WELCOME TO THE PROFESSION 2025
Welcome to the Profession - Class of 2025
Congratulations to the Class of 2025 on completing your specialist orthodontic training. We are thrilled to welcome you to the profession and can’t wait to support you every step of the way as you embark on this exciting new chapter of your professional journey.
A special shoutout goes to the dedicated educators from five universities across Australia and New Zealand for their invaluable mentoring. Your guidance has been instrumental in shaping these talented individuals.
And let’s not forget the families of our graduands—your unwavering support throughout their studies has been crucial, and we are so grateful for everything you’ve done. Let’s take a moment to celebrate this incredible achievement and get to know the amazing Class of 2025. Here’s to a bright future ahead!
Brandon Chow
University of Melbourne
Who is your ortho hero?
Paul Schneider and Marie Cornelis
Who inspired you to pursue orthodontics?
Mohammad Farrokhyar
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Cheering on my kids!
What area of orthodontics most excites you? Deband
If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be?
At the beach with my family.
Brandon Lim
University of Melbourne
What or who inspired you to pursue orthodontics?
The entire Cleft and Craniofacial team at Monash Medical Centre who helped me to understand the integral part we play in changing the lives of those in need.
What area of orthodontics most excites you?
The privilege of one day treating family and friends of patients I’ve cared for previously. It’s an honour to be an extended part of a family and community that values our profession.
What is your favourite thing to do in your spare time?
Trying my hand at a round of golf and forever getting out of the sand bunkers.
If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be?
Turning off the phone, emails and notifications just for a day. Enjoying a perfect mix of great food, meaningful company and being present: that is a luxury.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
The best way to pay it back is to pay it forward. I hope to be in a position to repay the generosity of the ortho community and give back to the profession and patients in any way I can.
Darshan Desai
University of Adelaide
Tell us your best orthodontist joke
An orthodontist’s favourite music is…. heavy metal
What area of orthodontics most excites you?
Biomechanics excites me most, particularly understanding how force systems influence tooth movement to deliver efficient, predictable, and patient-centred clinical outcomes.
What or who inspired you to pursue orthodontics?
My own experience as an orthodontic patient inspired me to pursue the specialty.
If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
Wanaka and Salzburg would be amazing, but there’s no place like Australia.
What is your favourite thing to do in your spare time?
I enjoy travelling with family and friends, exploring new places at a relaxed pace with long walks and no schedule
David Stumcke
University of Sydney
Tell us your best orthodontist joke. Why did the orthodontist always stay so calm? Because he knew that, in the end, everything would straighten itself out.
What area of orthodontics most excites you?
Clear aligner functional appliances
What or who inspired you to pursue orthodontics?
My partner
What is your favourite thing to do in your spare time?
Swim at the beach.
If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be?
Aeroplane Pilot
Advice for those starting the course. Support your classmates, work as a team and prioritise selfcare.
Jared Marks
University of Queensland
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Still learning and growing as an orthodontist.
Who is your ortho hero?
Brett Kerr
What area of orthodontics most excites you?
The ability to embrace AI while constantly learning to remain ahead of it.
What or who inspired you to pursue orthodontics?
I grew up at the back of my father’s orthodontic practice and became inspired from a young age.
If you’re studying away from home, what have you missed the most and do you plan to return?
Family, friends and living close to a beach.
What is your favourite thing to do in your spare time?
Running
Joyce Wong
University of Queensland
Who is your ortho hero?
Dr Brett Kerr
What area of orthodontics most excites you? There are many exciting aspects of orthodontics but honestly... I am most thrilled when patients wear their elastics well - it’s magic!
What or who inspired you to pursue orthodontics?
I’ve always been curious about the specialty but shout out to all the friendly orthodontists who agreed to let me observe over the years as a dental student/dentist - they have collectively shown me the beauty of the profession and inspired me to pursue orthodontics.
What is your favourite thing to do in your spare time?
Go on an adventure! Whether is trying out a new restaurant, exploring a new area, visiting a new shop, or go on a mini trip!
If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be?
As cliche as it sounds... shopping! (In store, not online)
Mimi Ngo
University of Adelaide
What or who inspired you to pursue orthodontics?
My orthodontist, Dr Anna Chang, inspired me. She made the specialty look genuinely fun and fascinating.
