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“Without the courses that I’ve taken at Oregon AGD and the community I’ve been a part of, I would not be the dentist I am today.”

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Forest Grove Dental Studio, Forest Grove, Oregon

Jonathan Faris, DMD, became a passionate advocate for dentistry and lifelong learning as a student representative on the Oregon AGD board of directors during his third year of dental school.

“I attended board meetings for two years, offering support and insight from a student perspective,” Faris said.

Upon graduating from dental school in 2022, Faris remained a strong proponent for continuing education (CE) and organized dentistry. 

“As dentists, our education does not stop when we graduate from dental school,” Faris said. “AGD’s focus on quality CE is one aspect that initially drew me in. Without the courses I’ve taken at Oregon AGD and the community I’ve been a part of, I would not be the dentist I am today.”

Faris was elected Oregon AGD president-elect in October 2023. He aspires to be a mentor and leader for the organization, aiming to enhance membership retention efforts and offer high-quality CE in Oregon.

“The passionate group of mentors who are in AGD is a big benefit of the organization,” Faris said. “I want to become the type of mentor and leader that these people have been to me.”

Faris isn’t solely focused on advancing the dentistry field on a large scale — he also emphasizes the small changes he can make in his own practice to improve his patients’ experiences. He recognizes the crucial role communication plays in ensuring patients understand the “why” behind recommended treatments.

“I am always striving to be a better communicator with patients,” Faris said. “In school, we didn’t have any lectures or courses on this subject. However, poor communication can be the difference between a patient getting the care they need and not scheduling treatment. Our goal as dentists is to keep our patients healthy, so clear communication is paramount.”