Dental Hygiene Class of 2027 celebrates milestone with white coat ceremony

The 29-member Class of 2027 marked their entrance into the dental profession with the annual Dental Hygiene White Coat Ceremony. Photo by Shyam Tailor.

UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry welcomed 29 students from the Dental Hygiene Class of 2027 into the profession during a white coat ceremony held Dec. 12 at the Cooley University Life Center.

With family, friends, and several distinguished alumni in attendance, the ceremony marked a pivotal transition as students prepare to enter the clinic and begin caring for patients.

In his greetings, John A. Valenza, DDS, dean and The William N. Finnegan III Distinguished Professor in the Dental Sciences, congratulated the class and emphasized the significance of their training within a dental school setting. He highlighted the profession’s growth and the unique opportunities available to students enrolled in one of only 18 dental school-based dental hygiene programs nationwide.

“For each one of you in the Class of 2027, remember the difference you already make in each other’s lives,” Valenza said. “And soon, the difference you will make in the lives of your patients.”

Ralph A. Cooley, DDS, professor and assistant dean of admissions and student services, noted the ceremony as a significant step in the students’ professional journeys, urging them to recognize the progress they made and the impact they will have through patient care and service.

Traditionally held during orientation week, the White Coat Ceremony was moved to the end of the fall semester to more closely align with students’ transition into clinical care, which begins in the spring.

Shalizeh “Shelly” Patel, DDS, MEd, professor and associate dean of patient care, reinforced the importance of trust and compassion as students prepare for clinical practice, encouraging them to view the white coat as a symbol of responsibility to each patient they will serve.

Carrying forward the sentiment, Nikola Angelov, DDS, PhD, chair of the Department of Periodontics and Dental Hygiene and the Raul G. Caffesse, DDS, MS, Dr. Odont. Distinguished Professor in Periodontics, spoke to the essential role dental hygienists play in patient care and practice success.

“Dental hygiene is not just a job. It is the backbone of any successful dental practice,” Angelov said. “Your ability to build trust, communicate, and care for patients will shape their decisions and their health.”

Harold A. Henson, RDH, MEd, PhD, professor, interim director of the Dental Hygiene Program, and a member of the Dental Hygiene Class of 1995, reflected on his own journey and the deeper meaning of the white coat.

“The white coat is more than fabric,” Henson said. “Every thread represents the values you carry, the responsibility you accept, and the lives you will touch. It is both a privilege and a pledge.”

Lori Jones, RDH, BSDH ’06, MBA, president of The University of Texas-Houston Dental Hygienists’ Alumni Association, delivered the keynote address. A 2001 and 2006 alumna of the program, Jones encouraged students to embrace their role as health care providers and advocates.

“You are not ‘just cleaning teeth,’” Jones said. “You are primary health care providers, sentinels of systemic health, and the irreplaceable human link between science and the patient in the chair.”

She urged students to wear their white coats with humility, integrity, and pride, stressing that success in the profession is measured not only by clinical skill, but by how patients feel in their care.

During the ceremony, students were coated by family members and loved ones, including parents, siblings, significant others, children, and partners, underscoring the personal support behind each student’s journey.

After receiving their coats, the Class of 2027 stood together to recite the Dental Hygiene Oath before turning to face the crowd, who rose to applaud the milestone.

Raha Naderi, RDH, MEd, assistant professor, director of community outreach, and a 2009 alumna, served as master of ceremonies, while Assistant Professor Hannah Medrano, RDH, MEd, BSDH ’11, led the processional.

The White Coat Ceremony and reception were sponsored by UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry; The University of Texas Houston Dental Hygienists’ Alumni Association; and the School of Dentistry’s Office of the Dean, Office of Student and Academic Affairs, and Department of Periodontics and Dental Hygiene. Additional support and participation were provided by the Dental Hygiene Class of 2025, the Student Chapter of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, and the PACE Center.