We spoke to seven alumni and two DMD students about why they chose dentistry.
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Boston University Henry M. Goldman
School of Dental Medicine
85 East Newton Street, 10th floor
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A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN
If you ask any GSDM alum why they went into dentistry, they’ll have a story to share. They might tell you about the dentist they had as a child, who treated them with empathy and compassion, or about the family member who was a dentist. They might tell you about the moment they realized that dentistry would allow them to make a difference in patients’ health and in the way they perceived themselves.
In this issue’s cover story, you’ll read the “whys” of nine GSDM alumni and students, reflecting the broad range of motivations that brought them into this profession. But as distinct from each other as the details of these stories may be, they share common underpinnings: the desire to help people and to improve their lives.
Among healthcare professions, dentistry is unique in the way it allows us to improve how people feel, function, and live. Restoring someone’s smile improves their health— and their confidence. Delivering preventative care protects patients' oral health—and their overall well-being. Our focus, as dentists, is not just on the specific tooth we’re treating or the procedure we’re doing; it’s on the person.
At GSDM, we pride ourselves on being at the forefront of digital innovations in dentistry and ensuring that our students are fluent in cutting-edge technologies.
At the same time, we know that what matters most is not the specific technology; it’s how we use that technology to improve the lives of our patients. It’s asking the all-important question—Have I made a difference for this person? That’s the true standard we use to measure success.
As you explore the stories in this issue, I hope you are reminded of your own “why,” and of that shared purpose that unites our community.
I hope to see you at one of the alumni receptions we hold throughout the year! And if you find yourself in Boston, please come visit us.
Sincerely,
Cataldo W. Leone DMD, DMedSc, FACD, FICD Dean and Spencer N. Frankl Professor in Dental Medicine
UNCOVERING THE
Nine Oral Healthcare Professionals Share Defining Dental Moments
BY RACHEL PHILIPSON
THE “WHYS” BEHIND A CAREER IN DENTISTRY ARE AS UNIQUE AS THE INDIVIDUALS WHO PURSUE
IT, yet all GSDM alumni and current students share two life-changing decisions: becoming dentists and selecting GSDM as their dental education home.
We spoke to seven alumni and two DMD students about why they chose dentistry and how GSDM validated their decisions.
Here’s what
they had to say.
Arif Mamdani DMD 14 PEDO 16
Mamdani was no stranger to the dental chair as a child, needing both routine and restorative procedures.
“What stood out the most wasn't just the care I received, but the way my dentist made each visit comfortable, positive, and truly very enjoyable,” Mamdani said.
His experience seeded the idea of becoming a healthcare professional at a young age, and he picked dentistry as it combined science, artistry, and the ability to work with children.
During his time at GSDM, he said his pediatric dental residency solidified for him how dentists must be empathetic to their patients—something he relates to firsthand.
“Working with a diverse group of patients, I saw firsthand how dentistry extends far beyond the technical,” Mamdani said. “It's about compassion, trust, and communication.”
Mamdani said helping children overcome their fears of the dentist is the most rewarding part of his career.
“From being a child in the pediatric dental chair to becoming a pediatric dentist myself, I feel very grateful to carry forward the same compassion and care that inspired me,” Mamdani said.
I CHOSE DENTISTRY BECAUSE... I WANTED TO CREATE MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH PATIENTS.
Divya Mudumba DMD 20
“Her compassion and skill left a lasting impression and inspired me to follow in her footsteps,” Mudumba said. “That experience continues to shape how I care for patients, with sensitivity to their fears and anxieties.”
During her DMD Advanced Standing program at GSDM, Mudumba said
she appreciated working with fellow internationally trained dentists, whose diverse prior experiences created a rich learning environment. Mudumba said she would not be the dentist she is today without her GSDM education.
“GSDM’s focus on digital dentistry and its approachable, experienced faculty inspired me and
Mudumba grew up in a military family in India, often moving to remote areas where she did not have access to high quality dental care. So, after a string of painful dental experiences, she was surprised to discover that a visit to the dentist didn't have to be excruciating when one dentist extracted a baby tooth without any discomfort. I CHOSE DENTISTRY
shaped how I practice today,” Mudumba said.
Nowadays, Mudumba said she loves helping patients overcome anxiety and build trust.
“Dentistry allows me to blend science, artistry, and technology to restore not just oral health, but also confidence,” Mudumba said
I CHOSE DENTISTRY BECAUSE... I WANTED TO TRANSFORM FEARFUL EXPERIENCES INTO POSITIVE ONES.
Robert J. Miller DMD 84 PERIO 86
Miller originally wanted to work in medicine, so the summer after his freshman year of college, he got a job working in an emergency room. After seeing a child horribly injured, Miller quickly realized medicine was not the right path for him.
His family suggested he pivot to dentistry. The following summer, Miller worked at North Shore Hospital in Long Island, New York alongside dentists from a variety of specialties. It was a life-changing experience for Miller—and confirmed his decision to pursue dentistry.
“I saw a real cross section of what dentists do from
general dentistry to oral surgery,” Miller said. “I saw periodontal surgery and said, ‘This is what I want to do.’”
Coming to GSDM was an easy decision, Miller said. He was in awe of the supportive community at GSDM and never once questioned his decision to become a Terrier. He went on to specialize in
periodontology because he wanted to work on sophisticated, complex cases.
“I like [dentistry] because you really feel like you're improving people's lives, not just from a health standpoint, but in how they perceive themselves,” Miller said. “When you look at somebody's smile, it's [their] signature.”
Matt Lim CAMED 22 DMD 26
Lim used to delay dental treatment or settle for temporary fixes because he couldn’t afford other options. Cutting corners on his dental health caught up to him when he lost his two upper premolars in the middle of his dental education.
“I have seen and experienced myself what it is like to delay treatment or settle for temporary fixes because life circumstances have made it hard to afford anything more,” Lim said. “I do not just see dentistry as a profession about fillings and crowns. I see it as a way to give people options and dignity, even when the odds or finances are stacked against them.”
He said it was eye-opening seeing how quickly teeth can decay past the point of no return.
“Sitting in the chair, I felt the frustration of being on the patient side and saw how easily small problems can turn into bigger ones,” said Lim, who is now in his final year at GSDM.
Lim’s experience losing these teeth made him realize he wanted to be a provider who was able
I CHOSE DENTISTRY BECAUSE... IT GIVES ME A PURPOSE.
to give his patients options. At GSDM, he is learning how to create thoughtful treatment plans that can restore teeth, instead of extracting them.
“In a way, GSDM taught me twice, once as a patient and once as a provider, and both sides confirmed that I chose the right path,” Lim said.
Rich Konys DMD 84 OMFS 88
Konys' parents were both healthcare professionals—but they were still terrified of the dentist. As a result, Konys did not receive proper dental care until he was 10 years old, leading to a need for extensive dental work.
“My first dentist was a wonderful, Europeantrained dentist who was up on the latest techniques, like topical anesthesia,” Konys said. “He became a role model and mentor to my brother, [who] also [became] a dentist, and myself.”
Konys majored in fine arts during his undergraduate program but pivoted to dentistry to combine his love of art and helping others. He said he chose GSDM because of its small class size (40 students at the time) and the direct interaction with talented instructors.
“Looking back, I realize that I would never have had the success that I have been blessed with if I had not attended GSDM,” Konys said. "As far as a defining moment to become a dentist goes, I had already known that dentistry was my
calling. Being around the folks at GSDM simply reinforced my decision.”
He said he hopes he can make going to the dentist less overwhelming—just like his original dentist did for him.
“What we do can be scary,” Konys said. “I like to have fun with my patients and make sure they have a positive experience. The reward is when they tell me how easy it was.”
I CHOSE DENTISTRY BECAUSE...
AN ART.
I CHOSE DENTISTRY BECAUSE... IT FITS MY DIVERSE SKILLSET PERFECTLY.
Stephen Coppola DMD 16
After Coppola graduated with a degree in management information systems, he spent his early career job hunting, struggling to find the right fit. It wasn’t until he landed a role as an office manager at Aspen Dental in his mid-20s that he discovered an unexpected interest in dentistry.
“I took the job and dentistry immediately fascinated me,” Coppola said. “The idea of being a dentist just made perfect sense.”
At GSDM, he found the experience of going back to school a rewarding venture—a first in his educational journey.
“The preparedness of GSDM was something
Elinah Phillip DMD 28
that stands out to me,” Coppola said. “The 10-week externship was unbelievably helpful. I went from feeling like a student to feeling like I could go and actually work in a dental office.”
Despite not having the traditional path to dentistry, Coppola found his prior experience with managing staff and
Since her early childhood, Phillip was a swimmer, ultimately competing internationally during her teenage years. However, extensive exposure to improperly balanced chlorine levels caused major dental issues. Her life changed in 2015 when a dentist was able to diagnose and treat her. This dentist’s treatment plan restored her confidence and left her determined to become a dentist.
