Fall 07 Dentalum
GRADUATION
Graduates Challenged: "Use Oral Health to Improve Overall Health"
- 111 Doctor of Dental Surgery Degrees
- 27 Bachelor of Science degrees in dental hygiene
- 28 Master of Science degrees (dental hygiene, orthodontics, periodontics, restorative dentistry, pediatric dentistry, prosthodontics)
- 3 certificates (endodontics)
The Class of 2007
You're graduates of a dental school that has a longstanding tradition of excellence and innovation, so you have a responsibility to advance that tradition to benefit society.
That was the theme of the message delivered to U-M School of Dentistry graduates by this year's commencement speaker, Dr. Dushanka Kleinman.
An associate dean for research and academic affairs at the University of Maryland, Kleinman served in government for nearly three decades in roles that included chief dental officer with the U.S. Public Health Service and deputy director of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.
"An Incredible Legacy"
Ben Wickstra, Dental Class of 2007 president; Kathleen Gazsi, Dental Hygiene Class of 2007 president; and Prof. Wendy Kerschbaum, director of the dental hygiene program, applaud graduates as they walk down the aisles at Hill Auditorium to take their seats at graduation ceremonies.
"The State of Michigan, this University, this dental school, and the practitioners in this state are all indelibly linked to health promotion and disease prevention," she said. "They have created an incredible legacy for dentistry and for dental public health."
She cited examples that included the beginning of community water fluoridation in Grand Rapids in 1945, the launching of dental epidemiology and public health, and more recently, recognition as a "best practices" model of the State of Michigan's Children's Health Insurance Program's dental program.
Kleinman told students that excellence continued during their years of education at U-M, citing their exposure to "cutting-edge research, studies by your faculty in expanding our understanding of health disparities," as well as participation in outreach programs to serve the underserved. "It's clear to me that you are a class with heart and soul," she added.
"I know there are enormous benefits each of you will bring to the profession," she said. "We must make this a better place."
Don't Wait to Act
Citing the Surgeon General's 2000 report on oral health that focused on oral health disparities, a report which Kleinman helped write, she told students oral health care professionals can't wait to act.
"The dental profession did not wait in 1945 (to begin water fluoridation), and I know it is not going to wait now (to deal with oral health disparities). We have the skills to lead others in promoting the public's oral health."
She told the students, "your challenge and your opportunity is to use oral health to improve overall health and to integrate oral health services and research into overall health care investigations. ...Your efforts will build on dentistry, but will take you beyond dentistry into social services, education programs, and other areas."
"With your passion and your dedication to oral health, I know we're in good hands," she concluded. "I know you will carry on and expand the public health legacy of this School, this University, and this State with renewed innovation and courage."
- Private Practice/General Practice/Associate: 52 (46.8%)
- Specialty Training: 19 (17.1%) - Periodontics: 6 - Pedodontics: 5 - Orthodontics: 4 - Oral Surgery: 3 - Endodontics: 1
- Military: 11 (9.9%) - Army: 5 - Navy: 4 - Air Force: 2
- General Practice Residency: 10 (9.0%)
- AEGD: 9 (8.1%)
- Community/Public Health: 5 (4.5%)
- No answer: 2 (1.8%)
- Not sure: 2 (1.8%)
- Teaching: 1 (1.0%)
Future Plans
The Dental Class of 2007
Total: 111 students
Graduation on the Web
You can listen to graduation remarks on the School of Dentistry's Web site: www.dent.umich.edu. On the homepage, under "Features," click the headline, "Listen to graduation remarks." You then see a Web page listing the names of speakers and the time of their remarks. You can listen in any order you choose.