Elvira Fiorentino ’98, a beloved faculty member and alumna of the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry who helped expand access to dental care in the community, died April 26 in Petaluma, California. She was 57.

Fiorentino was an assistant professor and group practice leader in the Department of Clinical Oral Health Care, where she worked closely with dental students and patients at the school. 

Throughout her career, Fiorentino devoted herself to caring for underserved communities. As dental director and chief dental officer at Alliance Medical Center and later as clinical director at Rohnert Park Healthcare Center, she became known for expanding access to dental care in communities where treatment was often difficult to obtain. Colleagues described her approach as one rooted not simply in medicine, but in dignity and compassion.

In 2014, she received a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from the United States Congress for her commitment to promoting healthier communities.

Students at the Dugoni School remember Fiorentino for her mentorship. As faculty co‑director and mentor for the Dugoni School’s Student Community Outreach for Public Education organization, she encouraged students to lead with confidence and embrace their responsibility to serve others with compassion.

“As a group practice leader, Fiorentino shaped not only the clinical skills of her students, but also their values,” said Shika Gupta, chair of the Department of Clinical Oral Health Care. “She modeled integrity, humility and excellence, leading quietly but powerfully by example. While her loss is deeply felt by all who had the privilege of knowing her, we find comfort in the extraordinary legacy of kindness she leaves behind.”

Born in San Francisco, Fiorentino moved with her family to Petaluma as a child. She graduated from St. Vincent High School before attending Sapienza University of Rome, where she earned a degree in Languages. Fluent in English, Italian, Spanish and French, she later returned to California and enrolled at Sonoma State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in biology in 1994 before pursuing her DDS from the Dugoni School. A lifelong learner, she was pursuing a doctoral degree in education.

Outside her professional life, Fiorentino was active in her church community, serving as a catechist and youth formation teacher at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, where she taught children in grades three through five. Friends and parishioners recalled her patience, generosity and ability to make others feel seen.

A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, May 22 at 5:30 p.m. at the Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco. Please RSVP by May 12 here.