For the first time in three years, UCSF School of Dentistry held an in-person commencement ceremony to honor the class of 2022 for earning their DDS and DDS/PhD degrees. The June 6 ceremony at Herbst Theatre in San Francisco kept a traditional feel as 115 graduates received their degrees in front of family, friends and distinguished guests.
Resilience, diversity and the evolving practice of dentistry were strong themes throughout the ceremony, with speakers commending the graduates’ perseverance and challenging them to move the field forward as future leaders.
Drs. Austin Lucena, Marvin Chen, Theresa Bui, Kristina Cortez, Greg Pavlos and Lori Martinez posing for a selfie before commencement.Michael Reddy, DMD, DMSc, school dean, served as MC and acknowledged the graduates’ many accomplishments including challenging a new licensure examination, pushing efforts in diversity and making UCSF a stronger community. He advised the graduates to never forget the family and friends who helped them, in addition to their academic home and UCSF Dentistry family.
Dr. Hanna Kim being hooded at commencement. He reflected on graduation as a time of change and transition. “Embrace change, grab opportunities with gusto – and do it today – and eventually everything else will fall into place.”
Dr. Karen West, DMD, MPH, president and CEO of the American Dental Education Association, giving her keynote address.There was a strong showing of support from the school’s distinguished faculty who played a pivotal role in developing the graduates into skilled clinicians with a deep grounding in science.
"These individuals – through their passion and dedication to educating generations of oral health professionals – have done much to improve the health of the citizens of our state and nation," Dr. Reddy said, acknowledging the dentistry faculty.
In her keynote speech, Dr. Karen West, DMD, MPH, president and CEO of the American Dental Education Association, said the class experienced challenging times during the pandemic, adapting to social distancing, virtual learning, and the profession of dentistry changing.
“Dentistry has always been an evolving science and practice, but the changes in the last few years have been extraordinary — and they’re not over. As a result, you — as the future leaders of our profession — have a tremendous responsibility in front of you,” said Dr. West.
She confirmed that the class was the right group to lead dentistry into the future. She said the class has the digital skills needed for the evolving profession and its emerging use of teledentistry. The class also has studied amid a diverse group of peers at a time when health educators understand the value of diversity for better patient care, she said.
Dr. West lastly encouraged the class to broaden their reach by serving the community through mentoring, contributing to research, or being a leader in their communities and lives.
Dr. Bianca Angela Miguel, who gave the student address, said she gravitated to UCSF for its diversity and supportive culture. Her classmates are the epitome of a melting pot, she said, with each person bringing their unique strengths and experiences to UCSF. She reflected on how the class has undergone so much together the past few years, navigating the COVID world, while managing the obstacles and challenges of dental school. She also thanked the mentors, friends, partners and families of the graduates for their love and support.
Chancellor Sam Hawgood was in attendance to address the graduates and confer upon them the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery or Doctor of Philosophy, or in the case of one graduate, both degrees. Dr. Hawgood said it was an exciting time to enter the dentistry profession because of the integration of oral health with overall health.