What is your favourite thing to do in your spare time?
Sign up and participate in CrossFit competitions.
What area of orthodontics most excites you?
I’m especially excited by the technology in orthodontics. The way digital workflows and 3D imaging let us plan treatment with far greater precision and predictability than before.
Tell us your best orthodontist joke Orthodontists are great at parties… they really know how to brace themselves.
If you’re studying away from home, what have you missed the most and do you plan to return?
Missed all my family and friends back in Brisbane. They might not like to hear it, but I might stay in Adelaide.
Rami Hussain
University of Sydney
Tell us your best orthodontist joke
Why was the orthodontist good at his job?
Because he had a lot of pull.
If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
Anywhere warm with great food.
What area of orthodontics most excites you?
Deband day and the patient’s excitement at seeing their finished treatment.
What is your favourite thing to do in your spare time?
Plan for my next travel adventure!
If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be?
Go to the movies and then grab a nice dinner.
Natasha Paul University of Sydney
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Still learning and hopefully still enjoying orthodontics just as much as I do now.
If you’re studying away from home, what have you missed the most and do you plan to return?
Family, friends, and familiar accents (including people pronouncing vowels correctly), though Sydney has definitely started to feel like home and I am staying on.
Who is your ortho hero?
My ortho heroes are the mentors who generously volunteer their time teaching and supporting trainees.
What is your favourite thing to do in your spare time?
“Yes, I’ll wear my elastics all the time” closely followed by “It broke on its own.”
Advice for those starting the course this year Lean on your cohort, you will learn as much from each other as you do from the textbooks.
Nicola Wong
University of Melbourne
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Being comfortable enough to begin each day without needing to study the appointment book beforehand.
Tell us your best orthodontist joke Knock knock... Who’s there?... Retention… Retention who?... Exactly.
What area of orthodontics most excites you? Honestly, all of it… apart from the admin.
What inspired you to pursue orthodontics?
Being able to make a noticeable difference to a patient’s smile without having to pick up a drill.
What is your favourite thing to do in your spare time?
Nothing beats a good glass of wine with friends or family.
Tracy Tang
University of Sydney
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Doing what I love and living happily ever after!
Tell us your best orthodontist joke
Why did the tooth have a mental breakdown? It was under constant pressure.
What or who inspired you to pursue orthodontics?
I had interceptive treatment with Dr Dennis Bau as a child, and I’ve wanted to become an orthodontist ever since. I will never forget him, or the single fish that was in the waiting room fish tank.
What area of orthodontics most excites you?
Treating patients and their families, getting to know them over the years and becoming a part of the local community.
If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be?
Skiing and relaxing in the hot springs in Japan.
Zahraa Albarki
University of Adelaide
Who is your ortho hero?
All of my supervisors who generously donated their time, knowledge, and patience to teach me how to be an orthodontist.
What area of orthodontics most excites you?
The positive impact orthodontic treatment has on patients, and the relationships that are built along the way.
If you’re studying away from home, what have you missed the most and do you plan to return?
Celebrating life’s big and small moments with my closest family and friends. I’ve officially returned and am so happy to be back!
What is your favourite thing to do in your spare time?
Trying new cafes and restaurants and travelling whenever I get the chance.
Advice to those starting the course this year
You will get better at wire bending, I promise!
Tennant Emmerson
University of Melbourne
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
5 years isn’t too far away, though much can still be achieved. Professionally, working in a practice or two providing orthodontic care the way I would want to receive it. Personally, having more life balance and making quality time for family and friends. Lifestyle, having a single figure golf handicap and spending time around water.
Who is your ortho hero?
Dr Susan Needham, for her tireless and long-term care of children at and from The Royal Melbourne Children’s Hospital. Over more than a decade working closely with Susan, I saw her care for those less fortunate than most, her dedication was second to none. It was a privilege to work with those patients and their families side-by-side with Susan.
What area of orthodontics most excites you?
It is hard to beat debanding appointments and revealing a new smile. I enjoy seeing orthodontic mechanics play out the way I planned, but nothing beats the emotions of patients and their loved ones seeing their new smile for the first time, that never gets old.
What is your favourite thing to do in your spare time?
Spending time with family and friends, though if I need quieter time then playing golf or going fishing.
If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be?
Go to the moon, though more realistically, drive an old Formula 1 car.
