Awab Abdulmajeed, D.S.S., M.S., has officially been named director of the International Dentist Program at VCU School of Dentistry.

“Dr. Abdulmajeed has been carrying out many of the duties of this role in an unofficial capacity for some time now and has taken steps to smooth our international students’ entry into the D.D.S. curriculum and create a familial environment for everyone in the program,” said Clara Spatafore, D.D.S., M.S., interim dean of VCU School of Dentistry and chair of the Departments of Endodontics and Oral Diagnostic Sciences. “He reflects the talent, drive and dedication to serving others that we value so much in our international community, and appointing him as director of the International Dentist Program is a proud accomplishment in my tenure as interim dean.”

Abdulmajeed arrived at VCU School of Dentistry in February 2020. He became director of the Advanced Restorative and Digital Dentistry Course and co-director of Pre-clinical Restorative Dentistry Courses I and II before being appointed director of the International Dentist Program. In this new role, he has clinical oversight of the program and works closely with the rest of the Admissions team in recruitment and other administrative functions.

“Our vision is to establish VCU as one of the nation’s premiere destinations for international dentists,” says Abdulmajeed. “Our school is renowned for its strong clinic-based curriculum, which compliments and enhances the existing skills and knowledge of foreign-trained dentists as they prepare to integrate into the profession in the U.S.”

Abdulmajeed received his D.D.S. degree from Ajman University of Science and Technology in Ajman, UAE and earned a Master of Science in Operative Dentistry and Biomaterials from the Adams School of Dentistry at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a member of several dental associations and conducts research focused on restorative dentistry, digital dentistry and dental materials.