Impressions | Fall 2023 by BU Dental

FALL 2023

Cover Feature

ORAL HEALTH EQUITY CHANGING HOW WE THINK ABOUT ORAL HEALTHCARE

A publication for alumni and friends of Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. Dean Cataldo W. Leone Assistant Dean, Development & Alumni Relations Catie Dargue Director, Alumni Relations & Annual Giving Stacey McNamee Director, Communications & Outreach Charis Anderson McCarthy Principal Designer Kate Cunningham Writers Rachel Philipson Junior Writer, Communications & Outreach

03 | Oral Health Equity

Francie King Photography Dan Bomba Multimedia Content Creator, Communications & Outreach Cover Torera Aina DMD 24 poses in front of a mural located on the exterior of Washington Manor, a Boston Housing Authority community. The mural was inspired by the long history of cultural gatherings at Villa Victoria.

FEATURED

A message from the Dean

Oral Health Equity: Changing How We Think about Oral Healthcare

A message from the Alumni Association President

Alumni Events

Class Notes

Send address change to: Development & Alumni Relations Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine 85 East Newton Street, 10th floor Boston, MA 02118 smcnamee@bu.edu

ALUMNI

21 | Alumni Events

18 | Alumni Profile

38 | Research Spotlight

28 SCHOOL

PHILANTHROPY

On Campus: Highlights

Profile in Giving

In Memoriam

Resident Spotlight: Virat Hansrani PROS 24

Giving Day 2023

The Last Word

IN EVERY ISSUE

FEATURED

A Message from the Dean The Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine is exceptional in many ways, but one of the areas of distinction of which I am most proud is our commitment to improving the oral health of our community. A growing body of research supports what I think we, as dentists, always knew: that oral health is inextricably linked to overall health. And yet, there are many people across the country for whom accessing high-quality oral healthcare is challenging, if not impossible. Our school plays a critical role in providing high-quality care to some of the most vulnerable segments of our population. Beyond the work we do in our patient treatment centers, our faculty, staff, and students spend countless hours volunteering at community outreach events around Boston, doing oral screenings and educating the population about how best to take care of their teeth. Faculty, students, and alumni travel internationally, conducting mission trips to bring oral healthcare to communities around the world that might not ever see a dentist otherwise. We recognize that our patients—in the words of alumna Christine Chiao SPH 15 DMD 19 PEDO 22 (see page 12)—may want to be treated by someone who looks like them and understands their background. So we are striving to ensure that our student body reflects the diversity of our city and our country while continually seeking to improve our curriculum to give students experience treating the most disadvantaged among us. In this issue’s cover story, we talked to GSDM alumni about why access to high-quality oral healthcare is so important, and what we—both as a dental school and as individuals—can do to improve equity of access. This issue also highlights some of the many ways we’re bridging gaps in the oral healthcare pipeline. I continue to be deeply grateful for the generosity and support of alumni for these efforts. If you’d like to learn more about this work and how you can get involved, contact Stacey McNamee at smcnamee@bu.edu. I look forward to seeing you at one of the alumni receptions we hold throughout the year—notably, at Yankee Dental in January 2024! And if you find yourself in Boston, please come visit us.

Sincerely, Cataldo W. Leone, DMD, DMedSc, FACD, FICD Dean and Spencer N. Frankl Professor in Dental Medicine

BY RACHEL PHILIPSON

ORAL HEALTH

EQUITY: CHANGING HOW WE THINK ABOUT ORAL HEALTHCARE

FEATURED

Oral health is inextricably linked to overall health,

according to a growing body of research, yet many Americans face significant obstacles to accessing high-quality oral healthcare.

An estimated 68.5 million Americans do not have dental insurance at all, according to CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, and an additional 14 million adults may lose their coverage under the Medicaid redetermination process that began on April 1, 2023, after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Individuals who receive their dental insurance through Medicaid can face challenges in finding a provider in their community willing to accept their insurance. Even if those obstacles are overcome, individuals may still face challenges in getting paid time off from work for appointments, accessing transportation to their appointments, and more. When people don’t have access to regular dental care, their oral and overall health can rapidly decline. We spoke to seven GSDM alums about the importance of equitable access to high-quality dental care and what the dental profession—and dental schools—can do to increase that access.

FEATURED

THE NEED FOR ORAL HEALTH EQUITY, NOT EQUALITY Many of the alumni we spoke to drew an important distinction between equality and equity. The former calls for equal treatment for all patients, in an attempt to reduce discrimination. However, it fails to acknowledge underlying health disparities among socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, which means that equal treatment might still result in different—inequitable—outcomes. An oral healthcare model based on equity aims to deliver different levels of care and support based on patients’ starting point, in order to ensure equitable outcomes.

“Oral healthcare equity is about creating systems and environments where everyone has the opportunity to achieve their best oral health status, and that means everyone has different needs [that require] different resources to make that happen,” said McAllister Castelaz DMD 17, who is now a second-year dental public health master’s student at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry, focused on addressing oral health disparities and aiding dental teams in increasing equitable access to oral healthcare. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the many gaps in access to oral healthcare. While the COVID-19 public health emergency is officially over, the issues of medical inaccessibility and structural racism that the COVID-19 pandemic brought to the fore have not gone away, said Dr. Eleanor Fleming DPH 19,

assistant dean of equity, diversity, and inclusion at University of Maryland School of Dentistry. “My favorite professor from dental school always said, ‘Teeth don’t come into the office. People do,’” Fleming said. “As dentists, we are willing to see people and communities and our work in the context of health. To me, that’s what the pandemic should have helped us to see. But perhaps with the return to normal, folks just wanted to get back to whatever normal was without acknowledging that normal didn’t work for a whole lot of people and this new normal works for even less.” Dr. Joseph Brett Ryan DPH 23 works with the United States Air Force in a research/consultation position, where he helps

manage and maintain the military healthcare system. He said the United States military achieves equitable dental healthcare by removing disparities: Everyone has the care they need—whether that’s preventative exams or full-mouth reconstruction surgery—to ensure all military personnel maintains “medical readiness.”

“There is still a

“In the military, the one nice thing is we don’t have to necessarily worry about somebody’s dental care coverage. Why? Because we take care of it,” Ryan said. “For equity, I don’t have to solve that. Once you get here, I can get you ready to go. But again, it’s different. It’s going to be different for every single person to get over that hill, some need more help than others and it’s complex. It is not easy.”

has access to

The irony is that oral diseases are largely preventable and can be treated in their early stages, according to Christine Chiao SPH 15 DMD 19 PEDO 22, GSDM clinical assistant professor of pediatric dentistry. However, if people don’t have access to preventative care, then tooth decay and other oral diseases can continue unchecked, she said. “We know exactly how to prevent it, but I think there is still a disparity in who has access to those preventive services and even who has knowledge about how to use those preventive services,” Chiao said. Currently, dentistry uses a fee-for-service payment model, meaning every service has a corresponding price and patients are billed based on quantity of services, according to Dr. Mary Tavares DPH 81, program director of GSDM’s Advanced Education Program in Dental Public Health and clinical professor of health policy & health services research. Tavares said this model could incentivize providers to focus on more costly procedures while disincentivizing them to spend time on preventive care—especially given the lower reimbursement rates for such care from third-party payers. According to CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, while most states provide at least emergency or urgent dental benefits for their adult Medicaid beneficiaries, nearly one-third of states do not provide dental care beyond emergency procedures. This—combined with the prevailing model for reimbursing preventive care—creates an environment in which certain segments of the population only seek out dental care in an emergency situation.

disparity in who those preventative services and even who has knowledge about how to use those preventative services.” – Christine Chiao SPH 15 DMD 19 PEDO 22

If the reimbursement model is changed to incentivizing outcomes that improve oral health versus simply paying for treatment, which is the current fee-for-service paradigm, then patients should end up paying less for their dental care in the long run because it should reduce the need for expensive and complex treatment, according to Tavares. She hopes that if more insurers saw dentistry this way, then more patients would take advantage and receive much-needed preventive care. “There are many who argue that if you make prevention expensive then people wouldn't get it,” Tavares said. “We’ll all end up paying less for oral healthcare as the coverage for these services increases by insurers and Medicaid, because there's a high value to all patients by fully covering preventive services.”

FEATURED

To change how oral healthcare

we need to change how people think about oral healthcare, the alumni is delivered,

we spoke with said.

CHANGING POINT OF VIEW Oral healthcare access must be seen as a social justice issue, said Fleming, pointing out that oral health inequities are correlated to socioeconomic status and social determinants of health. Housing, transportation, income, education level, and food insecurity are all factors that affect whether an individual is able to access high-quality dental care. For many Americans, for example, inadequate transportation and lack of job flexibility impede their ability to schedule regular dentist appointments—especially as more than 56 million Americans live in areas with a shortage of dental professionals, according to CareQuest Institute for Oral Health research. According to Fleming, improving access to oral healthcare has to be a collective effort amongst practitioners, policy makers, researchers, and administrators. “We can’t talk about oral health … without getting to some root causes,” Fleming said. “It’s striking to me that we preach this thing about brushing two times a day for two minutes, flossing and all of that when people don’t have secure homes, don’t have safe water to drink, [and] don’t have access to fresh and healthy food.” Dr. Elizabeth Powell DPH 20 PEDO 22 is the dental director at Codman Square Health Center, a community-based federally qualified health center in Dorchester, Massachusetts. To alleviate some “pain points” around improving oral health access, Codman Square Health Center has been committed to building interdisciplinary partnerships between the dental and medical departments to promote oral health integration.

