Welcome to the profession Class of 2020

They have endured an unusually stressful and unpredictable final year, but soon they will close the book not only on 2020, but also on their three years of orthodontic training.

The ASO extends a warm welcome to the Class of 2020, and we also acknowledge and appreciate the hard work of their educators in supporting and guiding them during a particularly challenging final year.

The 2020 cohort comprises 18 postgraduates across five universities. We find out a little bit more about them including who inspired them to pursue , the area of orthodontics that most excites them, what they have missed this year due to COVID-19 and other fun facts.

Here is the Class of 2020! AMESHA MAREE ANDREW ZHANG ASHWIN NAIR UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY

Tell us your best orthodontist joke. Who is your hero in orthodontics? Who is your hero in orthodontics? Yoda: “Straight teeth, you will keep! But wear your There are many people I look up to and respect in the Orthodontics is not short of people to look up to, , you must.” field of orthodontics, but my hero in ortho would be my however it would be remiss of me not to mention my What or who inspired you to pursue orthodontics? classmate Safa Al-Shafi. admiration for the colleagues who have come through the course with me, especially Andrew Zhang. As an adolescent, my orthodontist transformed my What area of orthodontics most excites you? smile, and since then I wanted to do the same for I am drawn into the aesthetic concepts behind If you could live anywhere, where would it be? others. It is a rewarding profession which I am proud to orthodontics whereby we look at areas such as I’d love to spend time in Italy - I love Italian food and be a part of. craniofacial growth and facial harmony and balance. I cars. Favourite thing to do in your spare time? am also interested in the treatment of cleft lip and palate What area of orthodontics most excites you? patients. Spend quality time with my two boys with visits to the Not necessarily a particular area per se, but the beach, long walks and picnics. Studying away from home, what have you missed, influence of cutting-edge technology within orthodontics and do you plan to return? One thing you have missed this year due to means there’s always something new and interesting on coronavirus? I have been made to feel very welcome at Sydney Uni the horizon. and my classmates and tutors have taught me quite a Visiting my family back in South Africa who I haven’t One thing you have missed this year due to bit of Aussie slang such as ‘avo’ and ‘arvo’. Initially, I seen since the start of my postgraduate degree. We coronavirus? thought I would miss the convenience and the variety had plans to celebrate my graduation as a specialist The face-to-face interaction with my friends, colleagues of food in Singapore; however, Sydney has proved me orthodontist in December 2020. and educators at uni during lockdown - Zoom is not the wrong with its diverse culture and myriad of cuisines. If you could live anywhere, where would it be? same. One thing you have missed this year due to Favourite thing to do in your spare time? The Gold Coast. It’s home to the boys and me. The sun, coronavirus? beaches, nature, theme parks, lifestyle, friends…what’s I love music; either listening to it or playing it. Not to sound cliche’, but I have missed overseas travel not to love?! as I had planned to travel to Germany for the European orthodontics conference. Favourite thing to do in your spare time? In Singapore, I am not much of an outdoor person, but during the lockdown, taking a walk became my daily routine and almost my favourite activity as it was a chance to ‘stop and smell the roses’ and appreciate the many beautiful sights Sydney has to offer. BETHANY CUNNING BRETT STEELE HAYLEA BLUNDELL UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? What area of orthodontics most excites you? Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Hopefully juggling a busy orthodontic practice, family I think that it is going to be very interesting to see how Hopefully going on a nice holiday overseas! and life successfully! much digital technology and data acquisition/analysis What area of orthodontics most excites you? influences orthodontic practice in the coming decades - What area of orthodontics most excites you? The new and evolving . My maybe this scares me more than it excites me! The general day-to-day of practising life. The enjoyment favourite part of orthodontics is seeing how happy and of interacting with patients and seeing their smiles Studying away from home, what have you missed, confident my patients are when they first look in the improve is what makes this job enjoyable for me. and do you plan to return? mirror after a deband. What or who inspired you to pursue orthodontics? Yes. I’ve missed my family (and beaches). What or who inspired you to pursue orthodontics? I enjoyed the theory of it during my dentistry degree and What is your favourite thing to do in your spare Robert Mayne. a bit of encouragement from my lecturer at the time, time? Favourite thing to do in your spare time? Rob Mayne, also helped quite a bit. Surfing. Reformer pilates and walk my dogs. Favourite thing to do in your spare time? If you could choose to do anything for a day, what One thing you have missed this year due to Spend time with my family, ideally camping somewhere would it be? coronavirus? off the beaten track or water skiing. I’d love to go freeriding (snowboarding) in Kamchatka, Seeing my family and friends in Victoria and travelling to If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Russia. Atlanta to present my research poster at the AAO. A tropical island. I wouldn’t say no to a castle in the Tell us your best orthodontist joke. Scottish Highlands either. Brace yourself because orthodontists make terrible comedians. HO JIN YOO JANE HARDING JOSHUA CH’NG UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Working full-time as an orthodontist. Working, getting involved in the ASO and doing some Still in Melbourne, and hopefully better at what I do! What area of orthodontics most excites you? teaching. What area of orthodontics most excites you? Combined surgical-orthodontic cases as I can see What area of orthodontics most excites you? Digital orthodontics. dramatic changes in the patients. I enjoy treating Class III patients – it’s challenging but Favourite thing to do in your spare time? the results can be incredible. Favourite thing to do in your spare time? Playing old video games and watching old movies as I love food, so when I have spare time, I search for nice What or who inspired you to pursue orthodontics? they make me feel nostalgic for my