Reception welcomes Falls as dental hygiene director

Emily Falls, RDH, BSDH, MAEd (middle), poses with host Vinh “Danny” Nguyen, DDS ’08, RDH (left), and Dean John A. Valenza, DDS ’81, at a reception honoring her as the new dental hygiene director. Photo by Kyle Rogers.

UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry leadership, dental hygiene faculty, alumni, and friends gathered June 3 at Sixty Vines in Houston to welcome Emily A. Falls, RDH, BSDH, MAEd, the new director of the Dental Hygiene Program and associate professor in the Department of Periodontics and Dental Hygiene.

Hosted by Vinh “Danny” Nguyen, DDS ’08, RDH, and his wife, Kristy, the reception provided an opportunity to connect with Falls and celebrate her arrival at the school.

Dean John A. Valenza, DDS ’81, welcomed Falls and reflected on the enthusiasm she has brought to the school since joining the faculty in January.

“It’s been a pleasure to get to know Emily,” Valenza said. “One of the things I’ve enjoyed most is watching her integrate into the school community and seeing the relationships she has already built across the institution.”

Falls thanked attendees for their warm welcome and spoke about her appreciation for the collaborative environment she has found at UTHealth Houston.

“It’s truly an honor to have all of you here,” Falls said. “It is a testament to how much this institution, and really the School of Dentistry family, values dental hygiene and what we contribute to our shared mission.”

She also highlighted the opportunities available to dental hygiene faculty and students within UTHealth Houston’s environment.

“We’re at a pivotal time in dental hygiene,” Falls said. “What excites me is seeing how supported dental hygiene is here. Whether it’s leadership opportunities, research, education, or international engagement, this environment exceeds my expectations and makes me excited about the future.”

During the evening, Valenza recognized the Nguyen family for their longstanding support of the School of Dentistry and their willingness to serve as hosts.

“I don’t know a nicer person than Dr. Nguyen and a more passionate person at giving back,” Valenza said. “Over the years, Danny and Kristy have continually supported our students, faculty, and programs, and we are grateful for everything they have done for the school.”

Nguyen, a graduate of both the School of Dentistry’s Dental Hygiene and DDS programs, said supporting the school has always been an easy choice.

“For us, it was a natural thing to want to give back to a profession that has given us so much,” Nguyen said. “I couldn’t imagine doing this for any other cause.”

The evening concluded with fellowship among colleagues, alumni, and supporters, reflecting the strong sense of community that continues to define the School of Dentistry and its Dental Hygiene Program.