Global Dentistry
The Columbia Crown Fall 2024 Edition
Letter From the Editor
Understanding Dentistry: A Look at Dr. Sonaj
Vardhaman’s Transcontinental Experience
Jessica Chen
T a b l e o f
Alina Naqvi 4
Smiles Around the World: Michelle Nguyen’s Cross-Cultural Observations
Michelle Ginsburg
o n t e n t s 3
Smiling Through Change: Dr. Yarina Frias Guzman’s Journey to the U.S.
Jack Eppolito
Dentistry in India: A Look at Education and Practice with Dr. Divya Aggarwal
6
A Tale of Two Dental Worlds: Dr. Johnny Kim on U.S. and Korean Dentistry
8
10
David Pellei 11
An Inside scoop into Healing the Children from Dr. Sidney Eisig
Ju Hee Son 13
Anna Jonczyk
A Global Journey in Dentistry: Dr. Harry Shin’s Approach to Patient Care and Innovation
Ju Hee Son
16
Letter from the Editor:
“And what makes you different from other applicants?” I’m sure many of us got used to spewing out everything unique about ourselves in interview for dental school. It wasn’t until we started school that we saw just how important our answer to that question was. We all come from such different backgrounds, cultures, and life experiences, and I personally have loved learning from my classmates’ varied stories and perspectives.
Alina Naqvi
This edition of the ASDA Columbia Crown highlights several CDM students and dentists who come from all around the globe and have unique experiences and perspectives on dentistry. I hope even after this newsletter is published that we all continue having conversations with each other about our differences, and that we can apply these skills to be empathetic towards- and connect with- our future patients, regardless of where they are from.
I would like to thank our Editorial Committee co-chairs, Jessica Chen and David Pellei, for their dedication the past several months in organizing, designing, and executing this newsletter. I would also like to recognize all the members of the Editorial Committee who took the time to interview students and write these wonderful pieces. Lastly, thank you to all the students willing to share a little piece of themselves with the rest of us.
UnderstandingDentistry: A
atSonajVardhaman’s TranscontinentalE x peri
By: Jessica Chen
Sonaj Vardhaman’s dental journey from India to the United States showcases her innate curiosity and commitment to excelling in her field. After graduating from dental school in India in 2017, she practiced for seven months before deciding to enhance her knowledge of dental materials. This led her to the U.S., a pioneer in biomaterials research, where she pursued a Master's degree in the Biomaterials department at NYU Following her graduation, she worked for a year as a research scientist in the dental materials department at Penn Dental Medicine. Her desire to return to clinical practice led her to be accepted into Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, where she is currently a D4 st
Dental Schools in India
Sonaj attended Sinhgad Dental College in Pune, India, where her class size of 90 provided significant patient exposure. Dental schools in India are typically located in urban areas, often in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods, enabling them to serve underserved populations. To enhance this understanding, part of the curriculum included public health field trips to rural areas, giving students a broader perspective on dentistry across India.
Funding for dental schools primarily comes from the government, with some contributions from the public. This support allows schools to offer most procedures such as x-rays, root canals, and restorations at no cost, with only a few procedures like implants requiring out-of-pocket expenses.
Dental School Curriculum
Similar to the D1 and D2 years in the U.S., the initial years of study emphasized basic sciences. During the D3 year, students participated in mandatory rotations in general surgery and medicine, working alongside medical students to document cases and formulate differential diagnoses Although there was a focus on comprehensive care, most training centered on the procedures related to their monthly rotations. After completing four years of dental school, students are required to complete a one-year internship.
Examinations consisted of theoretical essay questions, with oral exams every fifteen days and comprehensive school-based assessments every three months. The equivalent of the INBDE/CDCA consisted of annual standardized didactic and clinical exams administered to all dental schools in the region. Sonaj notes that Columbia’s schedule appears less rigorous, offering more opportunities for exploration both within and outside the dental curriculum.
Dental Care in India
“The United States has the most advanced and innovative biomaterials research in the world, and I wanted to move somewhere that would increase my understanding of biomaterials.”
Growing up, Sonaj observed that dental care in India was less focused on prevention; patients typically sought dental treatment only when experiencing pain or issues. She also noted the prevalence of “quack” dentistry, where unlicensed individuals in remote areas would perform extractions and fabricate their own dentures. Cultural practices in lower socioeconomic regions, such as the use of tobacco, contributed to higher rates of oral cancer and periodontal disease. In contrast, in more economically developed areas, there is a growing emphasis on preventative dental care among both patients and practitioners.
