LLU School of Dentistry - Dentalgram, July 2000

Masters degrees awarded at commencement

by Christy K. Robinson

master's graduates

Graduates gather for the commencement service of the Graduate School of Loma Linda University. Clockwise from top center: Marc Dunn, Mark Batesole, Sonja Finnie, Margaret Kowalczyk, Melba Zuniga Mayes, and Camille Neagu.

At the Loma Linda University Graduate School commencement service held on June 11 at the Drayson Center, dental specialists received their Masters degrees in several disciplines of dentistry.

The Master of Science candidates received their specialty certificates at the School of Dentistry commencement services on May 29, and were recognized at that time.

After the colorful procession of faculty, robed in the colors appropriate to the disciplines they represented, the students entered, and the program began.

Guests and graduates were welcomed by Lisa M. Beardsley, PhD, MPH, executive vice president of the University. Calvin Rock, DMin, PhD, chair of the Board of Trustees, gave the commencement address, an adaptation of the Gettysburg Address. After the conferring of degrees by University President Lyn Behrens, MBBS, diplomas were awarded to the graduates.

The dental graduates receiving MS degrees in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics were: Mark Batesole, DDS, Marc Dunn, SD'98, Sonja Finnie, SD'98, Margaret Kowalczyk,DDS, Anitha Nair, DDS, Camille Neagu, SD'97, and David Sy Nguyen, DDS.

In endodontics, David Junn, DDS, and Geoffrey Okada, DDS, earned the MS degree. James Edward Stich, DDS, received his MS in March.

Melba Zuniga Mayes, SD'96, and Dean Walker, SD'97, each received an MS in pediatric dentistry.

In oral surgery, David Gilbert, SD'95, PG'99, obtained his MS.

Joseph Y. K. Kan, SD'90, earned his MS in implant dentistry, as did Marcia P. Figueiredo Pereira, DDS.

A dentist who earned her Master of Arts in biomedical and clinical ethics, was Tricia Lynette Williams, SD'97.