THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF THE FACULTY OF DENTISTRY, DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY
ALUMNI ANCHOR 2025 | 2026
Those who stay and those who return:
Part-timers in the Faculty of Dentistry + New mural celebrates better health for all
The Science of Smiles at the Discovery Centre
Faculty members take on new leadership roles
Get ready for DentDays 2025
I started out just trying to learn as much as I could from the people around me. Now, moving into this new role, I’m looking forward to helping others grow and seeing what we can accomplish together.
Dr. JC Kaiser Dartmouth, NS Promoted Partner 2024
At Dentalcorp, we understand that true growth comes from the right support at the right time. From tailored development opportunities to mentorship with leading clinicians, we’re here to help you achieve your goals.
To learn more, contact Cory Sears 902.877.2875 cory.sears@dentalcorp.ca
Work to live. Don’t live to work. Read our Partners’ stories at dentalcorp.ca/stories
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IN THIS ISSUE
Contents
16
Editor: Cheryl Bell
4
Dean’s message
Contributing editor: Kathy MacFarlane
4
Dentistry Alumni Committee update
Contributors: Daniel Abriel Bruce Bottomley
6
News & Notes
Melanie Bremner Debbie Bright Nick Pearce
14 Reunited!
Dentistry Alumni Committee: Chair: Denise Zwicker, DDH’04, BDH’12 Vice-chair: Simone Abbass, DDS’85 Secretary: Lindsay Van Dam, DDH’15 Past-chair: Lee Erickson, DDS’81
16 Cover story: Those who stay and those who return: Part-timers in the Faculty of Dentistry
Members at large: Charanpal Ahluwalia, DDS’07 Lindsey Cavanagh, DDH’22, BDH’23 Lee Erickson, DDS’81 Kristen Flinn, DDH’18, BDH’19 Jennifer Johnson, DDH’21, BDH’23 Marcia Kohler, DDH’84 Rick Raftus, DDS’86 Tarik Abdulkarim, DDH’25 Nadine Ayoub, DDS3
20 Grad profile: Carys Menard
Alumni Anchor is published annually for alumni and friends of Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Dentistry. Circulation: 3,700 Please send news, story ideas, photos, comments, and/or address changes to: Faculty of Dentistry Alumni Relations Dalhousie University 5981 University Avenue, PO Box 15000 Halifax, N.S. B3H 4R2 Phone: 902-266-5610 Fax: 902-494-5101 Email: alumni.dentistry@dal.ca Web: dal.ca/dentistry Ö G k ú
@daldentistry facebook.com/daldentistry linkedin.com/in/daldentistry youtube.com/daldentistry
19 New roles and new challenges
21 Grad profile: Grace Arsenault and Taylor Coleman 22 Grad profile: Jimmy Hall 23 Grad profile: Layan Abu Sneineh
26 Alumni: Bill and John Rector 28 Alumni: Stephanie Sealy 29 Dean’s List 30 Annual Giving Report
32
32 Learning about good dental hygiene at The Science of Smiles 2025 33 Giving: Dr Kirk Preston supports digital dentistry 34 Giving: Dr. Tom Boran discovers a new way to give
THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF THE FACULTY OF DENTISTRY, DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY
2025 | 2026
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24 New mural celebrates partnership and better health for all
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Dr. Frank Lovely (DDS’59)
A lifetime of achievement + An ambitious campaign focused on students, research, and
Digital developments in the dental lab
President Kim Brooks tours the GAP Clinic
2024 grad creates scholarships
On our cover: The photos on the cover show just a few of the over 100 part-time dentistry and dental hygiene faculty and staff who retire or graduate and return to the Faculty of Dentistry to teach. Cover photo: Contributed Did you receive more than one Alumni Anchor magazine at your home or office? If you would prefer not to, please contact us at alumni. dentistry@dal.ca. It will help us all to be more environmentally friendly.
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2025 | 2026
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Dean’s message Once convocation is over in May and we have sent a new class of graduates off into their shiny futures, it is tempting to sit back and contemplate what feels like a long and lazy summer ahead. But in our Faculty of Dentistry, that’s not how it goes. We all try to fit in some relaxation, but it’s also time for deep cleaning clinics, updating lectures and computers, and completing research and reports. We have also begun an exciting new project – the renovation of the front lobby of the Dentistry Building – which will take about seven months to complete. The aim is to make the space more secure, accessible, environmentally friendly, and welcoming to everyone. Watch for future updates in The Current. We look forward to welcoming our first new Bachelor of Dental Hygiene and Bachelor of Dental Hygiene with Honours students. Apart from the new names, the length of the programs, tuition, and the way the
programs are delivered all remain the same. In September 2026, our first class of dental assisting students will join the Faculty. Among our leadership team, we have had some changes over the last year. Last July we welcomed Dr. Frances Tompkins (DDS’03) as our new associate dean of student affairs. She took over from Dr. Ferne Kraglund (DDS’04), who spent 10 years in the role. Dr. Tanya Cook (DDS’00) took on the newly created role of assistant dean of admissions at the same time. This year, Dr. Haider Al-Waeli was appointed associate dean of academic affairs, taking over from Dr. Sachin Seth, who is the new chair of Senate for Dalhousie University. We welcome them to their new roles. The economic concerns at Dalhousie University – and at universities across the country – persist, but our Faculty of Dentistry is budgeting carefully and is well positioned for the foreseeable future. Alumni support for our projects and outreach clinics continues to be crucial, helping us to provide our students and patients with the best learning and care, using the most current technology and materials.
Photo Bruce Bottomley
WELCOME
In this issue we celebrate our many parttime instructors – the unsung heroes of our Faculty – and talk about some of the highlights of the year. There are alumni and grad profiles, as usual, and we also have two inspiring giving stories to share. As always, we are proud to celebrate the achievements of everyone who makes our Faculty a great place to work and study. See you at DentDays 2025! Yours sincerely, Ben Davis – Dean, Faculty of Dentistry
Dentistry Alumni Committee Update 2025/26 DentDays 2024 brought alumni, students, and friends together in October for a weekend filled with laughter, reconnection, and celebration. The Live@5 Pub was a particular hit, filling the Cavity with alumni and students who caught up with each other and shared stories. We also enjoyed celebrating our Classes of 1974 and 1999 and OAA recipients. Thank you to everyone who contributed to DentDays 2024. (Check out photos on page 14–15.) DentDays 2025: Mark your calendar for October! Plan to return to campus in October for this line-up of great events: Thursday, October 16: Faculty of Dentistry Alumni Awards. This year marks the introduction of two new honours. The Early Career Alumni Awards will recognize Dr. Lindsay James (DDS’19), Brooke Kinden (DDH’15), and Dr. Bobby Nadeau (DDS’15) for their contributions early in their careers. Also new this year is the Friends of Dal Dentistry Awards, which will be presented to Cory Sears and Rachel Skanes in recognition of their support.
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Outstanding Alumni Awards will be presented to four deserving recipients: Dr. Heather Carr (DDS’88), Dr. Terrie Logue (DDS’85), Dr. Jennifer MacLellan (DDS’94), and Dr. Michelle Zwicker (DDS’00). The entire alumni community is invited to attend and celebrate our inspiring award winners. Friday, October 17: Reunion activities and Live@5 Pub Reunion groups are invited to campus for clinic tours, class activities, and to receive their reunion pins. A special luncheon will honour the Classes of 1975. Other reunion classes will gather for photos and festivities throughout the day. Later, the Live@5 Pub returns between 5:00 and 9:00 p.m. with more space for friends to gather and live music from local performer Jerry McPhee. Food will be available for purchase. Please note: This is a 19+ event. Saturday, October 18: CE Day and more reunions Continuing Education Day returns on Saturday with dentistry and dental
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hygiene sessions. The Classes of 2000 will be honoured with a special 25th anniversary luncheon. Celebrating our past: Archives and oral histories The Dentistry Archives Working Committee, chaired by Dr. Doug Chaytor (DDS’66), continues to preserve our history. The group meets weekly to identify faces in archival photos and welcomes new volunteers who want to get involved. Our partnership with the Killam Library’s Records Management Team is also thriving. The Alumni Anchor magazines and Dalhousie Dental Journals are now available online through the Archives Catalogue at https:// findingaids.library.dal.ca/dalhousieuniversity-faculty-of-dentistry-fonds Enjoy diving into the past! Get involved! The DAC continues to build meaningful connections between alumni and students. If you’re interested in joining the committee or helping with alumni engagement efforts, please email alumni.dentistry@dal.ca.
Faculty of Dentistry
Fall 2025 CPE Program
CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION
Valley CEDay 2025 SATURDAY OCTOBER 4, 2025
ACADIA UNIVERSITY, WOLFVILLE, NS CBCT in dentistry: A 3D revolution in diagnosis and treatment IN-PERSON LECTURE | 6 CE CREDITS Dr. Didem Dagdeviren
CEDay 2025
SATURDAY OCTOBER 18, 2025
DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY, HALIFAX, NS Endo-excellence: Navigating the root canal journey IN-PERSON LECTURE & HANDS-ON | 6 CE CREDITS Dr. Isabel Mello & Dr. Bettina Basrani Sustainability in dentistry IN-PERSON LECTURE | 3 CE CREDITS Dr. Laurie Houston Oral cancer update IN-PERSON LECTURE | 3 CE CREDITS Dr. Sara Gordon Check out the DentDAYS 2025 activities at: dal.ca/dentistry
NL CEDay 2025 SATURDAY NOVEMBER 22, 2025
SHERATON HOTEL, ST. JOHN’S, NF Recognize & address non-financial barriers to oral healthcare for vulnerable populations IN-PERSON LECTURE | 3 CE CREDITS Prof. Heather Doucette From extraction to potential implant placement IN-PERSON LECTURE & HANDS-ON | 6 CE CREDITS Dr. Zeeshan Sheikh
PERIO AND IMPLANT WEEKEND
Certification CE Courses
ACDE Webinar Series
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2025 CBCT for dentistry: Application & interpretation ONLINE SELF-PACED, IN-PERSON LECTURE & HANDS-ON | 25 CE CREDITS Dr. Daniel Turgeon
Unlock a world of knowledge and advancement in dentistry with our exclusive ACDE webinars! Explore the latest breakthroughs, best practices, and cuttingedge techniques in the field, all from the comfort of your home.