Sonaj’s journey from India to the United States highlights the interconnectedness of global dental practices and the importance of cross-cultural experiences in advancing the dental profession. Her diverse educational and clinical experiences reveal the contrasting approaches to dental care in various countries, especially in prevention, education, and access, and will help facilitate her approach to practicing in the United States.
By: Michelle Ginsburg
ound the World: ross-Cultural Observations
From Saigon, Vietnam to Nashville, Tennessee to New York, New York, Michelle Ngyuen’s journey towards dentistry is one of strength, perseverance, and strong family bonds.
Michelle was born in Saigon, Vietnam, now known as Ho Chi Minh City When she was four years old, she immigrated to the United States with her brother, parents, and grandmother in search of a better life and greater opportunities Michelle’s father was a former commander for the South Vietnamese army and fought alongside the United States Army during the Vietnam War. After the United States and South Vietnam were defeated by North Vietnam, and Vietnam became a communist country, Michelle’s father was imprisoned for fifteen years due to his alliance with South Vietnam, the United States and his anti-communist beliefs. Due to his former stance against the communist party, it was difficult for Michelle’s father to find a job and support his family, so her parents made the difficult decision to uproot their family and immigrate to the United States To this day Michelle’s family still feels the lingering effects and trauma of his experience. “He might have PTSD,” Michelle explained. “He doesn’t like to talk very much about [his experience during the Vietnam War or his time in prison], and when my mom sees anything related to the war, she walks away. ” Michelle’s family was sponsored to move to Nashville, Tennessee through an American program for Vietnamese refugees Her extended family followed suit, and either joined them in Nashville or immigrated to various cities in California. Michelle spent her formative years in Nashville, where she attended elementary and high school. She then moved to New York to attend New York University (NYU), where she received a Bachelor’s of Science in Dental Hygiene
We were poor and had no money, so medical care and dental care were the last things on our mind"
Michelle’s love for dentistry began when she was just 8 years old. As recent immigrants, Michelle’s family were focused on making ends meet. “We were poor and had no money, so medical care and dental care were the last things on our mind.” But one day, Michelle had a bad toothache that could no longer be ignored. Her mother brought her to a nearby dentist, and they discovered that her molar was fractured and was severely decayed. Although having her tooth restored was uncomfortable, this experience sparked Michelle’s interest in the field of dentistry. “This was my first experience with dentistry. It was not pleasant, but the more I came back to the dentist, the more I became interested in the process of how teeth are restored ” After working part time as a dental assistant in high school, Michelle’s passion for the field deepened. She began NYU with the ultimate goal of becoming a dentist For Michelle, this meant spending a few years practicing as a dental hygienist so that she can save enough money to support herself financially through dental school.
During her time as a dental hygienist, Michelle began to notice stark differences in dental practice in twenty-first century America and the stories she heard from her older family members about their dental experiences in Vietnam. She describes, “They b li d i [Traditional] Chinese Medicine back then. They didn’t believe in restoring teeth, ma of a lack of [dental] research Now, all my older family members wear dentures and poor dental outcomes because of this.” However, she explained that since h experience, dentistry in Vietnam has made significant progress Michelle describe current field of dentistry as very competitive with advancements in oral and dent She explains that students begin dental school immediately after graduating hig order to be accepted into any university program, high school students are require exam prior to graduation. Michelle estimates that one would need to have an exam top 10th percentile in order to be accepted into any Vietnamese dental school She a that dental school is significantly more affordable in Vietnam and is much shorter is no requirement to attend an undergraduate program prior to beginning de However, Michelle wonders if perhaps there is a lack of experience, knowledge and e Vietnam that we have in the United States.
Michelle still practices as a hygienist on the weekends She feels that working as a hygienist provides her with valuable experience in the field of dentistry and patient care, and hopes that the skills she developed over the past few years will help her as she achieves her childhood dream of becoming a dentist
Smiling Through Change:
Dr. Yarina Frias Guzman’s Journey to the US
Imagine going through dental school: four years of constant studying, classes, exams, professors, and patients—culminating in the joy and excitement of graduating. Now, imagine going through all of that all over again. This is the reality for foreign-trained dentists who aspire to practice in the United States. After completing dental school in their home country, they face the daunting task of applying to U.S. schools, often learning a new language and adapting to an entirely different culture along the way. It takes immense ambition and motivation to navigate this journey, and I had the privilege of meeting one such person here at CDM.
