Appointments             Top

 Previous Academic and Clinical Appointments

Clinical Assistant in General Dentistry with DR M. Shariha Clinic. Amman,    Jordan.	1981
House officer in General Dentistry; Royal Medical Services; Jordan Armed    Forces.	1981-1982
Clinical Assistant registered by the General Dental Council; Child Dental    Health Department,Glasgow Dental Hospital, Scotland with Professor    A. F. Carmichae.	1982-1982
Honorary Clinical Assistant; Oral Surgery Department, Glasgow Dental    Hospital, Scotland with Professor D. A. McGowan.	1983
Clinical Attachment; Oral Medicine Department, Glasgow Dental Hospital,    Scotland, with Professor M. M. Ferguson.	1984
Clinical Research Assistant at the University of Jordan in preparation for    sponsorship to enrol for MSc and PhD degrees in Oral Medicine at the    University of London.	1985
Clinical Research Assistant in Oral Medicine; Eastman Dental Hospital,     London. MSc Course with Professor F. Nally.	1985-1986
Research Assistant for PhD degree; Oral Medicine and Pathology    Department, Guy's and St Thomas Hospitals with Professor    S.J.Challacombe.	1986-1989
Clinical Assistant registered by the General Dental Council;Oral Medicine    and Pathology Department; Guy's and St Thomas Hospitals with    Professor S.J.Challacombe.	1987-1989
Lecturer; Faculty of Dentistry; University of Jordan.	1990
Assistant Professor; grade B, Oral Medicine Department, University of    Jordan.	1990-1996
Assistant Professor; grade A, Oral Medicine Department, University of    Jordan.	1996-1997
Associate Professor; grade B, Oral Medicine Department, University of    Jordan.	1997-present

 Administrative Appointments

Head of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Oral Medicine    and Periodontology.	1992-1994
Head of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Oral Medicine    and Periodontology.	1995-present
Vice Dean for Hospital Affairs in combination with the above position.	1997-1998
Head of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Oral Medicine    and Periodontology.	1998-present

 Experience                Top

 Clinical Experience

On completing the Oral Medicine training at the Institute of Eastman Dental Hospital for a taught course for an MSc (Med. Sci.) degree and at Guy's and St. Thomas's Hospitals for a PhD degree, I gained confidence in the ability to elicit a relevant history, propose a differential diagnosis and initiate investigation of any sign or symptom affecting the mouth and differentiate the common causes of: recurrent oral ulceration, persistent oral ulceration, dry mouth, lumps and bumps, red and white patches, sore mouth, burning tongue, acute and chronic infections, oro-facial pain and HIV related conditions. Familiarity was gained with these specific diseases: oral lichen planus, vesiculobullous diseases, oral ulcerations, acute and chronic candidiasis, tongue disorders, fibroepithelial polyps, papillomas, premalignant oral lesions and conditions, salivary gland diseases, Sjogrens syndrome, burning mouth syndrome and atypical facial pain, oral manifestations of systemic diseases, endocrinopathy and oral lesions, AIDS, oral pigmentation and psychiatric disorders in dentistry.
After joining the University of Jordan, the following duties were taken into account: biopsy clinics and investigative work and interpretation of results in medically compromised patients with oral manifestations. This involved a detailed history taking (medical, surgical and psychological) and performing physical examination and clinical care of the patients. I became familiar with drugs and treatment used, doses, efficacy and side effects. I learnt to explain oral conditions and their implications to patients and observed a wide range of less common and rare diseases.

 Teaching Experience

As an Assistant Professor and lately as an Associate Professor, my responsibilities covered the teaching activities of the department. I played full part in the training of junior dental staff and undergraduates, including organisation of tutorials, seminars and the supervision of undergraduates at their clinics of Oral Medicine and Oral Diagnosis. I have also arranged and supervised refreshing courses for Dental Nurses.

 Administrative Experience

As the Head of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Oral Medicine and Periodontology for seven years, I have the commitment of the day-to-day organisation, both clinical and academic, of the department. In my previous post as Vice Dean for Hospital and technical Affairs in combination with the above position, I have the continuing responsibility for the supervision and organisation of undergraduate clinics, private clinics and dental laboratories at the Jordan University Hospital.

