James Taylor, DMD 1984, is the Chief Dental Officer of Canada, providing national and global leadership for the Government of Canada in advancing oral health for Canadians. Dr. Taylor was previously the Chief Dental Officer of the Canadian Armed Forces and practiced as a military prosthodontist. He was recently honoured by alumni UBC and UBC Dentistry with an Alumni Builder Award. We connected with Dr. Taylor to learn about his time spent with the Faculty and his unique career.
What first got you interested in a career in dentistry?
I enjoyed contact with people, working with my hands and the detail-oriented nature of the profession. My dad was also a Dental Officer in the military, so in some ways, it felt like being part of the family business!
Do you have a favourite memory of your time spent at UBC Dentistry?
There were many great memories, but one that sticks out is the day-to-day interactions on the clinic floor with my patients, professors, colleagues and clinic staff. I was in Bay Four and it was a great group.
You’ve been posted to Canadian Forces Bases across the country, including Victoria, Edmonton, Moose Jaw and Halifax. Did one place stand out to you?
I can honestly say every place was great in its own way, but I would say Moose Jaw surprised me the most. If you had told me when I was in third-year dental school that I’d be posted to Moose Jaw and would love it, I wouldn’t have believed you! I also happened to live in Edmonton when the Oilers were at their peak in the late 80s, so I got to see Wayne Gretzky play up close, which was pretty marvellous.
What interested you in specializing in prosthodontics?
I liked the quarterback function—as a prosthodontist, one is involved from the initial plan to the final outcome for the patient. It involves planning and fine detail, which suits me particularly well, and I love how it marries biomechanics, biomaterials and aesthetics. The specialty centers around alloys, ceramics, acrylics and rubbers—it’s as simple as that. But how you combine, shape and adapt these for patients is both the art and science of the specialty.
You’ve had an incredible career! Is there one experience that is especially memorable?
I was serving in Halifax on September 2, 1998, when Swissair Flight 111 descended into St. Margaret’s Bay, Nova Scotia. Sadly, everyone on the flight died, so it became a recovery mission, and identifying each person was a big part of that, to give families closure and for legal reasons. I had no forensic credentials, but I was in command of the Halifax Base clinic at the time. Upon the request of the Nova Scotia Chief Medical Examiner, the military formed an ad hoc team and worked alongside the RCMP in support of the forensic identification operation.
After that experience, I realized the military needed a standing capability with respect to forensic odontology, so I reached out to David Sweet, OC, DMD 1978. We met for brunch on a Sunday in 2002 at the Terminal City Club, and I asked if he could create a curriculum to train our members. Dr. Sweet kindly established a program that became a key element in creating and maintaining a Canadian Armed Forces team. This story is a great example of how important it is to stay in touch with your fellow UBC Dentistry alumni, and to be aware of what they do.
Tell us a bit about your current role as Chief Dental Officer of Canada.
This is an advisory position—unlike in the military, I’m not actually in command of anything! My job is to bring people together, facilitate informed conversations and take advisory action. For example, we’re currently working with other entities towards a Canadian solution to replace dental amalgam, a restorative material often used in dentistry, and we’re paying close attention to the evolving research on community water fluoridation and comparing the approaches of other countries.
If my job sounds complex and a bit vague, that’s because it is! I see it as having the experience and education to recognize what I’m looking at, knowing how to access the right information, staying connected with partners in Canada and around the world and identifying opportunities and risks for the consideration of Canadian decision-making bodies.
What advice would you give to current students?
First, I would remind them that no matter what type of dentistry they practice, they’re part of the national system of how oral healthcare is delivered in Canada. Whether they own a practice or are an associate at a clinic, they’re doing important work.
I would also tell them to be aware of what’s going on in the profession because it will affect their practice and their ability to deliver the best possible care. That can mean getting involved in research, serving in dental organizations, teaching and participating in continuing dental education—there are so many ways to stay connected and active in the dental community while being an active practitioner. Also, to remember that UBC Dentistry can support and facilitate pretty much all of these connections.