Whether Anibal Diogenes, DDS, PhD, is sharing wisdom in the classroom, guiding postdoctoral researchers toward new discoveries in the laboratory or mentoring students at the UT Dental Clinic, he brings the same passion to helping the next generation of scholars and clinicians thrive.
“From a mentoring perspective, it’s not just about transmitting information; it’s about helping students reach their full potential,” said Diogenes, the associate dean for clinical affairs and chair of the Department of Endodontics at The University of Texas at San Antonio’s School of Dentistry.
His unwavering commitment to inspiring students, fellows and postdoctoral researchers has earned him the 2026 Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award presented by The University of Texas System Board of Regents.
Diogenes is among three faculty members from UT San Antonio and 12 faculty members from the UT System who will be recognized with the award at the Board of Regents’ quarterly board meeting in November. The board established the annual awards in 2008 to recognize exemplary classroom performance and innovation.
Each honoree was chosen through a rigorous review process that evaluated how recipients engage students, the measurable impact of those methods on student outcomes and their plans to share effective practices with colleagues across the UT System.
“These twelve recipients have demonstrated exceptional skill as educators and outstanding commitment to students,” said UT System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin P. Eltife. “The Board is grateful for all the incredible educators we have working across the campuses.”
That commitment to students is reflected in how honorees like Diogenes view both their work and the recognition.
“I think it’s very special to be recognized for something that we do every day,” Diogenes said. “The true reward is the success of my students, the impact that we have on people’s lives, like our patients, and moving the field forward. This recognition is really the icing on the cake.”
Diogenes noted that teaching is a two-way process: Students learn from their teachers, and vice versa. This constant exchange of ideas was part of his upbringing, as his mother was both a teacher and an English Department chair.
A legacy of leadership and hard work
Watching his mother’s passion for education at a university in Brazil helped ignite Diogenes’ passion for teaching.
“I grew up watching my mother work very, very hard, but also seeing [her] enthusiasm,” Diogenes said of his now retired mother. “I think that she has been an inspiration for me to be an educator, making me realize that there’s something special about passing knowledge.”
That early example continues to shape how Diogenes connects with students and makes each lesson resonate.
“Dr. Diogenes is a born educator who is following the trail-blazing path of his mother, a noted college professor and department chair,” said Dean of the School of Dentistry Kenneth M. Hargreaves, DDS, PhD. “Anibal has the uncanny ability to take complicated concepts and explain them in such a way that they are immediately intuitive.”
Diogenes recalled how his mother’s love for teaching came through in her interactions with students.
“She loved to create new and fun ways of teaching for the students to learn better,” Diogenes said.
That same spirit of creativity continues to shape how Diogenes teaches today.
When imparting information, he brings dentistry to life with storytelling and bridges the basic and clinical sciences, helping students connect foundational knowledge with its practical application in patient care.
Beyond the classroom, Diogenes has also made mentoring students and residents a priority. His dedication earned him the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Mentor of the Year award in 2022. More recently, he led the university’s Research Mentoring Academy, an independent organization that helps junior and senior faculty researchers build strong mentoring relationships. With his term now complete, he serves as immediate past chair.
“Mentoring students is something that I have deep passion for,” he said. “Everybody is unique, so you need to get to know [the students] a little better to help them in this educational process.”
Forged by hard work and purpose
After earning his doctorate in Pharmacology at UT San Antonio’s Health Science Center in 2006, Diogenes completed a residency and certificate in endodontics at the university and became a full-time assistant professor in the Department of Endodontics.
Since then, he has excelled as a clinician, a researcher and a respected teacher.
Throughout his career, Diogenes has received prominent awards including the 2019 International Association for Dental Research Distinguished Scientist Award in Pulp Biology and Regeneration for his outstanding research contributions in the field of pulp biology; the 2019 American Association of Endodontists Osetek Award, a national award recognizing excellence in endodontic education; the 2021 Faculty Research Award for his long-running standard of research excellence; the 2022 Minnie Stevens Piper Professor award that recognizes outstanding professors across the state of Texas, becoming the first in dental education to receive this recognition; and he was recently named among San Antonio Magazine’s 2026 Top Dentists.
Diogenes said he views the Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award as a tremendous honor and expressed his gratitude to the School of Dentistry leadership for nominating him, as well as to the UT System and the award selection committee.
“Above all, I’d like to thank my students, because the true privilege is to be able to … teach them,” he said. “And they certainly make my life better. They are the source of my inspiration. And the fact that the whole UT System is recognizing faculty for teaching, it’s fantastic. I would like to thank everyone.”