By: Jack Eppolito
Yarina graduated from dental school in the Dominican Republic at 21 years old, and afterwards did residency in OMFS. She practiced in the DR for several years before deciding to move to the United states with her family Determined to succeed, she learned English in 2 years to pass the board exams, and she worked as a dental hygienist in Florida to save money for the considerable costs of the applications. Now a D4 at Columbia, Yarina is preparing for the CBSE with her sights on returning to OMFS.
When I asked why she wanted to come to the U.S. to practice dentistry, her answer was very clear: she said, “I’ve always wanted to be an American dentist because they are the best.” She explained that they are well organized and have the ability to perform comprehensive care For Yarina, Columbia University, with its state-of-the-art clinic, diverse patient cases, and especially its talented faculty, was the place to help her achieve her ambitious goals.
Another reason that Yarina prefers practicing in the US, especially in New York, is that patients are able to receive complete dental care through insurance. In the Dominican Republic, many patients are unable to afford comprehensive treatments, and they are often limited to pain management and treating only the immediate problem In the U S , private insurance is more common and programs such as Medicaid cover patients so they can receive the care they need, from checkups to root canals. For Yarina, the ability to put together a complete treatment plan and then follow through with it brings great satisfaction. With her desire to return to OMFS, it’s clear that Yarina doesn’t want any limit to what procedures she can do for her patients
Dental school is a challenge regardless of where you attend, but going through it all over again in another country is a greater feat. Nevertheless, Yarina is steadfast in her goals and her dedication to her f f f
Dentistry in India: A Look at Education and Practice with Divya Aggarwal
By: David Pellei
Dentistry in India has its own unique way of functioning that is influenced by culture, costs, and accessibility. The system has some key differences from practice in the United States, in how students are trained as well as how care is provided to patients.
Dental School
In India, students begin their dental education often directly out of high school.
Instead of an undergraduate degree, they join a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) program that has 4 years of academic work, then a mandatory internship for one year The education system is very focused on detailed learning where students often write essays about surgical procedures and anatomy. Unlike in some countries, things like local anesthesia might not always be used for minor dental work, which is a practice shaped by how things are done and what patients expect.
How Dental Care Works
Most people in India don’t visit the dentist regularly for check-ups or cleanings. Care is generally problem-based where a toothache abnormality is what brings the patient in. Preventative care is not common, and dental insurance is also rare, with most patients paying out of pocket This makes treatments expensive, but not as costly as in the United States. When a patient is unable to afford private care, government-funded dental schools and clinics provide low-cost or even free treatments. This ensures access, but the best equipment and materials may still be in private offices.
Moving Forward
India is slowly shifting towards preventative dental care, with education and awareness campaigns encouraging patients to visit their dentists regularly. Simultaneously, dentists are constantly learning about adopting improved materials and techniques.
Conclusion
Dentistry in India has its own challenges but also shows the dedication of dental professionals to their patients. While not yet focused on prevention, the system provides a lot of affordable options for those in need. As awareness grows and technology improves, dentistry in India is likely to keep evolving.
A Tale of Two Dental Worlds: Dr.
Johnny Kim on U.S. and Korean Dentistry
By: Ju Hee Son
Dr. Johnny Kim has a unique perspective on dental care, shaped by his extensive academic background and diverse international experiences. After completing his undergraduate studies at Duke University and earning his dental degree from Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, he now practices endodontics in Long Island However, his passion for dentistry is deeply rooted in his upbringing in South Korea, where his father was a dentist In an insightful conversation with Dr Kim, we explored the contrasts between dental care in the two countries.
Specialization: A Distinctive Approach
One of the most notable differences between U.S. and Korean dentistry lies in the approach to specialization. According to Dr Kim, general practice is the dominant model in Korea “In Korea, approximately 95% of dentists are general practitioners who handle a wide range of procedures,” he explains. “The concept of referring patients to specialists is still relatively uncommon, and specialized care is typically found only in university hospitals.”
