It is often said that teaching is an art. Being very knowledgeable on a topic does not automatically make one a great teacher. One thing is for sure; teaching requires much passion and openness to continually learn in general and from one’s very students as well. Last month, I sat down with Dr. Sam Abi-Nader, this year’s recipient of the Howard Katz Award for Excellence in Teaching, for an inspiring chat (for those of you with good hearing, there was indeed construction going on right outside the building that day!).
"Dr. Sam," as he is affectionately called, teaches a 27 credit preclinical teaching course in the Faculty. He’s supported by Linda Harrison, Marilyn G. Sylvester and Margo Nicholls-Spence who work closely with him so that his course runs efficiently. As an Associate Professor and mentor to his students, he watches over them and guides them as they get a real introduction to the art and science of dentistry before moving on to treating "real" patients at the Undergraduate Clinic. Here's my recent interview with this passionate dentist and teacher.
Interviewer: Valerie Khayat
 Dr. Sam teaching in the Pre-Clinic |
Inspired Teaching
Dr. Sam speaks about what made him accidentally land in the field of Dentistry, one of the people who influenced him most as a teacher and what he finds most "intoxicating" about teaching. [swf file="clip_1_rev_am_abi-nader_interview_final.mp3"] Mobile users click here |
 Sam, his wife and daughters at 2013 Convocation |
What Makes a Good Teacher?
Dr. Sam speaks about the importance of humility in teaching, how he approaches challenges and what essential element Crosby and Steve Jobs both share in connection to what it takes "to be good at something."  clip_2_sam_abi-nader_interview_final.mp3
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 Dr. Sam Abi-Nader receives the Howard Katz Award for Excellence in Teaching on stage alongside Principal Heather Munroe Blum |
Sentiment and Storytelling
Dr. Sam speaks about the importance of sentiment and storytelling in teaching, his advice to future dentists who wish to teach and one recent student who particularly marked him. clip_3_sam_abi-nader_interview_3_0.mp3
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