University College of Dental Medicine
South Jordan, UT
Above Young girl practices brushing te eth on a stuffed animal during Roseman’s annual Give Kids A Smile® event
5 Dr. Bowman ’s Journey to Roseman
7 Student s Win Big at the District 10 Conference
11 Giggles and Grins at Annual Give K ids a Smile ® Event
22 Dr. Paul Botsford Jo ins ODA ’s Board of Trustees
25 R osem an Hosts 11 th Annual R esearch S y mposium
33 COD M H osts R esearch Con ference
November 1 9 , 2024
The College of Dental Medicine ’s “Why I Teach” lecture on November 18 featured Dr. Todd Bowman . During his presentation, he discussed his career and shared advice for students interested in running their own practice.
Just before noon, Dr. Bowman welcomed attendees with his family’s famous Bowman salsa and chips. This salsa, perfected over the last 10 years, was met with rave reviews.
After everyone settled in, Dr. Bowman began. “It is a blessing and privilege to be able to work with you,” he said. “It is a privilege to be here at Roseman .”
Dr. Bowman started his schooling at Brigham Young University and at the urging of his brother, completed his Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry at the University of Louisville . Afterward, he returned to Utah where he went into business with his brother.
When asked what it was like working with family, Dr. Bowman acknowledged that there was sometimes friction between the
joint owners, but that they became very close as they practiced together.
Because few dental programs included business management coursework, Dr. Bowman and his brother learned as they went, making lots of little mistakes along the way. “I [spent] $35,000 on [an] interval camera back in 1987,” he shared, “It was made from an en doscopy that they retrofitted for dentistry.” After two years of trying to make the heavy, unwieldy camera work in their office, they decided the only real use they had for it was as an anchor for the family boat.
“Learn from your mistakes,” he advised. “Learn from your experiences. And pretty soon, you’re going to know what to do business -wise. You just will.”
Together, the two brothers built a profitable practice, eventually opening a second location and bringing on associate dentists to help meet the needs of their expanding clientele.
Given this experience, Dr. Boman encouraged students to approach their first job out of
school with humility and a willingness to learn. He explained that dentists who hire recent graduates are investing a lot in their new associate. “For six months, it’s going to cost me a fortune to hire you. For the next six months, I’m going to break even . And then after a year, I’m going to make money on you.”
He also provided recommendations on how to approach hiring associates and selecting partners when the time comes. In Dr. Bowman’s experience, compatibility is key. “You can teach skills,” he emphasized, “but you cannot teach personality.”
One way to determine if a candidate is a good match, is to spend a lot of time with them. “You’re going to be working with that person more than you see your spouse.” Dr. Bowman cautioned, “It’s a marriage, and it’s hard to divorce.”
Fourteen years ago, after construction began on the College of Dental Medicine, Dr. Bowman’s neighbor, Dr. Val Cheever , approached him to gauge his interest in a faculty
position at Roseman. Dr. Bowman responded with an immediate and decisive, “No. I’m not interested.”
“[It] was the furthest thing from my mind. It really was,” Dr. Bowman remarked. “I had no intention of ever doing anything like this.” However, after several more invitations, Dr. Bowman relented and agreed to visit the school.
During the tour, he took note of the warm, collegial way students and professors interacted in the clinic. “I could see these students,” he recalled, “laughing and joking with the faculty.”
In that moment, he realized there was something special about Roseman and that he wanted to be a part of it. “A couple of weeks later I had an interview and was working here.”
Dr. Bowman’s time at the College of Dental Medicine has been transformative. “It’s amazing to work with you. I really mean that,” he concluded. “When I see your faces, it really does make me happy because you just bring a lot of joy to my life.”
January 20, 2025
Above
Students pose for a group photo at the ASDA District 10 Conference in Seattle, Washington.
During the A merican S tudent D ental A ssociation (ASDA) 10 th District Conference on January 19, 2025, Roseman’s ASDA copresidents, Jarrod Naler ( DMD, 2026) and Kayla Matheson (DMD, 2026), were honored with Chapter Builder awards and its program was selected as the
Best Health and Wellness Chapter in the district.
When Jarrod and Kayla discovered that they had also been selected for Chapter Builder awards, they were shocked and pleased. “ I was quite surprised when we were awarded the Chapter Builder
Award but I was also excited for our chapter to be recognized for this award ,” said Kayla. “ I think the true credit for this award goes to all of our wonderful board officers for all the amazing hard work that they put in. ”
At the beginning of the school year, Roseman’s ASDA board met to discuss their goals and make plans for the coming semester. In these early meetings, Kayla explained, “W e made a conscious decision to really focus on putting on high quality events for our students .”
To better accomplish this goal, they adopted a new coleadership approach. This dissemination of responsibilities has allowed student leaders to be more actively involved in each project they undertake.
