As Penn Dental Medicine’s Department of Periodontics marks its 70 years of leadership in the specialty, it is celebrating its legacy while also looking to the future, with a recent major gift from an alumnus promising to help advance the Department’s continued strength and development. This generous contribution was made by Dr. Hector Sarmiento (GD’14), who earned both a certificate in periodontics and a Master of Science in Oral Biology here in 2014.
“This support will have a tremendous impact on the future of the department and our residents,” says Dr. Joseph Fiorellini, Director of the Penn Dental Medicine graduate dental education program in periodontics and former Chair of the Department of Periodontics. “Hector’s commitment to the field of periodontics and Penn are inspiring.”
Sarmiento’s gift is twofold, establishing The Hector Sarmiento Support Fund and adding to The Hector Sarmiento Resident Award Fund, which he established in 2021 with a previous gift. The purpose of the Support Fund is to provide financial support to the Department of Periodontics, including but not limited to renovations to the Department’s spaces, faculty support, and resident support. The Award Fund will provide an annual award to one graduating resident of the program to give them $10,000 worth of equipment they may need in their first year of practice. In recognition of the gift, the periodontics clinic will be renamed The Sarmiento Center for Periodontics.
Sarmiento has been sharing his passion for periodontics with Penn Dental Medicine students as part of the School’s faculty for the past 11 years, currently serving as Clinical Associate Professor of Periodontics. Sarmiento, who lives in Greenwich, Conn., is the lead clinician in New York Periodontics on East 64th Street, a long-established, legacy periodontics practice in New York City, and his research interests include peri-implantitis, sinus complications, and bone biology.
We sat down with Sarmiento to learn more about his commitment to giving back to Penn Dental Medicine and to the field of periodontics.
Why have you made this commitment to Penn periodontics with this gift?
For me, giving a donation is not just about funding a project — it’s about inspiring fellow alumni to give back, whether financially or academically. Even a small gesture, like offering a Zoom lecture for residents or spending time in the clinic, has a tremendous impact. These contributions, big or small, help shape the future of our residents and strengthen the sense of community within our department.
What do you think is unique about Penn periodontics?
I remember ten years ago, during the celebration of our department’s 60th anniversary, I had the privilege of sitting alongside Morton Amsterdam and the faculty members I looked up to then—and still do today. I recall thinking to myself that I wanted to give back to the department in the same way they had through knowledge, support, and friendship. That event was incredibly meaningful, and Penn made me feel like I was an integral part of its legacy.
Now, as we celebrate our 70th year, I feel such pride in showcasing what we represent. I am incredibly proud of our residents. Moving forward, I want our department to shine in every way possible—from our residents becoming board certified and demonstrating their depth of knowledge, to patients seeking out Penn-trained periodontists with confidence. It’s about carrying a standard of excellence forward.
What motivated you to share your skills and knowledge as a teacher?
One of my greatest motivations for teaching came from my mentor, Dr. Joe Fiorellini. I’ll never forget when he asked me to give a lecture that was originally his. When I asked him why, he said, ‘Part of being a teacher is making sure your students and residents shine even more than you do.’ Those words have stayed with me and continue to guide my approach. They remind me that our responsibility as educators is not just to teach, but to lift our students higher.
That philosophy has fueled my dedication to making our field as special as it can be. I also feel deeply motivated to support the department financially, just as others did for me during my residency. I was honored to be a Coslet Scholar and I know firsthand how much it meant to receive that support. Today, I feel it is both my duty and privilege to give back—whether through teaching, mentorship, or financial contributions—so that future residents can have the same opportunities to thrive.
Why did you choose to pursue the specialty of periodontics?
I was motivated by the finesse of the specialty. When practiced correctly, periodontics is like being the plastic surgeon of the mouth — you can truly transform a patient’s health and appearance. What excites me most is the opportunity to help patients both systemically and locally, including those with rare diseases where periodontics plays such a critical role. My residency gave me the confidence to work with biologic materials and advanced techniques, providing the tools to approach complex cases with confidence.
Is there anything else you’d want to share about the Penn program?
Penn periodontics shaped me from day one—it gave me the knowledge, skillset, and confidence to feel comfortable practicing independently from the very start. For that reason, I feel a deep responsibility to give back. I started with teaching residents and as my commitment to the program grew, the Office of Institutional Advancement and the Dean helped me focus that support into meaningful giving. I knew that I wanted to be a part of the future; supporting the program is my way of ensuring that future residents have access to the same level of training and opportunity that I did. Just as others invested in me when I was a resident, I feel motivated to do the same so that Penn continues to lead the way in periodontics, producing clinicians who patients can seek out with confidence.