Dr. Ben Pliska was born in Mission, B.C., but grew up in Ottawa, Ontario, where he enjoyed playing both soccer and football as a teenager. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Ottawa, and attended the University of Western Ontario for Dental School. At Western Dr. Pliska was honored to serve as Class President and to graduate at the top of his class as the Gold Medalist in Dentistry. Immediately following dental school, Dr. Pliska pursued specialty training in Orthodontics at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, where he was granted a Certificate in Orthodontics and Master's Degree in Dentistry. Following graduation, Dr. Pliska was recruited to join the faculty in the Graduate Orthodontic Program at the University of Minnesota as Assistant Clinical Professor. This past year, Dr. Pliska happily returned home to Canada to join the Faculty of Dentistry to teach full-time in the newly formed Graduate Orthodontic Program at the University of British Columbia. As a certified specialist in Orthodontics, a fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada, and diplomat of the American Board of Orthodontics, Dr. Pliska is proud to contribute to the education, health and wellbeing of his community. He is an active member of the Canadian Association of Orthodontists (CAO), American Association of Orthodontists (AAO). Dr. Pliska lives in Vancouver with his wife Dr. Roxana Saldarriaga, a local Prosthodontist, and their children Isabella and Sebastian. In his spare time, Dr. Pliska enjoys exploring the outdoors of the lower mainland with his family - on bikes, kayaks or skis.