I was trained as a microbiologist and geneticist. Long hours in the research lab were grueling but exciting. There was something about being a part of a scientific discovery that I found exhilarating. When I shifted my studies to dentistry and then oral surgery, I wondered if my scientific interests would be satisfied. In the 20 years I have been practicing, I have seen an enormous amount of progress and change in our field. Research and development are the backbone of all of our surgical advancements.