Dr. Askar teaches in the Postgraduate Endodontics Residency Program. He has special interest in Microsurgical Endodontics. He received his B.D.S. degree in Dentistry from the University of Baghdad, Iraq in 1973 and a Certificate and Master's Degree in Endodontics from the University of Minnesota in 1980. He has received several teaching awards. His areas of interest include microbiology of the root canal system, metallurgy of the root canal file systems, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of different root canal materials, and tissue reaction to the growth factors.