ECU dental school celebrates 15th annual fall convocation
The East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine gathered Aug. 18 at the East Carolina Heart Institute for its 15th annual fall convocation — which started the academic year off with inspiring words for students, residents, faculty and staff. Many members of the school tuned in remotely from the community service learning centers across the state.
Dr. Greg Chadwick, dean, welcomed the school community to the kick-off of a new academic year.
ECU Provost Dr. Chris Buddo presents the keynote address during the School of Dental Medicine’s 15th annual fall convocation on Aug. 18. (Photos by Jon Jones)
“This is a very important day in the life of the School of Dental Medicine,” he said. “Our mission, vision and values remain firm, and we believe that’s why most of us are here today, because of that mission, vision and values — and to improve the oral health of the people of North Carolina, especially those in rural and under-resourced communities. We are preparing leaders who understand the importance of being part of primary health care and to help change the conversation about the value of health and the role that oral health plays in primary care.”
Dr. Sarah Lowman, associate dean for student affairs, addressed the Class of 2029 as they began their dental school journey.
“You were chosen for your potential to make a lasting impact on communities across North Carolina, and we’re so glad you’re here. By choosing ECU, you join a professional community dedicated to service,” she said. “You are now part of that story, and we are honored to be part of yours. We celebrate the dentists you will become and the lives you will touch.”
Dr. Margaret B. Wilson, vice dean, told the group about new faces in Ross Hall and across the state, including 49 new faculty and staff members, 26 new residents and 54 predoctoral students in the Class of 2029.
Chadwick highlighted the school’s achievements, including graduating nearly 560 alumni, 88% of whom are practicing dentistry in North Carolina. He added that students and alumni have taken on regional, state and national leadership roles in professional organizations, “contributing to the national conversation on transforming oral health care.” He said that the school’s clinics in Greenville and across the state have provided care for more than 112,000 patients from all 100 of the state’s counties. The school’s current student body represents 89 North Carolina counties, 67 of which are rural.
Chadwick touted the programs through which the school cares for patients who need it most, including the Sonríe Clinic for migrant farmworkers and their communities and the Hyde County Outreach Clinic, which offers dental care once a month in Swan Quarter, fulfilling a need in a county with no practicing dentist or physician.
“All of these original programs were created by the School of Dental Medicine faculty, staff, students and residents who are passionate about caring for the people of North Carolina,” he said.
The school community also heard greetings from Dr. Abrar Bakhsh, secretary of the school’s faculty council, and Johnny Rouse, staff representative on the Dean’s Executive Council.
Dental school students, residents, faculty and staff gathered Aug. 18 at the East Carolina Heart Institute to participate in fall convocation and kick off the new academic year.
“This is the beginning of a rewarding journey of learning, service and professional growth,” Bakhsh told the Class of 2029. “We are excited to support and guide you in every step of the way.”
Salita Greene, a third-year student and president of the dental student government, greeted the audience and gave advice to each of the classes in attendance.
“Welcome to the start of your dental journey,” she told the newest students. “You made it. You worked hard to get here and now you will join a school that will challenge you, shape you.”
Buddo told the audience that the dental school is not only meeting its own mission but aligns closely with the university’s mission of service to eastern North Carolina and the state.
“My background is in music, and I was a little nervous about standing in front of a whole roomful of dentists,” he said. “For me, it’s especially exciting to welcome the newest class. You earned a place here through hard work, resilience and a deep commitment to serving others. Today marks the beginning of a journey that will … ultimately empower you to make an impact on countless lives over your career.”
Buddo said the dental school is special because of its consistent production of dentists who stay in North Carolina to care for the people of the state.
“Your work continues to elevate the school as a beacon of excellence, innovation and service,” he said. “The ECU School of Dental Medicine is not just a place of learning. It’s a force for good in our state. From our pioneering community service learning centers that bring care to rural and underserved areas around the state to our commitment to training dentists who understand the unique needs of North Carolina’s communities, this school has redefined and continues to push the boundaries of what it means to be a public institution of higher learning. You are not just educating future clinicians; together, you are building health care communities.”
Buddo talked about traveling with Chadwick this summer to visit the community service learning center in Ahoskie, the first of the CSLCs to open in 2012. He said it opened his eyes about what it takes to run a community clinic as part of the school.
“The visit certainly brought the mission of the school and by extension the mission of the larger university into sharp focus for me,” he said, “and this mission is more vital than ever. Across the country, higher education faces significant headwinds, and ECU is not immune. Rising costs, shifting public perceptions and questions about the value of a degree have created a moment of reckoning for all higher education.”
Buddo said the dental school’s mission presents clearer answers to those uncertainties.
“The value of education and the difference ECU is making in our state is not abstract — it’s tangible,” he said. “It’s the child who receives her first check-up in a town that hasn’t had a dentist in years. It’s the elderly patient who regains the ability to eat and speak comfortably. It’s the trust we build, the dignity we restore and the health we protect. That is why we are here. That is the value of ECU, and that is the difference we make in the lives of North Carolinians every single day that we operate.”
Near the end of the program, Leslie Bazemore, executive assistant to the dean, was awarded the David L. Sherrill Staff Excellence Award. The honor is bestowed upon a staff member each year who personifies the serving spirit of the late David L. Sherrill, who was the school’s director of course management and passed away in 2022.
Chadwick charged the group to approach classrooms and clinics with revitalized energy and resolve.
“Let’s join together and celebrate the beginning of a new academic year,” he said, “and renewed commitment to our mission and continued determination to bring value to our school, the university and the people of North Carolina.”