The next chapter begins for HSDM's newest advanced graduate students
The incoming cohort brings a wide range of experiences and aspirations as they begin their specialty training
A new cohort of advanced graduate education (AGE) students arrived at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) this month to begin the next chapter of their educational and professional journeys.
Alongside their classmates, the students gathered in-person and virtually for the first time during a three-day orientation that marked the start of their training at HSDM. The program provided opportunities to meet faculty and fellow residents, learn about the School's community and culture, and begin building the relationships that will shape their years ahead.
This year, HSDM welcomed 58 students from 17 U.S. states and 10 countries. The cohort includes future specialists in endodontics, orthodontics, periodontology, prosthodontics, pediatric dentistry, dental public health, oral medicine, and other disciplines. Over the coming years, they will pursue either a Master of Medical Sciences (MMSc) degree, a Doctor of Medical Sciences (DMSc) degree, or a certificate in one of HSDM's specialty programs.
“These promising students bring with them a desire to make a difference in the profession and advance their specialty fields,” said Dean William Giannobile.
Driven by purpose
Before arriving at HSDM, many conducted research, participated in community and global outreach initiatives, and worked to expand access to care in underserved communities.
Among them is Brandley Tanelus, an incoming endodontics student who is eager to deepen his clinical expertise while expanding his academic foundation. His interest in endodontics began at a young age after witnessing a family member struggle with tooth loss. Watching his uncle choose extraction over treatment left a lasting impression and sparked an early desire to help patients preserve their natural dentition whenever possible.
By the numbers
The incoming class reflects the breadth of HSDM's advanced graduate education community, bringing together students from diverse geographic, academic, and professional backgrounds.
58
students
17
states
10
countries
14
specialty programs
During dental school, he frequently encountered similar situations in clinical settings. While volunteering with homeless health initiatives, he saw patients choose extraction not because it was their preferred option, but because they lacked access to information, treatment options, or advocates who could help them navigate care.
"For the cases where something could have been done, I saw a space where I could make a difference," he said. "I want to be…the one committed to saving teeth, changing narratives, and elevating oral health care for everyone,” Tanelus said.
Other residents were drawn to HSDM by a desire to address broader systemic challenges in oral healthcare. Raygan Renner has worked throughout the Midwest as a traveling and mobile dental provider, witnessing firsthand how geography, socioeconomic barriers, and limited resources can prevent individuals and families from accessing essential care.
As a registered dental hygienist and expanded functions dental assistant, Renner will join the inaugural cohort of the MMSc in Dental Education program. The fully online program prepares dentists, allied oral health professionals, and academic leaders to design innovative curricula, strengthen teaching effectiveness, and lead meaningful change in academic dentistry and oral health education.
“I hope to create educational pathways that strengthen the workforce, improve access for underserved communities, and allow every member of the dental team to practice at the top of their training," she said.
Meet the students
From individual milestones to shared moments, HSDM's newest advanced graduate education students begin their journey.
Incoming periodontology residents connect during orientation at Harvard School of Dental Medicine.
Endodontic residents Brandley Tanelus (left) and Korina Lu, DMD26, during orientation.
New AEGD and GPR residents gather outside the REB during orientation at HSDM.
For Divya Upadhyay, an incoming dental public health student pursuing the certificate–rural track program, improving oral health means thinking beyond individual patients to entire communities. She is particularly interested in harnessing emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and salivary diagnostics, to strengthen disease prevention, expand access to care, and inform evidence-based public health programs.
Before arriving at HSDM, Upadhyay served as a Joseph L. Henry Fellow in health policy leadership that allowed her to step beyond clinical dentistry and immerse herself in research, data science, and public health. The Joseph L. Henry Oral Health Fellowship Program is a collaborative effort between HSDM and the Office for Culture and Community Engagement at Harvard Medical School (HMS). The fellowship allowed her to earn a Master’s in Public Health from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
“For dentists who want to expand their impact beyond individual patient care, the fellowship provides an exceptional pathway to grow as clinician-scientists, educators, and leaders in oral health,” said Upadhyay. “It reinforced my belief that by combining clinical practice with research and public health, I can improve care not only for individual patients but also for entire communities.”
This year's incoming class share a commitment to improving oral health and serving their communities. Over the coming years, they will develop new clinical skills, pursue research, advance innovation, and prepare for careers that will impact patients far beyond HSDM.