25 May 2023

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Harvard U periodontology grad aims to inspire through education, innovation and service

By Harvard School of Dental Medicine News

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As David T. Wu, DMSc23, completes his advanced degree program in periodontology this May, he looks forward to a career integrating clinical practice, scientific research, and dental education as a clinician-scientist-educator. Born in Suzhou, China, Wu grew up in Montreal, Quebec, and received his Bachelor of Science in Anatomy and Cell Biology from McGill University in 2015, followed by his DMD from the Faculty of Dentistry at McGill in 2019. Wu reflects on his most memorable moments at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) and what lies ahead.

What have been the highlights of your HSDM experience?

The most memorable moments in my four-year journey at HSDM involve members of our vibrant community of students, faculty, and staff. Throughout residency, I was actively engaged in teaching DMD students both clinically and didactically while mentoring students on various research projects ranging from medical device development to innovation in dental education. In particular, with a group of DMD students and faculty mentors, we inaugurated the Harvard Dental Innovation Society with the mission to enhance dental education and introduce students to the latest innovation and technologies in our field. Our pilot program and associated findings was recently published in the Journal of Dental Education. My most rewarding memories are when students discover their passion for dental medicine and find their unique paths to a fulfilling career. Particularly, I am very proud of the students in the DMD Class of 2023 who have recently matched to residency/specialty training programs across the country.

Scientifically, a highlight of my research experience at Harvard was showcasing my doctoral thesis on mechanobiology of stem cells at the American Academy of Periodontology and being recognized with the prestigious Balint Orban Memorial Award in Basic Science for my contributions to advancing our specialty. In addition, I will always fondly remember my journey as a research fellow under the mentorship of Professor David Mooney at the Harvard John A. School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the Wyss Institute. During these few years, I had the opportunity to contribute to the development and translation of a novel medical device for intraoral wound sealing and drug delivery together with Dr. Benjamin Freedman, postdoctoral fellow at the lab. The core technology went on to win the 2022 Harvard President’s Innovation Challenge.­­

On a personal note, I will always cherish memories of running with friends, co-residents, and lab mates along the Charles River and participating in our Division of Periodontology’s annual 5K fundraiser run, the PerioDash, to support the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) Foundation. It is very important for me to give back to the profession through the Foundation as I was fortunate to be the recipient of the AAP Foundation’s Educator Scholarship to support my transition from residency to an academic career.

You were chosen by the DMD Class of 2023 to receive the Outstanding Teaching Resident Award, could you comment on the honor of this recognition?

Albert Einstein famously wrote, “a student is not a container you have to fill but a torch you have to light up.” I believe that education is the cornerstone of our profession’s future, and inspiring students to achieve their dreams is the essence of a teacher. In residency, I was actively engaged in teaching pre-doctoral students both clinically and didactically while mentoring students on dental education projects.

It is a tremendous honor to be elected by the graduating DMD Class of 2023 to receive this recognition. From teaching the pre-doctoral students didactically in their first pre-clinical case-based seminar to guiding them through their first patient encounters and surgical procedures, I have been privileged to share their journey of growth. Helping the Class of 2023 explore their areas of interests and discover their unique paths to a fulfilling career is rewarding. I am confident that our relationship will continue to grow as the Class of 2023 enters the profession.

What is next in your career? What impact do you hope to have as you take your next steps in the field?

When entering Harvard Yard from the Dexter Gate, the inscription above you reads “Enter to gain in wisdom. Depart to serve better thy country and thy kind.” At Harvard, I had the opportunity to learn from and work with world-class professors who also became my mentors and supporters. After Commencement, as I launch my career as a clinician-scientist-educator, I hope to pay it forward, to be a source of knowledge, inspiration, and encouragement for the next generation of students, and to continue my journey of service to patients, the profession, and the public.

As a new faculty member in the Department of Oral Medicine, Infection, and Immunity at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, I aim to inspire students through education, to reach new horizons with innovative research, and to build the future of our profession through service and leadership. I hope to ignite students’ passion for dental medicine and periodontology, and advocate for diversity and equity in higher education. My long-term mission is to create an outstanding learning environment for the next generation of clinicians and researchers, and to harness the power of translational research to drive forward discoveries from the benchtop to chairside, to ultimately, benefit our patients.

Read the story with additional photos on the university's website.