DDS Class of 2030 welcomed to profession at annual Horwitz Lecture

Alumnus W. Kenneth Horwitz, DDS ’61, speaks to the DDS Class of 2030 during the annual professionalism and ethics lecture named in his honor. Photo by Dylan Allen.

A member of the DDS Class of 2030 recites The Dentist’s Pledge during the W. Kenneth Horwitz Professionalism and Ethics Lecture and Luncheon. Photo by Kyle Rogers.

UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry welcomed the Doctor of Dental Surgery Class of 2030 to the profession Aug. 12 at The W. Kenneth Horwitz Professionalism and Ethics Lecture and Luncheon, an annual orientation tradition focused on the values that guide a career in dentistry.

Hosted by the PACE Center during new student orientation, the annual event brought the class together with faculty for a catered lunch in the Cooley University Life Center and an opportunity to build relationships with members of the School of Dentistry community.

The annual lecture is delivered by alumnus W. Kenneth Horwitz, DDS ’61, who has spoken to generations of School of Dentistry students about ethics and professionalism.

Horwitz welcomed the incoming class and encouraged them to approach their dental education with honesty, integrity, and a commitment to doing the right thing. He emphasized that while circumstances and the profession may change, the principles of ethics and professionalism remain constant.

“Honesty. Integrity. Professionalism. Ethics. It doesn’t change. Doing the right thing always works and always pays dividends,” Horwitz said.

Drawing on his more than six decades in the profession, Horwitz described professionalism as being measured through four relationships: doctor-patient, doctor-doctor, doctor-profession, and doctor-community.

He called the doctor-patient relationship the most important, telling students that their responsibility extends beyond a contractual obligation and requires the highest standards of education, skill, judgment, and concern. He also encouraged students to support their classmates and future colleagues, contribute to the dental profession, and give back to their communities through service.

“Help each other and you will help yourselves,” Horwitz said. “Be generous with your knowledge and do not fail to come to our colleagues’ aid.”

Horwitz also urged students to view their dental education as the beginning of a lifelong commitment to learning. He noted that the knowledge and skills students gain in dental school will prepare them to continue learning throughout their careers.

“What you will learn in dental school is specifically how to learn because you will be learning the rest of your practice life,” he said.

Horwitz encouraged the class to carry the principles of ethics and professionalism with them throughout their careers.

“Hold on to your ideals. Look forward and set your standards high,” Horwitz said.

He closed by reflecting on his own career and the responsibility of one generation of dentists to prepare the next. Paraphrasing acclaimed playwright George Bernard Shaw, Horwitz described dentistry as a torch he had held for a time and wanted to pass on burning brightly to future generations.

To conclude the luncheon, Dean John A. Valenza, DDS ’81, led the new students and dentists in attendance in reciting The Dentist’s Pledge. The pledge calls on dentists to put patients first, maintain competence through continuing education, uphold the honor and integrity of the profession, serve their communities, and faithfully observe ethical principles and professional conduct.

The recitation provided the Dental Class of 2030 with a formal reminder of the responsibilities they assume as future members of the dental profession.

As part of the orientation program, Kyle Rogers, marketing and communications manager in the PACE Center, introduced students to the center’s four areas of service: Practice Consulting, Alumni Relations, Communications, and Continuing Education. He also provided an overview of communications resources, university brand standards, media policies, and social media best practices. S. Jerry Long, DDS ’66, co-director of PACE Practice Consulting, outlined resources available to students for career planning, practice consulting, contract reviews, and other professional decisions throughout dental school and after graduation.