GSDM News: Ceremony Celebrates First Graduates of BUIDRE

There was an atmosphere of celebration and accomplishment for the 12 graduates and their families at the first graduation ceremony of the Boston University Institute for Dental Research and Education Dubai (BUIDRE), held on July 9, 2011. Graduates from the postdoctoral programs in endodontics, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontology, and prosthodontics wore traditional academic robes with hoods bearing the lilac color of dentistry and the red and white colors of Boston University (BU). The ceremony was held under the patronage of HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The ceremony began with a reading from the Quran by graduating endodontic resident Dr. Mohamed Jamal Ahmed. Chief Academic Officer of BUIDRE Dr. Steven Morgano and 2011 BUIDRE Pediatric Dentistry graduate Sheikha Maryam Abdulla Hamad Al Sharqi served as Masters of Ceremony for the event.

Dr. Morgano said, “Our Institute has been successful in developing outstanding educational programs in five dental specialties, with our first class graduating today. We are all full of pride to see what we have accomplished in three short years.” He continued, “We are small—like a family, and our residents received very close attention from our outstanding faculty. They have worked very hard to be where they are today, and all should be congratulated for their accomplishments. These graduates are the future of dental specialty clinical practice and education for the region. They will become leaders in dental research. Sixty percent of our total student body are Emiratis, and they will remain within the country, bringing to the local society the profound benefits of their knowledge and skills in their specialties, and in so doing, provide the finest oral healthcare to the patients whom they treat in the UAE.”

Joining Dr. Morgano in the platform party were Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter, Vice President and Associate Provost for Global Programs at BU Mr. Willis Wang, and GSDM Associate Dean for Advanced Education and International Programs Dr. Thomas Kilgore.

Opening remarks were also given by Dr. Muhadditha Al Hashimi, CEO of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Academic Medical Center. Additional ceremony speakers included H.E. Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid, Director General Dubai Health Authority, on behalf of HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, Wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; and Mr. Khalid Lootah on behalf of H.E. Dr. Hanif Hassan Ali, The UAE Minister of Health.

Valedictorians were Dr. Fatema Abdulrahman Amir Rad and Dr. Fatma Darwish Al Emadi. Both thanked Dean Hutter, Dr. Morgano, the faculty, and their classmates for the support they had provided during their journey through postdoctoral education.

H.E. Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid, Dean Hutter, Vice President Wang, Dr. Morgano, and the directors of the respective advanced specialty education programs then presented the Certificates of Graduate Study (CAGS) and MScD degrees to each of the graduates. After all of the graduates had received their CAGS and diplomas, Dr. Morgano led them through the reading of the Oath of the Class.

Dean Hutter and Vice President Wang then provided closing remarks to end the ceremony. Dean Hutter said, “You are truly a group of extraordinary students. You have worked extremely hard to reach this point in your academic careers and I commend you on your dedication and tireless efforts. The excellent didactic and clinical education you have received here has prepared you for your successful careers ahead and I wish you all the best.” He continued, “Today also marks a special moment in the history of this Institute as you are the first graduating class. I congratulate you on the fine choice you made to attend BUIDRE and I thank you for being the pioneers that helped us shape BUIDRE into the excellent Institute that it is today.”

Dean Hutter then asked the graduating residents to stand as he conferred their CAGS and masters degrees upon them. “Having now successfully completed your respective Advanced Specialty Education Programs, and with the approval of the faculty, it is truly an honor for me as the Dean of the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine and Chair of the Boston University Institute for Dental Research and Education Board to confer upon you all of the honors, rights, privileges and obligations pertaining to the Certificates of Advanced Graduate Study and Masters of Science in Dentistry degrees you have so rightly earned.”

Vice President Wang said, “I want to offer my congratulations to the Class of 2011 and to their families, and welcome you all wholeheartedly into the Boston University community of over 300,000 living alumni. We are proud of our efforts to assist the Dubai Healthcare City Authority, the Academic Medical Center, and Dubai Healthcare City in pursuing its honorable mission to create an integrated center of excellence in the region for medical and oral healthcare education and research. Each of you can take pride in being in the inaugural class of an Institute that was established to further this mission and laudable goal in this dynamic region of the world. And as graduates of the Institute, we are very proud of your accomplishments.”

Upon conclusion of the ceremony Dean Hutter, VP Wang, CAO Morgano and Associate Dean Kilgore joined the graduating residents and their families, the faculty and residents of the BUIDRE Class of 2012, and honored guests for dinner.

Graduates included:

Endodontics

Mohamed Jamal Ahmed DDS

Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics

Mahra Mohammed Hamdan Al Shamsi BDS
Maryam Sayed Jaffar Al Sharaf DDS

Pediatric Dentistry

Farhat Baalawi DDS
Fatma Darwish Al Emadi DDS
Rana Abdullah Saleh Al Amoudi BDS
Shahnaz Faraz BDS
Periodontology
Maanas Shrungesh Shah BDS
Sufian Omar Abusalim DDS

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