NYU College of Dentistry has received a multimillion gift from alumni Noel Liu, DDS (’07) and Nazish Jafri, DDS (’11) to enhance the College’s programs in implant dentistry and improve access to dental education and care.
In recognition of the gift, the College’s advanced training program in implant dentistry will be renamed the Liu Advanced Clinical Fellowship in Implant Dentistry. A portion of the gift—$1 million—will be dedicated to scholarships for dentists enrolling in the fellowship, creating the Liu Scholars. Having already made the decision to support the NYU Dentistry Oral Health Center for People with Disabilities, where one of the treatment rooms will be named for them, their gift will expand their support to the NYU Dentistry Ashman Department of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry and the Veterans Oral Care Access Resource (VOCARE), among other areas of the College.
“We are deeply grateful to Dr. Liu and Dr. Jafri for their investment in the future of dentistry and their commitment to making dental education and care more affordable,” said Charles N. Bertolami, DDS, DMedSc, the Herman Robert Fox Dean of NYU Dentistry. “It is gratifying to see our alumni succeed and create positive change, and we are humbled to be part of their professional journeys.”
Dr. Liu and Dr. Jafri are the co-founders and owners of Secure Dental, a dental service organization with more than 10 dental practices in Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa, with plans to expand to Tennessee. The husband-and-wife team, who began their careers after graduating from NYU College of Dentistry, are passionate about mentoring the next generation of dental professionals.
"Nazish and I have seen firsthand the transformative power of mentorship in dentistry, and through our relationship with NYU, we are committed to nurturing, guiding, and supporting future dental leaders. This is our passion, and we strive to inspire our future colleagues,” said Dr. Liu.
Dental implants—which provide secure, long-term solutions for replacing missing or damaged teeth—play an important role in restoring healthy smiles. The Liu Advanced Clinical Fellowship in Implant Dentistry at NYU Dentistry is a two-year, full-time program designed for U.S. and foreign-trained dentists seeking to enhance their clinical skills and knowledge in implant dentistry.
The fellowship involves clinical experience, didactics, and research to equip dentists to excel in the field, balancing restorative and surgical experience. In recent years, NYU Dentistry has incorporated emerging and state-of-the-art technology into its implant dentistry care and education programs, including the use of digital dentistry tools and robot-assisted surgery.
“I am delighted that this generous gift will fund scholarships and allow us to attract highly qualified candidates from across the globe. It represents a significant opportunity for our implant program to ascend to new heights of success,” said Sang-Choon Cho, DDS, director of the Liu Advanced Clinical Fellowship in Implant Dentistry at NYU Dentistry.
Drs. Liu and Jafri have maintained a connection to NYU Dentistry through invited guest lectures to first-year dental students; they will continue to impart their expertise to students through mentorship and regular guest lectures.
“Dr. Jafri and Dr. Liu’s investment in the clinical fellowship speaks to their demonstrated abilities to help dentists grow and succeed, and will create a legacy of implant dentistry professionals working at the forefront of their field to restore healthy smiles,” said Anabella Oquendo, DDS, assistant dean for international programs at NYU Dentistry.
About NYU College of Dentistry
Founded in 1865, New York University College of Dentistry (NYU Dentistry) is the third oldest and the largest dental school in the US, educating nearly 10 percent of the nation’s dentists. NYU Dentistry has a significant global reach with a highly diverse student body. Visit dental.nyu.edu for more.
