News
UBC Dentistry Team returns from
Penelakut First Nation
July 12, 2010 - Dental and dental hygiene students, alumni, and faculty of UBC Dentistry as well as community dentists and other volunteers donated their time and professional skills this past weekend to the people of Penelakut First Nation on Kuper Island, a small southern Gulf Island, 8.66 km², located off the coast of Chemainus, BC, a town on the east coast of Vancouver Island.
Organized by UBC alumnus Doug Nielsen DMD 1972 through his Dental Mission Project, his wife Susan as well as other volunteers, the Kuper Island community volunteer clinic provided an ideal opportunity for dental and dental hygiene students to have an educational experience above and beyond the traditional classroom.
Two DMD 2012 (candidate) students (Cameron Garrett and Kathryn Hunter), four DMD 2011 (candidate) students (Dustin George, Ehsan Taheri, Hanah Tsao and April Wang), and two BDSc (Dental Hygiene) 2012 (candidate) students (Trish Morales and Jhustine Tolentino)--eight students total, plus Nielsen, Gary Sutton DMD 1972, Dr. Ken Stones, Dr. Bill Brymer, Dentistry clinical assistant professor and Margaret Sieber Dip DH 1970 provided dental services for free to people who may not otherwise have access. Other volunteer support included members of the Rotary Club of Chemainus and Steveston, Suzanne Sutton, JoAnn Dawson, certified dental assistant and Jenn Parsons, manager of Alumni & Community Affairs for UBC Dentistry.
The Kuper Island community volunteer clinic reflects the Faculty’s mission to improve and sustain the oral health of people in need within the community; to promote health education and social betterment, and provide assistance through treatment, training and education; and to enhance students’ awareness and role as global citizens with sustainable opportunities to serve.
To find out more about how to include dental and dental hygiene students in a community volunteer program, please contact dentalum@interchange.ubc.ca or Dr. Bill Brymer at bbrymer@interchange.ubc.ca
