University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry celebrated its newest graduates with three days of weekend activities, culminating with the 129th annual Commencement Ceremony at The Masonic in San Francisco on Sunday, June 18.

The Class of 2023 includes nearly 200 students and residents graduating with the degrees of Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS); Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene; Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD); Master of Science in Dentistry, Orthodontics; and Master of Science in Dentistry, Endodontology.

The group also includes 26 students representing 11 countries from around the world who graduated from school’s two-year International Dental Studies program.

“Closing this chapter is so bittersweet to me but one thing I know is that I will always have a home here,” said student speaker Dr. Caroline Chou, DDS Class of 2023. “Dugoni School family, you have taught me not just dentistry, but also family, diversity and community. We have helped each other grow in so many ways. Who we are today is a mosaic of the many people who have made a beautiful and touching impact on our lives.”

“Your time at the Dugoni School certainly was remarkable,” said Dr. Nader A. Nadershahi, dean of the Dugoni School, in his charge to the graduates. “I have seen you complete your programs in a world which faced a global pandemic, recession, natural disasters and war. But through it all you persevered because of your grit and determination, as well as the support of your faculty and loved ones.” 

“As you prepare for your future and go out into the world, I encourage you to lean into what makes you special so that you may serve others at your very best,” he added. “I encourage you to lean into your humanity. I know that our humanistic education has prepared you for that.”

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The Sunday ceremony was the culmination of several celebratory activities that included the Alumni/Graduate Banquet held Friday at the Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco. Hosted by the school’s Alumni Association, the event featured dining, guest remarks, dancing and other activities to officially welcome the graduates to the school’s alumni ranks. Awards from the recent OKU-Sutro Excellence Day were presented, including the Dr. Henry A. Sutro Award for Best Oral Rehabilitation Design: Design and Excellence of Execution, won by Dr. Hari Ikonomou. Students also recognized faculty members with awards to thank them for their impact on the student learning experience.

On Saturday morning, graduates, family members and other loved ones gathered at the InterContinental San Francisco for the Thanks a Bunch Brunch. Messages of thanks from graduates were read to family members and significant others who supported them in their journey through dental school, who were then presented with “Putting Him/Her/Them Through” (“Ph.T.”) certificates.

On Saturday evening, the Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU) dental honor society inductions were held at the Olympic Club’s City Clubhouse, where the top 12 percent of the graduating class were selected for membership. Selected individuals graduated with high honors. Graduates who had been selected for membership in two other honor societies, Phi Kappa Phi and Tau Kappa Omega, were recognized at special events held earlier in May and June.

As a special recognition for the Class of 2023, the Dugoni School arranged for San Francisco City Hall to be lit up in Pacific’s colors of orange and black on Sunday evening. The light display served as a colorful way to publicly celebrate Commencement Weekend and the impact that the Dugoni School and its graduates have on the community.

A recording of the Commencement Ceremony livestream is available here.