>> The graduate has been recognized by the Conference of Deans of the Faculties of Dentistry of Spain (CRADO) and FENIN for her brilliant career and commitment to the profession
Maria del Mar Bauzà Pérez, a graduate of the Bachelor in Dentistry program at ADEMA University School, has been awarded the Academic Excellence Prize for the 2024/25 graduating class, placing her among the top 27 dentistry students in Spain. The award was presented by the Conference of Deans of Dentistry Faculties of Spain (CRADO), with sponsorship from the Spanish Federation of Healthcare Technology Companies (FENIN), at a ceremony held at the Complutense University of Madrid.
The head of Studies of the Bachelor in Dentistry at ADEMA, Dr. Pere Riutord, was in charge of presenting him with the sash and awarding him the badge along with the president of CRADO, Dr. Lluís Giner, and the president of the dental sector of FENIN, Luis M. Garralda.
María del Mar Bauzá spoke on behalf of all the award recipients, delivering a heartfelt and grateful speech. During her address, she congratulated her colleagues, emphasizing that this recognition “reflects years of work, effort, and dedication” and that “it is an honor to share this moment with all of you.” Bauzá thanked the Conference of Deans and the Fenin Foundation for making the event possible, and also expressed her gratitude to ADEMA and its teaching staff, acknowledging them for “their support and guidance throughout these years.” She underscored that her academic career had not been without personal health challenges, but that she had always found in the institution “the understanding and support necessary to persevere.”
Finally, he wanted to dedicate the award to his closest circle: “Thanks to my partner and my family, especially my parents, for always being there, with patience, love and trust in me. This recognition is also yours.”
According to Dr. Pere Riutord, “finding young people like those who were there, and specifically Maria del Mar Bauzà, who has achieved such a brilliant goal with such dedication, enthusiasm, and perseverance, is very motivating for our teaching team. Maria del Mar has begun her professional career full of enthusiasm and expectations, driven by her vocation and her desire to continue training and learning with professionalism and ethics.”
The event, presided over by Dr. Lluís Giner Tarrida, President of the Conference of Deans and Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry at the International University of Catalonia, and attended by Dr. Gonzalo Hernández Vallejo, sponsor of the 2024/2025 graduating class; Luis Garralda, President of the dental sector of FENIN (National Federation of Dentists and Stomatologists); and María Jesús Mora, Secretary of the Conference of Deans, brought together academic representatives from across Spain to honor students who have distinguished themselves through their effort, dedication, and commitment to excellence. Each award recipient received a certificate and a sash, a symbol of their academic achievement.
During the event, Luis Garralda, president of the dental sector at FENIN, focused on the technological transformation the profession is undergoing and how this evolution will shape the clinical practice of new generations of dentists. Garralda also emphasized that these new professionals are entering the dental field with training fully adapted to the digital age: “Your generation, truly of the 21st century, is joining the profession with training that integrates all this technology, with the goal of providing better dentistry, always centered on the patient. And you will do so in a global environment, because your professional field will very likely be the entire world.”
For his part, Dr. Gonzalo Hernández Vallejo, the class of 2024/2025’s patron, delivered a message focused on the responsibility and humanity inherent in the practice of dentistry: “We are responsible for caring for human beings in their entirety, considering their biology, their history, their fears, and their hopes. The healthcare professional is a guardian of unity: helping the body function, but also allowing the soul to breathe easy. This mission is both a privilege and an enormous responsibility.”
Furthermore, the president of the Conference of Deans, Dr. Lluís Giner, emphasized the value of effort and the importance of comprehensive training in Dentistry. “Mastering the technology we have at our disposal today thanks to industry requires perseverance and dedication. It is not easy to acquire or master; it demands practice and commitment. That is part of technical excellence, but true excellence goes further: it includes attention to the individual, empathy, and understanding what the patient truly needs,” he noted.
The event concluded with recognition of the commitment of the universities and the support of the FENIN Foundation, whose backing contributes to promoting academic excellence, research and professional development in Spanish Dentistry.