UMSOD Convocation Welcomes Legacies and Newcomers
The University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UMSOD) graduated what Dean Mark Reynolds, DDS, PhD, MA, called “one of the most diverse and accomplished classes of dental graduates in the nation” during UMSOD’s Honors Convocation at the Hippodrome Theatre on May 23.
The crowd at the Hippodrome Theatre erupted in cheers and high-fives at the end of the School of Dentistry’s Honors Convocation.
The 137 new dentists and dental hygienists represented a blend of backgrounds, experiences, and motivations, from first-generation immigrants to continuing family legacies in health care.
“Faced with unprecedented social and public health challenges over the course of their academic careers, this extraordinary class has contributed thousands of hours of volunteer service,” Reynolds said.
Among the graduates was Jamaica native Alanzo Aris, DDS, who became the first dentist in his family while honoring the memory of his late mother.
“She passed away when I was a junior at Rutgers,” Aris said. “She’s a big influence of why I’m doing this. She gave me the courage and strength to actually come and finish what I said I was going to do.”
His journey from nervous student to confident practitioner exemplified the transformation that many of Aris’ fellow graduates underwent during their four years of dental school.
“I remember shaking the first time I anesthetized a patient,” said Aris, who is headed to a dental practice in Oklahoma. “Now, I’m ready to go. I’m laser-focused and ready to be a super general practitioner.”
Another graduate, Nila Lahijan, DDS, represented the continuation of a family tradition, following her mother’s path at the same dental school from which she graduated nearly 30 years ago.
For Lahijan, watching her mother practice dentistry provided the blueprint for her own career aspirations.
“It’s very emotional,” Lahijan said. “I grew up in her office, sitting in the chair looking up at her.”
In a touching moment during the ceremony, Lahijan’s mother, Mahvash Zulfaghary, DDS ’96, performed the traditional hooding for her daughter.
University of Maryland, Baltimore President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, conferred the degrees, with academic honors going to top performers including Artemis Metaxa-Kakavouli, DDS, who received summa cum laude recognition from the Doctor of Dental Surgery program, and Bahar Ademoglu, who was summa cum laude for the Bachelor of Science Dental Hygiene Program.
Jarrell also conferred an Honorary Doctor of Public Service degree upon Robert E. Morris, DDS ’69, MPH, FICD, in recognition of his five-decade commitment to providing care to vulnerable populations around the world.
“Dr. Morris’ career exemplifies the highest ideals of service and compassion," Reynolds said before the ceremony. “His varied lifelong contributions have significantly improved the health and quality of life for vulnerable populations throughout the world.”
The graduates concluded their academic journey by reciting the convocation oath, pledging to serve humanity and maintain the highest standards of professional ethics and patient care.
James Cope, DDS, clinical instructor in the Division of Prosthodontics, Department of Advanced Oral Sciences and Therapeutics, offered final remarks to the graduating class, sharing a story about a 5-year-old patient who reminded him about what truly matters in dentistry.
Cope recounted examining Danny, who opened wide “like any crocodile” and suddenly sat up to tell his mother, “This is a really good day.”
“I left the room that day with my spirits a little brighter and my smile just a little bigger,” Cope said. “As you move forward, I hope you’ll make space for a different kind of focus, the kind that doesn’t come from loupes or microscopes, but from within.”
Cope encouraged the new dentists to pay attention to moments that make their eyes light up, beyond the technical aspects of their profession.
He concluded by asking everyone in the theater to stand and give their neighbor a high-five, saying, “This is a really good day” — echoing young Danny’s joyful declaration.