2025-2026
Year in Review
Welcome Welcome to our Academic Year in Review, an annual reflection on the achievements, milestones and memorable moments that have shaped the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry over the past year. I am continually inspired by all that our students, residents, faculty, staff and alumni have envisioned and accomplished. As I look back over the last year at their dedication, innovation and commitment to service — supported by the generosity of our donors and friends — I fully appreciate the work that everyone has done to advance our mission to help people lead healthy lives and to strengthen our impact in dental education and across the profession. This year was marked by significant growth and progress. From celebrating our first cohort of International Dental Studies (IDS) students in Sacramento as they crossed the stage at graduation, to launching our innovative hybrid Dental Hygiene curriculum, to advancing patient care, research and community outreach, our Dugoni School
family demonstrated what is possible when we work together with purpose. We also gathered to celebrate many cherished traditions while creating new opportunities to connect, collaborate and build community. And we took time to celebrate and honor one another as individuals. I am grateful to everyone who contributed to our successes and look forward to another year of promise and progress at the Dugoni School. With gratitude,
Elisa M. Chávez, DDS Interim Dean
Advancing Our Programs
First IDS–Sacramento Graduates Build Foundation for Future Cohorts The first graduating class of the International Dental Studies (IDS) — Sacramento program completed their academic studies and clinical training at the Pacific Health Care Collaborative 1 (PHCC), marking an important milestone.
As the inaugural cohort to train at PHCC, these students helped establish the foundation for future classes of students who will participate in the two-year IDS program and provide care to patients in the Sacramento region.
Dugoni School on Forefront of Dental-Medical Integration Through Epic® EHR The Dugoni School is spearheading a new phase of dental-medical integration through a technology partnership with PDS Health Technologies™ to implement its dentaloptimized instance of Epic®, the nation’s leading electronic health record system. This collaboration marks a milestone in health sciences education: the Dugoni School will implement this specialized PDS Health Technologies™ Epic® platform across dental, medical and ambulatory surgery center settings, creating a more integrated model for clinical education and care. Implementation teams at the school have been working since early 2026 to prepare for the Epic® rollout in late 2026.
Dr. Ethan Goh, Keynote Speaker
AI Symposium Explores New Frontiers Leaders in artificial intelligence, clinical care, education and research gathered in January for the inaugural AI in Oral Health Care: From Innovation to Access symposium. Co-hosted by the Dugoni School’s Center for Innovation and Translation and the Pacific Center for Equity in Oral Health Care, the event brought together leaders from Hippocratic AI, 2-Sigma AI, PathAI, OraQ, Overjet, VELMENI, Stanford Health Care and Stanford Arise, along with faculty experts from the dental school. The symposium focused on how AI can responsibly advance patient care, research, education and access across oral health care and the broader health care ecosystem.
Expanded Academic Space The San Francisco Campus enhanced its resources and support for audiology and dental students through a new teaching, learning and study hub on the sixth floor. In addition to daily academic use, the sixth floor will serve as a venue for smaller school events and continuing education programs.
Dental Hygiene Program Expands Access The Department of Dental Hygiene launched a pilot remote hybrid education program which offered four students the opportunity to complete their studies in Sacramento at the PHCC clinical facility. The inaugural Class of 2026 paved the way for the next students to come. The initiative will expand in January 2027 with four students in Stockton and is expected to grow further in 2028 to other community locations in the Central Valley. The program has also established new clinical rotation sites with UC Davis Health Comprehensive Cancer Center, Yuba County Toothmobile and St. Raphael´s Dental Clinic. The rotations provide valuable hands-on experience caring for diverse patient populations in community-based settings while expanding access to preventive oral healthcare services. The innovative model is designed to increase access to dental hygiene education while helping address oral healthcare needs in underserved communities throughout California.
