Interview with Dr. Maria J. Troulis—Associate Editor of Craniomaxillofacial Trauma & Reconstruction
We are honored to feature an interview with Dr. Maria J. Troulis, Associate Editor of the journal Craniomaxillofacial Trauma & Reconstruction (CMTR, ISSN 1943-3883). Dr. Troulis is widely recognized for her outstanding contributions to oral and maxillofacial surgery, cancer research, and strategic healthcare partnerships. She shares insights into her academic journey, professional path, and vision for the future of medicine and collaborative research.
| Name: Dr. Maria J. Troulis |  |
| Affiliation: Harvard Medical School, USA | |
| Dr. Troulis earned her Doctor of dental surgery and master’s degree from McGill University and completed her oral and maxillofacial surgery training before joining Massachusetts General Hospital as an AO/ASIF fellow. An award-winning educator at Harvard, AO CMF, and surgeON, she is widely recognized for her excellence in mentoring. As Chief Strategic Partnership Officer at Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians @ Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, she advances strategic collaborations while leading translational research and mentoring future surgeon–scientists. She joined our board in 2025 as an Associate Editor. |
1. Can you please introduce yourself, including your current position, main research interest, and academic background?
Well, it is a pleasure to be part of this group and an honor to be invited for this interview for the newsletter. My current roles are my most important: mom and friend to two amazing teenage boys, Tyler and Connor, and wife to my best friend and longtime partner, Michael. I am truly blessed to say this. Also, to hold my most exciting role to date: Chief Strategic Partnership Officer for Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians @ Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (and work with an amazing President and CEO, physician–scientist, Dr. Alexa Kimball).
In this role, I focus on partnerships, both internal and external, that help strengthen the great collaboration between the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (and the respective Presidents and their amazing teams, Dr. Ebert, Dr. Kimball and Dr. Heely), which aims to be the number one destination for cancer care and comprehensive care for every patient.
In this exciting role, I identify and manage strategic alliances to enable growth, drive innovation, and help us excel in all facets of the healthcare system.
2. How did you get here, and what is your academic background?
I initially earned my Honors in Anatomy and Histology (under the tutelage of Dr. Warshawsky and Dr. J. J. M. Bergeron), followed by a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree, General Practice Residency, and MSc/Certificate in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at McGill University (Royal Victoria Hospital and Montreal General Hospital) under the tutelage of Dean and Chair Dr. Bentley and Dr. Millar, Dr. Head, Dr. Emery, and Dr. Chehade.
I moved to Boston, attended Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital as the AO/ASIF Clinical Research Fellow in Pediatric CMF Surgery (under the tutelage of Dr. Guralnick, Dr. Kaban, and Dr. Donoff), where I continued to grow from Fellow to Instructor, Assistant Professor, Director of the Skeletal Biology Research Center, OMFS Residency Program Director, Associate Professor, and ultimately Professor and Chair of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Currently, I serve as Professor in the Department of Surgery at BIDMC, the Walter C. Distinguished Professor at Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and Chief Strategic Partnership Officer for HMFP @ BIDMC, which allows me to combine my passions for education, mentoring, coaching, research, strategy, innovation, and partnerships, while working together to develop and build a better healthcare system for patients and providers alike.
My main research interests continue to allow me to concurrently promote OMFS, dentistry, and medicine. At the same time, I disseminate education broadly and, most importantly, promote the next generation of surgeon–scientists and physician–scientists—especially women—through the educational platforms I have been honored to serve on, such as AO, CMTR journal, surgeON, my role as Co-Director of the BILH Physician Leadership Program, and my position as Professor and Chief Strategic Partnership Officer for HMFP @ BIDMC.
My initial research at McGill was in molecular biology, and I was encouraged by outstanding mentors (Dr. Warshawsky, Dr. J. J. M. Bergeron, Dr. Bentley, and Dr. Head) to pursue a clinician–scientist path. When I came to Harvard, I focused on minimally invasive surgery, including distraction osteogenesis and giant cell tumors, working with Dr. Kaban and many others. Now, I have come full circle back to my McGill roots, returning to basic research in molecular biology and genetics, with a focus on clear cell odontogenic carcinoma. I have dedicated myself to studying this rare jaw tumor through a worldwide collaboration, particularly with colleagues Dr. Faquin, Dr. Rivera, Dr. Iafrate, and Bar-Peled at MGH/MGB. We are grateful for the funding provided by the Bertarelli Foundation to our group and the Harvard Medical School.
