Resident Spotlight: Dr. Hafsa Affendi
Compiled by Austyn Grissom, D.M.D.
Dr. Hafsa Affendi is a second-year endodontic resident at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. The Paper Point’s Dr. Austyn Grissom recently caught up with her to learn more about her journey to endo, her other interests and her two cats.
The Paper Point: Thank you so much for taking time to do this interview and sharing your journey with us. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Dr. Hafsa Affendi: Thank you for the feature, Dr. Grissom! I am a second-year endodontic resident at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. I am ethnically Afghan, but I grew up in the Himalayas and moved to New Delhi in my later teenage years where I graduated in 2015 with a BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery). Also, prior to applying to Endodontics I received specialty training in Orofacial Pain and TMJ Disorders at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine in New Jersey.
The Paper Point: That’s awesome! Do you have any family members in dentistry? What influenced your decision to become a dentist?
Dr. Affendi: I have some family in medicine but none in dentistry. My entire childhood I felt apprehensive about dental visits and dental work – it took one dentist (who was also an endodontist) to change that. From then on, he was our family dentist. I was only 18 when I decided to apply to dental school, while knowing little about dentistry I did have some discussion and career talk with our family dentist. I had some basic inclination towards healthcare but the fact that dentists could own their own practices and not have to be affiliated with hospitals or any other organization made it seem like a career that I was looking for. As a teenager that sense of autonomy made dentistry seem more attractive than other careers. However, as I grew in the field a lot of my understanding and interests evolved.
The Paper Point: Tell us about your background as an Orofacial Pain Specialist. Did this play a role in your decision to pursue endodontics?
Dr. Affendi: Having struggled with Cluster Headaches for most part of my early 20s, I moved to the U.S. in 2016 to advance my education in the field of Orofacial Pain and eventually found my interests in Trigeminal Neuropathic Pain Disorders. Interestingly, most of the patients with post-traumatic trigeminal neuropathies were referred from either Endodontics or OMFS clinics respectively. While some cases were a result of procedural trauma to the nerve, others were just misdiagnosis and misunderstanding of the etiology of pain. It was then that I felt that an understanding of both orofacial pain and endodontics would be a great skill to possess as a dentist.. after all, both work to eliminate pain- just with different approaches.
The Paper Point: Your list of research awards and publications is quite impressive. Could you tell us a little bit about your current research project?
Dr. Affendi: My current research is focused on introducing a cutting-edge technology that could potentially help clinicians quantify pain in real time, directly from human-brain by measuring its localized cortical responses and hemodynamic changes with the use of artificial intelligence. While it is too early to state that pain could one day be measured, if successful this technology could revolutionize the way we approach pain.
The Paper Point: What are your plans following residency?
Dr. Affendi: After residency I plan to practice as an Endodontist and an orofacial pain specialist. I have an interest in teaching and research and I intend on staying affiliated with an educational institution after graduation.
The Paper Point: What do you like to do for fun?
Dr. Affendi: I am a self-proclaimed connoisseur of food and cooking tops the list. I love experimenting with different cuisines and I enjoy dining out, especially during monotonous winter weekends. During summer I spend most weekends either kayaking, canoeing, exploring nature trails or soaking in the sun.
The Paper Point: What is your favorite dish to cook and share with others?
Dr. Affendi: I am best known for my ethnic style “Chicken Afghani” and another variant called “Lavand-e-murgh”. If I am hosting co-residents or friends, I make sure to have it ready in bulk because everyone seems to like it.
The Paper Point: Tell us about your cats.
Dr. Affendi: I have two cats – a tuxedo tomcat named Oreo and a female tabby named Peaches. They are both rescues, and I adopted them exactly a month before COVID struck and then I got trapped in my apartment with them for quarantine. Now that I stay at work for long hours, they miss me – as is evident by their behavior. Peaches especially has separation anxiety. I now try to dedicate as much time to them during weekends as possible.
The Paper Point: Any final words for our readers?
Dr. Affendi: The quote, “When true purpose calls, double mindedness, confusion and frustration come along,” by Ernest Yeboah is what keeps me going during some hard days and I would love to share it with other residents. Dedicating additional years to a specialty training program may seem like a huge commitment and may come with its own set of frustration and confusion – so when the drive feels low, remind yourself of your purpose and it shall help you survive the rigors.
Dr. Austyn Grissom is a postgraduate endodontic resident and a member of the AAE’s Resident and New Practitioner Committee.