Hanna Macartney, DMD 2024, vividly remembers the second root canal she did for a patient. It was the summer of 2023, and she was working in Gibsons, BC, as part of UBC Dentistry’s Summer Student Practitioner Program (SSPP).

“I’ll never forget, it was a single anterior canal, and I was feeling a bit hesitant because I had only ever done one before in dental school,” says Dr. Macartney. “My mentor, Dr. Emery Bland, would pop in to check on me, and at one point I got stuck and couldn’t find the canal, so he helped me with that. I ended up doing some surgical extractions too—I learned and experienced so much in just one week!”

The SSPP is the first of its kind in Canadian dental schools, giving incoming fourth-year DMD students the opportunity to practice dentistry for up to seven weeks in communities across BC. Participants receive a temporary license and are paired with a practicing dentist, allowing them to experience the day-to-day operation and management of a dental practice. The program is primarily funded by four major sponsors—British Columbia Dental Association, CDSPI, Synergy Business Lawyers and Scotia Healthcare+—whose support provides summer travel and living expenses for students with placements outside of Metro Vancouver.

Since launching, the program has continued to grow. In 2025, over 70 per cent of incoming fourth-year students participated, working with more than 70 mentors across the province, from Kelowna to Prince George to Sechelt. The SSPP also encourages students to work in rural communities, which appealed to Dr. Macartney, who completed placements in Gibsons and Abbotsford.

“Working in a more rural location, even for the short term, is so valuable,” she says. “The SSPP is a great way to get a taste of whether rural life is for you, plus you do a lot more hands-on work than you would in the city. The SSPP also made fourth year seem a lot less scary—I came in feeling prepared and confident thanks to my placements throughout the summer.”

For mentors like Emery Bland, DMD 2010, having students like Dr. Macartney join his practice over the summer is a unique way to support the next generation of dental professionals and evaluate a potential future associate. “I tell SSPP students that I learn just as much from them as they learn from me and my team,” says Dr. Bland. “I find out what they’re learning in school, which is like having evidence-based dentistry come right into my office. Students also ask great questions that I sometimes need to research, so it keeps me on my toes!”

After graduating from UBC Dentistry, Dr. Bland moved to Gibsons and joined A Smart Smile as an associate, where he worked alongside his parents, Don Bland, DMD 1971, and Mary Findlay, Dip Dental Hygiene 1971; BDSc 1998. In 2016, he purchased the practice from his parents, and in 2024, when he needed a new associate, Dr. Macartney was the first person who came to mind.

“He messaged me three days before boards asking if I’d like to join his practice and I told him, ‘I can’t think about this right now!’” says Dr. Macartney. “After boards I thought about it and decided to move up to Gibsons—I loved the community and my experience with Dr. Bland, so it felt like the perfect opportunity. I’ve been enjoying my time here and learning so much ever since!”

Participate in the SSPP!

If you’re interested in mentoring a UBC Dentistry student as part of the Summer Student Practitioner Program, please reach out to Dr. Lauren Milchman at milchman@dentistry.ubc.ca.