School of Dentistry Commencement 2026: Students celebrate degrees and look forward to leading the profession into the future

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Ann Arbor, Mich., Friday, May 15, 2026 – The 2026 graduates of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry were lauded during commencement on May 8 for their mastery of technical dentistry skills combined with their ability to deliver compassionate healthcare for their patients.

Speakers praised the graduates’ commitment and work ethic during their time at the school and offered encouragement as they move forward into the ever-changing field of healthcare that will include new challenges, including how to incorporate advances in technology and artificial intelligence (AI) into the human touch required for patient care.

During the ceremony at Hill Auditorium, the school celebrated the graduation of 126 dental students; 45 master’s degree students in the various dental specialties and Oral Health Sciences; 28 dental hygiene students; and one PhD student in Oral Health Sciences.

As each student walked across the stage to be congratulated by the Dean Jacques Nör, they were often saluted by shouts and cheers from their family members and friends from around Michigan and the country, as well as the families of the many international students the school draws from around the world.

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In his welcome remarks, Dean Nör congratulated the students’ on their accomplishments thus far, noting that their skills will be in great demand as they move into their careers. “It would be tempting for our graduates today – as you receive your diplomas from one of the world’s best schools – to think that the hard work is done. Well, let me tell you that this is certainly not the case. This is just the beginning. People all around the country and the world are depending on you, your skills, your knowledge to meet their needs out there.”

That includes those in underserved populations, in both urban and rural areas, where so-called “dental deserts” face a shortage of dentists and dental care. Nör said the dental school is confident this latest cohort of graduates is up to the challenge. “We have prepared you in the classroom and in the clinics for the wide-ranging and often complex dental procedures you will face,” he said. “By mastering this challenging course of professional study, you have proven that you possess the knowledge, the technical skills and, most importantly, the compassion and the ability to make the human connections essential to the practice of dentistry and dental hygiene.”

Keynote speaker Dr. Teresa Dolan, a clinical advisor at Overjet, a global leader in dental Artificial Intelligence, looked to the future with the graduates, noting how much things have changed since she earned her DDS degree in the early 1980s and even since she completed her tenure as dean of the University of Florida School of Dentistry in 2013.

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“You’re graduating at one of the most exciting moments in dental history,” she said. “Artificial intelligence isn’t just coming to dentistry; it’s here already. You are the generation that will determine how to use it to advance scientific discovery and patient care. Michigan has been at the forefront of AI research in dentistry – not just developing algorithms, but asking important questions: How do we validate those tools? How do we ensure that it works across diverse populations? How do we use AI not just to detect disease, but to understand disease mechanisms and prevention strategies?”

The benefits of AI are already remarkable and expanding quickly. “Right now today, AI can do lots of things for us. It can analyze radiographs with remarkable accuracy, detect disease and bone levels that might be missed by the human eye – especially when we’re tired at the end of the day,” Dolan said. “But the technology does not replace your clinical judgment. Instead, it amplifies it. It gives you that second set of eyes to help you catch problems earlier, and provides objective data that you can share with patients to help them understand their treatment needs.”

Dolan said AI also offers solutions for what she called the “access crisis in dentistry” where too many patients are isolated from dental care or can’t afford to travel to a dentist. She noted that healthcare workers in rural areas or underserved urban neighborhood can use intraoral cameras and AI-powered diagnostic tools to screen populations, identify urgent needs, triage patients and connect them to the proper care.

“You, as dental team members, can review those cases remotely, provide guidance and focus your in-person time on patients who need in-person treatment. This isn’t science fiction, it is happening today,” Dolan said. “This model doesn’t diminish your role, it actually elevates it. You become the leader of an interprofessional care team, extending your reach far beyond the impact you could do alone in a traditional practice.”

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Other speakers also offered a variety of wisdom and advice for graduates:

• Dr. Laurie McCauley, Provost of the University of Michigan, who was previously a dental school faculty member and dean for nine years: “You have developed skills that demand repetition, precision and patience on par with a concert pianist but in a much smaller sphere. You have done this to prepare for a professional life where success is often measured by tenths of a millimeter. And layered across these incredible demands is that most mysterious, and perhaps challenging, skillset of all: You have learned to navigate the complexities of human behavior. Your training has included understanding and serving patients as three-dimensional people. They will come to you with their own stories. They will arrive full of fear, hope and everything in between, from every walk of life. … You have the intellect, the skills and emotional dexterity to handle whatever lays over the horizon – because as of today, you are graduates of this top dental school, one that is scientifically steadfast, technologically advanced and deeply caring.”

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• Brooklyn Rochow, Dental Hygiene Senior Class President: “At the University of Michigan, we often hear the phrase ‘Leaders and Best.’ At first, it may sound like a title of achievement, but over time we realized it’s actually a call to action. It’s a standard, not just of excellence, but of service. To be a true leader in healthcare is not about recognition, status or authority, it’s about putting others before yourself. It’s about showing up for your patients with humility, compassion and a willingness to serve, even on the hardest days. It means using our skills not just to treat conditions, but to care for people.”

• Sheree Duff Sawka, Dental Hygiene Faculty Award Recipient: “What makes this moment so meaningful is not simply that you completed a rigorous program. It is how you did it. I have watched you persist through long clinic days, moments of self-doubt, and the pressure of mastering something that requires both precision and compassion at the same time. You learned not just to perform procedures, but to care for real people with fears, stories and vulnerabilities that do not appear in a textbook. And that is where your true education happened.”

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• Javier Sowers Bonamego, DDS Class of 2026 class president all four years: “This journey has challenged us beyond what we could imagine four years ago. When times were tough we leaned on one another, we put our heads down and excelled through it. That’s what makes this moment so special – overcoming constant adversity. And realizing the privilege we have to be trusted by our thousands of future patients. We have the opportunity to heal others, show compassion, show kindness – something the world needs now more than ever. (Dental school)  was never easy because if it was, everyone would do it. I really thought about the message I wanted to share today, one that you could hold on to. It’s simple: Leave everything better than you found it.”

• Faculty member Dr. Sarah Tomaka, who received the Dr. Paul Gibbons Award from the graduating DDS class for her teaching excellence: “I hope that if nothing else, you take away one thing from dental school – how to be kind. … Sometimes patient-centered care is just listening to a patient that day; you may be the only person who talks to them that day. Sometimes patient-centered care is a just gentle touch on the shoulder when patients are anxious. … All the time in the world practicing your crown preps and endo techniques will not get you anywhere if you are not cognizant of others. While dental schools hold technical skills in high regard, you will ultimately be the most successful provider and human by putting others first. In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”

See also:
• Video highlights of 2026 Commencement
• Video of entire ceremony
• More photos on Flickr
• Video: Who students thank for helping them through dental school

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The University of Michigan School of Dentistry is one of the nation’s leading dental schools engaged in oral healthcare education, research, patient care and community service.  General dental care clinics and specialty clinics providing advanced treatment enable the school to offer dental services and programs to patients throughout Michigan.  Classroom and clinic instruction prepare future dentists, dental specialists and dental hygienists for practice in private offices, hospitals, academia and public agencies.  Research seeks to discover and apply new knowledge that can help patients worldwide.  For more information about the School of Dentistry, visit us on the Web at: www.dent.umich.edu.  Email: [email protected], or (734) 615-1971.