Dr. Johari Yap Abdullah is a distinguished senior lecturer at the School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), where he serves as the head of the Digital Dentistry and Artificial Intelligence Research Cluster and teaches oral and maxillofacial radiology. His academic journey reflects a unique fusion of information technology and dental sciences, beginning with a bachelor’s degree in software and information technology (Hons) from Lincoln University, New Zealand, followed by a graduate diploma in ICT (distinction) from Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT), New Zealand.

He later transitioned into dentistry, earning an MSc in dentistry (oral biology) and a PhD in craniofacial biology from USM, where his doctoral research was awarded a scale 1 viva (no corrections required)—a rare achievement. His PhD thesis also received the Best Thesis Award in the Medical and Health Sciences category, and he was honoured as USM’s Most Excellent Postgraduate Student (Persada Kencana Award) in 2019.

His research focuses on craniofacial imaging, 3D analysis, CAD/CAM dentistry, open-source software, and AI applications in dentistry. Beyond academia, he actively supports NGOs aiding the disabled and underprivileged and serves as a lieutenant colonel in the Malaysian Civil Defense Force. His expertise bridges dentistry and technology, advancing innovations in digital dentistry and AI-driven dental solutions.