An added benefit, it has made it easier for co -presidents and covice presidents to balance their schoolwork and leadership roles. Jarrod observed, “[It] really disperses all the stress and work it takes to be p resident or vice p resident. ”
The event Jarrod was most excited to implement this year was the September Steps Challenge. During this monthlong contest students competed against their classmates for one of five monetary prizes.
“[In the past] th is was a very popular event at our school and we , unfortunately , have not had the opportunity to hold this challenge for a couple of years ,” Kayla explained . “This year we decided to bring this event back to our school! ”
The September Steps Challenge inspired a lot of student participation. “ This ended up being one of our biggest events ,” Jarrod remarked, “ with around 30 participants who logged approximately 1,857 total combined miles. ”
Encouraged by the success of this event, the chapter has decided to host another wellness event this winter. Kayla announced, “ We are currently starting another similar initiative for the winter where students will be able to track and share their ski [and] snowboard activity. ”
Left
Jarrod Nale r (DMD, 2026) and Kayla Matheson (DMD, 2026) receive Chapter Builder Awards.
When asked why he thought Roseman was chosen as the Best Health and Wellness Chapter , Jarrod credited the success of these activity challenges. “ I feel that Roseman was selected for this honor ,” he said, “ because our chapter brought back the old national ‘mile -a-day challenge ’ and ran it as a chapter event this year during health and wellness month. ”
Kayla acknowledged and thanked the board for making this year outstanding. “O ur board officers have really come
through ,” she said . “From the many social events, the amazing work of our vendor chairs to bring in so many great outside resources to the education by our advocacy chair and all the other community outreach events, our board has done so much to provide our students with so many great opportunities this year. ”
Please join us in congratulating Jarrod, Kayla, and Roseman’s chapter of the ASDA on their incredible achievements!
February 03 , 20 25
Above Students, Monique Lugo (DMD, 2026) and Tala Al Awwad (DMD, 2026) discuss the annual Give Kids a Smile® event and its impact
On Friday, January 31, 2025, the College of Dental Medicine hosted its 13th annual Give Kids a Smile® event. During the event, students and faculty provided 562 of our community’s most vulnerable children with roughly $505,000 in oral health screenings, coronal polishings, Fluoride placements and hygiene instruction.
These children were also given $100 vouchers toward additional
needed procedures. Assistant Dean for Oral Healthcare Education, Dr. Ryan Moffat , hopes these certificates will encourage families to return and make Roseman their dental home.
We feel it is highly important that we don’t just provide care on a single day, ” he explained “ but that we set up dental homes for children where they can come again and again and establish a
lifelong habit of good oral healthcare. ”
In all, 440 students, 50 faculty and staff, and 4 donors contributed time, talents, and resources to this year’s Back to School Brush Up.
We are especially grateful for our student committee members:
• Logan Ponder (DMD, 2026)
• Amritpal Badwalz (DMD, 2026)
• Gor Zalyan (DMD, 2026)
• Ivan Alpizar (DMD, 2026)
• Jahandar Farrokhnejad (DMD, 2026)
• Josh Havlik (DMD, 2026)
• Mariah Newman (DMD, 2026)
• Nevin Jensen (DMD, 2026)
• Perry Bachstein (DMD, 2026)
• Quinten Ashton (DMD, 2026)
• Sandhra Sushilkumar (DMD, 2026)
• SangWon Kang (DMD, 2026)
• Suchita Bandarupalli (DMD, 2026)
• Susanna Huang (DMD, 2026)
We would also like to give a special thanks to this year’s sponsors the American Dental
Association, Henry Schein Corporation , Marathon Petroleum Corporation , and Treasure Tower
This program, established by the American Dental Association in 2003, seeks to ensure all children have access to quality oral healthcare. They accomplish this by helping local and federal assistance programs, community centers, dental schools and societies, health centers, and private practitioners host oral healthcar e education, screening, or treatment events for underserved populations in their community.
February 14, 2025
In 2016, Dr. Paul Botsford graduated from Roseman University , earning his Doctor of Dental Medicine. After completing his education, Dr. Botsford established a private practice before being elected to the Oregon Dental Association ’s Board of Trustees in 2024.
While at school, Dr. Botsford built many important relationships with friends and colleagues that he maintains today. He also met his wife, Dr. Keyan (Poustinchian) Botsford ( DMD, 2016). “Keyan and I met before classes even started for our [first] year,” he recalled. “We became friends right away.”
The two of them spent a significant amount of time together over the next couple of months as they began their D1 coursework. Eventually, the two started dating, getting engaged in their third year before marrying at the start of their fourth year. Dr. Bot sford describes their marriage as the “best and easiest decision I’ve made.”
