Born in Damascus and immigrating to the USA 15 years ago, I have successfully adapted my Middle Eastern identity to my new character as a professional that has fully Americanized. I have dental degrees from my native Syria (1996) and my DMD from the University of Pittsburgh. As a result of my remarkably elevated level of discipline and the fact that I am a hard worker, I feel strongly that I would be able to contribute a lot of energy to your residency program due to my dedication and good cheer.
I love the broad diversity of oral and maxillofacial surgery: Orthognathic, Cosmetic, TMJ, Dentoalveolar, Implants, Pathology, Trauma, and Reconstruction. I especially enjoy studying, making presentations, and having discussions with my colleagues. My father, a University of Pittsburgh-trained Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon introduced me to dentistry and surgery, watching him operate and listening to his lectures.
The greatest strength, however, which I hope to bring to your program, is over ten years of surgical experience. I became a workaholic after participating in an internship in 2001 at the University of XXXX Southwestern Medical Center /XXXX Hospital. It was a packed and stressful program, and we had three residents quit that year; yet we all stood up and managed to get the job done through teamwork. Although successful, I want to give up my current practice and return to a residency position because of my passion for learning and advancement in the field.
I look forward to this coming October, when I will have the privilege of completing an externship /rotation in Washington, DC. I have been staying current and augmenting my knowledge base through ongoing study over the past few years with many continuing education courses related to our field.
I want very much to dedicate my life to Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. I look forward to a life of service here in America as a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon. I also would like to spend lengthy periods working to promote Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in my native Syria.
I look forward to serving someday as a faculty member at Damascus University and working in private practice in Damascus. I have a facility with language and speak an increasing amount of Spanish in addition to my native Arabic.
I respect those surgeons who work for public hospitals and non-profit organizations like UNICEF and Doctors without Borders, operating in Developing countries. These surgeons are my role models, and I hope to give a large part of my professional energy in the future to such an initiative. I am concerned for my native Syria, especially as conditions continue to deteriorate further, and I hope to help at some point. My father has held many high academic positions, such as the chairperson of the Arab Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Dean of the Dental School at Damascus University, and he continues to inspire me. Like him, I feel strongly that my long-term goal of combining the teaching of the science of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery along with long hours operating in public hospitals to be my destiny, my service to my people and humanity at large. I will treasure your program as a learning experience and an opportunity to serve that will continue to prepare me for ongoing, lifelong learning.
Residency Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Syrian