Homecoming and Reunion Weekend 2024

 The School of Dental Medicine's Homecoming and Reunion weekend, held from November 14-16, brought alumni together for an exciting series of events. With live music, inspiring speakers, and a look at the latest in dental innovation, it was a weekend to remember!

Homecoming and Reunion weekend began early for the School of Dental Medicine alumni on Thursday, November 14 with an alumni spotlight lecture by Thomas O. Marxen, DDS, MSD (DEN ‘83) who presented Dental Infections Can Kill You! Many faculty and students also attended the lecture and afterward all enjoyed lunch together in the South Winter Garden. Later that evening many alumni ventured to Thwing Center to enjoy Blue Bash festivities. 

On Friday, November 15, dental alumni enjoyed a beautiful view of Sheila and Eric Samson Pavilion while eating breakfast on the third floor balcony. They had an opportunity to meet Dean Kenneth Chance, members of the Development and Alumni Relations Department, and members of the Alumni Association. After attending the university Alumni Awards luncheon, attendees met their classmates at the School of Dental Medicine Welcome Back Reception at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. The event featured cocktails and Cleveland style appetizers. Curators were on hand to answer questions about oral health history exhibits. 

Martin Nweeia, DDS (DEN ’84) and the CWRU Interactive Commons also treated attendees to a HoloLens experience with the Narwhal whale. Dr. Nweeia is a dental surgeon and the world’s leading expert on the narwhal tusk and tooth organ system. Live music was provided by Tom Leatherman, DDS (DEN ‘85) and his band Cloud9CLE for the second year in a row.

Early Saturday morning, attendees gathered to enjoy breakfast in The Cosgrove Courtyard of Sheila and Eric Samson Pavilion and then attended either the Pediatric Dentistry Symposium or the Dental Technology Tour. The Dental Technology Tour included a HoloLens experience of JAWS at work, a peek at the newly upgraded simulation clinic and a tour of the dental clinic provided by Vice Dean and Chair of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dale Baur, DDS (DEN '80). 

Later that morning, Jed Best, DDS, MS (DEN ‘79) joined Anil Parwani, MD, PhD, MBA (MED ‘99) and Andrew Reimer, PhD, RN, CFRN, FAAN (NURS ‘04, ‘10) in a Health Sciences collaborative panel presentation on The Role of Healthcare Providers in the Age of AI. Each presenter provided insights about the use of AI in each of their disciplines: dentistry, medicine (specifically, pathology), and nursing.

Over 325 people attended the highlight of the weekend, the School of Dental Medicine Night of Celebration, held on Saturday in the Tinkham Veale University Ballroom. Dean Kenneth Chance delivered a State of the School address noting that the school is thriving, recently successfully completing its accreditation review by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, following its new strategic plan The Business of Dental Education, and integrating new technologies into dental education including the use of CAD/CAM initiatives under the new Chair of the Department of Comprehensive Care and Associate Dean for Digital Innovation, Dr. Ilser Turkyilmaz. 

Michael Gallagher, DDS (DEN ‘83) President of the School of Dental Medicine Alumni Association, spoke about his two priorities as president, engagement and fundraising. He asked all alumni to consider becoming a mentor of a D1 or D2 student via the Alumni Association’s new mentorship program and to make a personally significant annual gift to their alma mater in celebration and appreciation of their own success. Dr. Gallagher celebrated each class celebrating a reunion before presenting the 2024 Alumni Association Awards. 

Nicholas A. Nutile, DMD (DEN ‘17) received the 2024 Outstanding New Dentist Award. T. Roma Jasinevicius, DDS, MEd (DEN ‘74, ‘76) received the 2024 Special Recognition Award for her 48 years of teaching dental students. Andre Mickel, DDS, MSD, MDiv, DMin (DEN ‘91, ‘94) received the 2024 Distinguished Alumnus Award for his significant contributions to the field of endodontics. Dean Kenneth Chance announced the creation of the Dr. Andre Mickel Endowed Fund in Endodontics. The fund will serve as a lasting tribute to Dr. Mickel’s life’s work and will support the Department of Endodontics in perpetuity. 

Six members of the Grand Class of 1964 came together to celebrate their 60 year reunion.
Back row (left to right): Jack McIver, Nelson Petrov
Front row (left to right): Norman Mittleman, Giedra Matas, Richard Benveniste, Weylund Lum

Eleven members of the Grand Class of 1974 came together to celebrating their 50 year reunion. 
Back row (left to right): Anthony Kestler, Scott Alperin, Lawrence Palmer, Robert Zatroch, Eric Gordon, Peter Pasciuccco
Front row (left to right): William DiZinno, Hymie Akst, Michael Franklin, Stuart Levine, Michael Jarus

Thank you to all of the class representatives who reached out to classmates to encourage their attendance. 
Class of 1964 - Richard Benveniste and Alan Robbins
Class of 1969 - Stuart Katz
Class of 1974 - Scott Alperin and Peter Pasciucco
Class of 1984 - Charlene Krejci and Marsha Pyle
Class of 1989 - Tom Kelly
Class of 1994 - Mike Calderon, Vinson Vig and Ronald Wolf
Class of 1999 - Cameron Gage
Class of 2004 - Lucia Johnson
Class of 2014 - Robert Appel, Adam Kennedy and Lauren Primiano
Class of 2019 - Kimberly Baumgardner, Alison Kolosionek
 
Please enjoy the photos and the videos from the evening!

Welcome Reception Photo Gallery

Dental Technology Tours/Panel Presentation on AI Photo Gallery

Night of Celebration Photo Gallery

Night of Celebration State of the School & Awards Presentation Video