Women in Dentistry luncheon inspires faculty, alumni

UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry faculty and alumni came together Oct. 2 for Women in Dentistry: Leading with Purpose, a luncheon celebrating mentorship, collaboration, and the impact of women in the profession while inspiring attendees to reflect on purposeful practice.

The program, held in the Denton A. Cooley, MD and Ralph C. Cooley, DDS University Life Center, featured keynote reflections from alumna Glenda Owen, MPH ’74, DDS ’81, and Professor Priyanshi Ritwik, BDS, MS, of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry. Both speakers shared personal journeys and encouraged attendees to consider how leadership with purpose shapes careers, communities, and the future of oral health.

Owen, drawing from more than 30 years in private practice in Houston and as an active member of professional dental organizations, reflected on how building trust and fostering growth within her team created a thriving environment.

“Dentistry is a joyful profession if you approach it with the mind of an engineer and the heart of a servant,” Owen said. “I like to think of it as the people development business. I want team members to feel like they’re better people because they work with us.”

Ritwik, whose leadership extends from pediatric dentistry education to mentoring and creative arts, carried that message forward and emphasized the broader impact of women in dentistry on education, research, and innovation. She urged attendees to embrace both purpose and community in their careers.

“We don’t just restore teeth,” she said. “We restore health, confidence, and quality of life. Our purpose is that we care, we mentor, we transform, we innovate, we balance, we nurture, we collaborate, and we open doors for each other.”

The luncheon concluded with an interactive painting session led by Ritwik, giving participants a creative way to connect with one another and reflect on the event’s message through a shared experience.