The first Forsyth Orthodontic Symposium honoring Dr. Moorrees is around the corner, so we asked one of the event organizers, Tingxi Wu DDS, PhD to talk to us about its importance. Dr. Wu specializes in orthodontics and oral biology. She became the Director of Orthodontic and Craniofacial Development at Forsyth in 2019, ending a multi-decade drought in sustained orthodontic research here. Dr. Wu is working to reestablish Forsyth’s orthodontic department to its former glory and plans to further advance it with education, research, and clinical care programs. Here’s what she had to say about Dr. Moorrees, orthodontics at Forsyth, and the importance of this symposium for the orthodontic industry.
Q&A with Dr. Tingxi Wu
Who was Dr. Moorrees? What is he most well-known for?
Dr. Moorrees was the chief of orthodontics at Forsyth, from 1948-1987 so he contributed to the field for almost 40 years, and he was a pioneer in orthodontic education and research. First, education wise, he was the first one to establish the ortho residents with the master’s degree program. And his second contribution was key data. He contributed a lot of craniofacial research in the orthodontic field. We’re still using that data to contribute more research today.
Can you give us a brief history of Orthodontics at Forsyth?
At the time [when Dr. Moorrees was at Forsyth], we had an orthodontic education program like a residency program. But we also had an orthodontic research program, so a clinical training program as well as research programs. I think it’s important to point out that they [Dr. Moorrees and colleagues] trained a lot of global leaders in the orthodontic field. Of these students, 52% achieved professional ranks at academic institutions and 15% became chairs of their institution’s orthodontics program.
How many orthodontic faculties are there currently at Forsyth? How do you and other ortho faculty fit into Forsyth’s Orthodontics history?
Right now, we have five orthodontic faculties including myself. We want to connect the three pillars of Forsyth (research, technology, and clinical care) to the orthodontic field. And I want to support collaboration in these three directions.
Why are you holding this conference in honor of Dr. Moorrees?
The theme of this symposium is innovations. And Dr. Moorrees really is a pioneer of innovation in this field, in terms of his research and education innovations. So that’s how we want to honor Dr. Moorrees, by continuing his legacy at Forsyth, by starting this symposium and promoting innovation in this field.
Register to attend the Forsyth Orthodontics Symposium in Honor of Dr. Moorrees.
