Invest in People: A message from Penn Dental Medicine Commencement 2026
On May 19, 2026, Dental Capacity Founder Dr. David Ugai addressed the graduating Class of 2026 at Penn Dental Medicine. His message centered on a belief that has guided Dental Capacity since its founding: meaningful, sustainable change begins with investing in people.
In a world often focused on immediate results, investing in people can seem like a slow path to impact. Yet history shows that the greatest transformations are driven by individuals who have been given the opportunity, support, and encouragement to grow into leaders, educators, and changemakers.
Around the world, millions of people lack access to oral healthcare. The challenges are significant, and the need is urgent. While direct service plays an important role, long-term solutions require something more: strengthening the people and institutions that will continue serving their communities for generations to come.
Throughout his career, David has seen the profound impact that a single mentor, educator, sponsor, or supporter can have on another person's future. Behind every skilled clinician, every educator, and every leader is someone who chose to invest their time, knowledge, resources, or encouragement along the way.
That conviction shapes everything we do at Dental Capacity.
Our work focuses on strengthening dental education across Africa by supporting students, faculty, and academic institutions. We help create pathways for future educators through specialist training opportunities, support faculty development initiatives, and partner with universities to strengthen teaching and learning environments. We believe that strong institutions are built by capable people who are equipped to lead, teach, and serve.
The impact of these investments extends far beyond any one individual. When you support a future educator, you influence the hundreds of students they will teach throughout their career. When you strengthen a dental school, you help build the workforce that will care for entire communities. The ripple effects can last for decades.
As the Penn Dental Medicine graduates begin the next chapter of their professional journey, they join a profession uniquely positioned to invest in others. Whether through mentorship, teaching, leadership, service, advocacy, or philanthropy, every dental professional has the opportunity to contribute to something larger than themselves.
The future of oral health will not be shaped by a handful of extraordinary individuals alone. It will be built by thousands of people choosing to share their knowledge, resources, and experience with the next generation.
We congratulate the Penn Dental Medicine Class of 2026 on this remarkable achievement and thank Penn Dental Medicine for the opportunity to share this message.
We invite you to watch the full commencement address below and consider how you can play a role in strengthening dental education and expanding access to care around the world.
Together, we can create a future where every community has the dental workforce it needs to thrive.
Ready to Invest in People?
Every dental educator trained, every student supported, and every institution strengthened creates opportunities that extend far beyond a single individual.
If David's message resonated with you, we invite you to join us.
Invest in people. Invest in education. Invest in lasting change.