Dean's Message
Dear Students, Faculty, Staff, Alumni and Friends,
I want to take this time to congratulate the Class of 2012. Ninety-eight students received their DDS degree, 50 residents were awarded a certificate, two students received their PhD degree and 17 students received their MS degree.
This year’s successful commencement wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work of the faculty and staff at the School of Dentistry. I also want to thank our distinguished guests, Shirley and Ralph Shapiro and Dr. Michael Phelps. Having been a longtime dedicated UCLA alumni, Ralph Shapiro spoke about the importance of philanthropy and giving back to the School. Dr. Michael Phelps gave an outstanding speech about the power of perseverance and hard work based on his personal experiences that was both inspiring and humorous.
Despite state budget cuts and economic instability, the School of Dentistry continues to excel in research, patient care and academic excellence. I want to thank the faculty, staff, and the Class of 2012 for your hard work this past academic year.
While celebrating the graduating Class of 2012, we also unfortunately have had to mourn the loss of two faculty members, Dr. John Yagiela and Dr. Susan Kinder Haake. A research publication was created in their memory, highlighting their accomplishments as well as the research work of a few of our talented faculty members. To download a copy of the publication, please click here.
I look forward to the next academic school year in September and the wonderful experiences yet to come.
Sincerely,
