With an increase in the number of medical influencers across various social media platforms, it is becoming more apparent that Instagram is becoming a large part of OMFS exposure to pre-dental students, dental students, other medical professionals, and the population at large. Here is a list of OMFS Instagram accounts that are worth following for both your education and entertainment. This is by no means a comprehensive list as there are many great surgeons and pages not listed here.
*None of these pages paid or requested to be put on this list.
**All images, videos, intellectual property, and posts belong to their respective accounts. No claim of intellectual property is made here.
Education
1. @OMaxFace
Currently, a resident, Dr. Octavius Maximus Face, DMD, MD (not his real name) recently started this page and has become the premier Instagram page for OMFS knowledge. OMaxFace posts high-yield infographics that span all topics in OMFS, including basic anatomy, pathology, surgery-relevant physiology, and more. The page also features quiz questions on its story that correlate with the infographics and have become a great review tool for students, residents, and practitioners alike.
Maxfacenotes is the original educational OMFS page and posts high-yield, succinct infographics covering all topics in OMFS including high yield anatomy, IV sedation basics, and foundations of surgery.
Private Practice
Previously hidden behind the username bloodytoothguy, Dr. Jason Auerbach DDS may be the original OMFS influencer. Dr. Auerbach completed his OMFS training at SUNY-Downstate Medical Center. Dr. Auerbach made famous the “bloody tooth slam” which is now being practiced by practitioners and aspiring oral surgeons across the internet. His page showcases the scope of traditional private practice comprising largely of dentoalveolar surgery. For those that need a dose of bloody teeth or want to learn about the daily life of private practice oral and maxillofacial surgery, BloodyToothGuy is your guy.
2. @pnwoms
Dr. Ben Johnson, DMD completed his OMFS training at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. Dr. Johnson frequently posts many of his own cases highlighting dentoalveolar surgery that is typically performed in an outpatient setting. Notably, Dr. Johnson is a co-founder of @influencedentistry, a page, and movement that is dedicated to supporting dental influencers and ensuring that dental practitioners are providing quality content through their social media platforms. @influencedentistry has been hosting annual conferences for dental influencers as well, called Dental Influencers Alliance.
According to his website, Dr. Johanny Caceres DDS is not a fellowship-trained surgeon. However, visiting his page would convince you otherwise due to the broad scope of his practice. Dr. Caceres completed his U.S. residency at the University of Miami and works in private practice where he displays his full-scope training with a strong focus in oncologic reconstruction and trauma. Dr. Caceres’ page demonstrates how it is possible to practice true full scope OMFS in private practice.
Fellowship Trained Surgeons
I’m partial towards head and neck oncology and microvascular reconstruction, which will become apparent with this list shortly. However, the fellowship-trained surgeon is what draws many people nowadays into the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery, and displaying the full scope of our specialty is important to educate the public and our colleagues.
a. Dr. David Hirsch, MD, DDS, FACS completed residency at NYU and Bellevue Hospital and his fellowship training at Head and Neck Surgical Associates in Oregon. Dr. Hirsch is known for pioneering the famous “Jaw-in-a-day” procedure in which a patient undergoes resection of a lesion followed by reconstruction with a non-vascularized or vascularized free flap (typically a fibula for distal circumflex iliac artery bone flap) and restored with dental implants and prosthetics in one procedure, reducing OR and recovery time for these patients. This procedure has revolutionized head and neck reconstruction and, with the advent of virtual surgical planning, has become quicker and more commonplace. What used to be a grueling 16+ hour procedure has now been condensed into as short as 6-7 hours to provide a patient a full dental rehabilitation and treatment of disease.
Dr. Rania Habib, MD, DDS is a pediatric cleft and craniofacial surgery attending at the University of Pennsylvania. She completed her residency at the University of Maryland and subsequent fellowship at the University of Florida, Jacksonville. Dr. Habib discusses the importance of work-life balance as a busy academic surgeon and has served as a great mentor and advocate for many students pursuing OMFS. She is also one of the leaders of the #whyomfs movement, an advocate for women in OMFS, and her vignette can be seen in the #dontrushchallenge post by @women_in_OMFS.
