Anchors aweigh for the Naval Postgraduate Dental School (NPDS) Class of 2023, joining an esteemed corps of some of the world’s best trained dental surgeons and specialists.

After 100 years of service, the NPDS remains a beacon for outstanding scientific and evidence-based instruction and innovative cost-effective highly productive training programs as best summarized by Capt. Steven Stokes, the dean of NPDS.

“Our unwavering core mission has been and remains steady in developing tomorrow’s leaders by training operationally oriented and critical wartime dental specialists to meet fleet requirements and unique military KSA [knowledge, skills and abilities] capabilities in support of the warfighter,” said Stokes.

Today’s celebration in Memorial Auditorium at Walter Reed is the first in-person graduation ceremony hosted by NPDS since 2019, after Covid-19 became the world’s most challenging pandemic in a century, requiring administrators to adopt a hybrid learning system comprised of telemedicine trainings and in-person clinical trials.

Capt. Walter D. Brafford, the chief of the Navy Dental Corps and a NPDS alum, praised the 22 graduates for their resilience, resourcefulness and readiness to take the helm and become the future leaders of the dental corps. Some members of this class have already answered that call, accepting invitations to join the NPDS faculty.

The NPDS takes pride in its residency programs in: oral and maxillofacial pathology, oral pain, periodontics, prosthodontics, comprehensive dentistry, endodontics, and maxillofacial prosthetics.

Before degrees and certificates were conferred, the graduates stood at attention before a U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard presented colors – setting the tone for a ceremony befitting the dignity and devotion of our Armed Forces. The Navy Band Sea Chanters, regaled the graduates and their family with a dazzling array of a cappella renditions of military favorites, including a stunning melody of U.S. Military theme songs.

Walter Reed, the world’s premier, integrated military medical center and where the nation heals our heroes, strives to provide extraordinary experiences for patients, families, and staff while driving tomorrow’s healthcare advances through education, innovation, and research. For additional information about Walter Reed, please visit us at https://walterreed.tricare.mil/.

Photo credit: Javan R. Johnson

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About Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center is one of the nation's largest and most renowned military medical centers. Recently dubbed "The Nation's Medical Center," we represent the joining of the "Best of the Best" in military medicine when National Naval Medical Center and Walter Reed Army Medical Center came together in September of 2011, to form Walter Reed National Military Medical Center as decreed by the Base Realignment and Closure law of 2005.

We are comprised of nearly 7,100 dedicated staff members who make it their daily mission to achieve the vision and mission of our medical center. Our vision is to serve military families and our nation's active duty, returning war heroes, veterans and our Nation's leaders.

We’re committed to operational readiness, outstanding customer service, and world-class health care delivery for our beneficiaries.