Impressions Winter 2022

Different Paths to Excellence

A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN

When I wrote you in the pages of this magazine last fall as your dean ad interim, I said that it was an honor – and indeed, it was. Now, a year later, I continue to be honored and humbled to have been selected to serve as dean of this great school. And I continue to be impressed by you, our school's alumni, and your many accomplishments – as well as the varied paths your careers have taken after leaving us.

Our school could not do what it does – would not be what it is – with you and the important contributions you make, from attending alumni events, to volunteering your time on behalf of the school, to supporting the school philanthropically, which is so vitally important. Your continued commitment to our community makes a critical difference in our ability to meet our mission.

This is an exciting time for GSDM: Our addition and renovation project is completed; COVID no longer controls our operations; and our educational, patient care, research, and service missions remain strong. So, the question to be asked is, “What’s next?” What is the vison that will guide our next chapter?

Towards that end, during this transition period, I have assessed where the school is, and actively listened to students, residents, staff, and faculty to understand fully our current strengths and also the challenges we will have in seizing new opportunities. The input of our alumni is crucial, and I am eager to learn more from all of you. The outcome of this will be the development of a new strategic plan for the school that is aligned to the strategic plan of the University. This process does take time, and I am hopeful to report back on the progress soon. For sure, I will be asking your help to make the school’s next chapter a reality.

In closing, thank you all, so much, for your continued support of our school. I look forward to seeing you at one of the alumni receptions we hold throughout the year – notably, Yankee Dental Congress, right here in Boston, from January 26-28, 2023! – and if you find yourself in Boston, please come visit us.

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

BY CHARIS ANDERSON MCCARTHY

Different Paths to Excellence

W hile at GSDM, students move together through the school’s rigorous curriculum, sharing a path as they learn the foundational skills and knowledge they will need for success in their chosen profession. But once students graduate and leave GSDM, their paths diverge as they seek

out individual interests and specialties – but all in pursuit of excellence.

In this feature, we profile six GSDM alumni and the paths they have pursued – but in truth, there are 9,000 stories that we could tell, as each of you shine equally bright.

Christian Ford

Christian Ford DMD 20 comes from a family with a long history of military service. “Pretty much everyone in my family serves in one way or another,” he said.

For Ford, it wasn’t a question of if he would join the military, just a question of how and when. He contemplated enlisting at 18, but his mother – also a GSDM alumna – encouraged him to pursue his education first.

So Ford went to college, and then to GSDM. After graduating from dental school, he took up his place in his family’s military history by joining the U.S. Army Reserves – in the last slot available for at least two years. He is currently a Captain in the 455th MedCo(DS) at Devens, Massachusetts.

Far from finding it difficult to juggle a fledgling dental career with his service, Ford said it’s been “a blessing” as it is easier to schedule the time away now than it would be if he owned his own practice. He works at two practices – including Convivial Dental in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts – both of which have been very supportive of his military commitments.

Ford spends one weekend a month and then two consecutive weeks in the summer with his unit; additionally, there are different basic training requirements that he has to fulfill as well as other professional military education opportunities of which he can take advantage.

The connections and camaraderie with the other people in his unit have been a helpful addition to his post-dental school experience, Ford said.

“When you graduate from dental school, you’re typically on your own,” he said. “When I go to this unit, I have 50 or 60 dentists who have been practicing for five, six years or more … when I’m stuck, I can ask them for help.”

Ford plans to stay in the U.S. Army Reserves for 20 years or more, and is pursuing various leadership opportunities, including serving as a squad leader and as the Officer In Charge of the entire unit for the highly-demanding new Army Combat Fitness Test.

Despite the unsettled nature of the world, Ford is focused on remaining calm –and doing his duty.

“I didn’t join for a T-shirt, so if I’m needed, let’s go,” he said.

RESEARCH

Débora Heller

From early on, Débora Heller PERIO 16 knew she wanted to conduct research, a calling that was reinforced when she participated in Brazil's scientific initiation program as a predoctoral student.

“I was making discoveries,” she said, reflecting on the experience. “I could see that through research, I was able to improve someone’s life.”

Heller worked in a microbiology and biochemistry laboratory throughout dental school. She then went on to do clinical training and a master’s degree in periodontology before coming to GSDM to complete a PhD under Dr. Frank Oppenheim.

“I was so lucky to work with the greatest pioneer in the field of salivary research with Dr. Frank Oppenheim,” she said. “Every time I met with him…it was like I was reading the best book in the field before it was published.”

Heller returned to Brazil after completing her PhD, and in 2016, started a salivary research laboratory, called Saliva Lab. Her particular line of research is salivary diagnostics: how to use saliva to diagnose oral and systemic diseases.

Using saliva as a diagnostic tool can help make diagnostic testing more accessible, something that’s particularly relevant in Brazil where not every city or town has a large health center with state-of-the-art technology.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Heller and her lab pivoted to focus on COVID-19. In a literature review published in September 2020, Heller and her colleagues demonstrated that saliva had tremendous promise as a diagnostic tool for COVID. She followed this with experimental research that tested the best way to collect and process saliva for this purpose, and then was able to implement the COVID-19 saliva test in her hospital, which is Brazil’s reference hospital.

“It really shows how we, as dental scientists, could contribute to fighting this pandemic,” Heller said.

Heller is passionate about sharing the newest scientific knowledge with other dentists and with the general public, viewing it as a way to expand the impact that research can have. Shortly after she returned to Brazil from her time at GSDM, she started an Instagram account – @adentistacientista – through which she explains dental research in layperson-accessible language.

“I receive messages from many [students] that tell me, ‘My dream is to become a dental scientist!’” she said. “It is very gratifying to know that I’m having an impact in someone’s life – and they’re excited to be scientists as well!”

Khurram Khan

In 2015, Khurram Khan DMD 09 was about a year into a career with the U.S. Air Force – after completing dental school at GSDM, and an oral surgery internship and residency – when he had an experience that he had been working towards since dental school.

He and his wife had traveled to a remote village in Guatemala as part of a mission trip where Khan spent several days operating on children with cleft lip and palate. This was the first time Khan’s wife had ever seen him operate, and afterwards she said to him, “I’ve never seen you so happy. This is your calling; you should pursue a cleft and craniofacial fellowship. You have my full support.”

Khan agreed. But it wasn’t just the specialty that made him happy; it was the opportunity to give back to children all over the world who were struggling with cleft lips and/or palates.

“I love the surgery; I love the babies,” he said. “I love how it changes their lives and protects them from the future, which can be very unkind.”

Khan has developed relationships with several organizations over the years, and closes his practice for multiple weeks a year to participate on mission trips that they’ve put together. He's traveled to

Guatemala, Pakistan, and Mexico.

“Not only do we operate on children, but also, if we have the opportunity, we train other local surgeons to be able to do this,” Khan said. “These cases will continue. They’re not going to go away, [and] we can’t be there all the time.”

The trips are taxing, both physically and emotionally. Khan and other providers might be operating up to 12 hours a day, for five or six days straight. There is frequently a language barrier, which can make connecting with patients and their parents more challenging.

