Dentistry is a dynamic profession. To stay current, we are constantly forming innovative partnerships, tapping into others’ expertise for inspiration to shape our future and sharing our own resources and ideas in return. Building towards a healthy future calls for interconnectivity, something we’re aspiring to achieve in multiple ways—building relationships in our South of Market neighborhood in San Francisco, expanding our students’ horizons through interprofessional education partnerships and pushing the boundaries of traditional dentistry to meet the needs of our evolving communities.

This issue of Contact Point focuses on new connections. You’ll learn about our new interprofessional educational (IPE) partnerships with University of California, San Francisco’s medical school, University of San Francisco’s nursing program and Pacific’s own Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy. These programs are mutually beneficial for all of the students as they facilitate the exchange of experience and expertise among various spheres of the healthcare world. Our students learn more about the oral-systemic health connection and how oral health factors into the improvement of overall health and well-being.

You’ll also read about an exciting new program—a master’s degree in physician assistant (PA) studies. Pacific’s Board of Regents recently approved this new program, and Pacific Dugoni will be the administrative home for it. We are paving the way with this program, as we will be the only dental school in the country to administer a PA program. It will provide IPE opportunities for our students and leverage Pacific’s strength in healthcare education across our three campuses.

Forming new connections doesn’t mean we let go of old ones. At Pacific Dugoni, the bonds of family are still strong, and we celebrate these familial bonds in this issue. You’ll find familiar faces in the photo spreads of our 116th Annual Alumni Meeting, as alumni gathered to reconnect, recharge and re-invigorate their practices through continuing education courses. This year, our Legacy Ball celebrated the birthday of Dr. Arthur A. Dugoni ’48, who turns 90 this year. It was an exciting occasion.

We hope this issue provides a link from our life at Pacific Dugoni to your own personal and professional lives. You shaped our past and are now providing direction for our future. These connections are so important to us. Thank you once again for being a part of this family.

Sincerely,

Dr. Patrick J. Ferrillo, Jr.
Dean