Marquette University School of Dentistry held its 19th annual White Coat ceremony Friday, Aug. 28. Hosted for the first time at Church of the Gesu, the celebration culminated orientation week for the Class of 2030 as the 100 new students embark on their journey into the dental profession.
After remarks by Dr. Debbie Tahmassebi, provost, and Dr. Elsbeth Kalenderian, professor and dean of the dental school, the keynote address was delivered by Dr. Marko Vujicic, chief economist and vice president of the Health Policy Institute at the American Dental Association. In his address, Vujicic shared three main points for students to carry with them:
- Becoming an oral health physician
- “We now understand that the mouth is not a separate organ system — it’s a window into overall health and a key driver of wellness,” Vujicic said.
- Data is the new stethoscope in healthcare
- AI and digital dentistry are already here. “Data and technology are there to strengthen the relationship you have with your patients and make you a better clinician,” he said.
- Entering a Golden Era for dentistry
- As someone who studies healthcare systems, Vujicic believes millions more Americans can gain access to dental care if we don’t allow the profession to be siloed among other healthcare fields.
Class of 2030 Fast Facts
- 100 students from 15 states, including 50 from Wisconsin
- 3,686 applications received, a 19% increase from 2025
- Graduates from 55 colleges and universities
- 18 completed undergraduate degrees at Marquette
- Average age is 23
- 9% students of color
- 10% first-generation colleges students
- 56% are women
- Median undergraduate GPA is 3.77
