Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Two sisters, Tamara and Marwa Al-Azawi, are embarking on their dental careers with the shared goal of making a positive difference in the community. By Frank Leggett
A shared passion for dentistry saw sisters, Tamara and Marwa Al-Azawi, undertake the five-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery at James Cook University (JCU) in Cairns. Even though they were a year apart, studying together allowed the sisters to support and motivate each other. Rivalry was—and is—non-existent. This is a relationship built on trust, love and respect. Dr Marwa Al-Azawi graduated in 2024, and Tamara graduated at the end of 2025. The sisters have big plans for their future dental careers.
Tamara Al-Azawi
“Our family moved to Australia from Iraq in 2009 so my mother could obtain her PhD in pharmacology at the University of Queensland. Ever since we were little, our parents encouraged us to consider careers in healthcare. Marwa always wanted to become a dentist and seeing her so motivated encouraged me to apply for dentistry after Year 12. It seemed right that we should study together at JCU.
“Five years is a long degree but I have enjoyed every moment at JCU. It has an outstanding reputation in clinical training and a focus on rural and regional health. The hands-on approach and my experience on placement were the highlights of my time there. Seeing patients of different backgrounds and ages with various oral health needs and medical histories was a great learning experience. Dentistry isn’t just about technical skills; it’s also about how to build a rapport and understand people’s stories. I look on dentistry as a career and a way to make a positive difference in the community.
“There was no competition between Marwa and myself while we were studying. We backed each other up and could turn to each other for motivation. Whenever one of us achieved something, it inspired the other. It was a very positive dynamic. Marwa has an amazing attention to detail, and her clinical skills are exceptional. Whenever we had a difficult case, we would have a debrief and bounce ideas off each other. I had the opportunity to act as a DA for her and saw firsthand the great care she takes in the quality of her work. She’s also very approachable and empathetic with patients.
Whenever we had a difficult case, we would have a debrief and bounce ideas off each other. I had the opportunity to act as a DA for her and saw firsthand the great care she takes in the quality of her work.
Tamara Al-Azawi
“Marwa is presently dividing her working life between private practice and Queensland Health. The work she does with less fortunate people is inspiring. Now that I’ve graduated, I want to continue developing my skills as a clinician. My aim was to work in a supportive clinic and I have only recently joined the team at BUPA Dental Albert Street in Brisbane. One day, I would also like to do some FIFO work.
“Marwa and I have discussed running our own practice in the future. We would be a fantastic team. We place a lot of importance on communication and ensuring patients are involved in their treatment planning. Fear of dentists is very common, and I believe our approach could help allay those fears.
“Dentistry is challenging but it’s also incredibly rewarding. I’m really looking forward to carrying everything I’ve learned at university into the next stage of my career.”
Dr Marwa Al-Azawi
“When I was in Year 10 at high school, I went with mum to the dentist when she had veneers applied. I was amazed that her smile was wonderfully transformed with just one appointment. That ignited my interest in dentistry. In Year 11, I shadowed a dentist and was so inspired I decided to make dentistry my future career. I’m pretty certain my passion also encouraged Tamara down the same path.
“We were a year apart at JCU but actively supported each other. There was no competition between us; we were there for each other during the tough times and celebrated during the good. I loved that we were going to share the same profession and bring our own experiences and strengths. While it’s nice to share things with colleagues, a sister’s different. There’s pure honesty and trust between us.
“Tamara is an empathetic clinician who understands the fears and concerns of her patients. She also has great communication skills and almost endless patience. Our placement at JCU was so enjoyable, it confirmed we had made the right decision to pursue dentistry as a career. I have to give special thanks to Dr Nathan Barrett who was our clinical supervisor. Whenever we had a difficult case, he’d help us even during his day off. Having a teacher and mentor like Nathan is truly inspiring.
Tamara and I have a deep bond, love dentistry and get on well together. I would love to own a dental clinic with her down the track.
Dr Marwa Al-Azawi
“I’m splitting my time between private practice at Central Dentists Tingalpa and public work at Queensland Health. Now that Tamara has graduated, I think she’ll do something similar in the long run. Public dentistry gives you the chance to treat a wide range of complex cases and make a real difference for people who need it most. Private practice also brings its own rewards through continuity of care and building long-term relationships with patients.
“Tamara and I have a deep bond, love dentistry and get on well together. I would love to own a dental clinic with her down the track. JCU has given us both a strong foundation to face all challenges. The experience we gained with early exposure to real patients and working in regional clinics helped set us up as robust dentists.
“The biggest challenge after graduating is adjusting to the responsibility of being the final decision-maker. Fortunately, JCU armed me with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed. I’m certain the same applies to Tamara.
“Tamara is more outgoing than me and a real people person. I love solving problems and embracing the fine details of dentistry. We’re both effective, professional and caring. The Al-Azawi sisters are going to be an unstoppable team.”