When asked what aspects of his education have impacted his career most, Dr. Botsford shared, “Being at Roseman gave me a great foundation to build upon when I entered private practice. It taught me a lot about communication.”
“How Roseman is structured, with its small breakout groups, really allowed me to get comfortable with communication and bouncing ideas off of people.” These skills have been particularly important as his office takes on difficult, multifactorial cases.
Following graduation, Dr. Botsford returned to his hometown where he founded Botsford Dental , a practice that specializes in cosmetic and restorative dentistry. “I wear a lot of different hats: dentist, chief executive officer, chief financial officer, marketing and creativity director, [and] director of philanthropy” he shared. “I get to do it a ll.”
Right Dr. Paul Bostford (DMD, 2016) and Dr. Keyan Poustinchian Botsford (DMD, 2016) pose for a photo with their two children and dog.
“T he freedom [ownership] affords me is amazing and is much more rewarding than I expected it to be," explained Dr. Botsford. One perk is that his dog, Rosie (pictured above), gets to come into the office with him every day.
"As great as that all is,” he continued, “it also comes with added stress. Running a business is challenging at times. I have seven other people on my team
that depend on me to be able to run this business effectively.”
In addition to his professional practice, Dr. Botsford also volunteers with the Oregon Dental Association. Last year, he was elected as a voting member of the organization’s board of trustees.
This role has allowed him to keep apprised of industry changes within his state and around the country. “It’s quite a time
commitment,” he explained. but it’s really eye opening to [see] everything that the association does for its members and the profession.”
For current students, Dr. Botsford had the following advice, “Figure out what you like and try and do as much as you can while you’re at school. You obviously want to be well rounded, but if there is
something that you really enjoy, get good at it.”
“You don’t have to be the office that does absolutely everything,” he reminded. “If you try and be that person, but you aren’t passionate about it, you can burn out. Doing the things that you actually like to do will make your life and career so much more fulfilling.”
February 20, 2025
Above Dr. Patil conducting at Roseman’s annual Research Symposium . On Wednesday, February 19, Roseman University hosted its Annual Research Symposium across its c am p uses. This symposium included 2 keynote addresses, 7 podium presentations, and 298 posters by students and professionals from 38 institutions around the world. Of the nearly 300 participants, 16 were awarded for their outstanding research including 4 College of Dental Medicine students: Aman Kaur (DMD , 2027), Derrek Bush (AEODO , 2025 ), Jacob Schvaneveldt (AEODO , 2024 ), and Logan Ponder (DMD , 2026).
Since its inception, 11 years ago, this symposium has been a place where Roseman University celebrates young researchers as they collaborate, discover, and innovate in their respective fields.
“Research is the foundation of progress,” explained Symposium Chair Dr. Shankargouda Patil . “This symposium serves as a platform to showcase groundbreaking ideas, foster meaningful discussions, and inspire the next generation of scholars.”
The symposium began with a poster session in which students shared their research and answered questions. For the symposium chairs, this was the highlight of the evening.
“The most rewarding aspect of chairing the symposium was witnessing the diverse and highquality research presented by students from multiple disciplines and institutions,” Dr. Patil shared.
“It was particularly exciting to see the enthusiasm of young researchers, the exchange of ideas, and the collaboration fostered among participants
from different academic backgrounds and countries.”
Following the poster session, keynote speakers Dr. Ajay P. Singh and Dr. Tim Wright addressed the symposium.
At the Henderson conference, Dr. Ajay P. Singh , professor of cell and molecular biology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and associate director of basic and translational research at the Cancer Center and Research Institute , shared a presentation entitled “ Decoding cancer mechanisms: uncovering novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets .” In his address, he discussed his recent cancer research and what he’s learned about the disease’s progression.
“With the cancer incidence rising and more and more cancers developing therapeutic resistance, it was a very relevant topic ,” remarked Symposium Chair Dr. Ranjana Mitra .
She added, “ Dr. Singh’s talk provided valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms of cancer progression and highlighted the urgent need for innovative biomarkers and targeted therapies. His research not only advances our scientific
understanding but also offers hope for developing more effective treatment strategies for patients facing resistant cancers.”
Professor at University of North Carolina at Chappel Hill and Editor in Chief of the Journal of American Dental Association , Dr. Tim Wrigh t, addressed the South Jordan campus. In his presentation, "Development of The Dentition: The Good, Bad and Ugly" he explained how teeth form and how to diagnose and treat genetic disorders that affect dentin.
“[Dr. Wright] provided a comprehensive and engaging overview of the complexities involved in dental development, covering both the normal processes and the challenges that can arise ,” recalled Dr. Patil.
