Women in Leadership Dinner 2025

Reflection by D28, Nicole Sardelis
On August 8th, TUSDM proudly hosted its annual Women in Leadership Dinner. A well-known and truly
inspiring evening dedicated to celebrating the strength, resilience, and achievements of women in
dentistry.

Held in the Alumni Lounge, this year’s event welcomed the incoming D29 women who filled the space
with energy, curiosity, and open hearts. Guided by D28 volunteers, each table engaged in small-group
conversations that encouraged sharing personal stories, reflecting on their journeys, and forming
meaningful connections with their peers. Laughter, tears, and heartfelt exchanges set the tone for an
evening rooted in power and sisterhood.

Following dinner, our four remarkable D27 student leaders Bryce Pitts, Diana Florencio, Maya
Abujamra, and Troi Davis took the stage to share their unique perspectives on leadership in dentistry.
Each speaker offered a deeply personal reflection, touching on topics such as mental health,
authenticity, perseverance, and the transformative nature of “the climb.” Gabriel Levy, D28 Class
President, sent in a video inspiring D29 women to not shy away from running for a top elected position
if they feel they have something to offer their class.

A recurring theme throughout the evening was the idea that “there’s always going to be another
mountain”. This quote was a reminder that embracing challenges is not only inevitable but essential to
growth and leadership. The dinner served as both a welcome and a call to action for the next generation
of women in dentistry.

Here’s what some of our D29 students had to say about the event:

“This was a life-changing experience. It touched on every aspect of wellness—mental, academic, and
social—and offered invaluable insight into balancing dental school while thinking about leadership. I’m
so glad I came. Truly empowering.”

“These women seem just like me. It made me believe I can do it too :)”

“I appreciated the diversity among the panelists—each woman had a unique story and purpose. Their
heartfelt, concise messages reflected genuine passion and dedication to both leadership and dentistry.”
“I loved everything about everyone in the panel, to be among women leaders in dentistry was
invigorating, uplifting, and encouraging.”

We are proud to continue this annual tradition and look forward to seeing how our newest class of
future leaders will rise, support one another, and keep climbing.