3 minute read
Dean's Message
Dear Alumni and Friends,
As we move through our 150th year as a School of Dentistry, we are continually reminded of the incredible historical legacy of this educational enterprise. It is truly remarkable to think of the school’s humble origins in 1875, a century and a half ago, and then fast forward to our mission today. Countless things have changed in the interim – in human history, in our society, in dentistry. But one thing hasn’t changed: Our school’s commitment to excellence and leading dentistry in education, patient care, scientific research and innovation. That commitment has led our school to being ranked the No. 1 dental school in the world in the 2025 QS World University Ranking for Dentistry.
In this edition of M Dentistry, you will find a historical timeline that highlights people and events that laid the foundation and shaped the evolution of the school over the decades. The sesquicentennial is a great prompt to look back at how far the school has come. At the same time, in a year when we celebrate our past, we remain focused on the future with the upcoming opening of our Digital Dentistry Center and the start of the “Look to Michigan” fundraising campaign, also highlighted in this edition.
Our school stands at a pivotal moment that calls for a bold vision and collective action. That’s why we are involving alumni, donors, faculty, staff and friends of the school in a conversation about building on our legacy of excellence to shape the future of oral health. Access to dental care remains a critical need, financial barriers continue to burden the next generation of providers, and our simulation and research facilities must evolve to enable modern teaching, discovery and innovation. Conducting 21st century research in laboratories designed in the 1960s is no longer feasible, and the initial training of superb clinicians would be improved by renovated simulation facilities with state-of-the-art equipment that incorporates digital capabilities and haptics.
These are not small hurdles, but I firmly believe that together we can overcome them. I invite you to join us over the coming years as we generate new ideas for both our school and the broader dental profession, working together to bring them to life. With your support and generosity, we can continue our work training world-class dental professionals and driving groundbreaking research that improves people’s lives. Together, we will redefine what’s possible in oral healthcare and empower the next era of excellence at our School of Dentistry.
For what’s next, Look to Michigan! And Go Blue!
Sincerely,
