In front of family and friends, 46 first-year students at Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine’s Class of 2028 pledged their commitment to excellence and ethics in patient care at the annual White Coat Ceremony, held at the Sidney Gelber Auditorium on Stony Brook University’s main campus.
Eighty-seven percent of the class hails from New York State, a promising figure given the school’s commitment to build up the dentistry workforce, particularly in Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (DHPSAs). They came to the SDM from 23 undergraduate institutions, including 11 who earned their bachelor’s degree at Stony Brook University.
The white coats symbolizing their dedication to the well-being of their patients, the Class of 2028 will begin seeing patients in the Dental Care Center (DCC) in the spring of their first year before seeing a full complement of patients at the beginning of their second year, a clinical setup unique on the dental school landscape.
“We, your faculty, look forward to deepening your knowledge, refining your values, and teaching you skills over the next three years so that you will be prepared to bear the title of doctor,” said Dolores Cannella, MA, PhD, associate dean for education and associate professor in the Department of General Dentistry. “But we are not your only teachers. Your patients will indeed teach you as well. Remember to be astute observers and listeners to your patients, who will teach you how to reach a proper diagnosis, how to deliver patient-centered care and how to improve patient lives.”
Brian Howe, DMD, MS, associate dean for clinical operations and patient care in the DCC and associate professor in the Department of General Dentistry, shared helpful “pearls” that he has accumulated in his years of practice, hallmarked by compassion, compromise and commitment to continuous improvement. Also, he recommended that they take advantage of emerging technology in the field but not lose sight of what’s most important in caring for patients.
“Remember the impact that you have on each patient you see. Remember, it is about the person you are treating,” Howe said. “Technology is a great tool that allows us to provide amazing dentistry, but keep in mind that dentistry isn’t about the gadgets and the wow factor. It is about taking care of people and the impact that you will have on their lives.”
Long committed to caring for patients from underserved populations, Greg Maddalena, DDS ’05, GPR ’06, was honored with the 2025 Distinguished Alumnus Award by the SDM’s alumni chapter. Maddalena is the chief dental officer of Sun River Health, a 24-location multi-specialty practice that is the largest network of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in New York State. In his address to the students, he implored the Class of 2028 to consider how they can truly change the lives of individuals in underserved communities.
“Today, you’ve already achieved so much. You’ve earned your place in one of the nation’s most elite dental programs. Your future is full of promise, and your success is almost assured—thanks to the academic and clinical excellence of this school,” he said. “But I encourage you to look ahead and ask: How can I make a difference? Because someone out there desperately needs the care that only you will be able to provide.”
