PACIFIC ORTHODONTIC ALUMNI NEWSLETTER ARTHUR A. DUGONI SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY
Katherine Kieu
Jennifer Yau
CONTRIBUTORS
Nicole Nalchajian
Heesoo Oh
Ken Shimizu
Steve Dugoni
Yash Sharma
Jonathan Starley
Jimmy Suliman
Austin Bauldry
Marta Baird
Andre Tran
Arif Alvi
SEPTEMBER 2024
EDITORS’ NOTE
Dear Alumni,
We hope you all had a memorable summer filled with fun, adventure and time with loved ones. As you may have noticed, Trident continues to evolve. For this fall edition, we are introducing the “Why I Give to Pacific Ortho” section to showcase alumni who have generously donated to our orthodontic program. We hope these shared stories will inspire other alumni to consider giving back and investing in the future of our profession.
We plan to profile a few donors at a time in each Trident issue. If you would like to nominate yourself or a fellow alumni to be featured in “Why I Give to Pacific Ortho” for future issues, please contact us!
It is our hope that our newsletter continues to help build and strengthen a sense of community by keeping alumni in the know. If you have suggestions for improvement or would like to contribute content, you can reach us at kitkatkieu@gmail.com and jenniferhyau@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you and hope to connect with many of you at future alumni events.
Warmest Regards, Katherine and Jennifer
COMMITTEE CHAIR’S REPORT
Dr. Nicole Nalchajian
Hello fellow alumni!
I hope you have all enjoyed a busy summer in your offices, as well as some well-deserved vacation time with your loved ones. The department has also been busy, and we are looking forward to some upcoming events.
I am happy to announce that our first quarterly virtual CE course was a great success. Dr. Sandra Tai educated us about Invisalign’s new expander appliance, drawing a good turnout, and we had great feedback from those who attended. We have tentatively scheduled our next virtual course for Wednesday, September 4, so please mark your calendars.
A few weeks after, we will be celebrating the graduation of the Class of 2024! The Graduation Symposium will be held at the school on Sept 27, 2024. Dr. Manuel Oscan Lagravere Vich will be speaking on maxillary expansion all day, followed by the celebration dinner at the City Club in the evening.
Thank you to all who responded to our alumni survey! It’s very helpful for us to have timely feedback on what you would like to see and learn,
since this will influence our decisions as we schedule CE courses for you.
We had a wonderful alumni reception at the AAO this past May in New Orleans. It was great to see some old friends and hang out with the residents. We would love to see you all at PSCO in Palm Springs, which is taking place November 14-17 — we will be holding a reception.
Looking further ahead to our alumni meeting, we will be hosting John Morton from Invisalign on January 31, 2025 at the Fairmont Hotel for the Fred West Lectureship. Mr. Morton will speak to us about biomechanics and biomaterials. Our own Dr. Jonas Bianchi will also be speaking to us that day about AI in orthodontics, so I believe it will prove to be a very interesting and valuable day of continuing education. After the meeting, we will be hosting a dinner for alumni who are celebrating a reunion year — more to come about that.
As always, please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions, suggestions or ideas that you would like to share, or if you would like to get involved with our alumni chapter. My email is dr.nic@nalortho.com, and my cell number is 559.281.4710.
Warmest Regards, Nicole Nalchajian, Class of 1999
ALUMNI SURVEY RESULTS
Thank you to all of you who took the time to participate in our alumni survey! Thirty-four percent of you (85 out of 253) stepped up to the plate to tell us what you thought — a terrific response rate that testifies to your ongoing connection and engagement with the school and each other!
(Note: the majority of you who responded were from the classes of 2000 and later.)
Asked about your state of satisfaction with the reputation of the current ortho program, the majority replied that you are indeed satisfied.
Based on the survey responses, the recognized strengths of the Dugoni School’s orthodontic residency program include:
• Strong clinical training
• Diverse faculty and treatment approaches
• Up-to-date technology and innovative practices
• Supportive environment
• Comprehensive academic and research focus
• Diversity and inclusivity
• Specialized training
• Pride in alumni network
We also asked you what types of information you would like to receive from the Trident and you said:
• Department updates from the chair
• Updates about classmates and peers
• Alumni Association activities
• Residents’ case reports
• Department research activities and publications
• Interviews with faculty members
• ABO certification updates Are there programs or services that the Department of Orthodontics could offer you, as an alum, that you would find valuable? You said: CE courses on new technology/appliances and practice management; a forum for case discussion and practice opportunities.
