SIU School of Dental Medicine

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 related careers and create a pipeline of well-prepared candidates for careers in healthcare, as well as lives of service, leadership and community impact. SIU SDM Dean Saulius Drukteini...

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 at SIU SDM at their meeting on February 5.

The new graduate specialty program at the SIU School of Dental Medicine has been in the planning and development stages for several years to ach...

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.

The newly conferred Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) graduate acknowledged Chris Flamer, a Building Service Worker known to students not only for keeping their learning spaces ready, but also for being their favorite sports historian, steady encourager and source of suppo...

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 assistance provided to these deserving dental students was $112,000.

Saulius Drukteinis, DMD, MS, PhD, Dean of SIU SDM, highlighted the achievements of the scholarship recipients, as well as...

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 the Vadalabene Center on the Edwardsville campus. The Class of 2026 represented the 51st graduating class of SIU SDM.

As Chancellor Minor noted, the class comme...

Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SDM) proudly celebrated the graduation of the inaugural cohort of the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Academic Dental Careers Fellowship Program (ADCFP) on May 14, marking an important milestone in the school’s commitment to developing the next generation of academic dental leaders.

The ADCFP, an ADEA national initiative, is designed to introduce dental students to careers in academic dent...

Cap and gown season is here — and SIUE's social media channels are overflowing with pride, tears, and tassel-turning moments as the Class of 2026 walks across the stage. 

Nearly  2,000 graduates were celebrated across six ceremonies held May 8–9 at the First Community Arena at the Vadalabene Center on the Edwardsville campus — from the School of Pharmacy and School of Nursing to the Graduate School, School of Engineering, School o...

On Wednesday, April 22, a delegation from SIU School of Dental Medicine joined dentists of the Illinois State Dental Society (ISDS) at the state capitol for a day of advocacy and connection in Springfield for Lobby Day.

“Lobby Day was a fun, eye-opening experience. Our entire third year dental class attended, as well as three SIU orthodontics residents. It was neat to rub shoulders with our future colleagues from all over the state and learn how t...

On Tuesday, April 14, the SIU School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) hosted its Annual Research Day on the Alton Campus of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, bringing together students, faculty, staff and international guests for a day of sharing research presentations, international collaboration and networking.  

The event featured a presentation on “AI-Enhanced Evidence-Informed Cli...

The SIU School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) student chapter of the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) recently returned from ADEA’s Annual Session, hosted in Montréal, Canada, as winners of a Silver Chapter Recognition as well as the ADEA Student Chapter Community Impact Award. The Community Impact Award, a monetary gift of $350, recognized the students’ involvement with the BESt Healthcare In...

On Saturday, March 7, SIU School of Dental Medicine hosted SIU SDM March Mimosas Brunch 2026 to introduce current students to members of the SIU SDM Alumni Association. The inaugural event brought together practitioners at all levels over chicken & waffles, fresh fruit and champagne.

The scene was set for a welcome break from classes and plenty of networking. 
 
“The SIU SDM March Mimosas Brunch 2026 was a great opportunity for r...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students are among the inaugural recipients of the 2021 SIU System Distinguished Student Service Awards. Awardees were honored during the Board of Trustees meeting held via Zoom Thursday, July 15.

During the meeting, Dianah McGreehan, chair of the award selection committee, announced the recipients and shared brief highlights of their outstanding acts of service. Each will receive $100 and an honorary plaque.

Winners included:

• Madalynn McKenzie &#...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will honor nine remarkable graduates at the 2021 SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame ceremony, A Night Among the Stars, on Thursday, Sept. 23. The impressive alumni have made exceptional contributions in their chosen fields, in their communities and at SIUE through their leadership, character and hard work.

 “Those selected for the Alumni Hall of Fame represent the best of SIUE,” said Andrew Ravanelli, PhD, SIUE Alumni Association president. &#822...