In contrast, the U.S. has a well-established system of dental specialization. However, Dr. Kim points out that general dentists in the U.S. can also carve out niches within their practices, such as implants or cosmetic dentistry, through continued education
Time and Financial Pressures: Balancing Quality and Efficiency
The financial pressures faced by any dental professionals can influence treatment decisions, particularly when there are time constraints. In Korea, where insurance coverage for procedures like root canals is limited, there may be an incentive to recommend treatments that are quicker and more financially viable “Root canals require a high degree of precision and time, but in some cases where there are financial pressures, some dentists may opt for implants, even when the natural tooth could be saved,” Dr. Kim notes. Similarly, in cases where fillings are needed, some Korean dentists may opt for inlays or onlays over traditional fillings due to the higher reimbursement rates. “The financial model may sometimes influence treatment choices,” Dr. Kim notes, “but ultimately, most dentists aim to provide the best care possible within the context of their practice environment ”
Dentistry is a global profession.
Business Models: Corporate Influence vs. Independent Practice
The business models of dentistry also differ, particularly in terms of corporatization. Dr. Kim highlights the growing trend of large dental chains in the U.S. that operate on high-volume, lower-cost models. “Corporate offices can lower prices by seeing a higher number of patients, but there are concerns that this emphasis on volume may impact the quality of care, ” he states.
In Korea, the dental corporate model is less widespread, but competition can be fierce, particularly in urban areas like Seoul. Dr. Kim shares an example of UD United Dental, a corporate group that initially thrived by offering lower prices but eventually faced regulatory challenges. “The government intervened, leading UD United Dental to relocate its operations to the U.S.,” Dr. Kim explains. “In Korea, the saturation of dental offices in certain areas can make it difficult for individual practices to remain financially viable, with some even going bankrupt ”
Insurance: A Key Difference in Accessibility
The role of insurance is another significant difference between the two countries. Dr. Kim notes that Korea’s universal healthcare system includes dental coverage, which covers not only routine exams, but also essential treatments like cavity fillings and root canals. This makes dental care more affordable and encourages regular check-ups, fostering preventive care. He also highlights that in Korea, dental exams are integrated into the school system “Children in Korea receive annual dental check-ups as part of their curriculum,” Dr. Kim explains. “This early exposure helps instill a preventive care mindset from a young age.”
Conversely, dental insurance in the U S is typically separate from general health insurance and often covers a limited range of services. “In the U.S, patients may be hesitant to schedule regular dental visits due to concerns about out-of-pocket costs,” Dr. Kim observes. “This can lead to delayed care and more complex treatments down the line ”
Conclusion: Bridging Differences for Better Care
Despite the differences between dental care in the U S and Korea, Dr Kim believes the core mission remains the same: providing excellent patient care While Korea’s universal healthcare model offers broader access to preventive services, the U.S. system allows for greater specialization. Both have their strengths and challenges, but the ultimate goal improving patient health is universal. Dr. Kim underscores the value of learning from different systems. “Dentistry is a global profession,” he notes. “By understanding diverse approaches, we can refine our own practices and continue to evolve, always prioritizing the best care for our patients.”
An Inside Scoop Into
From Dr. Sidney Eisig
By: Anna Jonczyk
Dr. Sidney Eisig has been traveling for 30 years to the same hospital in Neiva, Colombia with the organization Healing the Children (HTC), one of the oldest and largest volunteer-driven charities in the nation. The organization’s mission is to treat underserved populations around the world and provide essential care and treatments to children that would otherwise be unobtainable.
Dr Eisig shared the story of how the Neiva mission trips began a chance meeting on a flight from Bogotá to New York between Angeles Glick, executive director of HTC's Northeast chapter, and Carlos Fajardo, a retired civil engineer who had settled in his wife’s hometown of Neiva, Colombia. On the flight, they struck up a conversation. Mrs. Glick shared her background in outreach programs, while Mr. Fajardo discussed his active retirement and partnership with the local hospital and the Neiva Chamber of Commerce, where he learned of a child in urgent need of specialized care Within the year, they formed a collaboration and brought the child to the United States for the necessary operation After a site visit with Dr David Hoffmann, the director of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) at Staten Island University Hospital, Mrs. Glick also established Neiva as the next home base for the Colombian mission trips.
