Enhancing the Student Experience
From simulation training, CAD/CAM technology and implant modules to learning-centred environments, community service learning, and professionalism, read what several members of the faculty say about his or her teaching area in the DMD curriculum and particular contribution to enhance the student experience.
Mario Brondani
I’m involved in planning, implementing and evaluating the Professionalism and Community Service (PACS) modules in all four years of the DMD curriculum. PACS has a community focus: it’s designed to be a mutually beneficial relationship taking higher education into underserved groups in a collaborative approach, from oral health promotion to care delivery. I foster students’ engagement beyond their curricular activities including volunteerism within the UBC’s Community Health Initiative by University Students or at a dental clinic in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. I also encourage their involvement with research and manuscript writing on issues of dental education, community needs and population-health research enterprises.
Bill Brymer
I see my role as helping our students embark on their first few clinical steps going from simulation to actual clinical practise in a non-threatening environment. I also guide our students in many off-site activities both locally, provincially and internationally. This is exciting for me: I have a personal connection to volunteer dentistry and am eager to share the experience that I find personally beneficial.
Ingrid Emanuels
Operative Dentistry Clinical Simulation training is one of the first opportunities for DMD students to work with dental practitioners from the community—those who teach on a part-time basis. It is a collegial and collaborative mentoring experience: students learn from the broad experience of the practitioner and in turn, the practitioner learns what’s currently taught and also experiences the latest in digital and electronic dental technology. The mentoring bond is strong; and once formed, it may continue well after graduation into practice, study clubs and continuing education.
Mark Fogelman
I’m always looking for innovative ways to enhance the student experience. Identifying areas where students are having difficulties motivates me to find approaches that would explain and make sense of complex information. Central to this is the linking of scientific theoretical knowledge with clinical dentistry and staying true to critical thinking principles. Exceptional undergraduate education embraces proven novel technologies and materials. For example, we are now teaching ceramic restorations through the integration of CAD/CAM by CEREC III.
Anthony McCullagh
The newly developed undergraduate implant module is an exciting addition to the undergraduate curriculum which has been well received by our students. Reflecting the need for new graduates to have a sound knowledge base in oral implant related treatments, the module covers all aspects of oral implant treatment planning, with both surgical and restorative phases covered, allowing graduates to enter the workplace confident in their ability to fully inform their patients of all available treatment modalities.
David Tobias
I teach the subject of occlusion to undergraduate as well as graduate students. The subject can be dry at times but I approach it dynamically with a clinically relevant focus. My ambition is to instill in students a philosophy of professionalism as well as a value of following an approach of evidence-based treatment for their patients. Once they leave UBC this will serve them well as they continue to learn and grow in the profession. I am excited to play a role in the shaping of the education our students receive, my hope is to be supportive and a resource while they are students and to remain a source of collegiality once they graduate.
Eli Whitney
Dentistry is constantly changing and evolving with the introduction of new and emerging knowledge and technologies. Creating a learning-centered environment helps students to focus on developing the self-directed skills and critical thinking skills that will serve them over a professional lifetime.
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