Professional Biography

Prof. Dusan Surdilovic is a Full Professor at RAK College of Dental Sciences, RAK Medical & Health Sciences University, with more than two decades of academic, clinical and teaching experience in pediatric and preventive dentistry. A specialist in pediatric dentistry, he has extensive experience in the comprehensive care of children, including complex treatment under general anaesthesia. His academic leadership has included serving as Chairperson of the Department of Preventive Dental Science and as Program Director of the Diploma of Dental Assistant programme at Gulf Medical University. He has contributed extensively to curriculum development and to national and international accreditation processes for dental and postgraduate programmes, and has served as a mentor and supervisor for doctoral, master’s and specialist-level postgraduate training. He has participated in internationally funded research, including an EU FP7 project and research supported by the Karolinska Institutet Research Foundation.

Qualifications

• Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)
  University of Nis, Serbia, 1998.
• MSc in Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry
  Joint Program: Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, & University of Nis, Serbia, 2003.
  Thesis: Contemporary analysis of hard dental tissue proteins.
• Specialist Certification in Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry
  University of Nis, Serbia, 2004.
• MSc in Healthcare Management
  Joint Program: London School of Economics, UK & University of Belgrade, Serbia.
  Thesis: Branding of the University Dental Clinic at the City of Nis.
• Ph.D. in Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry
  University of Nis, Serbia, 2008.
  Dissertation: Role of carbonic anhydrase, nitrogen monoxide, and buffers of saliva in assessing caries risk in children with permanent dentition.

Experience

• Research Associate, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden (2000-2001).
• Lecturer, University of Nis, Serbia (2004-2008).
• Senior Consultant & Specialist, Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, University Dental Clinic, Serbia (2004-2015).
• Assistant Professor, Senior Consultant, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Nis, Serbia (2008-2015).
• Associate Professor, Gulf Medical University (2015-2024).
• Clinical Coordinator, Thumbay Medical & Dental Specialty Center, UAE (2020-present).
• Full Professor, Head of Department - Department of Preventive Dental Science, Program Director - Diploma for Dental Assistant, Gulf Medical University (March 2024-October 2024).
• Full Professor, Pediatric & Preventive Dentistry, RAK Medical & Health Sciences University, College of Dentistry, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE (October 2024 - Present).

Courses Taught

• Community Dentistry
• Clinical Pediatric Dentistry
• Comprehensive Clinical Dentistry

Achievements & Honours

• Award for Excellence in Reviewing, Serbian Dental Chamber (2021)
• Best Pedodontist of the Year, World Dental Conference, Dubai (2018)
• Best Graduate Student of the Year, Serbian Medical Society (1998)

Areas of Teaching & Research Interests

• Pediatric Dentistry and Preventive Dentistry
• Artificial Intelligence in Dentistry
• Dental and Health Professions Education
• Clinical Education and Assessment
• Saliva and Salivary Biomarkers
• Community Dentistry and Public Oral Health
• Caries Risk Assessment and Prevention

Selected Publications

Author of 55 research articles, including works on salivary biomarkers, caries risk assessment, low-level laser therapy, and artificial intelligence in dentistry.

• Shaikh K, Bekal V, Marei H, Elsayed W, Surdilovic D, Abdel Jawad L. Artificial Intelligence in Dentistry (book). Springer Nature Switzerland AG; 2022. ISBN 978-3-031-19714-7
• Alahmad W, Elramady Y, Sidheeq M, Alahmari M, Surdilovic D, Khalifa A, Sadek S, Abdelmagyd H, Farag D. The recent advances in digital dentistry: the impact of robotics and smart implant design on dental practice. Open Dentistry Journal. 2025;19:e18742106424854
• Hussain R, Albanna FS, Alahmari M, Surdilovic D, Abdelmagyd H. Advancements in tooth transplantation and reimplantation techniques: a review. Journal of Contemporary Dental Sciences. 2025;2(3):16–22
• Al-Dhanhani KRA, Elemam RF, Elsewify T, Surdilovic D, Eid BMM. Evaluating root canal treatment quality by undergraduate dental students at Gulf Medical University. Journal of International Dental and Medical Research. 2024;17(1):310–318
• Abdelaal HM, Surdilovic D, Adtani P, Kukreja BJ. Effectiveness of peer-assisted learning: perception of dental students in an academic institution in the UAE. Journal of International Dental and Medical Research. 2023;16(3):1147–1152
• Abdelaal HM, Surdilovic D, Ali Fuoad S, Adel A. The role of carbonic anhydrase enzyme in salivary buffer activity as a marker in caries risk assessment. Journal of International Dental and Medical Research. 2023;16(2):734–739
• Surdilovic D, Abdelaal HM, D’Souza J. Using artificial intelligence in preventive dentistry: a narrative review. Journal of Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences University. 2023;18:146–151. doi:10.4103/jdmimsu.jdmimsu_136_22
• Surdilovic D, Adtani P, Ali Fuoad S, Abdelaal HM, D’Souza J. Evaluation of the Dunning-Kruger effects among dental students at an academic training institution in UAE. Acta Stomatologica Croatica. 2022;56(3):299–310. doi:10.15644/asc56/3/8
• Prabhu MN, Al Bayati S, Surdilovic D. Transmission of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans & Porphyromonas gingivalis in periodontal diseases. Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development. 2020;11(1):777–781
• Natarajan PM, Hamed MS, Surdilovic D, Bayati SAA, Adtani P. Soft tissue dental lasers. Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development. 2018;9(11):571–576

Further Publications

• Surdilovic D, et al. Hemorrhage Control and Infection Prevention in Exodontia of Natal Teeth. Acta Stomatologica Naissi (2018).
• Surdilovic D, et al. Non-Collagen Protein in Dentin Tissue: Role in Dentinogenesis. Biomed Pharmacol J (2018).
• Surdilovic D, et al. Complete Treatment of Mouth Cavity After Early Childhood Caries: A Case Report. Acta Stomatologica Naissi (2017).

Memberships, Committees & Registration

• European Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (EAPD) (2016 – present)
• RAKMHSU University Interprofessional Education Committee (2025 – present)
• RAKMHSU University Community Committee (2025 – present)
• RAK College of Dental Sciences Community Engagement, IT and Social Networks Committee (2025 – present)
• RAK College of Dental Sciences College Council (2024 – present)
• Emirates Pediatric Dentistry Club (2016)
• Norwegian Dental Association, specialist licence (2015)
• Serbian Board of Pediatric Dentistry, board examiner (2011)
• Association of Pediatric and Preventive Dentists of Serbia (2007)
• Association of Dentists of Serbia (2001)

Professional Development & Training

• Artificial Intelligence in Education (MBZUAI)
• Simulation-Based Teaching and Learning
• Standard Setting in Assessment
• Statistical Analysis in Research
• Academic Writing and Research Communication
• Innovative Digital Tools in Dental Education
• Flipped Classroom Pedagogy
• Leadership for Inclusive Change