“I hold their hands, look them in the eye, and smile, to show them that we’re here to protect them and their children,” Khan said.

He continued later, “It’s a very humbling experience … For me to be able to bond with the child, the parents, and do the surgery, it’s an honor.”

The COVID-19 pandemic forced Khan to pause his mission trips temporarily, but he was able to resume them in late 2021.

“I’ve had a phenomenal career so far, and this is just the beginning,” said Khan, pointing to his time at GSDM as an important foundation.

Community Service: Khurram Khan

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Mary Rocca

Back in college, Mary Rocca DMD 84 had a set of criteria for deciding what career to pursue: It had to be something that could support a family, that used her brain, that allowed her to live anywhere she wanted, and that allowed her to help people.

Enter dentistry.

But after a number of years in the profession – which included building a practice from scratch in Minnesota and then overhauling an existing practice in Napa, California, when she and her family relocated there — Rocca had, in many respects, reached the peak of her career. So she decided it was time to do something different.

“Whatever I do, I want to do it with excellence in mind, to do it the very best way that I can do it,” Rocca said. “I’d met all the goals I had set for myself. It was just time to have a new challenge in my life.”

Rocca and her husband had always had a dream of owning land on which they could grow something. And in Napa, the thing to grow – the only thing to grow – is grapes.

“You can’t live here and not have friends who work in the wine industry,” Rocca said. “Because we were surrounded by it, that actually increased our desire to be part of that industry in some way.”

In 1999, Rocca and her husband finally realized their dream when they purchased 30 acres of vineyards, now known as the Rocca Family Vineyards. They sell the grapes from about 26 acres and make their own wine from the remaining acreage.

Then in 2000, Rocca’s career took another turn when she took over a grocery store that had been in her family for years. It took Rocca a number of years to realize her vision for the store, but now, she said, “the grocery store is a lot of fun,” describing a small Whole Foods-esque store where she gets to experiment with carrying different cheese, wines, and a variety of delicious foods.

Rocca misses aspects of dentistry – particularly the feeling of completing a patient’s treatment plan – but sounds like she’s having more fun than ever.

“I really love mentoring and bringing along some of my young people,” Rocca said. “Having 50 people who work for me, I’m trying to be the best employer ever – and it’s just fun.”

James Lee

James Lee CAS 09 MED 10 DMD 14 grew up above his father’s dental practice in Malden, Massachusetts – but despite his physical proximity to the profession, he didn’t embrace it as a career at first. However, a series of interesting internships and experiences throughout college changed his mind.

“I’m someone who came around to dentistry a little bit later, and I really think that all those misadventures on my way to GSDM added color, shape, and perspective to my dental journey,” Lee said.

Once he committed to dentistry, he was all in – which included getting involved in organized dentistry as soon as he arrived at GSDM, of which his father, Ted Lee DMD 86, is also an alumnus. Lee joined GSDM’s chapter of the American Student Dental Association, which led to being appointed a student representative of the Massachusetts Dental Society’s Council on Dental Care and Benefits.

“It was incredibly eye opening to see the challenges and the opportunity for collaboration that dentists have when they’re involved in organized dentistry,” he said.

Once he graduated, it would have been easy as a new dentist to bury himself in his practice – but Lee “wanted a seat at the table,” he said. He had seen how important it was for dentists

to be advocating for policies that helped their patients, their communities, and their practices.

In the past, dentists might have waited until they were older and more established to get involved in organized dentistry. But Lee sees huge benefits from prioritizing involvement from the very beginning of one’s career: Organized dentistry allowed him to have an impact beyond the four walls of his practice while simultaneously learning from more experienced dentists in ways that improved his own skills.

“At every step of the way, I’ve been able to take back to my practice better ways of practicing, more efficient ways of being a leader of my team, and a deeper understanding of the issues that my patients or my community are facing,” Lee said.

The American Dental Association (ADA) has prioritized elevating the voices of new dentists through its New Dentist Committee; Lee has been a member of this committee since 2019 and currently serves as the chair, now a voting position on the ADA Board of Trustees.

“I hope to be a good steward of this opportunity to really fight for our profession and the issues and the obstacles uniquely facing new dentists,” Lee said. “My role is going to be making sure our leadership is responsive to the needs of recent graduates.”

ACADEMIA

Jason Yu

Jason Yu DMD 09 went to dental school – and, in some ways, he never left.

The summer before he started dental school at GSDM, he shadowed an oral surgeon and developed an interest in that specialty. So after dental school, he went on to an internship followed by a six-year program in oral maxillofacial surgery at UPENN.

But he wasn’t done yet. He really enjoyed his plastic surgery rotation during medical school, so went on to do a residency in plastic surgery, which led to a fellowship in micro-surgery and another fellowship in craniofacial surgery.

“I went down the rabbit hole and never came out,” Yu said. “I think it was more curiosity than anything else.”

Yu comes from a family of GSDM alumni: his dad, Donald Yu ENDO 81, completed postdoctoral studies there, and his sister, Jessica Yu DMD 08, was a year ahead of him in dental school. Two uncles, Henry Yu ENDO 83 and Charles Yu PERIO 78, and a cousin, Leon Yu DMD 07 PERIO 10, are alumni as well.

Yu is still “in” school now – but these days, he’s on the other side of the classroom as a professor at the University of Colorado’s School of Medicine. Yu didn’t start his academic journey knowing that he wanted to become a professor, but said his own experiences in academia helped shape his idea of what a career could be.

“Having so much experience at the academic level, being a resident for such a long time … it seemed like a natural process for me,” Yu said. “If I did private practice now, I’d be a fish out of water.”

Now, Yu is able to “pay it forward” and share his own experiences with residents as they adjust to post-graduate life.

“The highlights are, hopefully, helping your residents or your students avoid the mistakes you made,” Yu said. “I’m still pretty young in my career, but it would be nice to see, down the line, when your students surpass you.”

Boston University Dental Career Network

Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine now has an online job-board system: Boston University Dental Career Network (BUDCN). The system allows employers to post positions tailored to GSDM current students, residents, fellows, alumni, and faculty.

ALUMNI & FACULTY

can

EMPLOYERS can register to post positions and review applicant submissions for dentists and specialists. Access the Boston University Dental Career Network dental-bu-csm.symplicity.com

We offer multidisciplinary courses for dental health professionals on a range of cutting-edge topics, from robotics to Botox to laser dentistry–and more! You can choose whether you want a hands-on course, a live-patient demo, or a traditional lecture–and whichever you choose, you’ll be taught by a leading expert in the field. For full course offerings, see our website at bu.edu/dental/ce

“One thing that I love and admire about our alumni family is the unique and special paths that each of us has taken in forging our careers.”

Alumni Association Letter

Dear Fellow Alumni,

Family means a lot to me. Not only the family into which I was born, or the family that I have built and nurtured, but also the family into which I was adopted: the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. Our school’s community – our family – is one that I have always respected and have grown to appreciate more and more over the course of my dental career.

That’s why it is such an honor to be writing to you in the pages of Impressions as your Alumni Association president – I am so honored to be able to lead this special part of our school.

