Fatemeh Afshari

Dr. Fatemeh Afshari is a distinguished prosthodontist with a deep commitment to dental education and clinical excellence. She began her academic journey by earning a Bachelor of Science degree from Northwestern University in 2002, followed by her Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree at Harvard School of Dental Medicine in 2006. Dr. Afshari further advanced her expertise by completing a Master’s degree and a Post-Graduate Prosthodontic Program at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) in 2009.

Since joining UIC, Dr. Afshari has become a vital part of the College of Dentistry, serving as a Faculty Dental Practice Provider and actively engaging in teaching and mentoring dental students. She directs the pre-patient complete denture course and teaches advanced implant restorative techniques at the UIC Implant and Innovations Center. Her dedication to education is reflected in numerous awards, including the prestigious Johnson and Johnson Preventative Dentistry Award, UIC Council of Excellence in Teaching and Learning Awards, and the Claude Baker Faculty Award in 2016.

Dr. Afshari’s clinical and scholarly interests focus on dental education, clinical outcomes research, and the development of recall systems to improve patient care. She has played an instrumental role in enhancing implant education by creating web-based implant workflow documents and contributing to the Pre-Doctoral Digital Program.

Her research contributions have been published extensively in top prosthodontic and neurophysiological journals, reflecting a broad and impactful academic footprint. Dr. Afshari has also been honored with multiple grants and fellowships that support her ongoing work in areas such as patient recall programs, caries risk assessment and management, implant overdentures, and digital denture fabrication.

• Bachelor of Science (BS) – Northwestern University, 2002
• Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) – Harvard School of Dental Medicine, 2006
• Master of Science (MS) and Advanced Education in Prosthodontics – University of Illinois at Chicago, 2009
• Astra Tech Fellowship under Dr. Kent L. Knoernschild, 2009–2011

• Faculty Dental Practice Provider, University of Illinois College of Dentistry
• Course Director, Pre-Patient Complete Denture Course, UIC
• Instructor, Implant Restorative Techniques, UIC Implant and Innovations Center
• Active Member, American College of Prosthodontists

• Afshari FS, Knoernschild KL. Program Director Perceived Factors for an Enhanced Advanced Education Program in Prosthodontic Recall System. J Prosthodont. 2011 Oct;20(7):593-600.
• Afshari FS, Knoernschild KL. Student Perceived Factors for an Enhanced Advanced Education Program in Prosthodontics Recall System. J Prosthodont. 2011 Jul;20(5):402-7.
• Afshari FS, Koslow AH, Knoernschild KL, Sukotjo C. Patient recall in Advanced Education in Prosthodontics Programs in the United States. J Prosthodont. 2010 Jun;19(4):315-20.
• Afshari FS et al. Resurgent Na currents in four classes of neurons of the cerebellum. J Neurophysiol. 2004;92(5):2831-43.