What got you interested in periodontics?
In my third year of dental school, I went to Ecuador for a few weeks to practice as a student. My mentoring dentist suggested I do a general practice residency (GPR) because he said I would see more complex cases in one year at the hospital than 100 years in private practice.
I took his advice and applied for a GPR at the University of Saskatchewan. Almost everyone in the hospital was either a specialist or training to be one and I was very interested in implants, so specializing in periodontics felt like a natural fit.
I’ll never forget my first day of class. After my GPR I spent six months in Nepal working as a volunteer dentist at a mission hospital. I flew back to Vancouver the day before our clinic initiations, so I was exhausted—I didn’t make the best first impression!
How has UBC shaped where you are today?
During graduate school I became close to Dr. Hannu Larjava, who is my mentor to this day. He sparked my interest in the research side of dentistry, and I went on to publish many papers over my career. He also brought me on as a clinical instructor with UBC Dentistry and I had the pleasure of teaching for over 20 years.
In 2017, I brought the periodontics community together to raise over $100,000 to establish the Dr. Hannu Larjava Research Fund to honour him.
How has travel played a part in your dentistry career?
Dentistry has given me the opportunity to travel to 35 countries, not just as a tourist but as someone who gets to meet locals, build relationships and provide dental care. For example, I work with HOPEthiopia as a volunteer dentist, and students applying to dental school join us to learn and observe. They soak it all in and leave knowing things like the tooth numbering system and root anatomy.
What advice would you give to current students?
I spent so much time counting credits and ensuring I did everything right to pass. While that’s important, being present and absorbing knowledge from the people around you is just as important. I’m also an advocate for work-life balance. Dentistry can be a demanding career—make time for friends and family and prioritize a healthy lifestyle.