As a result, Powell said medical providers serve as “oral health champions,” explaining to patients the relationship between oral and overall health, which has been great for increasing internal pediatric referrals to dental care and eliminating some barriers to care. “It can be difficult for some patients to prioritize oral health when access to care is limited for a plethora of reasons, including living in health professional shortage areas compounded by limited access to healthy food options that promote optimal oral health,” Powell said. “These are just a few of the things that cumulatively affect oral health.” Dr. Helen Nguyen DPH 22, GSDM director of community health programs, agreed, noting that those educational efforts to inform underserved communities about the value of dental care need to start at the pediatric level. All healthcare providers—dental and medical—should emphasize to patients the importance of starting preventive dental prevention visits in children by 12 months of age, or within six months of when the first tooth erupts, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. “I think starting earlier is definitely important in getting that education out there to parents,” Nguyen said. “We could maybe even incorporate this education on the medical side at a prenatal visit [by] letting parents know what's important for oral health and when to start incorporating tooth brushing, using fluoride toothpaste, and when to have the first dental visit.”

FEATURED

HOW CAN WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE TODAY? One major barrier to accessing care for many patients is the need to visit a brick-and-mortar dental office for treatment. To address this, the field has been experimenting with some key innovations that bring dental care directly to the patient, including teledentistry.

The COVID-19 pandemic expanded reliance on telehealth appointments—and the dental profession should be encouraged to expand on this innovation, Castelaz said. During her work in 2020 with an oral health coalition, Virginia Health Catalyst, she witnessed teledentistry bringing much-needed preventative care to individuals whose previous challenges accessing oral healthcare were exacerbated by the start of the pandemic. There are two types of teledentistry appointments: synchronous and asynchronous. In synchronous appointments, a patient and provider talk on a HIPAA-compliant platform, which allows the provider to triage to the best of their abilities. Asynchronous appointments can vary from state to state, but Castelaz said she has worked with dental hygienists who conduct hybrid preventive appointments with portable equipment in long-term care facilities and the off-site dentists reviewing the images. During these in-person cleaning sessions, the hygienists take intraoral photos of the teeth, ultimately showing them to the off-site dentist who then determines if additional evaluation or treatment in person is required.

“ Dentistry [alone] is not going to solve the problem. It has to be a collective effort, which is why it becomes social justice that cuts across all sectors.” – Dr. Eleanor Fleming DPH 19

“Being able to understand how we can utilize teledentistry to improve access and being able to actually meet patients, in some ways, exactly where they are, because they couldn’t come to us and we couldn’t go to them, [is important],” Castelaz said. Another method for bringing care to the patients is in-person school-based programs; these programs allow medical professionals to provide care for children where they spend most of their time, eliminating the need for those children to be taken to a secondary location, Tavares said. “School-based programs are shown to be very effective, because then it could reach more kids without necessarily having their parents take time from work or have the knowledge,” Tavares said. As the former clinical director of the Forsyth Kids Program, a mobile school-based program based in Massachusetts, Nguyen worked with her team to conduct dental exams, dental cleanings, fluoride varnishes, dental sealants, and silver diamine fluoride treatment, as well as to provide community referrals when needed to children throughout Massachusetts. Now, as GSDM community health programs director within the Office of Global and Population Health,

Nguyen will run GSDM’s school-based oral health programs that deliver preventive services to thousands of children. Nguyen said it’s been rewarding bringing dental care to children who might not receive it otherwise and she urges more dental professionals to consider working in non-traditional settings. “Using the experiences I had out in the field, [I’m] working on streamlining processes to get our team out there to serve more of the communities that need us most,” Nguyen said. Teledentistry and other programs targeted at bringing care directly to patients in nontraditional settings are important ways to improve equitable access to healthcare. But it’s also important to look at other reforms and improvements, including promoting legislative and administrative changes to mandate more dental insurance coverage, such as strengthening adult dental benefits in Medicaid and adding a dental benefit to Medicare, according to Fleming. Fleming stressed that policy change is critical to improving access. “Dentistry [alone] is not going to solve the problem,” Fleming said. “It has to be a collective effort, which is why it becomes social justice that cuts across all sectors.”

FEATURED

HOW ARE DENTAL SCHOOLS PART OF THE SOLUTION? Expanding equitable access to oral healthcare can—and should—begin at the dental school level. From recruiting and supporting a diverse student body to ensuring students have ample experience treating patients with varied needs in a wide range of care settings, dental schools play a critical role in the oral healthcare pipeline.

According to CareQuest Institute research, race and geographic locations both play a significant role in whether Americans have access to oral healthcare. Individuals in rural communities are more likely to experience tooth decay and twice as likely to lose their adult teeth as their urban counterparts. Meanwhile, Black adults are 68 percent more likely to have an unmet dental need than white adults. Similarly, Latino adults are 52 percent more likely than white adults to report having difficulty doing their job due to poor oral health. Promoting diversity among dental professionals is a critical step in addressing disparities. Providers from a variety of backgrounds may have greater insight into the root causes of the disparities, and patients may be more comfortable receiving care from someone with a similar background, said Fleming. To increase the diversity of the dental profession, Fleming said dental schools should adopt a holistic philosophy that welcomes students with various backgrounds and previous experiences. GSDM does conduct a holistic review of all aspects of candidates’ applications and selects candidates for admission based on scholastic achievement, fitness

and aptitude for the study of dental medicine, and other personal qualifications, experiences, and non-cognitive achievements, according to Dr. Robert Kasberg Jr., GSDM assistant dean of admissions. GSDM also collaborates with directors of pre-professional master’s degree programs and with pre-health advisors at a variety of schools, including historically Black colleges and universities and Latino-serving institutions, to provide individual and group advising to their students. “Thinking about who is able to enter the profession is one barrier that must be addressed,” Fleming said. Based on personal experiences, Chiao said an important step in achieving equitable patient-centered care is for dental programs to train a diverse workforce from different cultural, racial/ethnic, and linguistic backgrounds. This can help create a bridge for individuals to better connect with their healthcare provider. “Growing up, there was something so valuable to my family about having providers who looked like us and understood our background,” Chiao said. “Having diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, like pipeline programs to recruit a diverse population of dentists, is so important. Educating

students is one thing, but having these programs would really result in a needed shift in our profession.” Dental schools can also help expand access to care by virtue of who they treat within their educational clinics. GSDM helps those with financial barriers to afford high-quality care by offering competitive rates for dental services and also by accepting a wide variety of dental insurances, including Medicaid (or MassHealth) within their patient treatment centers. Additionally, GSDM is increasing students' experience by providing care to pediatric patients with disabilities, as part of a new pediatric disability educational program that started this academic year (see more—page 38). “Students are learning what it means to have equitable access and the ways it should be,” Tavares said. It’s critical for dental students to be cognizant of the interplay of cultural differences in healthcare settings. Chiao hopes that her residents start learning about the concepts of cultural humility on their first days. She said it’s essential for dentists to be aware of and sensitive to their patients’ differences, to be aware of their own inherent biases, and to always strive to learn about backgrounds other than their own.

“It’s important to recognize that you may not know exactly what it’s like to be from somebody else’s cultural background and seek a better understanding of these cultural differences to tailor the care that we provide for that person,” Chiao said. “Being sensitive to those differences is how we really tailor our day-to-day practice to provide person-centered care.” When reflecting on her time as a GSDM student, Nguyen credits her exposure to school-based oral health programs as the reason she considered a non-traditional dental career path. She reiterated that early exposure to all branches of the dental profession is needed in dental education. “The dental school curriculum is so jam-packed already but getting that exposure of providing oral health education and dental screenings at an elementary school during dental school made a really big impact on me,” Nguyen said. “I also was involved in dental public health research, so when these two [interests] meshed, it allowed me to see that dental public health is what I see as my dental career. If I hadn't had those experiences, I may have thought otherwise.”

FEATURED

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Long-term, sustainable increases in equitable access to oral healthcare will require systemic change—but providers can also effect change through small deliberate acts every day.

Powell said one action dental providers—especially those in community-based health centers—can take right now is to create internal referral systems that link patients with a medical home to dental care. This cross-disciplinary approach addresses oral health as a component of overall health while also directly linking patients to dental care. According to Castelaz, in order to identify effective solutions, we also need to better understand the problem. Dental providers can support this effort by sharing more information about what they're seeing at the patient level with researchers and policy makers. With this expanded data collection, it can help spark more research and administrative updates. “There's a lot more need for information, so we can start to understand what is happening in our community, and we can start to look at ways to address that,” Castelaz said. Tavares said she encourages her students to advocate for change within the dental profession.

“We're trying to, wherever we can, teach them how to be advocates in the things they believe in,” Tavares said. “What I'm hoping to do is to imbue this generation of residents with the idea that they should be looking, even if they have to go into a practice environment or community health center environment where things are still going as usual, that they're open to the idea that it doesn't have to be this way and maybe can find themselves in a position to make a difference.” Although there is a tremendous amount of work to be done to achieve equitable access to oral healthcare, Fleming said the dental community should feel energized and remain persistent to enact much-needed change. “My dream of oral health equity goes from the individual, the community, the workforce, and then ensuring that we have those systems and those policies and those practices that makes sure that, in an equitable way, people can receive the kind of care that they want,” Fleming said. “To borrow the phrase from Langston Hughes, ‘It's a dream deferred,’ but fingers crossed, we will get there with intentionality soon.”

