The Pacific Dental Conference kicked off by welcoming over 50 people to the Cocktails & Conversation event, a chance for attendees to learn about the latest happenings at the UBC Faculty of Dentistry.
A highlight of the evening was the Alumni Affiliate Awards, presented by the Faculty in recognition of individuals who have embraced UBC Dentistry as their hometown school.
This year, three incredible women received the award: Dr. Marcia Boyd, Lane Shupe and Dr. Nellie Trinh. All three women are generous with their time and have made meaningful contributions to the Faculty—we’re so grateful to have them as alumni affiliates!
Dr. Marcia Boyd
Dr. Marcia Boyd’s incredible career has spanned over five decades. After graduating from dental school, she challenged herself to move anywhere in Canada and ended up in the Eastern Arctic, where she provided dental treatment to Indigenous populations.
Her experience in the Arctic piqued her interest in public health dentistry, and she moved to Vancouver, where she practiced treatment and preventative dentistry in elementary schools. With a strong passion for education, Dr. Boyd received her Master’s in Education from UBC and joined the UBC Faculty of Dentistry as an instructor and then as Dean in 1992.
Throughout her career, Dr. Boyd has paved the way for women in the dental profession and is recognized internationally as an educator, leader and philanthropist. She is the founding President of the Education Research Group of the International Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research. Dr. Boyd was the first Canadian woman to be President of the American College of Dentists.
In 2014, Dr. Boyd was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada for her outstanding achievements and contributions to dentistry. Today, she is a senior associate at ROI Corporation, a national dental practice appraisal and sales corporation.
Dr. Boyd has a long history with UBC Dentistry. In recognition of her contributions to the Faculty, the Marcia A. Boyd Award in Dentistry was created in her honour and awarded to a dental student who, like Dr. Boyd, demonstrates leadership. We’re proud to have such an outstanding woman, former Dean and professor emerita, in our academic community.
Lane Shupe
Lane Shupe graduated from Okanagan College as a certified dental assistant and has made a significant impact on the dental profession throughout her career. In recognition of her service, she received the Honoured Member award from the College of Dental Surgeons of BC, presented to individuals who have made remarkable contributions to the profession over a long period.
Ms. Shupe is integral to the annual Thompson Okanagan Dental Society (TODS) meeting in Kelowna. Her leadership involvement from the early years of this meeting has allowed it to flourish. It is an important touchpoint for our Faculty, connecting us to our many outstanding alumni and other dental community members living in the Okanagan region. The TODS meeting also honours our undergraduate students through the Thompson Okanagan Dental Society Scholarship with a significant financial award for a student who originates from the Thompson Okanagan region.
Ms. Shupe’s passion for the dental profession shines each year at the conference. She does an incredible job networking with exhibitors, speakers and delegates and always shows a strong commitment to dental education and board management. Her ability to make all attendees feel welcome and part of this resilient community is truly remarkable.
Lane is also passionate about our pediatric community, and generously supports the Save a Smile Fund, which serves families in need of oral health care across the province and offers students clinical experience in a pediatric setting.
Dr. Nellie Trinh
Dr. Nellie Trinh completed her Bachelor of Science degree at UBC. She then moved to Edmonton to pursue her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Alberta, where she also met her husband, Dr. Michael Chan. The duo eventually moved back to Vancouver, where they founded Apex Dental Clinic.
Dr. Trinh is a valued member of the UBC Dentistry community and an excellent example of someone who has embraced us as her hometown school. She is extremely passionate about dental education and is a clinical instructor in Integrated General Practice for our fourth-year DMD students. When asked, this is what was shared by one of our students:
“Dr. Trinh has always been a supportive and kind clinical instructor to all her students. Her sense of humour and positive energy make our time in the clinic informative and fun. Students feel at ease in her presence, making it an extremely conducive educational environment for all who have the pleasure of working with her.”
Born in Saigon, Vietnam, Dr. Trinh has also been a tremendous advocate and supporter of our international program in Vietnam – she continues to play an invaluable role in helping us connect with partners both locally and in Vietnam. Also active in the dental community, Dr. Trinh is part of several study clubs as well as a 3D technology advisor at Planet Smile for Kids Society, where she helps with training and adoption of digital technologies for designing appliances to treat cleft lip and palate that are so prevalent in Vietnam.
Dr. Trinh and Dr. Chan are also generous donors to UBC and the Faculty. They were among the first individuals to participate in our ‘Adopt an Op’ initiative. Some 18 years later, their support continues, speaking to their investment in student education, wellness, and community, reflected in UBC’s student affordability challenge, Save a Smile, the Patterson Dental Learning Centre, and most recently, our new Student Wellness Fund.