{"id":63846,"date":"2026-02-11T11:22:27","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T16:22:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/dental\/?p=63846"},"modified":"2026-02-25T16:04:43","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T21:04:43","slug":"news-valentines-day-bu-dental-love-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/dental\/2026\/02\/11\/news-valentines-day-bu-dental-love-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Love From Crown to Root: Four GSDM-affiliated Couples Share their Dental Love Stories"},"content":{"rendered":"

The dental profession is filled with technological innovation, passionate people, and\u2014for some\u2014true love.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>In celebration of Valentine\u2019s Day,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>we\u2019re<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>sharing\u00a0<\/span><\/span>fou<\/span>r BU Dental love stories.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>From our love stories to yours, Happy Valentine\u2019s Day<\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Adar Finkel DMD 12 and Alex Vasserman DMD 11\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>
<\/span>Together since 2009, Married since 2015<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"
Adar Finkel DMD 12 and Alex Vasserman DMD 11<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Alex\u00a0Vasserman is living proof that \u201clove at first sight\u201d can really happen.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He met Adar Finkel, now his wife, in 2008 at GSDM. They kept running into one another around the Medical Campus, and he knew she was the one. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI saw her and knew that was it,\u201d Vasserman said. \u201c[That\u2019s] the girl I\u2019m going to be with. I\u2019m going to marry her.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Their official first date was a memorable one. Vasserman\u2019s Zipcar battery died after they lost track of time, but it did not deter the two from seeing the potential in their pairing. It wasn\u2019t until Finkel saw a promising sign at a Cambridge bar, where she was watching him play the drums with his band, that she decided to take a chance on a long-term relationship.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe most fateful finding was in the bathroom of that bar,\u201d she said. \u201cThere was a sticker of the Tenafly Vipers. Tenafly is the town I grew up in. It just felt very serendipitous that there was a sticker referencing my hometown in that random bar. Plus seeing him there, it felt like the stars were aligning and I had to pay attention.\u201d <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Vasserman\u00a0graduated from GSDM in 2011 and\u00a0relocated\u00a0to New York for a residency program. A year later,\u00a0Finkel\u00a0also got matched to a residency program in New York, and the pair moved in together. After they finished their respective residency programs,\u00a0Vasserman\u00a0proposed during\u00a0a sunrise\u00a0hot air\u00a0balloon ride in upstate New York.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The couple now lives in New Jersey, with\u00a0Vasserman\u00a0running his\u00a0general dentistry\u00a0practice in Manhattan and\u00a0Finkel\u00a0running her orthodontic practice\u00a0in\u00a0River Vale,\u00a0New Jersey. They have three children: Ava (8), Oliver (6), and Henry (4).\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The pair might not work in the same office together,\u00a0but both agree that\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0incredibly helpful to have a spouse in the same profession.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u2019Teeth\u2019\u00a0is\u00a0frequently\u00a0our \u2018pillow talk,\u2019\u201d\u00a0Finkel\u00a0said. \u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0really\u00a0special\u00a0to\u00a0be able to collaborate and bounce ideas\u00a0off of\u00a0each other, while also being able to\u00a0empathise\u00a0with the daily challenges of treating patients and running your own practice.\u00a0To have\u00a0your spouse\u00a0actually \u2018get it\u2019 is\u00a0really amazing\u00a0and adds another layer of connection.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Dario Gonzalez\u00a0<\/span>Maestracci<\/span>\u00a0AS 26 and Stephany Buitrago Aguirre AS 26<\/span><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>
<\/span>Dating since 2024<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"
Dario Gonzalez Maestracci AS 26 and Stephany Buitrago Aguirre AS 26.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The couple met at the start of their DMD Advanced\u00a0Standing program\u00a0in\u00a02024.\u00a0Dario Gonzalez\u00a0Maestracci\u00a0said\u00a0he had\u00a0an\u00a0almost-immediate\u00a0feeling that\u00a0he and Aguirre were\u00a0meant\u00a0to be a couple.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe was in a group of friends who were from my country (Venezuela), so I [decided] I needed to get to know her more,\u201d\u00a0Maestracci\u00a0said.\u00a0\u201cI was approaching the group to get to know her better and see if my\u00a0heartbeat, my feeling, what I felt was\u00a0truly thought\u00a0it would be when I first met her.