Educating students where they live affects their decision to stay in the areas to provide care. — Lory Laughter, RDH, chair of the Dental Hygiene department
St. Raphael´s Dental Clinic Sixth Floor Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Faculty Leaders Share Vision of Expanded Roles
Dr. Kavitha Parthasarathy
Dr. Bernadette Alvear Fa
Chair of the Department of Periodontics
Director of the Center for Success
“I’m honored and excited to build on the strengths of our department while advancing excellence and innovation in education and patient care. By working alongside our outstanding faculty, I hope to create a supportive and engaging learning environment that empowers our students to grow, excel clinically and become compassionate, lifelong learners.”
“It’s a true blessing to be in this role and I’m excited to encourage our students in their pursuits after graduation. Thank you to Dr. Hayashida and Dr. Yarborough for setting up an excellent foundation for me to build upon to support our students in their success towards postgraduate studies.”
Dr. Rebecca Moazzez
Dr. Jonas Bianchi
Associate Dean for Research
Director, Graduate Orthodontics Residency Program
“I am honored to serve in this new, additional role, and excited to advance a collaborative culture of innovation and scholarly excellence by supporting faculty, expanding research opportunities for students and residents, and strengthening the integration of research, education and clinical care to improve patient outcomes.”
“Leading the Graduate Orthodontics program is both a privilege and a responsibility. My goal is to prepare residents who are outstanding clinicians, compassionate leaders and critical thinkers. As orthodontics evolves rapidly, I want them to embrace innovation while always grounding their decisions in evidence, sound judgment and a genuine commitment to improving patients' lives.”
Caring for the Community Helping People Lead Healthy Lives Our clinics in San Francisco and Sacramento provide compassionate, quality oral healthcare to children and adults from every background and every stage of life. For everything from routine preventive care to complex specialty treatment and urgent dental needs, thousands of patients place their trust in the Dugoni School.
89,751
18,530
PATIENT VISITS
TOTAL PATIENTS
92%
2,093
PATIENT SATISFACTION RATE
ORTHODONTIC PATIENTS
845
3,800
PEDIATRIC PATIENTS
EMERGENCY CLINIC VISITS
“I have such a complicated mouth, but everyone at the school is very understanding of all my issues and very patient in explaining every recommended procedure and answering my questions.” — Main Clinic patient
Community Outreach Giving Kids a Smile The Dugoni School is helping ensure children in the community have access to dental care and positive experiences at the dentist. Students, faculty and staff teamed up to provide care to nearly 200 children during three Give Kids a Smile events held in San Francisco, Stockton and Sacramento in February. Children received dental and orthodontic screenings, cleanings and fluoride treatments, while also enjoying games, face painting, prizes and balloon art that helped create a fun and welcoming environment. The events also emphasized education, giving families the opportunity to ask questions while volunteers taught children healthy oral hygiene habits, including proper brushing and flossing techniques. The events not only connected kids to dental care, but also helped them build confidence and comfort with visiting the dentist — one smile at a time.
$25k IN DONATED SERVICES
200 CHILDREN SERVED
Supporting Veterans’ Health Over 60 military veterans received free dental, hearing and health screenings during Give Veterans a Smile community service events held in November in San Francisco and Sacramento, thanks to volunteers from the Dugoni School and the School of Health Sciences.
“Everyone was very professional from check-in to check-out — super kind. I learned great, valuable information from my hearing and dental exams.” — U.S. Army veteran Jeff Armijo, San Francisco
— 2026 service trip to the Philippines
Providing Community Care — Near and Far Students, faculty and staff volunteered their time during break weeks to care for underserved people in Guatemala, the Philippines and Jamaica. These service trips not only addressed urgent oral health needs but also deepened students' passion for providing care to those in need.
Chinatown Community Health Fair Volunteers from Student Community Outreach for Public Education (SCOPE), a student-led organization, served residents of San Francisco’s Chinatown neighborhood.