Through the partnership of Ann and Charles Talanian, I was given the opportunity to follow the “Talanian Way” and expand my research into refractory, atypical, resistant, extremely rare (RARE) tumors as part of a clinical and educational collaborative at HMFP @ BIDMC, and use this as a platform to unite pathologists, medical oncologists, and surgeons. I am grateful for the many new friendships and partnerships formed at HMFP, BIDMC, BILH, and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. This is the most exciting phase of my career to date. I truly believe “together” we can make a meaningful difference in the care of cancer patients with RARE tumors and transform how we diagnose and treat them. Of course, my personal focus remains on CCOC (tumors with clear cells, EWSR1::CREB) and other extremely rare jaw tumors.
3. What motivated you to pursue a career in this area, and how has your professional journey evolved?
Throughout my professional journey, my initial interest stemmed from a fascination with anatomy, the human body, and especially the intricacy of head and neck anatomy. Initially, I thought I would pursue head and neck oncologic surgery; however, I realized that I much prefer reconstruction—putting things back together and building—which has truly been my passion and has guided me through all these years.
Over time, my focus evolved to include how to teach better, how to become a better surgeon, and how to treat more than one patient. This is why I am so devoted to the concept of "bench to bedside" and "bedside to bench". Every time I walk into the operating room, I hope to help that one patient, but every time I take part in a research endeavor—whether answering a research question or creating a vision—when I go into the lab, I am hoping to help many, many patients.
As I have matured, my goal has expanded beyond helping just the patient to also supporting physicians, surgeons, and trainees. Together, as a team, we aim to develop what is best for all, with the patient remaining at the center of this care and focus. I believe this is why today I am in what I consider my most useful, most rewarding, and most exciting position to date: Chief Strategic Partnership Officer. In this role, I get to build, create, and improve systems for physicians, administrators, and, in a unified way, make things better for each and every patient, and pave the way for the new generation of clinician scientists.
4. What inspired you to become involved with CMTR, and what role do you believe the journal plays in advancing research in this field?
This was easy. I was most honored to be asked, and it is a privilege for me to serve as an Associate Editor. Along with this opportunity, as Co-Director of the Physician Leadership Program at Beth Israel Lahey Health and surgeON, I am able to promote my field, healthcare, surgeons, physicians, healthcare providers, and researchers in a way that ultimately benefits us all—especially our patients. I started as an AO/ASIF fellow, AO Faculty, and have now come full circle. How wonderful.
5. What are your long-term goals for the future development and impact of the journal?
Well, I would say for me, it is somewhat selfish. By promoting the journal CMTR locally, nationally, and internationally, I am also promoting the field I love—head and neck surgery, reconstruction, head and neck pathology, and treatments that improve patient care.
Doing this collaboratively, as a team of all types of healthcare providers (PRS, OMFS, and ENT), is what makes it most exciting. This platform allows for greater exposure; the more distinguished papers we publish, the more recognized the journal becomes. In turn, our fields are better highlighted and acknowledged.
At the same time, I can promote the next generation of surgeon–scientists and physician–scientists.
6. When not at your institution or researching or writing a paper, what do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Free time is rare, but dedicated time is essential. Above all, I am a mom to two wonderful boys, Tyler and Connor, and I hope to be a good role model for them in terms of dedication to family, work, and friendships. I involve my boys in my work—they often travel with me to conferences, and I share much of my professional life with them. My boys are devoted skiers, specifically competitive ski racers, so in the winter, I am dedicated to ski racing. In the spring and summer, we either train on a distant glacier or enjoy time at the beaches of Cape Cod Bay with our family, including our Beagle, Bailey, and our cats, Elsa and Elin. We are all quite independent, yet we truly enjoy being together.
Michael, Tyler, Connor, and I love traveling, and Michael and I enjoy showing the boys different parts of the world. This likely stems from our multicultural background—we deeply respect, honor, and appreciate different traditions, cultures, and dialects, whether we are cruising, flying, walking through cities, or skiing in different mountain ranges. We simply enjoy being together, learning from others, and growing as we encounter new people and perspectives in this big, beautiful world.