LEXINGTON, Ky. (August 4, 2026) — Mauro Santamaria, D.D.S., Ph.D., M.S., associate professor in the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry Division of Periodontology, has been selected to participate in one of the most prestigious scientific gatherings in the field of periodontology.
LEXINGTON, Ky. — For more than five decades, Jeffrey P. Okeson, D.M.D., has shaped the way dentists around the world diagnose and treat orofacial pain, transforming a once-overlooked area of care into a recognized specialty through education, research and clinical leadership. That lifelong commitment earned the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry dean one of the profession's highest honors.
LEXINGTON, Ky. — University of Kentucky College of Dentistry alumnus Dr. Alan Jones has received the University of Kentucky Alumni Association's 2026 Distinguished Service Award, one of the association's highest honors recognizing alumni who have demonstrated sustained service to the university while making meaningful contributions to their professions and communities.
During his time at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry, Joshua Howells, Class of 2027, has participated in outreach programs, cared for patients in clinic, traveled internationally on service trips and built relationships that will extend far beyond graduation. Along the way, he has learned from classmates, faculty members and patients while developing his own approach to leadership and patient care. As he reflects on his experience at UKCD, Howells points to the people around him as one of the most influential parts of his dental education.
Ian A. Boggero, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Division of Orofacial Pain in the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry, has been honored as a 2026-27 University Research Professor. The University Research Professorships were established by the UK Board of Trustees in 1976 to recognize outstanding research achievements by members of its faculty. The program recognizes excellence across the full spectrum of research within each college, helping to foster a culture of innovation and research success.
University of Kentucky College of Dentistry students are earning national recognition for their growing involvement in endodontics. An unprecedented number of students attended and presented research at the 2026 American Association of Endodontists (AAE) Annual Meeting, showcasing both the strength of the College's endodontics program and a student-driven culture of engagement that continues to gain attention nationwide.
In April, while many students spent spring break away from the classroom, a group of students from the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry traveled to Puerto Rico to provide dental care for underserved patients, gaining firsthand experience providing care while serving communities with limited access to oral healthcare.
The University of Kentucky College of Dentistry Class of 2029 has been recognized with the 2026 Lead Blue Award for Event of the Year, honoring their “Pink Walk"—a student-led initiative that brought the campus community together to raise awareness for breast cancer.The award recognizes outstanding events coordinated by registered student organizations during the academic year that demonstrate a unique and meaningful impact on the university community. Created by students, for students, the honor celebrates events that foster engagement, connection and dialogue.
For Kaylee Morris and Kara Morris, life has long been defined by shared milestones. As twin sisters, they have navigated many of life’s biggest moments side by side. Now, they are adding another chapter to that journey as students at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry. While they now sit in the same classrooms and prepare for careers in dentistry together, their paths to the profession were not identical. Kaylee found herself drawn to a career that blends technical skill with personal connection.
Each year, more than 29 million Americans see a dentist but no medical provider. For these individuals, the dental chair is their first and only meaningful point of contact with the healthcare system. And yet, dentists are too often excluded from broader conversations about a patient’s overall care.