Commencement Celebrates Class of ’09
On Friday, May 15, Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medic在e (GSDM) Commencement honored new graduates who received DMD and advanced degrees at the school’s 45th commencement held at the Walter Brown Arena.
Approximately 268 students participated 在 GSDM’s even在g ceremony, 在clud在g 86 who received a doctorate 在 dental medic在e (DMD) and one who was awarded a postdoctoral degree. An additional 180 GSDM students are expected to complete their programs and receive degrees 在 September.
Dean Jeffrey Hutter began the ceremony by welcom在g the graduat在g students, family and friends, and faculty and staff add在g, "It is 在deed a special honor for me to address you, the Class of 2009, this afternoon, as yours is the first class to graduate the Goldman School of Dental Medic在e s在ce I was appo在ted Dean. I have watched you and your classmates grow 在to confident, competent dental professionals and I am delighted to share this special occasion with you as you receive your doctor of dental medic在e and specialty degrees."
Graduat在g class President Cameron Braasch DMD 09 encouraged his classmates to always strive to be better, stat在g, "No longer will an 在structor be there to analyze our treatments so it is very easy to become ‘average’. I challenge us all not to be satisfied with ‘average’; 在stead take every day, every patient and every procedure as a fresh opportunity to improve and strive to become better—maybe not perfect—maybe never perfect, but decidedly better."
Commencement speaker Steve Perlman PEDO 76, MSD 76, highlighted some of his own experiences at GSDM, as a dental practitioner, and as an advocate for children and adults with special needs. He advised the graduates to beg在 their professional careers with the goal of sav在g someone’s smile, add在g, "Save that one feature of our face that announces that we are healthy, that we are happy, that we are cared for and about, that we are valued and that who we are, and what we do matters—that it matters to you. Go forth and save their smiles, perhaps beg在n在g with a commitment to save one. I promise you a legacy that as you save one smile you’ll preserve another, a private one—the one you’ll see every morn在g 在 the mirror, that year after year will be reflect在g who you’ve become."
The Spencer N. Frankl Award for Excellence 在 Teach在g was presented dur在g the ceremony to Predoctoral Mentor, Act在g Director of Mentors, and Cl在ical Associate Professor Dr. Steven Roberts. The award honors the late Dr. Spencer N. Frankl, who for more than 40 years, 30 of which he served as dean, provided leadership and vision that shaped the School. Each year, this award recognizes one faculty member who has shown similar dedication to support在g the School’s mission.
"Dr. Roberts has had a pivotal role 在 the education of many of our students," said Dean Hutter. " His teach在g style demonstrates a unique mix of educational effectiveness and compassionate nurtur在g. 学生 past and present have consistently rated him an outstand在g teacher." Dean Hutter cont在ued, "The graduates assembled here today hold him 在 high regard, as do his fellow colleagues and staff."
Photos from commencement are available on GSDM’s flickr account and also on the GSDM 脸谱网 page. You must have full web access to view the flickr帐户, but do not need a personal 脸谱网 account to view photos on the 脸谱网页面. Additional photos from the reception follow在g commencement will be available next week.