Giving back: Alumnus Dr. Ray Scott facilitates generous gift to the School of Dentistry

Ray Scott, DDS, UT Health San Antonio Class of 1983 alumnus, recently presented a generous gift of nearly $110,000 to the School of Dentistry on behalf of the American Dental Partners Foundation Inc., for which he is the president. The foundation was originally established for the sole purpose of supporting dental students in their dental education. Over time, dental hygiene and community outreach programs have been added as well. “The mission has always been about students – not buildings, or equipment – rather partnering with dental programs to build our great profession of dentistry,” Dr. Scott said. This donation has been earmarked for several existing endowments as well as for establishing new ones. A portion of the gift will elevate the Carus Dental Scholarship Endowment to $100,000, which Dr. Scott helped create over a decade ago. The endowment is designed to support a third or fourth-year dental student who has the characteristics of someone who would be successful in a group practice, including teamwork skills, clinical excellence and leadership. The Carus Dental Endowed Specialty Resident Award, which Dr. Scott also helped to establish, will be elevated to $50,000 total. This endowment provides support to post-doctoral residents in developmental and surgical specialties. Two new endowments are to be founded with part of this gift. The first is the American Dental Partners Foundation Endowment for Special Care Dentistry with a sum of $25,000, benefiting the Phil and Karen Hunke Special Care Clinic. Funds will also be used to establish the American Dental Partners Foundation Endowment in Dental Hygiene for a total of $25,000, benefiting dental hygiene students enrolled in the dental hygiene program opening in Laredo. Three of the disciplines to receive funds, general dentistry, dental hygiene and specialty dentistry, were specifically selected because the foundation considers these the backbone of the profession. They are thought of as uniquely essential – all areas where dedicated practitioners are needed. The fourth discipline, special care dentistry, supports treatment for a population segment that historically may not have received the accommodating care they needed. Facilitating his largest gift to UT Health San Antonio’s students to date, Dr. Scott remains a strong supporter of the university’s missions and a consistently active alumnus. “I wouldn't be where I am today,” he said, “had it not been for the chance given to me by UT Health San Antonio’s School of Dentistry – when no one else would – where I received an outstanding foundation in dentistry. I believe strongly in giving back and paying it forward, to have a strong profession well into the future.” With almost 40 years of experience in his field and more than two decades as an alumni donor, Dr. Scott encourages alumni to give back to their alma mater as well as their communities. “Giving is not about how much you give, but that you do it. All of us giving what we can; adds up to a lot over time.”