Pacific Health Care Collaborative Welcomes New Cohort, Expands Clinical Services
Members of the new IDS Class of 2027 with Dugoni School faculty and staff at the PHCC in Sacramento
The Pacific Health Care Collaborative (PHCC) at University of the Pacific’s Sacramento campus launched its second year of academic and clinical programs this July. This innovative program of the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry welcomed 30 International Dental Studies (IDS) students and four Dental Hygiene (DH) students, bringing the total number of IDS and DH students studying at the PHCC to 63. New faculty members have also joined the Dugoni School in both preclinical and clinical capacities, supporting the expansion of the PHCC’s educational and patient care programs.
The PHCC continues to provide comprehensive dental services to the public and is accepting patient referrals from local dentists and healthcare providers. As part of a commitment to accessibility, the PHCC is now in-network with several dental managed care plans in the Sacramento area, including Liberty Dental Plan, Health Net of California and California Dental Network. The clinic also accepts PPO insurance and is in-network with Delta Dental, Sun Life/DentaQuest and affiliated provider networks.
To learn more about the clinic, visit dental.pacific.edu/PHCCclinic. If you are interested in becoming involved as a faculty member, contact Dr. Kim Benton, director of the PHCC, at kbenton1@pacific.edu or (628) 277-9406.
Shaping the Future of Dental AI: New Guidelines, Symposium and Research Collaborations
As generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) continues to influence a wide range of industries, the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry is taking proactive steps to explore its role in dental education and clinical practice. Through new guidelines, educational events and research partnerships, the school is leading efforts to integrate AI in a responsible and thoughtful way.
The Dugoni GenAI Guidelines Task Force has launched a new website to encourage the ethical, effective and secure use of generative AI across academic and clinical settings. Key topics include data privacy and security, academic integrity, ethical considerations and legal compliance. The site also provides task-specific guidance for teaching, learning, research, clinical care and administrative functions. Explore the guidelines at dental.pacific.edu/genAI.
On January 16, 2026, the Dugoni School’s Center for Innovation and Translation and the Pacific Center for Equity in Oral Health Care are convening a symposium to connect Dugoni School leaders with technology companies developing AI applications for health care. The symposium aims to raise the school’s visibility as a leading research partner in healthcare technology, while also spotlighting the intersection of oral health care, technology and access to care. The agenda will feature a keynote presentation, company showcases and opportunities for partnership development across education, clinical care, research and philanthropy.
In addition to co-hosting the symposium, the Center for Innovation and Translation is actively collaborating with several AI-focused companies, including Overjet, OraQ AI and Velmeni, on projects ranging from diagnostic imaging to risk assessment and workflow optimization. To date, the center has partnered with 31 startups, multinational companies, government entities and other external organizations to test and ultimately accelerate the adoption of proven technologies and innovations into routine clinical practice.
Kimberly LaRocca Named Director of Alumni Association
The Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry’s Alumni Association—one of the largest and most active networks of dental alumni in the country—has new leadership with the appointment of Kimberly LaRocca ’06 DH as director of the Alumni Association. LaRocca brings extensive experience and strong connections within the dental school’s alumni community, as well as more than two decades of expertise in health care, education, stakeholder engagement and strategic leadership.
“I am deeply honored to step into this role and continue serving the Dugoni School family,” said LaRocca. “The Alumni Association is where lifelong friendships, mentorship and shared pride in our profession and the Dugoni School come together to create a powerful, supportive community. I look forward to working alongside our board, fellow alumni and school leadership to strengthen those bonds and create new opportunities for engagement, growth and impact.”
A proud graduate of the Dugoni School’s Dental Hygiene program, LaRocca also holds a second bachelor’s degree and a Leadership in Health Education certificate from University of the Pacific. She has served the school in numerous capacities, including most recently as program manager for the Division of Continuing Dental Education, member of the Dental Hygiene Advisory Committee and coordinator of the Dental Faculty Council. She also served as president of the Alumni Association from 2016 to 2017, becoming the first dental hygiene graduate to hold that position. Additionally, LaRocca brings leadership experience as a board member of the Association for Continuing Dental Education, serving as the organization’s president from 2024 to 2025.
She also has strong family ties to the university. Her father, Dr. F. Paul Senise ’65, her sister, Dr. Kristina Cameron ’98, and her brother-in-law, Dr. Paul Cameron ’95, are all alumni of the Dugoni School of Dentistry, and her husband, Leo LaRocca, is a 1984 graduate of the McGeorge School of Law.
“We thank Kimberly for her passion in serving our alumni community and look forward to seeing her lead the association into the future in partnership with our board members, dedicated staff and the entire Dugoni School family,” said Interim Dean Elisa M. Chávez.
LaRocca’s appointment was the result of a broad search to fill the role following the retirement of Joanne Fox, who most recently served as the association’s director. “I am delighted to welcome Kimberly LaRocca as our new director,” said Dr. Wesley E. Wong ’98, president of the Alumni Association. “Having had the privilege of knowing her both personally and professionally, I can say with confidence that the Dugoni School of Dentistry alumni are fortunate to have such a dedicated and capable leader at the helm. Kimberly’s vision, energy and commitment will not only strengthen our alumni community today, but will also create lasting opportunities for future generations of alumni to benefit from her talents and leadership.”
The Alumni Association is more than 9,000 members strong and hosts a variety of events and programs to promote opportunities for social gatherings, mentorship, leadership and networking among alumni. One of the association’s signature events is the upcoming 127th Annual Alumni Association Meeting, scheduled for January 23-24, 2026 at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. Learn more about alumni programs and sign up for activities at pacific.edu/dental/alumni.
Volunteers Serve Communities from San Francisco to Jamaica
During the past six months, volunteers from the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry have participated in a variety of outreach events, providing care and education to children, families, veterans and international communities. Outreach efforts included dental screenings and oral health education at the Hayward School District Resource Fair, the Pistahan Filipino Cultural Festival and the Chinatown Community Health Fair, in addition to Give Veterans a Smile events—held November 10 on both the San Francisco and the Sacramento campuses.
During the fall break, a group of 70 student and faculty volunteers traveled to Jamaica to provide much-needed dental care to underserved children and families, continuing the school’s proud tradition of global service. “Being in Jamaica reminded me why I’m so passionate about serving others,” said Izzy Razmi, Class of 2026, one of the trip leaders. “It was incredibly humbling to care for patients who’ve had limited access to dental services and to witness firsthand how meaningful compassionate care can be.”
Nadershahi Named to Senior Role at ADA
Dr. Nader A. Nadershahi ’94, former dean of the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, has begun a new role as senior vice president of education/professional affairs at the American Dental Association.
Nadershahi is involved in directing educational affairs and related matters, including policy decisions and activities pertaining to accreditation of predoctoral, advanced and allied educational programs through the Commission on Dental Accreditation; dental and allied dental education policy; licensure and testing services; and continuing dental education provider recognition as well as liaising with various educational communities.
“The landscape of oral health education is constantly evolving to meet and exceed the needs of tomorrow’s professionals,” he said. “I am wholly focused on elevating and innovating the strong foundation of ADA educational programming, policies and offerings to forge new pathways for growth and development in service of our profession and our organization.”
Nadershahi served as the ninth dean of the Dugoni School of Dentistry and vice provost of the San Francisco campus following numerous faculty and administrative leadership roles at the school. He concluded his service as dean at the end of June 2025.