Russel Gitalis

One to Watch: Master of Science in Dentistry, future dentist Russel Gitalis

For Russel Gitalis, the Master of Science in Dentistry has been an important stepping-stone on the path to his future. Convocating from U of T Dentistry and the School of Graduate Studies this fall, Gitalis recently commenced the Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD) degree at McGill University.

It’s a years-long ambition that he knows will be more successful because of his master’s work.

“People entering [dentistry] programs usually don’t know much about dentistry,” says Gitalis. “They may have shadowed a dentist, but they don’t know much of the scientific concepts behind dentistry,” he continues, adding that even after he finishes his dental degree, the strong scientific foundation he received at U of T Dentistry will continue to bolster his career.

Throughout his two-year degree, Gitalis has focused on learning those foundational concepts — but also furthering them through his master’s research. He helped identify the role of neutrophils, which are cells of the body’s own innate immune system, in damaging tooth-coloured restorations. It’s the kind of discovery that could greatly expand science’s understanding of one of the most prevalent diseases in the world: dental caries.

"A goal of mine is to be a research clinician like my supervisors"

“Being able to search my name on journal database is very rewarding,” says Gitalis, who won multiple recognitions for his research, including a CADR-NCOHR student travel award, which bought him a ticket to the IADR in 2020 (cancelled due to COVID), and the prestigious Canadian Graduate Scholarship (Masters) - NSERC.

As he focuses on the DMD program in Montreal, Gitalis hopes to balance his two passions — science and art — and help people at the same time.

Ultimately, though, he hopes his master’s work will play an important role in his future career. “A goal of mine is to be a research clinician like my supervisors, Dr. Yoav Finer and Dr. Michael Glogauer. I see myself continuing in both research and clinical work. The connections I made while in program — the research, presentations, awards and papers — are all contributing towards my journey,” he says.

Gitalis was also active outside of academia; while completing his Master’s, he took on the roles of treasurer of the Graduate and Postgraduate Dental Students’ Society and finance director for the Student Alzheimer’s Alliance University of Toronto. “Participating in student groups is very rewarding,” says Gitalis. “You get to meet other people, see other points of view within the university.”

This year, U of T’s fall convocation will be held as an online event, on November 21, 2020.

 

Photo: Russel Gitalis (Aryeh Ansel)