“It quickly became evident that dentistry is not accessible to everyone, and that the services we were able to provide were highly valued. Whether it was a cleaning, extraction or filling, every patient expressed sincere gratitude.” — Jack Bianchi, DDS Class of 2027
Senior Smiles and Wellness Over 100 older adults received free health screenings and resources during the Senior Smiles community health fairs held May 2 by volunteers from the Dugoni School and the School of Health Sciences. Held in San Francisco and Sacramento, the events offered dental screenings, blood pressure checks, hearing, diabetes and oral cancer screenings, balance assessments, wellness gift bags and information about other community resources.
“Senior Smiles was one of the most meaningful experiences I’ve had in dental school because it showed how much impact organized community outreach can have on patients and families.” — Darren Nguyen, DDS Class of 2027
CA CareForce Outreach Serves Coachella Valley Over 20 students and three faculty volunteered with California CareForce during spring outreach in Indio, California. Volunteers helped provide free dental, vision and medical services to community members in need, continuing the school’s long-standing partnership with the charitable arm of the California Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.
Expanding Care for Patients with Complex Needs The new Ambulatory Surgery Center and Multidisciplinary Advanced Care Clinics, currently under construction on the first floor of the San Francisco Campus, are designed to expand access to care, reduce barriers for vulnerable patients and help train the next generation of dental specialists—all while delivering compassionate, expert care in a supportive environment. The 13,000-square-foot facility will be fully accessible, sensory-friendly and purposebuilt for patients who require speciaqlized care settings or anesthesia services. California faces a critical shortage of specialty dental care, particularly for children and adults
with developmental disabilities, sensory sensitivities and complex medical conditions. The new facility will help address that need by tripling the school’s capacity to care for these patients each year. It will serve individuals who are too often unable to access care elsewhere, including children with autism, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, older adults with dementia and patients with significant medical or behavioral challenges. In addition to expanding patient care, the center will provide students and residents with advanced clinical training opportunities in multidisciplinary and hospital-based care settings, preparing them to better serve patients with complex healthcare needs throughout their careers.
Key Features:
treatment areas, including eight dental operatories and five flex suites
operating rooms
pre- and postoperative bays
dedicated sensory waiting area and sensory-friendly design throughout the facility
Research and Discovery OKU Sutro Excellence Day Showcases Care, Research and Service Achievements across clinical care, research and community service were proudly on display during the Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU) Sutro Excellence Day in May. The event featured keynote speaker Dr. John Featherstone followed by a showcase of 94 projects presented by students and residents. Clinical presentations highlighted comprehensive care, removable prosthodontics, implant dentistry, restorative dentistry, endodontics and orthodontics. Poster presentations featured educational research,
community health service, leadership initiatives, literature reviews and projects from the school’s Personalized Instructional Program. Dr. Carlos Martinez Montoro ’26 won the prestigious Dr. Henry A. Sutro Award for Best Oral Rehabilitation Design, presented at the Alumni/Graduate Banquet, along with a prize of $100,000. Sponsored by the school’s OKU chapter and industry partners, the day reflected the school’s strong commitment to innovation, education and impact.
Showcasing Research at IADR A large contingent of students, faculty and staff presented their recent findings at the IADR General Session & Exhibition, the annual meeting of the International Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research. Held in March in San Diego, the conference brought together researchers, clinicians and industry professionals from around the world. The program featured interactive workshops, oral and poster presentations, lunch-and-learn sessions, keynote addresses and symposia.
“Presenting my own research made the experience even more meaningful and helped build my confidence in communicating my work and engaging in thoughtful scientific discussions.” — Dr. Obinna Ikwuka, IDS Sacramento Class of 2027
76
research publications January 2025 – June 2026 source: SCOPUS
Center for Innovation and Translation Operating across clinical environments in San Francisco and Sacramento, the Center for Innovation and Translation is an innovation hub and clinical research center partnering
with industry and academia to generate evidence and translate it into practice. The center also has additional reach through a growing national practice-based research network.