ACCESS TO OR AL HEALTHCARE: ISL AND ST YLE

MARTHA’S VINEYARD is frequently portrayed as a picturesque vacation destination, but the island's approximately 21,000 permanent residents are in dire need of better access to dental care. The island’s geographic isolation creates barriers to accessing healthcare for many residents, especially those households who are uninsured or under-insured. Aldino Maggiulli DMD 91, pictured on Martha’s Vineyard

Island Health Care (IHC), the island’s federally qualified community health center (FQHC), is looking to change that with the development of a new family dental clinic—headed up by GSDM alumnus Aldino Maggiulli DMD 91. After more than 30 years in private practice, Maggiulli is looking forward to bringing quality affordable dental care to island residents in his new role as IHC dental director. IHC’s goal is to serve the thousands of children and adults who currently lack access to dental healthcare. “Equitable access [to] high-quality oral healthcare shouldn’t be just for the privileged and the wealthy,” Maggiulli said. “Everybody deserves quality healthcare, regardless of your race, religion, or income. That’s the beautiful part about what we’re doing. Everyone will be welcome.” Until Island Health Care opens its dental clinic, Maggiulli said vulnerable members of the Martha’s Vineyard population have very few options for dental care: none at all, insufficient care, or finding care off-island, which requires additional time and expenses for a ferry ride and potentially missing a day of work. Now, Maggiulli said, “we are going to keep everybody happy and healthy on the island.” According to Maggiulli, his first task is to identify the population’s current dental needs and how best to address them. To ensure that patients can afford the care, IHC can offer the FQHC sliding fee benefit that provides steep discounts based on health insurance status, family size, family income, hardships, and other factors. “We’re bringing a dental practice to Martha’s Vineyard and we’re not going to be treating patients, we’re going to be treating our Martha’s Vineyard family,” he said. “Our caring and compassionate team will deliver the highest quality care without compromise.” Ultimately, the IHC dental clinic may serve as a rotation site for GSDM. “Our Boston University students and residents would benefit because they will enhance their clinical skills and have the opportunity to serve the people of Martha’s Vineyard,” Maggiulli said. Maggiulli said he promises to work with his dental team to expand access to dental care for anyone who needs it. “Once it’s up and in full swing, it’s going to be able to address that lack of affordable dental care on the island,” Maggiulli said. “This dental office will provide care from pediatrics to geriatrics and everybody in between.”

ALUMNI FEATURED

Alumni Association Letter Dear Fellow Alumni, I’ve written to you before about the gratitude I feel for being a part of the GSDM community. As I’ve shared previously, I have benefited in innumerable ways through my connection with our school, from the education that I received to the life-long relationships I’ve formed with classmates, faculty, and staff. It is indeed a privilege to be part of the GSDM community—and to me, that privilege goes hand in hand with a responsibility to give back to our greater community, to take the knowledge and expertise that I’ve accrued through my affiliation with the school and use them to help those in need. I am not alone in this. One of the things that makes our school and its alumni so special, to my mind, is the deep sense of communitymindedness that we share. You will see examples of this throughout this issue of Impressions, from the alumni who speak thoughtfully and passionately about the need for equitable access to high-quality oral healthcare in our cover feature to the alumnus who left his private practice in Maryland to become the first dental director of a federally qualified health center on Martha’s Vineyard—and more. We should be very proud of the many ways that GSDM and its alumni, faculty, staff, and students support their local communities while also being diligent about searching out ways to do more, whether that’s volunteering at an outreach event organized by the dental school or advocating for legislative changes that will make accessing high-quality care easier and more affordable for people in need. I encourage you to reach out Stacey McNamee at smcnamee@bu.edu to learn more about ways in which you can give back. In closing, I wanted to thank you for allowing me to serve as your Alumni Association president over the last two years; it has been a tremendous honor. I officially “passed the baton” during our Alumni Weekend gathering to Hongsheng Liu DMD 10 ENDO 12, who I know will do a tremendous job. I look forward to supporting Hongsheng and continuing to be involved in the Alumni Association Board—and to seeing all of you at upcoming alumni events! Sincerely, Maryam Shomali CAS 87 ENDO 93 Alumni Association Immediate Past President

ALUMNI BOARD ADDS TWO NEW MEMBERS Mira Khouzam DMD 14 Mira Khouzam DMD 14 received her bachelor and master’s degrees from Alexandria University in Egypt and her DMD from Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine in 2014. She is currently a partner at a private general practice located in North Attleboro, Massachusetts. She strongly believes in organized dentistry and is actively involved with the Massachusetts Dental Society. When she is not working, she loves to read, travel, and spend time with her husband and twin daughters, who are also aspiring dentists!

Khamir Patel DMD 14 Khamir Patel DMD 14 received his DMD from Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine in 2014, graduating with high honors. He was also inducted as a fellow into the school’s chapter of the Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society (OKU). Dr. Patel is a fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry and an associate fellow in the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. Beyond his commitment to dentistry, Dr. Patel is an avid explorer of the world and a dedicated sports enthusiast. Alongside his wife, who also practices dentistry, he has called the Metro Boston area home for the past decade, making significant contributions to both his professional and local communities.

ALUMNI BOARD LISTING Hongsheng Liu DMD 10 ENDO 12

Jasmine Khedkar DMD 17

Snehal Pingle DMD 15

Puneet Kochhar DMD 03

Loubna Chehab Pla ENDO 08

Mira Khouzam DMD 16

Kady Rawal AEGD 10

Sandip Ladani DMD 16

Jignesh Rudani DMD 17

Chandan Advani DMD 04

James Lee CAS 09 CAMED 10 DMD 14

Frank Schiano DMD 06 AEGD 07 ORTHO 18

Ashish Agarwal DMD 17

Nikita Naumowicz DMD 21

Cameron Shahbazian DMD 14

Stephanie Brooks DMD 18

Gary Nord DMD 10

Tadeu Szpoganicz DMD 11

Hesham Farag DMD 21

Sepideh Novid DMD 04 AEGD 05

Naveen Verma DMD 04

Zhiqiang Huang DMD 08

Khamir Patel DMD 14

Donald Yu ENDO 81

Dennis Jodoin DMD 95 PERIO 98

Casey Pedro DMD 03

Ana Keohane DMD 16

Jamily Pedro DMD 11

President

Maryam Shomali CAS 87 ENDO 93 Immediate Past President

ALUMNI FEATURED

ALUMNI PROFILE

Geri Hunter

ORTHO 92

DR. GERI HUNTER ORTHO 92 HAS BEEN A PIONEER of New Hampshire’s Seacoast Region for decades, after partnering with pediatric dentist Dr. Jon Wendell 30 years ago to create the area’s first joint pediatric dentistry and orthodontic group practice.

Wendell knew many of his pediatric patients would need orthodontic treatment. His vision was to form two dental practices, pediatric and orthodontic, connected in one dental home. Hunter saw an opportunity to create a more streamlined experience for patients—in the joint practice, patients are able to book back-to-back appointments with both specialties—and the duo opened Portsmouth Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics in 1993. “I think more orthodontists should work in this type of arrangement,” Hunter said. “We share X-rays,

we share sterilization, we share the lab, and then his dental chairs are on one side and my chairs are on the other side.”

with GSDM-educated orthodontists during his training at Boston Children’s Hospital and agreed philosophically with their treatment methods.

Hunter credits her dental career to her GSDM education—plus a dose of perfect timing. As Hunter approached the end of her orthodontics residency at GSDM, she was exploring setting up an orthodontic practice in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. At that same time, Wendell had just purchased a pediatric dental practice in Portsmouth and was looking for an orthodontist—a GSDM-educated orthodontist. Wendell had worked

Wendell sent an inquiry letter to the GSDM orthodontic department. Hunter saw the letter, contacted him, and the pair formed Portsmouth Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics in 1993. They have been working together ever since. “We [both] have this tremendous care for our patients,” Hunter said. “It has made it easy for us to work together given that we had the same treatment

philosophies and the same way of treating patients.” The community response to Portsmouth Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics has been incredibly positive, Hunter said. “Patients [and their caregivers] love it,” Hunter said. “They can get two visits done at the same time and we're able to remove the wires for their dental cleanings and if there's a bracket that needs to be removed for a tooth restoration, I'm right there to do that for them.”

Hunter said the setup also helps alleviate the anxiety that many patients with disabilities feel when meeting a new doctor. At Portsmouth Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, a pediatric dentist can ask Hunter to meet with their patient, in a relaxed manner, before orthodontic treatment begins. Then, when it’s time for the patient’s orthodontic appointment, they tend to be more at ease. Hunter valued her GSDM experiences so much she encouraged her son, Scott, to attend for his dental education. To her delight, the Hunter family now has a shared Terrier legacy,

as Scott Hunter is in his third year of the DMD program. “It's just an unbelievable education you get from BU,” said Hunter, who has been a loyal donor to GSDM over the years. “The learning environment is encouraging, great instructors, [and] great department chairs. The learning environment and the benefit of having outstanding instructors provides you with, I think, the best education you could get. I really felt so prepared when I graduated.”

ALUMNI FEATURED

SHOW THE WORLD YOUR GSDM PRIDE AND SUPPORT THE FUTURE OF OUR PROFESSION!

Buy your BU Dental swag today at bu.edu/dental/asdagear All proceeds will support our amazing students as they become the latest in a long line of distinguished alumni.

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New Graduate Discount

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For full course offerings, see our website at bu.edu/dental/ce

American Association of Endodontists CHICAGO, IL—MAY 2023

CAPTIONS LIST INDIVIDUALS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.

1. Eda Kerthi, Stacey McNamee, Nauman Chatha ENDO 16, and Jomana Alsenan ENDO 19 2. Attendees at GSDM Alumni Reception at AAE

3. Bob Kaufman ENDO 86, Terry Pannkuk ENDO 85, and Diane Pannkuk 4. Jeremy Aczon ENDO 18, Hayrapet Sahakyants ENDO 18, Heidar Zohrehei DMD 17 ENDO 23, Kanwal Maheshwari ENDO 23, Dr. Sami Chogle, and Michael Diny ENDO 23

ALUMNI

National Oral Health Conference ORLANDO, FL—APRIL 2023

CAPTIONS LIST INDIVIDUALS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.

1. Dr. Mary Tavares and Instructor Thayer Scott with five current/graduating residents and two graduated residents (Dr. Faheem Mir DPH 22, bottom left, and Dr. Helen Nguyen DPH 22, bottom right) 2. Dr. Faheem Mir DPH 22 and Dr. Helen Nguyen DPH 22

3. Dr. Mary Tavares, Dr. Faheem Mir DPH 22, Thayer Scott 4. Dr. Cam Van Huynh DPH 21, Dr. Faheem Mir DPH 22, and Dr. Kapil Singla DPH 23

5. Dr. Dushanka Kleinman DPH 76, Dr. Mary Tavares, and Dr. Erinne Kennedy, director of predoctoral education at College of Dental Medicine, Kansas City University. Dr. Kleinman, now at University of Maryland School of Public Health, was a public health services officer and deputy director at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), NIH from 1991 to 2006.

