Stefan Zweig DDS ’86, ENDO ’92 has been elected vice president of the American Association of Endodontists. The AAE is a global resource for knowledge, research and education for the profession. The Ostrow clinical associate professor will take office as vice president in April 2020 and will automatically become the president in 2022.

As AAE vice president, Zweig hopes to improve endodontics as a specialty and profession. “Our profession, the way we actually practice endodontics, is changing a lot,” he said. ”We have to make sure throughout all those changes that the quality of the work that we do gets better.”

A proud USC alumnus, Zweig said his education at USC prepared him for a career in dentistry and eventually endodontics. Zweig graduated from USC’s dental program in April 1986. Three years later, Zweig decided to return to USC to study endodontics. He graduated with a certificate in advanced endodontics in July 1992. Since 2013, Zweig has been a clinical associate professor in USC’s graduate endodontics program.

Zweig emphasized the importance of making changes within one’s profession. “When you’re involved in organized dentistry, you’re on the inside of that process and you understand not only the changes that need to be made, but also the limitations that we have in order to affect change,” he explained. Zweig has served on multiple professional committees and worked to spearhead change in the specialty of endodontics.

The American Association of Endodontists is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the art and science of endodontics and to promoting the highest standards of patient care. The AAE just celebrated their 75th anniversary this year, and they attribute their success to the work of dedicated volunteer leaders and to a diverse membership.

“It’s very humbling to be able to say that I am coming from USC and serving in this capacity because it hasn’t been done often,” Zweig said. He is only the third USC graduate to hold the position of vice president and eventually president.