Dental school welcomes Class of 2028

On Aug. 9, the School of Dental Medicine held the White Coat Ceremony for 95 students in the Class of 2028, welcoming them into the Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) program and as future oral health professionals.

The White Coat Ceremony is an annual rite of passage for incoming students that marks the beginning of their dental school journey. Students are presented with a white coat, a symbol of clinical service and care, and recite the dentist’s pledge in unison.

Donning their coats for the first time, the students pledge to sustain the honor and integrity of the profession, earn the public’s respect and confidence, and to accept their patients’ oral health as their primary responsibility—qualities every dental professional must exhibit throughout their career. 

“When we place the white coat on your shoulders, you take on the enormous responsibility of upholding the standards of our profession and carrying it into the future,” Dean Marcelo Araujo told the audience during his opening remarks.

“I have no doubt you will do all of this and more.”

Nearly 2,400 students applied for 95 spots in the class, the most competitive applicant pool in the school’s history. Dr. Mary Bush, associate dean for student affairs, noted the class’s unique attributes in her ceremony address.

The Class of 2028 hails from 11 different states and were born in 18 countries, including Poland, Haiti, and Nepal. They speak 23 languages.

The class includes students of all backgrounds and life experiences, from EMTs and pharmacy technicians to teachers and camp counselors. There is an ice dance figure skater who was a gold medalist in the U.S. and Canada, a book translator, and a shepherd who cared for animals in Northern Europe.

Bush also acknowledged the students’ proficiency in working with their hands, as good hand skills are critical to rendering superior oral health care. She also recognized the students’ work ethic, commending them for the thousands of combined hours of care and service for the betterment of patients and communities in Buffalo and beyond. “You have volunteered around the world, and you have assisted those needing help right here in Buffalo,” Bush said.

“Class of 2028, you are a remarkable group!”

View the White Coat Ceremony photo gallery.