On the morning of Thursday, May 26 the pageantry and jubilance of Commencement returned to Harvard Yard for the first time since 2019, before the onset of the pandemic. Harvard School of Dental Medicine’s Class of 2022 graduates proudly marched into the Yard and took their places amongst graduates from across the University for Harvard’s 371st Commencement ceremony.

“Being here—being together at long last—is frankly moving beyond words,” said President Lawrence Bacow in his welcoming remarks.... Read more about Celebrating the Perseverance and Determination of the Class of 2022

If it wasn’t for dentistry, Elizabeth Durham, DMD22, probably would have been an illustrator. Growing up in central Massachusetts, she knew from a young age she wanted a career involving art in some way. It wasn’t until her regular checkups with the pediatric dentist where she looked forward to going to the office that she realized she wanted to pursue a career in dentistry.

“I started shadowing there from a young age and was...

When Natalie Wen, DMD22, graduates with her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree this May, a promise between eighth grade friends will be fulfilled.

“My friend’s mom was a dentist and we always said we should become dentists and open our own practice someday,” Wen said. “At an early age I knew that I wanted a career in healthcare.”

While both Wen and her childhood friend, who attends dental school in Wen’s home state of Wisconsin, will become dentists, after graduation the two will take different paths in their careers.... Read more about Fulfilling a Promise: Serving with Confidence and Care

Growing up in St. Louis, Missouri, Jack Harris, DMD22, never thought he would be attending one of the top dental schools – Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM). “HSDM is the most prestigious dental school not only in the U.S., but the world. Me, just a kid from Missouri, would never have imagined that I would be representing the HSDM graduating class of 2022,” said Harris.

Harris was extremely active in sports and academics...

Michael Cevallos, DMD22, might have become a chemist rather than a dentist, if not for an experience in a pediatric dental practice that changed his plans. As an undergraduate at the University of Richmond, he majored in Chemistry with the full intention of becoming a chemical engineer. In his spare time, he tutored and mentored at-risk middle school youth in Richmond Public Schools. He gravitated to dentistry after shadowing his aunt, a pediatric dentist, and realizing the positive impact he enjoyed as a tutor he could have improving the lives of patients.

... Read more about Finding the Right Chemistry: National Healthcare Scholar Finds His Calling in Community Health

Grateful. That’s the word Nicole Beck, DMD22, uses to sum up her time at Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM).

Growing up just outside of Philadelphia, PA, Beck headed to the west coast to attend the University of California (UC), Berkeley as an undergrad, balancing her academic career between her studies and research in integrative biology, and playing Division I lacrosse.

...

Students, faculty, and staff recently participated in the annual Student Research Day event at Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM). This year’s event, held on April 5, provided students from the Class of 2022 with the opportunity to showcase their research in poster sessions and learn about the work of their peers. Sixty graduating students presented their scholarly work.

“The energy was palpable as we hosted the first in-person Student Research Day since 2019,” said Dawn DeCosta, director of Research Operations, who helped organize the event.... Read more about HSDM Students Unveil Scholarly Work at Annual Research Day

Nearly 50 smiling patients received care at Harvard School of Dental Medicine’s recent Give Kids a Smile (GKAS) event. The event, held annually in February during Children’s Dental Health Month, offers free dental care to children ages one to 17.

Student organizers Stephanie Yang, DMD24, and Kadriye Hargett, DMD24, planned and promoted this year’s event working closely with faculty and student volunteers. Although COVID-19...

Corinthia Wilkerson, MMSc24, is passionate about using her dental career to give back to others. The first-year resident in Harvard School of Dental Medicine’s Periodontology program hopes to use her knowledge of periodontology, public health, and health policy to help historically marginalized communities, educating and providing care to treat those with periodontal disease – all while training the next generation of periodontists. Support from HSDM’s Periodontology Fellowship is helping her pursue...