UCLA and Global Periodontics Community Gathers to Honor Dr. Henry H. Takei

UCLA Dentistry periodontics faculty
More than 150 colleagues, mentees, and associates of Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Periodontics Dr. Henry H. Takei joined together at UCLA on Saturday, Aug. 5.
August 14, 2023

A celebration 50-plus years in the making, the UCLA School of Dentistry’s inaugural Dr. Henry H. Takei Endowed Periodontal Symposium brought together more than 150 colleagues, mentees, and associates of this distinguished emeritus professor on Saturday, Aug. 5.

Convening in UCLA’s Neuroscience Research Building Auditorium, the program began with opening remarks from School of Dentistry Dean Paul H. Krebsbach and Dr. Flavia Pirih, Tarrson Family Endowed Chair in Periodontics and Chair of Division of Regenerative and Reconstructive Sciences. That led into a video tribute to Dr. Takei featuring many of his closest associates during a UCLA career dating back to 1967 and his co-founding of the Periodontics Residency Program in 1976.

Dr. Takei then took the podium to deliver some light-hearted reflections and words of appreciation.

“I was so pleasantly surprised by the turnout of so many former students, faculty, and friends. That was my intent when the thought of an endowment was considered; it was a truly gratifying day for me,” said Dr. Takei, who among his many accolades was bestowed the American Academy of Periodontology‘s (AAP) Master Clinician Award in 2006.


Among the attendees were 10 students and two faculty members from Japan’s Meikai and Asahi Universities, whose visit was made possible through the Dr. Susumu Miyata Endowed Fund. Established in 1993 by Dr. Takei and his Japanese colleagues, nearly 400 participants on both sides of the Pacific have benefited from this experience and developed life-long academic and personal relationships.

The Symposium’s keynote address, entitled My Perspectives on Vertical and Horizontal Augmentation, was delivered by Istvan Urban D.M.D., M.D., Ph.D. A board member of the Osteology Foundation, Dr. Urban has published peer-reviewed articles and textbook chapters on bone regeneration and soft tissue reconstructive surgery around dental implants. He is a past enrollee in UCLA’s Preceptorship Program in Periodontics and – like Dr. Takei – an AAP Master Clinician Award recipient (2021). During his presentation, Dr. Urban screened video clips of Dr. Takei’s late-1990s lectures and remarked on the impact those courses had on his career.

To close the event, attendees gathered in the UCLA Meyer and Renee Luskin Conference Center’s Optimist Room for an informal reception.

Dr. Takei was joined on the organizing committee by Pirih and alumni Joan Otomo-Corgel, D.D.S. ’76, M.P.H. ’80, Jonathan Do, D.D.S. ’09, P. ’13, and Steve Lee, D.D.S. ’75. Dr. Otomo-Corgel – who serves as chair of the School’s Board of Counselors ­– and Dr. Do, her fellow lecturer in the Section of Periodontics, led the committee in raising $400,000 to endow the biennial Symposium. These philanthropic gifts from alumni and friends will benefit the School of Dentistry community for generations to come.

“I believe it was exactly what Dr. Takei envisioned, a day to learn, inspire, be inspired, connect and reconnect with students, residents, alumni, and friends,” Pirih said. “We’ve established an incredible blueprint to engage the perio community and look forward to gathering at the next Takei Symposium in September 2025.”