Nadershahi, executive director of the American Dental Association, delivered the keynote address at the predoctoral ceremony. Nadershahi encouraged the DMD and DMD AS graduates to reflect on the clinical, ethical, personal, and professional foundations they built during their programs. He said it is valuable to stay true to oneself and their origins as their everyday actions will determine their futures.
“Remember who you are. Be ready to adapt while protecting your why and stay connected and be a leader in organized dentistry,” Nadershahi said. “You are about to touch many lives, and the lives you impact will impact others, in ways you will never fully see, but which will ripple outward through time.”
The DMD and DMD Advanced Standing valedictorians—Sarah Mayahi CAMED 22 DMD 26 and, in a three-way tie, Ebrahim Hmedan DMD AS 26, Ofori Addo DMD AS 26, and Mark Bou Chaaya DMD AS 26—also delivered remarks.
Al-Mayahi said that while she and her classmates may have come to GSDM with unique backgrounds and stories, they found common ground and formed an unbreakable bond over the past four years.
“Somewhere between the lab sessions and the study marathons and the breakdowns and the breakthroughs, we found each other,” Al-Mayahi said. “People who understood without explanation, who could look at you across a clinic floor and know exactly what kind of day you were having. The kind of friendships that don’t require maintenance because they were forged under pressure, and things forged under pressure tend to last.”
Hmedan thanked GSDM faculty, staff, and patients, and Class of 2026’s loved ones for believing in them and helping them accomplish their goals.
“About two years ago, we each arrived from our homes, representing dozens of nationalities, united by the decision to take another step toward a profession we care deeply about,” Hmedan said. “Today, we stand here not with doubt, but with confidence and pride, knowing we made it through.”
If this is one thing their classmates remember, Addo said he hopes it is how they supported each other, especially through the toughest moments.
“Many of us didn’t just make friends here; we found brothers and sisters,” Addo said. “And that sense of community is something we should carry with us long after today.”
Bou Chaaya said the graduates must hold onto their dental passion and make sure every patient can witness enthusiasm and pride.
“We leave these halls not just as graduates of dentistry, but as healers of first resort, and architects of confidence,” Bou Chaaya said.
Two winners of the 2026 Spencer N. Frankl Award for Excellence in Teaching were recognized during the ceremony: Dr. Yoshiyuki Mochida, clinical professor of molecular & cell biology, and Dr. Matthew Zweig, director of the group practice model & predoctoral clinical practice, director of clinical analytics and clinical associate professor of general dentistry.
To read our full commencement coverage, please visit the Commencement 2026 page.
Check out our Commencement 2026 album on Flickr to see more photos.