One thing that I love and admire about our alumni family is the unique and special paths that each of us has taken in forging our careers. We all started from a place of commonality – the rigorous and exacting academic experience we had while at GSDM – and then we branched out into different geographies, different specialties, different interests and hobbies, even different careers entirely!

In this issue, we highlight six alumni and the particular trajectories they have pursued since graduating from GSDM. It’s a fascinating window into how these particular alumni have taken what they learned at our school and the values that were instilled in them here and applied them in different ways with different – but uniformly excellent – outcomes.

Of course, we could have told 9,000 stories, if we only we had the space! We always love to hear from you about your latest accomplishments and adventures, so please stay in frequent touch and let us know what you’re up to.

In closing, thank you again for allowing me to serve as your Alumni Association president. I look forward to working on behalf of you all over the next year. And please come visit us in Boston soon!

Sincerely, Maryam Shomali CAS 87 ENDO 93 Alumni Association President

ALUMNI PROFILE

Chris Balaban DMD 16 stands with his wife, Lindsey Nowland, also DMD 16.

If 75 dentists are given the same set of X-rays, how many different diagnoses will they come up with? If you guessed more than one, you wouldn’t be far off, said Christopher Balaban DMD 16, pointing to studies conducted by Overjet with clinicians across the country.

Overjet – where Balaban serves as vice president of clinical affairs – is a company that has created an artificial intelligence (AI) platform focused on enhancing clinical care through standardizing and improving radiographic analysis and synthesizing it with all available practice data to enhance overall patient care.

“We don’t all see this black, white, and gray world in the same way, and at the end of the day, it’s patient care at the end of that clinical decision,” Balaban said.

Overjet’s algorithms are based on machine learning and deep learning AI science. As these algorithms are exposed to more data in a controlled manner, they improve in the quality and scope of their clinically relevant findings, such as tooth number, caries, CEJ points, etc.

Balaban is quick to note that Overjet’s software is not a substitute for a licensed dentist’s professional opinion.

“It’s like using a microscope to look at something instead of your naked eye,” he said. “Overjet’s AI is a clinician decision support tool that allows us to diagnose, communicate, and treat our patients more effectively… it’s an additional layer of clinical confidence that we can bring into the practice without disrupting our clinical workflow.”

Before he joined Overjet, Balaban was puzzled by how he and his colleagues could look at the same X-ray and arrive at completely different conclusions. Then, a chance encounter with a patient – Wardah Inam, a PhD graduate from MIT, now the co-founder and CEO at Overjet – opened his eyes to the possibilities of AI in dentistry. Inam was working on how to leverage AI and machine learning in medical imaging, and was the visionary behind how this technology could be applied to dental radiographs to improve the patient experience. At that time, Balaban was experiencing the forefront of digital dental technology as a faculty member at GSDM,

and saw AI as the next logical frontier. So when Inam called a couple months later to ask if he wanted to come aboard as the fourth employee of her fledgling enterprise, he welcomed the opportunity.

Inam and her team needed help numbering teeth and labeling pathology; essentially, the initial work involved was annotating dental X-rays, Balaban said. He started working on the project on one Sunday and, quickly grasping the immense scope of the effort, brought his wife, Lindsey Nowland, also DMD 16, to help the next weekend.

“The quality of AI all depends on the quality of data that it learns from,” Balaban said. “It doesn’t learn from five examples or 10. It requires an immense amount of high quality labeled data in order to compete with the clinical acumen of a licensed dentist.”

What started as a small group of young, ambitious scientists and medical professionals has grown to over 120 employees, and Overjet has raised almost $80 million in funding to date. The company’s technology has received FDA clearance, which allows it to be used with patients in real-time to improve patient care.

“The [FDA] clearance is paving the way for the industry to recognize that this is legitimate,” Balaban said. “It will allow the entire market to rise … the market at the moment has incredible potential for adoption, both at the provider level, the academic level, and beyond.”

A screenshot from Overjet’s Practice Intelligence platform, depicting multiple clinical findings to both the healthcare provider and patient. Carious lesions, bone levels, calculus and pre-existing restorations have been identified and visualized by AI algorithms.

Leadership: New Alumni Board Member

Dr. Ana Keohane DMD 16

Dr. Ana Keohane received her DDS from the Universidad Metropolitana in Barranquilla, Colombia, before going on to earn a DMD from Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. She is now a clinical assistant professor and director of urgent care at GSDM. Dr. Keohane also works at her private practice at Everett Family Dental.

Dr. Keohane received the Certificate of Appreciation for valuable contributions to the Massachusetts Hispanic Dental

Association in 2018. She was a recipient of the “10 under 10” from the Massachusetts Dental Society in 2019, and she received the HDA/Colgate Faculty Award in 2021.

Dr. Keohane is the 2021 past-president of Massachusetts Hispanic Dental Association. She is on the 2022 Board of Trustees for the Hispanic Dental Association and is the vice president of the Boston District Dental Society.

Alumni Board Listing

Maryam Shomali CAS 87 ENDO 93

President

Hongsheng Liu DMD 10 ENDO 12

President Elect

Gigi Meinecke DMD 88

Past President

Chandan Advani DMD 04

Ashish Agarwal DMD 17

Stephanie Brooks DMD 18

Hesham Farag DMD 21

Zhiqiang Huang DMD 08

Dennis Jodoin DMD 95 PERIO 98

Ana Keohane DMD 16

Jasmine Khedkar DMD 17

Puneet Kochhar DMD 03

Sandip Ladani DMD 16

Nikita Naumowicz DMD 21

Gary Nord DMD 10

Sepideh Novid DMD 04 AEGD 05

Casey Pedro DMD 03

Jamily Pedro DMD 11

Loubna Chehab Pla ENDO 08

Kady Rawal AEGD 10

Jignesh Rudani DMD 17

Frank Schiano DMD 06 AEGD 07 ORTHO 18

Cameron Shahbazian DMD 14

Tadeu Szpoganicz DMD 11

Naveen Verma DMD 04

Donald Yu ENDO 81

Past Presidents

Zhimon Jacobson PROS 80 PROS 81 DMD 86 (1992–1994)

Bill Walker ENDO 68 (1994–1997)

Ronnie A. Schnell DMD 81 (1997–2000)

Josephine Pandolfo CAS 74 DMD 79 PERIO 82 (2000–2003)

Maddy Apfel DMD 80 (2003–2006)

Joseph Calabrese DMD 91 AEGD 92 (2006–2008)

Shadi Daher DMD 90 OMFS 94 (2008–2010)

Tina Valades DMD 84 (2010–2012)

Mitch Sabbagh DMD 87 (2012–2014)

Bing Liu DSc 99 DMD 03 (2014–2017)

Sean Rayment DMD 97 DSc 00 (2017-2019)

ALUMNI EVENTS

BU Endodontic Alumni Association 2021 Fall Meeting

Santa Barbara, CA – September 2021

Boston University 2021 Alumni Weekend

Boston, MA – September 2021

AEGD, PGOE, and Digital Dentistry Alumni CE Dinner

Boston, MA – December 2021

American Association of Endodontists

Phoenix, AZ – April 2022

2022 Yankee Dental Congress

Boston, MA – January 2022

14th Annual International Symposium on Periodontics & Restorative Dentistry

Boston, MA – June 2022

CLASS NOTES

Sonya Hassan DMD 15 married Raja Ali on April 23, 2021, and they welcomed their son, Sulaiman, on April 5, 2022.