SATURDAY & SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8 & 9, 2025 Local anesthesia for the dental hygienist ONLINE SELF-PACED, IN-PERSON LECTURE & CLINICAL | 29 CE CREDITS Dr. James Brady & Dr. Jean-Charles Doucet
MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2025 9:00 PM TO 10:30 PM Bone preservation strategies following severe traumatic dental injuries in children WEBINAR | 1.5 CE CREDITS Dr. Isabel Mello
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2025 Nitrous oxide and oral sedation refresher course IN-PERSON LECTURE | 7 CE CREDITS Dr. Peter Nkansah
Visit dal.ca/dentistry/cde for a full listing.
I - Infection prevention spotlight: Innovations and best practice ASYNCHRONOUS | 3 CE CREDITS Lisa Crotty & Tanya Aquino II - Canadian standards and best practices for medical device reprocessing ASYNCHRONOUS | 8 CE CREDITS Lisa Crotty & Tanya Aquino SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2025 III - Medical device reprocessing simulation session IN-PERSON HANDS-ON | 2 CE CREDITS Lisa Crotty
Other CE Courses SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2025 Antibiotics in dentistry: When, why, and how? A comprehensive evidence-based update IN-PERSON & ONLINE LECTURE | 3 CE CREDITS Dr. Zeeshan Sheikh & Dr. Anjali Bhagirath
DIRECT
Dalhousie Implant (and) Restorative Education (and) Comprehensive Training LECTURE & HANDS-ON | 64 CE CREDITS Module 1 Comprehensive treatment planning & digital workflow NOVEMBER 29-30, 2025 (2 days) Module 2 Surgical implant placement & advance techniques JANUARY 9-11, 2026 (3 days)
Module 3 Prosthetic restoration & implant occlusion MARCH 28-29, 2026 (2 days) Module 4 Final prosthesis delivery & long-term maintenance MAY 2-3, 2026 (2 days)
SATURDAY & SUNDAY DECEMBER 6 & 7, 2025
DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY, HALIFAX, NS INTEGRATED STRATEGIES IN IMPLANT DENTISTRY
TO REGISTER: dal.ca/dentistry/cde daldent_ce Dalhousie Dentistry Continuing Education
Surgical foundation to prosthetic planning IN-PERSON, ONLINE LECTURE & HANDS-ON | 6 CE CREDITS Dr. David T. Wu & Dr. Zeeshan Sheikh Prosthetic driven implant planning IN-PERSON, ONLINE LECTURE & HANDS-ON | 6 CE CREDITS Dr. Avi Shelemay
SCAN HERE FOR A FULL LIST OF AVAILABLE COURSES
NEWS & NOTES
This year’s Faculty of Dentistry Impact Award recipient, Tarik Abdulkarim (DDH’25), was born in Syria and brought up in Saudi Arabia. He didn’t plan to study in Canada, but a charismatic recruiter from Memorial University changed his plans and Abdulkarim found himself in St. John’s, Newfoundland, where he studied for a BSc in biology for health professions. Realizing that he wanted to be directly involved in health care, Abdulkarim opted to study dental hygiene at Dalhousie. The two-year program was short and affordable, plus he had the prerequisites, and Halifax was close to Newfoundland. He loved Halifax life from the start and the support he received from his instructors and fellow students. By the end of his first year, Abdulkarim knew that being an oral health professional was the career for him. The award recognizes Abdulkarim’s impact on the Faculty of Dentistry through his work as co-president of his class and as one of two student representatives on the Dentistry Alumni Committee. He also served on the Academic Appeals Committee, the Government Assisted Populations (GAP) Clinic Advisory Board, the Graduation Committee,
Photo Nick Pearce
2025 Faculty of Dentistry Impact Award recipient Tarik Abdulkarim
l-r Dr. Leigha Rock, director of the School of Dental Hygiene, Tarik Abdulkarim, Dr. Ben Davis, dean of the Faculty of Dentistry
and the EDIA Committee. He was also the co-recipient of the KeatingBekkers Award in Dental Hygiene, which is given to a dental hygiene student “who shows exceptional promise, outstanding attributes, and interest in the profession of dental hygiene.” Abdulkarim is now a proud Canadian and hopes to return to the Faculty to study dentistry.
Dr. Kathy Russell (DDS’90) was presented with the prestigious American Association of Orthodontists 2025 Humanitarian Award on April 24, 2025 at the AAO Annual Session in Philadelphia. The award recognizes significant efforts to improve human life beyond the usual scope of private practice. Dr. Russell, who heads the Faculty’s orthodontics division, says that one of the most influential moments of dental school for her took place during a final year lecture in which Dr. David Precious enthusiastically explained cleft embryologic development. It inspired her to pursue further studies in the orthodontic residency program at the University of Toronto and to work with and treat patients with craniofacial anomalies. In 1994, Dr. Russell joined the Dalhousie University Faculty of Dentistry as a faculty member, where she has participated in many local and international groups that support patients with cleft lip and palate and facial differences. During her career, she
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has served as the team orthodontist on an Operation Smiles cleft mission to Kisumu, Kenya, advocated extensively for craniofacial patients, was a founding member of the Americleft Research Group, co-authored 50+ journal articles, and co-raised over $1 million in funding for research into craniofacial patient facial growth, alveolar bone grafting, and other topics. In her thank you speech to the AAO, Dr. Russell acknowledged the support and encouragement of mentors and colleagues, Drs. Bryan Tompson and Arlene Dagys (U of T/Hospital for Sick Children), Drs. Rusty Long, Bill Shaw, Gunvor Semb (Americleft), and Dr. JC Doucet (MD, MSc OMFS’11) for inspiring her ongoing quest to scientifically identify best evidenced-based practices of care for patients with facial clefts. The award was the “most significant professional recognition of her career”, she said, and she dedicated it to “the children and families with craniofacial anomalies
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Photo contributed
Dr. Kathy Russell receives award for 30 years of care and advocacy
Dr. Kathy Russell receives the 2025 AAO Humanitarian Award from AAO president Dr. John Callaghan
who let me be part of their lives over the last 30-plus years”.
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ADCA25DU
NEWS & NOTES
A boost for dental education and community care: Solventum provides $121,900 in products to Dalhousie By Melanie Bremner At Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Dentistry, hands-on learning is essential to preparing the next generation of oral health professionals. That learning recently received a significant boost, thanks to a 2025 product grant that learning recently received from Solventum – formerly known as 3M Oral Care – valued at over $121,900. A range of essential oral health care materials has been provided, including fluoride varnishes and restorative products. These supplies will be used for both pre-clinical training and patient care in the Dr. William Murphy Dental Clinic, where students gain experience treating their patients. “Access to high-quality materials enhances the learning experience for our students and supports the care we provide to the community,” says Dr. Ben Davis, dean of the Faculty of Dentistry. “This grant helps on both fronts.” As the only publicly funded dental and dental hygiene program in Atlantic Canada, Dalhousie’s Faculty of Dentistry has a dual responsibility: to educate future professionals and to provide essential care to the region’s population. The clinic treats thousands of patients each year, many of whom face barriers to accessing regular dental care.
l-r: Dr. Ben Davis, dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, Andrea Bowie, Solventum sales account executive, NS, Karl Boivin, Solventum regional sales director, central and eastern Canada
“At Solventum, we are dedicated to improving patient outcomes, drawing on our heritage of innovation to continually advance the practice of oral care,” says regional sales director Karl Boivin. “By providing high quality, innovative dental materials for both pre-clinical training and patient care, we’re helping pre-clinical students build essential clinical skills and supporting care for those who face barriers,” he says. “This donation is more than a product grant – it’s a reflection of our shared commitment with Dalhousie to advance dental education and expand access to oral health services across Atlantic Canada” Solventum’s support allows the school to free up clinic resources, which can be redirected toward community outreach and services
for underserved groups. It also builds on a longstanding partnership that began under the 3M Oral Care name. “This isn’t just a continuation of past support – it’s a renewed investment in our shared goals,” says Dr. Leigha Rock, director of the School of Dental Hygiene. “Our work doesn’t stop at the clinic door. We’re committed to oral health across the region, and partners like Solventum help make that possible.” The grant underscores a larger vision that education, patient care, and industry collaboration can work together to improve health outcomes. In this case, it starts with giving students the tools they need to succeed – and helping them use those tools to serve their community.
Even the rain didn't dampen the enthusiasm of the 71 dentistry and dental hygiene students who signed up to participate in this year's Bluenose Marathon in May. Ten students ran the full marathon, 14 ran the half, and 47 ran 10 km, despite the date falling in the middle of exams. Credit goes to dentistry student Clay Smith who encouraged his classmates to participate and organized sponsorship. Thanks to dentalcorp for sponsoring the student registration fees and providing T-shirts. Clay declared the team to be the "fastest dental school in Canada."
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Photo contributed
Bluenose Marathon
NEWS & NOTES
Twelve DDS4 students in the public health elective were able to participate in a pilot project that enabled them to go on rotations in a Health PEI public health clinic where they worked with Dr. Amy Mihaljevich (DDS’04), the senior dental consultant with the provincial dental program. The students rotated through the clinic in groups of four during both terms, treating new immigrants and refugees to Prince Edward Island. Mihaljevich says the students were enthusiastic and enjoyed their clinic time. “I think it’s been a valuable experience for them,” she says. “They’re learning how to explain things in a simple, concise way that can easily be interpreted back to the patients and to deal some high needs patients.”
