SIU School of Dental Medicine

08/05/2026

We are so excited to welcome the Class of 2030 to the SIU School of Dental Medicine. The entering class arrived on campus last week for their Orientation Program. They have officially taken their first few steps on their journey toward their D.M.D.

Of course, we are also happy to welcome all of our dental students back to campus to start the fall semester. The 2026-2027 Academic Year at SIU SDM began on Monday, August 3. So another new academic year has officially begun.

Please join us in welcoming the Class of 2030 to the SIU SDM campus community! And, we sincerely wish all of our dental students all the best throughout the 2026-2027 Academic Year.

07/29/2026

Over the summer, the SIU School of Dental Medicine was honored to host the third annual Dentistry Day for student participants in the BESt Healthcare Institute 2026 Summer Program. The Institute's Summer Program is an intensive, four-week, STEM-based educational program, designed to spark high school students’ interest in health-related careers and create a pipeline of well-prepared candidates for careers in healthcare, as well as lives of service, leadership and community impact.

Participants of the Dentistry Day spent the day on the Alton campus immersed in dental practice through interactive presentations, mini-lectures, lunch, a campus tour, a student discussion panel, and hands-on preclinical exercises in the School’s John and Anna Markarian Simulation Lab.

Earlier in the summer and also of note, the SIU SDM Chapter of the Hispanic Dental Association participated in a similar career pathway program, also including interactive presentations, panel discussions, and hands-on learning at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro St. Louis Leadership Institute. Eight SIU SDM dental students and an SIU SDM faculty member spent the day with more than 30 high school students.

"At the SIU School of Dental Medicine, we believe that expanding awareness of oral health careers begins long before students apply to college,” said Dr. Nathalia Garcia, Assistant Dean for Career Development at SIU SDM.

“Through our collaborations with programs like the BESt Healthcare Institute and the Hispanic Leadership Institute, we are creating meaningful opportunities for high school students from diverse backgrounds to explore dentistry through mentorship, hands-on experiences, and personal connections with our faculty and students. We hope these experiences inspire the next generation of oral health professionals and help build a workforce that reflects and serves the diverse communities we care for.”

Learn more about these impactful career pathway programs facilitated by SIU SDM students and faculty.

On June 25, Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SDM) hosted the third annual Dentistry Day for student participants in the BESt Healthcare Institute 2026 Summer Program. The Institute is a four-week STEM-based intensive designed to spark high school students’ interest in relat...

07/21/2026

As we look forward to starting a new Academic Year at SIU SDM, we have some big news to share! SIU SDM is launching our new Graduate Periodontics Program.

Dr. Saulius "Sonny" Drukteinis, Dean of SIU SDM, recently announced that SIU SDM had earned initial accreditation approval for a new Graduate Periodontics Program. He added that a critical component of the new program - a formal partnership with Alton Memorial Hospital - was also recently finalized.

The new Graduate Periodontics Program will be led by Dr. Mohamed Omran-Alfaituori, who previously directed the Implant Dentistry Fellowship Program at SIU SDM and is now stepping into this new role as Program Director.

The inaugural set of Graduate Periodontics residents will be Dr. Jay Niebrugge and Dr. Younghye Heo. Both are graduates of SIU SDM!

The growing (and now rather robust) SIU SDM Graduate Education program now includes: Advanced Education in General Dentistry, Fellowship in Implant Dentistry, Graduate Endodontics, Graduate Orthodontics, and now Graduate Periodontics.

Please feel free to read more about the newest graduate education program at SIU SDM below.

Saulius Drukteinis, DMD, MS, PhD, Dean of SIU SDM, recently announced that the SIU School of Dental Medicine is launching its new Graduate Periodontics Program, as of July 1. The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) discussed and granted an initial accreditation approval for the new program ...

07/07/2026

When Jack Weber, DMD, addressed his Class of 2026 cohort as student speaker at commencement this spring, he shared gratitude for one of his strongest supporters. The newly conferred SIU SDM graduate acknowledged Chris Flamer, a Building Service Worker at SIU SDM, known to students not only for keeping their learning spaces ready, but also for being their favorite sports historian, steady encourager and source of support.

Flamer, an Edwardsville native, has worked for the SDM for more than 15 years and did not expect the recognition. He has attended only a few ceremonies over the years, usually after students personally ask him. This year, that invitation came with the surprise public tribute from Dr. Weber.

It is not often that the hard working staff, mostly working behind the scenes at SDM, are publicly recognized. So it was good to see this acknowledgement and appreciation.

Kudos to Dr. Weber for offering this recognition. And thank you to Chris for all you do for the SIU SDM campus community.

We encourage you to read more about Chris and his public tribute at the Class of 2026 Commencement Ceremony.

When Jack Weber, DMD, addressed his Class of ’26 cohort as student speaker at commencement this spring, he shared gratitude for one of his strongest supporters, and pointed to the crowd.

06/30/2026

The SIU School of Dental Medicine is very excited to share the announcement that 14 individual scholarship awards were recently presented to 12 remarkable dental students for the 2026-2027 Academic Year. The 2026 SIU SDM spring scholarship awards ranged in value from $1,000 to $15,000. The total value of the scholarship assistance provided to these outstanding dental students was $112,000.

Congratulations to Amy Adduci, Emily Bone, Kassandra Canales, Chase Fincham, Addisyn Gardner, Max Hartwig, Emma Johnson, Labiba Mahmud, Kelly Metcalf, Danielle Moss, Dzmitry Sazonau, and Kalynn Schwoebel! Please join us in congratulating these deserving dozen dental students!

