Dear fellow alumni and friends of the School of Dentistry,
Last week, we celebrated our Class of 2026 graduates. Commencement marks a significant milestone in the careers of our dental and dental hygiene students and our residents. Although many tend to look at their graduation as a destination, I challenged them to see it as only one small step in their journey.
As healthcare professionals, we have a duty and responsibility to stay focused and committed to service in support of our patients, as well as always maintaining a commitment to excellence in clinical practice. We must always remember that the “quality of our caring” is equally important as the “quality of care” that we provide. We all have a responsibility to steward and develop the future of our profession. Developing the future of our profession is one of our core values and requires a deliberate personal commitment to clinical excellence and quality patient care.
We want to extend a special thank you to our faculty and staff for your commitment to our School and especially to our students. Our graduates are a direct reflection of your commitment to excellence and to our profession.
This weekend, we observe Memorial Day. It is a solemn day of reflection and remembrance, and honors service members who died while serving. Historically, it dates back to 1868 and the initial years following the Civil War, where approximately 700,000 Americans died. The tradition of laying flowers on soldiers’ graves became common throughout the country, with May 30 becoming known as Decoration Day.
In the late 1800s, many cities around the country began observing the day as Memorial Day, with New York becoming the first state to designate Memorial Day as a legal holiday in 1873. Following World War I, it became custom to honor Americans who died in all wars on Memorial Day. With the passage of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act in 1971, Congress established that Memorial Day was to be commemorated on the last Monday of May.
An interesting and notable accepted point of etiquette. Since Memorial Day is a day reserved for honoring and remembering service members who died in service to our Nation, and although it is always appreciated and graciously accepted, one does not generally thank a veteran or current member of our armed forces for their service on Memorial Day. Veterans Day, November 11, honors and thanks all who have served in the U.S. military, both living and deceased. Armed Forces Day, the third Saturday in May, celebrates and thanks those currently serving in the U.S. military.
On this Memorial Day weekend, please pause to honor and remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to our Nation.
Thank you for all you do for our School and especially for our students and those entrusted to our care.
Lead well at every engagement. Glad to be here. Let’s Go!
Stephen Pachuta
Dean