3. @HashtagOMFS
HashtagOMFS is an account run by Dr. Steve Yusupov, MD, DDS who is associated with @statenislandoralsurgery. Dr. Yusupov completed his OMFS training at SUNY Downstate Health Science Center and Kings County Hospital Center and his fellowship in head and neck oncologic surgery at the NY Head and Neck Institute at Lenox Hill. Dr. Yusupov routinely posts cases demonstrating the expanded scope of oral and maxillofacial surgeons, including neck dissections, mandibulectomies, and a variety of free and rotational flaps.
Dr. Yirae Ort DDS, MD completed her OMFS training from the 5-year program at Case Western Reserve University and her cosmetic surgery at the University of Florida Health Science Center. Dr. Ort is one of many OMFS that have expanded their training in the field of facial cosmetic surgery and runs a busy cosmetic practice. She also works as faculty at the University of Washington. Her page features her performing procedures such as face and neck lifts, blepharoplasties, rhinoplasties, and more. She demonstrates the capabilities of OMFS surgeons and how our training can serve those with cosmetic needs.
Dr. Todd Hanna, MD, DDS, FACS completed his OMFS training at the University of Alabama, followed by two head and neck oncology fellowships at the University of Maryland and NY Head and Neck Institute at Lenox Hill. Dr. Hanna is one of a few OMF surgeons with double-fellowship training and practices full-scope OMFS in his NY-based private practice, ranging from head and neck oncology to esthetic and microvascular reconstruction. His Instagram page frequently features images and videos of him demonstrating novel reconstruction techniques to optimize facial esthetics and harvesting of free flaps.
6. @Dr.chi.viet
Dr. Chi Viet, DDS, Ph.D., MD completed her OMFS training at NYU and Bellevue Hospital, followed by her fellowship in microvascular oncologic reconstructive surgery at Head and Neck Associates in Portland. She serves as an attending at Loma Linda University while running a basic science research lab on the side. Dr. Viet is a prime example of how to balance life and achievement at the highest academic levels, all while still being able to have a life and family (and cooking amazing-looking food). Her achievement is an inspiration to all and she continues to be a strong advocate for women pursuing a career in OMFS.
Programs
With many programs beginning to create Instagram pages for themselves featuring their residents, this list will undoubtedly leave out many pages but attempts to feature the programs that post at decent volumes. These program pages tend to highlight the scope of the program as well as resident life.
1. @Chicagomaxface – University of Illinois, Chicago
2. @MemphisOMFS – University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center
3. @Marylandomfsresidents – University of Maryland
Organizations
There are many organizations now pertaining to OMFS that provide information beneficial to members of the specialty at all levels. These are some of the larger ones and by no means does this list encompass all organizations you should be following.
1. @Women_in_omfs – With less than 8% of all OMFS in the United States being women, there has been a strong push by the individuals behind @Women_in_OMFS to recruit women towards the specialty. The goal of this organization is to show that is possible to partake in a busy residency program and be successful outside of the operating room and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
2. @AAOMSmembers – The official Instagram page of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. They post often post links to useful articles and CE that are made available through the AAOMS website. This has been particularly useful and active during our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and is useful for practice guidelines.
3. @ROAAOMS – The official Instagram page of the Residents Organization of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. ROAAOMS aims to connect and unite residents in all programs across the country. They provide representation at AAOMS meetings and are active in improving residency quality. One of their biggest contributions has been the annual Resident Transitions into Practice Conference which many speakers across all walks of OMFS talk about different positions available to residents once they finish their training and educate residents about what to expect following graduation.
Other pages in no particular order:
1. @Surgical_Gourmet – Dr. Salib is an international lecturer and adjunct faculty at USC OMFS. His page frequently features dentoalveolar surgery as well as his amazing cooking.
2. @DoctorJacci – Dr. Jaclyn Tomsic MD, DMD, FACS is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon that works @in private practice and part-time as an attending in a busy level I trauma center. She frequently posts educational posts and is a strong advocate for women in OMFS.
3. @Osteoscience – The official Instagram page for the OsteoScience Foundation, for those interested in research.
Thank you to D.H. for writing this guest post. I’m sure many aspiring OMFS and current residents will find these accounts educational. Unfortunately, at this time AccessOMFS does not have an active Instagram account due to time constraints on my end. However, feel free to go ahead and follow @AccessOMFS on Instagram or Twitter, should we one day start producing more content. If you are reading this and you are interested in running the AccessOMFS social media account please reach out to me on the contact page. Also, if you have any suggestions for other accounts to follow, please comment below!