Students Honored with Founders Day Awards

On November 1, 2024, Roseman University of Health Sciences recognized its Founder’s Day Award recipients. The following College of Dental Medicine students were honored:

• Benjamin Hostetter (AEODO Resident, Class of 2025)
• Mitchell Saunders (AEGD Resident, Class of 2025)
• Narine Ishhanova (AEGD Resident, Class of 2025)
• Sumaya Al Kalla (DMD, Class of 2025)

The Founder’s Day Award is given to the student from each program who best embodies the university’s core values. Please join us in congratulating these incredible students!

Dr. Benjamin Hostetter

Dr. Benjamin Hostetter was surprised and grateful to be selected for the AEODO residency’s Founder’s Day award. “Our residency is a close-knit community,” he explained. “We support each other, teach one another, and strive to create an environment where we all uplift each other to become the best possible orthodontists.”

“When Dr. [Glen] Roberson called me into his office to share the news,” he continued, “I felt both honored and humbled that they saw in me the embodiment of Roseman’s core values, especially when I know my fellow residents exemplify those same standards of excellence.”

“While I am proud to receive this honor, I recognize that it would not have been possible without the support of my wife, Aubrey, and our 2-year-old daughter, Malia. My girls are always understanding when I must stay late or come early.” Dr. Hostetter concluded, “Their support makes everything possible, and for that, I am truly grateful.”

Dr. Mitchell Saunders

A few minutes before attending the awards ceremony, Dr. Mitchell Saunders discovered he’d be receiving a Founder’s Day Award. “I was very surprised and honored to be the one chosen [from my program] for this award.”

When asked which of Roseman’s values he most exemplifies, Dr. Saunders shared, “I believe that I best embody the core value of responsible risk-taking.” This attribute is what initially led Dr. Saunders to leave his home in Greenville, South Carolina and pursue a program in Las Vegas.

“I decided to come to this residency program to be in an environment where I could take risks and pursue procedures that I was slightly uncomfortable with under the supervision of knowledgeable faculty,” he explained. “I believe that the faculty of my program recognized this quality in me.”

Dr. Narine Ishhanova

Just before noon, Dr. Narine Ishhanova received a series of calls and texts from a dental assistant urging her to make her way to the student commons where she would be receiving an award.

“Being selected for the Founder’s Day Award was a truly a humbling experience,” she recalled. “It felt incredible to have my hard work and contributions recognized in such a meaningful way.”

She continued, “The honor reminded me of the importance of perseverance, teamwork, and making a positive impact, and it motivates me to continue striving for excellence.”

Of Roseman’s core values, Dr. Ishhanova feels that she consistently demonstrates passion and commitment to her work and the individual and collective achievement of excellence. She said, “I approach every challenge with dedication and enthusiasm, whether working independently or as part of a team, always aiming to grow and support others in achieving shared goals.”

Sumaya Al Kalla

As she sat in the student commons, celebrating Founders’ Day with her classmates and faculty, Sumaya Al Kalla was surprised and honored to learn that she had been selected for a Founder’s Day Award due, in part, to her work on the Peer Tutoring Program.

“This initiative, which I started with my classmate Golnoush Zakeri (Class of 2025), was born from our shared passion for supporting our peers,” she shared. “Together, we [have] dedicated hundreds of hours to tutoring.”

Her work on the Peer Tutoring Program provided Sumaya with many opportunities to exemplify Roseman’s core values. “This experience expanded my understanding of what it means to be a caregiver—not just in the clinic for my patients but also within my community.” she explained, “Through this program, I’ve discovered that my role as a health professional extends beyond clinical settings; it is about fostering growth, care, and empowerment in all interactions.”

Sumaya is grateful for the support she has received as she works toward her personal and professional goals. “Roseman University’s supportive atmosphere, organization, and structure have been instrumental in helping me achieve my goals and extend my aspirations beyond what I once thought possible. I feel immense gratitude to be a part of the Roseman family and take pride in carrying its values forward.”