Over 100 years ago, Dr. Edward H. Angle recognized that orthodontic residents must acquire comprehensive knowledge in growth, development, biomechanics, and mechanical skills. Educating residents in these areas requires a unique individual – someone capable of balancing the demands of family life, research, clinical duties, lower salaries, and the preparation of residents for future practice, all while navigating daily disruptors.

Each quarter, the AAO Society of Educators profiles a full-time educator. This quarter the SOE chose to spotlight an educator who has been in their role for three years or less and is excelling in his or her role. The SOE sought input from orthodontic program leaders regarding their young educators and selected Dr. Tarek ElShebiny as the subject of this quarter’s Spotlight.

Dr. ElShebiny is a clinical assistant professor at the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine. He received his DDS, MSD and Certificate in Orthodontics from Case Western. He joined Rainbow Babies & Children Hospital for a Craniofacial, Surgical, and Special Care Orthodontic Fellowship. 

“Tarek volunteered for a year to cover the Case Western clinic during Covid even though we had a hiring freeze, and he would not get paid,” said Case Western Department of Orthodontics Chair Dr. Mark Hans of Dr. ElShebiny’s dedication to his work. “Since then, he has been on the tenure track and has established a new, innovative clinic for graduate students.”

Dr. ElShebiny’s mentor and Director of Orthodontic Residency, Dr. Martin Palomo commented, “Tarek developed an Innovations Clinic where patients are treated with in-office aligners, teaching the residents how to use different 3D printers and both commercial and open-source software to create aligners.  He has published more than 10 peer-reviewed manuscripts in three years, which is impressive for junior faculty.”

Dr. ElShebiny’s most recent publication appears in the July 2024 issue of the AJO-DO, “The Uses of 3-Dimensional Printing Technology in Orthodontic Offices in North America,” (with co-authors Dr. Yahaziel Simon, Dr. Catherine A. Demko and Dr. Palomo).

In 2018, Dr. ElShebiny received a Research Aid Award from the AAO Foundation for his work on “Comparison Between Imaging Software Packages for Three Dimensional Measurements of the Upper Airway Volume and Accuracy of 3D Superimposition.” In 2021, he received an AAOF Orthodontic Faculty Development Fellowship award for his research, “Comparing 3D Tooth Movement when Implementing the Same Virtual Setup on Different Software Packages.”  

Dr. ElShebiny has also been a speaker at AAO meetings, having presented a lecture on software for virtual in-house aligner set-ups at the 2023 Winter Conference, and on incorporating artificial intelligence into orthodontics at the 2024 Annual Session.

Additional Outstanding Young Educators
For the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2024-25 the SOE would also like to acknowledge the exceptional work and dedication of these younger educators:

Dr. Aron Aliaga del Castillo                       Dr. Khaled AlSarif  

Dr. Niloufar Azami                                      Dr. Fayrouz Bazina

Dr. Jonas Bianchi                                         Dr. Ginny Ching-Yin Hsu

Dr. Vesna-Lea Ferrer                                   Dr. Bruce Havens                            

Dr. Shin-Jung Hsieh                                     Dr. Michael Lee

Dr. Sanghee Lee                                           Dr. Corey Shook