What has your career as a dental hygienist looked like?

After graduation, I worked as a clinical hygienist and for public health. In 1993, I went back to UBC—commuting multiple times a week from the Sunshine Coast—to do my Bachelor of Dental Science, which I completed in 1998. I love learning and being in a university environment, so it was a good fit.

I’m a juggler and still work many jobs to this day! My husband, Don Bland, DMD 1971, and I owned a practice together, which we recently sold to our son Emery, who graduated from UBC Dentistry in 2010.

I continue to practice dental hygiene at my son’s clinic while working two days a week as a community dental hygienist in schools and daycares with a focus on education and prevention. Every few weeks, I volunteer as a hygienist at the Vancouver Aboriginal Health Society dental clinic in the Downtown Eastside.

What is one of your fondest UBC memories?

The physical location of the campus is just so special. I lived in residence and vividly remember the leaves in the fall and going for walks along Wreck Beach.

How has UBC Faculty of Dentistry shaped where you are today?

I feel so engaged with the Faculty and valued as an alum even after all these years. A pivotal moment was when my classmate and I approached the Faculty to create an award in memory of our classmate Marilyn, who died shortly after graduation. They were so helpful in setting up the Marilyn Dionne Teed Memorial Award for dental hygiene students, and I was even invited to present the award.

What do you love most about what you do?

The people. At the grocery store the other day, two little girls from a class I support with oral health education ran up to me and said, “Tooth Mary look, we have loose teeth!” They even remembered what I taught them about how important healthy eating is for oral health. It’s always rewarding to know you’ve made a difference.