Our department aims to offer free CE courses quarterly. When asked what topics you would consider valuable, you answered:
ALUMNI SURVEY RESULTS (CONT.)
dentists; Focus on practical skills like practice management, leadership, and preparing residents for private practice, rather than working for a Dental Support Organization (DSO); Create social groups for case discussions and sharing clinical and office management tips.
Program Quality and Diversity: Continue to select high-quality residents to maintain program standards; Preserve diversity in techniques, teaching staff, and resident backgrounds to avoid becoming a non-diverse program; Maintain excellence in clinical orthodontics by hiring top faculty with diverse viewpoints.
Finally, we asked for suggestions for advancing our orthodontic program:
Continuing Education and Alumni Engagement: Offer more continuing education opportunities to help alumni stay updated with new learning; Keep alumni informed about advances in the program and new technologies.
Resident Training and Experience: Enhance interdisciplinary treatment experience for residents; Increase the patient load for residents by partnering with local schools and pediatric
Program Development and Partnerships: Continue partnerships like the Stanford Sleep Apnea program; Consider reducing tuition to attract high-quality residents; Keep introducing new techniques and instructors to enhance learning.
And one respondent answered by saying “Our orthodontic program is already one of the best program in the world.” Thank you, and everyone in the department is determined to ensure this remains true!
Alumni Satisfaction Rate
ORTHODONTIC CHAIR REPORT
Firstly, we bid farewell to two dedicated, long-serving faculty members, Drs. Bert Rouleau and Roger Boero, who recently retired. Dr. Rouleau (’82) began teaching in 1989 as a typodont instructor and later joined the clinic every Wednesday afternoon from 2012 on. His dedication for over 30 years has been unparalleled. Dr. Roger Boero (’75) taught for nearly 50 years, imparting his wisdom through the essential Principles of Orthodontics course. While we will miss their teaching, we are thrilled for them as they embark on their well-deserved retirements. Their legacy will continue to inspire our department. Don’t miss their interviews elsewhere in this issue, where they share their remarkable journeys.
I’m delighted to share some thrilling news from the AAO annual meeting in New Orleans, which all of our
Dear Orthodontic Family, Alumni, Friends and Colleagues:
I
hope you have had an amazing summer!
I’m excited to share some highlights from our department since my last report in the spring and to introduce our incredible Class of 2026.
second-year residents and four first-year residents attended. In the Resident Scholar Award/ Research Poster Competition, Seung Ah Jung won third place in the clinical science category with her research poster titled “Nasal Airway Anatomy Changes in MARPE and RPE Patients: A 3D Superimposition Study,” under the guidance of Dr. Jonas Bianchi. This marks the third consecutive year that our residents have excelled in this competition! Kudos to Dr. Bianchi for his outstanding presentation on “Smart-DOC: Free, Easy & Quick AI Tools Changing Our Practice” and to Drs. Bella Shen and Sandra Tai for their enlightening presentations. Our faculty and residents continue to exemplify our school’s excellence.
We are also proud of our junior faculty, Drs. Bianchi and Suh, who were recognized by the AAOF. Dr. Bianchi received
his third AAOF Orthodontic Faculty Development Fellowship award, while Dr. Suh earned her first. Dr. Bianchi’s research proposal, “Orthognathic vs. Orthodontic Treatment: A Comparative Study of AI and Clinical Diagnosis,” and Dr. Suh’s project, “Individualized Facial Growth Prediction Models Based on Artificial Intelligence,” showcase our department’s pioneering role in AI research within orthodontics. We eagerly anticipate more groundbreaking work from Drs. Bianchi and Suh.
Dr. Suh also achieved additional milestones by being awarded the NIH Loan Repayment Program (LRP) award, which covers her LRP-related taxes, and by being accepted into our university’s data science master’s program. Her accomplishments are truly inspiring!
Our quinquennial alumni survey revealed that our alumni are proud of our program’s current reputation. With 85 responses (a 34% response rate), the majority expressed interest in CE courses on new technology and appliances. More detailed survey results can be found in this issue.
The summer quarter is always bustling as we welcome new residents and host numerous academic events for the graduating class. As expected, the Class of 2024 passed their ABO written exams and is now diligently completing their graduation requirements. We have been strongly supporting our residents in taking the ABO clinical exam to become board-certified orthodontists. This year, they will take on an additional challenge by taking their ABO clinical examinations in September during their residencies.