Khurram Khan DMD 09 and wife Zofeen welcomed a daughter, Liana, on December 21, 2020. She joined big brother Mikhail, who turned five in April.

Andrew Grinsell DMD 17 and wife Allison welcomed a baby girl, Rayla Eleanor, on August 9, 2021, pictured with big Corgi-sister Biscuit.

Khusbhu Malhotra DMD 18 and husband Sumeet Malhotra DMD 10 welcomed a daughter, Vaani, on April 21, 2022, at 12:59 am and 7 lbs 6 oz and 20.5 inches. She joins big brothers Amrit and Armaan.

Chris Balaban and wife Lindsey Nowland, both DMD 16, had a baby boy, Oliver Linden Balaban, on May 27, 2022.

Tad Szpoganicz DMD 11 and Valeria Papa had a baby girl, Emma Tereza Szpoganicz, on May 7, 2022, in Boca Raton, Florida.

Krizia Proia DMD 17 and Ashish Papneja DMD 15 had twin boys, Matteo and Vincenzo, on October 11, 2022. They join big sister Karina.

James

Dr. Lee

Shadi Abedin AEGD 08 ENDO 10 married Aly Azab on August 13, 2021, in Houston, Texas.

E. Lee DMD 14 married Katherine S. Lam on May 14, 2022, in Waltham, Massachusetts. Dr. Lee practices general dentistry in Malden, Massachusetts, and serves as the New Dentist Committee Chair of the American Dental Association.

is the son of Dr. Ted Lee DMD 86, and Ms. Lam is the daughter of Dr. Pat Machalinski DMD 90 AEGD 91 ENDO 93.

Maryam Mohammadvali Samani DMD 17 ENDO 22 married Babak Eliassi-Rad on March 25, 2022.

Ana Keohane DMD 16 and Marco Camargo got married in Newton, Massachusetts, on March 5, 2022.

Matt Rossen DMD 11 married Marie Dellapenta on July 16, 2002, in Elma, New York.

Steve Morrow ENDO 71 and wife Michele recently had a “bucket list” kind of trip: In December, they traveled to Antarctica. What an experience!

Two of our most recent Dental Public Health graduates, Hema Gomathy Sathish Kumar and Cam-Van Thi Huynh, have been recognized by the American Association of Public Health Dentistry (AAPHD) for their abstract submissions. Hema was awarded second place and Cam-Van received honorable mention for the Leverett Graduate Student Merit Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dental Public Health.

Gary Nord DMD 11 has been elected to the American College of Prosthodontics Council for the American Board of Prosthodontics. He was installed at the ACP Annual Session on November 2022 in Austin, Texas.

Dr. Paul Farsai DMD 94 AEGD 95 SPH 97 was honored as the recipient of the Thomas F. Winkler Award at the 2022 ACD New England Section Annual Meeting in January 2022 for his leadership and dedication to our profession and to the New England Section.

Abby Mansolillo, daughter of Jeffrey Mansolillo DMD 98 was crowned Miss Rhode Island 2022 on May 1, 2022. She is a second-year law student at the Roger Williams University School of Law, with hopes of becoming a criminal prosecutor in the Rhode Island Department of the Attorney General. During her year of service, she is focusing on bridging the gap between healthcare professionals and patients. Abby will be competing at Miss America in December 2022 at Mohegan Sun.

Married couple Divyanshu Soni MED 09 DMD 13 and Veronica Mitko SAR 09 opened their own practice, Restoration Smiles, in Hudson, Massachusetts, in September 2021.

A group of alumni–Bob Tang DMD 83, Janice Spada DMD 82, Janet Goguen DMD 83, Barbara Scanlon DMD 83, and Dorothy Tiberii DMD 83–got together in Punta Gorda, Florida, for a mini reunion. All five have retired from practice!

Twelve GSDM alumni were inducted as fellows in the American College of Dentists in 2021:

Christopher M. Balaban DMD 16

Elizabeth G. Benz DMD 11

Carolyn C.D. Brookes DMD 08

Mina M. Faiek DMD 16

Lindsey D. Jackson DMD 08

M. Marianne Jurasic DMD 95

Kevin L. Peterson DMD 98 ENDO 00

Erik F. Reifenstahl DMD 05

Karen P. Robinson DMD 86

Ronni A. Schnell DMD 81

Cameron Shahbazian DMD 14

Sanjeevan Virk DMD 08

Stuart Ross PERIO 74 has recently retired from clinical periodontics. During his practice he was elected as a Fellow of the Pierre Fauchard Academy, elected a Fellow of the International College of Dentists, and a Diplomat of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine.

Sixteen GSDM alumni were inducted as fellows in the International College of Dentists in 2021:

Divesh Byrappagari DPH 03

Claire Chang DMD 07 PROS 10

Maureen L. Colella DMD 92

Larry G. Dunham DMD 83

M. Marianne Jurasic DMD 95

Zachary Kano DMD 96 ENDO 08

Kumiko Kamachi AEGD 94 PROS 07

James Emanuel Lee DMD 14

Igor Lozada PROS 99 DMD 01

Amit Merchant DMD 15

Mayumi Onoe Miyamoto AEGD 01 PROS 05

Tim J. Patel DMD 96

Did you get married? Have a baby?

Accomplish a life goal? We’d love to hear your news! Please email your updates (and any address changes) to Stacey McNamee at smcnamee@bu.edu.

Steve Perlman PEDO 76

Breno Reboucas DSc 07 PEDO 12

Samira Sheikh DMD 03

Devaki Sundararajan Oral Pathology 09

CL A SS O F 2022

Commencement

For the first time in three years, GSDM graduates were able to walk across the stage at the BU Track & Tennis Center and receive their diplomas and certificates in person to cheers and applause from the audience.

The event capped a week of inperson events celebrating the Class of 2022, a welcome return to something approaching normalcy after two years of restrictions required by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite a lingering shadow cast by COVID-19 – masks were strongly recommended but not required – the tone was celebratory throughout the week, as members of the Class of 2022 and their family and friends delighted in gathering together to recognize the graduates’ achievements.

The identity of the predoctoral valedictorians was kept secret until the commencement ceremony, when it was revealed that – for the first time ever – there was a three-way tie for the top spot in the DMD class, with Drs. Grace Kapov, Anoush Longerstaey, and Marc Youkel sharing that honor. Dr. Maitry Parekh was the valedictorian for the DMD Advanced Standing Class of 2022.

View more photos from Commencement 2022 on Flickr.

White Coat Ceremony

More than 200 GSDM students donned their white coats for the first time on Friday, July 8, in front of cheering friends and family during the school’s annual White Coat Ceremony.