Photo Bruce Bottomley
Public health on PEI
Back row, l-r: Serge Haché, Rylan Clark, Chad Pexton, Matthew Lambert, Dom Fuller, Dr. Tom Boran Front row, l-r: Sarah Manderville, Kori Andrea, Emily Brockman
NEW PRESIDENT ANNOUNCEMENT
Dr. Pamela Casey was elected President of the New Brunswick Dental Society at the Annual General Meeting held in Edmundston on June 7, 2025. Dr. Casey was born and raised in the Fredericton area and graduated high school from FHS. Dr. Casey completed her BSc and BEd before graduating from Dalhousie Dentistry in 2003. She began practicing as an associate in Shediac before making the move to Moncton in 2005. She worked there as an associate before purchasing her own practice in 2008 and owned it until 2022, when she joined East Coast Dental Group. She has been on the board of the NBDS since 2018, when she stepped up as the Southeast Region Representative. Her tenure as President will run until the AGM in 2026 which will take place in Fredericton on May 30.
NEWS & NOTES
Photo contributed
Taylor Chaput receives the 2025 Dr. D. S. Precious Gold Medal in Dentistry
When Dr. Ben Davis, dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, emailed Taylor Chaput (DDS’25) to arrange a phone call with her, he was careful to say that there was no need to worry – it was
something good. And indeed it was: Chaput is this year’s recipient of the Dr. D. S. Precious Gold Medal in Dentistry. Chaput’s love of academics began at Dr. Wilbert Keon School in her home village of Chapeau, Quebec. She describes her school of 67 pupils as a “hidden gem” where the teachers “put their all into teaching us”. With this solid educational foundation, Chaput headed to the University of Ottawa in 2015 to take the biomedical science program. After her first year, Taylor was offered a shadowing opportunity at the dental practice where her mother works as an administrator. She says she knew dentistry was for her when “I saw the associate dentist take out the most infected, gross tooth you can imagine.” Although she considered other dental schools, when Dal accepted her, Chaput decided it was a great opportunity to spend four years in the Maritimes. During her dentistry studies Chaput received numerous
awards for academic and clinical excellence. She participated in a clinic observation elective, conducted research, co-authored an article, observed oral surgeries, and participated in activities such as Special Smiles and the senior students’ panel. She is now working at Major’s Path Dentistry in St. John’s, Newfoundland, which is owned by Dr. Robert Snow (DDS’80) and his son, Dr. Patrick Snow (DDS’10). Reflecting on the award, Chaput says, “I think the greatest honour with receiving the gold medal is being linked to Dr. David Precious.” His accomplishments “astonished” her, she says. “A passionate humanitarian and community leader, teacher, oral maxillofacial surgeon – the man is an inspiration and a reminder there's always more we can be doing as humans and professionals to make the world a better place.”
The 20th annual Dr. JD McLean Lecture was held on September 24, 2024 and featured Jeremie Saunders, the award-winning actor, producer, and host of the popular podcast, Sickboy. Born and raised in Halifax, Jeremie lives with cystic fibrosis and frequently lectures on how we view illness and disease. In his lecture, Saunders spoke about the discomfort and distress the illness has caused in his life and the opportunities and insights it has also provided. “As dentists and dental hygienists you’re going to face uncomfortable moments,” he said, “whether it’s dealing with challenging patients or making tough decisions in your practice, but it’s through those uncomfortable moments you will grow and it’s where the leadership happens.” Dr. JD McLean’s daughters, Leslie McLean and Ainslie Moignard, were both able to attend the lecture. “Jeremie connected with his audience in an engaging and entertaining way,” said Moignard. “Personal health, including dental health, can sometimes be a taboo subject, so his lecture to the students may have given them some insight into dealing with their own patients.” McLean said that Jeremie was an outstanding choice for the 20th anniversary of the lecture. “My father was dedicated to establishing broad and impactful learning experiences for the dentistry and dental hygiene students that would translate into excellence in patient care. It means so much to me personally to see the Faculty of Dentistry continuing this tradition in his name.”
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Photo Bruce Bottomley
Dr. JD McLean Lecture: Broadening perspectives
l-r: Dr. Ben Davis, dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, Leslie McLean, Jeremie Saunders, Ainslie Moignard
The 2025 Dr. JD McLean Lecture is scheduled for August 27 during Orientation Week. The speaker is accessibility advocate Michelle Mahoney, who will share her story of resilience and equity and remind us that it’s not disability that limits people, it’s barriers. This annual lecture is named in honour of former dean Dr. JD McLean and reflects his belief that dental professionals should hear from leaders beyond the world of oral health.
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NEWS & NOTES
Front lobby facelift
The third annual Research Day will take place on November 5, 2025. The theme is “Technology and Innovation. Last year’s Research Day, which took place on October 30, 2024, highlighted current research in our Faculty of Dentistry.
Renovation work began on the entrance lobby to the Dentistry Building in July to make it more accessible, brighter and more modern, and to offer more space for students, staff, faculty, and patients to sit and relax, study, wait for taxis, and enjoy a coffee or lunch. It will also be a great space for receptions, alumni gatherings, and other events. Work is scheduled to be completed in February 2026. While construction is underway, entry to the Dentistry Building is via the breezeway off Carleton Quad.
Photo Bruce Bottomley
Research Day 2025
2024 QEII Foundation Diversity in Health Care Bursaries
Photo QEII Foundation
Five dentistry students - Rohan Sethi, Jade Ley, Vanessa Dairo-Singer, Raksha Saga, and Abhishek Nandavar – received QEII Foundation Diversity in Health Care Bursaries last autumn. These bursaries provide financial support to students from underserved and underrepresented communities to help them pursue post-secondary education in a health-care profession. The aim is to create a more diverse and inclusive health-care system that reflects the diversity of Nova Scotian communities. The recipients say that the money is helpful, of course, providing “mental peace” at a time of high rents and expensive groceries. But receiving the bursaries also prompted reflections about why they had chosen dentistry as a profession and the difference they hoped to make in the communities they go on to serve.
Students vs faculty on the ice
Photo contributed
The first Dal dentistry student vs. faculty/alumni hockey game since 2019 took place on March 23 at the Halifax Forum. Organized by Derek D’Eon and sponsored by dentalcorp, the game was held as a fundraiser for the class of 2025. Three periods were played. Going into the third period it was 3-2 for the students and they triumphed in the end with a final score of 6-2. Many students and other members of the dental community were there to support the teams. “It’s always nice to get the dental community together with these kinds of events,” said D’Eon. “Hopefully this game will become an annual tradition that we can look forward to each year! ALUMNI ANCHOR
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ALUMNI REUNIONS
Reunited! We were delighted to welcome several reunion classes back to campus for our second annual DentDays celebrations in October 2024. Our 50th and 25th reunion classes enjoyed special lunches with the dean and director of the School of Dental Hygiene, and there were tours, CE, OAA presentations, Live@5, and a Maritime kitchen party with live music. In 2025, watch out for an expanded Live@5 Pub and new alumni awards. Contact Kathy MacFarlane at alumni.dentistry@dal.ca to find out how we can help you arrange a reunion for your class.
DentDays 2024 Photos Bruce Bottomley
DDS’74
Photo: Back row l-r: Gerard MacPhee, Peter Caverhill, Gary Butler, Donald Fitzpatrick, David Wade; Front row l-r: Ron Bannerman, Ian Giberson, Bryan Spires, Bill Rector, Wayne Maillet.
DDS’99
Back row l-r: Rob Cochran, John Brittain, David Babin, Mark Fleming, Joel Crosby, Richard Thomson; Front row l-r: Jeff Watson, Heather Kramers, Sathyasai Murty, San Fung, Christine McCarthyMcLaughlin, Chanel Gallant.
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DDH’74
Back row l-r: Anne Clift, Pauline Murphy Sutow, Brenda Fortune; Front row l-r: Pamela Vokey, Peggy Maillet, Sandra Smith
DDS’99
Back row l-r: Mary MacNeil, Andrea McAllister, Anne Webb-Thorne, Sonya Twyne, Lisa Hines; Front row l-r: Anne Dillon, Wendy Wells, Chandra Madsen, Mandy Cook, Denise Babin
ALUMNI REUNIONS
DDS’04
Back row l-r: Angie (Fudge) Williams; Michelle Power; Graham Nickerson; Mike Weatherbie; Joel Doucette; Joanne McKeen; Aaron Tait; Erin Hennessy; Ferne Kraglund; Front row l-r: Quoc Quach; Chris Lee; Tracy Doyle; Moe Tabesh; Erica Doucet; Brent Graham; Raegan Meadows; Sean McIntosh
DDS’89
Back row l-r: Shawn Jacobs, Mike Brown, Joanne Stewart, Sheridan Cyrus, Katharine Munn, Richard Holden, Cheryl Moore, Daniel Albert, Joanne Thomas-Miller, Sheldon Best; Front row l-r: Gillian Espie, Joty Manocha, Linda Blakey, Warren Tompkins, Tim Silver
UPCOMING EVENTS CALGARY ALUMNI RECEPTION September 25, 2025 Calgary, AB DENTDAYS 2025 October 16-18, 2025 Halifax, NS PACIFIC DENTAL CONFERENCE ALUMNI SOCIAL March 5, 2026 Vancouver, BC DENTDAYS 2026 October 15-17, 2026 Halifax, NS
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COVER STORY
Those who stay and those who return: part-timers in the Faculty of Dentistry By Cheryl Bell Photos contributed Over 100 part-time instructors work in the Faculty of Dentistry during the academic year. They can be found delivering lectures, supervising labs, circulating through clinics, and assessing competencies. Without question, the Faculty of Dentistry depends heavily on them and their dedication. It has always been so. Since the founding of the Maritime Dental College in 1908, says Oskar Sykora in his history of the dental school, there was never more than one fulltime faculty member until 1953. The rest were dedicated practising dentists who taught part-time. Now, many of the full-time faculty members have master’s degrees in education and devote one day a week to private practice, while most of the part-timers come in for one day a week to teach a course section or supervise labs. There are benefits for everyone involved, says Dr. Ben Davis, dean of the Faculty of Dentistry. Students learn new techniques and benefit from mentorship, while the instructors feel connected with the Faculty, are in regular contact with specialists, and enjoy the fulfillment that comes from teaching. With the help of part-timers, full-time faculty members have more time for their administration duties, including developing course content, research, and their own professional development. “Part-timers help to strengthen our clinics and our Faculty,” says Davis. “Their value goes far beyond the remuneration they receive, and I hope they feel our gratitude.”
