Recent Posts
Recent dental grads awarded licenses at event
Recent dental graduates of Texas A&M University College of Dentistry gathered July 1 to receive their dental licenses at the 2025 Licensing Expo in Austin. Attendees reported that approximately 25-30 of the new graduates attended the event, which was optional. It was hosted by Texas State Board of Dental Examiners.
17 dental hygiene grads awarded licenses at event
Seventeen recent graduates of Texas A&M College of Dentistry's dental hygiene program gathered June 30 in Austin to receive licenses from the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners. Commonly referred to as Dental Hygiene Expo, the 2025 Licensing Expo event celebrated the final step for most dental hygiene graduates before they embark on their careers.
Doctoral student receives future faculty fellowship award
Ran Tao, a third-year doctoral student in biomedical sciences at Texas A&M College of Dentistry, recently received the Texas A&M Future Faculty Fellowship (F3) Award for 2025-26.
Doctoral student earns first place
Sanjaya Thapa, a doctoral student in biomedical sciences, won first place in the Bernard G. Sarnat Award competition at the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) 103rd General Session in this week in Barcelona, Spain.
5 hot tips for summer smiles when wearing braces
Whether spending time by the pool or heading off to camp, good dental care should always be a priority for those with braces. Dr. Shivam Mehta, assistant professor of orthodontics at Texas A&M College of Dentistry in Dallas, offers five tips for healthy summer smiles:
Three inducted into Hall of Fame
Texas A&M College of Dentistry in Dallas honored three new Hall of Fame inductees on April 30. Drs. Amp W. Miller III, Ernestine S. Lacy, and John S. Findley each continue to serve and build the dental profession.
Noureldin earns double honors
Dr. Amal Noureldin, clinical professor in public health sciences at Texas A&M College of Dentistry, will assume the vice presidency of the cariology research section of the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research in June. She also was elected to serve on the American Academy of Cariology’s board of directors.
Class of 2025’s memories and final thoughts
Another graduation has come and gone at Texas A&M College of Dentistry in Dallas, and students are embarking on their next chapters. We asked a handful of students about their expectations of dental college before they started and what they know now. "Before dental school, I thought it would mainly be an academic grind—just tougher classes and lots of lab time. I didn’t expect how deeply it would challenge my resilience, humility, and ability to grow through failure. Now I’ve learned that dental school is as much about becoming a better teammate and leader as it is about becoming a skilled clinician."
Graduation 2025 brings smiles to all
Several years of study and work led to success for 170 dental students, dental hygiene students and graduate students who earned their degrees May 25 from Texas A&M College of Dentistry in Dallas. The procession was led by Teachers of the Year Dr. Amp W. Miller III, professor in the comprehensive dentistry department, and Professor Brandy S. Cowen, clinical assistant professor and clinic coordinator in the dental hygiene program. Student speakers included Justin Thamsorn, class president representing the dental students; Jennifer Truong, class president representing the dental hygiene students; and Dr. Athanasios Rigos, who represented the graduate students.
Smiles we remember: Dr. Tommy W. Gage
It is with deep sorrow that we share the news of the passing of Dr. Tommy W. Gage, who died May 23, 2025. Dr. Gage began his distinguished career at the dental school in 1969 as associate professor and chair of the Department of Pharmacology. He later served as vice chair and professor in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Pharmacology and held a clinical faculty appointment in the college’s Stomatology Center. He retired in 2000 as professor emeritus. Following his initial retirement, Dr. Gage returned to serve as director of curriculum, retiring a second time in 2002 after 33 years of dedicated service.
Public health sciences honors with community awards
Public health services recently honored students and members of the community who helped them during the 2024-25 school year. Awardees included:
Biting into the next chapter: 2025 grad returns to military life as a Navy dentist
For Daniel Hupp of Colleyville, it’s molars and the military. He graduates May 25 from Texas A&M University College of Dentistry in Dallas and reports in July to Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina, as a Navy officer and a new dentist. Hupp is familiar with military life. He served in the U.S. Marines for a decade, including several years as a Naval Flight Officer flying dangerous missions in Syria and Iraq. He resigned in 2021, only to reenlist the next day in the Navy so he could participate in its Health Services Collegiate Program for Navy Sailors who want to become dentists or other health care professionals.