Lara Friedlander

Associate Professor Lara Friedlander BDS MDS PhD(Otago) FRACDS FICD FPFA. Lara received her undergraduate Bachelor of Dental Surgery Degree in 1992 and completed her specialist training in Endodontics from the University of Otago, New Zealand in 1999. Since 2020, she has been Head of Endodontics and leads the Clinical Doctorate programme, mentoring the next generation of endodontic specialists and advancing endodontic education, research, and clinical excellence. She is currently an Associate Dean where she plays a key leadership role in shaping dental education and postgraduate training across Australasia and is a member of an international advisory group to University Deans on dental education, research and clinical practice. With a PhD in pulp biology and a research focus on the influence of systemic disease, vital pulp treatment and healing, her work is translational. It has contributed to understanding the response of the dentine-pulp complex to caries and hyperglycaemia which has led to numerous publications, textbook chapters and guidelines for clinicians. Lara is an international key opinion leader in her field and lectures extensively where she enjoys sharing her knowledge and experience to enhance endodontic practice and improve outcomes for patients.