Welcoming the DMD Class of 2029

Dear Members of the HSDM Community,

This is an exciting week as we welcome our predoctoral students in the Class of 2029 to campus. On Monday, I greeted the new dental and medical school students as they gathered for the first time to begin their weeklong Introduction to the Profession and start their first year of learning together, immersed in the medical curriculum. They received their white coats which symbolize their commitment to joining the profession and treating patients with great care and dignity. In my remarks, I conveyed that they are joining a highly supportive environment where we are all dedicated to their success.

This class of 35 talented students, hails from 17 U.S. states and 2 foreign countries. They come from 29 different undergraduate institutions where they consistently performed at the top of their class with an average GPA of 3.94. They are not only impressive academically, but their compassion for others and commitment to science and service shines through. As undergraduates, many were involved in global and community outreach; worked in research laboratories; contributed to shaping healthcare policy; and helped underserved communities access care. You can learn more about the class in the following news story.

While this has been a challenging time at Harvard and HSDM, it is exhilarating to see these passionate young individuals join our community. It reminds us of the importance of our mission, and the critical role we all have in supporting the next generation of leaders in oral health research, education, and clinical practice.

I’m grateful for all the preparation that has gone into bringing our new DMD and AGE students to campus this summer and providing a warm introduction to HSDM. We can look forward to coming together as a community for a Summer Ice Cream Social on Wednesday, August 27, in the REB between 11:30am and 1:00pm. This will be a chance to see both new and familiar colleagues and classmates.

Congratulations to our new students, we can’t wait to meet you!

Best wishes,

William Giannobile

Dean
Harvard School of Dental Medicine