Best of Luck to the Class of 2016! – GSDM Community Celebrates Class of 2016 at Convocation Ceremony at the Walter Brown Arena

On Friday, May 13, 2016, 190 pre-doctoral students and 82 post-doctoral residents received their degrees and Certificates of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) at the 2016 Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) Convocation, held at the Walter Brown Arena.

Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter began the Convocation Ceremony by introducing Reverend Dr. Robert Allan Hill, Dean of Marsh Chapel, who delivered an inspiring invocation.

Dean Hutter then continued the ceremony by introducing himself and welcoming graduates, family, friends, faculty, staff, alumni, and other distinguished guests.

“I have watched you and your classmates grow into confident, competent dental and oral healthcare professionals, and I am delighted to share this special occasion with you,” Dean Hutter told the graduates as family and friends looked on.

Dean Hutter took care to highlight several notable accomplishments that the Class for 2016 achieved during their time at GSDM: providing the highest quality oral healthcare to diverse populations; participating in GSDM’s International Elective Externship Program; playing crucial roles in hosting students from international dental schools that GSDM partners with; receiving awards from several American and international dental organizations; attending professional meetings; lobbying the United States Congress and the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; and several other meritorious activities that members of the Class of 2016 took part in.

“You have experienced both challenging times and exciting times, and I know that when you look back on your experiences at the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, it will be these good times and the superb education that you received that will stand out in your minds,” said Dean Hutter.

Dean Hutter then acknowledged several special guests:

Dr. Shadi Daher DMD 90 OMFS 94, Past President of the GSDM Alumni Association; Past member of the GSDM Dean’s Advisory Board; Past President of the Boston University Alumni Counsel; and current member of the Boston University Board of Overseers; Dr. Suneel Kandru ENDO 07, member of the GSDM Dean’s Advisory Board; Dr. David Lustbader DMD 75, Chair of the GSDM Dean’s Advisory Board and Vice President of the Massachusetts Dental Society; Dr. Bing Liu DSc 99 DMD 03, President of the GSDM Alumni Association and a member of the GSDM Dean’s Advisory Board; Ms. Madalyn Mann PHD 76, Founding Director of GSDM’s Applied Professional Experience (APEX) program and member of the GSDM Dean’s Advisory Board; and Dr. Mitch Sabbagh DMD C87, Immediate Past-President of the GSDM Alumni Association; member of the GSDM Dean’s Advisory Board; and GSDM representative to the Boston University Alumni Counsel.

Dean Hutter then introduced the valedictorian of the Advanced Standing (AS) DMD Class of 2016, Dr. Neemi Lama Sherpa, and the valedictorian of the DMD Class of 2016, Dr. Lindsey Nowland to deliver their respective Student Speeches.

In her address, Dr. Nowland talked about the shared experiences that members of the DMD Class of 2016 have had over the past four years.

“We spent four years together, four years of growing, and learning, and exploring this beautiful city,” said Dr. Nowland. “We made lifelong friends. Some of you became married. A few even started families. And through all of the little moments that have defined our last four years—the day to day struggles, the occasional moments of doubt—here we stand today. Today we become doctors.”

A short video of Dr. Nowland’s speech can be found on Facebook.

Dr. Lama Sherpa spoke about the incredible influence that the love and support of family and friends has on dental students.

“The days are very long but, amazingly, looking back, the years have been short. Today is as much about gratitude as it is about celebration. I know that I only stand here today because of the love and support I received from family and friends,” said Dr. Lama Sherpa.

A short video of Dr. Lama Sherpa’s speech can be found on Facebook.

The Spencer N. Frankl Award for Excellence in Teaching was then presented during the ceremony by Dean Hutter to two recipients: Dr. Louis Brown and Dr. Barbara M. Schreiber. Dr. Brown serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of General Dentistry at GSDM. Dr. Schreiber serves as Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Biochemistry at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM).

The award honors Dean Spencer N. Frankl who, for more than 40 years—30 of which he served as Dean—provided the leadership and vision that shaped GSDM. Each year, this award recognizes faculty member(s) who have shown similar dedication to supporting the School’s mission.

To watch a piece of Dr. Schreiber’s and Dr. Brown’s speeches, click here and here.

The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Mina Paul, a GSDM alumnus and former faculty member, who is currently the Dental Director at the Greater Roslindale Medical and Dental Center in Boston, Massachusetts.

“The biggest lesson I learned,” said Dr. Paul speaking to the graduates about the wisdom gained over her career and specifically as a member and Chair of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Dentistry, “is that we are our own regulators and are held to that standard. We are unusual—our profession is unusual; every day we are trusted by our own patients to critique our own work and uphold a standard of care which no one checks. That is scary and a huge responsibility, and very unusual among all professions.”

Dr. Paul told the graduates that they are “guardians” of the profession of dentistry.

“As guardians do not forget who will be following in your footsteps and that it is your duty and responsibility as graduates of Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine to make it a better place than when you left it, to give back, however much or little you can,” said Dr. Paul.

“Today you are now our guardians,” said Dr. Paul.  “Embrace the full breadth of all that this great profession has to offer you and you will find passion and fulfillment.”

To watch a piece of Dr. Paul’s speech click here.

