Founded in 1896, the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, located in the Pacific Heights area of San Francisco, has served the Bay Area community for 110 years. The school was founded as the College of Physicians and Surgeons with programs in dentistry, medicine and pharmacy.

In 1918, the college focused its education program solely on dentistry but retained its name as the College of Physicians and Surgeons until 1962 when the dental college was incorporated into the University of the Pacific. Pacific is a private university with its main campus located in Stockton, California and its law school in Sacramento, California.

In August of 2004, the Board of Regents of the University of the Pacific named its School of Dentistry as the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in honor of Dean Dugoni. Pacific became the only university in the United States or Canada to name its dental school after a current dean.

1896 – The College of Physicians and Surgeons (P&S) was founded by five physicians and one dentist, Dr. Charles Boxton, a legendary figure of early San Francisco history.

1897 – Initial enrollment at P&S exceeded all expectations with 115 students attending dentistry classes in the first year. This was the greatest number of students to attend the beginning session of any dental school in the history of the country.

1897 – The school’s high standards resulted in only five dental graduates. Having excelled in their previous capacity as dental apprentices, these five received their diplomas after only one year of classes.

1905 – Dr. Faith Leong graduated from P&S, she was the first Chinese American woman to earn a degree in dentistry.
1906 – The school’s building was completely destroyed in the earthquake but was fully restored and operational four months later.

During WWII, the urgent need for dental professionals in the military prompted P&S to streamline its program of instruction, allowing students to finish their degrees in three years, rather than the usual four.

1962 – Under the guidance of Dean Tocchini, P&S merged with the University of the Pacific, the first chartered university in California. Five years later, the dental school, renamed the “University of the Pacific School of Dentistry,” opened in a new building in the Pacific Heights area of San Francisco.

1970s – Re-evaluation of the dental school’s curriculum led to the introduction of the humanistic teaching model, created by Dean Dale F. Redig. This model directed faculty members to treat each student with respect and as colleagues, encouraging constructive feedback, high ethical standards, and increased independence through the attainment of competency.

1970’s – Administrators and faculty, using modern educational methodology, succeeded in designing the nation’s only four-year curriculum completed by students in three calendar years.

1978 – Arthur A. Dugoni became dean, 30 years following his graduation from P&S as valedictorian. With an eye on technology, a mind for the larger picture, and his involvement in organized dentistry, Dean Dugoni has continued to place the dental school at the forefront of education.

1979 – Dean Dugoni initiated a program for school-based postgraduate general practice, called Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD), where residents work with elderly persons and special needs patients with significant medical disabilities.

1987 – Implemented by Dean Dugoni, the International Dental Studies (IDS) program offers a two-year DDS curriculum for 16 doctors each year from all over the world.

1991 – The school formed its Department of Dental Practice to balance technical skills with business acumen.

1992 – The Pacific Dental Education Foundation Board is created by Dean Dugoni. The board’s popular Kids in the Klinic program has established a $1 million endowment to provide for the dental care of 1,000 needy children.

1996 – Pacific’s $5 million state-of-the-art simulation laboratory, boasting workstations with interactive computers, mannequins and full air and evacuation, was unveiled.

1996 – The School of Dentistry celebrated its centennial year.

1998 – Pacific was the first dental school to implement a White Coat Ceremony that focuses student participants on professionalism in dental practice and the profound responsibilities surrounding patient care.

2001 – Pacific assumed responsibility for the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency at Highland Hospital in Oakland.

2002 – Three new high-tech “smart” classrooms, offering state-of-the-art digital projection and automatic everything, were completed.

2004 – Pacific became the first university in the United States or Canada to name its dental school after a current dean. Ceremonies were attended by the legendary Bill Cosby and 4500 guests.