Impact at a Glance
projects across clinical research, product testing and innovation
active IRB-approved studies in delivery (set-up, recruitingactive or follow-up)
faculty and clinicians engaged as investigators, co-investigators, mentors, examiners and committee members
in research funding secured since inception
Training the Next Generation of Clinical Oral Health Researchers The most recent graduates of the Pacific-Stanford Practice-Based Research Integrating Multidisciplinary Experiences in Dental Schools (PRIMED) Program took the Dental Clinician-Scientist Oath in April. 674 students, faculty and alumni have participated in the program to date and 376 people have now taken the Dental Clinician-Scientist Oath. The rigorous curriculum includes both fundamental and comprehensive clinical research training opportunities.
Learn more about PRIMED
Endo and Ortho Programs Shine at Specialty Conferences Endodontic residents Dr. Akshaya Pallod and Dr. Amin Akli won Table Clinic awards during the American Association of Endodontists meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah, earning fifth place out of nearly 100 table clinics presented. Other residents and faculty presenting at this meeting included residents Dr. Ying Huang and Dr. Oskar Peikar and faculty members Dr. Craig Dunlap, Dr. Walid Nehme, Dr. Gordon Lai, Dr. Kenneth Tittle and Dr. Adham Azim. Orthodontic residents and faculty also presented at the American Association of Orthodontists annual meeting in Orlando, Florida. Faculty representing the school through their scholarship included Dr. Jonas Bianchi, Dr. Cory Costanzo, Dr. Bill Dischinger and Dr. Sandra Tai. The AAO Foundation gave Dr. Jonas Bianchi the Biomedical Research Award and Dr. Heeyeon Suh the Orthodontic Faculty Development Award.
Second-year resident Dr. Tyler Starley, mentored by Dr. Mirek Tolar and Dr. Marie Tolarova, received first place in the William R. Proffit Resident Scholar Award competition.
CDA Table Clinics: First Place Dental Student – Clinical Research Adrien Stroumza DDS ‘27, in collaboration with David Vang, Pedro Henrique Carneiro, Laure Henao, Harmony Matshik Dakafay, Scott Davis, David M. Ojcius, Cassio Silva, and Aline Cristina Abreu Moereira-Souza, won first place at the Dr. Dennis D. Shinbori ’75 Table Clinics at CDA Presents.
White Coat Ceremony
The Dugoni School was the first dental school in the U.S. to host a white coat ceremony, a tradition that goes back to the mid-1990s, to mark students’ transition to patient care.
In light of all I hold sacred, in the presence of my family, friends, and teachers, I pledge to fulfill my obligations as a member of the dental profession. My responsibility is to promote the health of the community and the persons I serve. The health of my patients will be my first commitment. — Excerpt from professional oath pledged by DH 2026, DDS and IDS 2027 class members on July 19, 2025.
Student Life Dental Leaders Inspire Students Leaders within the profession shared their insights with students at a Tripartite Leadership Panel held in November. Dr. Richard Rosato, president of the American Dental Association; Dr. Robert Hanlon, president of the California Dental Association; and Dr. Travis Smith, director on the board of the San Francisco Dental Society were among the guests at the event hosted by CDA Student Chapter President Kyle Koupaie, the DDS Class of 2027 and fellow student leaders.
Different Roots, One Strong Tree The Office of Student Services organized the first-ever Celebrating Diversity Week in April, a week-long series of cultural events, workshops and conversations designed to foster inclusion; celebrate the experiences and diverse back-grounds of our students, faculty, and staff; and promote greater cross-cultural understanding across our community.
ASDA Chapter Hosts Dr. Nadershahi Former Dean and Professor Emeritus Dr. Nader Nadershahi was named executive director of the American Dental Association in March. American Student Dental Association chapter leaders invited him to speak to students at a special event in May.
Bridge Builders
Over the Hump
Asilomar Retreat
Alumni Connections The Alumni Association is more than 9,000 members strong and hosts a variety of events and programs to promote social and mentorship opportunities, communications, leadership and networking among alumni.