THOSE WHO STAY Drs. Blaine Cleghorn and Tom Boran are two part-timers who attempted retirement but found that it just didn’t stick.
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“About three days into my retirement, I realized I would miss teaching,” says Cleghorn, a former clinic director and associate dean of clinics affairs. He offered to help the new faculty member who had taken over his occlusion course. Then, when that faculty member left Dalhousie, Cleghorn assumed full responsibility for the course and has continued to teach it ever since. He now also assists Dr. Haya Zora with a prosthetics course. Cleghorn is about to lose his part-timer status, however. Earlier this year, the dean asked him if he would consider leading the Bridging Program, a pilot program to help internationally trained dentists become qualified to practise in Canada more quickly than through a three-year qualifying program. Boran is in a similar position. After he retired as dean in 2017, he returned to teach halftime. But when he left the Faculty on a Wednesday afternoon, he found he “couldn’t wait to get back on Monday morning”. He now has a full-time portfolio teaching prosthodontics and public health, is a small group practice leader, and works at the North
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End Community Health Centre and the public health clinic. Former assistant dean of academic affairs Dr. Ron Bannerman (DDS’74) was happily retired when a chance encounter with Dr. Cynthia Andrews (DDS’92), another faculty member, at the IKEA in Dartmouth tugged him back into the Dentistry Building. He now works a day a week helping Dr. Sara Hunter with her restorative course, attending the morning’s lecture and then supervising the students in the lab afterwards. Another half day a week is devoted to fixed prosthodontics. “It’s a wonderful environment and it keeps me young,” says Bannerman. Bruce Friis, the recently retired dental lab team lead, also returns to the Faculty
COVER STORY
one day a week during term time. He teaches students the technical skills needed to provide the lab with good impressions and models. Friis takes great pleasure in working with the students to “get them past rough points they’ve been struggling with”. When the students voted him instructor of the year some years ago “it made me realize that the effort I was putting in was actually making an impact,” he says.
AND THOSE WHO RETURN It is perhaps not surprising that teaching staff who have spent many years in the Dentistry Building are happy to offer their knowledge and skills after retirement, but why do so many young alumni find their way back? Many students know they want to return to teach even before they have graduated. For those who do a GPR at Dal, supervising other students is part of their program. Drs. Jasmeen Kaur (DDS’19, GPR’20) and Ian MacIntyre (DDS’13, GPR’14) caught the teaching bug this way. MacIntyre has taught comprehensive care, prosthodontics, and spent time in both the pre-clinical labs and the clinic. “It’s rewarding to instruct somebody and see them get it,” he says. “I find teaching makes me dive into the deeper, darker corners of knowledge so that I’m more prepared for the students. It also helps me with my own practice.” Kaur teaches removable prosthodontics each Monday. “Dr. [Tanya] Cook assembles all the part-time instructors in the morning to go through what needs to be covered: the lecture, sim lab exercises, videos,” she says. She feels “well equipped” when she walks into class. Kaur says she “learns immensely” from working with faculty members and can discuss
clinical cases with them. She also says her private practice patients have added respect for her because she teaches in the Faculty of Dentistry. “They feel I know the latest things,” she says. Drs. Jakob Nickerson (DDS’19) and Paige Conrad (DDS’21) both completed GPR programs at the University of Toronto and teach on their free days. Like Dr. Ron Bannerman, Nickerson was approached in IKEA by a faculty member – in his case, Dr. Ferne Kraglund. He teaches removable prosthodontics on Mondays, which includes attending a lecture, teaching a seminar, and marking assignments and assessments. He also supports the Government Assisted Populations (GAP) Clinic in the evening. Even though Nickerson did a lot of chemistry tutoring as an Acadia undergrad, he finds it ironic to be teaching some of the students he knew at dental school. Conrad also returned to the Dentistry Building as soon as she returned from Toronto. She teaches part of Dr. Sara Hunter’s second-year restorative dentistry course. She thinks it helps that she was recently a dental student herself. “I like to explain things in a way that I would want them explained to me,” she says. She is also learning from the lectures she attends on her teaching days, and she finds other instructors generous with their knowledge. “There’s a community aspect to teaching, for sure,” she says. Dental hygiene alumni Rachael Dvorski (BDH’21) and Gabriel
Ogando (DDH’21) also found their way back to the Faculty. Dvorski says that she struggled as a lefthanded student while studying dental hygiene at Georgian College. “The dental industry is designed for those who are right-handed,” she says. “I remember thinking that I would like to teach one day and strive to meet my students’ individual needs.” Teaching was part of the BDH program and Dvorski discovered she enjoyed it, so returned in 2022 to work in the clinic. She also worked as a small group practice lead, which she loved. But she worked hard reviewing material extensively before each clinic. “I wanted to be sure I was teaching the students right and not habits that I may have picked up.” Ogando trained as a dentist and has a master’s in periodontics from the Dominican Republic, where he also taught. When he was asked if he would teach first and second-year dentistry students part-time in the clinic, it was an easy ‘yes’. This summer he is also involved in the periodontics module of the Bridging Program with Dr. Cynthia Andrews. Coming from a different country, Ogando says that it took a while for him to feel confident teaching, but he says the dental hygiene faculty members he had provided good role models. “They created a supportive and respectful learning environment, and they communicated clearly,” he says. “I try to follow their example.” Dr. Leigha Rock, director of the School of Dental Hygiene, believes in the value parttime instructors bring to the Faculty. “What I find most inspiring about them is their shared commitment to the profession and to mentorship,” she says. “They embody a ‘pay it forward’ spirit – giving back their own experiences to the next generation of learners with remarkable dedication and generosity. Their continued presence helps maintain a sense of community in our programs.”
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Meet Jeff Leger, CEO A Dalhousie Alum Leading Canada’s Largest Dental Network As a proud graduate of Dalhousie University, Jeff Leger brings both deep healthcare experience and East Coast roots to his new role as CEO of 123Dentist. Across the country, 123Dentist is one of Canada’s largest dental support organizations — built on a model that puts patients first and supports dentists in delivering exceptional care.
Learn more at 123dentist.com
Jeff’s leadership marks an exciting new chapter as we continue investing in the future of dentistry from coast to coast.
CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION
CEDay 2025 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18 6.0 CE CREDIT | Endo-excellence: Navigating the root canal journey (In-person and Hands-on) Dr. Isabel Mello & Dr. Bettina Basrani
TO REGISTER Visit dal.ca/dentistry/cde. Follow the registration link for the course. For assistance, contact the CDE office at: cde.dentistry@dal.ca.
3.0 CE CREDIT | Sustainability in dentistry (In-person) Dr. Laurie Houston 3.0 CE CREDIT | Oral cancer update (In-person) Dr. Sara Gordon
dal.ca/dentistry/cde
FEATURE
New roles and new challenges By Cheryl Bell | Photos Danny Abriel There are two new faces among the associate deans and a new assistant dean of admissions role has been created. At the beginning of July, Dr. Haider Al-Waeli stepped into the role of associate dean of academic affairs (ADA), taking over from Dr. Sachin Seth, who will serve as chair of Senate at Dalhousie for the next three years. Completing the first year in their new roles are Dr. Frances Tompkins as associate dean of student affairs, and Dr. Tanya Cook in the newly created role of assistant dean of admissions. Tompkins took on the role from Dr. Ferne Kraglund, who stepped down from the position after 10 years.
the generation of the students and the environment they come from, so you need to make sure you are reflecting these in the way you teach.” At the same time, fundamentals remain important, he says. “Our goal is to graduate safe, competent dentists, based on the competencies set out by the Canadian Faculties of Dentistry Association.”
ASSISTANT DEAN OF ADMISSIONS: DR. TANYA COOK
ASSOCIATE DEAN OF STUDENT AFFAIRS: DR. FRANCES TOMPKINS
ASSOCIATE DEAN OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS: DR. HAIDER AL-WAELI Although he is only a few weeks into the job, Al-Waeli is clear about his responsibilities. The main duties of the ADA, he says, are to make sure the academic policy of the Faculty and the university are applied, that the curriculum is up to date and ready for execution, and that the Faculty is prepared for its regular accreditations. He also firmly believes that part of his role is to build national and international relationships with other schools of dentistry and to enrich the existing partnerships we have already, such as with the International Medical University (IMU) in Malaysia. Technology and research are always having an impact on dentistry, and there are always advances in the teaching and learning tools, he says. “These can change depending on
human, these things can and will happen, and here’s how you can move forward.”