The ceremony marks the half-way point in students’ dental-school experience and celebrates their entrance into the school’s Patient Treatment Centers. Students from the school’s Doctor of Dental Medicine Class of 2024 and Doctor of Dental Medicine Advanced Standing Class of 2023 participated in this year’s ceremony. Almost 700 people were in attendance, the first time that family and friends have been able to participate in person since 2019 due to restrictions required by the COVID-19 pandemic.

View more photos from the White Coat Ceremony on Flickr.

Professional Ceremony

More than 200 students were officially welcomed into the field of dentistry –and to the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine – during the school’s annual Professional Ceremony, held on July 29 on Talbot Green. The Professional Ceremony marks a student’s entry into dental school and signifies their commitment to promoting the integrity of the profession and to serving the needs of those who require oral healthcare. Several hundred people attended this year’s ceremony, which was the culminating event of a week-long matriculation and celebrated the entering members of the Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) Class of 2026 and DMD Advanced Standing (DMD AS) Class of 2024. Students in the DMD Class of 2026 come from nine countries, including the United States, and from 20 states, while students in the DMD AS Class of 2024 represent 26 countries, including the United States.

View more photos from the Professional Ceremony on Flickr.

New leadership for Admissions, Restorative Sciences & Biomaterials

Dr. Robert Kasberg joined GSDM as the school’s new assistant dean for admissions in July 2022. Dr. Kasberg came from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, where he served as the associate dean for admissions & student affairs.

Dr. Kasberg is well-versed in dental school admissions best practices and is committed to building a culture of inclusivity and academic excellence through the recruitment of diverse and outstanding students.

Dr. Kasberg holds a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis as well as a master’s degree and Ph.D., both in anthropology, from Yale University. He has extensive experience in dental academia, having served as the director of admissions and the assistant dean for student affairs at Indiana University School of Dentistry (IUSD) before joining Tufts in 2012. Earlier in his career, Dr. Kasberg served as a U.S. Navy Corpsman for four years; after his discharge from the Navy, he spent six years in the U.S. Peace Corps, working on the island of Mindoro in the Philippines in the areas of community development, land tenure issues, healthcare training, and agroforestry.

At both IUSD and at Tufts, Dr. Kasberg spearheaded efforts to create and support diverse and inclusive communities. At IUSD, he implemented strategies to admit a more diverse class, including creating a predental student organization for students from economically disadvantaged households. At Tufts, he developed initiatives that supported the admission of the most diverse classes in the school’s history, and started an Adapting to Diversity in Dentistry seminar series for faculty.

Dr. Konstantinos Michalakis was appointed the chair of the school’s Department of Restorative Sciences and Biomaterials in January 2022. Prior to joining GSDM, he was a professor and director of Graduate Prosthodontics at the Aristotle University School of Dentistry, where he also served as director of the Dental Biomechanics Unit. He holds an appointment as adjunct associate professor of prosthodontics at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.

Dr. Michalakis is a diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics and directed 12 postdoctoral courses in prosthodontics. Dr. Michalakis has more than 60 peer-reviewed publications, has authored two books, and has been successful in obtaining research funding from industry and university sources. His honors and awards include fellowship in the American College of Prosthodontics, associate fellowship in the Academy of Prosthodontists, and fellowship in the International College of Dentists.

Dr. Michalakis received a DDS degree in 1983 and a PhD in 2001, both from the School of Dentistry, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece. He received a CAGS in Prosthodontics in 1993 from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston. He holds a MS in Applied Biomechanics from the Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom (2008), and a MS in Experimental and Translational Therapeutics, Departments of Continuing Education and Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Oxford, United Kingdom (2021). He also completed a Certificate in Executive Leadership for Healthcare Professionals at the Sloan Program in Health Administration at Cornell University in 2016.

Leila Joy Rosenthal retired from GSDM in May 2022, after 43 years of service to the school and more than 60 years of affiliation with Boston University.

Her connection with BU started as an undergraduate student, when she matriculated into the BFA program at the BU College for the Arts in 1960. After earning her BFA in 1964, she continued on at the College for the Arts, earning an MFA in 1965. She then returned to earn another painting major under the MFA in 1967. In 1965, she earned a teaching certificate from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Education. In 1976, she began studying dental technology at GSDM, and in 1979, she graduated with a Certificate in Dental Technology and joined the school as a dental technologist. Leila Joy was appointed to the faculty in 1985 at the rank of clinical instructor. In 1986, she was promoted to clinical assistant professor; she was promoted again in 2001 and 2012, to clinical associate professor and clinical professor respectively. As a faculty member, Leila Joy dedicated herself to the pursuit of excellence in dental laboratory sciences through her teaching and mentorship to countless students.

Leila Joy gave tirelessly and enthusiastically of

herself to the school and the profession and has been recognized throughout the years with numerous awards, including the Dr. Ernest LeClaire Educator of the Year Award from Massachusetts Dental Society in 2004 and the school’s Spencer N. Frankl Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1999. She also received the Omicron Kappa Epsilon Lambda Mu Honor Society’s Gold Key Award in 1991, one of numerous awards and recognitions from GSDM over the years.

Leila Joy was active in organized dentistry and served as presiding chair or room coordinator for the Massachusetts Dental Society’s Yankee Dental Congress for more than 20 years. She was a member of the Massachusetts Dental Society's Standing Committee on Allied Dental Health Professionals and chaired the sub-committee to develop strategies for attracting more candidates to the Dental Technicians' Program at Middlesex Community College.

Amongst her many artistic talents, Leila Joy sang as tenor for the Zamir Chorale of Boston since 1981, and in her “free time” taught classes at the MFA for more than 60 years. She did some illustrations for Dr. Henry M. Goldman and for Dr. Serge Dibart’s book on Periodontal Plastic surgery.

Leila Joy Rosenthal, beloved by students and colleagues, retires after 43 years

Dr. Celeste Kong PROS 84 DMD 87 retired from GSDM on May 31, 2022, after almost 40 years of dedicated service. Dr. Kong was an invaluable member of our school community, and she will be missed tremendously.

Dr. Kong first arrived at GSDM in 1982 as a prosthodontic resident, after graduating from the University of the Philippines College of Dentistry with a DMD and practicing in Germany for a year. She joined the GSDM faculty in 1984 as a clinical instructor, and then went on to complete a DMD at GSDM, through the faculty DMD program. She was promoted, first to assistant professor, then to associate professor, and, finally, in 2008, to full professor. Dr. Kong was a true leader at GSDM. She served as the long-time director of the Predoctoral Restorative Dentistry Division, and then became the first woman of color to chair a department at GSDM when she was named chair of General Dentistry in 2016, after serving nearly two years as the chair ad interim. She made countless contributions to the school, but a few that stand out include her work as the co-chair of the school’s 2010 Applied Strategic Plan and her work to develop electronic evaluation tools in restorative

dentistry as well as to implement Case Presentations as part of the predoctoral assessment tools. She served two terms on the Faculty Council and chaired the Subcommittee on Compensation and Benefits, increasing her awareness of the need for equity. For the last four years, she served on the medical campus Women’s Leadership Advisory Council as they developed best practices for diversity in hiring. In 1999, she was voted into OKU by her colleagues, and in 2004, she was honored with the Spencer N Frankl Award for Excellence in Teaching. In 2010, she received the Dean’s Award for Recognition of Outstanding Contribution to the School.