“[That] appointment helped me understand how a skilled and compassionate dentist could transform a patient’s outlook not just on their oral health, but on their confidence and relationship with healthcare itself,” Phillip said. “I realized then that dentistry could change people’s health and identity in profound, practical ways.”
Phillip, who is in her second year at GSDM, said every
clinical and lab experience she has participated in so far has confirmed that she made the right career choice.
“I’ve gained exposure and witnessed the incredible transformations possible in oral health", Phillip said.
“Those repeated, tangible transformations have turned one defining moment in 2015 into a clear career purpose.”
She said her favorite aspect
of dentistry is witnessing the immediate relief or the visible confidence boost that a patient experiences after a successful treatment plan.
“By repairing teeth, we often restore someone’s ability to speak, smile, and participate fully in life,” Phillip said. “Those moments of visible transformation and restored confidence remind me why this profession is so special.”
processing insurance helped him open his own practice just one year after graduation.
“Even if you don't know your path, what you're doing now might have a huge impact on what you do later, even if it's something different,” Coppola said.
I CHOSE DENTISTRY BECAUSE... I WANT TO RESTORE MY PATIENTS’ HEALTH, CONFIDENCE, AND DIGNITY.
Mary Jo Ann LeClaire MPH 92
Growing up in the Philippines, LeClaire had little access to oral health resources and would often go to bed crying due to toothaches. But she was deathly afraid of the dentist so she tried to downplay her pain.
Soon after moving to the U.S. at age nine, LeClaire saw a dentist, who found and filled nine cavities. The practice’s hygienist also taught her basic oral hygiene skills, and she hasn’t had an issue since. LeClaire said it was then that she realized the need to educate the public about oral hygiene practices.
“I chose dentistry because of the impact that I can
make on someone else's lives, especially now that we're finding links between oral health and overall health,” LeClaire said. “We can really make a difference in their life. I love seeing someone smile and know that I'm part of the reason why they have that beautiful smile.”
LeClaire said she is equally passionate about expanding access to
preventive dental care, especially for patients with disabilities and patients living in rural areas. Nowadays, she is teaching the next generation of dental hygienists how they can help continue this mission.
“I can make a difference in someone else's lives [and] prevent them from going through any toothache just like I did,” LeClaire said.
I CHOSE DENTISTRY BECAUSE...I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
I CHOSE DENTISTRY BECAUSE... IT'S A LIFELONG DREAM.
Heidi Borenstein DMD 17
As a child, Borenstein adored her pediatric dentist. While some pediatric patients would have been anxious about getting extensive dental work, she was intrigued to see what her dentist was going to do during the procedure. She was completely intrigued during her pulpotomy—leading to her becoming hooked on the idea of becoming a dentist herself.
“Every dental visit I had during my formative years contributed to my unwavering goal,” Borenstein said.
To her surprise, Borenstein did not feel an immediate connection to the handson aspect of dentistry when she started her DMD program at GSDM. However, it was the people at GSDM who reaffirmed to her that she was on
the correct professional path. She persevered, knowing she would find a specialty that spoke to her.
She said she “chose” orthodontics and was thankful that orthodontics “chose” her back. Borenstein said she considers herself lucky to be one of approximately 950 orthodontists in Canada.
“I count my experience at GSDM as my favorite academic experience, and some of the best years of my life thus far,” Borenstein said. “Despite not feeling an immediate connection to dentistry, I certainly felt immediately connected to the family feel of the institution and knew that I was in the right place.”
Getting to Know Alumni Association President Frank Schiano
CAS 01 DMD 06 AEGD 07 ORTHO 19
SCHIANO’S UNWAVERING DEVOTION TO BOSTON UNIVERSITY BEGAN IN 1998 WHEN HE MATRICULATED AS AN UNDERGRADUATE AT THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. NEARLY 30 YEARS LATER, HE IS STARTING HIS MOST RECENT COMMITMENT TO BOSTON UNIVERSITY AS GSDM ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT.
Why has he remained so devoted to Boston University? The answer is simple: the supportive community.
“I fell in love with the diversity and energy of Boston and the people,” Schiano said. “Deciding to go to GSDM for my dental education was an easy choice. I wanted to continue to benefit from the amazing opportunities that Boston University has.”
Schiano is driven to help communities in need. Schiano’s work experience ranges from being the dental director at Fenway Community Health, a community health center in Boston that provides comprehensive care with a focus on LGBTQ+ individuals, to volunteering as a team leader for Project STRETCH, a non-profit organization providing preventative dental services.
Schiano was a co-founder and chief clinical officer for Beacon Dental Health, a New England-based dental service organization. He also worked at GSDM for eight years as a clinical assistant professor in the Department of General Dentistry.
“I thought I would have a voice that would reach a lot of people,” Schiano said. “It's an honor to have been selected, but the reason why I wanted to be president is not for my own personal achievement but rather to continue helping my fellow alumni.”
One of Schiano's goals as president is to make GSDM alumni a valuable resource for mentorship. He has already collaborated with Zhiqiang 'Chuck' Huang DMD 08 to launch a new mentorship committee, which Huang now chairs.
“It's about letting the alumni know that when they leave GSDM, they're not just a list of names,” Schiano said. “They are joining a nurturing network that can offer invaluable insights, expertise, and guidance throughout their career.”
Alumni Association Letter
Dear Fellow Alumni,
I remember writing in my sixth-grade yearbook that I wanted to be an orthodontist. While most of my friends were planning to become famous actors or astronauts or professional athletes, I was committed to dentistry, and I never deviated from that goal. I loaded up on math and science AP courses in high school and transferred to Boston University as a sophomore with the goal of becoming a dentist as quickly as possible!
Within days of starting my DMD program, I knew that I had made the right choice—and that GSDM was the right place to achieve my nearly life-long professional goals. So I put my head down, and worked as hard as I could—and I never stopped.
In this issue of Impressions, you’ll hear from alumni and current students about their “why”—why they chose to become dentists and what led them to GSDM. While everyone’s story is unique, many of us are driven by the desire to help our patients and to transform not only their smiles, but their lives.
To me, this overlap in our core values speaks volumes about GSDM and the type of individual it attracts. I feel incredibly lucky to have received my dental education from such an institution—and am honored to have the privilege of serving as your Alumni Association president over the next two years. I look forward to interacting with as many of you as possible and learning more about your “why.”
I hope to see you all at a GSDM alumni event soon— and if you’re ever in Boston, I encourage you to pay the school a visit and to see in person the amazing work that continues to unfold there.
Sincerely,
Frank Schiano CAS 01 DMD 06 AEGD 07 ORTHO 19
GSDM Alumni Association President
NEW ALUMNI BOARD MEMBERS
SANDRA MORIN
DMD 89 PERIO 91
Dr. Sandra Morin completed her undergraduate degree in biology and chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She received both a DMD and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Periodontology from Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. She currently practices and is an associate clinical professor in the Department of Periodontology. She enjoys teaching and has received faculty awards.
SONIA NAGI
DMD 21
Dr. Sonia Nagi has a Bachelor of Dental Surgery from an institution in India and a Doctor of Dental Medicine from Boston University
Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. In addition to her formal education, Nagi holds a certificate in Invisalign, a qualified dentist designation from the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, and has completed extensive training in general dentistry, including extractions with bone grafts and socket preservation. One of Nagi’s specialties is the therapeutic use of Botox for TMJ clenching and migraine relief.
ALUMNI BOARD LISTING
Frank Schiano CAS 01 DMD 06 AEGD 07 ORTHO 19 President
Dennis Jodoin DMD 95 PERIO 98 President-Elect
Hongsheng Liu DMD 10 ENDO 12
Immediate Past President
D. Cameron Braasch DMD 09
Debbie Eisen CAS 84 DMD 88
Zhiqiang Huang DMD 08
Ana Keohane DMD 16
Mira Khouzam DMD 16
Sandip Ladani DMD 16
James Lee CAS 09 CAMED 10 DMD 14
Sandra Morin DMD 89 PERIO 91
Sonia Nagi DMD 21
Nikita Naumowicz DMD 21
Gary Nord DMD 10
Sepideh Novid DMD 04 AEGD 05
Khamir Patel DMD 14
Kady Rawal AEGD 10 DPH 18
Tadeu Szpoganicz DMD 11
Hitesh Vij DMD 20
Prosthodontics Dinner
JUNE 2025 | BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
CAPTIONS LIST INDIVIDUALS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.