The Class of 2025 demonstrated solid academic and clinical knowledge during their comprehensive oral
ORTHODONTIC CHAIR REPORT (CONT.)
examinations at the end of their first year and are now transitioning to a more clinically focused second-year curriculum, devoting more time to their research projects.
After much anticipation, our first fellow completed our inaugural year-long Dental Sleep Medicine Fellowship Program in collaboration with the Stanford Sleep Medicine Department and SF VA hospital’s sleep surgery. We look forward to continuing to iterate and improve the fellowship program.
Lastly, we warmly welcome the Class of 2026 and our new dental sleep medicine fellow. You can learn more about the Class of 2026 in their bio section. As you are aware, we have been fundraising endowed scholarships for our residents. Thanks to the annual spin-off from the Arthur A. Dugoni and Robert Boyd Orthodontic Endowed Scholarships, each first-year resident will receive an $11,000 orthodontic endowed
scholarship. While this covers only a small portion of tuition, which exceeds $120,000 per year, it is a significant first step toward our dream of providing a tuition-free residency program.
As a result of our program’s successful 50th-anniversary event last year, I am thrilled to announce two additional endowed scholarships. The Richard R. Rutter Orthodontic Endowed Scholarship was established by several orthodontic alumni to honor our first program chair. The newest endowed scholarship was funded by Dr. Maryse Aubert’s gift. You can learn more about Dr. Aubert’s inspirational story and contributions at is.gd/ awasaf. Thank you once again for your unwavering support. Our program’s remarkable achievements and news are all thanks to your continued encouragement.
Wishing you a fantastic rest of the summer and fall!
Yours cordially, Heesoo Oh
WHY I GIVE TO THE DUGONI SCHOOL
Dr. Ken Shimizu
I’ve been associated with the Dugoni School of Dentistry for over half of my life. I graduated from our dental school in 1985 and was fortunate enough to continue my education in our graduate orthodontic department. After completing my residency in 1987, one of my amazing instructors asked me to help teach his course, and I’ve been a part of our volunteer faculty for the past 35 years.
Like many of you, I had an amazing experience as a student at the dental school. Dental school and ortho residency were certainly a lot of hard work and countless hours spent improving our techniques and preparing for our patients, but I had the friendship and support of my many wonderful classmates and encouraging instructors, as well as the inspiration of our dean, Dr. Art Dugoni. If I were given an opportunity to re-live my entry into the dental profession, I would not change a thing!
Our dental school prepared all of us extremely well for private practice, leadership positions and volunteer roles within our community. I’m very fortunate to have been blessed with a wonderful family and a wonderful career. And I know that I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for the Dugoni School of Dentistry.
I’ve always tried to support our school, even during the days when our savings account was pretty thin. When my wife and I couldn’t afford a monetary donation, I volunteered my time at the school. When times got better, we tried to support the Alumni Association, the Dean’s Fund and other special projects that required financial help.
About 10 years ago, I saw that some of my mentors were being very generous to our school and I recall thinking: “I bet we can do that.” So, Laurie and I decided to make a pledge to support the Dean’s Fund and the Orthodontic Alumni Fund. It was a little scary at first, but knowing that we were supporting our school and helping other students achieve their dreams really made us feel good inside!
It’s a great feeling to be able to offer help to individual students, an amazing institution, or to a dream. In December of 2020, we decided to make a gift to the Dugoni School of Dentistry and also to our Orthodontic Department in support of the dream that was so dear to Art Dugoni — to attract the best students to our dental school and to lessen the financial burden of their education.
It would be wonderful to have YOU join me as we turn Art’s dream into reality!
WHY I GIVE TO THE DUGONI SCHOOL (CONT.)
Dr. Steven Dugoni
The Dugoni family has always believed in the power of philanthropy. Since the beginning of my career, my dad, Arthur Dugoni, taught me about the importance of giving back to the orthodontic profession with my time, talent and treasury — “the Three Ts.” Throughout my 45-year dental career, I have tried to meet the goals of the Three Ts by teaching at the dental school, volunteering with professional orthodontic organizations and donating to the dental school.
My dad explained to me that the dental school relies heavily on the contributions of alumni because the University of the Pacific’s tuition does not cover the full cost of educating a dental student.
