Dental Therapy Banquet honors Class of 2025

The Division of Dental Therapy celebrated its seven graduating learners with a banquet on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

The seven students who make up the Dental Therapy Class of 2025 gathered with faculty and staff to celebrate their accomplishments in advance of their commencement ceremony. 

Karl Self, DDS, MBA, director of the Division of Dental Therapy, shared his congratulations for the class—the thirteenth class of dental therapy graduates. “You have gone through a lot together and your journey has been filled with challenges, late nights of studying and moments of self doubt,” he said. “Yet you have taken this journey together, as a group, and your camaraderie and commitment to each other will be an invaluable asset to to you as you enter this new profession. We celebrate the hard work, determination and accomplishments of this special group.” 

Self then welcomed Keith Mays, DDS, MS, PhD, Dean of the school, to provide brief remarks. Mays shared his favorite quote by Martin Luther King, Jr., “Of all forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.” 

“Your profession was created to deal with inequality,” he shared. “And so I applaud you for the work you’re going to do, the doors you’ll open to increase access to care. Thank you for wanting to take that journey, and welcome to our community of oral health professionals.” 

Jenna Johnson, MDT ’16, spoke at the banquet in representation of the School of Dentistry Alumni Society. She welcomed the learners into their new role as alumni of the school, and encouraged them to get involved with their alumni society. 

“It is my great honor to be here on behalf of the alumni society today to celebrate your achievements with you and your supporters,” she reflected. “You are representative of this groundbreaking program, extending dental health to underserved populations. Congratulations on your hard work and dedication, and on making it to this day.” 

In addition to sharing remarks, Johnson presented the Karl D. Self Student Achievement Award. The award is presented each year to one senior dental therapy student in recognition of outstanding leadership, scholarship and personal character. The 2025 award was presented to Natalie Kohner.

Finally, Alison Murphy, BSDH ’24, MDT ’25, president of the Class of 2025, shared brief remarks recalling moments of joy from the class’s three years together.

“I think the thing I’m most grateful for in this program is the friendships that we all made,” she reflected. “I watched all of you overcome every obstacle and triumph while in the pursuit of this degree. These are the qualities that dental therapists need to have: empathy for our patients and colleagues, tenacity to get through the hard times and the courage to stand up for ourselves in a difficult profession. I know that each one of you have the qualities to make a positive impact on this profession and to treat your patients with the utmost respect.” 

Congratulations to Ayaa Almosawi, Hannah Kartak, Natalie Kohner, Alison Murphy, Saad Shaikh, Lilly Thach and Taylor Voight on their graduation from the Dental Therapy program!