1. Zhimon Jacobson PROS 80 DMD 86, Harry Strating PROS 79 DMD 89, Celeste Kong PROS 84 DMD 87, Antonio Rodrigues PROS 86, Maria Pilar Sanchez-Papadopoulos PROS 85, Gustavo Perdomo PROS 85 DMD 99, Luis Del Castillo, Maria del Pilar Rios Calvo PROS 93
4. Konstantinos Michalakis (chair), Gordon Christensen (guest speaker), John Ictech Cassis PROS 86 DMD 88
5. Shailaja Thaker PEDO 12, Steven Shapiro AEGD 08, Nikta Marvdashti AEGD 08, John Ictech Cassis PROS 86 DMD 88, Muhenad Samaan DMD 07 AEGD 08
Boston University Alumni Weekend
SEPTEMBER 2025 | BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
1. Afsheen Lakhani DMD 06 AEGD 07, Jennifer Kim AEGD 07 ENDO 14, Amerlie Yi DMD 10, Mayumi Onoe-Miyamoto AEGD 01 PROS 05, Louay Abrass DMD 98
2. Mark Raider DMD 05, Delaney Acosta DMD 05, Amelia Grabe DMD 05, Candida Castillo DMD 05 AEGD 06, Carl McManama, Saba Abernathy DMD 05, Carlos Gurreonero DMD 05, Srismitha Modem DMD 05
3. Members of the Class of 2010 celebrating their 15th reunion
4. Martha Dulong and Dean Cataldo Leone with "Golden Terriers" Stephen Dulong CAS 72 DMD 75 PROS 78 and Robert Mandell DMD 75
Boston University Alumni Weekend
CAPTIONS LIST INDIVIDUALS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.
5. Amir Mahoozi DMD 96 AEGD 97 PERIO 00, John Ictech Cassis PROS 86 DMD 88, and Ester Canton AEGD 93 PROS 95
6. Amerlie Yi DMD 10, Robin Yamaguma DMD 10, Jonathan Shinay DMD 10 AEGD 11, Apeksha Pole DMD 10, Brandon Johnson DMD 10, Ahmed Al-Zalzalah DMD 10, Jason Joseph DMD 10, Gary Nord DMD 10
7. Members of the Class of 2005 celebrating their 20th reunion
8. Carl McManama, Ty Eriks DMD 11, Courtney Brady DMD 11, Leticia Klos DMD 23
9. Frank Schiano CAS 01 DMD 06 AEGD 07 ORTHO 19, Hongsheng Liu DMD 10 ENDO 12, Dean Cataldo Leone
John Ictech-Cassis PROS 86 DMD 88 was presented with the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Awards during the GSDM Alumni Weekend reception.
Doug Schildhaus DMD 91 PEDO 93 also received a 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award, but was unable to attend Alumni Weekend; he will be presented with his award at the 2026 event.
Ictech-Cassis started his GSDM journey in 1984. Forty-one years later, he is still here—and has no intention of leaving Boston University anytime soon.
“My nomination would not have been possible without the support of my fellow faculty and friends that have guided me throughout my journey,” said Ictech-Cassis, GSDM clinical professor of restorative sciences & biomaterials, and esthetic, digital & operative dentistry program director.
Ictech-Cassis said receiving this award is validation that he selected the right dental school and professional career.
“This nomination has not only filled me with pride but also reinforced my commitment to work for a united GSDM alumni community,” Ictech-Cassis said.
During his time at GSDM, Ictech-Cassis was also awarded the Spencer N. Frankl Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2006 and received an award for 25 years of service as program director for the Advanced Education Program in General Dentistry in 2017.
“I wouldn’t be who I am without GSDM,” Ictech-Cassis said. “I am proud to help the tradition of the good reputation of the school. I want to thank all the GSDM faculty and staff who gave me the opportunities and support that I have.”
11. Markee Weaver DMD 27, Nicole Setterington DMD 27, Madison Hubbard DMD 27, Matt Staudt CAMED 23 DMD 27, Nicholas Graziano DMD 27
12. Dr. Carl McManama and participants in his Alumni Weekend
John Ictech Cassis PROS 86 DMD 88 with Dean Cataldo Leone
Endo Alumni Association Fall Meeting
1. Wendy Penney, Kelly Penberthy, Skylar Penberthy ENDO 22, Timothy Penberthy ENDO 95, Paul Bianchi ENDO 00, Luke Harden ENDO 21, James Penney ENDO 94
5. From L to R, clockwise: Christine Kim DMD 24 PROS 27, Omnia Saleh, Setthawut Choochaisaengrat PROS 27, Bahaa Rabah PROS 28, Konstantinos Michalakis (chair), Omar Hilal PROS 27, Alwaleed Aleisa PROS 27, Sahaprom Namano PROS 27
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Dr. Fahad Al-Harbi
DR. FAHAD AL-HARBI PROS 00 01 05 HAS ALREADY
HAD AN EXPANSIVE CAREER AS A DENTIST, EDUCATOR, AND ADMINISTRATOR—BUT NOTHING CAN TOP HIS
NEWEST ROLE: PRESIDENT OF IMAM ABDULRAHMAN
BIN FAISAL UNIVERSITY (IAU) IN SAUDI ARABIA .
By Rachel Philipson
Al-Harbi, who was named president in September 2025, said he is aiming to strengthen partnerships with local and international institutions, expand interdisciplinary research, and foster a culture of innovation.
“When I was appointed president of the IAU, I felt a strong feeling of responsibility and dignity,” Al-Harbi said. “It was both humbling and inspiring to be given the responsibility of running such a large and influential organization.”
Al-Harbi has been in leadership roles at IAU since 2009, including serving as dean of the College of Dentistry for a decade. In this role, he led the college to its first undergraduate academic accreditation, inaugurated postgraduate programs, and established a dental hospital with 350 dental clinics. More recently, Al-Harbi later took the positions of vice president for scientific research and acting IAU president.
Al-Harbi said his mentors, colleagues, and students have been instrumental in his professional success.
“Leadership is never an individual achievement— it is the product of teamwork bonded by shared vision and commitment to service,” Al-Harbi said.
While it was bittersweet to leave his role at the College of Dentistry, Al-Harbi said the college’s current academic management is prepared to maintain the ambitious standards and to implement new processes and innovations that will further elevate the college.
“ Leadership is never an individual achievement— it is the product of teamwork bonded by shared vision and commitment to service.”
“The College of Dentistry has always held a special place in my heart, and I take great pride in all that we have accomplished together,” Al-Harbi said.
“Transitioning to lead the university as a whole allowed me to build on those experiences, applying them across a broader spectrum of disciplines, students, and communities. It was a natural yet challenging progression—one that has been incredibly rewarding.”
Al-Harbi said his time at GSDM taught him empathetic leadership, critical thinking skills, and an innovative mindset. He said these lessons have been essential in his career, as has the support of fellow GSDM alumni.
“GSDM gave me more than a degree—it gave me a mentality,” Al-Harbi said. “The GSDM alumni community remains strong and resilient, despite the distances and the demands of our careers and personal lives. Fortunately, technology has made it much easier to stay connected—enabling us to exchange knowledge, collaborate on projects or research across continents, and maintain meaningful professional relationships which lead to years of friendship too.”
CLASS NOTES
ALI SALEHPOUR DMD 06
ENDO 10 received the Seymour Melnick Award from the Department of Endodontics on May 15, 2025.
IMAN ZARRINKOUB DMD 25 and LIAM SHIELDS DMD 25 completed the Officer Development Training Program for the U.S. Navy in Newport, Rhode Island. Pictured with JOSEPH CALABRESE DMD 91 AEGD 92, associate dean of students, and MICHELE CALABRESE SSW 93.
NICHOLAS GORDON AEGD 10 DPH 18 was pinned as a newly minted diplomate of the American Board of Dental Public Health at the National Oral Health Conference in Orlando, Florida, in April 2025.
NAILA LADHA DMD 08
AEGD 09 and her partner Alana Rose welcomed Zayn Levi Ladha-Rose on May 28, 2025
Fifteen GSDM alumni and/or faculty were inducted into the American College of Dentists in October 2025:
• MUHAMMAD ALI SHAZIB DMD 14
• SAMI CHOGLE (FACULTY)
• SHADI DAHER DMD 90 OMFS 94
• LEA EL HACHEM PERIO 14
• KRISTI ERICKSON DMD 04
• RUSSELL GIORDANO (FACULTY)
• DEEBA KASHTWARI (FACULTY)
• AUSTIN LEE AEGD 16
• SARAH LENNAN MASTERSON ENDO 09
• IQBAL PETKER DMD 94
• SEAN RAYMENT DMD 97 ORAL BIO 00
• ABIDIN HAKAM TUNCER (FACULTY)
• JOHN WACHTEL ORTHO 98
• ERIC WEINBERG DMD 14
• CATHERINE SARKIS CAS 88 QUESTROM 91 LAW 94 (HONORARY FELLOWSHIP)
WALLACE BELLAMY DMD 89 was elected to a one-year term as president of the National Dental Association, effective January 1, 2026.
