“I will always be thankful to my professors who went above and beyond to encourage and help me succeed. They are the lifeblood of the school.” –Roger Campos, D.D.S.

A $50,000 gift from Roger Campos, D.D.S., will honor faculty and assist students in the Dental School at the UT Health Science Center. For Dr. Campos, a 1989 alumnus of the Dental School, the gift holds extraordinary meaning. That’s because just as he embarked on his fourth year of classes, the young Campos learned he had cancer. Physicians discovered a malignant tumor lodged above his heart. The diagnosis was followed by months of aggressive chemotherapy treatments.

Only 27 years old and very ill at the time, he questioned whether or not he would complete his education. But he says encouragement and support from his professors ignited the determination and fervor he needed to finish. After graduation, Dr. Campos soon established a private practice in San Antonio, and has since expanded it to seven locations throughout the city and Boerne.

“I have a great love for our Health Science Center Dental School and the faculty,” Dr. Campos said. “I will always be thankful to my professors who went above and beyond to encourage and help me succeed. They are the lifeblood of the school.”

Dr. Campos, who is a steadfast supporter of the Health Science Center, said he sought a new way to thank and aid the university. “I wanted to give back to the Dental School in a manner that would do several things: honor the faculty, assist students in need and encourage others to give to the school that changed my life and is impacting so many others’ lives.”

This year, Dr. Campos contributed the $50,000 to establish the Edmund
Cavazos, Jr., D.D.S., Endowed Scholarship in the Dental School to assist outstanding Dental School students. The endowment honors Dr. Cavazos who was a faculty member in the Department of Prosthodontics (now Comprehensive Dentistry) from 1980 to 2005 and who served as a mentor to Dr. Campos while he was a student in the Dental School.

Kenneth Kalkwarf, D.D.S., M.S., Dental School dean, said all gifts to the school are important, especially in light of decreasing state revenue.

“We are so grateful to Dr. Campos for his generous gift that is allowing us to achieve our goals of recruiting outstanding students who will provide the highest level of oral health care to the residents of Texas, and to honor our excellent faculty who are helping develop the next generation of oral health care providers.”

Dr. Campos said he believes supporting the Dental School should be a priority for every graduate.

“Whether it’s financial support or volunteer leadership, every graduate should contribute to the university,” he said. “The Dental School provides us the opportunity to practice in the best field in the world. It is a gift. So, when our university needs us, we should give back. And, our university needs us today.”

For more information about alumni leadership and giving opportunities in the Dental School, contact Sara Piety, director of development, at 210-567-6536 or e-mail piety@uthscsa.edu.