Advanced Graduate Education (AGE) student Lama Alabdulaaly, DMSc21, recently completed her advanced degree program in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, graduating from Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) this past spring . Now she will continue her educational journey at HSDM by pursuing a certificate in Oral Medicine. While earning her Doctor of Medical Science degree at HSDM, Alabdulaaly taught pre-doctoral courses and published a number of papers in the fields of Oral Pathology, Oral Medicine, and Bone Biology.... Read more about Dr. Lama Alabdulaaly Combines Art and Science in Dual Postdoctoral Programs

On Thursday, May 27, 2021, family, friends, and Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) community members gathered, both near and far, to celebrate the graduation of the Class of 2021. Virtual Commencement and Class Day exercises, combined with a celebratory outdoor send-off at HSDM, provided the backdrop for a special graduation experience for the School’s newest alumni.

The festivities began in the morning with the University-wide Commencement ceremony, which featured a video of students from across Harvard’s schools chronicling all of the places from which they studied this...

Ashiana Jivraj, DMD21, jokes that she was born in a dental chair. Her mother worked through most of her pregnancy as a general dentist, and Jivraj spent most of her childhood being shuttled to and from the orthodontist’s office. While it would be easy to assume that for these reasons, Jivraj was destined for a career in dentistry, she actually credits a trip to India during her sophomore year of college with her decision to pursue a career in dentistry.

“I wound up working in a dental clinic and saw the immense challenge that the social determinants of...

Prior to his arrival at Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) in 2017, you might have found William “Brennan” Arden, DMSc21, jumping out of helicopters, practicing dentistry on an oil tanker-sized hospital ship, or visiting the farthest corners of the globe to deliver humanitarian aid. As a military dentist with the United States Navy, Arden treated service members and organized humanitarian efforts in countries like Fiji, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Vietnam. At HSDM, he pursued an advanced degree in endodontics and served as...

For Kobie Gordon, MMSc21, the ability of dentists to transform lives by fixing smiles was a superpower he wanted to possess.

“There was a young girl in my neighborhood back home who was born with cleft lip and palate,” Gordon said. “Over the years, she received various dental treatments. By the time she got to university, one could hardly tell that she was born with a cleft lip and palate. Her self-esteem went through the roof. I was always impressed that dentistry was able to make such a profound impact on her life,” he said.

This May, when Gordon...

In November of 2019, Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) established its first Green Team and Sustainability Committee, bringing together students, faculty, and staff who were committed to exploring ways to make impactful changes to the School’s environmental footprint. The committee came together as a result of a Harvard Worldwide Week presentation by Dr. Donna Hackley, instructor in Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology, which focused on the bi-directional relationship between environmental health and oral health through the lens of health equity. The committee focused on evaluating...

A Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) community outreach group recently received the Harvard Medical School (HMS) Dean’s Community Service Award for their work to provide better access to oral and systemic health care to the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (WTGH), as well as other underserved communities on the island of Martha’s Vineyard. The Wampanoag Outreach Group Portable Clinic Project, spearheaded by HSDM students and faculty members Camille Herzog, DMD22, Natalie Wen, DMD22, Susanna Yeh, DMD23, Kristie Kaczmarek, DMD23, and Brian Swann, assistant professor of Oral Health Policy...

Dean William Giannobile recently named Kate Ellis Rezendes as Chief of Staff at Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM). In this new role within the Dean’s Office, Rezendes will work closely with HSDM’s leadership team and the dean to oversee the daily and long-term activities of the office and partner across the organization with faculty, staff, and administration, to advance the School’s mission and strategic priorities.

Additionally, she will oversee the administrative and budgetary functions of the office and streamline operations, scheduling, and project management, as...

Several members of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) community will be recognized at this year’s American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Annual Session. The virtual event includes awards, scholarships, and fellowships recognizing achievement and distinction among its members.

Hiroe Ohyama, MMSc96, DMD03, assistant professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials Sciences, received the...

David T. Wu, DMSc23, is an Advanced Graduate Education (AGE) student in Harvard School of Dental Medicine’s Department of Periodontology. Born in Suzhou, China, Wu grew up in Montreal, Quebec, and received his Bachelor of Science in Anatomy and Cell Biology from McGill University in 2015, followed by his DMD from the Faculty of Dentistry at McGill. In his free time, Wu enjoys running and cycling around Boston. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Wu also enjoyed weekly Boston Symphony Orchestra...

In late January, dental professionals and students gathered for the first-ever virtual Yankee Dental Congress. The three-day event brought together dental professionals from all over New England and beyond to connect with colleagues, participate in professional development, discover new innovations, and advance the profession of dentistry. The annual event also offers an opportunity for the dental community to recognize the achievements and contributions of those in the field.... Read more about HSDM Alumni and Students Receive Recognition at the First-Ever Virtual Yankee Dental Congress

In early December, Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) welcomed United States Surgeon General Vice Admiral (VADM) Dr. Jerome M. Adams for a special virtual Oral Health Seminar Series event. VADM Adams was joined by Jane Barrow, associate dean of the Office of Global and Community Health, and executive director of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine’s Initiative to Integrate Oral Health and Medicine, and HSDM Dean, William Giannobile.... Read more about U.S. Surgeon General Addresses the Importance of Oral Health and the Prominence of Social Determinants During a Recent HSDM Webinar

Drs. Siobhian M. B. Sprott, and Shelly D. Taylor were recently awarded the Joseph L. Henry Oral Health Fellowship in Minority Health Policy for the 2020-2021 academic year. The Joseph L. Henry Oral Health Fellowship in Minority Health Policy, awarded each academic year, is an academic degree-granting program with the goal of preparing the next generation of leaders in minority health, health policy, and oral epidemiology. The program is named after Harvard School of Dental Medicine’s first African American full professor, Joseph L. Henry who also served as the School’s interim dean from...

Ahead of November’s election, Harvard launched the Harvard Votes Challenge (HVC), which is a non-partisan initiative aimed at increasing voter registration and participation among members of the Harvard community. Through different events such as National Voter Registration Day and training sessions for election volunteers, the Harvard Votes Challenge is engaging community members in new ways, with an emphasis on building a civic-minded culture at Harvard...

Dr. William V. Giannobile, became dean of HSDM on September 1, 2020. An HSDM alumnus, Giannobile is prominent educator and leader in the field of periodontology. He shares more about his background and vision for the School in the following Q&A.

Tell us about your background. What led you to a career in dental education?

I was born in Chicago and my parents later moved our family (my three sisters and me) to a small farm in the Ozarks of Missouri. Early on as a young person, I was very curious about science and medicine. I had an inspiring...