A University of Maryland School of Dentistry Alumni Oral History Project

The Project

With over 8,000 living alumni, it would take many years to meet with each of you individually. That’s why we’ve decided to embark on a new project – the Oral History Project. This endeavor will allow the school to collect the stories from alumni like you in your own words. In addition to sharing these stories with Dean Reynolds, we will also preserve them in a keepsake book that celebrates the impact the University of Maryland School of Dentistry (or the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery) has had on your lives and how you show up in the world today. Every year that we don’t capture and preserve these stories feels like another opportunity lost, so we’re excited to get started today!

Have You Moved?

As part of this project, we are also taking this opportunity to help make it easier for you to stay connected to the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. PCI will help us collect updated contact information from those of you who may have moved and inadvertently lost touch with your alma mater.

Your Story

What UMSOD/BCDS story will you tell?

• Did a faculty or staff member have a profound impact on your life?
• Can you trace your career path back to a defining moment at our Alma Mater?
• What club or organization were you involved with at UMSOD/BCDS?
  • Have connections you made on campus turned into lifelong friendships?
  • Are there other UMSOD/BCDS alums in your family?

PCI Partnership

With our limited resources, we’d never be able to tackle a project like this. By partnering with PCI, we’re able to access their trained staff of real-live human beings who are excited to listen to what you have to share. PCI will also help us collect and assemble the stories into the keepsake book that we can share with all participating alumni. Please note that we have only shared your contact information with PCI in conjunction with this project. We have NOT sold your contact information or otherwise used it for outside marketing purposes.

Do I have to buy something?

No. This project is being done at NO COST to the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. The project is completely funded by the alumni who CHOOSE to purchase the keepsake book that will be produced at the end of the project. The book is offered at $169. You are welcome to purchase the keep-sake book, but you are not required to do so. Again, your participation in the project or ordering the keepsake book is not mandatory. We’d never be able to embark on a project like this without the support of our amazing alumni and the partnership with PCI. So, we sincerely thank every person who participates and chooses to purchase the book.

What’s next?

Soon you will be receiving email and postcard communications from the PCI team with instructions on how to participate. We’d like to invite you to share one of your stories with us and take part in this first-of-its-kind project to honor the experiences and voices of our alumni. The PCI team will collect stories until August 16, 2024. After that, they will enter a post-production phase editing the data.

We look forward to hearing from every one of you regarding your memories of “the school we love so dearly!”

I received an email/postcard/phone call from a company asking for my personal information and a story about the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. Tell me more about the project.

We have partnered with PCI (also known as Publishing Concepts) to produce an Oral History Publication for the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. PCI is a family-owned business based in Dallas, TX that has published directories for educational institutions, fraternities, sororities, and military organizations across the nation for over 100 years. This project allows us to hear about your personal experiences from your time at UMSOD (or BCDS) and how the school helped to shape your life since then. And, while we have you on the phone, we want to make sure your contact information is up to date.

Does the University of Maryland School of Dentistry benefit from this at all?

Yes, in a few different ways:

• Updated Information – allows us to effectively communicate with and engage alumni
• Legacy – sharing and collecting stories preserves the history of our school
• Pride – the keepsake book shows support and love for our school

How do I know my information will only be used for Oral History Project purposes?

PCI is committed to protecting your information. The names, addresses and information provided to PCI for the publication of the Oral History Project will be held confidential by PCI, except to the extent that they are utilized in, or in the preparation of, the Oral History Project and except as required by court order or law.

I would like to verify or update my information and share a story. How may I do this?

• If you have received a postcard or an email with a telephone number, you may call the number to speak with a dedicated representative for the Oral History Project. The representative will verify the information we have on file for you, make any updates where needed, and then ask you to share your story about your time at UMSOD (or BCDS). Your story will be recorded, and the sound clip provided to UMSOD at the conclusion of the project.
• If you have received an email with an embedded link, you may go to the online site to review your information and submit a story.
• If you did not receive a postcard or email and would like to participate in the project, you may call the University of Maryland School of Dentistry at 410-706-0846 for more information.
• If you are living internationally or are unable to call the update line, please email customerservice@publishingconcepts.com. PCI will send you a personalized link for you to share your written story and photo.

Can I choose what information prints in the publication?

The only information that is included in the publication is your name, class year and degree, along with your story and photo. No contact information is printed. When you call to update your contact information, it will only be used to update your alumni record for the school. You may revoke consent for your story and/or photo to appear any time before 08/16/2024 by contacting PCI’s customer service helpdesk at 1-800-982-1590 / customerservice@publishingconcepts.com.

I updated my information but need some more time to think about what experience to share.

You can call back at any time before 08/16/2024 to share your story.

I shared a story and the representative said I could send a photo. How do I do this?

You will receive an email with a link to upload one photo (black and white or color) plus a caption.

If you do not have an email address on file, you will be sent a photo mailer to send a physical photo in to be printed (note: the photo will be returned if you include a self-addressed, stamped envelope).

Can anyone purchase a book?

The University of Maryland School of Dentistry Oral History Publication is available for sale only to University of Maryland School of Dentistry alumni.

When will I receive my book?

The total duration of the Oral History Project is about 12 months. Since we began the project in February 2024, the books will be distributed in February 2025.

I ordered a book / package over the phone and would like to cancel my order. How do I do this?

Contact PCI’s customer service helpdesk at 1-800-982-1590 and they will take care of this for you.