Dr. Alan Lurie Recognized as 2025 Alumnus of the Year

The UCLA School of Dentistry is proud to announce Alan G. Lurie, B.S. ’66, D.D.S. ’70, Ph.D., as its 2025 Alumnus of the Year, honoring his distinguished five-decade career in oral and maxillofacial radiology research and education, and a commitment to public service.

The award was presented on Friday, May 16, during the School’s annual alumni celebration in Anaheim, Calif. Dr. Lurie accepted in absentia, sharing a heartfelt written message with those in attendance.

A member of UCLA’s third D.D.S. class, Dr. Lurie then earned a Ph.D. in Radiation Biology and Biophysics from the University of Rochester. He joined the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine faculty in 1973, currently serving as professor and head of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diagnostic Sciences as well as the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology

“My experiences at UCLA, with its great faculty, wonderful student colleagues, and stunning facility, thoroughly prepared me for graduate school at Rochester and a lifelong academic career at UConn,” said the double-Bruin. “The balance of research, teaching, and patient care was clear during my years at UCLA, and I have worked ceaselessly to maintain this balance throughout my life in academic dentistry.”  

Dr. Lurie’s extraordinary body of work has shaped the field of oral and maxillofacial radiology and advanced public understanding of radiation safety in dentistry. His scientific contributions span early work in radiogenic cancer biology and radiation effects on vascular physiology to decades of scholarship in diagnostic imaging.

He has been a national voice on radiation safety, co-authoring key reports for the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements and helping guide Connecticut’s statewide radiation protection regulations. As co-chair of the committee that authored NCRP Report No. 177: Radiation Protection in Dentistry and Oral & Maxillofacial Imaging, Dr. Lurie helped establish modern best practices for diagnostic imaging in oral health.

“Dr. Lurie’s impact on dental radiology and public health is immeasurable,” said School of Dentistry Dean and Professor Dr. Paul H. Krebsbach, who spent time alongside Dr. Lurie at UConn in the late 1980s and early 1990s. “He embodies the very best of what our alumni contribute to science, service, and the broader health community.”

An esteemed mentor, Dr. Lurie has guided more than 60 faculty and students, many of whom now hold leadership positions in academia, including UCLA School of Dentistry faculty members Drs. Sotirios Tetradis and Sanjay Mallya. His commitment to education also extends internationally; he has led 14 humanitarian dentistry trips to South America for UConn dental students.

Outside the clinic and lab, Dr. Lurie is an accomplished pianist, avid birdwatcher, and golf enthusiast. Dr. Lurie and his wife of 38 years, Suzanne, have three children and three grandchildren.

Click here for more information on the Alumnus of the Year Award and a list of past winners.