University of Pretoria Orthodontist Graduates with a Doctoral Degree from UKZN

Egyptian-born Dr Emad Ghabrial, a senior lecturer in the Department of Orthodontics at the University of Pretoria (UP), graduated with a doctoral degree in Health Sciences from UKZN. His study focused on the educational needs and services available in cleft lip/palate and craniofacial anomalies management in South Africa. The novel study, is the first major study in South Africa to examine the scope and need for academic education of four core disciplines involved in cleft lip/palate and craniofacial anomalies (CLP/CFA) care.

Ghabrial’s study aimed to draw special attention to the need of dedicated academic programmes in the treatment of cleft lip/palate and craniofacial anomalies. The study explored the opinion of the Maxillofacial and oral surgeons, Plastic surgeons, Orthodontists, and Speech Therapists’ academic training and services as part of a multidisciplinary approach for managing patients with CLP/CFA. His study recommended introducing a dedicated sub-specialty training and online education in the CLP/CFA field.

Dr Ghabrial, who holds a medical degree in orthodontics, serves as an academic in UP and manages his own private practice was able to complete his doctoral degree in 36 months and publish  two research articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals, with a further two under review as well as present in international and local congresses.

‘From the knowledge I gained through this PhD study, I am currently developing the world’s first fully online Postgraduate Diploma in Craniofacial Orthodontics (PGDip CF Orthod), collaborating with the Comprehensive Online Education Services (COES) of the University of Pretoria’, said Ghabrial.

‘I am grateful to my supervisor, Prof Kurt Bütow, a Maxillofacial and Oral Surgeon, who is internationally renounced for expertise in the clefts and craniofacial anomalies field. By allowing me to serve in the CLP/CFA Pretoria Academic multidisciplinary team and diligently supervised my work and supported me throughout the project and career,’ commented Ghabrial.

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