Alumni Association Meeting The 127th Annual Alumni Association Meeting attracted over 800 alumni and friends from across the country for a robust weekend of learning and reconnecting.
Medallion of Distinction Dr. Homayon Asadi ’88 and Elena Francisco, RDHAP, MS were awarded the Alumni Association’s highest honor.
“As alumni we carry the Dugoni legacy with us, and it is our duty to ensure that this legacy continues to thrive with future generations.” — Alumni Association President Dr. Marc H. Lai ’13
We lco m e/C
h e im C DA A n a
CDA An ah eim
“The Alumni Association is where lifelong friendships, mentorship and shared pride in our profession and the Dugoni School come together to create a powerful, supportive community.” — Kimberly LaRocca ’06 DH, director of the Alumni Association
Dugoni School Gala: Bridging the Golden Age San Francisco City Hall, festively lit up in lilac—the color of dentistry—was the site of a gala evening featuring alumni reunion dinners.
io p p in o D in
ner
Lifelong Learning Elevates the Profession The Division of Continuing Dental Education offers robust programs for dental professionals at all stages of their careers. These dynamic, multidisciplinary programs led by experts range from lecture courses and hands-on workshops to live webinars and travel programs in the U.S. and abroad.
CDE by the Numbers
Programs
Attendees
Hands-On Workshops
Interactive Live Webinars
In-Person Lecture Courses Registered Dental Assistant Graduates in Extended Functions Program
Certificate Programs
Registered Dental Hygienist Graduates in Alternative Practice Program (2 cohorts)
Awards and Accolades PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS Dr. Darren Cox named President of the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and received the 2025 Distinguished Faculty Award presented by the Dental Faculty Council Dr. Steve Dugoni honored with the prestigious Earl & Wilma Shepard Distinguished Service Award from the American Board of Orthodontics Dr. Ned Nix received the Distinguished Service Award from the California Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and selected as President-Elect of the American College of Dentists Kevin Morden, DDS `26 named Outstanding Student Leader and Dr. Gene Santucci named Distinguished Faculty Member by the American College of Dentists — Northern California
Contact Point alumni magazine received 2025 Platinum Pencil Award from the International College of Dentists — USA Section Dr Andrew Young won a first-place Gies Editorial Award from the American Association of Dental Editors and Journalists for his editorial "Loupe-Vision," published in the Journal of the California Dental Association. Bhumika Patel awarded the 2026 Emerging Infection Control Leader Award by the Association for Dental Safety FACULTY AND STAFF RECOGNITIONS Dr. Mark Booth Lucian Szmyd Award — Faculty of the Year; Mark Hagge Faculty Endowment Award — Exemplary Role Model & Educator Andres Mayorga Rhonda Bennett Award — Outstanding Staff Member Stan Constantino Podesto Award for Excellence in Student Life, Mentoring and Counseling
Professor Chris Nuncho Dental Hygiene Outstanding Teaching Award Dr. Aouse Khalil DDS Outstanding First-Year Faculty Award Dr. Cássio Luiz Coutinho Almeida da Silva DDS Outstanding First-Year Faculty Award Dr. Parvati lyer Pacific's Champion of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)—San Francisco Campus Sinead O'Brien Santucci Humanism Award Dr. Hussein Al-Wakeel DDS Outstanding Second Year Faculty Award Dr. Sandy McLaren DDS Outstanding Third Year Faculty Award Dr. Priya Prasannakumar IDS Outstanding First-Year Faculty Award Dr. Kenneth Nguyen IDS Outstanding Second Year Faculty Award Brenden Weaver DDS '27 Thomas R. Bales Family Endowment Good Samaritan Award Harmony Matshik Dakafay Cavanaugh Distinguished Service Award Dr. Debra Woo 2026 Distinguished Faculty Award from the Dental Faculty Council Dr. Priya Prasannakumar Pacific's Eberhardt Teacher-Scholar Award Emeritus Professor designations awarded to Dr. Dave Chambers, Dr. Nader Nadershahi and Dr. Craig Yarborough Pacific’s highest honor — Order of Pacific — presented to Dr. Nader Nadershahi and Dr. Craig Yarborough for decades of distinguished service
Superheroes of Humanism Awardees Faculty and staff recipients Maria Beltran, Vanessa Bricker, Jesse Clerici, William Edrich, Kelly Fong, Shika Gupta, Adrian Hernandez, Navid Knight, Kimberly LaRocca, Reagen Li, Karl Pfiefer, Mustafa Radif, Karen Schulze, Bina Surti, Karita Zimmerman
Employees Recognized for Years of Service At a June celebration lunch, faculty and staff were recognized for their career milestones and years of dedicated service to the school.
