No images? Click here Message from DAA PresidentI recently had the privilege to participate in one of the most unique Convocation ceremonies that I’m certain has ever taken the place in the over 100-year history of the School of Dentistry. The on-line program had inspiring congratulatory messages from numerous dignitaries and made the day as special as possible for Graduates. They will certainly be able to tell tall tales at all the Alumni events over the next few decades about their most interesting final year. I would once again like to officially welcome the Class of 2020 to the Dental Alumni family. I look forward to the day when we can celebrate your achievement with a good old fashioned get-together! Dr. Mintoo Basahti, Class of 1988 Message from DHAC PresidentOn behalf of the Dental Hygiene Alumni Chapter, I would like to offer a big congratulations to the Dental Hygiene graduating Class of 2020! This year's convocation looked quite a bit different than in previous years. Nonetheless, it was a monumental moment for the dental hygiene profession, as this was the University of Alberta’s first cohort graduating from the new degree program. With this, I truly believe dental hygienists can hold their heads up high as we push our field forward. Amidst the chaos of COVID-19, this can be seen as a bright light in our profession! Once again, congratulations to all of our hardworking graduates! Rebecca Lee, Class of 2012 Congratulations to our classes of 2020!Our Classes of 2020 graduated this month, and we couldn't be prouder! If you missed them, you can watch their graduations here: Bachelor of Science, Dental Hygiene video and Doctor of Dental Surgery video. The University held the general convocation digitally as well, and you can watch their celebration here. You can also read well-wishes from our patients here. For you new grads, be sure to check out the events for you at the end of this newsletter. Congratulations everyone!Read about some of our graduates below. Dentistry: it's all in the family!It's common for dental students to come from dentist families. Read on for a few of our generational students. Austin Fairbanks says, "I think there are many of us with dentists in the family because we see the whole profession. I've seen what it looks like when a friend's kid falls and hits their face in street hockey, and my dad goes into the office to help out." Austin Fairbanks, Marie-Catherine French, Cathy Kucey, Mark Spackman, Ashley Wacker — DDS '20 Translating dance to dental hygieneBrooke Becker, BSc DH '20 I never considered dental hygiene because I didn't think I had the academic background for it. I always put dance first, and I didn't love reading, and I never thought, "Yes, science!" After high school, I moved to Edmonton and danced for the Eskimos. I didn't really know what I was doing. One day I thought, "I might as well try for school; I'll never know unless I try." Becoming a dentist for the Canadian ForcesJuliusz Bobiarski, DDS '20 I joined the Canadian military in the second year. I thought it was a really cool and interesting way of getting to the profession. It's almost like a residency as soon as I graduate! All the major bases have dental clinics, so they put you where they need you. Generally, you're posted within Canada, but eventually, I hope to be posted elsewhere because I love to travel. Wide-eyed advanced placementShivani Desai, DDS '20 I arrived in Canada from India in 2016 as a naïve, wide-eyed 25-year-old girl who had never been independent. I had lived with my parents in a very sheltered environment and it has been extremely liberating for me to be able to live in a country where I could chase my dreams without worrying about what the "society" will say. Shifting gearsAyesha Haq, BSc DH '20 Since ninth grade in Pakistan, I planned to be a dentist. Dentistry is one of those things back home: you're encouraged to choose medicine, dentistry, or engineering. I had good marks and got into both medicine and dentistry. I felt there was less pressure in dentistry: it's a hectic life choice and hard, but I could leave work at work. From media to oral healthEve Koester, BSc DH '20 I wanted to be a news reporter. I took NAIT's TV and radio diploma and worked at CTV doing a bunch of behind the scenes stuff. It was great fun! But it was part-time with no hope of ever being full-time. Sadly Edmonton is just not the place for that industry. I didn't want to move so... new career! Access to care still an issue in CanadaJenika Kopala, BSc DH '20 I wandered my way to power engineering at NAIT and worked in the oilfields for a