“This offered valuable insights for our students, giving them a deeper understanding of the various factors that influence dental health. ”
Dr. Patil continued, “ Additionally , his presentation highlighted the real -world implications of dental development, helping students recognize the importance of
early intervention and the potential impact on long -term patient care. ”
After the keynote speakers’ remarks, 7 researchers were invited to the podium to share their findings.
• Gabriel Eisenhuth , Roseman University, College of Dental Medicine (DMD, 2026)
“Comparative Analysis of Performance and Reliability of Four AI Large Language Models in Orthodontic Knowledge Evaluation”
• Jeremy Kasik , Roseman University, College of Dental Medicine ( AEODO , 2026)
“Comparison of Minimally Invasive Treatment Modalities for Post Orthodontic White Spot Lesions”
• Justin Sigmund , Touro University, College of Medicine
“Comparative Analysis of Buprenorphine and Buprenorphine -Naloxone treatment on adherence”
• Kelly Chung , Roseman University, College of Pharmacy (PharmD, 2027)
“Environmental Parasite Contamination: A Study Evaluating Soil in Urban Dog Parks”
• Matthew Thomson , Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine
“Physiological Biomarkers in Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Wearable Devices Integration
• Omar Badawi , University of Saskatchewan (Canada)
“Evaluation of Nasal Airway Volume in Adults after Maxillary Expansion with Clear Aligners”
• Sarah Ngo , Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine
“Prevention of Melanoma Growth and Invasion by
Lipophilic Vitamin B1 Derivatives.”
At the end of the evening, the symposium chairs presented awards. Please join us in congratulating these incredible researchers!
• Derrick Bush , Roseman University College of Dental Medicine
“Hidden pathologies: The diagnostic benefits of a CBCT on craniofacial diagnosis”
Contributors: Derrick Bush and Kimberly -Jones Rudolph
• E dward Ramirez , Roseman University, College of Pharmacy ( Pharm D, 2024 )
“The impact of NAcetylcysteine in nonacetaminophen -induced acute liver failure: A retrospective analysis” (in progress).
• Mason Terry , Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine
“Use of Synthetic WaterSoluble KCC2 to Modulate Chloride Homeostasis in Cultured Dopamine -NeuronLike Cells”
• Samah Olomi , Touro University College of Medicine
“From AI to OSCE: Evaluating ChatGPT’s contributions to medical student training”
• William Ho , Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine
“Small Molecule Direct Agonist Identifies Potential Binding Sites for Modulating Behaviors Associated with Substances of Abuse”
• Aman Preet Kaur , Roseman University College of Dental Medicine
“Temporary Anchorage Devices: The Cornerstone of Precision in Orthodontics”
Contributors: Aman Preet
Kaur, Shilpa H. Bhandi , Frank W. Licari , and Shankargouda Patil
• Jennifer Bermudez , Roseman University, College of Graduate Studies ( MSPS, 2026 )
“The benefits of probiotic and prebiotic use in the gastrointestinal tract primarily focused on Bacillus coagulans and β-glucans for potential synergistic effects on beneficially modulating the GI tract and microbiome in humans ” (in progress).
• Lilian Huynh , Roseman University College of Pharmacy ( PharmD, 2025)
“Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy: A case of the broken heart”
• Maia Stokes , Mountain View Hospital
“N -acetylcysteine in nonacetaminophen induced acute liver failure (NAI -ALF): A retrospective analysis of outcomes and treatment efficacy”
• Tallon Muhlestein , Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine
“Blunt and Penetrating Trauma in Resource -Limited Settings: Challenges, Innovations, and
Opportunities for Improvement”
• Austin Mullaly , Touro University College of Medicine
“A review of total hip arthroplasty dual mobility constructs from conception to outcomes"
• G iovanna Park , Touro University College of Medicin e “Fecal Virome Transplantation as treatment for Metabolic Syndrome: A review of current literature” (in progress).
• Jacob Schvaneveldt , Roseman University , College of Dental Medicine
“Microabrasion for post orthodontic discoloration”
Contributors: Jacob Schvaneveldt , Caden Probert (DMD, 2026), and Val J. Cheever
• Kyle Dahlmeier , Roseman University College of Graduate Studies ( DMD, 2028 )”
“Phage Therapy: Potential Applications in Oral Health and Biofilm Control”
Logan Ponder , Roseman
University College of Dental Medicine
“RAGE Signaling in Smoke -
Induced Chronic Sinusitis: Inflammation and Therapeutic Targets”
Contributors: Logan Ponder, Ryan Kinney ( DMD, 2026), Ankita Chatterjee ( DMD, 2026), Kristina Vu ( DMD, 2026), Harishma Sidhu (DMD, 2026), Neha Patel ( DMD, 2026), Juan A. Arroyo , and Paul R. Reynolds
• Parv Kale , Waterford High School
“Retrospective Analysis of Angiotensin Receptor Blockers and Knee Cartilage Volume in Osteoarthritis: Evidence from the Osteoarthritis Initiative”
Since its humble beginnings in 2014, the symposium has grown tremendously. This progress would not be possible without our visionary symposium chairs Dr. Ranjana Mitra and Dr. Shankargouda Patil.
