Thai Van Nguyen awarded for his PhD project in Estonia

Dr. Van Thai Nguyen is an alumnus of the University of Tartu. Doing the doctoral studies at the University of Tartu gave him the chance to spread his wings and accomplish remarkable achievements.

His doctoral thesis entitled “The first study of the treatment outcomes of patients with cleft lip and palate in Central Vietnam” (Supervisors: Associate Professor Triin Jägomagi and Associate Professor Toai Nguyen) won the third place in the Estonian National Students Research Contest 2019 . The study investigated the multiple aspects of cleft treatment outcome in patients with clefts in Central Vietnam: oral health status, nasolabial esthetics, nasalance scores, craniofacial morphology, maxillary arch dimensions, palatal dimensions, upper airway structures, maternal experiences, and the satisfaction of patients and their parent with the outcomes of cleft treatment.

Dr. Nguyen also conducted another research entitled “Upper airway and palatal dimensions in children with obstructive sleep apnea” under his 1-year junior research fellowship at the Institute of Dentistry, University of Tartu, Estonia. He won the prestigious 2019 NOF Hatton Award. He will represent NOF in the 2020 IADR Hatton award competition which will take place in IADR/AADR/CADR General Session & Exhibition in Washington, D.C. on March 18-21, 2020.

Besides, Dr. Nguyen has been actively involved in several projects together with Associate Professor Triin Jägomagi: Erasmus+ project ACT NOW (2018–2020) “A training program development for healthcare professionals to use the principles of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to facilitate patient adjustment to the challenges of living with a visible difference (ACT NOW)”; COST Action CA16234 (2017–2021) “European Cleft and Craniofacial Initiative for Equality in Care (ECCE)”; EduShare (2016–2019) “Joint capacity building in biomedical higher education through adopting international academic standards and transferring technology between European and Vietnam universities—EDUSHARE”; and COST Action IS1210 (2013–2017) “Appearance Matters: Tackling the Physical and Psychosocial Consequences of Dissatisfaction with Appearance”.

Mare Saag

NOF Board member 2004-2019