About Arthur A. Dugoni, DDS, MSD

The son of Italian immigrants, Dr. Dugoni grew up in San Francisco’s North Beach and Potrero Hill neighborhoods. He was the valedictorian of Saint James High School, where he excelled in sports and academics. Dr. Dugoni graduated from San Francisco’s College of Physicians and Surgeons (forerunner of Pacific School of Dentistry) in 1948 as valedictorian and student body president. He has educated and continues to inspire more than 6,000 dental students and countless dental professionals throughout his 56-year career in dentistry and education.

Dugoni has held the position of dean at the University of the Pacific since 1978 and is currently president of the American Dental Association Foundation, the philanthropic branch of the ADA dedicated to improving the oral health of Americans. He has held numerous leadership positions in organized dentistry and has served as president of the American Dental Association, the American Dental Education Association, the American Board of Orthodontics and the California Dental Association. He also served as treasurer of the FDI World Dental Federation.

During his 26 years as dean, Dr. Dugoni is credited with developing and managing many innovations that have elevated the University of the Pacific to its current level of national prominence, including the enhancement of the humanistic model of education and its national accreditation with no recommendations and 18 commendations for excellence. In addition, he has overseen the accelerated honors program with the main campus; strong community outreach presence; addition of new programs such as oral and maxillofacial surgery, dental hygiene and international dental studies; state-of-the-art facilities; technology enhancements to the curriculum; creation of the Pacific Dental Education Foundation; raising $54.7 million (as of July 30, 2005) as a part of a $50 million dental school capital campaign scheduled for completion in 2005; and his famous “Brown Bag Lunches” with students, faculty and staff.