Jeremy Huynh, BDSc 2015, worked as a dental hygienist before pursuing his Master’s in Public Health, and now works in Victoria as an epidemiologist at Island Health. We connected with Jeremy to learn about his time at UBC Dentistry and how it gave him the tools to pursue a unique career path.

What did you enjoy most about your time at UBC Dentistry?

The highlight for me was community rotations—one that really stuck with me was working with people living with HIV/AIDS. It was a great opportunity to learn more about populations with limited access to dental care, and it inspired my career path.  

Tell us about your research experience that led you to pursue a Master’s.   

I first started doing research with Associate Professor Leeann Donnelly, BDSc 2002; MSc Dental Science, 2005; PhD Craniofacial Science 2012, helping her evaluate the impact of having dental hygiene students participate in care conferences at long-term care homes.  

After graduation, I worked as a hygienist for a couple of years, both in general and pediatric practices, before taking a research role at the University of Calgary. The study examined the impact of removing fluoridation from Calgary’s water, and compared the effects with Edmonton, which still uses fluoride. I went into schools and conducted dental assessments on children in grade two. This experience further sparked my interest in public health and epidemiology and encouraged me to go back to school.  

What research did you do during your Master of Public Health (MPH)? 

I’d always been interested in community work and providing care to vulnerable populations, so the MPH program felt like a good fit for me. It was a course-based program, but I did research for my practicum, which was a placement with the BC Centre for Disease Control. I analyzed dental antibiotic prescription trends pre- and post-pandemic, with the goal of providing data that could help inform how to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics.   

How has your dental hygiene degree helped you in your current role?

When I first started working at Island Health, a lot of my work focused on the ongoing toxic drug crisis. I am still supporting some of that work, but I am also investigating trends in communicable diseases and preventable injuries.  

The analytical and critical thinking skills I learned in hygiene school are very transferable to my current job. The program also has a bit of a research focus—for example, we had to take courses like oral epidemiology, which provided foundational concepts that continue to inform my analytical approach. I do miss clinical work sometimes, but I enjoy how working in public health allows me to have an impact on a broader scale. 

What advice would you give to current dental hygiene students?

Explore your interests and see what else is out there beyond clinical work. Take the time to connect with faculty and other students, so you have a sense of what you might like to do after graduation.  

What do you enjoy doing for fun?  

I do a lot of recreational sports like ball hockey and curling. I also love going for bike rides and long walks. I was born and raised in Calgary, but I think I’m a BC person now!