UCLA Hosts Second Takei Symposium, Highlighting Innovation in Periodontal Regeneration

Nearly 200 periodontists, faculty, residents, alumni, and friends gathered on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, for the second biennial Dr. Henry H. Takei Endowed Periodontal Symposium. Hosted at the UCLA Meyer & Renee Luskin Conference Center by the UCLA School of Dentistry’s Section of Periodontics, the event celebrated Dr. Takei’s enduring legacy as a clinician, educator, and international leader in periodontology, while advancing dialogue on the latest evidence-based approaches in the field.

The program opened with remarks from Dr. Flavia Q. Pirih, Tarrson Family Endowed Chair in Periodontics and chair of the Division of Regenerative and Reconstructive Sciences, and School of Dentistry Dean and Professor Dr. Paul H. Krebsbach. A video tribute followed, highlighting Dr. Takei’s more than 50 years of teaching and global lecturing, along with his role in establishing the School’s longstanding cultural exchange program with two Japanese universities.

Dr. Takei then addressed the audience directly, reflecting on his career and the symposium’s mission to unite the periodontal community through mentorship, scholarship, and international collaboration. Among the guests were 10 Japanese dental students and two faculty chaperones participating in this year’s Dr. Susumu Miyata Endowment for Educational and Cultural Exchange alongside their UCLA Dentistry hosts, as well as Jun Miyata, who carries on his father's legacy as chairman of Meikai and Asahi Universities. Symposium attendees also traveled to UCLA from Taiwan and Mexico.

The scientific highlight of the day was the three-hour keynote presentation by Dr. Pierpaolo Cortellini titled Saving Compromised Teeth with Regeneration, an Evidence-based Approach.” A globally recognized clinician and researcher based in Florence, Italy, Dr. Cortellini outlined innovative regenerative strategies that are changing treatment outcomes and reaffirmed the importance of preserving natural dentition whenever possible. His presentation drew on foundational knowledge of tooth regeneration implemented by his periodontal predecessors, including Dr. Takei.

“The symposium reflects Dr. Takei’s legacy of bringing people together through science,” said Dr. Pirih. “Dr. Cortellini sharing his expertise, and the commitment to attend by many international guests, underscores Dr. Takei’s vision of bridging cultures and advancing periodontal science across borders.”

Joining Drs. Pirih and Takei on the organizing committee were Joan Otomo-Corgel, D.D.S. ’76, M.P.H. ’80, and Jonathan Do, D.D.S. ’09, P. ’13. Dr. Otomo-Corgel – who serves on 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 ... a testament to the loyalty and generosity of the Section's alumni community.

Now in its second edition, the Takei Symposium has become a signature event for the School of Dentistry and its Section of Periodontics. A compeitive residency program has graduated 96 trained periodontists since its 1976 founding, with many advancing to leadership roles in academia and professional organizations. Approaching its 50^th anniversary, the Section is also home to Newman and Carranza’s Clinical Periodontology, one of the most widely published and influential textbooks in the field. 

In celebrating its rich history, UCLA Periodontics also looks to the future. Making a gift helps the Section remain a world leader in training, discovery, and patient-centered care, advancing the impactful work Dr. Takei began five decades ago.