OKU Chapter Receives Chapter of the Year Award The Dugoni School’s Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU) Delta Delta Chapter received the prestigious OKU Chapter of the Year Award at the OKU Supreme Business Meeting. The national honor recognizes a component chapter that develops exemplary programs promoting excellence at the local level while advancing the mission and spirit of OKU, the national dental honor society.
The Power of T
hanks to the generosity of our alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff, friends, corporate partners and foundations, the Dugoni School continues to thrive as a global leader in dental education — advancing our mission, enriching student experiences and expanding our impact in communities near and far.
Philanthropy Advanced Care Campaign
Total Giving: 2025-2026
Nearly $4 million was raised to support the creation of the new Ambulatory Surgery Center and Multidisciplinary Advanced Care Clinics on the San Francisco Campus.
from
A $1 million lead gift from Al Warkentine ’65 and Dotty Warkentine supports the Advanced Care Campaign.
$7.5 million 847 donors
Donors Support Faculty Positions Endowments funded by generous individuals and families provided financial support for eight endowed faculty positions: Dr. Homayon Asadi Earl and Tannia Hodges Endowed Professorship Dr. Alan Gluskin Dr. Ronald F. Borer Endowment for Endodontics Prof. Lory Laughter Dr. Bernard S. Aarons Endowed Professorship Dr. Natasha Lee James R. Pride, DDS and Carolyn L. Pride Endowed Chair in Dental Practice Management Dr. Kavitha Parthasarathy Wilbur and Ruth Hughes Endowed Chair in Periodontics Dr. Rinku Saini Dr. Samuel D. Harris Endowed Professorship in Pediatrics Dr. Paul Subar Dr. Charles de Guerre Endowed Professorship
Dr. Shika Gupta Earl and Tannia Hodges Endowed Professorship II
#PacificGives Supports Three Funds $327,000 was raised from 175 donors to benefit Dugoni School students, residents, faculty, staff and patients! Gifts during the 24-hour campaign (April 21-22) supported the Dugoni School Alumni Association Scholarship, Annual Fund and the Ambulatory Surgery Center and Multidisciplinary Advanced Care Clinics.
Welcome New Members of the Dugoni School Family Doctor of Dental Surgery Class of 2029
143
2,676
3.75
students
applicants
overall GPA
455
50%
50%
academic average (DAT)
female
male
Residency Programs
240
214
ORTHODONTICS CLASS OF 2029
ENDODONTICS CLASS OF 2029
applications
applications
8
enrolled
4
enrolled
International Dental Studies Class of 2028
56
26 San Francisco and 30 Sacramento
students
1,531 applicants
77%
23%
female
male
countries represented: Brazil, Ecuador, Egypt, India, Japan, Jordan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria
Together, we are stepping into a world not just as clinicians, but as advocates, leaders, and changemakers. Class of 2026, may we never forget how far we have come together, and may we use what we have to touch lives, transform communities, and leave this world better than we found it. — Dr. Christian Aquino, DDS ’26
CONNEC T WITH THE DUGONI SCHOOL dental.pacific.edu 415.929.6400
F O L LO W U S @dugonischool @dugoni_admissions
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@dugonischoolofdentistry @dugoni_dental Dugoni School of Dentistry @dugonischool