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Stephany Buitrago Aguirre\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0share the\u00a0instantaneous romantic\u00a0spark\u00a0but said she was open to fostering a friendship first.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was like, \u2018Why me? There are a lot of\u00a0other\u00a0women\u00a0here. Pay\u00a0attention to\u00a0them,\u2019\u201d\u00a0Aguirre said. \u201cI said \u2018Let’s\u00a0hang a little bit\u00a0as\u00a0friends\u00a0and that\u2019s it.\u2019\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Their friendship later evolved into a romantic relationship. Fate would later prove to Aguirre that the couple worked well as a pair.\u00a0<\/span>The two were randomly\u00a0placed\u00a0in the Patient Treatment Center in the same practice groups for every rotation\u00a0except one. With all the\u00a0additional\u00a0time spent together–plus seeing each other\u2019s dental passions in practice\u2014Aguirre said\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0been\u00a0wonderful having\u00a0a significant\u00a0other\u00a0support\u00a0her\u00a0in her professional development.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe try to help each other,\u201d Aguirre said. \u201cIt is a blessing that we have each other in the clinic because we have been able to\u00a0do\u00a0a lot\u00a0together\u00a0as a team.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As the couple approaches\u00a0graduation\u00a0later this year,\u00a0Maestracci\u00a0said he is looking forward to planning the next phase of their\u00a0personal and professional\u00a0lives\u00a0alongside\u00a0Aguirre\u2019s\u00a0nine-year-old daughter Juanita,\u00a0whom\u00a0he views as his own.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe greatest thing that had happened to me is having the two of them in my life,\u201d\u00a0Maestracci\u00a0said. \u201cIt’s more than a blessing; It\u2019s destiny.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Hardik\u00a0<\/span>Dholakiya<\/span>\u00a0DMD AS 23 and Virali Soni DMD AS 23\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>
<\/span>Together since 2008, Married since\u00a0<\/span><\/span>2016\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"
Hardik Dholakiya DMD AS 23 and Virali Soni DMD AS 23.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Over the\u00a0nearly two\u00a0decades since\u00a0Hardik\u00a0Dholakiya\u00a0and\u00a0Virali Soni\u00a0started dating,\u00a0their\u00a0relationship has been filled with\u00a0numerous\u00a0adventures,\u00a0yet\u00a0Dholakiya\u00a0credits their GSDM educational experience as one of their\u00a0high points.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He\u00a0said\u00a0he feels incredibly fortunate that they\u00a0were able\u00a0to complete\u00a0the DMD Advanced Standing program\u00a0at the same time.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe lived on the main campus of BU on the Charles River campus in a studio apartment, but we were very happy with our studio apartment,\u201d\u00a0Dholakiya\u00a0said. \u201cIt was\u00a0a very beautiful\u00a0time for both of us. We have\u00a0very good\u00a0memories of our time at GSDM.\u00a0We realized that we were lucky that we got a chance to pursue the program together.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Their love story began long before they\u00a0landed\u00a0in Boston, going back to 2008 during the early\u00a0years\u00a0of their\u00a0initial\u00a0dental school education in India.\u00a0They went to different, but nearby, dental school in India\u00a0and\u00a0bonded\u00a0early over their shared passion.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After two months of\u00a0friendship, they began dating.\u00a0In 2013,\u00a0Dholakiya\u00a0began a\u00a0periodontology\u00a0residency while Soni started practicing as an associate dentist in a private clinic.\u00a0Dholakiya\u00a0finished his residency in 2016,\u00a0and\u00a0he\u00a0couple\u00a0got married that December.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After getting married,\u00a0Dholakiya\u00a0and Soni opened and ran\u00a0a\u00a0private\u00a0practice for a few years. They\u00a0ultimately\u00a0decided\u00a0their next career step would be to\u00a0relocate\u00a0to the United States.\u00a0Dholakiya\u00a0and Soni\u00a0began\u00a0applying\u00a0to U.S.-based schools at the same time, but\u00a0GSDM was always\u00a0their top choice.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe next day after our interview, we both\u00a0received\u00a0our acceptance,\u201d\u00a0Dholakiya\u00a0said.\u00a0\u201cWe were lucky [being] husband and wife getting accepted in the same program.\u00a0It was\u00a0very nice.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dholakiya\u00a0and Soni\u00a0had to defer the start of their program due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but once\u00a0they\u00a0started their program in 2021,\u00a0the couple\u00a0quickly worked to\u00a0make Boston their new home.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In their second year, Soni was pregnant with their first child\u00a0and gave birth two months after commencement.\u00a0Dholakiya\u00a0said\u00a0having their journey into parenthood overlap with their dental\u00a0education\u00a0made the experience even more beautiful.\u00a0Their daughter, Aashvi, is now two-and-a-half years old.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Even from the beginning of their relationship,\u00a0Dholakiya\u00a0said he knew Soni was his perfect match.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor us, we dated for almost eight years,\u201d he said. \u201cWe were in a long-distance relationship because I was pursuing my master’s and was practicing in different states [in India]. We got married. We share everything. Even now if\u00a0there’s\u00a0something, the other person\u00a0doesn’t\u00a0have\u00a0to say\u00a0it,\u00a0you\u00a0can\u00a0[tell] it from their face. You just know.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Maria\u00a0<\/span>Alsabagh<\/span>\u00a0DMD 26 and Fira<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0Abbas DMD\u00a0<\/span>AS <\/span>24<\/span><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>
