Fra Noi Embrace Your Inner Italian
During her senior year at the UIC College of Dentistry, Dr. Lauren Allegretti was granted a scholarship from the Arcolian Dental Arts Society. She joined the society after graduating residency in 2016, became a board member in 2020 and now will ascend to be the society’s president this April.
“It’s cool,” Allegretti says. “It feels very full circle.”
That she has become so involved with the Arcolian Society is even less surprising given her family’s professional history: She is the 11th member of the Allegretti/DiFranco clan to become a dentist.
She attended society meetings while she was in a dental residency program and says she loved the sense of camaraderie among the members.
“I think we Italians especially are welcoming and eager to share with each other,” Allegretti says.
Allegretti will accept the gavel from Immediate Past President Dr. Jessica Mattern at the organization’s installation dinner on April 22 at Toscana’s in Arlington Heights. Contact Dr. Antonietta Caporale at acaporale2244@gmail.com or 773-501-3100 to make reservations. Joining Allegretti as officers are Dr. Charles Martello, president-elect; Dr. Megan Ratliff, vice president; Dr. Robin Gallardi, treasurer; and Dr. Antonietta Caporale, secretary.
Established in 1935, the Chicago-based society is a social and educational nonprofit organization for aspiring, practicing and retired dentists and dental specialists. Its mission consists of increasing participation in dental schools by Italian Americans, recording the past and current role of Italian culture in dentistry, providing high-quality continuing education, and supporting charitable endeavors. Members must be of Italian descent, and dental students can join the society free of charge.
In October 2023, ADAS member Dr. Jeffrey Gentile published the book, “A History of the Arcolian Dental Arts Society: Italian American Dentists of Chicagoland.” According to Gentile’s research, the society’s name is derived from a pioneering dentist and scholar named Giovanni d’Arcoli who lived in northern Italy in the 15th century.
The organization has about 70 active members on a mailing list that serves more than 130 dentists. The group meets regularly from September to April, usually at Italian restaurants throughout the Chicago suburbs. The nonprofit hosts a golf outing and a black-tie Christmas party, during which it recognizes an Arcolian of the Year, disburses donations and bestows scholarships.
Allegretti’s favorite event is the annual raffle night in January, at which half of the money the group raises through ticket sales is earmarked for charity and the other half is doled out to 10 lucky winners.
“It’s always very exciting,” Allegretti says. “They always read off all those who didn’t win first so the last 10 people whose names haven’t been called are the winners.”
This year the group sold 150 tickets, their most ever, which meant both that the amount raised for charity was higher and the prizes were the biggest yet.
Allegretti says her goals for her presidency include growing the number of members and boosting participation.
“Post-COVID, people are used to not going out to things, so it’s good to get out of that cycle,” Allegretti says.
In addition to practicing dentistry as a root canal specialist, Allegretti teaches dental students part-time at UIC. She says she makes it a habit of seeking out students with Italian last names to pitch them on joining the society.
Allegretti also plans to modernize the group’s website, which will improve the group’s communication and make it easier for those interested in joining to get involved.
“I want to continue to gently push the group forward and make things easier for presidents who are coming after me,” Allegretti says. “I’m really honored to have been on the board and excited to have this year as president. I think it’ll be our best year yet.”
For more, visit arcoliandentalartssociety.wildapricot.org.