Please join us in thanking them for serving as this year’s symposium chairs.
March 3, 2025
On February 28, the Clinical Outcomes Research and Education (CORE) research center hosted the 2025 College of Dental Medicine ’s Research Conference . This celebration of research honored students, faculty, and staff who have made significant research contributions and encouraged new students and faculty to get involved.
Like many research conferences, this symposium included posters and presentations by influential and up -and -coming researchers that “ showcase the research conducted by students and faculty, celebrate academic achievements, and foster a collaborative environment for learning and professional development ,” explained Sydney Enloe, administrative coordinator and conference organizer.
However, unlike typical research conferences, this one balanced its more informative elements with less conventional (and wildly entertaining) talent performances including karaoke, juggling, and a hot dog eating contest.
These activities underscore Senior Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education, and Director of CORE, Dr. Man Hung ’s opening message to students: “Research can be really fun. It can be truly rewarding too.”
There are lots of reasons to participate in research during dental school. A few that were highlighted in this conference include:
• Become a more knowledgeable practitioner.
• Improve patient care at your practice.
• Match with your preferred residency.
• Refine your presentation skills.
• Have fun!
Become a more knowledgeable practi tioner.
In his presentation , “Shaping the Future of Dentistry : The Power of
Research & Innovation”, Andy Kawamoto , Senior Director of Research and Development at Ultradent Products, Inc. urged students to gain a basic competency in research because of how it will impact their professional practice.
H e explained that dentists with research experience have an advantage over their peers when selecting materials, tools, and techniques because they can understand why a given product works or doesn’t.
This kind of experience can make or break a new practice, where finances are tight and owners are just starting to build a client base. “When you become a dentist, you’re being bombarded with a whole bunch of crap,” he said. “As a research -trained clinicia n you’re going to be able to see through all of that.”
In addition to helping clinicians make informed decisions, research -backed products and methodologies save patients time and money. “If you [have]
Dr. Chen shares the results of a recent study at the College of Dental Medicine’s annual Research Conference.
good technique and you use good materials,” Mr. Kawamoto concluded, “you can do a bond that lasts over 10 years.”
Research expertise also impacts how practitioners care for their patients. Dr. Alice Chen and Dr. Civon Gewelber demonstrated this with a research project they conducted about vital pulp therapy use among underserved pediatric patients. The project was co -authored by Dr. Helpis Youssef , Dr. Man Hung, and Jacob Marx (DMD, 2027).
Dr. Chen started by acknowledging existing gaps in healthcare access. “[In Southern Nevada] we have pediatric dentists everywhere,” she said, “and almost 100% of these pediatric dental offices will take Medicaid. But … there are only two facilities where e ndodontic care is offered for Medicaid children, and those are UNLV [University of Nevada Las Vegas] School of Dental Medicine and there’s us, Roseman AEGD [Advanced Education in General Dentistry].”
These patients can receive timely restorative care from pediatric dentists but may have to wait months or even years to see an endodontic provider. This can result in increased costs, treatment delays, progressing conditions, and unnecessary pain.
This problem became evident to Dr. Chen and Dr. Gewelber when they noticed an uptick in patient referrals for root canals. More startling was the number of these patients who had waited months to receive invasive and costly treatments for conditions they d idn’t have. “Many patients were referred to us for root canal therapy,” recalled Dr. Gewelber, “when they didn’t actually need it.”
“If somebody has irreversible or reversible pulpitis, the traditional treatment is root canal therapy,” explained Dr. Chen. “[But] vital pulp therapy is much simpler and less challenging [for practitioners]. If you can do a filling, you can probably do a vital pulp therapy.”
To understand the endodontic referral patterns for pediatric
Right Monica Ocampo explains how participating in research helped in her residential applications . patients, they conducted a retrospective review. They suspect that lack of education on newer endodontic practices for treating immature permanent teeth, insurance coverage , and insurance policies may also play a factor.
In light of these findings, Roseman AEGD has worked hard to provide accurate endodontic diagnosis for children and timely treatment so many patients can get the care they need on their first visit. Coupling clinical excellence with customized care, the Nevada AEGD Clinic has become one of the most trusted endodont ic facilities for Medicaid children in the community.
Monica Ocampo (DMD , 2025) shared a presentation about how her research activities with CORE bolstered her residency applications.
Because dental specialty programs can be extremely competitive. “You want to set yourself apart from other applicants,” said Monica. “You can do that by doing research.”