Most of my donations have been used to fund scholarships at the dental school to reduce the cost of study. Dental school tuition is high, and it is my dream that no student be denied the opportunity to attend the Dugoni School of Dentistry because they cannot afford it. During the later stages of my dad’s career, he devoted his time to raising money to fund scholarships. His vision was establishing full tuition scholarships, so that students could pursue their dream of becoming a dentist without
the burden of overwhelming dental school debt.
My dad recommended donating to the dental school every month. I inquired, “Why every month and not at the end of the year?” and his reply was that most dentists could afford to give $80 a month rather than waiting until the end of the year and trying to donate $1,000. Therefore, I set up an automatic withdrawal every month from my bank account to the dental school.
My dad also recommended including the dental school in my estate plan. He would say, “You’re not going to miss the money when you pass away, so consider leaving a percentage of your estate to the dental school.” I met with my estate planning attorney and set aside a certain percentage of my estate that will go to the Dugoni School upon my passing.
Giving my time, talent and treasury has helped me become a better professional and a better person. Donating to the dental school gives me a strong positive feeling knowing that I am helping students and ensuring the school’s future.
IN THE NEWS
Class of 2023 Thesis Defense, Class of 2023 & Welcome Picnic
Fred West Lecture
Summer Welcome Get-Together (Cont.)
TRIDENT
THIRD-YEAR REPORT
Dr. Yash Sharma and Dr. Jonathan Starley, Class of 2024 Residents
The Class of 2024 is in our final stretch to graduation on September 27, and we are thrilled to start transitioning into the orthodontic profession! Since our last update in April, we have had many tremendous events that we were fortunate enough to attend as residents. We attended the Asilomar Conference in the beautiful Monterey Peninsula where we were able to travel to Big Sur for the day and see the historic Bixby Bridge. In May, we traveled to New Orleans for AAO. We learned so much from the great lectures, had the opportunity to tour the French Quarter, and enjoyed some tasty beignets! Our own Dr. Seung Ah Jung presented her research poster on “Nasal Airway Anatomy change in MARPE and RPE Patients: A 3D Superimposition Study” and won third place in the clinical science category. This is the third consecutive year a UOP research project has won an award at AAO. Shortly after coming back from AAO, we received our ABO written exam results in which all eight residents passed and are now eligible for the oral board exam in September. In June, our class also had the opportunity to attend
UOP’s OKU Excellence Day, in which all eight of us presented our most complex multidisciplinary cases in the clinic.
Although we are so close to graduation, the next few months will be busy. We will be finishing up our master’s thesis defenses, formulating case reports, and creating finished case displays, and we are thrilled to see how much we have grown as residents in the past 24 months. We recognize the challenges that lie ahead, but with the support of our colleagues and faculty, we are confident in our success! Our class has bonded (no pun intended) through the trials and triumphs of residency, and we will continue to rely on one another to navigate the demanding months to come. For us, 2024 marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another, yet we will always remain part of the Dugoni School family.
SECOND-YEAR REPORT
Dr. Jimmy Suliman and Dr. Austin Bauldry, Class of 2025 Residents
The Class of 2025 is excited to kick off their second year of orthodontic residency! We cannot believe how quickly the first year has gone by! From starting our journey through residency in July 2023 to now, we are truly amazed by how much we have learned thus far and look forward to our continued education during our busy second year. This first year has been filled with numerous instances of learning, research, travel, and of course, enjoying our time here in San Francisco.
In our first year, we hit the ground running by learning to identify a normal dentofacial complex. This was followed by understanding how and why deviations occur from normal structures. We learned about modern-day imaging with CBCT, the complexity of the developing craniofacial complex’s growth, and how craniofacial anomalies, such as clefts and
disruption of normal development, may arise. We chose research projects to begin our work toward our master’s theses, and most exciting of all, we began to practice the art of orthodontics! After a full year of patient encounters, we realize that building a keen eye takes many repetitions, critical evaluation of bracket placement, and thoughtful use of biomechanics. We have thoroughly enjoyed witnessing the transformative process of orthodontic treatment!
All our first year’s work was deserving of a little bit of play. In May, we attended the AAO annual session in New Orleans. We had a blast exploring the historic city, sampling Cajun cuisine, and of course, attending all the lectures that had us sitting on the edges of our seats. A few of us were even lucky enough to have a private World War II museum tour!
