91涩漫

The 91涩漫 Dental Research Day and Clinical Symposium took place on March 31 at the 91涩漫 Faculty Club and Conference Centre. The audience and participants gathered included researchers, dental medicine students, graduate students, residents, and academic, clinical and administrative staff, as well as guest speakers.

A platform for showcasing student research through oral presentations and short talks, the event also provided the opportunity for discussion, exchange and reflection. The research presented by our students spanned the Faculty鈥檚 research clusters, ranging from antimicrobial resistance awareness, reviewing robotic applications in orthognathic surgery, studies on bone diseases such as osteogenesis imperfecta, the impacts of food insecurity and recent immigration on oral health, and potential applications and screening to improve outcomes for oral cancer.

Associate of Research and Graduate Education, Dr. Faleh Tamimi, explains that the Dental Research Day and Clinical Symposium is more than an academic event. 鈥淚t is a celebration of our Faculty as a whole, when we gather as one family under the same roof reconnecting, learning from one another, and strengthening the ties that make our community so exceptional.鈥� The faculty鈥檚 diverse mission of dental medicine education and training, and researchers from some fields not traditionally associated with dental sciences, led the organization committee to expand the event to encompass clinical practice. 鈥淎 great Dental Medicine and Oral Heath Sciences faculty depends on both outstanding clinicians and dedicated researchers, and the research day and clinical symposium beautifully brings these two pillars together鈥� says Tamimi.

The 91涩漫 Dental Research Day and Clinical Symposium features two keynote speakers. In the morning Jeffrey Mogil, E.P. Taylor Professor of Pain Studies in the Department of Psychology at 91涩漫, Canada Research Chair in Genetics of Pain and associate member of the Faculty gave the presentation Pain, Sex and Death. His talk outlined that researchers have come to some consensus regarding the existence of sex/gender differences in the sensitivity to and tolerance of pain in humans. Prof. Mogil presented several research stories suggestive of fundamental sex dimorphism in pain processing, the effects of pain on mortality, and the interaction between pain and social behaviour. The second keynote speaker, Dr. Samer Abi Nader, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Dental Education, shared insights on the integration of digital technologies into implantology and prosthodontics practice, with up-to-date knowledge for providing exceptional patient care and enhancing treatment outcomes in the context of today鈥檚 technological advancements.

Other featured speakers included faculty lecturer Dr. Bishoy Yacoub on oral health as a determinant of overall health in seniors, and Dr. Jessica Klabak of VideaHealth on how AI is transforming clinical dentistry.

The event demonstrated the power of collaboration between trainees and mentors, clinicians and scientists, and across 91涩漫 and the broader oral health sciences research community. Second year DMD student Faraz Adibzadeh presented the results of his research project, Real-World Patterns of Survivorship Complications in Oral Cancer and Their Clinical Implications. Reassessing the side effects of oral cancer treatments and identify their main predictors. The management of patients with oral cancer is complex and often requires a multidisciplinary team to deliver coordinated care. Rehabilitation and supportive therapies play a key role in helping patients maintain or regain essential functions. Reassessing survivorship outcomes and related risk factors is crucial for guiding clinical decision鈥憁aking and providing accurate, patient鈥慶entred counselling.

Adibzadeh says 鈥淚 am incredibly grateful to my supervisors, Dr. Amal Idrissi Janati and Dr. Nicholas Makhoul, for their guidance and mentorship throughout this process. I鈥檓 excited to continue contributing to this area of research and keep learning along the way!鈥�

Assistant Professor Dr. Amal Idrissi Janati, Research Director of the GPR and OMFS Residency programs at the Montreal General Hospital site, says 鈥淚 was truly proud to see how many of us are engaged in advancing clinical research within our faculty and department.鈥�

During the event, a special recognition was given to the late Richard Hovey, Associate Professor in the faculty until his passing in November 2025. Drs. Paul Allison and Belinda Nicolau paid tribute to Richard, praising his research approach focusing on the lived experiences of people with chronic illness, chronic pain, cancer, and disability, and his unwavering dedication to his students, even in the face of terminal illness. One of Richard鈥檚 graduate students, Amina Abombriga, gave a heartfelt speech to his kindness, candor and support as her supervisor.

The 91涩漫 Dental Research Day and Clinical Symposium was capped off with an award ceremony for prizes, as well the announcement of Graduate Studies donor-funded awards.

For graduating PhD student Anisha Rodrigues, earning first place in the Best Clinical Oral Presentation Award carries a deep personal significance. 鈥淚 am truly honoured to receive the award. Receiving this in the final year of my PhD feels special and meaningful, as it recognizes both my work and my personal growth over the years. I am deeply grateful to both my supervisors, Drs. Emami and Abi Nader, for their unwavering guidance, encouragement, and support, all of which have been instrumental in making this achievement possible鈥� says Rodrigues.

We would like to thank all students who took part and congratulate the award recipients!

Best Clinical Oral Presentation Award

• First Place: Anisha Rodrigues
• Second Place: Yu Yao Chang

Best Pre-clinical Oral聽Presentation Award

• First Place: Sophie Pilote
• Second Place: Nicolas Plays

Best Clinical Short Talk Award

Sameh Rzigui

Best Pre-Clinical Short Talk Award

• First Place: Lander Manrique
• Second Place: Rand Al Jaber

Knowledge Translation Award

Manahil Ali

Best Publication Award

Antoine Karoichan

Best Critically Appraised Topic Award

Julia Sebag, Mitchell Samaan, Zachary Ramelson-Kert, Tyler Beauparlant, and Neos Dionisopoulos

Donor funded awards聽

Dr. Lyon Bercovitch Memorial Award:聽Amina Abomriga

Dr. Doreen E. Laszlo Graduate Fellowship:聽Pedram Akhlaghi

James P. Lund Dentistry Fellowship:聽Siyao Ma

James P. Lund聽Dentistry Fellowship: Yuanyuan Peng

Dr. Wah Leung Fellowship:聽Zaneta D'souza

Dr. E.T. and Mrs. Marjorie Bourke Award:聽Tuan Khang Nguyen

I.N. Pesner Memorial Prize: Negin Ghahramani Gargari