Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC

Congratulations and fight on to the Dental Explorers Class of 2026! Yesterday, the class finished the four-day summer program that gave them plenty of opportunities to explore the oral healthcare field. The group completed educational sessions, hands on experiences and personal reflection opportunities. We are proud of you all and hope to see you one day in the halls of Ostrow!

Let’s hear it for Dr. Parish Sedghizadeh, who just earned a highly coveted spot with this year’s Big Ten Academic Alliance’s Academic Leadership Program, a prestigious year-long fellowship that has helped shape some of the most influential figures in American higher education.

“It’s such a good opportunity to have formal training in administration like this,” said Sedghizadeh, who will join fellows from other major research universities for seminars at Michigan State University, Northwestern University and the University of Michigan, beginning this fall. “I’m looking forward to seeing how academia, research, teaching and leadership all come together at other institutions.”

You can read more about the honor at the link in comments.

Fight on, Dr. Parish!

Professor of Clinical Dentistry Diane Melrose shares her expertise on flossing with Marie Clarie as the magazine launches its first-ever Teeth Week. According to the article, flossing has apparenlty grown in popularity among the health-and-wellness set with the availability of easier, more efficient tools to keep the spaces in between teeth clean.

Click the link in comments below to read what Melrose and others had to say about the flood of high-tech flossing devices.

Ostrow faculty members Parish Sedghizadeh and Anette Vistoso are leading a new study investigating the impacts of a cheap, widely available skin cancer drug, Imiquimod, on oral cancer. Could an off-label usage, which activates a patient’s own immunity cells to attack and kill abnormal cells, be the next great tool against the often deadly disease? Read more at link in comments.⬇️

It’s not a well-studied condition, but 5-8 percent of Americans experience temporomandibular joint disorder. Now, a new discovery by Professor Jianfu Chen and his CCMB research team, has shed additional light on the condition, which can cause pain in the jaw, face or ears, as well as clicking, popping or locking of the jaw. The new article, published in Nature Communications, identified a lymphatic vascular system in the synovial tissues of the temporomandibular joint. This could mean that one day healthcare providers would target your lymphatic vascular system to more effectively lessen joint degeneration or pain — likely welcome news to those experiencing the painful condition. Read more at link in comments. ↓

Fight on, Jeff and CCMB team!

Congratulations to the Class of 2026! Thank you Tracy Pham for capturing the magical moment! ✌️🎓🦷

Countdown to Commencement

Sophia Conroy DDS ’26 loved going to the dentist as a kid — so much so that she’d ask her mom would they could go back. “I was fascinated by the instruments and the experience itself,” she says.

Now about to graduate with a doctor of dental surgery degree, Conroy’s childhood dreams are about to become reality as she prepares to begin a pediatric residency this summer.

Sophia says USC’s strength is its community. “I have all these people in my corner who I could reach out to at any time in the future.”

Read more about Sophia’s journey at the link in comments.

Fight on, Dr. Conroy! ✌️

Countdown to Commencement

When Felipe Martinez DH ’19, DDS ’26 walks across the stage this Friday, he does so with an added distinction — he is the first person in his family to receive a doctoral-level professional degree (he also earned his family’s first undergraduate degree — a dental hygiene degree from Ostrow).

“My journey hasn’t been straightforward,” Felipe says. “But each step, from being a first-gen student to becoming a dental hygienist and now a DDS graduate, has shaped who I am. I hope to continue growing, giving back and helping others navigate similar paths.”

Now, with a DDS in hand, Felipe plans to work as a general dentist in Southern California and endeavors to mentor upcoming oral healthcare students to help them follow in his footsteps.

Learn more about Felipe’s journey at the link in bio.

Fight on, Dr. Martinez! ✌️

The OKU Zeta Chapter recently held its Dental Honor Society Convocation, where the honor society welcomes its newest inductees and celebrated this year’s OKU scholarship recipients. Congratulations, and fight on to all!

Slide 1: Congratulations to the 2026 scholarship recipients!

Back row: Ryan Tran, Allen Yaldiko, Carla Kelliny, Yena Yang, Prof.  OKU Zeta Vice-President Linda Brookman, Victory Thapa, OKU Zeta President Enciso, OKU Zeta boardmember Joyce Sumi, Talar Kevorkian and Dean Yang Chai
Front row: OKU Zeta Treasurer Yaara Berdan, Ezinne Abba, and OKU Zeta President-Elect Piedad Suarez Durall

Slide 2: Congratulations to the OKU Class of 2026 inductees!

Front Row: OKU Zeta Treasurer Yaara Berdan, OKU Zeta VP Linda Brookman, OKU Zeta boardmember Joyce Sumi, OKU President-Elect Piedad Suarez Durall and OKU Zeta President Reyes Enciso

Middle Row: Samantha Incognoli, Sandra Shim, Caitlin Tran, Rupika Bither,  Bent ul Huda Yakubi,  Feroza Hayatt, Dianne Bui, Andrea Woywitka and Yuchen Yang

Back Row: Leda Brady, Aryana Zamanifar, Aaron Duan, Eric Duong, Allen Yaldiko, Dean Yang Chai, Brian Wong, Eugene Asabor, Nathaniel Lasalle, Kaveh Mahdavi and OKU Zeta boardmember Emad Bassali

Slide 3: Congratuations to Associate Professor of Clinical Dentistry John Morzov, the faculty inductee for 2026, who is pictured here with OKU Zeta President-Elect Piedad Suarez Durall

Countdown to Commencement

Inspiration can be found nearly anywhere. Just ask Kimberlee Kiep Witthoft DDS ’26, whose childhood dental hygienist used to encourage her every time she visited the dentist to pursue her oral healthcare dreams. Fast forward to this Friday, and Kimberlee makes good on that childhood dream, earning her DDS degree from Ostrow.

For prospective students, Kimberlee has some advice. “Never give up, even if you don’t get in,” she says. “Everyone’s journey is a little different. If becoming a dentist is your dream — and you’re willing to put in the work — you’ll get there.”

Read more about Kimberlee’s journey at the link in comments.

Fight on, Dr. Kiep! ✌️