Fourteen GSDM Alumni Participate in 2024 Commencement Festivities as Co-Presenters
1. Ahmad Ismail DMD AS 24 and Aseel Ismail DMD 21 ORTHO 24, 2. Ardeshir Hakimi DMD 24 and Nazila Bidabadi-Hakimi CAS 82 DMD 87, 3. Bardia Navid CAS 20 DMD 24 with parents Shahram Navid DMD AS 13 and Marjan Fakhri DMD 14, 4. Corey R. Friedman DMD 24 and Alan Friedman PROS 77, 5. Jacob Fares CAMED 20 DMD 24 and Fadi Fares DMD 95, 6. Kevin Baradar DMD 24 and Persiah Baradar PEDO 23, 7. Shilpa Agarwal DMD 17 PEDO 24 and Rajesh Agarwal DMD AS 16, and 8. Stephen Carpinito CAS 18 CAMED 19 DMD 24 and Pasquale Carpinito DMD 87 (Images provided by Stacey McNamee.)
Fourteen alumni co-presented diplomas to their loved ones during GSDM’s 2024 Convocation Ceremony on Friday, May 17, continuing a tradition first started in 2012.
GSDM allows alumni who are immediate family members (parent, grandparent, sibling, or spouse) of a graduate to co-present the diploma alongside the dean or program chair. Typically, 14-15 alumni participate each year.
Three alumni co-presenters shared with GSDM Communications about what this one-of-a-kind experience meant to them. Here’s what they had to say.
Dr. Alan Friedman PROS 17 said it was wonderful watching his son, Corey R. Friedman DMD 24, receive a doctorate from his alma mater. He is looking forward to seeing his son thrive in the profession.
“As a 1977 BU PROS alumnus, to see your child follow your footsteps by graduating from [your] alma mater with no ‘pushing’ on my part [is] a proud moment,” Friedman said. “He should only enjoy this new endeavor with [the same] enthusiasm and zeal that I have experienced over the years. Dentistry is a physical and mental challenging profession, yet rewarding, and I hope he is ready for the challenge!”
Fadi Fares DMD 95 said co-presenting his son, Jacob Fares CAMED 20 DMD 24, with his diploma will always be one of his most treasured memories.
“It was an experience filled with joy, enthusiasm, and gratitude that I will never forget,” Fares said. “I couldn’t be prouder of Jacob’s accomplishments, a reflection of his dedication, resiliency, perseverance, and hard work.”
Nazila Bidabadi-Hakimi CAS 82 DMD 87 said it was a full-circle moment giving her son, Ardeshir Hakimi DMD 24, his diploma.
“Not only was this a celebration of his great achievement, and the continuation of our family legacy, but also it was a great moment to stand shoulder to shoulder with some of those professors who were involved with my own education at Boston University,” Bidabadi-Hakimi said.
A complete list of the alumni and their respective graduates is as follows:
- Alan Friedman PROS 17 and Corey R. Friedman DMD 24
- Fadi Fares DMD 95 and Jacob Fares CAMED 20 DMD 24
- Nazila Bidabadi-Hakimi CAS 82 DMD 87 and Ardeshir Hakimi DMD 24
- Asia Yip SAR 14 CAMED 15 DMD 19 and Gagan Dhaliwal DMD 19 ENDO 24
- Hiren Patadiya DMD AS 21 and Vrunda Adeshara DMD AS 24
- Pasquale Carpinito DMD 87 and Stephen Carpinito CAS 18 CAMED 19 DMD 24
- Aseel Ismail DMD 21 ORTHO 24 and Ahmad Ismail DMD AS 24
- Tamanna Gandhi DMD 18 ENDO 21 and Raju Gandhi DMD 24
- Persiah Baradar PEDO 23 and Kevin Baradar DMD 24
- Rajesh Agarwal DND AS 16 and Shilpa Agarwal DMD 17 PEDO 24
- Victor Perez PERIO 23 and Angie Perez-Celis PERIO 24
- Bruce Crawford PERIO 90 and Garrett Crawford PERIO 24
- Marjan Fakhri DMD 14, Shahram Navid DMD AS 13 and Bardia Navid CAS 20 DMD 24