DDS Class of 2028 recognized at Horwitz Lecture & Luncheon

UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry welcomed 106 students from the Dental Class of 2028 to the profession at The W. Kenneth Horwitz Professionalism and Ethics Lecture and Luncheon.

The DDS Class of 2028 was accompanied by School of Dentistry faculty, alumni, donors, and friends for the Aug. 14 event held in the Denton A. Cooley, MD and Ralph C. Cooley, DDS University Life Center. Photos from the luncheon can be viewed on Flickr.  

New School of Dentistry students were treated with a catered lunch and had the chance to network with each other and a faculty or alumni member at each table. As part of their new student orientation, the luncheon offered students the chance to speak to individuals who have insights and experiences within dental school and the profession at large.

Associate Dean for Student and Academic Affairs Robert D. Spears, PhD, MS, provided opening remarks and introduced the topics of the lecture as well as the keynote speaker.

As the keynote speaker and sponsor of the luncheon, W. Kenneth Horwitz, DDS ’61, welcomed the 2028 class and divided his address into two key topics — ethics and professionalism.

Beginning with the ethics component, Horwitz described dentistry as a “contract” that commits its members to “adhere to the highest of all ethical standards.”

“Dentistry places many social and charitable responsibilities on the financially stronger and emphasizes the need to prevent exploitations of the weak,” Horwitz said. “Moral, professional behavior encourages long-lasting and successful relationships and loyal patients.”

To simplify ethics, Horwitz presented his four cornerstones of the often-complex practice — trust, truth, intelligent thought, and honor. He assured the students that they were not alone in adhering to ethical practices.

“We are here to help you in your quest for these ethical values,” he said. “We honor you; we are intelligently thinking about you; we trust you, and that is the truth.”

Pivoting to professionalism, Horwitz explains that it is measured by relationships, including the doctor-patient relationship, the doctor-doctor relationship, the doctor-profession relationship, and the doctor-community relationship.

“We look upon each other as colleagues, not as competitors,” he said. “We are servants, not merchants; we provide services, not commodities; and our allegiance is to mankind, not to material wealth.”

To conclude the luncheon, Joe Mike Piazza, DDS ’79, led the audience in reciting The Dentist’s Pledge. This tradition has historically been a first for students during their White Coat Ceremony but was modified in 2022 to have the occasion be a part of the Professionalism and Ethics Lecture and Luncheon to mark a more appropriate commencement of the profession.