DMD Class of 2025 Arrives on Campus

August 9, 2021
dmd students pose on front steps of HSDM

After an unprecedented year, the arrival of 35 new Doctor of Dental Medicine students on campus last week came with joy and excitement as well as added health precautions to assure a safe and welcoming environment.

“Introduction to the Profession” orientation week kicked off on Monday, August 2, beneath a tent on the Harvard Medical School (HMS) Quad. Dental and medical students, sitting in chairs spaced six feet apart, were welcomed by the deans of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) HMS.

Deans at White Coat Ceremony
HSDM Dean William Giannobile and HMS Dean George Daley
“This is an exciting time for you, as it is for us. After over a year of the pandemic, we are thrilled to welcome you to campus in person,” said Dean Giannobile. “You join a highly supportive environment where we are all dedicated to your success.”


Throughout the week, the students participated in activities to get to know their classmates and what to expect in their first year. They experienced their first patient clinic and had the chance to try on their white coats. They were also introduced to their academic societies where they will collaborate in smaller student groups with faculty advisors.

“After talking to a number of my classmates and learning about their path to medicine or dentistry, I feel inspired, motivated, and supported, so I know I made the right choice to come here,” said Adam Yang, DMD25, who came to HSDM from southern California.

Adam Yang, DMD2025
Yang added that another factor in choosing HSDM for his dental education was the opportunity to be surrounded by classmates from different geographical regions and cultural backgrounds in a small, close-knit community. The DMD Class of 2025 hails from 18 different states, and 11 countries. The Class is comprised of 69 percent women and 31 percent men, with a third of the new students coming from populations underrepresented in dental medicine.  


The dental students will spend the first year of their education immersed in the medical school curriculum learning alongside their medical school classmates.  

Cami Tussi
Camila (Cami) Tussie, DMD2025
“Because the first year of dental school is shared with the medical school, I am so excited to learn more of the interaction between oral health and an individual’s overall health, specifically in the flipped-classroom, case-based learning that characterizes Harvard,” said Camila (Cami) Tussie, who was born in Argentina and grew up in Miami.


The week culminated with not one, but two, White Coat Ceremonies. On Thursday, August 5, the Class of 2024, who did not have an in-person ceremony last year due to COVID restrictions, celebrated with a “White Coat 2.0” ceremony held on the Quad. The Class of 2025 then had their chance to take the stage on Friday, August 6. Wearing their white coats, they each introduced themselves in front of their classmates and a virtual audience of friends and family watching via livestream. The deans of both schools shared advice and accolades with the new students.

white coat ceremony
Kaila Daniels, DMD2025, and classmates at the White Coat Ceremony
“You’ve come to Harvard to learn what it takes to become future doctors, and you’ve done it against a backdrop of a pandemic that has underscored the importance of dental health and service to others. You’ve gained valuable insights this year that will serve you well in your academic journey and your future career,” said Dean Giannobile. “I am looking forward to following your progress over these four years and supporting your dreams. Congratulations and best wishes to all!”
See also: Students