IPN Spotlight: Faizan Kabani (Assistant Professor at Tenure Track)
Dr. Faizan Kabani serves as an Assistant Professor in the Caruth School of Dental Hygiene at Texas A&M College of Dentistry in Dallas, TX. In addition to teaching various didactic and clinical courses, Dr. Kabani also is the dental hygiene supervisor in the adult special care clinic at the College. He completed his PhD in Public Health at UNT Health Science Center. His research interests focus on improving the quality of life of vulnerable and underserved communities. Dr. Kabani is an avid researcher, published author, and international visiting scholar on diverse topics in dental public health and care for patients with special healthcare needs. In addition to that, he is also a trained and active Al-Waez.
What skills have helped you in your career?
Skills such as understanding and embracing principles of teaching, lifelong learning, evidence-based clinical care, and research are integral in helping me along my career path. More importantly, skills such as building passion and endurance within oneself was and continues to be a necessary skill in going beyond mediocrity and pursuing excellence.
What do you wish you had known or done differently throughout your career?
In retrospect, I would like to have travelled more to gain a broader understanding of the global public health burden. In my experience, first hand exposures to the needs of vulnerable and underserved communities provide a more enriching perspective for public health professionals. Unfortunately, obtaining funds necessary to engage in these exposures is difficult, particularly for early careerists.
What do you do for continuing education and improvement?
I engage in continuing education courses regularly as part of my commitment to evidence-based practice. This includes a minimum of 12-credit scientific and/or technical hours of certifiable continuing education coursework annually. As an educator, I also strive to continue learning and sharing my knowledge through attending and presenting at various regional, national, and international conferences.
What is next for you in your career?
As I reflect on my journey thus far and look towards the future, I find it in my heart a calling, a vocation, to continue serving as an educator – one dedicated to the principles of lifelong learning, mentorship, and scholarship. I look forward to learning something new every day and using these opportunities as an inspiration for me to become a better person.
More specifically, at the College, I am working diligently towards tenure and promotion with hopes to achieve this goal within the next five years. This includes efforts towards building a national and international reputation within my industry and particular field of expertise. Thus, I invest a significant amount of my time in evidence-based research and practice.
What advice would you offer to others?
One key advice to others is to seek mentorship and counsel throughout your life. As Hazrat Ali -alayhi s-salam once said, “No belief is like modesty and patience, no attainment is like humility, no honor is like knowledge, no power is like forbearance, and no support is more reliable than consultation”. It is important to understand that one simply cannot know the answer to everything in life and that opening ourselves up, with sincere humility, to learn from others is critical in our journey.
Areas where you can help other Ismailis:
• Consider the potential for a career in dental hygiene and/or academia
• Navigating graduate school and degree program options
• Seeking to better understand and integrate faith in professional life
Please provide the link to your LinkedIn profile:
Dr. Faizan Kabani
Please provide your preferred email address so interested professionals can network with you:
[email protected]
Region:
Central
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