DR. NEHA AINPUDI ENDO 25 married Rahul Ravipati on March 1, 2025, in Orlando, Florida.
DENNIS JODOIN DMD 95 PERIO 98 was elected to the Boston University Alumni Council (BUAC). He has been a member of the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine Alumni Association Board since 2022, and is looking forward to bringing this expertise to the BUAC.
JORDAN MIDDLETON
OMFS 27 and Olivia Watrous exchanged vows in a heartfelt ceremony officiated by Jordan’s brother and fellow resident JUSTIN
MIDDLETON DMD 21 CAMED 24 OMFS 27 on August 2, 2025.
Six GSDM alumni were inducted into Academy of Dental Sciences on November 12, 2025:
• MICHELLE HENSHAW SPH 96 DPH 07
• BING LIU ORAL BIO 99 DMD 03
• RAMZI SARKIS AEGD 96 DMD 02 ENDO 05
• DHAWANI UPADHYAY DMD 12
• PAUL FUGAZZOTTO PERIO 81
• CAROLINA MUJICA AEGD 01 DMD 05
KENNETH PHAM CAS 17 CAMED 25 OMFS 28 and Tina Vu were joyfully united in marriage at Immaculate Conception Parish in Lowell, Massachusetts, on August 26, 2025.
NAHEED DAYA DMD 08 is the proud new owner of Hawks Ridge Dental in Edmonton, AB, along with Dr. Azra Lalani.
CELESTE KONG PROS 84 DMD 87 received the American College of Dentists Section Newsletter Award as Editor of the New England Section.
MCCALLISTER CASTELEZ DMD 17
received the Warren LeMay Oral Health Champion award from The Wisconsin Oral Health Coalition award in September. Dr. Castelaz is a WDA member and served as state co-chair for the 2025 Mission of Mercy.
Ten GSDM alumni and/or faculty were inducted into the International College of Dentists in September 2025:
• ARIFA BAKERYWALA DMD 18
• JOBREN DINGLE DMD 17
• MARGARET ERRANTE (FACULTY)
• LAURIE FLEISHER DMD 81 ENDO 83
• RUSSELL GIORDANO (FACULTY)
• MARK HARTZLER DMD 12
• PEIXI LIAO PROS 18
• SARA SHEIKH DMD 14
• MARCELO SUZUKI (FACULTY)
• TADROS TADROS ENDO 17
ANA KEOHANE DMD 16 completed the Hispanic Dental Association Community Leadership fellowship program in September 2025.
DR. BRENO REBOUCAS ORAL BIO 07
PEDO 12 was selected to serve as an examiner at the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry oral clinical examination in September.
Three GSDM alumni—DR. KUSHAL JAJU PROS 15, DR. CHAYANIT “SAI” ANGKANANUWAT PROS 23, and DR. RAWAN ALLANQAWI PROS 24 have attained the status of diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics, and are now board-certified prosthodontists.
PUSHKA MEHRA DMD 95 OMFS 99 was appointed to a two-year term as president of the American Society of TMJ Surgeons.
DID YOU GET MARRIED? HAVE A BABY? ACCOMPLISH A LIFE GOAL?
We’d love to hear your news! Email your updates (and any address changes) to Stacey McNamee at smcnamee@bu.edu.
INAUGURAL RECIPIENT OF SHENKIN AWARD NAMED
Dr. Ashwini Ranade, clinical associate professor of health policy & health services research, was named the inaugural recipient of an award from the Dr. Jonathan D. Shenkin, DDS, MPH Research Fund.
The late Dr. Jonathan D. Shenkin, GSDM clinical professor of health policy & health services research and pediatric dentistry, was a leading practitioner, researcher, and advocate in pediatric dentistry and public health policy.
The research fund was established by Dr. Shenkin’s brother, Todd Shenkin (pictured above left with Dr. Ranade), in 2023 to support GSDM faculty, students, and residents in pursuing research, with a preference for research relating to health policy, health services, or pediatric dentistry.
Todd Shenkin said Ranade’s research spans all three of the concentrations on which his brother focused, making her selection by GSDM an excellent choice for the fund’s first award.
“This is exactly the type of research my brother would’ve championed or been involved in,” Todd Shenkin said. "In fact, I can envision him collaborating with Dr. Ranade on this important subject.”
Ranade’s research project will investigate the association between dental provider accessibility and the use of preventive dental services among children enrolled in Medicaid in Massachusetts. By focusing exclusively on Medicaid enrollees, the study controls for dental insurance as a potential barrier to care, allowing researchers to conduct a broader inquiry to determine other gaps that may exist.
“Access to care is a complex issue. It’s not just about insurance. It’s not just about your providers need," Ranade said. "It’s not just about patient characteristics. It’s everything coming together that creates these gaps.”
The project was accepted for a poster presentation at the 2026 IADR/AADOCR/CADR General Session & Exhibition.
ON CAMPUS: HIGHLIGHTS
As of this academic year, students in the Simulation Learning Center (SLC) will use reusable gowns, reducing the volume of single-use waste produced by the dental school. This change comes after a three-year-long audit initiated by the Sustainability Committee of GSDM’s American Student Dental Association (ASDA) chapter.
“The whole purpose of our committee is to try to incorporate sustainable dental practices,” said Kate Winebrake DMD 25, immediate past chair of the ASDA Sustainability Committee. “The reusable gowns are a great opportunity for students, faculty, and all the members of our community to see this happen firsthand at GSDM.”
Winebrake and Nicole Cheng DMD 26, vice chair of the ASDA Sustainability Committee, spearheaded this initiative, in partnership with Dr. Joseph Calabrese, associate dean of students, and fellow ASDA members.
To calculate PPE usage in the SLC, the ASDA Sustainability Committee started audits in November 2022, collecting data on the number of gowns, masks, and gloves used per day in the Patient Treatment Center over the course of two and a half years.
Reuseable gowns were included in the instrument kits for students in the DMD 29 and DMD AS 27 classes, and with the first-year students’ scrubs and lab coats. Students will be responsible for washing the gowns, similar to how they wash their scrubs. This cleaning process should not create significant additional water waste, according to Winebrake and Cheng.
CAMPUS: HIGHLIGHTS
GOWNS DEBUT IN SLC
GSDM PARTICIPATES IN SPECIAL OLYMPICS
More than 70 volunteers from the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM), Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, and Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences gave handson oral healthcare services in early June to athletes participating in the 2025 Special Olympics Massachusetts Summer Games.
“There’s something deeply fulfilling about coming together for a shared purpose, especially when that purpose is rooted in kindness and support,” said Thalia Iturriaga DMD 28, who volunteered at the event. “I truly believe that when we work not for recognition or reward but simply because it is the right thing to do, it brings out the best in us. It serves as a good reminder of why I chose a career in healthcare.”
Volunteers screened 65 Special Olympics athletes as part of the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes® Special Smiles program. During patient screenings, volunteers provided free dental screenings, oral hygiene instruction, mouthguard adaptation, and fluoride varnish application.
“It is truly the commitment and dedication of volunteers that make this event the success that it is every year,” Kathy Lituri MPH 03, clinical assistant professor of health policy & health services research, said. “Every role was key, and we are confident that our volunteers had a positive impact on the athletes that they engaged with throughout the process.”
Lituri and Dr. Michelle Henshaw SPH 96 DPH 07, GSDM associate dean for global & population health, were this year’s co-clinical directors. Stacey McNamee, director of alumni relations & annual giving, served as the event director.
ON CAMPUS: HIGHLIGHTS
COMMENCEMENT 2025
THE THEME OF COMMENCEMENT 2025 WAS SIMPLE, BUT POWERFUL: Appreciate the past, live in the present, and plan for fulfilling futures. More than 270 students and residents were recognized during the ceremony.
COMMENCEMENT 2025
THIS YEAR’S KEYNOTE ADDRESS WAS DELIVERED BY DR. LAWRENCE A. TABAK, former principal deputy director of the national institutes of health (NIH), deputy ethics counselor of the agency, acting NIH director, director of the national institute of dental and craniofacial research, among other affiliations.
Tabak gave the Class of 2025 three key pieces of advice that he believed all recent dental school graduates should know. He told them that they don’t have to be the smartest person in any given room—but they should always surround themselves with smart people. He also advised the graduates to take “intellectual risks” and to stay up to date on the latest biomedical findings.