<\/span>Together since 2022, Married since\u00a0<\/span><\/span>2024\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> <\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"
Maria\u00a0Alsabagh\u00a0DMD 26 and Firas\u00a0Abbas DMD\u00a0AS\u00a02024.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When\u00a0reflecting\u00a0on\u00a0her first day of dental school,\u00a0Maria\u00a0Alsabagh\u00a0<\/span>said\u00a0she would\u00a0never have\u00a0predicted that she would fall in love, get engaged,\u00a0plan a wedding,\u00a0get\u00a0married, and have a child\u2014all\u00a0before she received her GSDM diploma.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a beautiful addition to my life,\u201d\u00a0Alsabagh\u00a0said.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Alsabagh\u00a0and\u00a0Firas Abbas\u00a0met in\u00a0summer\u00a02022 on the last day of the\u00a0predoctoral matriculation week\u00a0for their respective programs.\u00a0The pair was part of a larger group who decided to get pizza after\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0Professional Ceremony.<\/span><\/a>\u00a0Following\u00a0dinner, they exchanged phone numbers,\u00a0both\u00a0thinking\u00a0it was nice to make a friend from\u00a0the same home country of Syria.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Alsabagh\u00a0and Abbas got closer when they were in the same ethic class\u00a0that\u00a0fall.\u00a0From there, they started dating.\u00a0In April 2023, they were officially engaged and began planning their wedding. In September 2025,\u00a0they were married.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have the same dreams,\u201d\u00a0Alsabagh\u00a0said. \u201cWe are from the same country, have the same culture, same way of thinking.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Alsabagh\u00a0said it was delightful\u00a0to\u00a0overlap\u00a0at GSDM for\u00a0two years\u00a0with\u00a0her now\u00a0husband.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was so helpful having him because he already has some dental experience because he graduated from dental school [in Syria,]\u201d\u00a0Alsabagh\u00a0said.\u00a0\u201cHe used to help me a lot with studying, practicing, and\u00a0work\u00a0in the SLC.\u00a0He\u00a0was the perfect resource for me.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While\u00a0Alsabagh\u00a0is juggling her dental school\u00a0responsibilities\u00a0and nearing her commencement day, she is\u00a0also\u00a0embarking on a new challenge, motherhood: The couple\u2019s first child, Karam, was born three months ago.\u00a0It may be a lot of change in a short amount of time, but she said she\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0have it any other way.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI loved\u00a0[Abbas]\u00a0the moment I met\u00a0him,\u00a0and I liked his personality and his way of thinking,\u201d\u00a0Alsabagh\u00a0said. \u201cI felt it like matched my energy.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

By\u00a0<\/span>Rachel Grace Philipson<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The dental profession is filled with technological innovation, passionate people, and\u2014for some\u2014true love. In celebration of Valentine\u2019s Day, we\u2019re sharing four BU Dental love stories. From our love stories to yours, Happy Valentine\u2019s Day. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21998,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[13845,13907,13840,13839,13891],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/dental\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63846"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/dental\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/dental\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/dental\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21998"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/dental\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63846"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/dental\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63846\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":63879,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/dental\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63846\/revisions\/63879"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/dental\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63846"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/dental\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63846"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/dental\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63846"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}