Years of dedication came together in one unforgettable afternoon as the 44 Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) graduates, as well as 36 residents and four master’s students, from Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine Class of 2026 crossed the stage at the Staller Center for the Arts to receive their diplomas and certificates at this year’s convocation ceremony. From there, DDS graduates set off to join residency programs in five states around the country, obtaining further training in dental anesthesiology, general dentistry, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics and prosthodontics. Two others will enter private practice.
Patrick Lloyd, dean of the School of Dental Medicine, expressed his congratulations as well as his gratitude to the 2026 class in the event’s opening remarks.
“How fortunate we are that you chose Stony Brook University to receive your dental and advanced dental education,” Lloyd said. “Your distinct personalities, different life experiences and varied educational backgrounds were instrumental in helping us accomplish so much during your years here. And for that we are truly grateful.”
Among those earning their DDS degrees was Ahmed Abdullah, DDS ’26, who committed to serve in the United States Navy Dental Corps, and will begin his oral and maxillofacial surgery residency at Texas A&M University College of Dentistry in Dallas, Texas, in June. He expressed how there was “a sense of home” alongside his classmates, with whom he celebrated successes throughout their four years — and again at graduation.
“Stony Brook was a well-rounded experience that definitely prepared me well,” he said. “I feel clinically competent and ready to develop my skills even further, and I look forward to becoming even more of a healthcare provider and more of an asset to the world.”
Many graduates, however, will remain in New York, with 34 entering residency programs in 11 cities and towns statewide. Olivia Schmitt, DDS ’26, looks forward to joining the general practice residency program at Northwell Health in Manhasset, New York. Schmitt graduated summa cum laude, and joined classmates Sean Altemose, Naomi Newen, Eve Pomazi and Julia Tran as the most recent inductees into Stony Brook’s chapter of the Omicron Kappa Upsilon national dental honors society.
“To finally receive a DDS degree and see all the hard work come to fruition is just the most exciting experience,” she said.
William Kollmer, DDS ’26, matched into a general practice residency position at Stony Brook, where he will further his education as part of what he called “a well-rounded program.” He spoke of his gratitude for the support he received throughout his four years.
“This is a culmination of many years of hard work and dedication, and figuring out how to prioritize, learn new information, and apply that clinically for the betterment of the patient,” he said. “A journey like this is less about the individual than it is about the group and the team. There are a lot of obstacles that you can anticipate, and having friends and mentors along the way is essential.”
The school was pleased to welcome Richard Rosato, DMD, president of the American Dental Association, to deliver the ceremony’s keynote address. Rosato likened the road ahead for this year’s graduates to that of his father, a bricklayer.
“You are graduating today into a profession like his that’s going to ask you to answer a question: what will each of you build?,” he said. “Stony Brook asks you also: what will you dare to be? My hope for each of you is that you dare to be curious, to be comfortable outside the herd shaping lives as a dentist and embracing the opportunity to shape the future of our profession, to build habits of excellence every day, to create a culture of listening in your lives and to be united in purpose to create your legacy.”
Outgoing class president Tomas Pamparas, DDS ’26, spoke of the character that he and his classmates built throughout their four years as dental students. Pamparas, who was accepted into the orthodontics residency program at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, New York, gave way to Dean Lloyd in leading this year’s graduates in reciting the dental pledge, confirming their commitment to providing compassionate patient care.
“Throughout these four years, there were moments where all of us questioned ourselves — moments where we felt exhausted, overwhelmed and uncertain if we were capable of continuing,” he said. “But every single time, we kept going. That is what I hope we carry with us after today — not just the degrees or the titles but the resilience we built here.
“Class of 2026, it has been the greatest honor walking through this journey beside all of you.”