And please read more about these amazing scholarship recipients and each of their individual awards with the link below.

The Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) recently announced the presentation of 14 individual scholarship awards to 12 remarkable dental students.  The 2026 SIU SDM spring scholarship awards ranged in value from $1,000 to $15,000. The total value of the scholarship assis...

06/25/2026

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Ken Tilashalski, SIU SDM Class of 1991, on being selected by the SIUE Alumni Association and the SIU SDM Alumni Association to the 2026 SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame.

Dr. Ken Tilashalski is Dean of the College of Dentistry at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, where he leads strategic initiatives focused on dental education, research, and expanding access to care across Tennessee. Prior to joining UTHSC, he spent nearly three decades on the faculty at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, including more than 12 years as associate dean for academic affairs.

SIU SDM is honored to have Dr. Tilashalski represent the School of Dental Medicine at the 2026 SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame Ceremony, which will be held on November 13 at the MUC Meridian Ballroom on the Edwardsville Campus of SIUE. Please consider joining us to celebrate Dr. Tilashalski.

And please feel free to learn more about Dr. Tilashalski's career and about all the honorees to be celebrated at the 2026 SIUE Hall of Fame Ceremony.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has announced 10 inductees to the 2026 Alumni Hall of Fame. The SIUE Alumni Association Hall of Fame honors distinguished alumni who have made exceptional contributions in their careers, communities and to the University. This year’s Alumni Associat...

06/18/2026

We want to once again congratulate each graduate of the Class of 2026 on completing their journey toward their DMD. SIU SDM is very proud of the Class of 2026 - our 51st graduating class - and all that they have accomplished, individually and collectively.

We were honored to celebrate this amazing group of graduates at their Commencement Ceremony earlier this month. And we hope you enjoy seeing many of the photos taken at that event. (See below.) We hope the ceremony was memorable for the Class of 2026, as well as for their family and friends who joined them at this celebration.

Of course, now each graduate will continue to create their own path in the esteemed profession of dental medicine. We know they will do great things in the communities they serve. We wish you all the best!

June 6, 2026

06/16/2026

Congratulations to the Class of 2026! SIU SDM is very proud of each of the 57 graduates who celebrated their commencement ceremony on June 6 at the First Community Arena at the Vadalabene Center on the Edwardsville Campus of SIUE. The Class of 2026 represented the 51st graduating class of SIU SDM.

Dr. Sonny Drukteinis, Dean of SIU SDM, introduced keynote speaker, Dr. Bruce Rotter, Dean Emeritus, who served as Dean of SIU SDM from 2012 to 2021. Dr. Rotter is the only alumnus to serve in the position of Dean of SIU SDM. During his tenure, he led the School’s effort to secure more than $10 million in fundraising, including the launch of the School of Dental Medicine Dean's Scholarship Program.

Jonathon Weber, DMD, served as this year’s student speaker. He thanked the faculty for their countless hours of dedication; the janitorial staff present during the late-night hours of studying; and his classmates who became a close family.

To close the ceremony, Dr. Drukteinis shared these parting words with the Class of 2026: “Skilled, loving and compassionate doctors of the Class of 2026, you are the gift that this world needs. I extend my congratulations to each of you and wish you all the success.”

We look forward to learning about all the great things these doctors will accomplish as they enter the esteemed profession of dentistry. In the meantime, learn more about the Class of 2026 and the 2026 Commencement Ceremony below, and please join us in congratulating this amazing set of graduates.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Chancellor James T. Minor, PhD, conferred Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degrees upon 57 graduates of the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM). The commencement ceremony was held Saturday, June 6 at the First Community Arena at...

05/12/2026

Please join us in offering a heartfelt thank you to all those who helped to make the 31st Annual SIU SDM Prophy Cup Challenge Golf Tournament a success. Our 2026 golf tourney raised over $50K and will allow the School to make another impactful investment in our faculty and recruitment and retention efforts.

While we genuinely appreciate everyone who supported the golf tournament this year, we want to extend a special thank you to the 2026 Prophy Cup Challenge Gold and Silver Sponsors. These sponsors truly allow the School to make the most of our annual golf tourney and to continue to invest in faculty who inspire and motivate our students to be the best they can be.

Our 2026 Prophy Cup Challenge Gold and Silver Sponsors are as follows:

• Dr. David Allen, The Dental ER
• BioHorizons
• Dr. Susan Bishop
• Delta Dental of Illinois
• Dental Arts Laboratories
• Dr. Gary and Mrs. Rhonda Fischer
• Dr. Jeffery and Mrs. Kimberly Harmon
• Dr. Michelle Kleinheider, The Dental Suite
• Illinois State Dental Society
• Dr. Kenneth Meiss
• The Procter & Gamble Company / Crest + Oral B
• Dr. Kathleen Seibert Renner
• SIU SDM Alumni Association
• Southern Implants
• Straumann
• Dr. Sean Thoms / The Dental Anesthesia Center
• Dr. Dennis Wagner / Custom Dental Care
• Dr. Kristoffer and Mrs. Patricia Tumilowicz

05/07/2026

Thank you again to all those who were able to join us at Spencer T. Olin Golf Course last week for the 31st Annual Prophy Cup Challenge! It is always great to see so many of the SIU SDM community - alumni and faculty, students and residents, staff and friends - spending the day together in support of the School!

While we always talk about the weather on the day of the SIU SDM golf tourney - and we certainly enjoyed a fantastic day last week, it is truly the SIU SDM community who make this event special! It was a lot of fun and we hope everyone had a good time!

Photos of all of these special people are posted here! We hope you enjoy them.

May 1, 2026