Although this was prior to Dr Eisig’s involvement, only two years after the Neiva chapter’s creation, Dr. Eisig joined a volunteer trip with a team of about 20 people. The small city is located in the valley of the Magdalena River, with a population of around 350,000 people, and only an hour flight from Bogota. Looking back at the first years at the Neiva clinic, Dr. Eisig reminisced about the older operating rooms how the hospital had to install hot water, and how trees grew so close to the building that a bird was always perched near the OR’s window, directly in the surgeons' view. He and his team focused their work on lips, palates, and bone grafts for the patients who were missing bone in their lateral incisor region.
Dr Danny Perez, a director of OMFS at University of Texas San Antonio, and Dr Pedro Franco, affiliated with the Baylor OMFS program, joined the team a few years later and together with Dr Eisig began performing mid-face advancements in conjunction with an orthodontics group. Around the time of this new medical expansion, the Nieva doctors also recognized the need for speech services. Dr. Eisig reached out to Dr. Catherine Crowley from the Bilingual Extension Institute at Columbia University’s Teachers College, who then sent two faculty members and eight bilingual master’s students to Neiva. Now, the speech service team has grown to include over 20 students
Currently, the Neiva chapter has expanded to more than 110 members, including anesthesiologists, nurses, pediatricians, geneticists, orthopedic surgeons, orthodontists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, and speech service specialists. The breadth of services and extensive team of specialists differentiates HTC as an outreach program; the children can receive palate repair, bone grafts, midface advancements, orthodontics, speech therapy, orthopedic surgery, speech surgery such as as pharyngeal flap and soft palate repair, treatment for clubfoot, take part in genetic research, and so on.
Patients are resilient and insist on traveling from beyond Neiva’s surrounding community to reach the hospital, taking several buses and various routes from smaller villages in the mountains to receive treatment. Dr. Eisig recalls that it is “not uncommon for patients to say that they have traveled over six hours to come to the clinic ” When the Neiva mission trips began over 30 years ago, Colombia was challenged politically, criminally, and amidst several drug wars Patients traveling from areas controlled by narco-guerillas required permission to travel to the Neiva hospital, and even after they received permission, only one family member was allowed to travel with the child. In the present day, patients travel under safer circumstances and are not met with the same political challenges, but they still commute from numerous miles away to get the care that otherwise would be unavailable to them Colombia’s medical insurance is not robust, and outside of the main cities like Bogota there aren’t many surgeons trained to do the advanced procedures offered at HTC. Colombia’s health finances have made it very difficult for patients to receive cleft clare outside of the five days that the HTC team operates in Neiva.
“[It’s] not uncommon for patients to say that they have traveled over six hours to come to the clinic”
Dr. Eisig explains that the amount of children that show up to the clinic demonstrates the dire need for these mission trips to continue. The team spends five days operating with an additional screening day prior, where about 700 to 800 patients receive a primary consultation For surgical procedures, the first day serves to make and manipulate necessary models prior to operating. Unfortunately with such an immense need for care, Dr. Eisig recounts the challenges of having to turn down families during the screening day, several of whom have endured long travel to the clinic. He recalls the heartbreaking feeling of having to tell families that the clinic might not be able to offer services at the time because their children are 'not ready for surgery' whether they are too young for a bone graft, only need a minor lip revision, or the clinic is already fully booked.
On operating days, each surgeon that performs jaw surgery sees about one to two patients a day, while those not doing surgery can see four to five cases a day Alongside the oral surgeons and the residents that fly in, local Colombian oral surgeons and Dr Alberto Trespalacios, a distinguished plastic surgeon, tackle cases for those five days. Dr. Eisig explains the double-ended mentorship and learning that occurs between the local and international surgeons, where both experts exchange knowledge and techniques in their symbiotic relationship. On other teams, such as the orthopedic and speech pathology groups, an education program grew to continue the work of the mission trip when HTC isn’t in Neiva. The orthopedic surgeons have educated local pediatricians in Neiva and the surrounding countryside on how to cast babies with clubfoot and similar anomalies to avoid the need for surgery later on Meanwhile, the speech pathologists have also run courses with local speech pathologists on providing speech therapy for children with cleft palates.