6. Dr. Mary Tavares and Dr. Cam Van Huynh DPH 21 7. Dr. Nixon Roberts DPH 15, center, with Thayer Scott. Dr. Roberts is a diplomate and in the Public Health Service in the Federal Corrections System.

ALUMNI FEATURED

CLASS NOTES OLGA SPIVAK DMD 16 and her husband Chris welcomed their third son, Gabriel Sergei, on March 10, 2023. He joins big brothers Alexander and Christian.

BRAD DRESSLER DMD 15 and MICHELLE DRESSLER DMD 15 are opening a new practice, Dressler Family Dental, in Hooksett, New Hampshire.

PATRICIA MORAGA WERBITT DMD 17 and DR. JONATHAN WERBITT ORTHO 16 welcomed Audrey Rose on June 3, 2023, at 6lbs 6 oz.

MELISSA SOLOMAN KORNHABER DMD 19 and ADAM KORNHABER CAMED 15 DMD 19 welcomed Ryan Brooks on July 12, 2023, at 7lbs and 20 inches.

JAMES ROCHEFORT DMD 08 and wife Sara welcomed a son, Theodore, born in August at 9 lbs. He is pictured here with big sister Maggie.

ALUMNI FEATURED

JACOB VAYNER DMD 04 recently opened a new dental office in Reseda, California, featuring cutting-edge technology and specializing in emergency dentistry. Dr. Vayner and his team are experienced in many dental emergencies, including acute toothaches, broken or chipped teeth, dental abscesses, and knocked-out teeth.

ELIZABETH DIBONA BUTI 97 DMD 07 AEGD 08 and MICHAEL PAUK DMD 10 ENDO 12 were recently recognized as New Hampshire’s top dentists by New Hampshire Magazine.



DR. KADY RAWAL AEGD 10 DPH 18, clinical associate professor of general dentistry, was invited by the dean of the University of New England College of Dental Medicine to deliver a keynote address on leadership and involvement in organized dentistry at the school’s annual Dean’s Student Leadership & Recognition banquet.



DR. TUN-YI HSU ENDO 04 05, DR. XIAOFEI ZHU ENDO 21, BABAR SALEEM DMD 10 AEGD 11 ENDO 18, DR. MAAN ZUAITAR ENDO 19, DR. JOMANA ALSENAN ENDO 19, and ANGELA WU DMD 16 ENDO 19 received their pins for board certification at the 2023 American Association of Endodontists annual meeting.



DR. JESSICA WILLIAMS DPH 23 and DR. JOSEPH BRETT RYAN DPH 23 were presented with awards for their research papers at the National Oral Health Conference in Orlando on April 16. The Leverett Graduate Student Merit Awards are presented by the American Association of Public Health Dentistry (AAPHD). Dr. Williams received a second place award for her paper: Association of oral pain-related productivity loss and wealth in working-age adults in 2011-2018. Dr. Ryan received honorable mention for his paper: Oral Health Risk Factors and Overall Treatment Needs in Air Force Recruits.



DR. DAMAN ANAND PEDO 23 recently received the Graduate Student Research Award at the Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Annual Session in Orlando, Florida, for her project on the Accuracy of Parent Reporting of Allergies and Medications in Pediatric Dentistry.



DR. GOLI PARSI ORTHO 14, clinical associate professor of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics, has been invited to become an examiner for the American Board of Orthodontics.

CLASS NOTES

DR. JOSEPH PEZZA ORTHO 73 was recently awarded the “Dr. Joseph Box Award” by the Rhode Island Dental Association. The award is presented annually to a RI Dental Association member who has demonstrated the highest level of ethics and dedication to the improvement of the art and science of dentistry, and earned the universal respect of their colleagues. Recipients have shown exceptional involvement in, and love for, dentistry on many levels; and have shown compassion for all members in society. Pictured is Dr. Joe receiving the award from Dr. Box.



HANS LANGARA DMD 00 ENDO 17, clinical associate of endodontics at GSDM, received the 2023 Endodontics Volunteer Award for his distinguished service to the department.



In June 2023, DR. GLADYS CARRASCO PEDO 20 and ANA KEOHANE DMD 16, clinical associate professor of general dentistry at GSDM, received the 2023 HECHOS Award for best group article from the Journal of the Hispanic Dental Association. The article is titled A New Treatment Approach Utilizing CAD/CAM Restorations for Endo-Treated Permanent Anterior and Posterior Teeth in Pediatric Patients.



JOSEPH CALABRESE DMD 91 AEGD 92, associate dean of students and clinical professor in general dentistry at GSDM, and DR. MICHELLE HENSHAW SPH 96 DPH 07, associate dean of global and population health and professor of health policy and health services research at GSDM, served as editors of the May 2023 issue of Clinics in Geriatric Medicine, which focused on geriatric dental medicine. The issue featured articles by DR. KADY RAWAL AEGD 10 DPH 18, MATTHEW MARA DMD 16 AEGD 17 WHEELOCK 19, PAUL FARSAI DMD 94 AEGD 95 SPH 97, and STEVEN KARPAS CAS 77 DMD 87, as well as DRS. HENSHAW AND CALABRESE.

DID YOU GET MARRIED? HAVE A BABY? ACCOMPLISH A LIFE GOAL? We’d love to hear your news! Email your updates (and any address changes) to Stacey McNamee at smcnamee@bu.edu.

SCHOOL

CLASS OF 2023 BY THE NUMBERS

AV E R AG E AG E

28 36 33 FOUR-YEAR DMD

TWO-YEAR DMD ADVANCED STANDING

YO U NG ES T G R A DUAT E (All Programs)

OL DES T G R A DUAT E (All Programs)

POSTDOCTORAL

272 TOTA L N U M B E R O F G R A DUAT ES

ON CAMPUS: HIGHLIGHTS

COMMENCEMEN T The sun beamed brightly outside, but nothing could outsparkle the shimmering smiles of the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine Class of 2023 graduates as they gathered for Commencement on Friday, May 19.

SCHOOL

HOME STATE  Massachusetts | 126 New York | 14 Scan to read more

More than 270 predoctoral students and postdoctoral residents were recognized during the ceremony for fulfilling their degree and certificate programs. “Your time at GSDM has been incredible and we truly have been enriched by your presence,” Dean Cataldo Leone said. “You leave us as you came in—intelligent, talented, and dedicated individuals—but, with considerably more knowledge, skills, and values than on day one. We thank you for letting us travel along with you on that journey. On behalf of the entire GSDM community of faculty, staff, alumni, and fellow students and residents, I congratulate you on your tremendous achievement.” Dr. Richard Valachovic, founding director of the new Center for Oral Health Policy and Management at the New York University College of Dentistry, delivered the keynote address. “On this one day in your lives, you move from being someone with a lot of knowledge and education to being a full member of a profession or a specialty,” Valachovic said. “For those of you receiving the Doctor of Dental Medicine degree, on this one day, you go from being called Mr. or Ms. to being called doctor. On this one day, you become something that you will be for the rest of your lives.”

 If known

CLASS OF 2023 BY THE NUMBERS

COUNTRY OF CITIZENSHIP *

India | 19

Kuwait | 3

Chile | 1

Mexico | 1

Canada | 18

People’s Republic of China | 3

Djibouti | 1

Mongolia | 1

Iran | 8

Peru | 3

Dominica | 1

Pakistan | 1

Republic of Korea | 8

Russia | 3

El Salvador | 1

Serbia | 1

Saudi Arabia | 7

Venezuela | 3

Germany | 1

Spain | 1

Cuba | 6

Albania | 2

Ghana | 1

Sudan | 1

Iraq | 6

Belarus | 2

Japan | 1

Turkey | 1

Dominican Republic | 4

Brazil | 2

Jordan | 1

United Arab Emirates | 1

Egypt | 4

Nigeria | 2

Kenya | 1

United Kingdom | 1

Syria | 4

Taiwan, R.O.C. | 2

Lebanon | 1

Uzbekistan | 1

Thailand | 4

Bahrain | 1

Macedonia | 1

Vietnam | 1

* Only includes non-U.S. citizens

SCHOOL FEATURED

CLASS OF 2023 BY THE NUMBERS

FOUR-YEAR DMD POST-GRADUATION PLANS

PRACTICE TYPE

(if entering practice)

Private Practice

Federal Government

Private Practice

Federal Government

82%

8.2%

88.7%

4.1%

Corporate Employee

Dental school or other academic/ research setting

Corporate Employee

Dental school or other academic/ research setting

or 50 students

24.59%

or 15 students State or Local Community/Public Health-based Practice

16.4%

or 5 students

6.56%

or 4 students Other

3.28%

or 2 students

or 10 students

51.8%  EMPLOYMENT IN DENTISTRY 45.5%  POSTDOCTORAL PROGRAM PROGRAM 2.7%  POSTDOCTORAL & PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT

TWO-YEAR DMD AS POST-GRADUATION PLANS

or 86 students

20.6%

or 20 students State or Local Community/Public Health-based Practice

9.3%

or 4 students

12.4%

or 12 students Other

2.1%

or 2 students

or 9 students

to apply to a postdoctoral 10.3%  intend program in the coming year.

undecided about whether 23.7%  are to apply.

W HITE COAT

CER EMON Y More than 200 GSDM students entered Metcalf Hall on Friday, July 7, 2023, in a dazzling array of colors but left united in one color—white. Scan to read more

The occasion was the school’s annual White Coat Ceremony for the Doctor of Dental Medicine Class of 2025 and the Doctor of Dental Medicine Advanced Standing Class of 2024. Hundreds of family members and friends attended the event held in the Metcalf Hall at the George Sherman Union on the University’s Charles River Campus. “You will now have the wonderful privilege, but also the heavy responsibility of providing comprehensive oral healthcare to your own patients,” Dean Leone said during his remarks. “Daunting perhaps, and even a little frightening, but please rest assured that our faculty, your teachers, will continue to guide you in your development.” In the keynote address, American Dental Association President-Elect Dr. Linda J. Edgar asked GSDM students to remain truthful to themselves and to the patients they are treating. She said the most important thing to take away from dental education is how best to treat patients with empathy and honesty. “You try to be your best, but don’t beat yourself up if something goes wrong, and always be truthful with your patient,” Edgar said. “If something goes wrong and you are truthful with them, they will trust you. So, the duty of care [and] the duty of trust are probably, in my opinion, the two most important things.”