Monica recommended that new students focus on conducting simple, quality research and starting and starting as soon as possible. If you want to include research publications on your application, “it is super crucial that you start research early,” Monica s tressed. “It took from October 2021 to February 2023 so about a year and a half —to get our first paper published.”
Her work with CORE helped her to secure interviews at 6 schools and match her top residency .
Refine your presentation skills.
Participating in research at Roseman also helps students develop and refine their public speaking. Students who participate have the opportunity to share their research at local and national conferences and connect with dental researchers around the world.
For Dean Dr. Licari , one of the chief benefits of the College of Dental Medicine ’s annual research conference is the opportunity for students to practice sharing their research and answering questions in front
of their faculty and peers before they present on a national scale.
“This is all part of what you’re going to present at other meetings,” he explained. “We’ve got the ADEA [American Dental Education Association] meeting coming up, I know, and the AAODCR [American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research) meeting in New York that the students are going to be presenting these posters at too.”
As you can see, involvement in CORE provides students with a
lot of practical experience. That said, our favorite reason to participate in dental research is that it’s fun.
CORE students conduct important (and sometimes groundbreaking) research alongside faculty and staff, meet biweekly to discuss findings and any roadblocks they may have, attend conferences as a group, and recognize each other’s talents and achievements.
During this event students and faculty were honored with an astounding 103 awards.
Notable recipients include:
Aditya Deshpande (DMD, 2027)
• Outstanding Presentation Award
• Research and Academic Engagement Award
Dr. Alice Chen
• Outstanding Presentation Award
Dr. Amir Mohajeri
• Mentorship Award
Dr. Andrew Gross ( DMD, 2018)
• MVP Award
• Outstanding Alumnus Award
Dr. Civon Gewelber
Outstanding Presentation Award
Dr. David McMillan
• Mentorship Award
Gabriel Eisenhuth (DMD, 2026)
• Appreciation Award
Dr. Golnoush Zakeri (DMD, 2025)
• MVP Award
Jack McKearney (DMD, 2026)
• Star Performer Award
Jacob Gardner (DMD, 2026)
• Outstanding Presentation Award
• Research and Academic Engagement Award
• Research Excellence Award
• Student Leadership Award
Jacob Kelly (DMD, 2027)
• Appreciation Award
• Research and Academic Engagement Award
Jacob Marx (DMD, 2027)
• Outstanding Presentation Award
• Research and Academic Engagement Award
Johanna Lu (DMD, 2026)
• Outstanding Presentation Award
Jason Zarge (DMD, 2026)
• Star Performer Awar d
Dr. Logan Reese (DMD, 2025)
• MVP Award
Dr. Monica Ocampo (DMD, 2025)
• MVP Award
• Outstanding Presentation Award
Samantha Lee (DMD, 2026)
• Outstanding Presentation Award
• Research and Academic Engagement Award
• Research Excellence Award
• Student Leadership Award
Please join us in thanking our generous sponsors whose
support made this event possible: Colgate , ClearCorrect , Ultradent , and USANA Health Sciences
“Their contributions were instrumental ,” Sydney shared, “ in enhancing the conference experience, supporting student research initiatives, and facilitating fundraising efforts aimed at enabling student participation in national conferences .”
If you would like to get involved with research at Roseman University, drop by CORE (515) between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. or send a message to Sydney Enloe at senloe@roseman.edu
April 4, 2025
Above Graduating Student Body President , Dr. Claire Reilly (DMD, 202 6) addresses her classmates.
On April 4, 2025, the Class of 2025 returned to Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City to attend their long -anticipated, hooding ceremony. A n air of excitement and trepidation filled the auditorium as graduates, their friends, and families gathered to celebrate this major milestone in their education.
The Class of 2025 has built an incredible legacy both at Roseman and in the broader
community. “Roseman DMD students have developed a national reputation for their involvement in community service, student organizations, and special interest groups,” shared Dr. Rachel Novak, Associate Dean for Enrollment and Student Success .
“Our student organizations have received dozens of awards and recognition,” she continued.
“Many of our students here today
have served in appointed and elected positions at the local, regional, state, and national levels. Even more have served on College of Dental Medicine committees.”
Together, the 100 members of the Class of 2025 performed an astounding 37,854 procedures in our clinic and participated in more than 82 outreach events serving 41,846 members of the Greater Salt Lake City community.
Speaking directly to the students, Dr. Novak stressed, “Your accomplishments are the direct result of working well in teams.” Moving forward, our students will continue to achieve incredible things with help and support from their classmates a growing body of College of Dental Medicine alumni, and a much larger community of dentists around the world. Together, they will change the field of dentistry and change the world.
Amid animated whoops and cheers, Dr. Claire Reil ly (Class of 2025) stepped up to the podium
to share her final remarks as student body president.