“Look for ways to stretch beyond your comfort zone–carefully consider the option that potentially opens the greatest number of new doors for you,” Tabak said. “That approach may lead you to amazing, unexpected, new opportunities.” GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY
FOUR-YEAR DMD P OST-GRADUATION PLANS
52.9% Employment in Dentistry
FOUR MOST COMMON PRACTICE TYPES (IF ENTERING PRACTICE)
Private Practice 49 students
Corporate Employee 10 students
Federally Qualified Health Center 6 students
Community Health Center 6 students
FOURTEEN LANGUAGES SPOKEN OTHER THAN ENGLISH
TWO-YEAR DMD AS POST-GRADUATION PLANS
Do Not Intend To Apply To Postdoctoral Program
35.6% Postdoctoral Program 11.5% Postdoctoral Program and Part-Time Employment 63.5%
Undecided About Whether To Apply 25.0%
Intend To Apply To Postdoctoral Program 11.5%
FOUR MOST COMMON PRACTICE TYPES (IF ENTERING PRACTICE)
Private Practice 92 students
Corporate Employee 11 students
Dental School or other Academic/Research Setting 9 students
Community Health Center 2 students
Redesigning Oral Healthcare in Long-Term Care Facilities
Many residents of long-term care facilities face significant challenges managing their oral health, which can affect both their physical and mental well-being. DR. BETHY TURTON, assistant professor of general dentistry, wants to change this.
“There needs to be a rethinking of what's important for this group, what matters to them, and how that care is being delivered in these spaces,” Turton said.
Turton is a co-principal investigator with Dr. Michelle Henshaw SPH 96 DPH 07, GSDM associate dean of global & population health, on a National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research grant to examine the current state of oral health among older adults in long-term care facilities using systems thinking and participatory approaches.
Turton and Henshaw’s research has identified unrealistic expectations of oral hygiene routines, inconsistency in dental care processes, underutilization of oral health technologies, and a lack of oral health resources for long-term care facility staff.
According to Turton, effectively addressing oral healthcare issues faced by long-term care facility residents requires transitioning from a “one-sizefits-all" intervention model to a multi-faceted
approach. The hope is that the sum of these varied practical solutions will be a direct, measurable improvement in oral health, Turton said.
“We hope to be able to support long-term care facilities to make institutional changes at multiple points within their system to adjust the way that oral health is supported,” Turton said.
The goal is to improve oral health in this population, thus eliminating oral health as a contributing factor in other adverse experiences, such as dental extractions or aspiration pneumonia.
Turton said the immediate next steps are to finalize and distribute an oral health toolkit for long-term care facilities that outlines different action steps.
“Supporting oral health is complex and we must embrace the complexity if we are going to make a shift in the disease experience,” Turton said.
“It’s unacceptable that people continue to suffer as a result of a preventable disease.”
FEEDING THE FUTURE of DENTISTRY
By Rachel Farrell
After learning about food insecurity among dental students, two organizations combined forces to address it—and called upon others to join them
BACK IN JANUARY 2024 , Dr. Abe Abdul, president of the Massachusetts Dental Society (MDS), heard something during a meeting with dental school deans that felt like “a kick in the stomach,” he said.
Several deans raised the point that food insecurity was a growing problem among their dental students. Many students, they said, weren’t eating three meals a day because they simply couldn’t afford it.
Memories came flooding back for Abdul. He remembered how, as a dental student from Hong Kong, he too faced food insecurity. He thought about one of his peers, a student from Russia, who used to pack tea bags from home because he couldn’t afford to buy a cup of tea. He recalled the students who juggled school during the day and security jobs at night to make ends meet.
“I wanted to do something about it,” Abdul said, and he moved quickly to rally every member of his board in support of a donation. Shortly thereafter, MDS made a generous gift to address food insecurity at three area
dental schools: Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM), Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.
He also worked to raise awareness about food insecurity, sharing the issue with colleagues such as Erik Montlack, president of Delta Dental of Massachusetts. Montlack, who was surprised to learn about the severity of the issue, immediately agreed to match MDS’s gift.
“I felt really strongly that this was something we needed to get involved in,” said Montlack. “For us, it’s an opportunity for partnership. It’s an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to dental students who are the future of the workforce.”
With the funds received, GSDM is planning to install a vending machine that will provide dental students with fresh food options, such as salads and sandwiches, and offer steep discounts to students who need it. The funds will also supplement non-perishable snacks available for pickup in the Student Affairs office.
Now, Abdul and Montlack are calling on insurers and looking to work with legislators in Massachusetts to join the fight against food insecurity and address other urgent issues for dental students.
“Food insecurity is a low-hanging fruit,” Abdul said. “There are so many other issues we could step up and solve—like student loans, student debt, student housing, assistance for international students—if we put away the protocols, the politics, and the red tape.”
Montlack agreed. “The more we start to work together, listen, and build relationships, the more we can accomplish.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: To donate to this cause at GSDM, please visit bu.edu/dental/alumni/ways-to-give and select GSDM Student Food Support Fund from the drop-down menu. Or, to pledge a significant gift, please contact Catie Dargue at cdargue@bu.edu
Erik Montlack, Delta Dental of Massachusetts (left), and Dr. Abe Abdul of the Massachusetts Dental Society
GIVING DAY
Anonymous (2)
Ali Abdallah PROS 21
Ashraf Abd-Elmeguid ENDO 14
Ghazwan Acash
Jeremy Aczon ENDO 18
Torera Aina DMD 24
Jessy Ajram DMD 22
April Alford ENDO 07
Rami Alhomrany ENDO 21
Manal Alsaadoun AEGD 11 ENDO 14
Rosario Alvarez DMD 92 AEGD 93
Mohammed Alzoobaee
DMD 22 ENDO 26
Charilaos Asikis
Paul Avolese
Ammar Awadi DMD 13 ENDO 22
Rohini Badlani DMD 05
Meredith Bailey Questrom 23
Kevin Baradar CAMED 20 DMD 24
Hussam Batal DMD 98 OMFS 03
Asma Ben PGOE 15 ENDO 18 DMD 21
Lina Benslimane
Manish Bhagania
John Bhambra DMD 94 ENDO 97
Pradeep Bholla DMD 20
Paul Bianchi ENDO 00
Ahmad Bittar DMD 25
Austin Black DMD 27
Andra Boak DMD 99
Ludmila Botelho DMD 26
Michelle Braasch SHA 04 CGS 02
D. Cameron Braasch DMD 09
Louis Brown DMD 84 PROS 91
Berta Caez De Marco
Joseph Calabrese DMD 91 AEGD 92
Rocco Calabrese
Thomas Calabrese
Michele Calabrese SSW 93
Joseph Calabrese, Jr
Emma Callahan
John Callahan
Laura Callan SAR 15 CAMED 16 DMD 20
Marco Camargo
Lisa Case
Gennaro Cataldo
Catherine Cech DMD 86
Emely Cepeda DMD 25
Pelly Chang DMD 89
Claire Chang DMD 07 PROS 11
Kwan Chan-Hawes
Alis Checovich
Shujie Chen DMD 25
Michael Chen ENDO 25
Jae Choi
Grace Christianson SAR 19 DMD 24
Brian Christopherson ENDO 06
Tamilyn Chu DMD 27
Maureen Colella CAS 88 DMD 92
Taylor Cook ENDO 20
Lorena Corzo PERIO 18
Elif Coskun DMD 26
Bing Dai DMD 09
Wenyong Dai DMD 19
Jie Dai
Catie Dargue
Joseph Dargue
Bretmarck Davila CAMED 23 DMD 28
Gabriel Decoute
Shelby Denman DMD 06
Richard D'Innocenzo
Mark Doherty ENDO 05
Gerard Dorato
Diane Dougherty
Larry Dunham DMD 83
William Eaves DMD 86
Alexandra Ehrenberg CAMED 23 DMD 27
Debbie Eisen CAS 84 DMD 88
Glen Eisenhuth ENDO 06
Daniel Ekoh DMD 23
Mahmoud Eldafrawy DMD 19
Sarp Erkaya Questrom 08
Yuwei Fan
Fadi Farah DMD 93 PERIO 97
Elizabeth Fay MET 15 25
Mark Ferriero
John Flanagan
Neal Fleisher DMD 84 PERIO 86
Peggy Fleisher
Kevin Fleming
Sara Ann Flynn COM 04 CAS 04
Roberta Flynn
Tim Flynn
Jonathan Fontana CAMED 24 SDM 28
Jacob Fortenberry ENDO 26
Hunter Fox CAMED 23 DMD 27
Elie Freilich OMFS 19
Lara Fuenmayor
Gabriel Antonio Fuentes-Arroyo ENDO 11
Kai Gao DMD 11
Robert Garber CAS 73
Raul Garcia
Nicole Garzon
Justin Gee DMD 04 PERIO 07
Mazen Ghattas DMD 94 AEGD 95 PERIO 10
Russell Giordano
Bakhoum Girgis DMD 98
Olivia Giusti
Gurkan Goktug PROS 01 DMD 08
Sai Guduru DMD 09
Brian Guo
Navika Gupta PGOE 27
Sergio Guzman PERIO 01 DMD 03
Xiaozhe Han CAMED 04
Oral Bio 04 DMD 08
Erik Harriman DMD 14
Fred Harrington CAS 90 AEGD 03
Matthew Hawes
Gretchen Heinsen ENDO 84
Debora Heller Oral Bio 16
Michelle Henshaw SPH 96 DPH 07
Yin Hildesheim DMD 15
Hiroshi Hirayama
Kevin Holland
On April 9, 2025, BU students, alumni, parents, faculty, and staff came together to give back to and celebrate our University community as part of the 2025 Giving Day, collectively creating an even bigger impact on BU schools, colleges, teams, programs, and causes. We want to thank every donor who helped make the 2025 Giving Day a success: Together, we’re unstoppable.
