Alumni Association president, instructor Natoosha Nargaski steps into new role: assistant professor
Former grad is one of four new assistant professors, one new adjunct professor
Natoosha Nargaski is the first to say she “bleeds blue”: she did her undergrad at the University of Toronto before starting the DDS program at U of T Dentistry, graduating in 2007. After a one-year residency at the Hospital for Sick Children she returned to the Faculty, this time for a specialty master’s degree in orthodontics. She moved into teaching after the DDS, becoming an instructor in periodontics and later, orthodontics, as well as working in private practice. But her heart was always in teaching. And it was always at U of T Dentistry.
On July 1st, Nargaski, who is also outgoing president of the U of T Dentistry Alumni Association, stepped into a new role: assistant professor, as well as clinic coordinator for the graduate specialty program in orthodontics. It’s a role she’s been preparing for throughout her career.
“The plan was always to be in academia at U of T,” says Nargaski. “My passion lies with the clinic and with didactic teaching; I love ortho.”
Taking on the role of former orthodontics clinic coordinator director William Wilson, who retired this July, is “incredibly daunting,” admits Nargaski. “Both [he and former program director Dr. Bryan Tompson] are fountains of knowledge. Trying to step into Dr. Wilson’s role is like trying to put on the shoes of a sasquatch.”
"We’re stronger as a cohesive unit than individual parts"
Nargaski’s emotional connection to the school stems from spending what she calls her “formative years” at U of T Dentistry learning the profession she loves. And it’s this passion that led Nargaski to step into the role of alumni association president in 2016.
“I love our alumni office. I love keeping in touch with former students, helping them come back. It builds on that alma mater experience,” says Nargaski. “That’s what U of T is to me. It’s my alma mater, a second family” says Nargaski, who will additionally teach undergraduate orthodontic preclinical and didactic courses, as well as deliver some lectures to DDS 1 students.
With her term as president of the alumni association ending in January, Nargaski feels that throughout the pandemic, the alumni office has been doing a tremendous job of supporting alumni and providing resources during the pandemic. That’s where the U of T Dentistry connection feels the strongest for her.
“We’re stronger as a cohesive unit than individual parts. Keeping those connections with colleagues, your alma mater and retiring alumni: it’s important to be a supportive system,” says Nargaski.
As of July 1st, the Faculty welcomed three other full-time faculty members and a new adjunct professor.
Susanna Chow has been an Instructor with the Faculty and is now appointed as an assistant professor. Chow obtained her DDS at U of T Dentistry in 1992 and a Master of Education, Higher Education in Health Professional Education from U of T in 2016. She will teach in the comprehensive care program and restorative dentistry.
Neena D’Souza has been an Instructor with the Faculty and is now appointed as an adjunct professor, where she will be involved in clinical research studies. Having obtained both a BDS and an MDS at the College of Dental Surgery, Manipal, India, D’Souza completed a master’s degree in Prosthodontics at U of T Dentistry in 2000. Additionally, she was president of the Association of Prosthodontist of Ontario.
Larisa Naderiani, joined the Faculty at the rank of assistant professor, and will also teach in the comprehensive care program and restorative dentistry. Having completed her DDS degree at the University of Toronto in 2010, Naderiani went on to complete a master’s degree in public health at Tufts University. She has held a number of positions with the National Dental Examining Board of Canada and the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario.
Ryan Schure has been an Instructor with the Faculty and is now appointed as an assistant professor, where he will teach periodontics. Schure obtained his DDS at U of T Dentistry in 2010. He finished with an M.Sc. in Periodontics in 2013 and was named a fellow to the Royal College of Dentists of Canada, in periodontics.
All Faculty of Dentistry alumni are members of the Alumni Association (FDAA). Get involved with the FDAA by becoming a board member.
Photo: Natoosha Nargaski (IITS)