Dr. Hessam Nowzari, Director, University of Southern California Advanced Periodontics program, has been extensively involved in academic training programs in Taiwan since the late 90's.  From then, there was a rising demand for more advanced and formalized training in this region.  Dr. Nowzari and his student, Dr. Mao-Chi Tuan, graduate (1997) of USC, co-founded the Taipei Academy of Reconstructive Dentistry (TARD) in the year 2004.  Since its inception in 2004, TARD has built a strong relationship with the USA and has coordinated multiple educational programs to meet a broad range of needs for Asian Pacific oral health professionals.