Thompson voted HDA president-elect, school members honored

By Kyle Rogers October 29, 2026

Four people seated in a lecture hall display awards and certificates during a recognition ceremony.

From left, Michelle A. Thompson, DDS; Julissa Mendoza; Gisela Bona, DDS; and Humberto Romo pose on Oct. 28 with their awards and scholarships from the Hispanic Dental Association’s 2026 Annual Meeting and Student Regional. Photo by Kyle Rogers.

UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry faculty and students received national recognition at the Hispanic Dental Association’s 2026 Annual Meeting and Student Regional, held Oct. 1-3 in Boston.

Michelle A. Thompson, DDS, associate professor in the Department of General Practice and Dental Public Health and interim associate dean for patient care, was elected the HDA’s 2027 national president-elect. She will serve as president in 2028 and immediate past president in 2029.

Thompson also received a national service award recognizing her contributions to the organization, where she most recently served as treasurer.

She and Gisela Bona, DDS, co-chairs of the HDA Communications Committee, received the President’s Award for the committee’s contributions to the association’s mission. The committee manages HDA’s social media, highlights organizational achievements and events, and provides professional chapters with social media resources and training through a chapter toolkit.

During the Student Regional, held at Boston University’s Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, third-year dental student Humberto Romo received the Hispanic Dental Association Foundation Crest Oral-B Bridges Dental Scholarship, and second-year dental hygiene student Julissa Mendoza received the Hispanic Dental Association Foundation Crest Oral-B Bridges Hygiene Scholarship.

The foundation’s scholarship program supports students pursuing dental and dental hygiene education, with an emphasis on academic achievement, leadership, community service, and improving oral health in Hispanic communities.

The HDA will bring its annual conference to Houston in 2028, and UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry has been invited to serve as host school for the Student Regional.