Yang Hu DMD 21
Xingxue Hu DMD 15
Harry Hu DMD 15
Zhiqiang Huang DMD 08
Erin Huang
Zhan Huang DMD 16
Hui Huang DMD 05
Kisa Iqbal ENDO 25
Ia Iremadze DMD 26
Sid Iyer
Jared Jacobson DMD 25
Lindsey Janof DMD 19 PERIO 22
Jack Jansen DMD 27
Jun Jiang
Zheqing Jiang DMD 21
Yanling Jiang Oral Bio 91 DMD 95 ENDO 99
Dennis Jodoin DMD 95 PERIO 98
Grace Jung
Vamsi Kalepu DMD 21
Virginia Karapanou
Steven Karpas CAS 77 DMD 87
Trisha Keane
Ana Keohane DMD 16
Sophia Keohane CAS 27
Emma Keohane CAS 29
Michael Keohane
Jaegak Kim DMD 17 OMFS 22
Jonathan Kim ENDO 19
Jennifer Kim AEGD 07 ENDO 14
Puneet Kochhar DMD 03
Seth Koczela DMD 22
Laura Kogson-Pierce DMD 25
Kalyan Kondreddi DMD 20
Gregory Kosmidis CAS 97
Maria Kukuruzinska
Shravan Kumar Renapurkar DMD 10
Naveen Kurudi DMD 06
Sean Kurutan
Selana Kurutan
Colin Lach CAMED 23 DMD 27
Katherine Lacoste ENDO 02
Sandip Ladani DMD 16
Afsheen Lakhani DMD 06 AEGD 07
Katherine Lam
Mary Largess
Lana Larsen Questrom 93
Richard Le ENDO 25
James Lee CAS 09 CAMED 10 DMD 14
Kristina Lentz Capano
Cataldo Leone
Rosemary Leone
Qiyu Li DMD 21
Ying Li DMD 21
Yan Liang DMD 18
Dane Lighthart Questrom 24
Geoff Ligibel
Guanghui Ling DMD 16
Kathy Lituri SPH 03
Bing Liu Oral Bio 99 DMD 03
Wei Liu
Joyce Liu
Ryan Liu
Jie Liu
Hongsheng Liu DMD 10 ENDO 12
Charles Loo ENDO 84
Jenny Lorenzo DMD 13 PEDO 15
Roderick Lucente DMD 05
Moe Mahdi CAMED 24 DMD 28
Gibran Mangui CAMED 17 DMD 21
Alisha Marble Wheelock 28
Cliff Marble
Mark Marocco
Dayna Marquina DMD 25
Nikta Marvdashti AEGD 08
Vasiliki Maseli Wheelock 20
Charis McCarthy
Gail McCausland
Tim McDonough
Carla McGruder DMD 94
Stacey McNamee MET 98
Ruben Medina
Angela Mendez
Anthimos Michael Questrom 16 MET 22
Konstantinos Michalakis
Jacob Miszuk
Mayumi Miyamoto Onoe
AEGD 01 PROS 05
Mohammad Mobasherat PEDO 78 DMD 82
Amanda Modelevsky
Peter Morgan ENDO 75
Pelin Motro
Alon Mozes
Shahzad Mumtaz DMD 24 PEDO 26
Richard Mungo PEDO 75
Narendra Nagalla Geriatrics 22
Adba Najjar DMD 04
Nikita Naumowicz DMD 21
Steven Naumowicz
Dan Nelson
Amy Nelson
Jim Newman CGS 85 MET 93 MET 96
Jenn Newman
Diane Newman
Linda Newman
Leila Nezakatgoo DMD 04
Tom Nguyen DMD 08
Gary Nord DMD 10
Hesham Nouh Oral Bio 12 PROS 15
Sepideh Novid DMD 04 AEGD 05
Ciara O'Connor
Katelyn Pan DMD 21
Debra Pan DPH 86 DMD 01
Sandra Parker PEDO 76
Alex Parra Meneses DMD 24
Chad Patel DMD 14
Khamir Patel DMD 14
Abhishek Patel DMD 14
Maxine Peck DPH 82
James Penney ENDO 94
Luis Perez DMD 18
Keerthi Peri DMD 16
Danielle Pintone DMD 27
Silvia Ponce PROS 95
Helen Poon
Barbara Pyke
Maria Quiroga PEDO 99
Saul Ramirez ENDO 26
Gabriella Raspall CAMED 22 DMD 26
Kadambari Rawal AEGD 10 DPH 18
Arik Rawal-Iyer
Breno Reboucas Oral Bio 07 PEDO 12 Questrom 23
Gillian Reeder DMD 27
Malieka Rehman CAMED 22 DMD 28
Tanner Robins CAMED 24 DMD 28
Sheila Rodriguez-Vamvas
Jignesh Rudani DMD 17
Karem Salazar
Klara Salib Rasla DMD 21 PERIO 25
Andrea Sanchez DMD 25
Amandeep Sandhu DMD 06
Catherine Sarkis CAS 88 Questrom 91 LAW 94
Ramzi Sarkis AEGD 96 DMD 02 ENDO 05
Frank Schiano CAS 01 DMD 06
AEGD 07 ORTHO 19
Ronni Schnell DMD 81
Sommer Seitz DMD 27
Yasmani Sellera DMD 27
Hernani Seretti
Hirwa Shah DMD 18
Rohan Shah DMD 17
Darshit Shah DMD 13
Cameron Shahbazian DMD 14 Questrom 24
Arghavan Shahidi Batal DMD 01
Samira Sheikh DMD 03
Jiangyun Sheng DMD 11
Yilin Shi DMD 19
Hanchao Shi SAR 20 CAMED 21 DMD 25
Jonathan Shinay DMD 10 AEGD 11
Mary Ellen Sholes MET 78
Maryam Shomali CAS 87 ENDO 93
Pamela Simmons
Sudarvizhi Sivaraman DMD 17
Tiffany Snadowsky DMD 26
Haying Song DMD 27
Casey Stillson
Erica Stocks COM 01 Wheelock 12
Jerome Stroumza ENDO 91
Zhi Sun DMD 15
Devaki Sundararajan Oral Pathology 09
Anand Suresh DMD 23
Tadeu Szpoganicz DMD 11
Rafaela Szpoganicz DMD 07
Sowjanya Tadakapalli DMD 10 ENDO 19
James Taillefer
Paul Talkov ENDO 96
Mary Tavares DPH 81
Peter Tian DMD 99
Stephanie Tom DMD 25
Alexandros Tsouknidas
Bethy Turton
Anvy Vaidya ORTHO 25
Bonnie Varela
Dimitra Vasilaki
Cindy Vesce
Georgios Vessiropoulos DMD 04
Hitesh Vij DMD 20
Li Wang Oral Bio 04 DMD 06
Yi Wang DMD 02
Stanley Wang DMD 98
Carolyn Wehler SPH 01
Na Wei DMD 15
Howard Weiss
Matthew P. Orlando DMD 19
Laurel Whalen MET 97 Wheelock 15
Garrett Wingrove DMD 17 ENDO 26
Shannon Wong DMD 22 ENDO 26
Derrick Wong ENDO 00
Zhewu Xu DMD 20
Tao Xu Oral Bio 90 DMD 95
Ram Yadav DMD 20
Hideo Yamamoto PROS 90 DMD 92
Yuko Yamamoto PROS 17 DMD 23
Qiaomei Yan DMD 08
Xiaoqing Yang DMD 16
Xu Yang DMD 22
Jonathan Ye DMD 18
Fahad Zaman ENDO 25
Roula Zaza DMD 19
Maria Zequeira ENDO 78
Ashley Zhang DMD 25
Ping Zhang DMD 16
Xiaorui Zhu DMD 21
Min Zhu Oral Bio 12 DMD 17
Hui Zuo DMD 20
Matthew Zweig
TOTAL DOLLARS RAISED 12,690
GSDM $4.6 M
TOTAL DONORS 800 + CAMPUS CASES SUPPORTED $142,188
TOTAL DOLLARS RAISED 341 TOTAL DONORS 9% INCREASE IN # OF DONORS FROM 2024 18 FUNDS SUPPORTED
NEW DAB MEMBER: TODD SHENKIN
Todd Shenkin is an accomplished strategic advisor, investment management and institutional investments lawyer with 30 years of progressive experience. He is the founder and managing director of TS2 Capital Advisors, where he provides comprehensive strategic advisory and consulting services to emerging and established private fund managers, independent sponsors, family offices, placement agents, and investment banks. Earlier in his career, he spent almost 20 years in various roles at MetLife, most recently as Vice President & Associate General Counsel – Investments Law. Shenkin holds a B.A. in political science and history from Stony Brook University and a J.D. from University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
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
Retired Chief, Department of Dentistry Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Boston Medical Center
Topsfield, MA
Shadi Daher DMD 90 OMFS 94
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon Cofounder and President, Medical Missions for Children Westwood, MA
Richard A. Konys DMD 84 OMFS 88
Founder, Eastside Dental Fayetteville, NY
Geoffrey Ligibel
President & CEO, 42 North Dental Waltham, MA
Alon Mozes
CEO, Neocis Inc. Miami, FL
Loubna Pla ENDO 08
Co-Founder and Owner, Pla & Watts Endodontics Puyallup, WA
Todd Shenkin
Founder and Managing Director, TS2 Capital Advisors
New York, NY
Giving to the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine in your will is a simple way to make a real difference.