SCHOOL FEATURED

PROFE S SIONA L

CER EMON Y Students in the Doctor of Dental Medicine Class of 2027 and the Doctor of Dental Medicine Advanced Standing Class of 2025 were formally welcomed to the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine during the Professional Ceremony on July 28 on Talbot Green.

The annual Professional Ceremony, the culminating event in a week of informative and inspiring matriculation activities, marks the start of the new students’ dental journeys at GSDM.

Scan to read more

In his opening remarks, GSDM Dean Cataldo Leone said it was a pleasure to once again welcome new students to the GSDM community. “Our purpose here is to recognize the students entering into the two-year DMD Advanced Standing Class of 2025, and the four-year DMD Class of 2027, as they embark upon what will be a professionally fulfilling journey,” Leone said. “We congratulate all these individuals for their significant achievements so far and we know that they will continue to thrive here at Boston University.” Dr. Ana Zea, GSDM community-based education director, delivered the event’s keynote address. “Your path to get here has involved long hours of study and academic achievement, successfully completing your admissions exams, countless hours of extracurricular activities, community engagement and service, research, sport, working, and shadowing other dentists, along many more,” Zea said. “Congratulate yourselves, feel proud of what you have done so far and let all those achievements remind you that you have what it takes to be successful in this program and beyond.”

SCHOOL

What initially drew you to study dentistry? I was attracted to dentistry because it’s a very hands-on, artistic profession with a strong background in medicine and science. When I shadowed my sister, who is also a dentist, I knew it would be a good match for me. I was especially interested in maxillofacial surgery because it was very surgically orientated and complex.

After working as a maxillofacial doctor conducting head and neck surgery in England, what made you want to come to the United States to study prosthodontics? Why GSDM? Since I was 14, I’ve always had a very strong urge to come to America. Everything in America seemed so huge, and I just fell in love with that idea of being part of something so big. I felt a little out of place in England and knew there was something else out there for me. I spoke to mentors in England, and they recommended GSDM because of Dr. Hiroshi Hirayama, director of the Advanced Education Program in Prosthodontics. He was one of the reasons I came to Boston, and he’s been a very big influence on me.

How would you compare the dental field in the United States to England? In England, most dentistry is covered under the National Health Service, so the treatment is highly subsidized for patients. This has its advantages and disadvantages: It’s cheaper, but the quality of care may not be as long-term focused. In America, I feel that there’s a great emphasis on long-term care and long-term outcomes for the patients. This is the type of care I am interested in providing, because for me, longevity is a big indicator of success.

When you were in England, you spent time validating the clinical training of internationally qualified dentists in a clinical setting. How does it feel to now be an internationally trained dentist in the United States? I now have a lot more empathy and understanding for my colleagues in America; they may face barriers here, such as with language or that the dental techniques they use back home may be different to the ones used in America. I think [maintaining empathy] has really helped build a better team structure in the department.

What has been your favorite part of your residency so far? Working with my co-residents is awesome. We all come from different parts of the world, and I enjoy learning about their background and culture. I also enjoy carrying out very complex, full-mouth rehabilitation cases. I’m also very happy with my faculty because they’re so experienced and approachable. I’m living my version of the American dream!

RESIDENT SPOTLIGHT

“ I plan to become a board-certified international prosthodontist working across the world. I want to continue providing patient care at the highest level possible.ˮ

VIRAT

HANSRANI PROS 24

SCHOOL FEATURED

NEW PEDIATRIC DISABILITY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM STARTS THIS YEAR

Scan to read more

RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT

Thanks to a $1.5 million, five-year grant, GSDM is developing a program that will give predoctoral dental students more experiences caring for pediatric patients with disabilities and increase the skills and comfort of community health center dentists in treating that patient population. “The goal is [improving] care and increasing access to care for patients [with disabilities], and at the same time making our students competent and comfortable in treating patients [with disabilities] once they graduate,” said Dr. Breno Reboucas, the school’s director of predoctoral pediatric dentistry and a clinical associate professor of general and pediatric dentistry. Reboucas is the principal investigator on the grant, which was awarded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The vision of the program is two-fold: improving the curriculum for predoctoral students to help raise awareness in the next generation of dentists and to train current dentists on specific skills and knowledge to improve care now. For predoctoral students, Reboucas and his team are developing two modules: an interdisciplinary didactic module on disabilities, designed with support from the Autism Friendly Initiative at Boston Medical Center, that will be added to the current pediatric dentistry courses for third-year students and a video module that will assess students’ behavior-management and treatment-planning skills for treating patients with disabilities. An interdisciplinary didactic module on disabilities was piloted in the spring 2023 semester with great reviews from students, Reboucas said. This didactic module will be fully integrated into the DMD3 and AS2 curriculum for the 2023-2024 academic year. Video cases were recorded in spring 2023 and are currently being edited. Reboucas said the goal is to add the video module as part of the DMD 4 and AS 2 rotations in the fall 2023 semester and use them as an additional tool

to improve students’ behavior-management and treatment-planning skills for treating patients with disabilities. He noted that additional funds were secured from the HRSA in 2023 to adapt the case scenarios to be delivered remotely. Outside of the classroom, there will be a new rotation for all predoctoral students that will take them to three clinical settings which includes two dental operatories within Codman Square Health Center’s pediatric medical clinic and a school-based oral health program within Franciscan Children’s Kennedy Day School for pediatric patients with disabilities. Reboucas said the enhancements of the current special needs and pediatric rotations are underway, and students will start participating in the new rotations during the fall 2023 semester. Another part of the grant focuses on practicing dentists in community health centers. Reboucas said his team is working with the University of Massachusetts Medical School and Codman Square Health Center to develop a training program that will provide tailored skills and knowledge to current dentists to later implement in their workplaces. “[It’s about becoming] more comfortable in treating patients with disabilities, or even sometimes just trying to figure out what the need is and where to send those patients [if they needed to be referred],” Reboucas said of the grant-funded program’s goals. “Sometimes those patients don’t even enter the system because there is no one willing to assess them.”

PHILANTHROPY

Scan to read more

2023 GLOBAL DAYS OF SERVICE: GSDM PUTS COMMUNITY FIRST Boston University’s Global Days of Service is a widely anticipated, annual university-wide month of community service opportunities that encourages students, residents, faculty, staff, and alumni to give back to their local, national, and international communities.

From preparing home-delivered meals to donating blood, the GSDM community gave back in a host of ways during the 2023 Global Days of Service. Kathy Lituri, clinical assistant professor of health policy & health services research, said connecting to local communities is an essential part of being a dental professional. “Dentistry’s a people profession,” Lituri said. “I mean, it doesn’t get much more people specific than dentistry, and if you can’t interact out in a community setting, or talk to people, or get to know people or listen to people or see what’s going on … most dentists need to have those skills.”

DAB MEMBER JOINS BU ALUMNI COUNCIL GSDM Dean’s Advisory Board member Dr. Mina Paul SPH 96 is expanding her involvement with Boston University with her latest role as a member of the Boston University Alumni Council (BUAC). Paul attended her first official meeting of the BUAC in October 2023. As a member of the BUAC, Paul said her goal is to bring the perspective of GSDM and the entire Boston University Medical Campus to members of the Charles River Campus. “From a dental point of view, I think it’s very important to have representation in the university and show how strong GSDM is and how important it is in a variety of ways,” Paul said. “I think it’s also an opportunity for me to give back, and I believe very strongly in giving back, whether it’s my time or my resources, to support an organization that I believe in.”

DEAN’S ADVISORY BOARD David Paul Lustbader CAS 86 DMD 86

Shadi Daher DMD 90 OMFS 94

Chair

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon Cofounder and President, Medical Missions for Children

Chief of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Milton Hospital Founder, South Shore Oral Surgery Associates

Westwood, MA

Quincy, MA

Patrik Eriksson

Tarun Agarwal

President, Nobel Biocare

Owner, 3-D Dentists Founder, Raleigh Dental Arts Raleigh, NC

Nazila Bidabadi CAS 82 DMD 87 President & Chief Cosmetic Dentist, Soft Touch Dentistry Allston, MA

Donald Booth Professor and Chair Emeritus, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Retired Chief, Department of Dentistry Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Boston Medical Center Topsfield, MA

Yorba Linda, CA

Richard A. Konys DMD 84 OMFS 88 Founder, Eastside Dental Fayetteville, NY

Jonathan B. Levine DMD 81 Founder & CEO, GLO ScienceFounder, Jonathan B. Levine & Associates New York, NY

Geoffrey Ligibel President & CEO, 42 North Dental

Madalyn Mann DPH 76

Jeanne C. Sinkford

Former Director, Applied Professional Experience (APEX) & Extramural Programs, Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine

Senior Scholar in Residence, American Dental Education Association

Miami, FL

Alon Mozes CEO, Neocis Inc. Miami, FL

Thomas Olsen Advisor, Mavrik Dental Therapeutics

Dean Emeritus, Howard University College of Dentistry Washington, D.C.

