Pakistan’s dental academic community has gained stronger representation on the international stage with Dr. Zohaib Khurshid continuing as an Associate Editor and Dr. Mustafa Naseem joining the Editorial Board of the International Dental Journal (IDJ), the official scientific journal of the FDI World Dental Federation.
The appointments place two Pakistani dental academics in important editorial positions within one of the world’s established peer-reviewed dental publications, strengthening Pakistan’s visibility in international dental research, evidence-based dentistry and oral-health scholarship.
Dr. Khurshid has entered his second year as Associate Editor of the journal. He is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Prosthodontics and Dental Implantology at King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia, and has developed a research profile spanning several emerging and established areas of dentistry.
His scholarly work includes dental biomaterials, regenerative dentistry, artificial intelligence in dentistry and oral-health research, areas that are increasingly shaping the future of clinical dental practice and research.
His continued editorial role means he will remain involved in the academic evaluation and development of research published in the International Dental Journal, further extending the international contribution of a Pakistani-trained dental academic.
The editorial representation has been further strengthened by the appointment of Dr. Mustafa Naseem as Statistical Editor for 2026.
Dr. Naseem is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Community and Preventive Dentistry at Dow International Dental College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi. His expertise in research methodology and biostatistics places him in a particularly important role in the editorial process, where methodological rigor and appropriate statistical analysis are essential to the credibility of scientific evidence.
As Statistical Editor, Dr. Naseem contributes expertise aimed at safeguarding the methodological quality of submitted manuscripts. His research interests and scholarly record encompass restorative dentistry, dental biomaterials, public health and preventive dentistry, giving him a broad academic perspective across both clinical and population-based oral-health research.
Together, the appointments represent more than individual academic recognition. They reflect the growing participation of Pakistani dental researchers in the international systems through which scientific evidence is reviewed, assessed and disseminated.
Why the International Dental Journal role matters
The International Dental Journal is the official scientific journal of the FDI World Dental Federation and has been in continuous publication for seven decades. The journal publishes peer-reviewed research addressing oral-health issues of international significance and is published bimonthly by Elsevier on behalf of FDI.
Its editorial structure plays an important role in maintaining the quality and scientific integrity of research entering the global dental literature.
The journal has also been gold open access since 2021, increasing access to its published research for dental professionals, researchers, academics and policymakers around the world.
Its academic standing further underlines the significance of the appointments. The IDJ recorded a 2024 Impact Factor of 3.7, placing it in the top quartile of the Dentistry, Oral Surgery and Medicine category.
For Pakistani dental academics, representation within such an international editorial structure provides an opportunity to contribute not only as researchers but also as evaluators and gatekeepers of scientific quality.
From publishing research to shaping research quality
The roles held by Dr. Khurshid and Dr. Naseem also represent two complementary dimensions of contemporary dental scholarship.
Dr. Khurshid’s editorial and research profile is closely connected with areas at the forefront of modern clinical dentistry, including biomaterials, regenerative approaches and artificial intelligence in dentistry. These fields are rapidly influencing how dental diseases are diagnosed, prevented and treated.
Dr. Naseem’s appointment, meanwhile, highlights the equally critical role of biostatistics and research methodology. Robust study design, appropriate statistical analysis and sound interpretation of findings are fundamental to producing reliable evidence that can ultimately inform clinical practice and public-health policy.
Their combined presence therefore reflects the breadth of expertise emerging from Pakistan’s dental academic community — from advanced clinical and technological research to the methodological standards required to assess scientific evidence.
A milestone for Pakistan’s dental academic community
The appointments come at a time when Pakistani dental researchers are increasingly contributing to international conferences, peer-reviewed publications and collaborative research initiatives.
Having Pakistani academics involved in the editorial structure of a major international dental journal further expands that contribution. It places expertise from Pakistan within the global academic process at a level where researchers help assess the quality, relevance and scientific rigor of work submitted for publication.
The recognition of Dr. Khurshid and Dr. Naseem consequently carries significance beyond their individual academic careers. Their editorial responsibilities provide international visibility for Pakistani dental scholarship while demonstrating the expertise available within the country’s wider dental academic ecosystem.
For Pakistan’s dental education and research community, their continued and newly established roles at the International Dental Journal represent a notable step in strengthening the country’s presence in global oral-health research, evidence-based dentistry and international academic publishing.
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