Globe-trotting Dentist

New Hunt School of Dental Medicine Assistant Professor Eager to Improve Oral Health in our Borderplex

Dr. Mir Faeq Quadri brings a passion for research and public health

Mir Faeq Quadri, Ph.D., M.S., B.D.S., FRSPH, FICD, a dental education professional with extensive research experience from around the globe, has joined the Hunt School of Dental Medicine as an assistant professor.

Mir Faeq Quadri, Ph.D., M.S., B.D.S., FRSPH, FICD

Dr. Quadri has over 15 years of experience in practical dentistry, as well as analytical dentistry, which uses data to guide patient care. He is an experienced lecturer on a variety of oral health research topics, including community dentistry, public health—with a focus on substance abuse—and the use of scientific evidence to guide patient treatment.

His expertise also includes epidemiology and biostatistics—the study of the spread of disease and the use of data to solve public health challenges.

“The establishment of Hunt School of Dental Medicine perfectly aligns with my passion for public health,” said Dr. Quadri. “I have a clear goal to improve the oral health of people in our community, and I’m embracing this opportunity to make a genuine impact on my students and future dentists serving our Borderplex community.”

Recently, Dr. Quadri was a postdoctoral research scholar at the University of Washington, and before that, an senior lecturer at Jazan University in Saudi Arabia. He received his doctorate from Universiti Sains Malaysia and master’s from the University of Wollongong in Australia. He earned his bachelor’s from Maharashtra University of Health Sciences in India.

Dr. Quadri has authored over 50 research publications, receiving more than 1000 citations. He is excited to share that knowledge with his students and the El Paso community.

“I’m highly motivated to make a real difference in people’s lives, especially in underserved communities,” said Dr. Quadri. “Most of my research and teaching is related to population-based studies, and I am actively preparing myself to serve the Hispanic community.”

An award-winning dentist, Dr. Quadri is a fellow of the International College of Dentists and the Royal Society for Public Health in the United Kingdom.

Dr. Quadri’s primary area of study is substance abuse, with an emphasis on tobacco use.

With a prevalence of tobacco use in Hispanic populations, increased health risks from cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and cigars can often lead to health complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For example, cancer, heart disease, and stroke, all of which can be caused by cigarette smoking and other tobacco use, are among the five leading causes of death for Hispanics.

Diabetes is the fifth-leading cause of death among Hispanic people. The risk of developing Type 2 diabetes is 30% to 40% higher for those who smoke cigarettes than those who don’t smoke, and smoking can worsen complications from diabetes.

Dr. Quadri will oversee research projects of third- and fourth-year dental students next year. Their focus will be public health, most likely with an emphasis on substance abuse and tobacco usage.

“I cannot express enough the importance of disease prevention and health education in people’s lives,” he said. “Teaching the next generation of students is key to impacting lives in our community and improving public health for future generations.”

About Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso

TTUHSC El Paso is the only health sciences center on the U.S.-Mexico border and serves 108 counties in West Texas that have been historically underserved. It’s a designated Title V Hispanic-Serving Institution, preparing the next generation of health care heroes, 48% of whom identify as Hispanic and are often first-generation students.

Established as an independent university in the Texas Tech University System in 2013, TTUHSC El Paso is celebrating 10 years as a proudly diverse and uniquely innovative destination for education and research. According to a 2022 analysis, TTUHSC El Paso contributes $634.4 million annually to our Borderplex region’s economy.

With a mission of eliminating health care barriers and creating life-changing educational opportunities for Borderplex residents, TTUHSC El Paso has graduated over 2,000 doctors, nurses and researchers over the past decade, and will add dentists to its alumni beginning in 2025. For more information, visit ttuhscepimpact.com.

About the Hunt School of Dental Medicine

The Hunt School of Dental Medicine opened in 2021 and is the only dental school on the U.S.-Mexico border, and the first in Texas to open in more than 50 years. The dental school offers the most innovative curriculum in the country, preparing students for the future of dentistry with high-tech simulation and an advanced fabrication laboratory.

A first for any dental school in the nation, students begin clinical training and patient interaction during their first semester. It’s also the first and only dental school in the nation that requires Spanish language courses.