TRODENT FEATURE STORY
50 Years of Sweet Friendship
Ostrow’s premier philanthropic support groups, the Friends of Dentistry, come together to celebrate a half-century of supporting the school — the impacts of which can be felt in every corner of the school.
BY YASMINE GRIMBLE MCG ’16
ON A CLEAR SEPTEMBER EVENING IN 2025, just beyond the glass railing of the USC Tower, the Los Angeles sky glows from the setting sun’s golden rays. Thirty stories up, Ostrow alumni, faculty, students and friends lean into conversation as the sun drops to the west. Former classmates mingle after delighted double takes and hugs; Interim USC President Beong-Soo Kim walks around the room, introducing himself and posing with community members for the cameras; and a handful of current students stand just a little straighter as they’re introduced to the benefactors who have been helping make an Ostrow education possible for almost twice as long as many of these current students themselves have been alive.
On its surface, the elegant building-top celebration marks the 50th year of Friends of Dentistry, the premier philanthropic support group for Ostrow. But, for those gathered atop the USC Tower that night, the milestone is a chance to look back at five decades of generosity and forward to what the next generation of donors, alumni and students will build together.
“Standing on that rooftop and seeing so many eras of Ostrow together really brings home what Friends of Dentistry has done for the school,” says Friends of Dentistry Board Chair Brian Hong DDS ’89, PEDO ’92, MS ’96. “You saw the past, present and future of the profession all in one place.”
It Started With An Idea
Friends of Dentistry began in 1975, when volunteer leader John B. Wilson DDS ’36 and then-Dean William H. Crawford realized that the USC dental school needed a focused group of champions to help keep pace with a changing profession. The school had plenty of loyal alumni — the Century Club had already raised a substantial amount of money to help fund a new dental facility to be built on the University Park Campus, for example — but this new group asked members to lean in even more and walk alongside leadership as partners.
“Back then, dentistry was changing quickly, and you could see the educational cost curve already bending upward,” says Derick Tagawa DDS ’68, ORTHO ’71. “Friends of Dentistry gives the Dean flexibility to do things tuition alone cannot cover like recruiting top faculty and implementing state-of-the-art technology.”
Originally called Dentistry Associates, the group later received the name that members say better reflects its spirit. For Vivian Chui DDS ’86, ORTHO ’93, who served as Friends of Dentistry Board Chair from 2003 to 2019, that spirit is what keeps the group strong through leadership transitions and economic ups and downs.
“What makes Friends of Dentistry special is that it is very pure at heart,” Chui says. “It is about people who love the school, want to help students and genuinely enjoy each other’s company in both social and professional settings.”
In fact, Friends of Dentistry members all share similar traits — a commitment to academic achievement, clinical excellence and cutting-edge research; a desire to see the profession continue to grow, under the steady leadership of future oral healthcare professions trained at Ostrow; and often a sense of duty to give back to the institution that set them up for success themselves.
To become a Friends of Dentistry member, donors must contribute at least $25,000 to Ostrow. Memberships come in levels — Chairman Level (starts at $300,000), Presidential Level ($150,000), Provost Level ($50,000) and Dean’s Level ($25,000). You can see the entire list of members here
More Than Fundraising
Today, Friends of Dentistry supports Ostrow in ways that touch upon scholarships, faculty, community outreach, technology and special initiatives. Yet, members are quick to say that providing necessary funds to Ostrow is only part of the story.
“Friends of Dentistry is the premier support group of Ostrow, but we are also ambassadors,” Hong says. “We listen to the students, other alumni and the Dean and then try to step in where we can make the biggest difference.”
For Carol Summerhays DDS ’78, a Friends of Dentistry member and former Chair of Ostrow’s Board of Councilors (2019-2022), the group offers a way to turn strategy into action.
“Serving on the Board of Councilors gives you a broad view of where the school is headed,” Summerhays says. “Friends of Dentistry lets you act on that understanding — whether that is supporting scholarships, community outreach or new clinical spaces.”
Beyond formal meetings — Friends of Dentistry holds three to four meetings annually — the group builds community through shared experiences. Members reconnect at the annual Scholarship Recognition Dinner, cheer together at Trojan football games and, on occasion, travel abroad as a group. Those moments, Chui says, are less about perks and more about deepening relationships.
“When you travel or share a game day with someone, you talk about more than dentistry,” she says. “You talk about family, values and why this school matters.”
Scholarships in Action
If there is one area where Friends of Dentistry’s impact is felt most immediately, it is in scholarships.
Each year, top third-year DDS students, vying for tens of thousands of dollars in scholarship money, present to a subcommittee of Friends of Dentistry members. Using a rubric to evaluate the candidates, each subcommittee member then individually scores the student’s presentation — judging on academic accomplishments, leadership experiences, outreach activities and more — before tallying up all the scores to determine who merits the largest scholarship offered at Ostrow.
Receiving the call that she had been selected the 2025 Friends of Dentistry Scholarship recipient couldn’t have come at a better time for Andrea Woywitka DDS ’26, whose family was experiencing financial difficulties at the time.
“I remember reading the email in disbelief,” she says. “I had to read it twice before it truly sank in. I was immediately overwhelmed with emotion, brought to tears, and I called my family right away.”
The award has eased the pressure of her final year and allowed her to remain deeply involved on campus.
“Beyond immense financial relief, the scholarship allowed me to refocus my energy on my studies,” says Woywitka, who will be attending a periodontics residency program at Texas A&M after graduation. “It also provided a powerful sense of affirmation, giving me confidence throughout my journey by reminding me that others believed in me and recognized my commitment to dentistry. It will forever be one of the most memorable moments of my life.”
