Ever since she was a child, Daphne Chen, DMD 2019, thought about a career in dentistry. We connected with Dr. Chen to learn about her time at UBC Dentistry, and how the Summer Student Practitioner Program encouraged her to live and work in Dawson Creek after graduation.

What first sparked your interest in a career in dentistry?  

I went to Monarch Pediatric Dental when I was younger and my dentist was Dr. Anita Gartner, who is now President of the British Columbia Dental Association. My mom took me to appointments and would say, “Look at Dr. Anita, she’s having so much fun, look how much she enjoys being at work!” It’s fair to say becoming a dentist was in the back of my mind from a young age.

When I was 14, I spent a day shadowing at Monarch, which I really enjoyed. During my second year of undergrad in microbiology, my friend Nadine Chan, DMD 2020, and a few others in our program decided to write the Dental Admission Test and apply to dental school together. It was group momentum that pushed me forward!

Do you have a favourite memory of your time spent at UBC?   

I remember the instructors fondly and have so much gratitude for them. Now that I’m practicing, I realize how difficult it must be for the instructors to teach us so much in just four short years.

Tell us about your involvement with the Summer Student Practitioner Program (SSPP).   

In my third year of dental school, I attended the Pacific Dental Conference and met Cung Nguyen, DMD 2010, at the SSPP networking event. He owns Dawson Creek Dental & Hygiene Centre in Dawson Creek, BC, and told me about his experience there, which made me curious about practicing dentistry in a rural location. I decided to do my SSPP placement with Dr. Nguyen and had an amazing two weeks. It was so fast-paced—I remember using instruments I had never seen before, and it felt like a novelty working with assistants and seeing so many patients in one day.

While doing my placement, my partner Darren Huang, DMD 2018, was offered a job in Dawson Creek. I enjoyed my time here so much that when I graduated the following year, I joined Dr. Nguyen’s practice and have been here ever since. What was supposed to be a two-year plan turned into a seven-year plan, which is a true testament to how much I’ve enjoyed my time in Dawson Creek!

Over the past three years, I’ve mentored five SSPP students including my sister, Amy Chen, DMD 2024. And now Amy works with me—to say dentistry runs in the family would not be an understatement!

What advice would you give to current dental students?  

Ergonomics is really important. When you first start working, you feel invincible, but this profession is a marathon, not a sprint, so you should take the time to invest in your body from the beginning. I remember thinking it was silly to learn about things like wrist posture but as it turns out, it’s very valuable knowledge!

What’s coming up next for you?

Darren and I are moving back to Vancouver next year to open our own practice in Oakridge. I will miss Dawson Creek, but I’m excited for this next chapter!