RSVP for Our 60th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, Sept. 28

students listening to lecturer
The UCLA School of Dentistry’s 60th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, will showcase the four pillars of excellence on which the School was founded in 1964.
May 22, 2024

RSVP now for the UCLA School of Dentistry’s 60th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at UCLA's Geffen Hall! The event – open to students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the wider UCLA and dental communities –  will showcase the four pillars of excellence on which the School was founded in 1964: 

  • Education
  • Patient care
  • Public service
  • Research

Following an informal lunch gathering outside Geffen Hall's Iris Cantor Auditorium at 11:30 a.m., a series of lightning sessions will highlight UCLA Dentistry’s history, progress, and vision within each pillar. See below for descriptions of the four presentations/panel discussions, which begin at 1 p.m.

The 60th Anniversary Celebration concludes with a reception in the Geffen Hall courtyard accompanied by a showcase of event supporters and the School’s dynamic initiatives. Light bites and refreshments will be served. 

Practitioners can earn two units of free continuing dental education credit for attending the lightning talks.

Education
A School of Dentistry Education – Forging the Future
The UCLA School of Dentistry has a long track record of high-quality educational programs at both pre- and post-doctoral levels. This presentation showcases the areas of dental education where our school has played a leading role.

Associate Dean of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Dr. Edmond Hewlett will share examples of innovative programs that cultivate the application of critical thinking, principles of social equity, and cutting-edge science and technology in clinical dental practice. 

Public Service
Bringing the Dental School to the Community
The UCLA School of Dentistry’s commitment to providing oral health care to communities in need dates to its inception. In 2018 the School launched its most comprehensive such outreach initiative: Community-Based Clinical Education (CBCE), which provides predoctoral trainees invaluable rotations beyond Westwood. Hear from students and alumni who have served these vulnerable populations nationwide. The panel is being moderated by Kyle Tupaz, M.B.A., who has served as CBCE’s administrative analyst since the program’s inception. 

Patient Care
Caring for Those with the Greatest Challenges
The UCLA School of Dentistry strives to deliver humanistic, high-quality, affordable patient care to all segments of the population. Individuals with special needs, complex medical conditions, or who need prosthodontic oro-facial reconstruction face significant challenges in finding dental services in the private sector.

Dr. Eric Sung, chair of the Section of Special Patient Care and Maxillofacial Prosthodontics and the Momentum Endowed Chair, will moderate a panel discussion comprised of patients and their families who have received care in the School’s clinics. These powerful stories include difficulty accessing treatment and appreciation for the care they received. 

Research
60 Years of Discovery and Innovation 
The UCLA School of Dentistry is renowned for its leading-edge research. From oral disease and cancer prevention to innovative diagnostic methods and therapeutic interventions, research is an essential component supporting the education of dental and graduate students within the School of Dentistry and enhancing patient care throughout the world. 

Associate Dean of Research Dr. Yvonne Hernandez-Kapila, the Felix and Mildred Yip Endowed Chair, will present a lightning overview of the School’s 60 years of discovery and share new programs aimed at enhancing research opportunities for our community.