One of the things that many admire most about Dr. Kong is her commitment to supporting and developing her colleagues. She has worked on more than 170 appointments and promotions packages for colleagues, and has sponsored more than 30 colleagues for fellowship in the International College of Dentists, an organization for which she currently serves as Deputy Regent for District 1. She is incredibly generous with her time and her advice, and serves as a trusted mentor to countless GSDM students, faculty, and alumni.

Dr. Celeste Kong, long-time school leader and mentor, retires after 40 years of service

GSDM student receives grant for oral health promotion work

By Shannon C. Broderick

Before moving to Boston to start the Doctor of Dental Medicine Advanced Standing program at GSDM, Olayinka Adekugbe DMD 22 completed a dental public health residency at the University of Iowa in Iowa City—where she found that many African immigrants and refugees enrolled in Medicaid and living in Iowa were unaware that there was a dental wellness plan included in their health insurance.

“Quite a number of them didn’t even know that they were entitled to get the [dental] wellness plan,” Adekugbe said. “Maybe they were not aware, or they just weren’t sure how to access healthcare in general.”

So Adekugbe created the Oral Health Program Project, which aims to make oral health care accessible to immigrants. She recently received a $25,000 grant from Delta Dental of Iowa to continue growing her organization, which works to raise awareness and to connect the African population in Iowa to oral healthcare services available to them.

“The healthcare system in America can be quite complex,” Adekugbe said. “Having to navigate this, to get into the health system, sometimes you get tired.”

The organization has also worked to provide materials in different languages, including French and Swahili, with Arabic materials in the works.

“The African immigrant population is quite diverse,”

Adekugbe said. “They speak French, they speak Swahili, they speak Arabic. I felt language was a barrier, so it was also creating languageappropriate oral health education that we could use with the different language groups.”

Adekugbe said that the next step for the organization is oral health screenings—and she hopes that someday the organization will grow into a community dental health center.

“People want services,” Adekugbe said. “Maybe in the future, we will need to have a community dental center, where we can provide those services.”

Adekugbe, who also has master’s degrees in public health and dental public health from New York University and the University of Iowa respectively and has worked with Save the Children and USAID, said that her time at GSDM strengthened her clinical dentistry skills while transforming the way that she thinks about this project.

“I think wearing the clinical hat with the public health hat makes a better blend than when I was just a public health practitioner,” Adekugbe said. “Having that blend—everything coming together into one single piece—is really very nice.”

SPECIAL OLYMPICS

Volunteers from Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) and Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences joined together in June 2022 to provide services to athletes participating in the Special Olympics Massachusetts Summer Games. The initiative, known as Healthy Athletes® Special Smiles®, included oral screenings, health education, prevention services, and referrals to athletes who needed follow-up care. Athletes also received individually fitted mouth guards and goodie bags with oral hygienerelated products.

GLOBAL DAYS OF SERVICE

Every year in April, Boston University hosts Global Days of Service—a month of community service that brings alumni, students, faculty, staff, and the many other members of the BU community together. This year, members of the GSDM community participated in a wide range of volunteer events, both in person and virtually.

Anu Rajasekaran DMD 97 organized a trip on April 23, 2022, to a dental clinic in Ensenada Mexico through University of California San Diego Flying Samaritans. Dentist volunteers treated patients in the fully equipped clinic, while other healthcare volunteers worked with the medical team.

PHILANTHROPY

Dean’s Advisory Board

David Paul Lustbader CAS 86 DMD 86

Chair

Chief of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Milton Hospital Founder, South Shore Oral Surgery Associates Quincy, MA Tarun Agarwal 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

Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine Rye, NH

Shadi Daher DMD 90 OMFS 94

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon, Brookline, MA

Co-founder and President, Medical Missions for Children Westwood, MA

Patrik Eriksson

President, Nobel Biocare Yorba Linda, CA

Richard A. Konys DMD 84 OMFS 88

Founder, EastSide Dental Specialists Fayetteville, NY

Jonathan B. Levine DMD 81

Founder & CEO, GLO Science Founder, Jonathan B. Levine & Associates New York, NY

Geoffrey Ligibel President & CEO, 42 North Dental Waltham, MA

Madalyn Mann DPH 76

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

Alon Mozes CEO, Neocis Inc. Miami, FL

Thomas Olsen Advisor, Mavrik Dental Systems Costa Mesa, CA

Mina Paul SPH 97

Administrative Dental Director, East Boston Neighborhood Health Center Boston, MA

Uday Reebye DMD 98

Founder, Triangle Implant Center Chapel Hill, NC

Maryam Shomali CAS 87 ENDO 93

Owner, Wellesley Endodontics, P.C. President, Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine Alumni Association Wellesley, MA

Jeanne C. Sinkford Senior Scholar in Residence American Dental Education Association

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

Richard A. Soden LAW 70 Partner Emerita, Goodwin Procter LLP Boston, MA

ELIAS ZAVARO DMD 90

Paying It Back to Pay it Forward

BY ROBERTA MARTONE

Elias Zavaro DMD 90 has been thinking about the best way to give back to Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) since he opened his practice in 1991.

“My education at GSDM enlightened me about modern and advanced dentistry, as well as the standard of ethics so critical to the field,” said Zavaro, noting that today’s digital dentistry has changed the playing field. He is proud to be part of the GSDM family and very happy about recent GSDM expansion and renovation, which positions GSDM at the forefront of dental schools throughout the world.

“Current students will have more dental chairs available to treat patients and better lab facilities, which will definitely have a positive impact on the quality of dentistry provided to patients,” he said.

In addition to expanded research and treatment spaces, Zavaro appreciates the more accessible, flexible, and comfortable floor plan of the renovated building, and was pleased to support the new elevator bank. These new elevators will facilitate easy movement of students, residents, faculty, and staff throughout the building. Zavaro said he wouldn’t be at the top of his profession today if it weren’t for the professors who were an integral part of his educational experience at GSDM. He especially appreciates

the teachings of Carl McManama, Stephen Dulong, Steven Gordon, and Val Welz. Beyond explaining the intricacies of dental implants and the complexities of surgical procedures, the professors also enlightened him and his peers about the ethical nuances of the field.

“My professors had unique clinical and pedagogical characteristics that translated into superior clinical knowledge and perfect teaching techniques for the students,” said Zavaro. “Their hands-on instruction, especially in the labs, was instrumental in my choice of specialization in dentistry. The classroom interaction with my peers and faculty prepared me with real-world experiences that have made me the dentist I am today.”

As for his advice to current students at GSDM, Zavaro said the journey through dental school has both positive and negative aspects— although, in the end, the positive far outweighs the negative. “While dental school can be stressful, the stress is temporary and disappears upon graduation. Once you’ve reached that goal, you welcome the opportunity to treat patients with diseases as well as the ability to make their lives easier and better,” he said.

