Welcome to Dentistry's Newest Faculty Members September 2020
Dr. Noha Aziz Ezzat Gomaa has joined Schulich Dentistry as an Assistant Professor of Oral Medicine and a Scientist at Lawson Health Research Institute. She is an oral pathologist with significant clinical experience in providing dental care to vulnerable and under-served populations. Her research expertise is in the areas of social epigenetics, social epidemiology and population health. Dr. Gomaa completed her PhD and collaborative program in public health policy at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, followed by a clinician-scientist fellowship in early childhood adversity and epigenetics at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Prior to this, she obtained her dental degree and clinical specialty training at the Faculty of Dentistry, Alexandria University. Dovetailing with her clinical work and her passion to teach, Dr. Gomaa’s research program at Western will take an interdisciplinary society to cell approach to study the social and biological underpinnings of chronic oral diseases and related oral health inequalities, and their links to major health conditions. In translating science to policy, she has worked on several projects in collaboration with the Ontario Ministry of Health and federal policymakers to develop evidence-based programs for the delivery of dental services to children from low-income families and other vulnerable groups of the population.
Dr. Heleine Maria Chagas Rego has joined Schulich Dentistry as an Assistant Professor, Operative Dentistry.
In addition to her DDS in Dentistry, she holds a MSc and a PhD in Restorative Dentistry. Dr. Rêgo began her career as a Professor in 2015 at the Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil. In 2017 she joined Schulich Dentistry as an Adjunct Clinical Professor. She has been active in teaching and research, with papers published in relevant journals in her field of expertise.
Dr. Selma Saadaldin has joined Schulich Dentistry as an Assistant Professor, Prosthodontics. After completing her Bachelor and Master’s degree from Baghdad University, she worked at Baghdad University/ Iraq followed by Ajman University of Science and Technology/ UAE. In 2006, she moved to Canada where she pursued her PhD degree at University of Western Ontario from Schulich Dentistry while working as an Adjunct clinical professor. She then moved to Saudi Arabia and had the opportunity to work as Assistant Professor at Taibah University and Princess Nourah University, where she received a research grant to continue my research projects in collaboration with researchers from UWO. It is her pleasure to be back in her hometown, London. She is eager to share her dental passion, inspiration and knowledge with the future dentists of Canada!
Dr. Natalia Myrhha Melo has joined Schulich Dentistry as an Assistant Professor, Endodontics. Dr. Melo completed her DDS with honors in 2013. In 2015 she did a post grad in endodontics and in 2016 a post grad in oral surgery. She completed a specialization in endodontic 2017 and earned a Master’s degree in General Dentistry 2018. In 2018 she joined Schulich Dentistry as an Adjunct Professor. In 2019 she was the course coordinator of Endo 3rd year. She is fascinated with endo work and strives to always try her best to help students understand and improve their knowledge. She has worked internationally in private practice and emergencies hospitals.
Dr. Jessani has joined Schulich Dentistry as an Assistant Professor, Operative. Prior to joining Schulich Dentistry, Dr. Jessani coordinated preclinical and clinical operative dentistry at the College of Dentistry, University of Saskatchewan. After finishing his dental degree in 2011 from the University of Karachi, he came to UBC Dentistry to pursue his postgraduate education (MSc and PhD) that focused on access to dental care in vulnerable populations such as living with HIV, Indigenous population and Refugees, etc. Dr. Jessani has been teaching restorative dentistry with a focus on conservative and minimally invasive dentistry since he started his graduate training at UBC. His teaching in restorative and comprehensive care clinics focuses on risk based caries management while incorporating the principles of minimally invasive dentistry. He recently coauthored the first Cariology curriculum of Canada. As a former coordinator of Operative Dentistry, Dr. Jessani implemented a risk based caries management system (ICCMS) as a framework for both preclinical and clinical operative curriculum in USask Dentistry. He has been a proud recipient of several research and teaching awards for his excellence in research and teaching. When not working, Dr. Jessani loves to travel and spend time with his family and friends.
