The Dugoni School’s Alumni Association recently welcomed more than 1,000 alumni and guests to the Fairmont San Francisco for a milestone event — the 125th Annual Alumni Meeting. Outgoing alumni board president Dr. Peter Liu ’89, president-elect Dr. Amanda Rae Kronquist ’15, and annual committee chair Dr. Betty Fleming ’84 were at the forefront of planning a fully packed weekend held Feb. 9-10.

Activities for the event, which this year featured the theme “All in the Family,” included robust continuing educational programs, class reunions, awards, exhibitor tables, research displays, a gala celebration and other special events.

Continuing Education

In keeping with the “All in the Family” spirit, many CDE courses on the schedule were taught by alumni. Dr. L. Stephen Buchanan ’78, Dr. Michael C. DiTolla ’88, Dr. Daniel A. Hammer ’11, Dr. Jesse W. Manton ’14, , Dr. Jamie J. Sahouria ’04, and Dr. William A. van Dyk ’73 presented educational sessions on anesthesia, anterior esthetics, nerve injury, pediatric dentistry and cardiopulmonary physiology. Additionally, Dr. Louie Al-Faraje, a leading authority on oral implantology treatments and founder at Novadontics Software and California Implant Institute in San Diego, provided two courses about implants.

The 38th Frederick T. West Orthodontics Lectureship on Friday included two sessions presented by Dr. Neal D. Kravitz — “Clinical Techniques for Palatally Displaced Versus Labially Displaced Canines” and “A Collection of Clinical Pearls (and More) for Your Practice!”

New this year was the Inaugural Alan H. Gluskin Endodontics Symposium, held Friday at the Dugoni School. Both Dr. Alan H. Gluskin ’72 and Dr. Adham Azim, chair of the Endodontic Department and director of the post-graduate program in Endodontology, led courses focusing on endodontic treatments and procedures. Dr. Gluskin served as chair of the Endodontic Department for over thirty years.

Awards and Activities

The Medallion of Distinction, the Alumni Association’s highest annual award, was presented at a Friday night reception to three members of the Dugoni School family – Dr. Alan Budenz, Dr. Judee A. Tippett-Whyte ’86 and Dr. William A. van Dyk ’73 – for their extraordinary efforts that benefit the school, the profession of oral health care, and/or society at large.

Friday’s activities also included a photo booth, buffet lunch for all attendees, a panel of professional experts to advise the Class of 2024, vendor exhibits and a Dugoni Business Club networking meeting.

Dr. Amanda Rae Kronquist ’15, new president of the Alumni Association, gave enthusiastic remarks to the senior dental students attending the meeting. “I encourage you to stay involved, it’s fun and we’re a great community.”

Dr. Kronquist learned about the impact and reputation of the Dugoni School’s alumni network before she even applied for dental school, while working part time as a dental assistant. She learned from friends and family that “it’s more than just a dental school, it’s an experience and you become family.”

This year’s Saturday night gala event at the Fairmont’s Grand Ballroom was reimagined as “The Ball for Us All” — a less formal celebration of philanthropy, class reunions, socializing, dinner and dancing. Class meet-ups were held during the gala, which featured festive décor and dragon dancing to welcome in the 2024 Lunar New Year — Year of the Dragon.

As one of the largest alumni meetings of any dental school in the United States, the annual event brings together a wide range of dental professionals at all stages of their careers, as well as many guests and school supporters. Patterson Dental was a Platinum Sponsor and Align Technology and TruAbutment were Silver Sponsors this year.

“As we gathered to celebrate our 125th Alumni Meeting and events, it was incredible to see generations of Dugoni School graduates coming together to celebrate our culture and commitment to excellence,” said Dr. Nader A. Nadershahi ’94, dean of the Dugoni School. “I am grateful for the support of our graduates as well as our Alumni and Dugoni School Foundation boards and teams for finding new and exciting ways to engage with our alums.”

The mission of the Alumni Association is to foster lifelong relationships among its members and with the dental school. For more details, visit the Alumni Association’s website.