“That’s a lasting, positive contribution to society we can all appreciate.”

IN MEMORIAM

Dr. Daniel D. Budasoff

PROS 80

October 21, 2022

New York

Dr. Daniel S. Budasoff was a prominent New York City prosthodontist who will be missed by many and was devoted to his family and friends. He and wife, Barbara, raised two wonderful and accomplished children, and he was immensely proud of the parents and people they became. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1951, Dan immigrated to the U.S. as a child. He earned his DMD at the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, and received specialty training at GSDM. For more than forty years, Dr. Budasoff balanced a busy Midtown dental practice with an active academic career, teaching dental students and speaking at dental conferences. Dr. Budasoff was known for his keen attention to detail and warm clinical manner, and was a mentor to many students and young dentists now practicing.

Dr. David F. Donohoe OMS 68 July 18, 2021 Lynnfield, MA

Dr. David Donohoe earned his

Bachelor of Science from Boston College and graduated from Georgetown University Dental School. He subsequently attended Boston University and Columbia University. David proudly served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War at the 93rd Evac Hospital 36th Division from 7966 to 7967. Following his return home from the service, David practiced oral & maxillofacial surgery in Woburn for over 40 years. When not working, he enjoyed golf, antique cars and non-fiction. David will be remembered for his faith, integrity, generosity, intellect, and humor.

Dr. Cristian V. Dumitriu DMD 00 April 18, 2022

Worcester, MA

Dr. Cristian Dumitriu was born in Constanta, Romania; his father was the late, Nita Dumitriu. Dr. Dumitriu owned and operated Able Dental, a dental practice in Worcester. He was educated in Romania and completed his studies at Boston University. Cristian was an avid car collector, who enjoyed working on them as well; he also enjoyed the outdoors, especially boating and fishing.

Dr. Harold Goodis ENDO 63 April 30, 2022

Message from Joan Goodis: For better or worse, in sickness and in health, for 62+ years, we shared these words. Now, my heart is split in half as I said my good-byes to my amazing husband and partner. Knowing he is no longer suffering nor tormented by such a cruel disease eases our pain. He will be sorely missed by all, his beautiful family and so many dear friends. Rest in peace, my love.

Raphael “Ray” Greenfield

ORTHO 73

February 1, 2022

Stamford, CT

Dr. Ray Greenfield was born in Havana, Cuba, the son of the late Samuel and Cecile Greenfield. He is survived by his beloved wife, Kathryn Honey Greenfield, his devoted children, Jonathan and his wife Sarah, Carly and her husband Geoff, Shay, Joshua and his wife Dr. Lauren Zinns, and by his adored grandchildren, Julian, Juliette and Olivia.

Dr.

Dr. John Hanson ORTHO 64

April 8, 2022

Mattapoisett, MA

Dr. John Hanson received his B. S. degree at Tufts University and his DMD degree from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. Since early childhood, he was fascinated by the field of orthodontics and so attended and graduated from Boston University School of Postgraduate Orthodontics. John was respected among his peers and loved by his highly esteemed staff and his many patients. He found purpose in helping others as an orthodontist and his kind and compassionate care transcended the lives of those he touched. John was a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics and a charter member of the Foundation of Orthodontic Research. He was also a member of the American Association of Orthodontics, the Massachusetts Society of Orthodontics, the American Dental Association, the Massachusetts Dental Society and Berkshire District Dental Society.

Dr. Frank Lionelli ORTHO 74

September 10, 2021 Connecticut Dr. Frank Lionelli attended and graduated from the University of Connecticut with a B.A. degree and then attended Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, from which he graduated with honors. He spent two years in the U.S. Army Dental Corps, which included a tour

in Vietnam. Following his discharge, he attended Boston University School of Graduate Dentistry, where he continued training in Orthodontics and was awarded a Certificate of Advanced Study and a Masters of Science in Dentistry. He practiced Orthodontics for 36 years in Mystic and New London, seeing many patients and even their children. Dr. Lionelli and his wife, Jane, volunteered locally and domestically with the American Red Cross for over 10 years.

Dr. John Warren Mabee PERIO 74

October 16, 2021

Bucksport and Bangor, ME

Growing up in Bangor, Dr. John Mabee graduated from Bangor High School in 1962, the University of Maine in 1967, then followed the family tradition and pursued his professional education in the dentistry field. In 1972 at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, John received a Doctor of Dental Science degree, then continued to Boston University to earn a Master of Science in Dentistry specializing in Periodontology in 1974 and an Advanced Graduate Degree in Periodontology in 1976. After his schooling, John returned home to raise a family and begin his 30-year practice in the Bangor area.

Dr. Bryan J. Miller DMD 84

October 25, 2021

Colorado Bryan Jon Miller passed away on October 25, 2021, after a profoundly difficult battle against cancer. While at GSDM, Bryan performed neuroscience research and completed the DMD program. He opened Homestead Park Family Dental in Colorado in 1985 and began his 36-year career in general dentistry. Bryan’s love for dentistry and his patients was evident by the huge involvement he had in the industry. Throughout his professional career, Bryan was integral in professional societies and achieved many great accomplishments. Beyond his passion for dentistry, he was an avid skier, golfer, cyclist, and racecar driver. His contagious positivity made life happy. Bryan’s greatest love of all was his family. Bryan is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 35 years, Kristi, their three children, and a granddaughter.

Dr. Jerome D. Murray PERIO 71 September 28, 2021

Fort Myers, FL, and Winchester, MA

Dr. Jerome Murray was educated at John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio, and he graduated from Western Reserve University School of Dentistry in 1967. He continued his advanced studies at Boston University specializing in Periodontology and was awarded his degree in 1971. His professional

career was centered in Winchester, where he developed a successful practice treating periodontal disease. Beginning in 1984, he pioneered the placement of dental implants. Teaching and lecturing were a large part of his career. He held a position as an Associate Professor of Periodontics at Boston University School of Graduate Dentistry. Dr. Murray served as president of the Middlesex Dental Society. He was also inducted into the American College of Dentistry, International College of Dentistry and the Pierre Fauchard Society in recognition of his leadership role in dentistry.

Dr. Peter C. Niarhos DMD 88 September 19, 2022 Boston, MA

March 10, 2022

New Hampshire

Dr. Charles Neal graduated from Boston University in 1965 and then attended Tufts University School of Dental Medicine from 19651969. Following dental school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served two years at The Qounset Point Naval Base. This was followed by a two-year periodontal residency at Boston University School of Dental Medicine. On July 17, 1974, at 321 Lincoln Street in Manchester, NH, he founded Bedford Commons Periodontics. It was only the third periodontal dental office to open in the entire state of New Hampshire. He was an active member of the Manchester Dental Society, New Hampshire Dental Society, and the American Academy of Periodontology.

Dr. Peter Niarhos was born in Lowell on March 12, 1960. He was a graduate of Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. He owned and operated Merrimack Valley Dental and Affordable Dental, both located in Dracut. Peter was active in his Greek community and was a member of the Messinian Club, and a parishioner of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. Peter believed in education. He accomplished his mission to ensure that all three of his children received a college degree. Above all, family was the focus of his life. He was devoted to his parents and lovingly supported and cared for them. In addition to his loving wife, Peter is survived by his children and a grandson.

