Where Oral Health Leaders are Made

When we think about leadership in dentistry, it’s often the outcomes that are celebrated: building a successful practice, developing new products or techniques, becoming an in-demand speaker, for example. This issue looks beyond those markers to highlight the journeys that shape UCLA School of Dentistry leaders, from those well established to others just beginning their careers.

At UCLA, such development is intentional. We cultivate an environment that challenges individuals to think broadly about their role in improving health, rooted in clinical excellence and a commitment to seeing beyond the operatory. Our graduates understand the connections between oral health, systemic health, and the communities they serve.

You’ll see this reflected in alumni like Kami Hoss and Oariona Lowe, whose careers embody a holistic view of dentistry defined by innovation, advocacy, and service. It’s also evident in our early-career faculty, who are making meaningful research discoveries while adapting education to meet the needs of today’s digital native practitioners.

Sometimes, leadership begins with a single decision … a willingness to step into the unknown. In this issue, you’ll meet Amy Banks, who elected to pause her D.D.S. training in Westwood to pursue a year of research at the National Institutes of Health.

I was fortunate to play a small role in encouraging Amy to consider the opportunity, drawing on my own experiences as a young dentist-scientist. Ultimately, the decision was hers and reflects the curiosity and long-term vision that define future leaders in our field.

This issue also comes at a pivotal moment. Our 2026 to 2031 strategic plan charts a path forward centered on four priorities: excellence in education and patient care, research and discovery, people and culture, and sustainable, mission-driven growth. Success in each area will require steadfast leadership across the School.

Together, these stories illustrate what makes a UCLA School of Dentistry education distinctive. Leadership here is not an endpoint, but a process – shaped through education, mentorship, and experience, and carried forward in service to others.

Sincerely,
Paul H. Krebsbach, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Dean and Professor