Nearly 500 members of the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine community were transported from Back Bay to the French Quarter during the 10th annual Goldman Gala, aptly titled “A Night in the Big Easy,” held on Friday, April 5, 2019.
As students, faculty, staff, residents, and alumni mingled outside the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel ballroom during the event’s cocktail hour, students from the University’s College of Fine Arts students played traditional New Orleans style jazz. Silhouette cutouts and old-fashioned lampposts bearing names of famous New Orleans streets added to the ambience.
“The Goldman Gala is truly for our students, especially for those who will graduate and become our newest alumni,” Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter said during his welcoming remarks.
“We all know how dedicated our students and residents are to their learning, their patients, their research, their community service, and their chosen profession, and it is truly special for us to honor and celebrate all that they have achieved and accomplished since first arriving at the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine.”
The dean then called out each class in turn, eliciting cheers and applause from the respective members in the audience, a time-honored tradition.
Attendees chose from three options for dinner—a honey dijon & tarragon brushed salmon with garlic green beans, pickled red onions, mushroom risotto, and roasted red pepper coulis, a 24-hour brined grilled chicken breast, with chive mashed potatoes, haricot vert & baby carrots, and cranberry gastric and apple cider chicken reduction, or a vegetarian option, which included a tomato spinach risotto served on a maple roasted acorn squash ring, sautéed organic mushrooms, roasted asparagus and plum tomatoes, and a fresh herb puree. Dessert was a trio of mini cakes—Boston cream, berry lemon, and layered chocolate mousse.
After dinner, attendees took to the dance floor, boogieing to the sounds of the lively Boston Common band, which played until the end of the night. The band performed everything from Frank Sinatra to Bruno Mars, and included a spontaneous Beach Boys song—a favorite of Dean Hutter’s.
After dinner, the cocktail salon was transformed to resemble the streets of the French Quarter, complete with palm readers, caricature artists, and photo booths. Beignets, truffle fries, and sliders were passed around as a late-night snack.
The gala went until the wee hours, as students – dressed in ball gowns and tuxes instead of their usual scrubs – posed for photos to capture memories from the evening, and faculty, staff, and alumni took the opportunity to catch up with colleagues and friends.
To see photos from the event, please click here.