Dr. John D. Petrich ENDO 63 March 4, 2022 Ohio

Dr. John Petrich was a graduate of Barberton High School, The College of Wooster, Loyola University College of Dental Surgery and the Boston University Goldman School of Graduate Dentistry-Endodontics. John was a proud Air Force Veteran and served at the Dental Clinic at Carswell AFB in Ft. Worth, Texas. He then practiced Endodontics in Dayton for 10 years, moving his practice to Fairlawn through 1992. He was an Endodontic Consultant to Wright Patterson AFB Dental

Clinic, Dayton VA Hospital and then taught Graduate Endodontics at the University of Kentucky Dental School, Lexington and the OSU School of Dentistry. John lectured to numerous dental organizations and was a member of the American Dental Association, the American Association of Endodontists, Dayton Dental Society, Dayton Society of Children’s Dentistry, Ohio Dental Association. He was a founding member of the Ohio Association of Endodontists, Akron Dental Society and American Board of Endodontists Certified.

Dr. Jay Schwab PEDO 69 September 29, 2022 Sharon, MA

Dr. Jay Schwab fought a courageous six-year battle with cancer. He leaves his beloved wife of 57 years, Karen, two children, and four grandchildren. Dr. Schwab completed his dental education at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine where he graduated in 1967. He then attended Boston University School of Graduate Dentistry where he received his certificate in Pediatric Dentistry. In 1969, he opened the first boardqualified pediatric dental practice in Rhode Island, where he practiced until 2003. Jay was a champion of volunteerism. In the course of his lifetime, he was active in many religious and community activities. He hopes to be remembered as a compassionate individual who lived his life as a mensch.

Dr. Charles “Doug” D. Neal PERIO 74

Dr. Rodney Swantko OMS 68

September 27, 2022

Chicago, IL

Dr. Rodney Swantko graduated from Indiana University School of Dentistry and continued at Boston University to become an oral surgeon. He owned Munster (IN) Oral Surgery. He was born and grew up in Hammond, IN, during WWII. He built models of U.S fighter planes of that era – one model after another. Thus, Rod developed the dexterity in his fingers that he carried into his chosen career. Rod knew intimately every location in Gene Shepherd's writing and shared the books gladly and widely. Golf proved his passion. He loved "hittin' balls" at Wicker Park Golf Course. Another love was Indiana University. Dr. Swantko's charitable donations centered on museums to which he gave literary treasures. Dr. Swantko is survived by his siblings and many cousins throughout the Chicago area and nation.

Dr. Robert Louis Tanner ORTHO 66

October 27, 2021

Falmouth, MA

Dr. Robert Tanner’s education began in a “One Room Salisbury Center School House” then to Dolgeville High School, The State University of New York at Cortland, Syracuse University, University of Buffalo Dental School, and Boston University School of Orthodontics. Bob was Maine’s first boardcertified orthodontist. He opened a successful practice, Orthodontics

Associates, in South Portland, in 1970. While attending dental school, Bob entered the ROTC Program, serving six years in the United States Navy as a lieutenant in the Dental Corps. At an expert level, he was a member of the U.S. Navy competitive pistol team.

Dr. Richard Weiss PERIO 68

October 17, 2021

New Jersey

Dr. Richard Weiss attended The Pingry School (’55), The University of Pennsylvania (’59), The University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine (’66) and completed his residency in Periodontics at Boston University School of Dental Medicine (’68).

He practiced periodontics in Easton, Pennsylvania, until he became Chairman of the Department of Periodontics at Temple University School of Dentistry. He then became Executive Associate Dean of Business and Administration until his retirement in 2004. Upon retiring from Temple, he immersed himself in many endeavors. He dedicated himself to the NJ Coast Guard Auxiliary, where he educated the public in Boating Safety.

Dr. Valdemar Welz DMD 78 (former faculty) December 6, 2021 Massachusetts Dr. Valdemar Welz immigrated from Poland to Boston with his family in 1959. He went on to receive his undergraduate degree cum laude from Boston University

in 1974 and his DMD from Boston University Goldman School of Dentistry in 1978. He opened a solo practice in the Boston Back Bay in 1979 and maintained the practice until his passing. From 1978 to 1992, he was a faculty member at GSDM. Valdemar was a mentor to many and welcomed anyone and everyone to his office. Thus, Valdemar built many close relationships with students and peers even after he stopped teaching. He was extremely dedicated and devoted to his work and patients. He spent every day doing what he loved. He built his practice on truth and excellence and he will be deeply missed by colleagues, staff and patients.

Dr. Lynsey T. Doan DMD 05 November 2, 2021 Westwood, MA

Dr. Bing-Zhong Fang DMD 98 September 8, 2022 California

Dr. Ernesto Hipolito DMD 90 July 2022 Las Vegas, NV

Dr. Scott Meltzer DMD 91 June 11, 2022 Michigan

LAST WORD

Dear Fellow Alumni, I’m writing this on the Monday following the school’s 2022 Commencement and am reflecting on the next steps for the members of the Class of 2022, who are figuring out their own path forward, many of them not yet knowing what type of professional they want to or will be. But I know that through perseverance, hard work, and dedication, they will all carve out a path that is the best fit for who they want to be as members of the community.

I have been so fortunate to have been touched by so many amazing people and a few great characters here at the school. I know that our didactic and clinical education as well as our commitment to community service is at the core of what we do here, but it is the relationships that I cherish the most. A former Boston University and GSDM Alumni Association President, Dr. Shadi Daher, once said that it is alumni who are the one constant at an academic institution. I couldn’t agree more, and at our school, that constant is one of the many variables that make GSDM so special.

The different paths that our alumni travel are always interesting, but it is even more special when I receive an invitation to join the journey again in person, whether to attend a memorable event in their lives or just to catch up on the phone. It is always inspiring to see what path everyone has chosen.

Never forget the common bond that we share. At one time or another, we were touched by the amazing staff, faculty, and administration to who helped mold us into who we are today.

I, along with everyone here at GSDM, wish you peace, health, and happiness on both your professional and personal journeys.

Kindest regards,

M. Calabrese DMD 91 AEGD 92 Associate Dean of Students and Clinical Professor

Joseph

10

TAKEAWAYS FROM

“...for the first time ever – there was a threeway tie for the top spot in the DMD class...”

On Campus: Highlights, pg. 32

pg. 39 pg. 42

pg. 26 pg. 27

A Letter from the Dean, pg. 01 pg. 35

“It’s like using a microscope to look at something instead of your naked eye,” he said. “Overjet’s AI is a clinician decision support tool that allows us to diagnose, communicate and treat our patients more effectively…”

Exploring the Next Frontier, pg. 18

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

“Never forget the common bond that we share. At one time or another, we were touched by the amazing staff, faculty, and administration.”

The Last Word, pg. 51

“Your continued commitment to our community makes a critical difference in our ability to meet our mission.”