Early in his research career, someone asked Dr. Mario Brondani what area he hoped to be remembered for.

“I don’t have just one area because I’m comfortable with at least three—there is so much out there I want to explore!” he says.

Dr. Brondani started his career as a dentist in Brazil and became interested in seniors’ oral healthcare after visiting a long-term care home close to his practice. He went on to complete a Master’s in Gerontology before moving to Vancouver and continuing his education with a Master’s in Public Health and a PhD at UBC Dentistry.

Today, Dr. Brondani has found success in studying many different disciplines within dentistry, including geriatrics, public health and dental education. Recently, his focus has been on populations who face barriers to accessing dental care, such as refugees, gender minorities, homeless people and those living with HIV/AIDS.

“The overarching goal of this research is to help marginalized groups access the oral healthcare that best fits their needs,” says Dr. Brondani. “For example, if someone is missing a back tooth but they’re not in pain and aren’t having trouble chewing, then oral healthcare for them might mean preventing more tooth decay but doesn’t necessarily mean replacing that tooth.”

His research is not about telling people what they need but about working directly with communities to understand what helps them most.

“We want to graduate the best possible oral healthcare professionals,” says Dr. Brondani. “To do that, you first need to understand what oral health means to different communities, and then you bring that knowledge into the education curriculum and invite those community members to come in and teach students themselves.”