Passing The Torch
William G. Hovel, III, D.D.S.
Transforming Hunt School of Dental Medicine Students into Community Dentists
Dr. William G. Hovel gives back to dental profession by mentoring future generations
Born and raised in Laredo, Texas, William G. Hovel, III, D.D.S., grew-up learning Spanish, and as a dentist, used it to better communicate with bilingual and monolingual Hispanic patients. Today, he is passing on his knowledge to those entering the dentistry field.
Throughout his career, Dr. Hovel has been committed to providing the best patient care and educating future dentists. He is now an associate professor of clinical dentistry at the Hunt School of Dental Medicine, and also spends most of his time mentoring students in the Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic.
He motivates students to develop a strong work ethic, learn best practices in health care, and fine tune their expertise in the field of dental science in preparation for their careers.
Dr. Hovel chose to work at the Hunt School of Dental Medicine "to give back to a profession that has given me so much, and to serve in the development of our future dental professionals."
He is passionate about teaching and engaging students, and prides himself in being a good trainer and mentor. Dr. Hovel feels that collaboration with others is important to achieve institutional goals and objectives. To this day, he uses bilingual skills as often as he can.
“I mentor students, helping them develop their professional skills in the field of dentistry.” Dr. Hovel said. “I also mentor them on how to develop their professionalism both in the clinical setting and outside the dental world. I guide them in becoming good, caring, and compassionate dentists, communicators and community members.”
Part of what attracted Dr. Hovel to the Hunt School of Dental Medicine is that it’s the first and only dental school in the nation that requires Spanish-language courses.
Our Students Represent our Borderplex:
- Forty-two percent of Hunt School of Dental Medicine students hail from New Mexico, West Texas and the border regions of Texas, including El Paso County.
- Sixty-one percent of Hunt School of Dental Medicine students consider themselves bilingual or multilingual, which will help as they provide compassionate and culturally competent dental care.
- Thirty-two percent of Hunt School of Dental Medicine students identify as Hispanic.
Dr. Hovel has experience in diagnosing and treating diseases, injuries and malformations of teeth and gums. Throughout his practice, he developed treatment programs for patients suffering from dental issues such as periodontal disease and tooth decay.
In El Paso, he had his own private practice for 40 years and worked three years with the Dental Assisting program at El Paso Community College.
He completed his undergraduate work at Texas A&M University, and attended the University of Texas Health San Antonio School of Dentistry, from which he graduated as a doctor of dental surgery in 1979.
About The Hunt School of Dental Medicine
The Hunt School of Dental Medicine opened in 2021 and is the only dental school on the U.S.-Mexico border, and the first in Texas to open in more than 50 years. The school offers the most innovative curriculum in the country, preparing students for the future of dentistry with high-tech simulation and an advanced fabrication laboratory. A first for any dental school in the nation, students begin clinical training and patient interaction during their first semester. It’s also the first and only dental school in the nation that requires Spanish language courses.
As upward of 75% of dental school graduates open practices near their dental schools, Hunt School of Dental Medicine graduates are expected to address the oral health care needs along the U.S.-Mexico border for generations to come. The Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic specializes in high-tech, same-day dentistry for patients. With a full complement of 221 students spanning four dental classes, Hunt School of Dental Medicine students are poised to provide nearly 60,000 clinical hours of oral care annually.
About Texas Tech Health El Paso
Texas Tech Health El Paso is the only health sciences center on the U.S.-Mexico border and serves 108 counties in West Texas that have been historically underserved. It’s a designated Title V Hispanic-Serving Institution, preparing the next generation of health care heroes, 48% of whom identify as Hispanic and are often first-generation students.
Established as an independent university in 2013, Texas Tech Health El Paso is a proudly diverse and uniquely innovative destination for education and research.
With a mission of eliminating health care barriers and creating life-changing educational opportunities for Borderplex residents, Texas Tech Health El Paso has graduated over 2,400 doctors, nurses and researchers over the past decade, and will add dentists to its alumni beginning in 2025. For more information, visit ttuhscepimpact.org.