History

1958
Boston University School of Medicine established a Department of Stomatology to provide postdoctoral education in dentistry, becoming the first institution in the country to offer specialty education in dentistry. 

1963
Boston University School of Graduate Dentistry was founded under the leadership of Dean Henry M. Goldman. The school was located in a three-and-a-half-story brownstone building on East Concord Street.   

1967
Construction of the 100 East Newton Street building began. 

1970
Construction was completed on the East Newton Street building, and the school moved to its current location. 

1972
The school initiated a three-year predoctoral program leading to a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree.  

1973
The school built four more floors onto the 100 East Newton Street facility, bringing the building to its current seven stories.  

1975
Boston University School of Graduate Dentistry graduated its first three-year DMD class. This was the only class that completed the DMD program in three years as after the class matriculated, the decision was made to increase the length of the program to four years.  

1977
Henry M. Goldman retired, and Spencer N. Frankl became the second dean of Boston University School of Graduate Dentistry. Frankl would go on to serve in this role for 31 years, setting a record as the longest-serving dean of a U.S. dental school—a record he still holds. 

1978
Boston University School of Graduate Dentistry was renamed to the Henry M. Goldman School of Graduate Dentistry by the Trustees of Boston University. 

1989
The school implemented the APEX (Applied Professional Experience) program, during which preclinical dental students gain experience in the dental practice environment.

1991
The Dental Health Center at 930 Commonwealth Ave. opened, expanding care to the University’s Charles River Campus. 

1996
Boston University School of Graduate Dentistry was renamed Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) to better reflect the scope of the school’s education, research, patient care, and community missions. 

2000
GSDM concentrated the predoctoral curriculum under the new Department of General Dentistry.  

2000
The school opened its first Simulation Learning Center (SLC), where preclinical students practice dentistry on virtual patients in a high-tech setting. The SLC was at 670 Albany Street, across from the dental school.  

2000
GSDM became one of six dental schools in the United States to replace traditional textbooks and classroom materials with digital texts. 

2007
Dean Spencer Frankl announced in July that he would step down as dean.  Jeffrey W. Hutter was then appointed the school’s dean ad interim, following Frankl’s passing in October.  

2008
Jeffrey W. Hutter was named the third dean in the school’s history. 

2014
GSDM became the first U.S. dental school to transition to fully integrated digital dentistry. 

2018
GSDM broke ground on a $115 million addition and renovation project to expand the school’s footprint and modernize its facilities.  

2020
GSDM became the first American dental school to use a dental implant robot. The robot-assisted surgical device, known as Yomi, was the first such technology approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

2021
The school completed its renovation project, adding about 48,000 additional square feet to the school, including a seven-story addition on the west side and a two-story addition on the north side. The building was entirely reclad in a modern façade.

2021
Dean Hutter retired in March 2021. Dr. Cataldo Leone was named interim dean following Hutter’s retirement and then appointed as the school’s fourth dean in November 2021.