As associate dean of student affairs, Dr. Fran Tompkins works closely with the ADA, particularly when students face academic challenges and need help navigating the process. “A lot of what I do is educating and directing students to resources and sources of support within the Faculty and Dalhousie,” she says. Tompkins also helps students with non-academic matters, such as personal and financial concerns, and career planning and advice. Tompkins admits that the dentistry and dental hygiene programs are intensive, and the hands-on skills do not come easily to everyone. There is also a lot of didactic information to learn and absorb compared to what students may have experienced during their undergrad years. She believes in sharing with the students the insights she gained from her own struggles at dental school. “I want them to know that, as a
In her newly created role, Dr. Tanya Cook’s main tasks are to ensure the recruitment of strong candidates for the Faculty of Dentistry’s programs and to create new pathways for Black and Indigenous students. These responsibilities previously fell under the associate dean of student affairs, but that role has grown, so it was decided to move admission duties to a separate portfolio. Over the past year, Cook has been dealing with new Government of Nova Scotia requirements regarding university admissions, which involves prioritizing Nova Scotia students. She is also reviewing the Faculty’s admission requirements and prerequisites to ensure they are still relevant. Boosting admission, particularly for the dental hygiene program, is also a key priority. “I think the fact that the program has been turned from a diploma into a degree is a huge plus,” says Cook. “We’ve been promoting the program at recent Dal recruitment events and I believe we have strong cohorts coming in for both the bachelor and the honours programs.” Al-Waeli, Tompkins, and Cook are all enthusiastic about their new roles and the opportunities they provide for working more closely with students, supporting them to achieve their goals and enjoy long-term careers in professions they continue to enjoy.
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GRAD PROFILE
A dental hygiene journey By Cheryl Bell
Carys Menard had just landed at Halifax airport at the end of August 2023 when her cellphone pinged with a message, “Congratulations, you have been accepted into the dental hygiene program at Dalhousie University.” Menard was already studying for a BSc at Dalhousie, had applied for the dental hygiene program, and had been waitlisted. She was arriving back at Dal – so she thought – to begin the second year of her BSc degree in biochemistry and molecular biology. The unexpected text message meant that she needed to be at the Dentistry Building early the next morning. So at 8:00 am the following day, she came through the front doors wheeling a large suitcase and was immediately catapulted into the middle of Orientation Week. Luckily, Menard says she firmly believes that “what’s meant to happen will happen”. Not yet registered for classes, Menard was helped through the first few days in the program by fellow students – now close friends – who shared their PowerPoints and presentations with her.
FROM OCEAN TO OCEAN Menard grew up in Nanaimo, BC, and then later moved with her family to Victoria. Her mother is a nurse and her father a doctor, so she knew early on that she wanted a career in health care sciences. When asked to research a career for a class assignment at school, Menard chose dental hygiene on the basis that she liked seeing her dental hygienist. She knew right away that dental hygiene was the career for her. Thanks to her school class assignment, Menard understood that the admission requirements for dental hygiene programs vary
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slightly from each other across the country. “Because I had decided to do dental hygiene at Dal, I thought it would be best to go there and do the classes that would enable me to apply, and hopefully everything would work out.” And work out they did. In fact, as she embarked on her dental hygiene studies, Menard discovered a side of herself that had not made itself obvious before. Quiet and studious at high school, she had never put herself forward for leadership positions. At Dal, however, she took on the co-presidency of her dental hygiene class, served as student representative on the Faculty Council, and was the second-year dental hygiene student on the HOPES (Halifax Outreach Prevention Education) team.
Photo Danny Abriel
CARYS MENARD
A NEW APPROACH What changed? Menard says that when she received the email about class elections for executive positions it prompted her to think about her future. “I thought to myself that dental hygiene is going to be my career,” she explains, “and I want to be involved as much as I can in that moving forward. And so I decided to come out of my shell and get more involved.” Menard says that the dental hygiene program offered a lot of what she expected – like cleaning teeth – but there were also a few surprises. “I wasn’t expecting the head and neck cancer screening,” she says. “But I’ve really loved learning about the whole body and how it’s interconnected. It’s been eye-opening.”
AN INTEREST IN PERIO AND POPULATIONS She particularly enjoyed the periodontics class, which showed students “just how bad things can get for your oral health if you’re not taking care of it. You can even start to lose your teeth.” The population health class was another favourite, which taught students how health care differs from population to population and culture to culture within Canada, with an emphasis on underserved populations. Menard says it made her more aware of social and economic factors and different attitudes to the fluoridation of water that can affect whole communities. In a similar vein, caring for patients in the Faculty’s outreach clinics was another valuable learning experience. “You definitely see a lot of different people and mouths and
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have conversations you would never have in the main student clinic at Dal,” she says. “It’s because people are often going through such different things in their lives, like recovering from addiction, and you can see the challenges and the link between the mouth and the overall body.” Another benefit that Menard hadn’t considered when she chose Dal over standalone dental hygiene programs is the interaction between dentistry and dental hygiene students in the outreach clinics and the small group practice, where dentistry and dental hygiene students work together in a setting that mimics professional practice. “You become familiar with the whole team of oral health care professionals,” she says. “By working together on a recall exam, you can pick up on a lot of things from the dentistry students.” Menard has been inspired by the research she sees dental hygiene faculty members involved in. She has some public health questions she would like to answer and hopes to be able to carry out the necessary research in the future. For now, she is looking forward to working in her hometown of Victoria and to pursuing a bachelor of dental hygiene program at Camosun College. After that, she hopes to work in the Northwest Territories or some other part of northern Canada. “My mother grew up in Yellowknife,” Menard explains, “so I know the north and it has a special place in my heart.”
GRAD PROFILE
GRACE ARSENAULT AND TAYLOR COLEMAN
The call of Cape Breton A career in dentistry was not on the map for either Gracie Arsenault (DDS’25) or Taylor Coleman (DDS’25) when they were growing up in Cape Breton. But the intervention of friends and teachers along the way helped to put them on the right road and give them a vital boost when they most needed it. Now they are both returning to Cape Breton to serve their communities and to work at the same dental group. Gracie Arsenault grew up in New Waterford, Cape Breton. She loved soccer and drawing and assumed she would be a teacher. Neither of her parents went to university, but Arsenault says they gave her a lot of freedom and were “super supportive” of whatever she decided to do. In high school, she enjoyed science and was also interested in film and animation, but she admits she didn’t take school very seriously. Taylor Coleman grew up nearby in Sydney. She played sports, did drama and step dancing, and took piano lessons for 10 years. Science and English were her two favourite subjects and early on she decided that she would study science at university, with the goal of becoming a veterinarian. In what now seems like foreshadowing, as a child she told her mother that she liked going to the dentist better than getting her hair cut. For Coleman, it was the example of a close family friend, Dr. Mitch Hanna (DDS’19), that helped her explore dentistry as a career. “It definitely had an influence on me, just watching him go through the process of dental school,” Coleman says of Hanna. He helped her choose her courses at CBU to set her up to apply to dental school after third year, just as he had done.
A TALE OF TWO HALLWAYS Like Coleman, Arsenault studied science at CBU, initially chemistry but then biology, despite an aversion to blood. Two “pivotal moments” steered her into dentistry. One was the influence of a science teacher, Mr. Jason Merlin, who, when she was signing up for classes “marched me down the hall” to
the teachers who taught advanced subjects and told them they needed to put her in their classes. “He believed in me before I even knew what I was doing and that changed my entire path,” says Arsenault. The other took place in a CBU hallway, where she ran into a family member she hadn’t seen in a while who works at the university. Hearing that Arsenault was curious about dentistry, her aunt put her in in touch with a dentist at Mayflower Dental, to ask about shadowing. “As soon as I went to the practice – like that day – I knew that this was what I wanted to do,” says Arsenault. Shadowing turned into a summer job at the practice’s reception desk that continued throughout her time at dental school.
A GAMBLE THAT WORKED Coleman also majored in biology, although she left CBU after third year to begin the dentistry program. She spent her summers doing research for her professors and, with the help of an NSERC grant, was part of a team that researched the potential for crab waste to be turned into an energy source called biochar. Even though she was pretty “set on dentistry” while she was at CBU, Arsenault kept her options open by getting involved in marine biology research, particularly oysters. “I wanted to try research to see how I felt about that, which could also play into teaching.” But in the end, both Arsenault and Coleman put their eggs in one basket and applied to Dal for dentistry because it was close to home and they had friends in Halifax. It was a gamble that worked for them both and the dentistry community they discovered at Dal made them feel they had made the right choice. “I found I had a whole new family here,” says Arsenault. “At CBU I had classes with lots of different people, but in dentistry we all had the same schedule and were going through the same hurdles together at the same time. Orientation Week threw us all together right at the start.” It was a similar experience for Coleman. “You have a bond with your fellow students in
Photo Danny Abriel
By Cheryl Bell
dental school that is different from any other program,” she says, “I’ll also miss the faculty members and instructors. They all know you and you can email them to ask questions.”
A HAPPY RETURN TO CAPE BRETON Now, after four years of dental school, they are both returning home to Cape Breton to practise, where there is a need for dentists. As chance would have it, they will both be working for the same dental group, Mayflower Dental: Gracie will be at Bayside Dental in Glace Bay, where she spent her summers on the reception desk, and Taylor will be at Riverside Dental in Sydney, where Mitch Hanna works. Both Arsenault and Coleman want to work as general dentists initially, begin to build a patient base, and hone their skills. Coleman says that she wants to do “a little bit of everything”. Arsenault adds that she wants “to give back to my community that’s given so much to me through life.” Although they will be working at different Mayflower Dental offices, they say they could end up working together if there is a need to fill in at another practice in the group. Both Arsenault and Coleman are looking forward to the opportunity to develop new skills and more specialized knowledge. Arsenault says she has an interest in oral surgery and paediatric dentistry, whereas Coleman is looking forward to observing and learning tips and tricks from her new colleagues. She has seen Mitch Hanna develop his skills in oral surgery over the years and is confident she will be able to learn more about orthodontics or endodontics, if her interest in those areas develops further. Now, however, both Arsenault and Coleman are looking forward to being home in Cape Breton, and, as Arsenault says, to “just get out there and start working.”