It’s easy — and rewarding. Take the time now to make sure that your will reflects your intentions to care for your family and the people and causes that matter most to you.
If you include a gift for GSDM in your estate plans, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that future generations of students and residents will benefit from your generous legacy.
To learn more about how you can make a gift in your will to support GSDM, contact Boston University Planned Giving at 800-645-2347 or opg@bu.edu, or visit bu.edu/plannedgiving.
Download a complimentary copy of our Estate Planning Guide at bu.edu/estateguide .
Maintaining a competitive edge, no matter what the arena, takes investment, and we are grateful for the support we receive from many sources.
Generous contributions from our alumni and friends are vital to our ongoing success. These gifts have made improvements in our clinical facilities, classrooms, and public areas, and have been used them to support student scholarships, among other areas. If you are interested in giving to the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine or want to become involved in our resource development activities, please contact Stacey McNamee at smcnamee@bu.edu or use one of the methods listed below to make a gift.
ONLINE
Give online safely and securely at bu.edu/dental/supportgsdm.
PHONE
Call us at 617-358-8774 to make a gift or pledge over the phone.
MAIL
Mail your contribution to Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Development & Alumni Relations 85 E Newton Street, M-1009 Boston, MA 02118
Checks should be made payable to Trustees of Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine.
IN MEMORIAM
Dr. Seymour Melnick ENDO 62
WEST HARTFORD, CT
AUGUST
7, 2025
Dr. Seymour Melnick, age 91, passed away peacefully on August 7, 2025, after a courageous battle with metastatic cancer. Born on June 5, 1934, in Hartford, Connecticut, he was the youngest of five siblings and grew to become the heart and soul of a large and loving extended family.
Dr. Melnick attended the University of Connecticut before graduating from Temple Dental School in 1959. After Seymour’s service in the U.S. Air Force (captain), he completed graduate training in endodontics at Boston University. In 1962, Seymour became Connecticut’s first trained endodontist.
Dr. Melnick was a towering figure in dentistry and dental education. He joined the faculty at GSDM in 1965 and went on to devote nearly six decades to teaching at our school, sharing his expertise and passion with generations of students. Remarkably, for the last 10 years of his tenure, he continued in a volunteer role, a true reflection of his commitment to education.
Dr. Melnick was revered for teaching one of the most critical and influential courses in dental education: Diagnosis and Treatment Planning. His knowledge,
skills and pioneering spirit were continually called upon for conference presentations, radio and TV interviews and numerous publications. His legacy lives on through the generations of dentists whose careers he helped shape.
Dr. Melnick received several high-profile awards throughout his career. In 2004, he was given the school’s Distinguished Alumni Award for Service to School, in recognition of what was then four decades of teaching. In 2015, he was honored by the American Association of Endodontists with the Part-Time Educator Award, which is presented annually to an AAE member with a minimum of 20 years of teaching history whose contributions have instilled a desire in their students to pursue excellence. In 2018, the Department of Endodontics created the Seymour Melnick Volunteer Award, named after Dr. Melnick in recognition of the devotion and dedication he displayed throughout his career and given as a way of thanking the department’s outstanding volunteers.
Dr. Melnick had a deep love and reverence for the Jewish faith, which shaped his life and values. He was the spiritual center of the family, leading legendary Passover Seders that brought generations together in joy and reflection. His second family was his beloved Emanuel Synagogue, where he was respected and greatly appreciated for the time, devotion and spirituality of his many contributions.
Dr. Melnick lived a life of wisdom, generosity, faith, and impact. His warmth, intellect, and devotion to family, students, and community will never be forgotten.
IN MEMORIAM
Dr. Jeanne Craig Sinkford
OCTOBER 1, 2025
SILVER SPRING, MD
Dr. Jeanne Craig Sinkford was a dental educator, administrator and pioneer who made history when she was appointed dean of Howard University College of Dentistry in 1975, becoming the first female dean of a U.S. dental school.
Dr. Sinkford completed her undergraduate education at Howard University, enrolling at the age of 16. She studied psychology and chemistry and graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1955. Next, she entered the Howard University College of Dentistry (HUCD), completing her D.D.S. and graduating first in her dental school class. As the first woman to graduate first in a dental school class at Howard, this accomplishment landed her on the cover of Jet magazine in 1958. She then went on to earn her M.S. and Ph.D. from Northwestern University, before completing a residency in pedodontics at Children's National Medical Center in 1975, the same year she was appointed dean of HUCD. Prior to becoming dean at Howard, Dr. Sinkford held other leadership positions at the school, including chairing the prosthodontics department and serving as associate dean. Dr. Sinkford’s many awards include Alumni Achievement Awards from Northwestern University and Howard University, one of the first Candace Awards from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, the Award of Merit from the American Fund for Dental Health, the Trailblazer Award from the National Dental Association (NDA) and the Herbert W. Nickens
Award from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). In 2010, she received the Pierre Fauchard Gold Medal Award and in 2022 was inducted into their “Hall of Fame of Dentistry,” which is reserved for principal researchers in the field of dentistry.
In 2015, she was presented with an ADEA Gies Foundation William J. Gies Award for Vision, Innovation and Achievement for Outstanding Vision by a Dental Educator and received the American Dental Association (ADA)’s Distinguished Service Award. In 2017, Dr. Sinkford received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American College of Dentists. In 2023, she received the ADEA Distinguished Service Award, and there are three ADEA awards presented each year in her name.
Dr. Sinkford received numerous honorary doctorate degrees. She was an ADA lifetime member and was also presented with NDA lifetime membership. Because of her outstanding professional contributions and work, she was also elected to the Institute of Medicine, now the National Academy of Medicine and a distinct body within the larger National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
Dr. Sinkford was a long-time member of the GSDM Dean’s Advisory Board, providing valuable advice and guidance for multiple decades before stepping down in late 2024. She served as GSDM’s Commencement speaker in 2013, ending her remarks by telling graduates: “Believe me— There are no shortcuts to anyplace worth going and to those whom much is given, much is required.”
Dr. Jay M. Auerbach PROS 73
ATLANTA, GA
MAY 19, 2025
Dr. Jay Auerbach attended Lehigh University, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and Boston University
Henry M. Goldman School of Graduate Dentistry. With a sharp intellect and expert skills in restorative dentistry, he built a successful prosthodontic practice in Buckhead. He was known for his warmth and personal approach to patient relationships. He was a lifelong member of the American Dental Association, Georgia Dental Association, Northern District Dental Society and Hinman Dental Society.
Dr. Hemasundra Reddy Duggireddy DMD 12
SHREWSBURY, MA
SEPTEMBER 22, 2025
Dr. Hemasundra Reddy Duggireddy received his Bachelor of Dental Surgery from Siddhartha Dental College in Vijayawada in 1998, later serving his community as director and owner of Sai Apollo Dental Clinic. He then attended Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine, earning his DMD. Since 2012, he practiced dentistry in Massachusetts, known not only for his skill but for the compassion and dedication he poured into every patient relationship.
Light-hearted and genuine, Hema had a gift for connecting with people of all ages, making them feel seen, heard, and valued. He never judged, never complained, and never let anyone down. Hema will be remembered for his generous spirit, and the joy he brought into every life he touched.
Dr. Albert J. Gosen PROS 71
WESTFIELD, NJ
MAY 27, 2025
Dr. Albert John Gosen graduated from Seton Hall University in 1965. He earned a DMD at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) and did advanced education in prosthodontics at Boston University Goldman Graduate School of Dentistry. Al established his own business and practiced dentistry for over 45 years in Roselle Park, NJ, providing meticulous care and friendship to his patients.
