An interview with Lincoln Issamu Nojima

Abstract

Those who do not know Lincoln Issamu Nojima may have the impression that he is a sedate professor of Orthodontics. However, this great professional has struggled and endured a difficult journey to become the orthodontist that he is today. In the beginning of his career, as he had no dependable advisor, he attended several short-duration courses. He took his first course on typodont in 1989. However, unsatisfied with his learning up to that time, he sought to improve his education by taking other courses to achieve the goal of being a good orthodontist. He even took a course at the Tweed Foundation in 1994. Until one day, his friend Geraldo Queiroz suggested that he should take the Orthodontics course at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), which he did. He went on to take a Master’s Degree (1995-1996) and a Doctorate (1999-2004) and started working as a professor in the Department of Orthodontics of UFRJ in 1997. In his search for more knowledge, he had the opportunity to take a Post Doctorate (2011-2012) in the Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, where he is currently a Visiting Associate Professor at the same Department of Orthodontics. He works in a research project in partnership with the Department of Orthodontics of the Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea, with which he has a cooperation agreement. His line of clinical research investigates current topics, such as miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE), mini-implants, cone-beam computed tomography, orthodontic aligners and indirect orthodontic bracket bonding. However, during this promising, successful journey, he was not alone: he has had the unconditional support of his wife, Matilde, with whom he raised a beautiful family, with his sons Vitor Kenji and Pedro Eiji. A devoted father and husband, he loves to practice Kendo after a busy working day. He also enjoys fishing and walking with his family on weekends. It is an honor to have been invited to coordinate his interview, particularly because of the chance to talk about a serious, devoted, intelligent professional that is extremely proactive and an example to be followed.