younger years. food places. I have always had a passion for orthodontics and have Who is your hero in orthodontics? been lucky to have many great mentors along the way. One thing you have missed this year due to A/Prof Paul Schneider and James McNamara. Studying away from home, what have you missed, coronavirus? If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Going to the ASO Congress in Cairns – I was really and do you plan to return? This is a hard one - perhaps New York. looking forward to it. I have missed my partner, family and sunny Queensland If you could live anywhere, where would it be? weather. I plan on coming home as soon as I can. Sicily. It is one of my favourite destinations. Favourite thing to do in your spare time? Cooking for friends and family. LASNI KUMARASINGHE MYAT MON THINN PETER TRAN UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? What area of orthodontics most excites you? Who is your hero in orthodontics? Too difficult to predict right now, but hopefully at least 5 Development in temporary devices and 3D Birte Melsen. She says it like it is. years wiser. printing technology. Tell us your best orthodontist joke. Who is your hero in orthodontics? Who is your hero in orthodontics? Why did the orthodontist want to be cremated? Because Lysle E. Johnston – clever, entertaining and to the point. Raymond Begg for his forward and innovative thinking he was afraid of a cemetery. Tell us your best orthodontist joke. and for developing the ‘Begg’ technique. What area of orthodontics most excites you? My patient told me they wanted a smile that lights up the Studying away from home, what have you missed, Growth and development. and do you plan to return? whole room. I gave them glow in the dark braces. What is one thing you have missed this year due to Favourite thing to do in your spare time? The food in Singapore and Myanmar as well as seeing coronavirus? friends and family. However, I intend to stay on in Hiking, reading and eating. AAO2020 Atlanta. Australia as I have also enjoyed living here. If you could live anywhere, where would it be? If you could live anywhere, where would it be? One thing you have missed this year due to Edinburgh. coronavirus? Melbourne. We have it pretty good despite COVID-19. Our end of year family catch-up and meeting my newborn niece. If you could live anywhere, where would it be? As the saying goes, ‘Home is where the heart is’. I would want to live wherever my loved ones are. It would be a bonus if we had nice, warm weather and we were close to nature. RAJ GADDAM RAYMOND LAM SADAF SASSANI UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Striving for excellence, serving the community, Enjoying the best of both worlds; private practice and Working full-time in orthodontics during the day and published, pursuing the unknown. university. Relishing the chance to become a better tending my terrariums by night. Who is your hero in orthodontics? clinician whilst engaging in exciting research and Who is your hero in orthodontics? teaching. Percival Raymond Begg as I find his stage III auxiliaries Charles Tweed. He was willing to go against the to be a work of genius. What area of orthodontics most excites you? establishment for what he believed to be right and every What area of orthodontics most excites you? The journey of seeing patients transform their smiles report regarding him consistently demonstrated the during treatment. depth of his kindness. Biomechanics, as I believe using efficient mechanics is the most reliable way to reduce the duration of Favourite thing to do in your spare time? Tell us your best orthodontist joke. orthodontic treatment. Travelling and spending time with family. Not the best but the corniest: Why did the Arthropod One thing you have missed this year due to One thing you have missed this year due to need braces? It had a Trilobite! coronavirus? coronavirus? What area of orthodontics most excites you? Live theatre and concerts at QPAC. Furthermore, the Meeting my colleagues and forming lifelong friendships It’s extremely rewarding working with children and Queensland Symphony Orchestra is outstanding. at conferences. adolescents who may lack confidence and watching that If you could choose to do anything for a day, what If you could choose to do anything for a day, what develop during treatment. would it be? would it be? Studying away from home, what have you missed I would invent a time machine and then the possibilities Binging on Netflix. and do you plan to return? are endless. I miss my family, my pumpkin patch and most fervently my dog - sorry Mum! I plan to return home and regroup before I decide where to settle down. SAFA AL-SHAFI WAYNE LY YUL KIM UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Hopefully working as a successful orthodontist with a I see myself doing orthodontics slightly better than I am I know that I won’t be returning to uni, that’s for sure! good work/life balance. doing right now...I hope! But then again, I said the same thing after finishing my Who is your hero in orthodontics? Tell us your best orthodontist joke. past two degrees. That’s a tough question as there are many orthodontists “Do you know what a toothbrush is?” Patients often Who is your hero in orthodontics? that I admire. However, my ortho hero would have to be laugh when I say that to them, so it must be a joke. Who else but Craig Dreyer, my mentor and a Ashwin Nair. One thing you have missed this year due to commander in chief with a heart of gold. What area of orthodontics most excites you? coronavirus? What area of orthodontics most excites you? Everything. I feel very lucky to be a part of such a I missed making the most of my final year of concession AI and orthodontics. We all will need to learn to work rewarding profession. and free admission benefits as a full-time student. with AI eventually whether we like it or not. But if Skynet Favourite thing to do in your spare time? If you could live anywhere, where would it be? takes over the world, I shall fight it with my bird beak pliers and 0.016” Wilcock wire. Spend time with friends and family, travel and explore The Gold Coast; I like theme parks. One thing you have missed this year due to new places to eat. If you could choose to do anything for a day, what coronavirus? One thing you have missed this year due to would it be? coronavirus? If the restrictions ease off right now, I’d fly anywhere I would sleep all day. I have forgotten what it’s like to out of Australia (note: at the time of writing this, my final Visiting my family in New Zealand. not feel sleep-deprived. exam was in 2 months' time). If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Anywhere that my wife would be happy. Happy wife means happy life, aye?