Dean Anil Kishen opens this milestone issue with reflections on our legacy and future. Read alumni stories, explore Orientation Week highlights, and reserve your commemorative 150th book.
It is my great pleasure to open this issue of the alumni e-newsletter as the new Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto – a role I feel truly honoured and fortunate to hold. I am excited about all that we will accomplish together in this historic 150th year and beyond.
This fall, we were delighted to welcome both our returning and incoming students. I hope the stories in this issue spark fond memories of your own school days and the anticipation of new beginnings. To greet our newest class, we hosted a memorable Orientation Week for the Class of 2029, highlighted by the traditional White Coat Ceremony. In this issue, alumna Dr. Effie Habsha, 9T5, 9T8 Dip Prostho, 0T0 MSc Prostho reflects on the unique joy of experiencing the milestone as both a proud graduate and a parent of an incoming DDS student.
This issue also features Class of 8T4 alumnus Dr. John Kovalcik’s reflections on our 150th Open House, along with a link to our 150th online shop. Look for a special opportunity to pre-purchase a commemorative 150th Anniversary hardcover book, a keepsake to mark this landmark moment in our history as well.
As we celebrate this milestone year, I invite you to connect with one another and with us through alumni programming, upcoming events, and by sharing your stories.
In my time at the Faculty and now as Dean, I have already learned that our alumni are inseparable from the fabric of this institution. No matter when you graduated, you continue to shape who we are today, and for that, I am deeply grateful.
With warm regards,
Anil Kishen, B.D.S., M.D.S., Ph.D.,
Professor and Dean, Faculty of Dentistry
Arthur Zwingenberger Decanal Chair
As the Faculty’s 150th celebration wraps up, we caught up with alumnus John Kovalcik 8T4 to hear about his dental school memories and his experience at the 150th Open House.
Know a fellow U of T Dentistry alum making a difference through leadership, mentorship, student support or research? Help us celebrate those shaping the future of oral health. Nominations close on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025.
Your feedback is helping guide how we connect, support, and celebrate our alumni community—ensuring meaningful engagement for years to come. Now it’s time to share your voice again and help us shape the next chapter of alumni engagement at U of T Dentistry.
Incoming DDS students kicked off their dental journey with Orientation Week 2025, themed “The DDS Cinematic Universe.” Coordinated by 2T8 students Arnold Chau, Sogol Noormandi, and Dharmik Parekh, the week combined classic events and new activities to help first-years connect and celebrate their start at the Faculty.
102 High school students got a hands-on glimpse into dental school on July 16, exploring clinics, practicing skills, and learning from DDS student mentors through U of T’s Summer Mentorship Program.
Welcoming the Class of 2T9 at the annual White Coat Ceremony seen through the eyes of a proud parent alumna of a first year DDS. Alumna Dr. Effie Habsha, 9T5, 9T8 Dip Prostho, 0T0 MSc Prostho reflects on the unique joy of experiencing the milestone as both a proud graduate and a parent of an incoming DDS student.
Professor Céline Lévesque has received a $615,826 CIHR grant to study synbiotics — a mix of probiotics and prebiotics — as a preventive solution for childhood cavities. Her team aims to develop a food-based strategy to improve oral health, especially in underserved communities.
Second-year DDS student Sam Yang is running a 100-mile ultramarathon on Sept. 6 to raise funds for the Faculty’s Noma Action Group. Inspired by his instructor’s advocacy, Yang says the challenge builds the same resilience needed for dental school — his goal: to finish and make a difference.
Join us in celebrating U of T Dentistry's 150th anniversary with a special online pop-up shop! Discover a curated collection of limited-edition merchandise and keepsakes designed to commemorate this historic milestone.
Join virtually on October 21 for this free Category 2 course (1 CE credit) with Dr. Lionel Lenkinski 7T9. The lecture explores how bias affects clinical decision-making in dentistry and offers strategies to improve patient care in areas like diagnosis, treatment planning, informed consent, and follow-up.
With National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at the end of the month — discover the power of Indigenous storytelling in Sugarcane, a compelling documentary uncovering truths about residential schools, followed by a meaningful discussion with the U of T community.
Join the UTM Indigenous Centre on October 4 for the third annual All-Nations Powwow — an Indigenous social celebration where community members can gather to enjoy traditional singing and dancing. All are welcome, including non-Indigenous community members.
In this recorded lecture, U of T Dentistry alum and health law expert Dr. Gary Srebrolow 8T3 explains the essentials of informed consent in clinical practice. He highlights patient rights, how consent should be obtained, and what providers need to communicate — offering practical guidance for everyday patient care.
This course offers practical strategies for restoring single and multiple crowns, covering all phases from planning to execution, including preparation, temporization, moisture control, impressions, cementation, and aesthetic considerations.
This course equips general practitioners with the knowledge and confidence to assess when pulp therapy or stainless-steel crowns are indicated for primary teeth and to competently provide these treatments.
We want to hear from you! Inspire your community. Share your stories, photos, updates, publications, accomplishments, or exciting news at alumni@dentistry.utoronto.ca
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