Dr. Anuja Doshi (left) and Dr. Varda Chekh Akhmad (right)
It was in her third year of dental school that Dr. Anuja Doshi discovered her love of teaching in an unconventional way. After mistakenly thinking one of her classes had been cancelled, she was tasked with presenting a lecture to her fellow students on early childhood caries to make up for her absence. The moment she started lecturing, something clicked, and she knew she’d found her passion.
After completing her periodontics residency in the United States, she assumed the role of assistant professor, combining her love for teaching with her interest in education research. Today, Dr. Doshi serves as the Director of DMD Periodontics at UBC Dentistry where she is leading three unique research projects.
The first is a collaboration with Dr. HsingChi von Bergmann. The duo are exploring how to incorporate AI into the fourth-year DMD curriculum. This research project examines the use of large language models, such as ChatGPT and Gemini, to facilitate interaction with students as they work through a case in small groups.
“Based on the answers students provide, the algorithm will change and help them problem solve the case,” says Dr. Doshi.
“We don’t just want to test students’ knowledge; we also want to see if using generative AI in case-based learning impacts their clinical reasoning and critical and ethical thinking.”
Her second research project is in collaboration with Zul Kanji, MSc Craniofacial Science 2011, which received 2025 funding through the S. Wah Leung Endowment fund. Drs. Kanji and Doshi are studying the mistreatment of student learners by patients, which started with a survey of students to assess the prevalence and impact of verbal, sexual, reputational and physical mistreatment. The next step will be faculty development sessions in collaboration with an expert from Yale School of Medicine that will help prepare faculty to address and support students in these situations, and eventually help develop a policy on reporting any mistreatment.
“This is a project I’ve wanted to do for a long time, because when I was in dental school and residency, I was mistreated by patients,” says Dr. Doshi. “Sometimes it was racial, sexist or ageist, and sometimes it was subtle, while other times it wasn’t, but it was often overlooked. Student wellness is very important to me, and this research will provide evidence that I hope will improve the student experience and learning environment.”
Her third research project is focused on the Implants and Periodontal Surgery elective course that she created, which provides six fourth-year DMD students with the opportunity for a more in-depth experience in periodontics. The elective has been well received, and she is currently collecting data to determine the overall effectiveness of the elective, to identify areas for improvement and to examine its role in shaping students’ interest in periodontics as a career path.
“After going through simulation training, students have a chance to place implants or perform periodontal surgery, which is a very unique experience for dental students,” says Dr. Doshi.