By Alison Cooley
Wellington J. Rody, DDS, MS, first heard about the University of Pittsburgh when he was attending dental school in his hometown in Brazil. The orthodontics department there was established by an alumni from the Pitt Dental Medicine. Now, he’s working at Pitt Dental Medicine as an associate professor and chair of the Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. “I felt like it was somehow a reconnection with my roots,” he said.
One of Dr. Rody’s most significant accomplishments is the recent launch of the University of Pittsburgh Orthodontic Network. Developed with the help of six dedicated alumni representing graduating classes from 1987 through 2013, the network is designed to unite the Pitt orthodontic community by fostering mentorship, professional development and meaningful connections among alumni, current students and faculty. Dues paid by active members will fund the network's ongoing activities and help ensure its long-term sustainability.
The department has graduated residents who now practice all over the country, he explained, but they don’t all have professional connections or people who can mentor them. He envisions the network as a vehicle to engage alumni with the school and with each other to enhance their careers and practice.
Although the University of Pittsburgh Orthodontic Network is just getting started, Dr. Rody believes a key part of his philosophy is listening to alumni feedback and then acting on it. When alumni expressed a desire to gather annually rather than every two years, he made it happen. When they asked for opportunities to network and present, he built those opportunities into the program. The result is Pitt Ortho Alumni Day, an annual event he has led for the last three years. The gathering features a continuing education course, along with a symposium and dinner where orthodontic alumni can network and reconnect.
“People want to come; they want to know the residents and share their experiences clinically and also administratively on how to run a successful practice,” Dr. Rody said.
Dr. Rody also recognizes that alumni take pride in seeing their alma mater represented on a national stage. When he and four residents recently presented their work at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) annual session, he made sure the alumni community knew about it. “Visibility at events like these strengthens the department's reputation, benefits alumni professionally and helps attract top candidates to the residency program,” he said.
Beyond the social and professional dimensions, Dr. Rody believes that the relationship with orthodontic alumni is not only important to the department but also the profession. “We rely a lot on the commitment of the orthodontists to their alma mater so that we can keep progressing in research and scientific advances,” he said. Alumni investment supports research efforts by dental students, faculty and residents, which ultimately moves the entire profession forward. He views the relationship between the department and its graduates not as a one-way obligation, but as a mutual partnership with lasting impact.
Dr. Rody has peace of mind knowing that there is a dedicated group of alumni from different generations to ensure the momentum continues long after his tenure.
“Continuity is important, so the ball keeps rolling. It’s not for me; it’s for Pitt Ortho.”
Photos from Pitt Ortho Alumni Day 2025