Richard A. Soden LAW 70 Partner Emeritus, Goodwin Procter LLP Chairman, Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers Oversight Committee Boston, MA

Costa Mesa, CA

Mina Paul SPH 96 Administrative Dental Director, East Boston Neighborhood Health Center Boston, MA

Waltham, MA

PHILANTHROPY

T W O N E W F U ND S E STABLI SHED TO HONOR THE LATE

JONATHAN D. SHENKIN, DDS, MPH by Francie King

Todd Shenkin and Jonathan Shenkin

The late Dr. Jonathan D. Shenkin, clinical professor of health policy & health services research at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM), was an avid and vocal proponent of children’s oral health. What drove his devotion? “Part of what got my brother interested in dental medicine,” said Todd Shenkin, “was that we had some awful dentists as children.” That experience, along with his education and practice in dental medicine, led to a focus on the interface between pediatric dentistry and public health advocacy for Dr. Shenkin— interests that broadened into health policy and research advocacy that he continued to embrace at both local and national levels. Shenkin died in 2021 at the age of 50. To honor his brother’s legacy, Todd Shenkin has established two new funds at GSDM. The Dr. Jonathan D. Shenkin, DDS, MPH Endowed Scholarship Fund will provide annual need-based awards to deserving dental students with a demonstrated interest in health policy, dental public health, or pediatric dentistry. The Dr. Jonathan D. Shenkin, DDS, MPH Research Fund will support general research at GSDM, with a preference for research in health policy and health services, or in pediatric dentistry. “My brother was a force for good in the world,” said Todd Shenkin. “He pushed for improvements when he saw an unmet need, especially for children. He believed

firmly that early oral health set the tone for overall health when combined with good medical care, and good nutrition— critical needs he saw constantly in his dental practices in central Maine.” Dr. Raul Garcia, professor and chair of GSDM’s Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research, first met Jonathan Shenkin in 2003 in connection with a large NIH grant focusing on health disparities and oral health in children and how to bring oral healthcare to kids in underserved communities. Shenkin’s practice in Maine offered a unique population for the study, according to Garcia, and it became a satellite site for the project, both for clinical work and for research. “[Shenkin] eventually did a lot of interesting and important things within this collaboration,” Garcia said. “He was a natural teacher with a gift for connecting with people and wanting them to learn. He got people talking together.” Jonathan Shenkin, a board-certified pediatric dentist, earned degrees from Columbia University and The Johns Hopkins University and completed residencies in general dentistry, dental public health, and pediatric dentistry.

Jonathan Shenkin and Todd Shenkin

Shenkin held academic appointments at GSDM in health policy and health services research and in pediatric dentistry from 2003 until his death in 2021. He owned a private pediatric dental practice in Bangor, Maine, eventually relocating to Augusta, where he welcomed thousands of pediatric patients. Shenkin served as president of the Maine Dental Association and was the youngest ever vice president of the American Dental Association (ADA). In March 2020, he was named to the ADA’s three-person COVID response team and continued serving as an ADA expert spokesperson for the media. He also lectured widely across the country and was the recipient of numerous honors, and appointments to professional and hospital boards and committees. Shenkin was named a Fulbright Scholar in 2015, only the second dentist to receive this award in the U.S. He used the opportunity to help integrate oral health into pediatrics in Belarus. In March 2022, Maine’s governor signed into law a bill requiring dental insurers to be transparent about their overall spending on dental claims, a change Shenkin vigorously advocated for prior to his death. Other states, including Massachusetts, have enacted or are now discussing similar legislation. “My brother continues to have a national impact on dentistry even now,” said Todd Shenkin. “We look forward with enthusiasm to continuing Jonathan’s legacy at Boston University.”

Charitable donations to either the Scholarship Fund or the Research Fund are always welcome. PLE AS E CONTACT G S DM DE VE LOPM E NT & ALU M N I RE L ATION S FOR MORE I N FORMATION 43

GIVING DAY PHILANTHROPY

Liz Abad DMD 23

Dustin Bui DMD 24

Ashraf Abd-Elmeguid ENDO 14

Alexis Cabrera Garcia DMD 23

Louay Abrass DMD 98

Caixia Lan DMD 18

Richard DInnocenzo

Sergio A. Guzman PERIO 01 02 DMD 03

Gerard Dorato

Elissa Haddad DMD 25

Ted Lee DMD 86

Ali Abuhaltam DMD 23

Joseph Calabrese DMD 91 AEGD 92

Diane Dougherty

Andreina Acconciagioco DMD 24

Michele Calabrese SSW 93

David Dougherty

Katherine A Haltom DMD 79 OMFS 82

Kyle Lee CAMED 20 DMD 24

Glenn Harris DMD 81

Kristina Lentz Capano

Pryscilla Acosta CAMED 19 DMD 23

Giuseppe Calabrese

Chunni Duan DMD 98 ORTHO 00

Cataldo Leone

Thomas Calabrese

Daniel Ekoh DMD 23

Michelle Henshaw SPH 96 DPH 07

Jeremy Aczon ENDO 18

Joe Calabrese

Naveen Reddy Admala DMD 18 ORTHO 22

Juanita Canal DMD 23

Taiwo Ezra DMD 23

Olivia Carmona DMD 24

Stephen Falco Jr DMD 86

Ashish Agarwal DMD 17

Lisa Case

Yong Ding PhD 06 DMD 08 ORTHO 10

Diane Ellis DPH 83

Hiroshi Hirayama

James Lee CAS 09 CAMED 10 DMD 14

Rosemary Leone

Kevin Holland

Lok Ching Li DMD 17 ORTHO 20

Xingxue Hu DMD 15

Qiyu Li DMD 21

Yang Hu DMD 21

Yan Liang DMD 18 Guanghui Ling DMD 16

Roman Akopian DMD 23

Elizabeth Cepeda

Yuwei Fan

Zhiqiang Huang DMD 08

Saif Alankarli DMD 24

Pelly Chang DMD 89

Hesham Farag DMD 21

Zhan Huang DMD 16

Kathy Lituri SPH 03

Ramsis Farag DMD 23

Hui Huang DMD 05

Fadi Farah DMD 93 PERIO 97

Nurgul Islamoglu DMD 23

Hongsheng Liu DMD 10 ENDO 12

Mah E.Noor Fatima DMD 23

Aseel Ismail DMD 21 ORTHO 24

Mark Ferriero

Vickibelle Javier DMD 23

Paula Aspinwall-Rezende DMD 23

Christine Chiao CAS 13 CAMED 15 SPH 15 PEDO 22

Yanling Jiang DsC 91 DMD 95 ENDO 99

Ahmed Baioumy DMD 23

Neal Fleisher DMD 84 PERIO 86

Radhika Chigurupati

Kate Flewelling

Jun Jiang

Elizabeth Benz DMD 11

Sami Chogle

Bianca Flora PERIO 01

Grecia Jimenez DMD 24

Silvana Beraj DMD 23

Joshua Clarke DMD 23

Manish Bhagania

Lillian Foote DMD 25

Jason Conn DMD 10 ENDO 12

Ramin Foroughi PERIO 24

Dennis Jodoin DMD 95 PERIO 98

Hannah Cooperman CAMED 19 DMD 23

Amanda Alon CAS 12 CGS 12 CAMED 14 DMD 18 Rosario Alvarez DMD 92 AEGD 93 Omid Arooni DMD 24

John Jhujhar Bhambra DMD 94 ENDO 07 Nazila Bidabadi CAS 82 DMD 87

Victoria Chang DMD 23 Loubna and Philippe Chehab-Pla ENDO 08 Angela Chen CAMED 23

Bing Liu DSc 99 DMD 03 Xinyan Liu Phd 05 Joyce Liu Ryan Liu Wei Liu DMD 19 Sergio londono Moncada DMD 24 Anoush Longerstaey DMD 22

Gyudede Johnson

David Lustbader CAS 86 DMD 86

Elie Freilich OMFS 19

Laura Kaufman

Johanne Mallenbrache

Carmen Garcia AEGD 10 SPH 15

Ana Keohane DMD 16

Gibran Mangui CAMED 17 DMD 21

Benjamin Bocio DMD 23

Dominic Cortassa DMD 24

Jacqueline K. Boltz

Nicholas Croce

Amanda Garrandes CAMED 21 DMD 25

Jasmine Khedkar DMD 17

Donald Booth

Shadi Daher DMD 90 OMFS 94

Julie Gelnett DMD 01 ORTHO 03

Hannah Kilbride DMD 24

Matt Mara DMD 16 AEGD 17 Wheelock 19

Yong Soo Kim PERIO 11

Alisha Marble

Bing Dai DMD 09

Russell Giordano II

Manasa Devi Datla DMD 23

Puneet Kochhar DMD 03

Ruben Martin PERIO 23

Stephanie Brooks DMD 18

Veronika Gogiia DMD 24

Sandip Ladani DMD 16

Louis Brown DMD 84 PROS 91

Nahimar Davis DMD 24

Gurkan Goktug PROS 01 DMD 08

Afsheen Lakhani DMD 06 AEGD 07

Yenisbel Martinez Perez DMD 23

Lara Brown de Fuenmayor

Luis Del Castillo

Diana Gurshumova DMD 24

Merllory Lampe Rodriguez DMD 24

Charles Brodsky ORTHO 05

Katherine DeForest

Eda Kerthi

Vasiliki Maseli Wheelock 20 Linda Massod DMD 91

On April 11, 2023, BU students, alumni, parents, faculty, and staff came together to give back and celebrate what makes them #ProudToBU as part of the 2023 Giving Day, collectively creating an even bigger impact on BU schools, teams, programs, and causes. We want to thank each and every donor who helped make this year’s Giving Day a success.

