The UCSF School of Dentistry Class of 2023 capped off their dental school journey at a joyous commencement ceremony on June 12.
One-by-one, the graduates crossed the stage with bright smiles as their lilac hoods were placed by distinguished faculty representatives. Their accomplishments were met with loud cheers from the hundreds of people in attendance and a flurry of positive comments and emojis from virtual viewers on Youtube.
Michael Reddy, DMD, DMSc, school dean, served as the master of ceremony and began by recognizing the graduates’ many accomplishments as well as the families, friends, faculty and staff who supported them along the way.
"You have completed a major, personal milestone and educational achievement during unprecedented disruptions in health care worldwide, and from this point on, you are in recovery," he said in his opening remarks. "It has been our privilege to see you develop knowledge and to help set you on your way."
Reddy then introduced the School of Dentistry's special guests for the ceremony that included: Dr. Sam Hawgood, chancellor, UC San Francisco; Dr. Ana López-Fuentes, keynote speaker and professor and former dean of the University of Puerto Rico; and Dr. Mark Kirkland, professor and chair of the Department of Preventative and Restorative Dental Sciences who served as the ceremony’s grand marshal.
Dr. Ana Lopez-Fuentes delivers keynote speechIn her keynote speech, Dr. López-Fuentes spoke about the Class of 2023's experience in training as health care professionals amidst a global pandemic. "Your class, at the very beginning of your training as healthcare professionals, faced one of the biggest health crises in our history, and you faced it together with courage and grace. That makes your celebration today even more remarkable than usual," she said.
She also called upon the graduates to advocate for underserved populations. “We must remember that all people – regardless of socioeconomic status, gender identity, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, religious belief, immigration status, or other social or legal
construct --- deserve to benefit from the new technologies and treatments
that will help define healthcare in the 21st Century,” said Dr. López-Fuentes.
The 10th woman and first Puerto Rican to chair the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Board of Directors, Dr. López-Fuentes also encouraged graduates to reach for their dreams, embrace opportunities and learn from mistakes.
"It is such an honor to be here with you as your Commencement speaker (even with English as my second language)! None of my life experiences were carefully planned or thought out. It is the result of accepting challenges and opportunities as they were available and after lots of volunteerism and hard work," she said.
Dr. Natalia Acosta delivers student addressThe keynote speech was followed by an address from student speaker Dr. Natalia Acosta. She challenged her class to continue to use their education to make a difference, no matter the field they pursue after graduation. "Your education has prepared you to be a leader in your field, and I know that each and every one of you has the potential to make a positive impact on the world.," she said.
Before conferring the degrees of Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) and Doctor of Philosophy in Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, UCSF Chancellor Sam Hawgood spoke of the importance of oral health in overall health and how it an exciting time to be a part of the dentistry profession. Dr. Hawgood thanked each graduate “for your passion, your spirit and your hard work, all of which make up the very fabric of UCSF.”
In total, 107 students received their DDS degree and two students, Dr. Erin Malone and Dr. Annie Nguyen, also received a PhD degree. The virtual program acknowledges each graduate and includes their post-graduation plans which include residencies, private practice, community dentistry and military service.