The work in Neiva is essential in addressing the accessibility of care. While certain neighborhoods and populations in the United States face socioeconomic disadvantages, there is still assistance available, along with opportunities to access top surgeons in public and private hospitals for necessary emergency care However, Neiva and surrounding areas ’ circumstances do not allow for any such access In order to fund the mission trips, Neiva’s local chamber of commerce and businesses support the doctors and volunteers by providing reduced hotel rates and compensation for meals and drinks, while community and national police provide transportation. Hospitals, such as Staten Island University Hospital, generously donate supplies. A majority of the funding also comes from a fundraiser at the Copacabana nightclub in New York City, where the entrance fee, bar tab, raffles, and donations annually gather between 20 and 40 thousand dollars Even with these numerous funding sources, many surgeons pay their own airfare and bring some of their own supplies. Dr. Eisig reflects that the work he does in both the United States and Neiva shares a common purpose: it is always for the benefit of the patients. However, unlike in America, where he can work with Medicaid and accept various insurance plans, the situation in Neiva is starkly different it is never about financial compensation. In Neiva, he volunteers simply because he wants to, knowing that the only reward for him and the other hundreds of surgeons, specialists, doctors, and volunteers is the profound gratification of helping people who would otherwise never receive the care they need. Through HTC, Dr Eisig’s unwavering commitment and the dedication of the entire team stand as a testament to the power of compassion and the impact of truly selfless service.
A Global Journey in Dentistry: Dr. Harry Shin’s Approach to Patient
Care and Innovation
By: Ju Hee Son
Dr. Harry Hyungkyun Shin has spent his career moving between the worlds of clinical practice, academia, and dental research. Originally from South Korea, Dr. Shin’s educational journey includes a DDS from Seoul National University, a master’s from the University of Manchester, and a PhD from Korea University. He ran a dental clinic in Seoul and served as an adjunct professor at Korea University He recently joined Dr Lee’s regenerative engineering lab at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, where he explores stem cell therapies to address dental implant complications. In an in-depth conversation, Dr. Shin shared his experiences and insights into both the U.S. and Korean dental systems, as well as the growing importance of critical thinking and research in modern dentistry.
A Different Path to Dentistry
In Korea, aspiring dentists start their journey right after high school “The first two years focus on basic sciences, while the last four years are centered on clinical training,” Dr Shin explains This contrasts with the U.S., where students typically complete a four-year undergraduate degree before applying to dental school.
While specialization remains a relatively new concept in Korea, many dentists pursue continuing education (CE) courses to gain expertise in specific areas “CE programs in Korea tend to be very hands-on,” Dr Shin observes “There’s a strong emphasis on new technologies, such as digital dentistry, advanced implant techniques, and the latest advancements in dental tools.”
Honing Skills with Accessible Care
Dr Shin credits Korea’s universal healthcare system for providing early exposure to a wide range of clinical cases “In Korea, most treatments are covered by insurance, except for some dental treatments like crowns and implants,” he explains. “This accessibility allows new dentists to gain significant experience by treating a high volume of patients, which accelerates their development of clinical skills.”
However, Dr. Shin acknowledges the challenges that come with the intensity of the Korean healthcare system. “Many dentists work six days a week, often with long hours, leading to a risk of burnout,” he says Nevertheless, he believes that the high caseloads help develop a depth of experience that prepares dentists to handle complex cases.
The Role of Research and Critical Thinking
After years of private practice and lecturing internationally, Dr. Shin decided to dive into research at Columbia. “I realized that academia and research can really push us toward better patient care, ” he explains. His current work focuses on stem cell-based therapies to address complications in dental implants, from antimicrobial treatments to tissue regeneration. Using a bio 3D printer, his team is exploring ways to improve outcomes for patients facing inflammation around implants
As dentistry continues to embrace digital technology, Dr. Shin sees critical thinking as an essential skill for today’s professionals.
Dr. Shin provides an example from his own practice: choosing implant abutments. “There are dozens of companies offering implant components, each claiming to be the best,” he says. “But when you consider factors like efficiency, cost, durability, and individual patient needs, the choice isn’t always obvious It’s about dentists recognizing the responsibility of overall patient care and focusing on making informed and great personalized treatment for patients.
Looking
Ahead: A Broader Vision for Dentistry
With a plan to complete his research at Columbia over the next two years, Dr. Shin is looking to broaden his understanding of other dental fields.
For Dr. Shin, this holistic approach isn’t just about becoming a better clinician; it’s about elevating patient care as a whole. “Whether you ’ re in the U.S., Korea, or anywhere else, the goal is the same: to provide the best possible care, ” he concludes. And with his experience bridging multiple countries, specialties, and innovations, Dr. Shin strives to achieve this goal