BU $3.8 M +

TOTAL DOLLARS RAISED

Tim McDonough

Catalina Osses Albornoz DMD 23

Jiangyun Sheng DMD 11

Gigi Meinecke DMD 88

Yuko Otsubo PROS 17 DMD 23

Maryam Shomali CAS 87 ENDO 93

Ivan Mendoza DMD 18

Kavitha Paidipati DMD 14

Anthimos Michael Questrom 16 MET 22

David Parent DMD 03

Preetinder Sidhu DMD 17

Nazia Pathan DMD 23

Pamela Simmons

Mayerling Pena De Ovalles DMD 23

Sudarvizhi Sivaraman DMD 17

Gustavo Perdomo PROS 85 DMD 99

Yunbo Song DMD 13

Luis Perez DMD 18

Stacey McNamee MET 98

Konstantinos Michalakis Polychronis Michalakis Dalal Mohamed Khair DMD 23

Liam Shields DMD 25

Zhi Sun DMD 15

Esteban Molina Monge PROS 22

Markendy Pierre

Devaki Sundararajan Oral Pathology 09

Snehal Pingle DMD 15

Azeez Swarup DMD 15

Raffi Morales Solorzano DMD 23

Barbara Pyke

Tadeu Szpoganicz DMD 11

Divya Mudumba DMD 20

Brittany Quainoo CAMED 22 DMD 26

Adba Najjar DMD 04

Zori Rabinovitz DMD 03

Nikita Naumowicz DMD 21

Anu Rajasekaran DMD 97

Azita Negahban DMD 94 AEGD 04

Kadambari Rawal AEGD 10 DPH 18

Aslan Tangestanipour DMD 23 Fuad Tawmeh DMD 23 Augusto Tokumoto DMD 23

Amy Nelson Leila Nezakatgoo DMD 04

Raynelis Recio-Martinez DMD 24

Linh Nguyen DMD 23

Laura Rodriguez DMD 24

Gary Nord DMD 10

Robert Rosenberg ENDO 75

Carolyn Wehler SPH 01

Jignesh Rudani DMD 17

Quinton Wesley

Catherine Sarkis CAS 88 Questrom 91 LAW 94

Bradley Woland DMD 11 ORTHO 14

Ramzi Sarkis AEGD 96 DMD 02 ENDO 05 08

Zhewu Xu DMD 20

Hesham Nouh DsC 12 PROS 15 Sepideh Novid DMD 04 AEGD 05 Carolina Ochoa DMD 24 Kevin Oliveira ORTHO 09 Thomas Olsen Mayumi Onoe-Miyamoto AEGD 01 PROS 05 Frank Oppenheim GRS 74 DMD 76 PERIO 77

Tony Tong DMD 13 Mehmet Uzel PERIO 01 DMD 05 Anwita Vaidya ORTHO 25 Na Wei DMD 15

Lee Wu Qiaomei Yan DMD 08

Frank Schiano CAS 01 DMD 06 AEGD 07 ORTHO 19

Eugenia Yang DMD 11 ENDO 15

Ronni Schnell DMD 81

Hui Zuo DMD 20

Megha Shah PROS 25

Matthew Zweig

Samira Sheikh DMD 03

TOTAL DONORS

400+

CAMPUS CASES SUPPORTED

Ross Taddeo ORTHO 00

Breno Reboucas DSc 07 PEDO 12 Questrom 23

Ada Neil DMD 09

12,000+

Min Zhu PhD 12 DMD 17

GSDM $171,693

TOTAL DOLLARS RAISED

230

TOTAL DONORS

FUNDS SUPPORTED

PHILANTHROPY

Maintaining a competitive edge, no matter what the arena, takes investment, and we are grateful for the support we receive from many sources.

Giving to the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine in your will is a simple way to make a real difference. It’s easy—and rewarding. Take the time now to make sure that your will reflects your intentions to care for your family and the people and causes that matter most to you. If you include a gift for GSDM in your estate plans, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that future generations of students and residents will benefit from your generous legacy. To learn more about how you can make a gift in your will to support GSDM, contact Boston University Planned Giving at 800-645-2347 or opg@bu.edu, or visit bu.edu/plannedgiving.

Download a complimentary copy of our Estate Planning Guide at bu.edu/estateguide.

Importantly, generous contributions from our alumni and friends are vital to our ongoing success. These gifts have made improvements in our clinical facilities, classrooms, and public areas, and have been used them to support student scholarships, among other areas. If you are interested in giving to the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine or want to become involved in our resource development activities, please contact Stacey McNamee at smcnamee@bu.edu or use one of the methods listed below to make a gift. ONLINE

Give online safely and securely at bu.edu/dental/supportgsdm. PHONE

Call us at 617-358-8774 to make a gift or pledge over the phone. MAIL

Mail your contribution to Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Development & Alumni Relations 85 E Newton Street, M-1009 Boston, MA 02118 Checks should be made payable to Trustees of Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine.

IN MEMOR IA M

UDAY REEBYE DMD 98 Uday Reebye DMD 98, a long-time member of our school’s Dean’s Advisory Board, passed away unexpectedly in October. Dr. Reebye was an exceptional oral and maxillofacial surgeon who also had a deep passion for education and teaching. GSDM benefited enormously from his knowledge, experience, and insight, and it goes without saying that he will be missed tremendously by all who knew him. Dr. Reebye completed both his DMD and a one-year internship in oral & maxillofacial surgery at GSDM before going on to medical school at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. He then completed a residency in oral surgery at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, before moving back to Chapel Hill and founding a private practice. That practice became Triangle Implant Center, which has grown to six locations across North Carolina. In addition to his work at Triangle Implant Center, Dr. Reebye was an attending surgeon at Durham Regional Hospital and clinical adjunct faculty at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. According to the Triangle Implant Center website, he also worked as a staff dentist at the Tri-County Community Health Center, providing dental care to rural and underserved populations in central and eastern North Carolina. Dr. Reebye was active in organized dentistry and was a member of the American Medical Association, the American Dental Association, the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, and the International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. In a 2018 alumni profile of Dr. Reebye, his wife, Laura, noted that the couple’s founding principle was to “treat people like people,” regardless of their circumstances or background. Dr. Reebye applied that philosophy to everything in his life, to the benefit of many, and his early and unexpected passing is an enormous loss to us all.

IN MEMOR IA M

Shabbir Adenwalla DMD 83

Barry Chapnick ENDO 74

Wendy Ann Dixon DMD 92

WESTLAKE, OHIO JUNE 9, 2023

TORONTO, CANADA AUGUST 23, 2023

STOCKBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS SEPTEMBER 5, 2023

Dr. Shabbir Adenwalla passed away peacefully on June 9, 2023, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 69. He was born in Cambay, India on January 11, 1954, to the late Taher and Banu Adenwalla (nee Poonawala).

Dr. Barry Chapnick passed away at Humber River Hospital on August 23, 2023. Beloved husband of Jane. Loving father and father-in-law of Cary and Alana, and Stephen Chapnick and Dana Lerner. Dear brother and brother-in-law of Paul and Joyce. Devoted to Zaydie of Ella, Ava, and Sonny.

Dr. Wendy Ann Dixon passed away Tuesday, September 5, 2023, at Cooley Dickinson Hospital after battling cancer for the past 14 months.

Shabbir emigrated to the U.S. in 1979 to pursue his dental career. After completing his studies at Boston University and Tufts University, he moved to Cleveland with his wife, Durriya, to start his practice. As a respected member of the Cleveland community over the last 35 years, he had cultivated many friendships and became a stalwart member of his Muslim community. His everpresent smile and endless kindness will be missed by all. Shabbir will be deeply missed by his beloved wife, Durriya Adenwalla (nee Parekh); loving daughters Muneera Abdulhusain, Maria Turabi, and Zahabiyah Dahodwala; cherished grandchildren Amatulla Turabi, Ajab Abdulhusain, Amatullah Dahodwala, Taha Turabi, Mohammed Dahodwala, Lamiya Turabi, Joon Abdulhusain, and Aliasgar Dahodwala; dear sister Maryam Hoosenally; and a host of extended family, colleagues, and dear friends.

Wendy was born November 8, 1960, to Grace (Wordsworth) and George Dixon. She was the youngest of their four daughters and grew up in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, on her parents’ Morgan horse farm. Wendy was a 1978 graduate of Monument Mt. Regional High School and received her undergraduate degree from UMass Amherst. She then went on to receive her DMD from Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. Wendy was a well-respected dentist throughout the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and Southern Vermont. She was an active practitioner until her diagnosis in July 2022. Wendy had a creative and artistic side. This was demostrated through her beautiful perennial flower gardens and her decorating style in her home in Leverett, MA. She was also an animal advocate supporting the ASPCA as well as PETA. Wendy was predeceased by her parents, beloved sister Candy, and grandnephew George. She is survived by sisters Margaret Canfield of Pittsfield, Deirdre Carter (Jerry) of Lanesborough, eight nieces and nephews, and eleven grandnieces and nephews.

William S. Falla ORTHO 66

Terrence William Hayes ENDO 75

Thomas Mone PERIO 77

DELAND, FLORIDA JULY 14, 2023

NAPLES, FLORIDA JUNE 24, 2023

COHASSET, MASSACHUSETTS AUGUST 2023

Dr. William S. Falla passed away at the age of 85 at his home on July 14, 2023. He was born in Arlington, Massachusetts, to the late Alvah and Mary Falla. He graduated from Boston College in 1960, received his DMD from Harvard in 1964, and earned his Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in orthodontics from Boston University in 1966.

Dr. Terrence William Hayes of Naples, Florida, passed away on June 24, 2023. He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and moved to California at 16 after graduating from Healdsburg High School. Terry attended Santa Rosa Junior College and UC San Francisco, where he received his DDS. He served in the Army Dental Corps from 1960 to 1962. After practicing general dentistry for 13 years, Terry enrolled at GSDM and received a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in endodontics. He practiced in Santa Rosa, California, while also serving as a clinical professor at UCSF until his retirement in 2004. Following his retirement, he and his wife moved to Naples, Florida. Terry was an accomplished painter, had a great love of wine and gardening, was a lifelong bike rider, and passionate bocce ball player.

Dr. Thomas “Tom” James Mone passed away unexpectedly in August 2023, at the age of 73. Tom was born to Mary and the Honorable Judge William Kerr Mone, and raised in Brockton, Massachusetts, alongside eight siblings. In 1970, he met Rosemary Butler, who he married three years later. They later welcomed three wonderful children. He relished his most recent role as fun-loving “TJ” to his grandchildren, who adored him.

