Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Fall 2016 - 29

Faculty Files Dr. Manuel Oscar Lagravere Vich Dr. Manuel Oscar Lagravere Vich Assistant Professor, School of Dentistry, University of Alberta Abstract Dr. Manuel Oscar Lagravere Vich has made significant contributions to the field of dentistry and orthodontics through his innovative research ideas and genuine interest in training the next generation of orthodontists and researchers. After completing his studies, which include a PhD in orthodontics, Dr. Lagravere currently serves as director of the undergraduate orthodontic program at the University of Alberta. He has received many prestigious awards for his research and continues to play an active role in private, clinical orthodontic practice, and is a co-founder of the Edmonton Orthodontic Study Club. Dr. Manuel Oscar Lagravere Vich was born and raised in Lima, Peru, where he completed most of his education. He received his Degree in Dental Science (2000) and Masters of Science in Stomatology (2003) from the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. In pursuit of higher education, he moved to Canada, where he completed a PhD in Orthodontics (2009) from the prestigious University of Alberta. His outstanding scholarly contributions and a strong interest in academia led to employment as a research associate, and to a tenure track faculty position soon after. In addition to his full-time academic profile, Dr. Lagravere has also maintained an active role in private, clinical orthodontic practice, during which he developed a strong interest in lingual braces. The reinforced clinical skills and a strong partnership with Dr. Mar led to the formation of the Edmonton Orthodontic Study Club. This study club focuses on promoting brainstorming discussions with local clinicians, and in particular with general dentists, to review orthodontic management of their clinical cases. Teaching Insights Dr. Lagravere has been instrumental in developing the curriculum and in teaching orthodontic courses for dental students and orthodontic residents at the University of Alberta. He currently Fall 2016  PCSO Bulletin serves as the director of the undergraduate orthodontic component and coordinates orthodontic courses for second- and third-year undergraduate students. To encourage a deeper understanding of clinical concepts during undergraduate dental education, he designed the program's assessment and testing, such that essay format responses or case analyses are required instead of the multiple-choice questions that are the general standard. Besides the didactic component, the latter half of the third year of this program involves laboratory practice, during which Dr. Lagravere introduces students to various hands-on activities, with a special emphasis on taking superior quality diagnostic records. Positive outcomes encouraged him to construct a full course entitled Photography in Dentistry. Clinical exposure to orthodontics tends to be minimal in the vast majority of dental schools, and it is often limited to residency education. Dr. Lagravere encourages dental students to learn beyond involvement in diagnosis and treatment planning, and to have more hands-on clinical orthodontic experience. For orthodontic residents, Dr. Lagravere coordinates the Growth and Development course, with a special emphasis on the orthodontic management of craniofacial syndromes. In addition to didactic involvement, he supervises clinical cases on certain days of the month alongside another part-time instructor. The overlapping clinical philosophies between the two instructors lead to the integration of new and contemporary treatment approaches, such as temporary anchorage devices, into the clinical armamentarium. As a lifetime learner who is committed to honing his teaching and mentoring skills, Dr. Lagravere is often involved in various workshops and courses. Recently, he participated in a mentoring program sponsored by the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) in which a mentee (one of his recent undergraduate students) gained valuable experience in the benefits and 29

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Fall 2016