Dr. HsingChi von Bergmann wanted to be a physicist, but after starting graduate studies in astronomy, she realized it wasn’t a good fit.  

With a keen interest in science education, she switched gears and enrolled in a curriculum and instruction graduate program with a focus on science education. In 2010, she joined the Faculty as an education specialist to conduct and mentor educational research activities and to enhance teaching capacity and students’ educational experiences.  

Dr. von Bergmann played a leading role in revamping the DMD curriculum, which involved separating dental and medical school courses (before this, the first two years of the DMD and MD school curriculum were combined) and incorporating more clinical time. 

“Changing an educational program requires a lot of serious considerations and must be evidence-based,” she says. Prompted by the global pandemic, Dr. von Bergmann’s current research focuses on how instructors should use multimedia, digital technology and AI to teach dental students.  

Dr. von Bergmann is also exploring student wellness and has worked closely with postdoctoral research fellow Dr. Tala Maragha to define 12 tips that all dental schools should implement to prioritize the wellbeing of their students.   

“Our research shows that wellbeing is more complex than just mental health; it also involves physical health, social connections and having strong support systems,” says Dr. von Bergmann. “Dental schools should adapt their teaching to be effective for new generations and should listen to student input to ensure their learning experience is centred on wellbeing.”