50 Years of Innovation at the School of Dental Medicine

The School Celebrates this Major Milestone

The University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine turned 50 in 2023. The CU SDM, formerly the School of Dentistry, welcomed its first students in 1973 and is the only dental school in the Rocky Mountain Region. 
 

In honor of our 50th anniversary, we commemorated the milestone with celebratory events in September. Thank you to all who attended and supported these programs.

White Coat Ceremony

The White Coat Ceremony is a milestone for our dental students, signifying the transition from student to patient care provider. Nearly 120 students received their white coats in the Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) Class of 2027 and the Advanced Standing International Student Program (ISP) Class of 2024 on Friday, September 15, 2023. Several students are highlighted in a CU Dental Newsroom article.

SDM Appreciation & Awards Lunch

During our anniversary week, we recognized alumni, faculty, staff, students and residents during our appreciation and awards lunch. Twelve people were given awards for their unique contributions to our school. The awards were nominated by our SDM community members and voted on by an ad hoc committee. See the winners.

Continuing Education Day

We also had a future-ready continuing education (CE) day, where nearly 200 attendees turned out to learn about artificial intelligence (AI), cannabis, preventive medicine, fentanyl use, the oral microbiome, inflammation and contemporary periodontal therapies, 3D printing, and more. To learn more about our upcoming CE opportunities, visit our webpage.

We look forward to continuing our celebration throughout the remainder of the year and into our next 50 years.