The rewards and challenges of
Special Needs Dentistry
With only one Special Needs Dentistry Specialist in the entire State, Dr Jee-Yun Leung has her work cut out for her in her chosen profession. Fortunately, she’s up to the challenge of looking after the medically complex, people with disability, those with psychiatric conditions, as well as geriatric and other vulnerable populations.
Like many dentists, Jee-Yun was drawn to the profession because of the unique combination of art, science and interaction with people. As a child, Jee-Yun loved sewing, musical instruments, but wanted a career that would be “intellectually challenging and rewarding in that I would be directly helping and building up relationships with patients”.
I was confronted by the challenges faced by those living with special needs and their carers, and found great reward in turning compassion into action. I actually didn’t find out Special Needs Dentistry was a specialty until my fourth year of dental school, whilst at a Dental Public Health conference. Jee-Yun says her interest in special needs originated from volunteering on a camp for children with special needs in high school and working part-time at an Australian Red Cross respite centre during university. “I was confronted by the challenges faced by those living with special needs and their carers, and found great reward in turning compassion into action,” she recalls. “I actually didn’t find out Special Needs Dentistry was a specialty until my fourth year of dental school, whilst at a Dental Public Health conference. “This led to me undertaking my fifth-year elective placements at the Special Needs Dentistry Departments in Sydney and Melbourne and coming to the realisation that I could combine my profession with my passion for helping those living with special needs.” Jee-Yun says her career choices have been driven by a strong belief in social responsibility and desire to tackle the oral health inequalities faced by those living with special needs.
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EDITION 2 | 2022 WESTERN ARTICULATOR
