Attendees from across the country enjoy continuing education, class reunions, social opportunities, awards and more.
Excitement was in the air the first weekend of March as University of the Pacific’s Dugoni School of Dentistry Alumni Association shifted back to an in-person gathering after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced last year’s Annual Meeting to be held virtually.
More than 1,000 alumni, guests and friends of the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry gathered March 4-5 for the 123rd Alumni Association Annual Meeting – a long-standing tradition of camaraderie, continuing education and many opportunities to celebrate alumni connections.
The meeting, one of the largest alumni meetings of any dental school in the United States if not the world, was held at the famed Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco.
A wide range of expert dental professionals provided continuing education courses themed around “Keys to Clinical Success.” Other activities included a recognition luncheon, commercial exhibits, research posters, an alumni reception and 16 class reunion dinners.
The Friday luncheon provided an opportunity to honor outstanding members of the Dugoni School alumni family. The program included remarks from Dean Nader Nadershahi ’94, Alumni President Dr. Richard Creaghe ’86 and President-Elect Dr. Jamie Sahouria ’04, along with leaders from the profession that included Dr. Ariane Terlet ’86, president of the California Dental Association, and Dr. Daniel J. Klemmedson, immediate past president of the American Dental Association.
“This is truly a special time in the history of our school,” said Dean Nadershahi. “I’m so glad that you are here to celebrate it with us, in the city where it all began and where we continue to make our mark on the Bay Area and the entire globe.”
Medallion of Distinction Awards – the Alumni Association’s highest honor – were presented to Drs. Jetson Lee ‘84/’86 Ortho, Jack Saroyan ’62 and Allen Wong ’86. The award honors those who have made significant contributions to the school, the Alumni Association, the profession of dentistry and/or to society in general.
Dr. Frank Brucia ’44A, at 104 years old and among the oldest living dentists in the United States, received the rare Arthur A. Dugoni Lifetime Achievement Award, given by the school via the Alumni Association for exceptional achievement, commitment and service at a level above and beyond that is represented by the Medallion of Distinction Award. Dr. Brucia’s long lifetime and lengthy career includes service in World War II, operating a dental practice in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood, community service through a mobile dental clinic for children of migrant workers in the Sacramento Valley and many years of involvement in organized dentistry and the Dugoni School. A longtime supporter of the Dugoni School, Dr. Brucia is the namesake of the Dr. Frank Brucia Loyalty Society. This society honors donors who mark 10 consecutive years of giving to the Dugoni School and at least $50,000 lifetime total giving.
On Saturday night, school donors and guests gathered for cocktails, dinner and dancing at the Legacy Ball in the hotel’s Grand Ballroom. The event theme celebrated the “Quasquicentennial” — 125th anniversary— of the school’s founding in San Francisco in 1896.
Among the 16 class reunions held Friday night, a doubling of the normal five-year celebrations due to cancellation of last year’s meeting, was a special dinner at the Ritz-Carlton for the Class of 2020. Due to pandemic restrictions, the Class of 2020 was not able to hold the usual June in-person commencement ceremony in that year. The Friday night dinner was a special activity organized for the class members to help them officially celebrate together in person.
The mission of the Dugoni School Alumni Association is to foster lifelong relationships among its members and with the dental school. For more details about the Alumni Association’s activities and membership benefits, or to renew or join as an alumni or associate dentist or hygienist member, visit the Alumni Association’s website.
