Dental Class of 2028, IDEP Class of 2027 share pledge at white coat ceremony

Dental students from the Class of 2028 and the inaugural class of the International Dentist Education Program read The Dentist's Pledge during UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry's 27th Annual DDS White Coat Ceremony. Photo by Shyam Tailor.

The 106-member Dental Class of 2028. Photo by Shyam Tailor.

The five-member class of the International Dentist Education Program with Marilia Mattos Sly, DDS, MSD, IDEP program director (front middle). Photo by Shyam Tailor.

UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry welcomed 111 students into the health care profession during the 27th Annual DDS White Coat Ceremony on Jan. 10.

The milestone event recognized members of the Dental Class of 2028, along with the inaugural cohort of the International Dentist Education Program, whose students will graduate with the DDS Class of 2027.

Dean John A. Valenza, DDS ’81, delivered welcome remarks to students, families, faculty, and guests, recognizing the dentists, dental hygienists, and other dental professionals in attendance. He emphasized that the white coat represents more than a uniform, describing it as one of the most recognizable symbols of the health care profession from a patient’s perspective.

Valenza framed the white coat as a promise to patients and the public. “Our coats carry a message to patients that ‘Here is a health care professional who is going to help me,’” Valenza said. “It implies someone who possesses great skill or experience; has high standards and behaves in a professional manner; will put the needs of others before their own; and is committed to lifelong teaching, learning, and service.”

He encouraged students to view the ceremony as the beginning of a deeper professional responsibility. “Today is more than a symbol,” Valenza said. “It is a pledge, a commitment, and a responsibility to serve humanity, and to be professional at all times and in all places, in person, online, or otherwise.”

As students formally enter the clinical phase of their education, he urged them to place patients first, work collaboratively, remain engaged, and stay current in the profession.

C. Roger Macias, DDS, returned as the keynote speaker for a third consecutive year. Editor of the Texas Section of the American College of Dentists, Macias drew on more than four decades in dentistry — including service as team dentist for the San Antonio Spurs and other professional sports organizations, as well as colleges and high schools across South Texas — to challenge students to ground their careers in ethics, hard work, and gratitude.

He reminded students that clinical expertise must always be matched with compassion and humanity. Using the phrase “The jawbone is connected to the heart bone,” he urged students to remember the connection between technical care and human connection.

“No one cares how much you know; they care how much you care,” Macias said, encouraging students to honor the trust patients place in them. “And welcome to the greatest profession in this world. Congratulations.”

Throughout the ceremony, students were coated by family members and loved ones — including parents, siblings, extended family, and significant others — highlighting the personal support behind each student’s journey into dentistry.

Elizabeth A. Hunsaker, DDS ’85, past president of the UTSD Alumni Association, led students through The Dentist’s Pledge.

Robert D. Spears, PhD, associate dean for student and academic affairs, emceed the ceremony, announcing each dental student and coater, while Ralph A. Cooley, DDS, assistant dean for admissions and student services, bookended the program with closing remarks before leading the student processional.

The UTSD Alumni Association provided personalized white coats for the ceremony. Event sponsors included the Houston Academy of General Dentistry and the Houston Asian American Dental Society. Special thanks went to the School of Dentistry’s Office of Student and Academic Affairs for organizing the event and to the PACE Center for support and providing lapel pins to each student.