March 8, 2018

More than 1,450 alumni, guests and friends of the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry gathered for the 119th Annual Alumni Meeting in San Francisco. Hosted by the school's Alumni Association, the event was held March 2-3 at the historic Fairmont Hotel.

Attendees enjoyed numerous continuing education courses from well-known graduates and former faculty experts, along with class reunions, receptions, research table exhibits, commercial exhibitions and awards.

Appropriate for an event with the theme "Dugoni School Giants and Leaders," the Friday afternoon plenary session featured keynote speaker Dean Emeritus Dr. Arthur A. Dugoni '48, who gave an insightful presentation entitled "A Glimpse into the Future." Additional speakers included Dean Nader Nadershahi '94, outgoing Alumni Association President Dr. Daniel Castagna '81 and incoming Association President Dr. Mary Turoff '77.

Dr. William Carpenter, Dr. Nava Fathi ‘95 and Ms. Joan Yokom were presented with Medallions of Distinction, the Alumni Association's highest honor, given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the school, the Alumni Association, the profession of dentistry or society in general. Dr. Carpenter is a professor emeritus and former department chair, Dr. Fathi is a faculty member and past Alumni Association president, and Ms. Yokom serves as director of the school's Design & Photo Department. Each recipient gave a poignant, heart felt acceptance speech after receiving their medallions.

DDS classes from 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008 and 2013 and the IDS program and Dental Hygiene program held special reunion dinners on Friday evening at various locations around the city. Earlier in the day, alumni representatives presented class gifts to support the school's fundraising campaign. Alumni collectively donated more than $2 million, with the largest class gifts coming from the Class of 1948 ($856,000), Class of 1973 ($644,000), the Class of 1988 ($434,000) and Class of 2008 ($343,000).

The annual Legacy Ball (formerly the P&S Ball), which marked its 50th anniversary this year, was held on Saturday night in the famed Peacock Court Ballroom at the InterContinental Mark Hopkins Hotel. Guests enjoyed a night of live music, dancing, dining, and good company during this annual celebration of philanthropy attended by nearly 400 Dugoni School supporters and guests. Prior to the gala, an inaugural gathering of the Dr. Frank A. Brucia Loyalty Society was held. The society is a new way to recognize donors who have demonstrated their support by giving to the Dugoni School for 10 consecutive years or more, with lifetime giving of $50,000 or more.

"The Dugoni School of Dentistry is fortunate to have a longstanding tradition of giants in the profession, as evidenced by the theme of this meeting and the great program we've been enjoying," said Dean Nadershahi during his plenary session remarks. "In addition to giant leaders we've also had some giant ambitions and traditions that are part our history, and our future."

The Dugoni School's alumni meeting is one of the largest gatherings of alumni by any dental school in the country. To learn more about other upcoming events and activities for alumni and friends, visit the Alumni Association website at http://www.dental.pacific.edu/departments-and-groups/alumni-association.

Contact: Office of Marketing and Communications, 415.929.6434, pr@pacific.edu

Categories: Alumni, Featured, 2018

Contact: Office of Marketing and Communications, 415.929.6434, pr@pacific.edu