The start of a new year also brings a new class of residents. We have enjoyed getting to know the Class of 2026 and the new sleep fellow, Dr. Kim. We are excited to welcome them to the Dugoni School family. We are all looking forward to the next year, and we are excited to congratulate the graduating third-year class on their upcoming graduation! Lastly, we’d like to congratulate Dr. Maryam Arab on completing our school’s first sleep fellowship program and pioneering the way for future fellows!
MEET THE CLASS OF 2026
Dr. Tina Dillas grew up in Minot, North Dakota. She studied human biology at Rhodes College. She earned her DDS at the University of California, San Francisco in 2024. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, playing tennis and spending time with her friends and family.
excited to be pursuing her dream at the Dugoni School! In her free time, Sophia enjoys morning coffee walks, yoga, hiking, cooking and spending time with her fiancé, Brendan.
Dr. Sophia DiPietro grew up in Carlsbad, California and graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in foods and nutrition. She earned her DDS degree at the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, where she learned to love the city of San Francisco. Despite being a first-generation dentist, Sophia has wanted to be an orthodontist since she was a little girl and is extremely
Dr. I-Hsien Kody Kuo was born and raised in Taiwan. At 15, he moved to the United States, where he later completed his undergraduate studies in mechanical engineering at UCLA. In 2024, Kody earned his DDS degree from the UCLA School of Dentistry. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, visiting national parks, golfing and playing soccer.
Dr. Cerjay Lugtu was born and raised in La Mirada, California. His educational journey took him to UCLA, where he
majored in biology, and then to the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, from which he graduated this past spring. During his free time, you will likely find him at the gym or getting lost in a captivating fantasy book.
He is also a passionate foodie with a mission to explore and document the best food spots in San Francisco using his Beli account.
Dr. Mingi Park was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea. She spent her younger years in New Zealand and Canada before relocating to the United States. She attended Johns Hopkins University and earned a bachelor’s degree in cognitive science. Mingi then completed her DDS training at Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine in
New York, where she served as class president. Mingi is excited to join the UOP family for her orthodontic residency. Outside of the clinic, Mingi enjoys traveling, snowboarding, and going to concerts and art exhibitions.
MEET THE CLASS OF 2026 (CONT.)
Dr. Ida Shaffer is a Northern Californian native, born and raised in Salinas. She did her undergraduate studies at UC Davis and ultimately earned her DDS/PhD at UCSF. She lives in the Bay Area with her husband, with whom she enjoys an active lifestyle of outdoor adventures, skiing in Tahoe, hiking and enjoying kbbq dinners with friends. Ida is grateful to be part of the Dugoni School family and can’t wait to continue her adventures here!
Dr. Tyler Starley grew up in Sparks, Nevada. In 2020, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in exercise science from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. After completing his undergraduate degree, Tyler joined the faculty at BYU as a professor of human anatomy and physiology. It was in that role that he discovered his passion for education and teaching. It was also at BYU where he met Allie Jo, who would become the love of his life. They got married in 2020–marrying her remains his greatest achievement.
In 2024, Tyler earned his DDS degree from the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry. He and Allie Jo love living in San Francisco, where they spend their free time exploring the great outdoors with
their Australian Shepherd, Poppy. They enjoy beach outings, hikes, rock climbing, pickleball, and attending baseball games. Tyler has also become a big foodie thanks to the amazing cuisine SF has to offer.
Dr. Harrison Truman grew up in Henderson, Nevada. He completed his B.S. degree in biostatistics at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah where he met and married his now wife, Ruth, in 2019. After finishing his bachelor’s degree, Harrison earned his DDS degree at the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in 2024. Outside of school, he enjoys spending time with his wife as well as playing the piano, hiking, camping, and playing basketball and volleyball.
MEET OUR SLEEP FELLOW | 2024–2025
Eugene Y Kim, DDS, MBA
Eugene is a Southern California native who completed his undergraduate education at the University of the Pacific, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences. He then received his dental education at University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry. He completed his residency in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics at Roseman University, where he also received his Master of Business Administration. After completing his orthodontic residency in 2020, he returned to Southern California to begin working as an associate in private practice. He became board certified by the American Board of Orthodontics in 2021.
He is extremely excited to return to the University of the Pacific to further his knowledge and specialize in dental sleep medicine. This is a continually developing and evolving field in orthodontics and the need for it became evident during his time in private practice.
