School of Dentistry celebrated Women in Dentistry Month

UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry honored Women in Dentistry Month this September by spotlighting women who have inspired, mentored, and advanced oral health through a campaign, titled “Faces of Impact: Women Advancing Oral Health.”

An extension of the School of Dentistry’s Many F.A.C.E.S. program, the initiative invited students, residents, faculty, and staff to nominate women within the dental community who have made a lasting difference. Nominations included a photo and a short reflection, which were displayed on the video wall near Alumni Circle.

Among those recognized were:

• Shalizeh “Shelly” Patel, DDS, MEd
  “Dr. Shelly Patel has been an extraordinary mentor, colleague, educator, leader, and peer. Her guidance has shaped my understanding of storytelling, collaboration, and compassionate leadership. She embodies feminine strength and action-oriented leadership, and she teaches with heart — making every interaction meaningful and transformative.”
• Anita Joy-Thomas, BDS, PhD
  “Dr. Anita Joy-Thomas is someone I deeply admire. As a mentor, colleague, and educator, she has modeled what it means to lead with compassion and brilliance. Her scholarly excellence and ability to elevate service through personal authenticity continue to inspire me.”
• Michelle Aguilos Thompson, DDS
  “Dr. Michelle Thompson has truly inspired all of us at our school by teaching students, residents, faculty, and staff with her vast knowledge and skills in the field of digital dentistry. She is so patient, so understanding, and always available to guide each one of us on our journey with new innovative technology. We are all truly grateful to her.”
• Ana Candia Solari Neumann, DDS, MPH, PhD
  “Dr. Ana Neumann is absolutely brilliant. I’ve learned so much from her about public health, prevention, and health promotion. Her commitment to excellence, forward-thinking mindset, and relentless pursuit of better care delivery have set a high standard for all of us. We are incredibly lucky to be able to learn from Dr. Neumann.”
• Juliana Barros, DDS, MS
  “Dr. Barros is a very talented clinician, and her care and dedication shows through the care she provides to our patients. Students and faculty are equally fortunate to learn from her through her engaging teaching style and years of clinical experience. She has the ability to take complex topics and situations into enjoyable learning experiences.”
• Raha Naderi, RDH, MEd
  “Prof. Naderi exemplifies the meaning of empathy and dedication. Her unwavering commitment to both patient well-being and student success is remarkable. She consistently shows up for others and demonstrates what true compassion looks like. We are very fortunate to have her as part of the faculty.”
• Vuvi Nguyen, MS, PhD
  “Dr. Nguyen has profoundly impacted my dental school experience. She has guided me through the ups and downs and never allowed doubt to creep into my mind about my ability to succeed. She has been incredibly gracious not only with me but with our entire class, and I could not be more thankful for her support.”