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GRAD PROFILE
JIMMY HALL
An epic journey involving teeth By Cheryl Bell
THE JOURNEY BEGINS Hall’s journey into dentistry started farther back, however. The son of a dentist and one of 12 kids in a “yours, mine, ours” blended family, Hall enjoyed video games and tinkering with technology when he was young. He wanted to be a veterinarian for a while until allergies intervened. At the same time, he was also playing around in his father’s in-house lab, where the lab technician helped him make little sculptures from wax and bouncy balls from impression material. At 16 Hall decided to attend the dental assisting school his father ran because it would enable him to get a good job – initially in his father’s practice – and help him to keep a car on the road. At high school, Hall enjoyed chemistry, graphic art and design, and woodworking. But he admits that he wasn’t the best student. “I didn’t put in a lot of effort. At college, I really had to kick it around to do a lot better.”
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EPIPHANIES ALONG THE WAY He attended Utah Valley University in Orem, where he studied chemistry and biology. Outside classes, he was also putting his dental assisting skills to good use in a group of practices, now known as Dentive, that had invested in digital technology. It was an eye-opening moment for Hall, who suddenly realized how cool dentistry could be. Hall also enjoyed working as part of a group and even as a pre-dental student was sent to conferences alongside his dentistry colleagues. He often designed crowns and digital guides on his iPad, which were then milled in the office. “I was doing a lot of digital workflow planning and helping the group to figure how to do orthodontic retainers and other things like that,” says Hall. “They were even talking about making me COO of the digital department.” But at that point, Hall knew he didn’t want to be the dental assistant who helped with technology. “I wanted to be the prescriber.” Hall’s epiphany regarding his career direction overlapped with another aha moment at university. Through a good friend studying at a different Utah university, Hall met Chandler, who was training to be a nurse, and they were married on December 31, 2015, at the end of Hall’s first university semester. Hall applied to 20 different dental schools, Dalhousie among them. “I didn’t get anywhere,” says Hall, so he decided to go back and take an advanced histology course to “buff up my résumé”.
THE DAL YEARS AND BEYOND While he was doing that, the Dal Faculty of Dentistry admissions office contacted him in March to offer him an interview. So in the summer of 2021, Hall and Chandler left for Halifax, where Hall began dental school and Chandler trained as a nurse practitioner. At dental school, Hall liked that the hands-on work started early. Doing wax ups and drilling
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Photo Danny Abriel
The day after he graduates from dental school, James – Jimmy – Hall (DDS’25) will climb into his Honda Ridgeline truck and begin the 84hour, 7887 km drive to Alaska, where he will begin his dentistry career. Hall’s mother is riding shotgun on the trip, which will take them west across Canada and then north into Yukon before they reach Wasilla, Alaska’s fourth largest city (pop. 9,700). Reckoning that the cab of a truck over that sort of distance is no place for a youngster, Hall’s wife Chandler and their twoand-a-half-year-old daughter, Hali, will fly to Alaska separately. Hall has created an itinerary for the journey on his phone, with links to hotels along the route. It’s a big deal, but in 2021 the couple drove from St. George, Utah, to Halifax so that Hall could study dentistry and Chandler could qualify as a nurse practitioner. It was a training run of sorts, although they didn’t know it at the time.
on a block were pleasures amidst the heavy didactic learning. During his four years at Dal, Hall did a lot of part-time jobs, including helping with CE classes and other events and monitoring labs. He also enjoyed two internships with Dr. Chris Lee (DDS’04) in the emergency clinic and helped him digitize over 1000 models and dental records. Working with Dr. Lee in the clinic gave Hall the opportunity to try more advanced procedures. One day, in the summer after his first year, Dr. Lee taught Hall how to give an anaesthetic. “He basically put my hands and the needle in the right spot. And I remember telling him ‘You remember I’m a first-year, right?’” Hall credits Dr. Lee with teaching him a lot. “He cared about us as students and treated us as colleagues.” Even though Hall is looking forward to his next adventure in Alaska, leaving Halifax is bittersweet. “There’s a big Utah group in dentistry and we’ve all had children during our years here and socialized a lot.” For Hall and Chandler, Hali is a “little piece of Canada we’ll be taking with us.” He hopes to return for his 10th reunion, to reconnect with classmates and to show Hali where she was born and got her name.
GRAD PROFILE
LAYAN ABU SNEINEH
A philosophy of oral health care When Layan Abu Sneineh (DDH’25) was a child and living in Saudi Arabia, she fell and broke one of her front teeth. Half of it was gone. Luckily, her dentist “gave me back my smile and became my favourite person,” she says. And from that moment on, Abu Sneineh was interested in oral health. “It was just meant to be,” she says. Abu Sneineh is Palestinian by birth and spent half her childhood in Saudi Arabia and half in Nova Scotia. At high school, she enjoyed biology, math, and art. Biology was her favourite. “I loved learning about the human body.” She particularly enjoyed learning about the brain and how it – and we as humans – functions. That interest led to a BSc in neuroscience at Dalhousie, where Abu Sneineh was able to explore her fascination further. She found herself captivated by brain plasticity and the capacity to “rewire” the brain after trauma. In the neuroanatomy lab she was able to hold a human brain. “That’s a whole human’s life you have in your hands,” she says. “It’s their thoughts, their personality, emotions, and memories.”
CAPTIVATED BY INTERCONNECTEDNESS An appreciation for the interconnectedness of the human body proved a good basis for studying oral health. “It all made sense to me,” says Abu Sneineh. “Oral health has to do with our health overall. Inflammation or bacteria in the mouth travel through our bodies.” She knew she wanted a career in the dental field. Abu Sneineh completed her BSc before making her next step, which was to apply to both the dentistry and dental hygiene programs. When she was accepted into dental hygiene, she didn’t hesitate to accept the offer.
A STRONG HOME BASE Neither of Abu Sneineh’s parents is involved in the health professions, but they both
Photo Danny Abriel
By Cheryl Bell
inspired her. Her father is an engineer and program manager. “He’s a very knowledgeable person,” says Abu Sneineh. “Pick any subject – like how a car or plane works – and he will talk about it in very intricate details. I think he inspired my love for education.” Abu Sneineh says that her mother is her guide. “She’s like my light,” she explains.” She tells me that there is good in everything and that I’m capable of doing everything I put my mind to.” Her mother also drove Abu Sneineh to dental practices to drop off résumés, resulting in a dental assisting job with Dr. Anita Marchesi (DDS’12) at Kingswood Dentistry, where she worked after completing her BSc. The time spent at Kingswood Dentistry enabled Abu Sneineh to learn dental assisting on the job and to have a front row seat at appointments. She enjoyed watching how the patients were cared for. “Lying in a dental chair is very vulnerable position, right?” she says. “As an oral health care provider, you need to remember that your patients often can’t talk, and you can’t always see their facial expressions because of the protective glasses.”
INSTRUCTORS AS MENTORS The experience Abu Sneineh gained confirmed that oral health was the career pathway for her. Even the rigorous class schedule – and the many exams – did not dissuade her. The small class size and dedicated instructors created a supportive learning environment, she says. “Having our instructors as mentors was an amazing opportunity, and learning from them shaped us as professionals and how we represent the dental hygiene profession.”
Abu Sneineh credits the rotations to the North End Community Health Centre and Harbour View Elementary School dental clinics with being a vital part of the learning experience. She feels they helped the students to bond and provided them with experience they wouldn’t normally get in the regular student clinic. The Harbour View rotation was particularly helpful because it provided hands-on experience with children. “In some cases, we were the first dental care providers they had seen,” says Abu Sneineh, “so we were aware that how the children perceived the experience depended on us.” The extended skills course, which took place in the summer after first year, enabled the class to learn about and try restorative and orthodontic procedures. Abu Sneineh discovered that she was good at working with composite, and her instructors encouraged her to consider further studies. “The seed was planted,” she says.
WHAT NEXT? Abu Sneinah now works at Kingswood Dentistry as a dental hygienist. Her plan is to work for a while and think about what she would like for the future. “There is always room to expand my knowledge,” she says. Abu Sneineh’s articulates her final thoughts almost as a credo: “Believing in what you do and loving what you do and making sure you do it right, really helps you to grow as a person and enables you to take care of yourself and everyone around you.”
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FEATURE
New mural celebrates partnership and better health for all By Cheryl Bell | Photos Bruce Bottomley
The Faculty of Dentistry and GreenShield commemorated seven years of partnership by unveiling a specially commissioned mural in the Dentistry Building on October 16, 2024. Representatives from GreenShield and the Faculty of Dentistry attended the event. Since 2017, GreenShield has supported clinics in the Dentistry Building and outreach clinics in the north end of Halifax, Dartmouth, and North Preston, helping our Faculty to provide more oral health care for priority populations. The most recent grant, which started in December 2022, has enabled these clinics to help 2,564 patients. “We know the services we provide through these clinics make a difference,” said Dr.
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Members of the Greenshield team, the artist, and Dr. Ben Davis celebrate the new mural.
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FEATURE Speaking about the “transformative power of art”, Ananaba said that “the overarching goal of this mural transcends mere aesthetics or beautification of the space. While it does both, it boldly reflects the core and intertwined values that shape GreenShield and Dal Dentistry in advocacy for hope, good health, safety, and sustainability.”
The values, principles and belief in “better health for all” that GreenShield and the Faculty of Dentistry share are now captured in the mural, which is on display on the wall of the level 1 reception and waiting area. “Every day it will remind us – and our patients – of our commitment to them and their health,” said Dr. Davis.