“Just four years ago,” she began, “we were sitting here in these exact same seats to get our white coats, with so much anticipation and excitement to start dental school. And now, here [we are] four years later, [with] that same anticipation and excitement, but for our future.
Welcome Class of 2025 to the first day of the rest of your dental career.”
Dr. Reil ly soberly reflected on her personal journey through dental school and the individuals who supported her along the way. “Let’s be honest,” she acknowledged, “we would not have gotten this far without some very special people.”
She took a few minutes to individually and specifically thank the people whose support was crucial to her success. Dr. Reilly started by thank ing her family for listening, supporting, and encouraging her
Then, she expressed gratitude to Roseman’s faculty and staff for sharing their experience and expertise . Finally, she recognized
her friends and classmates who had joined her in this journey.
“I guess the training wheels are officially off,” Dr. Reil ly quipped. “[Now] we have to rely on ourselves and the tools we’ve been given. Well, kind of.”
To her classmates, she continued, “Don’t you remember the first commitment we made in the beginning of Roseman? ‘We make each and every interaction a sincere desire to develop each other as lifelong colleagues. ’ I don’t think that stops at graduation.”
“We don’t have to go into it alone,” Dr. Reil ly concluded. “As we depart today and venture into our professional careers, I hope that we all continue to keep these commitments and that we remain lifelong colleagues.”
Class President, Dr. Emily Trowbridge (Class of 2025) built on these remarks, by inviting her peers to think about their very first week of classes, and, in particular, about the people they met who shaped their dental school journey.
“Orientation week,” she shared , “turned out to be where I met my
incredible fiancé!” The auditorium erupted with cheers and shouts. “And we’re not the only ones,” Dr. Trowbridge laughed. “Its clear Roseman helped us form meaningful connections both professionally and personally.”
Then, she described how these connections were formed. “Our time here has been transformative,” Dr. Trobridge said. “We encountered challenges that pushed us to our [limits]: late nights, endless exam after exam, and moments when we wondered ‘is all of this really worth it?’”
“What we’ve learned here extends beyond the textbooks and clinical procedures,” she continued. “We’ve learned resilience, time management, how to function on little -to -no sleep at all, and most importantly, how to truly support one another.”
“As we move forward in our career,” Dr. Trowbridge urged, “let us continue to support one another, just as we have for the last four years.”
Dr. Frank Licari, Dean of the College of Dental Medicine, thanked the graduates for their remarks and welcomed the Class of 2025 into the Lifelong Colleague Society.
“As you transition into the next phase of your career, ” he said, “you will join other Roseman alumni who are practicing in nearly all U.S. states, Canada, and several foreign countries.
[Together] you will extend the reputation of our [D octor of Dental Medicine] program nationally and internationally.”
In conclusion, he challenged new graduates to provide heartfelt service to both their patients and peers. “ Keep your focus on providing compassionate, evidence -based, person -centered care and you will not only be successful, but you will unite the heart and science of healthcare
That’s what makes dentistry so satisfying.”
In his keynote address, Dr. Brett Kessler , President of the American Dental Association (ADA), shared a powerful example of how his peers in the dental community changed his life.
“You see, I entered into dental school with a substance abuse problem,” Dr. Kessler began . “And I graduated with a worse substance abuse problem.”
A fter three precarious years of practice, Dr. Kessler found himself in the very worst situation he could imagine. In that moment, with nowhere else to go, He reached out to his colleagues at the Michigan Dental Association . “That phone call,” he said , “saved my life.”
Becoming overwhelmed with emotion , Dr. Kessler continued, “My own professional community provided the support, guidance, and resources that set me on this path to recovery.”
In addition to helping him take back his life, his colleagues empowered him to achieve
professional heights he had never imagined including: establishing a nonprofit, teaching at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine (2005 -2011), speaking before the U.S. Congress (2007), receiving the Golden Apple Award for Outstanding Leadership in Dentistry (2010), and serving as both the president of the Colorado Dental Association (2014 -2015) and the American Dental Association (2024 –present).
Dr. Kessler acknowledged his peers’ role in his success and encouraged students to lean on their fellow dentists when they need help and offer support when they can. “You’re not in this alone,” he explained . “You’re part of a community of colleagues, mentors, and leaders who have your back and believe in you.”
Dental organizations, like the ADA , can also play a key part in practitioners’ success. In addition to providing continuing education , publishing groundbreaking research , and advocating for better conditions for dentists and their patients,
the American Dental Association offers its members a host of tools to help them practice more effectively.
“Members get access to many of our resources,” Dr. Kessler added These include “the Mayo Clinic Wellbeing Index , the app, Talkspace Go , and many other resources we have throughout the year [like] webinars .”
