Dr. Cristina Fiuza starts her new role as director of undergraduate digital dentistry and chair of the digital infrastructure committee on August 1, 2026. In this new capacity, Dr. Fiuza will be working collaboratively to develop protocols and standard operating procedures for digital education strategies within the college. She will work alongside with senior administrators on the budgeting, procurement, maintenance and facility design of the current and future digital lab in the new building. Dr. Fiuza will also lead the integration of digital dentistry throughout the undergraduate dentistry curriculum and collaborate with the School of Dental Hygiene and graduate programs in aligning workflows and supporting the sharing of resources. Dr. Fiuza will also provide training, calibration and recommend digital training opportunities for faculty and staff.
Sandra Iwankow has retired after 27 years with the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry. A retirement celebration took place at the end of February.
Maureen King will now serve as the department assistant for both preventive dental science and dental diagnostic and surgical sciences.
Dr. Salme Lavigne has been appointed professor emerita in the School of Dental Hygiene. She served as director of the school for 13 years and later as a professor. Dr. Lavigne is widely recognized as a nationally renowned educator and scholar, having made significant contributions to dental hygiene education, research and regulation across Canada. She has held the rank of senior scholar since her retirement in 2013.
Dr. Ayesha Saleem, associate professor of oral biology, was elected as the new graduate program chair for the department of oral biology. She started the position in January 2026.
Department of Restorative Dentistry
- Dr. Aaron Kim’s appointment as acting department head has been extended until December 31, 2026.
- Dr. Asmaa Haimeur has been appointed associate department head in restorative dentistry, effective January 1, 2026.
- Dr. Alexandre Câmara, the new faculty endodontist, began his appointment at the college on February 9, 2026.
Department of Preventive Dental Science
- Dr. Daniela Sens Nunes, was selected and has commenced her full-time tenure-track appointment as assistant professor in the preventive dental science department, division of orthodontics.
Department of Dental Diagnostic & Surgical Sciences
- Dr. Reda Elgazzar has begun a one-year research leave until December 31st , 2026. Dr. Elgazzar will be retiring in January 2027.
Student Services – Graduate and Undergraduate
- Undergraduate Student Services staff and graduate program staff have been consolidated into a single, full-service Student Affairs and Academic Support Unit. The new office is in P131, Pathology Building (across from Theatre E).
The following staff members are now located in this office:
- Eli Miranda – Graduate program assistant
- Rem Binua – Graduate program assistant
- Frances Dang – Graduate program assistant
- Susan Petras – Student affairs (Undergraduate)
- Jean Lyon – Admissions, recruitment, and IDDP (undergraduate)
Elsa Ross, Financial Administrator for Departments and Student Services, is also located in P131.
Dean’s Office Updates
- Dr. Trenna Reeve, associate dean (clinical), has relocated her office from the restorative dentistry department to the Dean’s office (D113).
- Laura Friesen, part-time clinical/academic coordinator, has also moved her office from P131 to the Dean’s office (D113).
- The Centre for Community Oral Health also has a new home in the office suite D028 on the lower level of 780 Bannatyne. You will find:
- Corinne Bale – Finance administrator
- Rena Babynchuk – Program administrator
- Jasmine Closas – OHAF Apprenticeship Program administrator
- Chukwudi Ofili (Chuks) – Finance administrator for the OHAF/ACFD Project. Chuks works mostly remote, but when in the office he is in the clinical support services area.
Clinical Support Services
- Gurpreet Virk is the new patient care coordinator for the Children’s Outreach Program
- Stephanie De Souza is the new receptionist
- Alex Aleksandrov has left his role as receptionist to pursue other opportunities