Artist Ibe Ananaba
Ben Davis, dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, “particularly to those who would otherwise have difficulties accessing oral health care. With GreenShield’s help, we are doing more for more people and making it easier for those who need our services to have access to them.” JP Girard, executive vice-president and head of insurance at GreenShield, spoke about the importance of partnership as a means of expanding GreenShield’s impact and enabling it to be a “stronger force for good”. Poor oral health can lead to many physical and mental health issues that will ultimately cost the health system more, Girard said. These issues would also have a large social impact, he added, including reduced confidence and job prospects for people who lack access to preventative services and treatment.
INTERTWINED VALUES Artist Ibe Ananaba was selected as the artist for the project, the aim of which was to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for students, patients, and everyone who works in the Faculty.
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BILL AND JOHN RECTOR:
Different paths to the same destination
Neither Bill Rector (DDS’74) nor his son John (DDS’11) ever expected to become dentists. And they certainly never expected to work together. But those two things happened and the results have been satisfying to them both. The routes that brought Bill and John to the same destination were very different. Bill wasn’t interested in school and failed grade 11. With no plans to return to the classroom, he thought he might become a truck driver. John wanted to be a pilot when he was a kid and “bounced around” in different jobs after his undergrad degree in engineering, including construction and working in bars and ski shops. Dentistry wasn’t on the map for either of them.
THREE TURNING POINTS Bill says he was lucky to have three turning points in his life. The first came when his mother took in a medical student from McGill University as a boarder at their home in Bible Hill while he worked in the chemistry lab at the Agricultural College (now Dalhousie’s Faculty of Agriculture). For four months, Bill shared a room with this student who “brainwashed” him into believing that he had academic potential and helped him plot a path that would give him a university degree. Bill returned to high school, completed grade 11, and achieved the high grades he needed to get accepted to the Agricultural College. In the process of studying for a BSc in soil chemistry, Bill discovered that he actually enjoyed learning and he met people who changed his outlook on education and work. After graduating, Bill went to work in Imperial Oil’s sales and marketing division in Western Canada, where the second turning point occurred – meeting his wife Dianne in Regina. The third came a year after their marriage when they were transferred to Alberta and enrolled in a speed-reading course at Red Deer Junior College. One evening’s assigned reading was an article titled “Dentistry as a Career,” which described the profession’s entrepreneurial opportunities and the potential to help people.
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Photos contributed
By Cheryl Bell
Dr. John Rector
Dr. Bill Rector
“I never set out to be a dentist,” says Bill, “but that article offered me a way of life that really appealed to me.” Dal accepted him into the dentistry program and a few months after reading the article, Bill found himself in a classroom with 36 other students taking 11 different courses. The first two years were challenging, with a lot of didactic learning to absorb. But once Bill was in the clinic doing hands-on dentistry, “it became my passion. I loved it,” he says.
no clear direction, John spent time in Europe backpacking, learning French and Spanish, and working in a variety of jobs. When he returned home to Canada, he started to think about dentistry, partly because of the hand skills involved, and because he could see his father’s great satisfaction with his profession. “Dad really loves what he does,” he says, “and you can see how much it means to him to help people. That’s what inspired me to apply to Dalhousie.”
“Dad really loves what he does and you can see how much it means to him to help people. That’s what inspired me to apply to Dalhousie.” THE JOY OF BEING HANDS-ON John is the youngest of Bill and Dianne’s four children. Born and brought up in Hampton, NB, he spent a lot of time during his younger years fixing things with his father. “My dad was keen on teaching life skills, like changing the oil and tires on your car,” he says, “so I was always very hands-on with things.” After graduating from Saint Mary’s University with an engineering degree but
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After taking courses at UNB to get his grades up, John was accepted at Dal. He says it was a good choice for him because the dentistry program was hands-on from day one. Like his father, he had to work hard on the didactic learning, but the clinical side came easily, and he appreciated the help and real-world advice faculty members provided. Although he was offered an opportunity to practise in Vancouver with a friend after
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“Dentistry became my passion. I loved it.”
Photos contributed
graduation, John opted to stay. The Maritimes are a great place to live, he decided, and he appreciates that his father is generous with his knowledge. “He’ll stop what he’s doing to help me learn complex procedures,” he explains. “We often discuss cases and techniques – sometimes too much, according to my mother at family dinners.”
A DEDICATED TEAM Fourteen years on, father and son continue to work together at Canterbury Dental Clinic in Saint John. Bill’s focus is endodontics and oral surgery, while John concentrates on crown and bridge work.” Both are committed to supporting their community through their work. Bill also served on Hampton’s school board and town council, led environmental initiatives, and mentored over 16 patients who became dentists themselves – most of them studying at Dalhousie. He believes in supporting his alma mater each year, “the institution that gave me a career I love”. Bill and John believe in giving back through their practice, which was the first one in New Brunswick to fully computerize operations and offer extended hours. It also offered an innovative preventive care program that provided children with fluoride treatments and dental hygiene education. Digital scanning and 3D printing are now being added to make treatments more comfortable and effective. “Dentistry today is more enjoyable because of the technology that allows us to deliver truly painless care,” says Bill. Bill recently celebrated his 50th anniversary in practice with long-time patients. “There’s something special about being part of families’ lives across three generations,” says John. As Bill now looks forward to retirement, John plans to continue to build the practice with new associates. They can both say they found the destination they were meant to have – the only surprise is that it was the same one for them both.
Canterbury Dental Clinic is housed in a restored heritage building in Saint John.
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STEPHANIE SEALY
Part of a plan By Cheryl Bell
ALWAYS A PLAN Sealy’s background offers some clues to her ambitions and her zest for planning. She grew up near Bathurst, NB, and went to a French school when she was five, not knowing a word of French. Within three weeks she was helping other children with their work. In grade nine, she switched to an English high school to prepare for university. At 16 she had a black belt in Taekwondo and met her husband. Knowing that she wanted to study dental hygiene, Sealy decided to get her BSc at Dalhousie, too, so she could get familiar with the place. Four years and two children later, she began studying dental hygiene. Two more children would follow later. “It’s a different perspective being a parent,” admits Sealy. While her fellow students were stressed out over their studies, Sealy was also looking after a toddler and an infant. “It really motivated me to make it work,” she says.
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Stephanie Sealy and her family.
And make it work she did. With her photographic memory, the academics came easily to Sealy and she worked diligently to get the hand skills. But for her, the essence of the dental hygiene profession is patient education and management. “I’ve always believed I was an educator at the core of my being,” she says. Not surprisingly, it was part of her plan to do a master of education degree later on. Until then, she worked to educate and empower her patients to be in control of their own health. “Not just their oral health,” Sealy stresses,” but the impact of their oral health on their overall health.”
WORK AND EDUCATION When Sealy graduated in 1996, there was low demand for dental hygienists, so she filled the gap with a succession of maternity covers that gave her valuable experience in periodontics and prosthodontics. Since 2020 she has worked at the Miller Dental Health Centre in Dartmouth. In the same year, she was also able to scratch the itch for an MEd degree and started her online program in adult education and health at St. Francis Xavier University. The program was based on students’ experiences in clinical situations, and she loved the critical thinking and reflecting on experience it involved. “It brought together the science from my first degree and the hands-on aspects of my diploma and added this third thing, critical thinking. It was so me.” In 2022, Sealy was able to build on her teaching experience in the Faculty Government Assisted Populations (GAP) Clinic, spending her Monday evenings supervising and advising second-year dental hygiene students as they cared for new immigrants and refugees to Nova Scotia.
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Photos contributed
In April 1994, the week before her second baby was born, Stephanie Sealy (DDH’96) waddled into the Faculty of Dentistry to be interviewed for a place on the Diploma of Dental Hygiene program. When the interviewers asked if she might need to take some time off, Sealy told them she had had her first child between exams during the second year of her BSc in biology and graduated on the Dean’s List with distinction. It may have been a “sociological experiment” on the part of Dalhousie, says Sealy, but she was accepted. With 15 courses in first year, even Sealy questioned the wisdom of starting what she acknowledges was a rigorous program, but it was part of her plan. “In my life, I set goals for five years, 10 years, and so on,” she says, “and I recognized early on that I wanted to work in health care.” Dental hygiene did not offer a degree option at the time and Sealy knew that oral health careers can be shortened by the physical strains of the job, so she decided she should complete a degree first in case she wanted to return to study for a master’s degree.
In the 2024-25 academic year, Sealy changed from working full time at her private practice to a job share arrangement with a colleague. This move enabled her to take on another 10 hours a week of clinic time with DDH1 and DDH2 students in addition to her GAP clinic.
LOOKING BACK, LOOKING FORWARD Sealy, who is now in her 50s, is clear-eyed about the need for a good spine to have a long career. She works to keep herself healthy but believes the mixture of private practice and teaching works well for her now. Looking back, she feels she had some wonderful mentorship when she studied dental hygiene. Most of her instructors had master’s degrees already, which was not common at the time. She also remembers Dr. Leigha Rock, director of the School of Dental Hygiene, stressing the importance of a professional identity. “It’s not just a job,” she told us. “It’s much more than that if you will let it be and you have the will and the integrity to keep improving.” As for what’s next, Sealy may add a PhD to her five or 10-year plan. She will also be taking over the Dental Hygiene Refresher Course in 2026.
Dean’s List Congratulations to our alumni, faculty, and staff who continue to receive awards and recognition for their work and contribute to the fields of dentistry and dental hygiene. If you have any news items or story ideas to share, please send them to alumni.dentistry@dal.ca. ALUMNI AWARDS This year’s winners are:
Eunice Liu (DDH’22 BDH’24) won the CDHA/ CJDH Student Writing Competition 2024 – Best Literature Review. Dr. Kevin Walsh (DDS’90) has joined the CDSPI board of directors.