couple of years. Growing up in Cold Lake, I was always aware of the differences in metropolitan vs smaller cities. But going from small city to isolated community was one of the most eye-opening experiences I've had. Overcoming burnout through volleyballKirsten Rodacker, BSc DH '20 I've played volleyball since grade seven. In my prerequisite years in Grande Prairie, I spent more than 40 hours a week doing volleyball-related activities! When I got into the Dental Hygiene program in Edmonton, I knew it would be busy. I planned to replace my time spent playing volleyball with doing schoolwork. Learning to give with barrel racingNicole Vanderlee, BSc DH '20 My love for animals and horses began early. I truly enjoy the partnership with my horses and the special bond that we share. This connection with my horses and the thrill of competition has sparked a lifelong love for the sport of barrel racing. I still get goosebumps every time one of my horses runs down the alley at a race. Humanitarian. Community advocate. Future leaderKelsey Won, DDS '20 Working in health care allows many the privilege to experience people from all walks of life. If you don’t think that prejudice is alive and well within the health-care system, I challenge you to open your eyes and start to question the status quo. Whether you are a learner or new graduate, change starts with you. Top honour in Hygiene awarded to Megan ChowFrom the Bachelor of Science, Dental Hygiene class, Megan Chow won the top honour, the College of Registered Dental Hygienists of Alberta’s Gold Medal, awarded to the top convocating student in the Bachelor of Science, Dental Hygiene program, based on academic standing. Top honour in Dentistry awarded to Cathy KuceyFrom the Doctor of Dental Surgery class, Cathy Kucey won the top honour, the Alberta Dental Association & College's Gold Medal, awarded to the top convocating student in the Doctor of Dental Surgery program, based on academic standing. From Valentine Bedford (DH)The transition to online classes came very suddenly and many of us were not able to say goodbye to our classmates, friends and professors. I think we all felt a sense of regret for not taking the time we had together and using it to its fullest. The transition online was a little bumpy, but I am glad that we had such a supportive faculty that understood the changes we were going through. From Grace Bellerose (DDS)I can only speak from my own perspective about what it was like to become a dentist amid the global outbreak of COVID-19. I had been studying furiously for months prior to my NDEB examinations which took place the weekend before the university closure, was exhausted from the 10-hour examination and the karaoke celebrations following, and my immediate travel to my northern satellite rotation to McLennan. Congratulations to Dr. ComptonDr. Sharon Compton won the E. N. Skakun Award for Service to Education from the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry. Watch her acceptance speech from the Education Awards Week. "I have been fortunate to have inspiring mentors in my life. There has always been someone who I will remember for how they supported me, pushed me and who truly stand out as a person who helped me grow and learn along the way." Registration is open for SHINE's annual golf tournamentThe 15th Annual SHINE Dentistry Charity Golf Tournament will proceed with adjustments for COVID-19. It will be held at The Ranch Golf & Country Club on Saturday, September 19 at 8:00 AM (registration & breakfast at 6:45 - 7:30 AM). Registration is $175.00. Early-bird pricing deadline is July 19th. There are also sponsorship opportunities available. If you have any questions or need more information, please contact Nicholas Capp, Tournament Organizer at shinegolftournament@gmail.com U of A events for the Classes of 2020Job-Hunting in 2020: Navigating a New Normal (Watch anytime; Recorded July 14) After Grad: Face the Future Like a Boss (Aug. 6) Money After Graduation (Aug. 12) Life After University (Aug. 13) Further resources for you can be found here. 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We would love to consider any of the above for inclusion in future editions of Alumni Connections, Alumni News, or our website, Twitter and Facebook. Send your suggestions to dentcomm@ualberta.ca. Join CDE and stay up-to-date on what's happeningIf you haven't yet, sign up for the Continuing Dental Education monthly newsletter. You can get all the latest news on upcoming courses, trends in the profession, and the impact of learning out in the industry. You won’t want to miss it! |