Dr. Peter Polverini to Deliver UCLA School of Dentistry’s 2026 Commencement Address
Distinguished oral and maxillofacial pathologist will celebrate the accomplishments of the School’s 59th graduating class on May 31
Peter Polverini, D.D.S., D.M.Sc., an accomplished scientist and academic leader, will deliver the UCLA School of Dentistry’s 2026 commencement address on Sunday, May 31, at 10 a.m. in Royce Hall.
The Jonathan Taft Distinguished University Professor of Dentistry and dean emeritus at the University of Michigan Dental School (2003 to 2013), Dr. Polverini also served as a professor of Pathology at the UM Medical School until his retirement earlier this year. As a vascular and cancer biology researcher, he has nearly 200 peer-reviewed publications. At Michigan’s Polverini Lab, his focus is on the role of cancer stem cells in the progression of premalignant oral lesions and exploring strategies to integrate precision medicine into dental practice.
He served as president of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research from 2013 to 2014, and has been honored by numerous dental and medical professional organizations. Dr. Polverini is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine.
“When the scientific foundation of our profession is dismissed, we become more vulnerable — to misinformation, preventable harm, and those who offer certainty without evidence,” Dr. Polverini said in a preview of his message to graduates.
Dr. Polverini has longstanding professional relationships with several UCLA School of Dentistry faculty members, including Dean and Professor Paul H. Krebsbach, who served as Michigan’s chair of Biologic and Materials Sciences and of its Division of Prosthodontics for a majority of Dr. Polverini’s tenure as dean.
“We are honored to welcome Dr. Polverini as the School’s 2026 commencement speaker, to share words of wisdom gained through decades of organizational leadership and as a renowned dentist-scientist,” Dr. Krebsbach said. “I know our graduates will be inspired by his journey as they chart their own course as clinicians, and for some, researchers and educators as well.”
During the approximately two-hour commencement ceremony, degrees will be conferred upon 115 D.D.S. graduates. Eleven M.S. candidates and one Ph.D. candidate in Oral Biology will also walk the stage, while 56 postgraduate residents are completing certificate programs. The event is ticketed and open only to graduates' invited guests. A video livestream will be available on UCLA School of Dentistry’s YouTube channel.