William was a well-loved and respected orthodontist for more than 50 years in Hyannis, Massachusetts. He was an active member in the Cape Cod District Dental Society, Massachusetts Dental Society, American Dental Association, as well as a number of other societies during his years as an orthodontist. He is survived by his wife Diane, his three loving children, Victoria Henson, Suzanne Connolly, and William S. Falla, Jr., his six grandchildren, his sister Mary Jane Falla, brother Jim Falla, and stepsons Michael Brittain and Daniel Brittain.

He is survived by his wife Cindy Hayes as well as his children and stepchildren, Kathy Hayes, Brendan (Heidi) Hayes, Joe Dupre, Kristine (Wayne) Pokress, and Julie Dupre along with his former wife, Merle, and six grandchildren. He is predeceased by his brothers, Timothy and Dennis Hayes, and his daughter Andrea Hayes.

Tom received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts and his DMD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, where he graduated at the top of his class. After completing training at Boston University Goldman School of Graduate Dentistry, he opened his periodontal practice in Braintree in 1977; he was board certified in periodontology in 1999. Tom enjoyed a fulfilling and successful 45-year career before retiring earlier this year. Outside of dentistry, Tom had a lifelong passion for the game of golf. Tom was also an avid sailor from a young age. Tom is survived by his beloved wife of 50 years, Rose; his three children and their spouses; four grandchildren; six siblings; and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his two sisters, Ellen and Katherine.

IN MEMOR IA M

Marc Elliot Moskowitz ENDO 75

Richard Bernard Nimberg CAS 64 GRS 72 PERIO 73

John Richardson Oral Pathology 72 ENDO 77

WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY APRIL 17, 2023

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS APRIL 5, 2023

JOHNS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA MAY 21, 2023

Dr. Marc Moskowitz passed away in his home on Monday, April 17, 2023, surrounded by his family. He was 76.

Dr. Richard Bernard Nimberg passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, at 81 years of age.

Born in Passaic and raised in Rutherford, New Jersey, Marc lived in West Orange for the past three years after living in Short Hills the previous 32 years. A proud Rutgers graduate, he attended dental school at University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and then went to GSDM for endodontics. Marc had his own practice in Union for 40 years before retiring and was an active member of the Union County Dental Association as well as the American Dental Association. Marc was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. In addition to his family, Marc loved golf, the NY Yankees, and any Rutgers sports, especially basketball and football.

Richard was born in Boston on September 12, 1941. He grew up in Dorchester, Massachusetts. He was educated at Boston Latin High School. Thereafter, he went to Boston University, Tufts University Dental School and then back to BU for a PhD. Richard practiced dentistry for many years in South Attleboro, Massachusetts, and was also a faculty member at GSDM and directed research at Boston University Medical School. Richard was also the founding and managing partner at Dental Legal Consultants.

Dr. John F. Richardson passed away on May 21, 2023, after a brief illness. John received a BA from the University of Connecticut and a DDS from Temple University. He served a USAF Rotating Internship at Scott AFB, IL, and served as a Captain in the Air Force for three years. He completed a fellowship in pathology at University Hospital in Boston, and then went on to receive a Doctor of Science in Oral Pathology, and Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in endodontics, both from GSDM. After completing his education, John taught various courses at GSDM for more than 25 years, and maintained a practice in endodontics until his retirement.

Son of the late Nancy (Silver) and Theodore Nimberg. Loving husband of Marjory Joan (Siskin) Nimberg for 58 years. Beloved father of James Nimberg and his wife Abigail (Shenker), and Audrey Nimberg. Cherished grandfather of Nomi and Samuel. Brother of Gerald Nimberg.

John was an intelligent, talented, and artistic soul who loved motorcycling, boating, gardening and caring for his beloved cats. After retiring, he moved to his new home on Johns Island, South Carolina, and pursued his love for gardening, home decorating, caring for his cats. He also took up dancing.

Marc is survived by his wife of 34 years, Layne (Brooks), children—Allison and her husband Scott Osur, Jamie and her husband Bryan Drew, Seth Apirian and his wife Shari, Adam Apirian and Anetta Remelski—and six grandchildren. Also surviving are Marc’s sister Joyce and her husband Eric Hagstrom, his loving niece Jessica and her husband Steven Glass and great nephew Elliot.

He is survived by two sisters and a brother, as well as his former spouse Elaine Zerr Richardson of Plymouth, Massachusetts, and good friend Duncan Robb.

Martin L. Rosol Jr. ORTHO 72

Kailash Chander Suri OMFS 69

Dr. Robert Denis Wells ENDO 89

NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT AUGUST 11, 2023

BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS APRIL 24, 2023

OTTAWA, CANADA AUGUST 23, 2023

Dr. Martin (Marty) L. Rosol Jr., passed away August 11th, 2023, at the age of 86, surrounded by family at Waccamaw Community Hospital.

Dr. Kailash Chander Suri passed away peacefully on Monday, April 24, 2023, at Webster at Rye, with his loving family be his side. He was 79.

Marty was born on January 20, 1937, in New Britain, Connecticut, to Martin L. Rosol Sr. and Helen (Niedzwiecki) Rosol. He attended Yale University and then received his DDS in general dentistry from Columbia University. After eight years of running his own dental practice, he pursued a specialty in orthodontics at Boston University. Marty practiced orthodontics for several decades while lovingly raising his family in Longmeadow, Massachusetts.

He was born on October 23, 1943, in Jammu, India, to the late Amar Nath Suri and Raj Rani (Chadha) Suri. Kailash immigrated to the United States in 1968. He received his Doctorate in Dental Medicine from Boston University and then completed his fellowship in oral surgery at Tufts University. Kailash built his business, Kailash Suri DMD Dental Practice, from the ground up in Boston, Massachusetts, serving in the Boston area for over 40 years.

Dr. Robert Denis Wells passed away on August 23, 2023, at the age of 80. Born in Toronto, he spent his early years in the High Park area. He studied dentistry at U of T, obtaining his D.D.S. in 1969. After moving to the Ottawa Valley, he opened a practice, first in Chesterville, later in Winchester, where he remained until 1987, proudly serving as president of the O.D.A. in 1986. In 1987, he decided to specialize in endodontics and studied for two more years at Boston University. After obtaining his certificate, he opened his own office in Ottawa. Denis took his chosen profession very seriously and remained until the end involved with and strongly supportive of the dental community.

Marty’s greatest joy in life was spending time with his wife and family. He loved to fish the Long Island Sound with his children and grandchildren. Marty was fortunate to spend much of his life exploring the world with his partner, best friend, and love of his life, Jeanne. Marty was a humble, devout Catholic who dedicated his life to helping others. In retirement, he poured his energy into volunteering orthodontic care for struggling children and families in his community. Marty is survived by his loving wife, Jeanne Rosol, four children, seven grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.

A man with many talents, Kailash was an avid gardener and an accomplished chef. During and after retirement, Kailash was very active in the dental community and was a longtime member of the American Dental Association. Survivors include his daughter, Juliet Suri-McKinnon and her husband, Harry McKinnon of Portsmouth; and two grandchildren, Max and Maya McKinnon, both of Portsmouth. Kailash is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Denis was one of the longest surviving heart transplant patients in Canada. The gift of an organ enabled him to enjoy another thirty-three years of active life. He ended his career in Hamilton and only gave up working the day he received his call for a kidney transplant in 2017. Denis was pre-deceased by his first wife Helen (Decker) and is survived by their three children, and six grandchildren. He also leaves his wife of 11 years, Elizabeth (Greenland), whose own children and grandchildren will miss him dearly.

Last Word My teeth aren’t perfect, but they’re healthy and well cared for. I owe this to my parents, who ensured that I properly brushed my teeth every night as a child, who paid for sealants when I was a teenager and signed me up for my school’s fluoride program— despite the fact that their own experiences with dental care were neither consistent nor enjoyable. As I grew older, I realized that my experience was not everyone’s— and indeed, that for many, oral healthcare education and proper dental care were either misunderstood, not a priority, or simply too expensive. For these individuals, I have seen how community programs and generous dentists can completely alter their health outcomes; watching dental students, residents, and dentists give back to their communities in this way has been a humbling experience and one that has kept me in this profession. Dental care is often the piece left out from a holistic healthcare approach that includes mental and physical well-being, and this must change. Changing this will require dentists and dental educators to advocate for increasing equitable access to oral healthcare across the U.S. Many wonder how I came to fundraise for dental schools. But I see my position is not just engaging with our alumni population or fundraising for the Goldman School of Dental Medicine, but creating a culture of philanthropy that encourages dentists to give back to a cause in which they believe. Perhaps that’s the research taking place at GSDM, or how your dental work affects your posture. Maybe it’s helping current and future students access a GSDM education by contributing to scholarships. Or maybe it’s supporting the work you’ve read about in this issue of Impressions to increase equitable access to high-quality oral healthcare. I have witnessed the incredible power dentists have to change lives, from my childhood dentist, who was able to put my mother sufficiently at ease that she sought out dental care, to programs that have offered sealants to teenagers in detention centers and lower-income schools, and to mission trips abroad to communities where dental care is a luxury. Dentists shape lives, influence, and impact health for the better, so thank you for all that you do, and whatever your cause—support generously. Catie Dargue Assistant Dean, Development & Alumni Relations Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine

TAKEAWAYS FROM

“...you will never know exactly what it's like to be somebody else from a different background...”

pg. 02

ORAL HEALTH EQUITY: ACCESS, OPPORTUNITY, IMPORTANCE / pg. 03

pg. 36 “Equitable access [to] high-quality oral healthcare shouldn't be just for the privileged and the wealthy.”

pg. 21

ACCESS TO ORAL HEALTH CARE: ISLAND STYLE / pg. 15

“It's just an unbelievable education you get from BU.”

pg. 24

ALUMNI PROFILE: GERI HUNTER ORTHO 92 / pg. 18

“My brother was a force for good in the world.”

pg. 31 pg. 28

Share your favorite moments from Impressions on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter and tag @budental

TWO NEW FUNDS ESTABLISHED / pg. 42

SAV E T H E DAT E

Yankee Dental Congress

January 25-27, 2024