DMD Class of 2016 President Dr. Nicolas Branshaw and AS Class of 2016 President Dr. Akram Sannaa then presented the 2016 Class Gift to Dean Hutter. The Class of 2016 reached 81 percent participation and a Class Gift totaling $3,195.

Dr. Joseph Calabrese, Assistant Dean of Students; Dr. Celeste Kong, Professor and Chair of the Department of General Dentistry; Dr. Michelle Henshaw, Associate Dean for Global & Population Health; Dr. Bing Liu, Alumni Association President and Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of General Dentistry; and Dr. Carl McManama, Professor in the Department of General Dentistry, generously donated $1,520 in support of the DMD students’ share of the Class Gift.

Dr. Sepideh Novid, member of the GSDM Alumni Board and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of General Dentistry, generously gave $1,800 in support of the Advanced Standing DMD students’ share of the Class Gift.

Collectively, the Class Gift totaled $6,515.

“Words cannot describe the significance of this gift and what it means to me and our School’s future,” said Dean Hutter. “You have now set a precedent for future classes to emulate and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

The 2016 pre and post-doctoral / post-graduate graduates each then made the momentous march across the stage to receive their diplomas, degrees, and Certificates of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS). Each of the students and residents were greeted on the stage by Dean Hutter who presented them with their much coveted degree.

Several GSDM alumni came on stage as well to present degrees and diplomas to their loved ones. Farah T. Khatoon DMD 14 presented a degree to her spouse, Mohammed M. Ahmed DMD 16; Shravan Kumar Renapurkar DMD 10 presented a degree to his spouse, Lavanya Tortiker DMD 16; Khamir Patel DMD 14 presented a degree to his spouse, Setu Choksi DMD 16; Rekha Hariawala DMD 96 presented a degree to her daughter, Mitali Hariawala DMD 16; Raymond George ORTHO 66 presented a degree to his granddaughter, Kelsey A. George DMD 16; Alanna I. Yip DMD 14, AEGD 15 presented a degree to her sister, Amanda W. Yip DMD 16; Grace Eunhye La DMD 10 presented a degree to her sister, Naomi Omi La DMD 16; Nathan A. Ng DMD 14 presented a degree to his sister, Jennifer A. Ng DMD 16; Steven Faigan AEGD, PERIO 93 presented a degree to his son, Zachary Loomer DMD 16; Ralph Hawkins ENDO 89 & Harold Goodis ENDO 63 presented a degree to Mohamed Jamal Ahmed ENDO 16. Hawkins and Goodis were Dr. Ahmed’s teachers; Mounir Doumit, Professor of Public Dental Health and Former Dean of Lebanese University School of Dentistry in Beirut, Lebanon presented a degree to Carmen Doumit ORTHO 16; Shereif Y. Zareif Tawfik PERIO 75 presented a degree to his son Yousri Z. Said Tawfik PERIO 16; Rayan Kafri DMD 08 ENDO 11 and Shayan Kafri DMD 12 presented a degree to their brother, Peyman Kafri DMD 16; Ravi Patel DMD 14 presented a degree to his spouse, Mansi Chokshi DMD 16; Nandini Malghan presented a degree to her sister, Tulsa Patil DMD 16; Jack Xu (presented a degree to his son, Zhe Xu DMD 16.

The following faculty members participated with Dean Hutter in the granting of degrees to GSDM’s pre-doctoral students: Dr. Stephen DuLong, Clinical Professor in the Department of General Dentistry; Dr. John Guarente, Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs and Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of General Dentistry; Dr. Cataldo Leone, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Professor in the Department of Periodontology, and Professor in the Department of Molecular & Cell Biology; Dr. Janet Peters, Faculty Liaison to the Advanced Standing Program and Clinical Professor in the Department of General Dentistry; and Ms. Catherine Sarkis, Assistant Dean for Admissions and Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research.

The following faculty members participated with Dean Hutter in the granting of CAGS to GSDM’s post-doctoral residents: Dr. Woosung Sohn, Director of the Advanced Specialty Education Program in Dental Public Health and Associate Professor in the Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research; Dr. Sami Chogle, Director of the Advanced Specialty Education Program in Endodontics and Associate Professor in the Department of Endodontics; Dr. Pushkar Mehra, Associate Dean for Hospital Affairs and Professor and Chair of the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery; Dr. Leslie Anne Will, Chair & Anthony A. Gianelly Professor in Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics and Director of the Advanced Specialty Education Program in Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics; Dr. Athanasios Zavras, Professor and Chair of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry; Dr. Serge Dibart, Professor and Chair of the Department of Periodontology and Director of the Advanced Specialty Education Program in Periodontology; Dr. David Levin, Professor and Chair of the Department of Molecular & Cell Biology; and Dr. Dan Nathanson, Professor and Chair of the Department of Restorative Sciences & Biomaterials.

Dr. DuLong announced each of the names of the students and residents receiving degrees and diplomas.

Following the 2016 Convocation Ceremony, a reception took place in a tent adjacent to the Walter Brown Arena during which the graduates, family, friends, faculty, and staff could pose for photos and congratulate each other on all they have achieved.

Photos from the 2016 Convocation Ceremony and the reception that followed are available on Facebook and Flickr.