Our „Meet the Alumni” event series highlights the diverse career paths of Semmelweis University graduates. One of them is Dr. Arvin Shahbazi, whose career brings together clinical dentistry, academic path and scientific research. In his lecture, titled “Dental and Scientific Career Pathways in Hungary: Opportunities for Semmelweis International Students,” he shared his personal career journey and offered practical advice to students planning their professional futures. The lecture was followed by an interactive discussion.
Levente Vágó, Deputy Director of International Relations and Alumni Affairs at Semmelweis University, welcomed participants to the latest “Meet the Alumni” lecture featuring Dr. Arvin Shahbazi.
During the lecture, Dr. Shahbazi emphasized that graduation is not the finish line, but the starting point of professional development. “Passing the exams is not the end of the story,” he told the students, encouraging them to begin shaping their careers while they are still at university. He explained that clear goals, consistency, and continuous learning are essential for long-term progress. Challenges and criticism, he noted, should not be viewed as obstacles to avoid, but as part of professional growth. “If something is challenging, I always go towards it; I don’t run from it,” he said.
One of the defining choices in Dr. Shahbazi’s career was his decision to remain in Hungary after graduation. Despite opportunities to continue elsewhere, he chose Semmelweis University as the place to build a career spanning clinical practice, research, and academia. His message to students was equally clear: meaningful careers are rarely built by waiting for opportunities. They are built by creating them -something he believes students should begin doing as early as their third year.
Drawing on his own experience as an international student, Dr. Shahbazi spoke about the practical realities of building a career in Hungary. Learning Hungarian became an important professional step and opened new opportunities. He encouraged students to become active members of university life, build meaningful professional networks, and engage in teaching and research early in their studies. His message was simple: “You need to invest in yourself – it will pay back.”
He encouraged students to see university not simply as a place to earn a degree, but as the first stage of developing the curiosity, connections, and opportunities that can shape an entire career.
Dr. Shahbazi also shared how he found his way to dentistry. Coming from a family without a medical background and without a predetermined career plan, he spent several weeks assisting in a dental clinic. The experience sparked his interest in the profession, and that choice was further confirmed when he entered dental school and wore the white coat for the first time.
His story carried a simple message: not every career begins with certainty. Sometimes clarity comes through experience – by stepping into something unfamiliar, discovering what genuinely resonates, and having the confidence to pursue it.
His lecture resonated with the students, who found his path and practical advice inspiring and motivating. His journey showed that clinical practice, research, and teaching do not have to follow separate paths, they can grow together from the foundations built during university.
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More event photos are available on the Semmelweis Alumni Facebook page.
Speaker Introduction
Dr. Arvin Shahbazi graduated from Semmelweis University with a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree in 2014 and completed his PhD in Periodontology in 2019. Since 2020, he has served as an assistant professor in the Oral Morphology Section of the Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology at Semmelweis University, while continuing his research activity in the Department of Periodontology. In 2021, he established the Clinical Orofacial Anatomy Laboratory, integrating surgical anatomical research with clinically significant questions in periodontal, implant and cleft surgery. Since 2022, he has also contributed to teaching and research at the Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics. In 2025, he received the MERIT Award in recognition of his research achievements at the Faculty of Dentistry.
Alongside his academic work, Dr. Shahbazi remains active in clinical dentistry and leads collaborative research with several international universities. His scientific work has been published in leading international journals and complemented by book chapters, invited lectures, and multidisciplinary research collaborations.
The “Meet the Alumni” series provides Semmelweis students with the opportunity to learn directly from graduates about their experiences and career choices. Dr. Shahbazi’s message encouraged students to start planning their future early, remain open to challenges and continue investing in themselves throughout their professional journey.
The “Meet the Alumni” lecture series will continue.
Photos by Zoltán Lipták, Semmelweis University, Directorate of International Relations and Alumni Affair
Zsuzsanna Fecser, Semmelweis University, Directorate of International Relations and Alumni Affair