Embracing the Blank Canvas

Beaming as bright as the August sun, students in the Class of 2027 arrived on Harvard’s Longwood Campus to start an exciting new chapter of their lives. Incoming Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) students began a weeklong Introduction to the Profession, meeting their classmates who they will spend the next four years with and learning more about what they can expect in the first year of their program.

The week began with dental and medical students celebrating their transition into the healthcare profession during the traditional White Coat Ceremony on the Quad. The deans of Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) and Harvard Medical School (HMS), along with Bernard Chang, dean for medical education at HMS, welcomed and addressed the incoming class.

“Similar to how a blank page provides a canvas for creativity, your white coat provides a canvas for compassion and care. You have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those you serve. With each interaction, you have the chance to write a story of healing, comfort, and hope,” said Dean William Giannobile.

Family members and friends applauded the students as they received their white coats and took the stage to introduce themselves and thank their supporters for getting them to this momentous occasion.

“It was touching to hear about their backgrounds and passions, and the sacrifices their own families’ made for them,” said Zeynep Akpinar, an incoming DMD student who recently graduated from New York University. “I feel so thankful to be a student here, where I will be able to learn from my classmates as well as my professors. I can’t wait to see all that we accomplish in the next four years!”

Akpinar’s interest in dentistry developed after seeing her mother struggle in periodontal disease.

“I saw the way her condition directly and indirectly impacted her life in ways I never would have thought of. With treatment, her quality of life significantly improved. I became amazed with the extent of oral health’s impact on one’s life.”

She looks forward to learning about the interconnectivity between the body and mouth during her predoctoral program and hopes to become an advocate for patients who face systemic health issues due to oral health conditions.

Joining a Diverse Community

This year’s incoming students bring a broad range of diverse experiences and an incredible amount of energy to the HMS and HSDM community. The entering class is made up of 35 dental students and 164 medical students. During their first year, HMS and HSDM students learn alongside each other before entering each school’s focused curriculum.

The incoming dental class is made up of 21 women and 14 men hailing from 18 U.S. states and six countries. Nearly one-quarter of the dental school students are from populations underrepresented in dentistry. The class comes from 26 undergraduate institutions with two-thirds entering directly from undergraduate programs.

“You have remarkable backgrounds and have accomplished so much in your early careers,” said Giannobile. “Some of you have already worked in research laboratories, contributed to shaping health policy, helped marginalized communities access care, and served as tutors and advisors to young students. You have come to the right place to pursue your interests and realize your dreams.”

Establishing Connections

Throughout the week dental and medical students participated in activities to get to know their classmates and the community.

“This week, and over the course of your training, you’ll meet patients who will teach you important lessons in becoming compassionate clinicians,” Giannobile said. “You will learn enormously from their medical journeys.”

The students heard first-hand from patients during a patient clinic and had the opportunity to visit a community-based clinic in the Greater Boston area. They also participated in sessions that introduced them to topics such as health equity and medical professionalism; cultural and structural humility; digital professionalism; and health advocacy and activism.

They were also introduced to their academic societies led by faculty advisors. The societies are smaller supportive groups that play a pivotal role helping students navigate the curriculum and serve as home base for students throughout their education.
 

Joining this year as a new society director is Josh Kristiansen, DMD09. After completing his prosthodontics training at the University of Illinois-Chicago, he returned to HSDM as a full-time faculty member for several years before serving as a staff dentist for the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans’ Hospital.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to rejoin HSDM as a society director and am enthusiastically looking forward to working with our wonderful team of faculty and staff in supporting HSDM’s immensely talented students,” said Kristiansen.

Shadin Zayyad, DMD27, who came to HSDM from Chicago, is looking forward to the encouraging environment offered at HSDM and HMS. 

“I believe that the tight-knit, supportive environment at HSDM will allow me to thrive as a student as well as a future mentor and healthcare provider, and as a result, I'll be ready and excited to offer support to the communities I serve,” she said.

Abdul-Rakeem Yakubu, DMD27, an incoming dental student who grew up in Mooresville, North Carolina, hopes to become a clinician-scientist. He’s looking forward to integrating clinical expertise with scientific research and is currently enrolled in the DMD-DMSc program. The program trains future academic leaders of dental medicine who have an interest in conducting rigorous basic research in oral and craniofacial biology and medicine in academic dentistry.
 

“The DMD-DMSc program offered by HSDM caught my attention as it was perfectly aligned with my aspirations as a future clinician-scientist. The curriculum's holistic approach recognizes the interconnectedness of oral health and overall wellbeing, reflecting the latest advancements in the field,” said Yakubu. “Coming from rural North Carolina and a family of Haitians and Nigerians, I hope to make my family proud and inspire aspiring dentists from similar backgrounds.”

The weeklong orientation wrapped up with a class oath that underscored the student’s commitment to treating their patients with respect, kindness, fairness, and empathy. First-year dental students Alina Shahin, Yu-Chi (Jack) Cheng, William Lu, and Eren Keles worked with their medical peers to write the class oath that the entire class recited together. 

“On behalf of the Harvard community, we look forward to getting to know you and following your achievements over these next four years. I encourage you to make the most of every moment here,” Giannobile said. “Embrace the blank canvas before you, seize the pen, and write your own story as you leave your mark on the pages of healthcare.”