With several years of private practice and 40 years of research and teaching under his belt, OHSU School of Dentistry Dean Ronald Sakaguchi is deeply passionate about continued learning and has brought that passion for helping others to learn to his work in educating the next generation of dentists.  

 “About 15 years ago, when I completed my MBA, I realized I didn’t want to lose any of my learning from that program or from my years of research, and I decided that the best way to continue the learning and to retain it was to teach it,” said Dr. Sakaguchi.

 After being appointed Dean in October 2020, Dr. Sakaguchi has brought that same innovative, forward thinking, and student-centric approach to his work with the School of Dentistry. Without hesitation, he says his favorite thing about his role at OHSU is getting to work with students. 

“They’re energetic, enthusiastic and they have a huge desire to help our communities,” said Dr. Sakaguchi. “The number one question that comes up during orientation is, ‘How can I volunteer?’”

 One way that OHSU helps meet students’ desire to help their communities is through supporting the Bridges Collaborative Care Clinic, a volunteer student clinic that is founded, governed, and operated entirely by students. Approximately 25 percent of all OHSU dental students volunteer for the clinic on top of their already very busy dental school schedules and educational demands.

 Having started his new position in the thick of the pandemic, Dr. Sakaguchi has had a front row seat to seeing the changing needs, interests, and priorities of students in the post-pandemic era, and has taken great care to actively listen to students and follow their lead when it comes to building out programs, resources and tools to support their education and career development.

 “It’s amazing the number of students who do research, take classes outside of the curriculum and are involved in other ways,” said Dr. Sakaguchi. “We have students who have started an innovation club and have supported them by providing 3D printers. We have conducted hackathons, through which a group of students worked on projects to develop an environmentally green clinic, and others are looking at hacking the curriculum. We also have provided management and leadership content for students who are interested in business management. Students are eager for these things – they have a thirst for opportunities to be creative and innovative – and want to be exposed to things in addition to dental school while they’re here.”

 In addition to the desire for creative, innovative, and research-focused outlets, Dr. Sakaguchi is seeing a change in the trajectory of students’ dental careers after graduating. While many dental school graduates used to go into private practice, today they are seeing more students decide to enter community clinics where they may be able to access loan repayment programs. He is also seeing students seek out opportunities to work in larger group settings where they have access to mentors and other dentists to bounce ideas off, instead of the more traditional solo private practice. 

 “Student debt is very limiting in terms of what they can and want to do after graduation,” said Dr. Sakaguchi. “They have a different perspective on their career not only because of the debt, but also because they want to think about the services they can provide to the community.”

 Dr. Sakaguchi also encourages students to seek out opportunities to volunteer, advocate, and engage with organizations in the community to help build that sense of community, mentorship, and leadership within the dental profession.

 “I believe it’s important for dentists in general to think about the profession and how they provide input and advocacy – generally, that’s through organized dentistry,” said Dr. Sakaguchi. “I encourage them to join organizations not only so they can support the profession and their continuing education, but also so they can create a network of people who can serve as mentors as they advance through their career.”

 One way that OHSU helps students connect with mentors and other leaders in Oregon’s dental community is through partnerships with the Oregon Dental Association, exposing students early on to opportunities to have their voice heard when it comes to policies being developed in Salem and Washington, D.C. Many OHSU students are involved with the American Student Dental Association and actively advocate for new dental laws alongside the ODA and other Oregon dentists. This advocacy work goes hand in hand with the commitment Dr. Sakaguchi is seeing in students today to support those with the most need in their communities.

 “One of the biggest pieces of advice I would have for a new graduate is to ensure and promote access to care, particularly for community members who have difficulty in accessing care for whatever reason,” said Dr. Sakaguchi. “We’re working together to create an environment where there’s more equity in health.”

 Whether he is supporting students in their work to expand access to care, creating new, innovative outlets for student creativity, or working closely with OHSU’s world class faculty to deliver a modern curriculum, Dr. Sakaguchi is committed to creating curriculum and programs to train the next generation of dentists that reflect what students are asking for.

 “Organizations are living organisms because they’re comprised of people, and we need to support our students, staff, and faculty. We look at our dental students, and we’re always amazed when they graduate at all the things they’ve achieved while they were here, despite a very full curriculum. Be knowing these things earlier we can support and grow those interests,” said Dr. Sakaguchi.

 That commitment to continued learning, not only through formal education, but through truly listening to this new generation of students, will undoubtedly be the lasting legacy of OHSU’s 10^th Dean of the School of Dentistry.