He is ambitious in continuing his studies, but outside of orthodontics, you will likely find him at the gym, exploring the city, and finding new restaurants to try. His goal is to always continue to grow, both professionally and personally!
The New Standard of Care
KEEPING IN TOUCH
Class of 1984
Dr. Mark Douglas
Since graduation from UOP’s residency program in orthodontics, I have been blessed by this incredible profession to have practiced almost 40 years in Northern California. With my full retirement last November, my wife (Lavonna) and I have enjoyed the extra time off; we love spending time with our 4 kids and 11 grandchildren, as well as traveling.
The combination of art and science that makes up our specialty was a truly stimulating way to spend my working years. Beyond that, my colleagues have afforded me both wonderful friendships and intellectual stimulation, which I never could have anticipated from the beginning of this journey. Outside of clinical practice, some of the most rewarding time that our specialty has afforded me is teaching future orthodontists in residency programs and auxiliary team members in hygiene school.
Dr. Arif Alvi
Please refer to the ‘Alumni Corner’ section to learn about all of Dr. Arif Alvi’s accomplishments since graduating from our orthodontic residency program.
Class of 2004
Dr. Andrew Kouvaris
I am in private practice in San Jose, CA. I am married to my wonderful wife, Erin, and we have two children, Sophia (15) and Michael (13). The kids have kept us busy with sports and activities throughout the years, and we enjoy traveling when possible. We recently went on a trip to Greece with 14 relatives and attended a friend’s wedding…OPA!
Dr. Tom Ellerhorst
I have been keeping busy with my practice in San Mateo, CA. My daughter, Kaylee, recently graduated from Notre Dame High School in Belmont, CA and will be studying biology at Santa Clara University this fall. My son, Connor, will be starting his 8th grade year at Our Lady of Angels in Burlingame, CA and still plays a ton of baseball and soccer. My wife, Kacie, continues to be the director of Children’s House Montessori in San Mateo, CA. Life is great!
Dr. Eric Axelrode
KEEPING IN TOUCH (CONT.)
Since completing orthodontic residency, I’ve been practicing in the East Bay with my brother (Mark Axelrode) and dad (Alex Axelrode). My dad has since retired and is enjoying retirement living in Rossmoor in Walnut Creek. Currently, we have four practice locations in Pinole, Moraga, Vallejo, and Benicia with three part-time associates helping us manage the patient load. Every day, I appreciate the quality of my dental and orthodontic education at Pacific. The wide variety of treatment modalities presented to us clinically helped form a solid foundation to build upon over the past 20 years. From a family perspective, my wife (Monica) and I are fortunate to have two wonderful children, Jean-Luc (22) and Leah (21). When not at work or school, our family enjoys everything outdoors. Wishing everyone in the Pacific family all the best.
INTERVIEW WITH DR. ROGER BOERO: AN EDUCATOR AND LIFELONG LEARNER
By Dr. Marta Baird (’11)
Can you share some highlights from your career journey as an orthodontic faculty member?
The number one highlight is the colleagues. I look at my associations with the people here. The most meaningful part has been the quality of the people you associate with. I think the other highlight is the sense of discovery in terms of continually reading, continually developing. The challenge of the residents, too—it’s rewarding. And, of course, becoming more knowledgeable and getting better at what you do.
What inspired you to pursue a career in orthodontics that eventually transitioned to academia?
I started teaching the minute I graduated from dental school. I
taught in the crown and bridge department and dental anatomy. But, once you’ve done your 25th crown, I felt I was missing the mental stimulation and brain processes that are integral to orthodontics.
Dick Rutter was the chairman when I started, then Don Polton and then Robert Boyd. I left in 2011, but it was Heesoo Oh
who brought me back. In terms of the vision, the educational process, I took over the Principles of Orthodontics course and had the chance to shape it. I had full control.
How do you envision the future of orthodontic education, and what advice would you give to aspiring orthodontists entering the field?
I have some concerns about what’s going to happen with artificial intelligence. I’ve been spending some time reading and trying to imagine how it will work and what it will be used for in the future. Will anyone be able to use AI to make an orthodontic diagnosis and treatment plan? That’s going to happen. Who is going to control that? Will there be too much reli-
ance on AI for decision making? What will the rules be?
But for advice, learning orthodontics is a lifetime thing. Residency just gives you the primary tools to continue your learning. Residency is just the beginning.