For 2023 Friends of Dentistry scholarship recipient Francisco Ramirez DH ’18, DDS ’23, the award took on added meaning, coming from successful oral healthcare practitioners who knew what it took to make it in the profession.
Friends of Dentistry Mission Dedicated to advancing the future of the oral healthcare profession, the Friends of Dentistry serve as champions for the USC oral healthcare community. Their generosity has long supported students with scholarship funds, invested in groundbreaking advancements in technology and infrastructure and upheld the legacy of excellence for which Ostrow has been known since 1897.
“I remember feeling overwhelmed in the best way — a mix of gratitude, disbelief and appreciation,” he says. “To be considered alongside such incredible peers is an honor in itself.”
Receiving the scholarship during his third year eased financial pressure and affirmed his path toward pediatric dentistry.
“It allowed me to fully invest in my education,” says Ramirez, who this past summer completed his pediatric residency at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. “Knowing that donors believe in my potential pushes me to keep striving so I can better serve my patients and the communities I care about.”
What stayed with him most were the donors themselves. After the awards, he met several Friends of Dentistry members and later shadowed some in practice.
“They were genuinely invested in supporting the next generation,” he says. “I still keep in touch with some of them, and they continue to encourage me now as I start my career.”
For members like Summerhays, moments like the Scholarship Recognition Dinner capture the heart of Friends of Dentistry.
“Seeing a student relax a little when they realize someone is standing behind them is incredibly moving,” she says. “You realize you are not just supporting a school — you are changing individual lives.”
The Next 50 Years
Ask Friends of Dentistry members why they choose to support Ostrow and their answers almost always circle back to gratitude and community.
“I owe so much of my career to this school,” Tagawa says. “Supporting Friends of Dentistry is my way of making sure those opportunities are there for future students.”
New member Masi Hashemian DDS ’91 brings another perspective. During her time as a USC dental student, she created the Persian Student Dental Association to make sure classmates like her felt connected.
Now, as a retired practice owner and donor, she is drawn to opportunities that help students find that same sense of belonging.
“Over time, I developed an even deeper appreciation for my education at USC,” Hashemian says. “If my giving can help students feel less alone and more supported, that is very meaningful to me.”
Chui hopes that future members continue to see Friends of Dentistry as both a serious commitment and a source of joy.
“There is real responsibility in stewarding resources for the school,” she says. “But there is also a lot of fun. The friendships you form and the students you meet enrich your life.”
Hong is already looking ahead to the next chapter.
“We want more alumni and friends to see themselves in Friends of Dentistry,” he says. “There is room for people at different stages of their careers, who care deeply about this place and want to help it stay strong.”
Ostrow Dean and University Professor of Dentistry, Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Yang Chai PhD ’91, DDS ’96 counts the group as powerful allies in his quest to lead the school into the future, after being named Dean in July 2025.
“I am truly blessed to be able to count on so many incredibly dedicated, visionary professionals in the Friends of Dentistry,” says Chai, the G. Donald and Marian James Montgomery Professor of Dentistry. “I look forward to not only working with them to build an incredible future for Ostrow but also to inspire others to come forward and support us in our mission to define the future of oral healthcare education.”
Back at the top of the USC Tower, as the sun sinks below the watery horizon and the city lights flicker to life below, that vision feels tangible. A longtime member shares a laugh with a former student who is now a colleague. A recent graduate thanks a donor whose scholarship helped her cross the finish line as conversations drift from football scores to clinic stories to the future of the profession.
It is one evening atop a tower, but for Friends of Dentistry it is also a glimpse of what 50 years of generosity has built and what the next 50 might hold.
Meet the FoD Board
The Friends of Dentistry is led by a board, distinctive Friends of Dentistry members who act as ambassadors for Ostrow, helping to position the dental school among the nation’s most prestigious. Here is the current roster of Friends of Dentistry board members:
Brian Hong DDS ’89, PEDO ’92, MS ’96
Chethan Chetty DDS ’00
Santos Cortez Jr. DDS ’76, PEDO ’78
Marina Jimenez DH ’90, MHA ’09
Reuben L. Johnson DDS ’12, ENDO ’20
Ruth Kawakami DDS ’90, ORTHO ’95
Karen J. Liang DH ’02, DDS ’06
Mindo Lee DDS ’03, GPR ’04
Ali Modarres DDS ’91
Saro Setian DDS ’00
Gary S. Solnit DDS ’86
Derick Tagawa DDS ’68, ORTHO ’71
Hail to the Chiefs
Throughout its 50-year history, as it has made a significant impact on both the school as well as the oral healthcare profession, the Friends of Dentistry philanthropic support group has been led by some truly visionary individuals. Meet the alumni leaders who have held the reins over the years.
1975-1978
John B. Wilson
1979
Donald L. Tuverson
1980
Floyd E. Dewhirst
1981
John B. Wilson
1982
James A. Holt
1983
James W. Perkins
1984
Hiroyoshi Shimono
1985-1986
Laurence B. Kaplan
1986-1987
Lincoln Riley
1987-1988
Bruce Schutte
1989-1990
John P. Lehman
1990-1991
John H. Lytle
1992-1997
Edward F. Furstman
1997-2001
David Eggleston
2001-2003
Mark Tarica
2003-2019
Vivian Chui
2019-2022
Derick Tagawa
2023-2025
Brian Hong