Dr. Kessler finished by congratulating the graduates and
encouraging them to take an active role in organized dentistry.
“Let’s take a breath. Soak in this moment,” he said. “The future isn’t just waiting for you; it’s waiting to be shaped by you. I can’t wait to witness what, and how, you will use your gifts to not only change lives, but to carve out a better future for our world.”
Right Ariacna Baron poses for staff photo.
April 2 5 , 2025
On December 2, 2024, Ariacna Baron joined the College of Dental Medicine as a patient access specialist. In this role, Ariacna, works with students, patient care leaders, and insurance companies to ensure each patient has a wonderful experience at Roseman Dental.
During her off hours, Ariacna is attending school at the N ational Institute of Modern Aesthetics
(NIMA). She said, “ I am currently attending NIMA to receive my master aesthetician license .”
When she’s not working, Ariacna makes time to do what she enjoys most. She shared, “ I love spending time with my family and being outdoors on my free time. ”
Please join us in welcoming Ariacna to the College of Dental Medicine!
May 20, 2025
In 2020, Dr. Kimberly Veltman received her Doctor of Dental Medicine from Roseman University’s College of Dental Medicine. Since then, Dr. Veltman has continued her studies by beginning an integrated oral and maxillofacial surgery residency program and earning her medical degree from the University of North Carolina (UNC).
Dr. Veltman started at Roseman in 2016. “ From my interview, I was immediately drawn to the inclusive, team -based culture, ” she recalled. “T his was consistently reinforced during my time there .”
In dental school, Dr. Veltman’s peers and faculty supported her and cheered her on. “ My classmates were always eager to share notes and encourage one another to succeed ,” she shared. “Dr. [William] Harman ’s door was always open, allowing me to seek guidance on various topics [and] Dr. [Jonathan] Fairbanks provided me with a sense of autonomy and respect during my final six months before graduation, making me feel prepared to be a general dentist. ”
Roseman’s emphasis on clinical care helped prepare Dr. Veltman for her continued studies. “ I completed all of my graduation requirements by the end of December of my D4 [final] year. This not only allowed me to continue seeing patients in clinic but also gave me the opportunity to volunteer in Urgent Care, extract impacted third molars, and place implants in the oral surgery clinic ,” Dr. Veltman explained. “These experiences made the transition to my OMFS residency program smoother, particularly in terms of hand skills .”
Dr. Veltman prepared to apply for residency programs by studying for the Comprehensive Basic Sciences Exam (CBSE) and completing a 2 -year noncategorical internship at the University of North Carolina where she was named the Matthew P. Fi nzen Intern of the Year.
Following her internship, she matched with her preferred program, a six -year, integrated oral and maxillofacial surgery residency at University of North
Left Dr. Kimberly Veltman and classmates show off their intravenous lines.
Carolina . Dr. Veltman’s favorite aspect of her program is providing patient care.
Whether she’s acting as a primary or instructing a student, she adopts a person -centered approach. She said, “ I take pride in ensuring that patients feel comfortable and confident with the procedures we are performing. ”
In this program, Dr. Veltman has grown and succeeded both in the classroom and in the clinic.
She shared, “ I recently completed my [medical degree] at the UNC School of Medicine in December 2024, honoring the majority of my clinical rotations , and thoroughly enjoying the experience. ”
She celebrated this important milestone in her education by getting together with her good friends and former classmates
Ashley Czechner ( DMD, Class of 2020) and Hilary Mazzone ( DMD, Class of 2020) .
In her free time, Dr. Veltman enjoys spending time outdoors. Her favorite activities are backpacking, camping, and gardening. She’s also gotten
involved with the College of Dental Medicine’s Lifelong Colleague (LLC) Society as a member of its Advisory Board.
“My primary responsibility is helping to plan the first LLC
Reunion next February, which will include coordinating continuing education sessions and social events ,” she described. “ It has been a rewarding experience, allowing me to reconnect with classmates I haven’t had the opportunity to speak with since graduation. ”
When asked what advice she had for current students, Dr. Veltman stressed the importance of balance. “ The most challenging part of my journey has been maintaining an 80 -hour workweek ,” she explained. There are many nights with little to no sleep, and work -life balance is often difficult to achieve .”
“I make a concerted effort to take care of myself ,” she added. “I wake up an hour earlier each morning to complete non -workrelated tasks and exercise. I meal prep on weekends to ensure I eat nutritiously during the week and find small moments throughout the day to engage in hobbie s
that remind me of the f un outside of work. ”
When asked what advice she had for current students, Dr. Veltman urged them to prioritize self -care.
“Identify the daily or weekly activities that you need to stay balanced and effective ,” she recommended . “Write down five things that are crucial for your well -being and make sure to incorporate them into your routine, even if it requires extra effort. ”