 Affiliation & Memberships          Top

 Affiliation to Professional Societies

1. British Society for Oral Medicine
2. Jordan Dental Association
3. Jordan Society for Behcet's disease

 Scientific Journals Editorial Board Memberships

-Dirasat, An International Refereed Medical and Biological Research Journal published by
 the Deanship of Research, University of Jordan.     Appointed in 1994.
-The Jordan Dental Journal, published by the Jordan Dental Association.
  Appointed in 1996.

"I am heavily involved in the assessment of dental papers and case reports regarding suitability for publication".

 Committee Appointments

1990   Social Committee Chairperson.
1992   Faculty Board Member.
1992   Scientific Research Committee Chairperson.
1995   Student Affairs Committee Member.
1995   Curriculum and Exams Committee Member.
1996   Medical Basic Science Credit Hours Committee Member.
1996   Syllabus Updating Committee Member.
1996   Academic Committee Member.
1996   Library Committee College Representative.
1996   Medications Committee College Representative.
1997   Staff Promotions Committee Member.
1997   Hospital Incentives Committee Member.
1997   Subspecialties Committee Chairperson.
1997   Technical Laboratories Equipment and Materials Chairperson.
1997   Academic Committee Member.
1997   Scientific Research Committee Chairperson.
1998   Dental Association Board Committee Member.
1999   Dental Staff Affairs Committee Chairperson.

 Researches Presentations & Conferences          Top

 Research

I have completed a supervised personal research in Oral Medicine for an M.Sc.
(Med. Sci.) degree entitled: Study of the Adverse Reactions of Carbamazipine (Tegretol) in the treatment of Paroxysmal Trigeminal Neuralgia, especially in relation to plasma sodium levels.
I have also completed a supervised personal research in Oral Medicine for a PhD degree entitled: An Immunocy tochemical Investigation of the Cellular Infiltrate in Oral Lichen Planus.

 Research interests

1. Role of Jordanian Dentists in smoking cessation.
2. Smoking and oral Cancer.
3. Smoking behavior among Jordanians.
4. Prevalence of oral diseases.

 Lectures and Presentations

 Scientific Activities and Conferences Attended

 Courses Attended

 Publications          Top

 Publications, Posters and Abstracts

1. Abstract: Detection of activated endothelial cells (EC) in human oral mucosa. Burgan.    S., Thornhill. M., Morgan. P. R., Challaccombe. S. J., Haskard. D. O., J. Dent. Research,    vol. 68, no 4, 1989.

2. Expression of an adhesion related activation antigen on endothelial cells in human oral    mucosal diseases. Thornhill. M, Burgan, S., Challacombe. S. J., Morgan. P. R., and    Haskard. D. O. In advances in mucosal immunology eds. MacDonald T 20.5.1992 et al.    Kluwer academic publishers 615-616, 1990.

3. Oral findings among 1633 Jordanians. Samar Z. Burgan. Dirasat, medical and biological     sciences, vol. 23, no 1, 1996.

4. A case report of Wegener's granulomatosis with early oral manifestations. Samar Z.    Burgan. Dirasat, medical and biological sciences, vol. 23, no 2, 1996.

5. A comparative retrospective study of 70 oral lichen planus patients: Erosive and     non-erosive types. Samar Z. Burgan. Dirasat, medical and biological sciences,
    vol. 23, no 2, 1996.

6. Medical status of patients attending the oral diagnostic clinic at the university of     Jordan. Samar Z. Burgan. Dirasat, medical and biological sciences, vol. 24, no 1, 1997.

7. Oral Lichen Planus: A hypothesis. Samar Z. Burgan. J.D.J., vol. 12, no 1, 1997.

8. Immunological Disorders of the Oral Mucosa- An Update. Samar Burgan. J.D.J., vol. 12,     no 2, 1997.

 Papers submitted for publication

1. Smoking habits and views of dentists in Jordan: Part 1. Samar Z. Burgan.
2. Smoking counselling activities of dentists in Jordan: Part 2. Samar Z. Burgan.
3. Dentists' awareness of the health risks associated with smoking. Samar Z. Burgan.
4. Knowledge and practices of dentists in Jordan regarding oral cancer. Samar Z. Burgan.

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