Throughout your tenure, what changes have you observed in the field of orthodontics and how have these influenced your teaching approach?
The most obvious one is Invisalign. That was a huge impact. And a movement to digital for everything. But does it change the way we teach? Critical thinking and memory will always be there. I’ve wanted the residents to be able to read, see these things, and make connections. To be able to adapt that to what they are doing with their
own patients. Orthodontics of today will be different in a year once they graduate.
What legacy do you hope to leave behind within the orthodontic community and academia?
The legacy would be that the people who went through my seminar would say, “that was worth it.” Yeah, it may have been hard, but it was worth it. When they reflect back, hopefully, they continue reading and valuing that pursuit of knowledge.
What are your plans for retirement? How do you intend to stay connected to the field?
I don’t know, that’s a good question. Without the need to continually develop, to continue to read, to continue to search the literature, to continue to add new information; when you’re not doing it anymore, then you lose that knowledge. With that gone, I will be looking toward other directions that are not related to orthodontics.
I have always made things. I have a shop in my basement. During my whole dental practice time, I did a lot of lab
BOERO (CONT.)
work, all my gold restorations. I did the same thing in ortho; the retainers were made in house. So I mean to continue in my shop. I’d like to get in better shape, have more time to exercise. And there are so many interesting things to read about, whether it’s fiction or nonfiction. Just read whatever you want, whenever you want for your own enjoyment.
And I plan to spend more time with my grandkids. I have two freshmen in high school who live close by.
A LEGACY OF
DEDICATION:
DR. BERT ROULEAU’S JOURNEY AS AN ORTHODONTIST AND EDUCATOR
By Andre Tran (’24)
It is my profound honor to have the opportunity to interview and write about my mentor and friend, Dr. Bert Rouleau as he retires from his esteemed academic journey at the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry. Dr. Rouleau has had a distinguished career as both an orthodontist and an educator, leaving an indelible mark on his community in Mountain View and the generations of students he has taught.
Bert Rouleau was born and raised in Barre, Vermont into a close-knit family that included his parents, Bert and Sylvia, and his siblings, Marc and Robin. His grandfather had moved from Canada to central Vermont for work. His father met his mother in Vermont, and while his mother was in hygiene school, she became pregnant with Dr. Rouleau. This early connection to the field of dentistry sparked his interest in the profession.
Dr. Rouleau graduated from the University of Vermont in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science degree and subsequently moved to Boston to attend Tufts University for his dental education. Despite being at Tufts at the same time, it wasn’t until his orthodontic residency that Dr. Rouleau met his future colleague and brother-in-law, Dr. Steven Dugoni. While in dental school, a pivotal six-week pediatric dentistry rotation in Maine ignited his passion for working with children, leading him to explore a specialty in pediatric dentistry.
He continued his education at Northwestern University, where he earned a master of science degree and an advanced degree in pediatric dentistry in 1980. However, during his residency, Dr. Rouleau discovered that his true calling might lie elsewhere. Inspired by two of his co-residents who were already orthodontists, he decided to pursue orthodontics, applying exclusively to West Coast programs with the initial intention of returning to the East Coast afterward.
Dr. Rouleau’s journey brought him to University of the Pacific, where he furthered his studies. While in residency, he worked with a pediatric group in the city, and it was during this time that Dr. Arthur Dugoni hired him to join his practice. This encounter led to Dr. Rouleau meeting his future wife, Mary Dugoni, who was working as the office manager at the time.
After completing his orthodontic residency in 1982, Dr. Rouleau worked as an associate under both Dr. Harry Hatasaka and Dr. Arthur Dugoni. Despite his initial plans to return to the East Coast, he chose to stay in the Mid-Peninsula, eventually purchasing his own practice. In 1993, he relocated his office to Mountain View, where he continued to work until 2013 when his son, Dr. Aaron Rouleau
(also a graduate of the University of the Pacific’s orthodontic residency program) took over the practice.
Throughout his career, Dr. Rouleau remained committed to giving back, a value instilled in him by Dr. Arthur Dugoni. Knowing that teaching was something he had always wanted to pursue, he hired an associate to manage his practice on Wednesdays, allowing him to join the faculty at the Dugoni School of Dentistry. He initially took over the typodont course, working alongside Dr. Ken Shimizu in the early 1990s, before transitioning to a clinical faculty role in 2010. Dr. Rouleau continued to teach until his retirement in 2023.
