Dr Hajer Derbi

Dr. Hajer Derbi is a distinguished specialist in Special Needs Dentistry and a former Convenor of the Special Needs Dentistry Doctor of Clinical Dentistry (DClinDent) program at the University of Melbourne, Australia. 

She obtained her Bachelor of Dentistry and Oral Surgery from Tripoli University, Libya, in 2004, before relocating to Australia for postgraduate studies. Dr. Derbi completed a Master’s degree at the University of Western Australia in 2013, followed by a Doctor of Clinical Dentistry in Special Needs Dentistry at the University of Melbourne in 2016.

Dr. Derbi's achievements include the prestigious Special Care Dentistry Association Fellowship, the International Association of Disability and Oral Health Fellowship, and a membership in the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons. She is passionate about advancing knowledge in Special Needs Dentistry through both teaching and research. Dr. Derbi has presented her work at numerous national and international conferences and workshops and has actively participated in various professional committees. Her research has been presented at international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals, both nationally and internationally.

Her wide-ranging areas of interest encompass the oral health of patients with intellectual and physical disabilities, oral health service development, oral health promotion for special needs patients, epidemiology, teaching, dental oncology, osteoradionecrosis, and medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws. Dr. Derbi is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Arabic Society for Disability and Oral Health (MENA region), the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons, the Australian Dental Association, the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Special Needs Dentistry, the International Association of Disability and Oral Health, Special Care Dentistry, and the Disability and Oral Health Collaboration.

Dr. Derbi is dedicated to creating an inclusive society in which every individual has access to oral healthcare. She believes in the right of every person to live a full and dignified life, with the ability to eat, speak, and smile. In her leisure time, Dr. Derbi enjoys spending time with her children.