School of Dental Medicine Alumnus of the Year: Dr. John Ferrin 

Dr. John Ferrin is a periodontist practicing at Ferrin Periodontics in Medford, Oregon. As a dental student, he founded the Sgt. Clint Ferrin Veterans Dental Program at UNLV to honor his late brother. When Ferrin began his undergrad studies, he’d promised to one day replace a tooth that Clint had lost during a training exercise. But just as John was beginning his dental studies, Clint was killed in action. 

To fulfill his promise, John launched the clinic to provide free oral healthcare to Southern Nevada veterans while giving dental students supervised clinical experience. 

What does being selected as the 2026 School of Dental Medicine Honoree mean to you?

This honor is less about recognizing one individual and more about recognizing what the veterans’ clinic represents. Many veterans put their own needs and health aside while serving, and they often need our help afterward. 

I am grateful that Clint’s name and selflessness continue to be remembered. His example has also shaped how I practice dentistry, including finding ways to care for veterans and make their treatment more financially accessible. More than anything, I see this recognition as honoring Clint’s legacy, the veterans the clinic serves, and UNLV’s commitment to continuing that work.

It’s a lot to ask faculty members to give up a Saturday morning every six weeks or so but the clinic cannot function without their supervision. Their willingness to serve is what transformed the clinic from an idea into a sustainable program today.

What led you to dentistry in the first place? 

My path to dentistry actually began with fear. When I was 6, I had a traumatic experience in the dental chair, and that fear stayed with me for the next 13 years. At 19, I was in ROTC and preparing to become a full-time Army officer when I needed to have a wisdom tooth removed. The dentist who treated me, Dr. Max Malan, was extraordinarily patient, kind, and genuinely caring. He transformed the dental chair from a place of terror into one of peace, confidence, and trust. Without Dr. Malan, I would not be a dentist today.

I chose UNLV because I was impressed by the depth of real-world experience among its faculty. Many had spent years in the military or private practice and brought that knowledge into the school. I believed UNLV could provide an exceptional, practical dental education, and it absolutely did. The warm climate also helped.

How does service through the clinic shape the education of UNLV’s dental graduates?

Dental school is extremely demanding. Students are balancing family life, friendships, countless hours of studying, and the clinical practice required to become competent dentists. 

One of the clinic’s greatest benefits is that it gives students an opportunity to step outside themselves for a morning, to put their own pressures aside and simply give their time and skills to someone in need. That experience teaches selflessness in a way that cannot be learned from a textbook.

The service also provides meaningful clinical education. Many veterans come to the clinic with significant needs, including surgical extractions, extensive restorative care, and dentures. Under the school’s protocols and faculty supervision, the veterans receive care, the students develop their clinical abilities, and both benefit from the human connection.

What advice would you give current dental students about finding purpose beyond clinical practice?

The heart should lead the hands. If you connect with and genuinely love your patients, that love will drive you to learn as much as possible, spend the necessary time, and provide the best care you can. Before your hands begin working, make a habit of examining what is happening in your heart.