ROULEAU (CONT.)
Younger Next Year: A Guide to Living Like 50 Until You’re 80 and Beyond, Dr. Rouleau is committed to maintaining a healthy lifestyle with the goal of becoming a centenarian.
Dr. Rouleau’s tenure as a faculty member has been nothing short of inspiring, leaving a lasting impact on countless generations of residents. His dedication to teaching and his commitment to the field of orthodontics have shaped the careers of so many within the Dugoni School family. As he embarks on this next chapter, we extend our deepest gratitude for the countless years he has devoted to developing and mentoring the next generation
Dr. Rouleau and his wife Mary are proud parents of four children—Sean, Aaron, Nic, and Lizzie—and are blessed with seven grandchildren. As he embarks on this new chapter of his life, Dr. Rouleau looks forward to traveling, spending more time with his family, and attending his grandchildren’s sporting events. Outside of family time, he enjoys biking, golfing, and gardening. Inspired by the book
of orthodontists. We wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement and look forward to seeing him continue to inspire in new ways.
ALUMNI CORNER
Dr. Arif Alvi (’84)
A photograph of my family, which includes all our children, their spouses and our ten grandchildren— six dentists in total! As my father was also a dentist, Awab’s son will be a fourth-generation dentist.
My eight years after graduation from UOP were spent acquiring ABO certification; one of which included my briefcase that included original X-rays of my ten patients being stolen as soon as I landed at NYU. With no duplicates, I could not take the exam that year, but cleared it in the subsequent year.
In the six years between 2007-2013, I got elected as president of the Pakistan Dental Association, became founding president of the Pakistan Orthodontic Association, and served as president of the FDI World Dental Federation. Then, in 2013 and 2018, I was elected a member of parliament.
Our eldest, Awab, became an orthodontist from SLU (Missouri) and has three children; his eldest son is in his third year of dental school. Our three daughters, Naima, Marhama, and Radhia, are all dentists. Naima has two children and practices in Dubai, Marhama has two children and runs two practices in Boston, and Radhia has three children and practices in Riyadh.
I became the 13th President of Pakistan in 2018 and retired in 2024. Besides huge presidential responsibilities, I worked in education (including AI and IT), healthcare and poverty alleviation. As president, I heard thousands of appeals against various governmental decisions that came through the
DR. ARIF ALVI (CONT.)
ombudsman system, especially for women and minorities. During my tenure, because of fair and quick decisions within 60 days, the cases jumped fourfold.
As First Lady, Samina became famous for four notable programs that she started:
1. Breast cancer awareness and early diagnosis (more than 100k women were dying because of late diagnoses)
2. Inclusiveness of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in education, skill training, employment, societal awareness, and empathy
3. Mental health awareness, which included how to distribute mental health toolkits that she developed for every household
4. Women’s empowerment
Since my dental school days, I have always been involved in and passionate about politics. I was even shot during a protest and still carry two bullets in my arm. However, dentistry remains my passion and was my livelihood. Thus, I have resumed my practice in both orthodontics (mostly teaching and guiding residents) and my original specialty of prosthodontics & implants (U of Mich ’75).
Awab and I have three practices with about 30 chairs in total. We have a four-year orthodontic fellowship residency program, in which residents are given monthly stipends and pass an exam to join. The first orthodontist of Pakistan came out of our residency program and today, she heads the orthodontic side of the College of Physicians & Surgeons, which controls all Pakistani fellowship programs. James P. Stenger (a fellow ’84 UOP graduate) was her external examiner during her orthodontic candidacy. Thad Champlin (’84) has also visited me in Pakistan.
Awab stays current with cutting-edge technology in digital dentistry and orthodontics, which includes aligners, etc. He teaches fellows throughout Pakistan. I would like to make a request to all UOP graduates who have the time to do so to join us in online Zoom interactions and in the training of our residents. We would appreciate whatever time, lectures and mentoring you can spare. A big inspiration in my life was Arthur Dugoni who instilled in me the fire to return as much as possible to our profession and society. Most people are unaware of the satisfaction and happiness that are gained when you give.
Samina continues her welfare work in the four areas mentioned above. She devotes all of her time and money to fulfill her passion.
Yours Sincerely,
Dr. Arif Alvi 13th President of the Islamic Republic
