AADOCR NSRG Vice-President Candidate 2027-2028
University of Michigan, School of Dentistry
Ann Arbor, MI
Graduation Date: 2028
Reasons for Running
I am running for Vice President of the AADOCR National Student Research Group because I believe research is not just a tool of discovery—it’s a bridge to equity, innovation, and leadership in dental education. My journey—from dental school in Egypt to a Fulbright-supported master’s at NYU and now a PhD at the University of Michigan—has shown me how transformative well-supported research experiences can be at every stage of training.
Across my leadership roles—as President of DSSA-Egypt, Vice President of Afro-DSA, Chairperson in the International Association of Dental Students, and currently Mentor Co-Chair in GRIN and Fundraising Chair in the Michigan SRG—I’ve supported students through building mentorship programs, research networks, and cross-institutional initiatives that span countries and training levels. I envision an NSRG where every student—regardless of background or institutional resources—has access to mentorship, funding, and collaborative opportunities.
As Vice President, I will work to expand SRG chapters nationwide, support schools where research engagement is still developing, and promote collaboration between pre-dental, dental, graduate, and postdoctoral trainees. Together, we can make student research not just accessible—but transformative—for the future of oral health.
Research Conducted / Student Activities
Research:
• PhD researcher at the University of Michigan investigating oral mesenchymal stem cells, exosome-mediated immunomodulation, and dental pulp biology.
• Master’s thesis at New York University examining mutagenic and genotoxic effects of E-cigarette aerosol and benzo(a)pyrene in Big Blue® mouse oral tissues.
• Additional research on NiTi endodontic file performance, dental materials behavior, and undergraduate projects involving dental pulp stem cells, whitening agents, toxicology, and epidemiology-based oral health surveys.
• Presented an oral presentation at AADOCR 2023, the Society of Toxicology, NYU Research Day, and multiple international scientific platforms.
• Awards include: ADA Foundation Leadership Award & Crest/Oral-B Promising Researcher Award (2025); Rackham Precandidate Research Grant (2025); Graduate Student Best Abstract—SOT Arab Specialty Group (2023); Toxicologists of African Origin Travel Award (2023); NYU Dean’s Conference & GSAS Travel Awards (2023); Fulbright Foreign Student Grant (2021–2023).
Activities:
• GRIN Mentor Co-Chair and Michigan SRG Fundraising Chair; led mentorship programs, workshops, and student development initiatives.
• Member, International Center Student Council (2024–2026).
• LeaderShape Cohort 2025, University of Michigan.
• ISICL Interprofessional Leadership Program Participant (2025–2026).
• Participant, Student Leadership in Global Oral Health Program (2021–2022); presented Preventive Oral Health Community Project at AADMD Orlando.
• Former President of DSSA-Egypt; Vice President of Afro-DSA; Chairperson of the Voluntary Committee and Head of Educational Internship, IADS.
• Extensive oral health outreach in Tanzania, South Africa, Jamaica, Egypt, and the United States.
