Graduating from a residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at VCU School of Dentistry was a long and winding road for Talal Beidas, D.D.S., and it took him from Texas to Virginia with a special stop in the Philippines. Through a prestigious scholarship program, Beidas had the opportunity to perform cleft lip and palate surgery on children in need.

Beidas started his journey in Houston, Texas, where he was born and raised. Healthcare was always an interest to him, but it was his mentor, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, who inspired him to pursue oral and maxillofacial surgery. 

“Seeing what he does in the operating room is something that changed my life forever,” Beidas said. “Specifically seeing him do cleft lip and reconstruction surgeries and the impact that his work has on people’s lives, forever.”

After graduating from the UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry, Beidas set his sights on VCU’s Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery residency program.

“The residency program has a reputation that precedes it,” Beidas said. “I was particularly interested in learning from the esteemed faculty, such as Drs Abubaker and Strauss.”

It was in Richmond that Beidas not only experienced living in cold weather for the first time, but also worked alongside the faculty he admired. He worked closely with Omar Abubaker, D.M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and Yotom Rabinowitz, D.D.S., assistant professor, as well as his fellow residents and attendings.

“I learned a lot from everyone and they provided me with really invaluable experiences,” Beidas said.

Throughout his time as a resident, Beidas learned to perfect the practices that once inspired him. By the end of his residency, he achieved the rank of chief resident. 

In addition to the services and lessons required of his residency, Beidas participated in research extensively. He presented at the annual OMFS conference twice during his residency and was awarded the Oral Abstract Scientific Presentation Award for his research in advancing 3D printing. The presentation, titled Point-of-Care 3D Printing for Orthognathic Surgery: In-house Versus Out-Sourced Final Splints, was given at the 106th Annual American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) conference in Orlando, FL in 2024.

“Historically we have had to outsource resources needed for reconstructive and jaw surgeries,” Beidas said. “With advances in 3D printing, we can make these materials in house and reduce the time it takes to complete treatments.”

His hard work resulted in an invitation to partake in the Medical Mission of Mercy USA program. The volunteer-based organization provides free medical, dental and surgical treatments to 1500 to 3000 patients yearly in the Philippines and Guatemala.

Beidas spent his time in the Philippines performing cleft lip and palate surgeries on babies in need. By the time he left, the team had successfully completed 60 surgeries.

“Seeing the looks on the families’ faces when they see their babies for the first time changed my life forever. It’s super rewarding,” Beidas said. “Those are the cases that stick with me and inspire me to continue.”

Beidas was also one of 10 OMFS residents nationwide to receive the Global Initiative for Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Scholarship that sponsored his journey to the Philippines.

This prestigious and highly competitive award provides reimbursement for up to $2,500 in documented travel expenses to residents serving with experienced teams to deliver humanitarian healthcare to communities in need around the world.

Beidas’s hard work and dedication to his craft while abroad did not go unnoticed. He was one of two OMFS residents nationwide to receive the AAOMS Humanitarian Award on behalf of the American Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons. It is the first time in over ten years that a VCU OMFS resident received this honor.

It was thanks to the suggestion of faculty mentors such as Rabinowitz that inspired Beidas to apply for the program. Later on, it was Rabinowitz who nominated Beidas for the award.

“Dr. Beidas is the complete package: skilled, intelligent and exceptionally well-rounded,” said Rabinowitz. “He possesses smooth technical abilities, strong interpersonal skills and outstanding bedside manner. As both a leader and a mentor, he stands out for his sharpness, practicality, communication and ability to get things done efficiently. He always seeks to further his growth and training and is fearless. He will accomplish great things.”

“Although it is nice to be recognized for these things, it's really about the work and the difference that you can make in people’s lives,” Beidas said.

Beidas will be attending the AAOMS National Conference in Washington DC in September to receive the award. There he looks forward to reconnecting with VCU faculty, residents and alumni as well as other residents who might be interested in humanitarian work abroad through the GIVE scholarship.

 “I’m excited to speak on behalf of the program and have the opportunity to share my story,” Beidas said. “I would love to encourage other residents who might not know about the opportunity to apply. There’s so many ways that you can support this mission of helping others through dentistry and oral surgery skills.”

And as for the next stop in the road?

“I’m going back to Texas,” Beidas said. “I signed for a job that focuses on full mouth

rehabilitation, treatment of benign pathologies of head and neck, and orthognathic surgery, which is jaw reconstruction. I’ll be doing some cosmetic surgery as well.”

Upon graduating from his residency in June, Beidas will be taking some time off to travel before moving to Texas. Although he will be leaving Richmond, he said that the memories and lessons learned in his residency will go with him. And he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I’d say to anyone who is considering the residency route, whether it be in oral surgery or elsewhere, to go for it,” he said. “The time flies by and the four years is worth all the knowledge and experience that you will get to use to help your patients.”

At the end of the day, Beidas said that his greatest passion is helping others, no matter the location.

“My primary mission is being able to help the people that need it the most, particularly those in underserved areas that don’t have access to surgical care,” Beidas said. “The difference we can make in oral and maxillofacial surgery is indescribable.”