As a proud first-generation American, Al was blessed to be raised by loving parents who nurtured his growth and curiosity, but above all, instilled in him the importance of family and hard work. He was patient; he was an amazing listener; he was a problem solver; he was humble.
Dr. Thomas F. Holmes PERIO 71
FORT WORTH, TX
APRIL 15, 2025
Dr. Thomas “Tommy” Franklin Holmes grew up with a deep appreciation for family, faith, and the outdoors. He pursued academic excellence, graduating from Rice University before earning a DDS from the University of Texas Dental School. His commitment to continued learning led him to Boston University, where he completed an MSD in Periodontology. Tommy proudly served his country as a captain in the United States Air Force Dental Corps, embodying a quiet sense of duty and honor that was evident in every part of his life. A man of quiet conviction, Tommy lived his faith every day not just in words, but in the way he treated others, cared for his family, and walked through life with grace and strength.
IN MEMORIAM
Dr. Caleb “Cal” King PERIO 72
GAINESVILLE, FL
JUNE 7, 2025
Dr. Caleb “Cal” King’s life was one of deep purpose, boundless curiosity, and quiet generosity. From the very beginning, water was his element. He became captain of the swim team at Duke University, where his leadership was marked by steady encouragement and tenacity. His academic journey took him next to Emory University, where he earned his DDS, and later to Boston University, where he completed a Ph.D. in periodontics.
For more than 40 years, Cal served the Gainesville community as a periodontist, combining technical skill with deep compassion. He also shared his expertise with future generations, teaching at the University of Florida College of Dentistry, where he was admired for his knowledge, patience, and dedication to the profession.
Dr. Edward Mehlman ENDO 65
BARRINGTON, RHODE ISLAND
JULY 2025
Dr. Edwin S. Mehlman attended Wesleyan University (Connecticut), and the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. Following dental school, he served as a captain in the U.S. Air Force. He then did advanced education in endodontics at Boston University School of Graduate Dentistry. In 1965, he opened his practice in Providence, Rhode Island, becoming the first endodontist in the state.
Dr. Mehlman taught at various dental schools and was active in organized dentistry, holding leadership roles in several organizations. He helped create in Rhode Island a Donated Dental Services program, which provides free dental care to needy and disabled Rhode Island residents who do not qualify for Medicaid. To date, this initiative and its volunteer dentists have provided over $1 million in free dental care.
Dr. Irwin Mirsky OMFS 60
WEST ROXBURY, MA
SEPTEMBER 23, 2025
Dr. Irwin Mirsky studied biology at Syracuse University. After graduating, he continued his education at Tufts Dental School. While at Tufts, Irwin met his beloved wife Lois. Shortly after their wedding in 1954, Irwin served as a Captain in the U.S. Army at the White Sands Missile Testing Grounds in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
After his service, Irwin opened his dental practice on Blue Hill Avenue in Mattapan and later moved it to Westwood in the early 1970s. For 35 years, Irwin worked as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, practicing at several area hospitals, including the Glover (now Beth Israel Deaconess), the Faulkner, and Norwood Hospital. Known for his surgical skill and deep care for his patients, he touched countless lives throughout his career.
Dr. Nahal R. Panah
Dental Assistant 88 DMD 94
MELROSE, MA
JULY 14, 2025
Born in Shiraz, Iran, Dr. Nahal Panah lived a life defined by quiet grace, steadfast dedication, and the purest love for her family and friends. After immigrating to the United States, she completed dental school at Boston University and went on to pursue a successful career in dentistry, becoming the first female dentist to own a private practice in Melrose, Massachusetts. She was actively involved in numerous professional dentistry organizations.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Nahal lived a life rich with love and beauty. She cherished traveling the world with her husband, finding joy in new cultures and experiences. She was also an active member of the Iranian Association of Boston, always passionate about fostering cultural connection.
Dr. Michael C. Sheff CAS 61 PEDO 68
NEWTON, MA
APRIL 22, 2025
Dr. Michael C. Sheff leaves behind a legacy of love, service, and smiles. A compassionate pediatric dentist in Newton for over 50 years, Michael mentored generations of dental residents with grace and generosity. Early in his career, he established Dental Health Month, in partnership with the Boston Celtics and Red Sox Foundations, Boston Children's Museum, Ronald McDonald, and beloved children's character Willie Whistle, to teach children the importance of dental hygiene.
As his career evolved, Michael turned his energy toward protecting children in a deeper way. In collaboration with the Massachusetts Dental Society, he founded the Stop Abuse and Neglect campaign, training dental professionals to recognize signs of abuse in children and individuals with disabilities, ensuring care beyond the chair.
Dr. Louis M. Yarmosky PEDO 73
SOUTH ORLEANS, MA
AUGUST 30, 2025
Dr. Louis Mark Yarmosky entered the University of Maryland in 1964 and received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Maryland Dental School in 1971. Louis went on to Boston University, where he completed his pediatric dental specialty training and received his Master of Dental Science degree in 1973. Louis founded Yarmosky Pediatric Dentistry, a first-of-its-kind practice that provided access to specialized, expert care for children and those with special needs from Western Massachusetts and surrounding states for over 45 years. Yarmosky Pediatric Dentistry eventually grew into a family practice. In 1980, Louis’ brother, Steven Yarmosky, joined the practice. Later, in 2009, Lauren (Yarmosky) Ballinger came on board to work alongside her father until his retirement in 2020.
My path to becoming associate dean for admissions at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine has been anything but linear. Each role that I’ve had—first student, then educator, researcher, practitioner, leader, innovator, and entrepreneur—has left its mark, shaping me in ways I could never have anticipated. But stepping into admissions has given me a gift I didn’t expect: the privilege of hearing people’s stories at the very beginning of their journey into dentistry, of uncovering their “why.”
Dr. Roya Zandparsa
GSDM Associate Dean for Admissions
I’ve listened to applicants share stories that stay with me long after the interview ends. One recalled, as a child, watching a dentist relieve their grandmother’s pain, sparking a lifelong fascination with the profession. Another spoke of volunteering at a community clinic and discovering that dentistry was not just about teeth but about restoring dignity and confidence. Yet another applicant shared that, to help his family financially, he balanced the demands of academics with long hours running a small business, managing employees, earning customers’ trust, and shouldering responsibility far beyond his years. What moved me most was how he connected these lessons to his vision of dentistry: resilience, hard work, and service as the foundation of restoring health and confidence in others.
Some applicants trace their “why” back generations, following in the footsteps of parents or grandparents who practiced dentistry. Others are trailblazers, the first in their families to pursue higher education. And many arrive from across the globe, bringing with them perspectives and perseverance that enrich our classrooms and clinics.
These stories inspire me every day. They remind me that admissions is not simply about selecting students; it is about shaping the future of our profession. Every applicant we welcome carries the potential to lead, to heal, and to redefine what compassionate, innovative dentistry can mean for generations to come.
Looking ahead, dentistry will continue to evolve, technology will advance, treatments will expand, and challenges yet unimagined will arise. But the “whys” that drive our applicants—the desire to serve, to innovate, and to make a difference—will remain. And it is in that constancy that I find my greatest hope for the future of dentistry, and for the lives our graduates will go on to transform.
In admissions, I may be the one asking the questions, but it is the applicants who provide the answers that stay with me. Their “whys” enrich our school’s story and remind me of my own: a lifelong commitment to advancing education, fostering innovation, and empowering the next generation of dental leaders.
10
TAKEAWAYS FROM
“ It’s unacceptable that people continue to suffer as a result of a preventable disease.”
REDESIGNING ORAL HEALTHCARE / pg. 35
Students in the Simulation Learning Center will now use reusable gowns, reducing the volume of single-use waste.
ON CAMPUS: HIGHLIGHTS / pg. 29 pg. 36 pg. 31
With the funds received, GSDM is planning to install a vending machine that will provide dental schools with fresh food options.
FEEDING THE FUTURE OF DENTISTRY / pg. 36 pg. 18
“ Access to care is a complex issue. It’s everything coming together that creates these gaps.”
INAUGURAL SHENKIN AWARD / pg. 28
Share your favorite moments from Impressions on Facebook and Instagram and tag @budental
03
pg. 24
“ I thought I would have a voice that would reach a lot of people.”
GETTING TO KNOW FRANK SCHIANO / pg. 10
Development & Alumni Relations
635 Albany Street, G-700
Boston, MA 02118
bu.edu/dental
Name it for McManama
For almost five decades, Dr. Carl McManama has devoted his life to teaching, mentoring, and inspiring the next generation of dental professionals. In recognition of his dedication and impact, we have launched a $1.5 million fundraising campaign to rename the Simulation Learning Center in his honor.
To learn more or to donate, visit bu.edu/dental/name-it-for-mcmanama
