Kerri-Lyn Chong, DMD 2018, is a former President of the UBC Dental Undergraduate Society and has been practicing dentistry at Oasis Family Dental Centre in Leduc, Alberta, for over six years, following completion of a General Practice Residency at the University of Alberta.
What first got you interested in a career in dentistry?
My godmother, Auntie Mei, is a dentist, and growing up I always saw her as a caretaker. She made everyone feel at home and she was so generous with her time and kindness, so naturally I wanted to be just like her!
What did you enjoy most about your time at UBC Dentistry?
The people I met and all the opportunities to get involved in extracurricular activities. I was the Dental Undergraduate Society President in my fourth year, and I participated in intramural sports. I still keep in touch with a lot of great people I met at UBC.
Tell us about your experience doing the GBR Program at the University of Alberta.
I was in clinic one day when UBC Dentistry Assistant Professor of Teaching Nick Tong, MSc Craniofacial Science 2019, asked me what I was doing after graduation. I said I didn’t know—I was deciding whether to stay in BC or move home to Ontario, so the GPR Program wasn’t even on my radar. He suggested I check out the one he did at the University of Alberta, so I flew out one morning, spent the day learning about the program, and flew back at night, set on doing it!
The program was definitely a steep learning curve. On my first shift, there were 13 people lined up at the emergency dental clinic with dental traumas and infections. I hadn’t seen anything like it before, and in school, we had a lot of one-on-one time with patients, but here we had to be very efficient with our diagnosis and treatment.
The GPR was a very valuable experience and made me feel prepared for private practice. I would definitely recommend it to anyone.
Why did you decide to stay in Alberta to practice dentistry?
A lot of my UBC Dentistry classmates came to Alberta for a few years, but most have returned to BC. I’m at a great practice that I enjoy, and the longer I’m here, the more it feels like home. I also met my partner while doing the GPR Program, and he’s from the Edmonton area, so we’re happy to be here.
What advice would you give to current dental students?
Get involved! Whether it’s playing sports, joining a club or the DUS, find a way to expand your network and it will really enrich your experience.
I find many dentists have a perfectionist mentality, which can be exhausting, so finding an outlet for that is important. For me, it’s always been about staying active and challenging myself physically. When I feel my heart pounding, I’m breathless and my muscles are screaming, I’m reminded that there’s more to life outside of the operatory.