Top row, OAA recipients, l-r: Heather Carr (DDS’88), Terrie Logue (DDS’85), Jennifer MacLellan (DDS’94), Michelle Zwicker (’00); Bottom row, Early Career, l-r: Lindsay James (DDS’19), Brooke Kinden (DDH’15), Bobby Nadeau (’15) and Friend of Dal Dentistry, Cory Sears and Rachel Skanes
NSDA STUDENT AWARDS
DDS3 student Vy Dang and Allison True (DDS’25) received their Dr. Eric Hatfield Active Participation Awards (Vy – 2025, Allison – 2024) for their involvement in extracurricular activities at the 2025 NSDA Awards Ceremony in June.
ALUMNI Dr. Tanya Cook became the Faculty’s inaugural assistant dean of admissions in July 2024.
Drs. Dan Stuart (DDS’96), Sarah Davidson (DDS’06), Marco Chiarot (DDS’93, MD/MSc’01), Joel Powell (DDS’98, MD/MSc’0) and their team organized a successful 2025 Learn to Give, CE for Charity, event. Dr. Pat Johnson (DDS’84) received the NSDA Award of Excellence at the 2025 NSDA Awards Ceremony in June.
Dr. Juli Waterbury (DDS’07) received the T.D. Ingham Volunteer Award at the NSDA Awards Ceremony in June.
FACULTY Dr. Danny Boyd, associate professor in the School of Biomedical Engineering, received the Special Friend of Canadian Dentistry Award at the CDA Awards in May 2025.
Lindsay (MacDonald) Van Dam has been selected as one of Dalhousie’s 2025 OpenThink Scholars.
Dr. Jason Noel (DDS’00) of Newfoundland and Labrador was elected CDA vice president for 2025-26 at the CDA annual meeting in June.
Dr. Blaine Cleghorn won a bronze medal in the men’s singles at the Canadian National Pickleball Championships in August 2024. Dr. Violet D’Souza was presented with the NSDA Community Service Award in June.
Dr. Caleb Porter (DDS’08) was installed as the NSDA president for 2025-26 at the NSDA AGM in June at Digby Pines. Dr. Ian Ross (DDS’86) received the Dr. Philip S. Christie Award for Distinguished Service at the NSDA Awards Ceremony in June. Dr. Sachin Seth (DDS’00) took up his position as the new chair of Senate for Dalhousie University on July 1, 2025.
Director of the School of Dental Hygiene Dr. Leigha Rock was inducted as the president of the Canadian Association for Dental Research in New York City in March. Dr. Zeeshan Sheikh, clinical scientist in periodontics, became an affiliate scientist with Nova Scotia Health.
STAFF
Dr. Joanne Thomas (DDS’89) received the CDA Award of Merit at the CDA Awards ceremony in May 2025. Dr. Frances Tompkins (DDS’03) became our new associate dean of student affairs in July 2024. She takes over from Dr. Ferne Kraglund, who was in the role for 10 years.
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Tammy Broussard and Audra Hayman received their 35-year pins from Dalhousie in March. Audra is the recipient of this year’s Gladys Littler Award. Kathy MacFarlane was presented with the Above and Beyond Award at the June 2025 Faculty Retreat. Juliette Thomas, at Nelson Whynder Elementary School, received an award for sharing her artistic talents with the community.
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Annual Giving Report The Faculty of Dentistry is extremely grateful for the generosity of our alumni, friends and organizations that support our Faculty and Dalhousie University. The following is a list acknowledging those who have made financial contributions between April 2024 and March 2025. We sincerely appreciate your support. We would also like to thank our donors who requested to remain anonymous. DENTISTRY CLASS GIVING 1955 Doug & Jackie Eisner 1956 Norman Layton 1959 Frank Lovely Murray Dewis 1960 Yosh Kamachi 1961 Kinji Asahina 1962 Douglas Chaytor 1965 Theresa Chiang George Nye 1966 Maurice Wong 1968 Eckart Schroeter 1970 L J Hudgins Floyd Jackson Bill & Robin MacInnis 1971 Peter Edwards Carl Tilley 1972 David Moore Robert Murray Eric Parsons 1973 Thomas Disney Harold Johnson Lex MacNeil 1974 A Ernest Corrigan William Rector 1975 Ron Beaton Gary MacDonald Ray Wenn 1976 James Craft Paul R Nauss Terrence Shaw
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1977 H Wayne Garland Michael Roda 1978 Tom Boran Thomas Boyle Alfred Dean Ian Doyle Janet Stewart
1990 Kevin Walsh MaryAnn Wiseman 1991 Grant Creighton Allan Hynes Scott McLean Kilby Townshend
1979 Carl Canning Reginald Goodday 1980 Val Biskupski Marlene Mader 1982 Ronald Buckley Stewart MacDonald Archie Morrison Jeffrey Piekarski Grahame Usher Anne Young 1983 Janet Bailey Buckley 1984 Sucharn Chima John Conrad Pat Johnson 1985 Simone Abbass Terry Ackles Tim Chaisson Joseph Westhaver 1986 Judith Flecknell Kenneth Ngan Chris Petropolis Rick Raftus Jeff Williams 1987 Maureen Bourgeois Daniel McKenna 1988 Heather Carr Tara Singh
1992 Patricia Bueckert David Craig Mary McNally 1993 Pauline Cahill Joanne Green* J Scott Green Kelly Manning Patrick Redmond Alan Robinson 1994 Jennifer MacLellan Janice Wilson 1995 Katrina Brouwer Kirk Preston 1996 Mark MacIntosh Maureen Wiseman 1997 Todd Dakin Nada Haidar 1998 Nancy Browne Michel Comeau Melanie Moore 1999 Christine McLaughlin Jeff Watson 2000 Tanya Cook 2001 Sangeeta Wylie
1989 Daniel Albert Michael Brown Paul Cameron Sheridan Cyrus Terry Foreman K Stacey Hughes Joty Manocha
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Gordie Rudolph
2002 Sarah Feeley Coffin Sherrie Wills 2003 Darcy Murphy
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2005 Wade Abbott Shannon Davis Thora Hunter 2006 Scott Schofield William Taylor 2007 Susan Bourque Terry Farquhar 2008 Allison Chorley Richard 2009 Joanah Lee Campbell 2011 Ian MacAskill 2012 Catherine Sweeney 2024 Jared Lush
DENTAL HYGIENE CLASS GIVING – DIPLOMA
1985 Kim Haslam Laura Leadbetter-Fuoco 1986 Jessica Boudreau Lesley Des Noyers Catherine McIntyre 1987 Vicky Garland 1989 Alana Nieforth 1990 Stacey Walsh 1991 Angela Hynes Janice Irving Susan Keating-Bekkers 1992 Jackie White (Hubley) 1993 Jennifer Bower 1994 Colleen McKenzie
1964 Jane Wong
1997 Keri Robinson-Payne
1965 Carol (Forman) Nicholson
1998 Karen Reid
1967 Judiann Thomas
1999 Andrea McAllister
1969 Glenda Butt
2007 Marianne Williams
1971 Celia Boost Jean McGinis
DENTAL HYGIENE CLASS GIVING— BACHELOR
1972 Deborah Richard (Turner)
2010 Janet Munn
1974 Pauline Murphy Sutow Pamela Vokey
LEGACY DONORS
1975 Rena Demone 1977 Susan Matheson 1978 Jeannette Laba Wendy Wilkins
We thank the following people who have remembered the Faculty of Dentistry in their wills: Simone Abbass E Paul Atkinson David & Stephanie Babin Brian Barrett Ron Beaton Tom Boran
James W Carson* Michel Comeau Margaret Conrad* Walter F Cook* Don & Norma Cunningham Douglas & Jackie Eisner Isabel Fergusson Judith Flecknell & Jeff Williams Gary M Foshay Timothy Guy Haywood C David Hoffman Frank Lovely Kate MacDonald* Debora C Matthews Carl McDermott Rory McLean Bruce & Susan Moxley Robert Murray Kenneth C L Ngan Thomas H Raddall II* Helen A Ryding Gary Samson
FRIENDS Evelyn Andrews Cheryl Bell William Beverly Beth Brogan Jonathan Bruhm
Tammy Chouinard Joanne Clovis Don Cunningham Michael Han C David Hoffman Garry Hoffman Sandra Hoffman Kevin Lung Debora Matthews Margaret McCain Leslie McLean Bruce & Susan Moxley Doreen Neville Lezlie Oler Bruce Precious Helen A Ryding Rose Wilson
ORGANIZATIONS 123 Dentist Inc American College of Dentists (Atlantic Provinces Section) Anonymous Atlantic Society of Periodontists Canadian Academy of Periodontology Canadian Dental Association Canadian Foundation for the Advancement of Orthodontics Community Foundation of Prince
Edward Island Dalhousie Dentistry Class of 2024 Dalhousie Dental Hygiene Class of 2024 dentalcorp Dentsply Canada Limited East Coast Dental Group Edwards Family Charitable Foundation Fred and Edith Greene Foundation Green Shield Canada HANSAmed Limited International College of Dentists Canadian Section New Brunswick Dental Society Newfoundland & Labrador Dental Hygienists Association Nobel Biocare Canada Inc Nova Scotia Dental Association Samit & Reshma Sharma Foundation Society of Dental Specialists of Nova Scotia Solventum Sunstar Americas Inc. The Aurum Group University OMF Surgery Associates
IN MEMORIAM Philip Amys, DDS’68 Thomas Blackmore, DDS’69 Albert Burry, DDS’58 Peter Christie, DDS’64 Henry Chestnut, DDS’70 Peter Christie, DDS’72 Robert Cooper, DDS’65 A David Crocker, DDS’71 Charles Daly, DDS’63 Joanne Green, DDS’93 Robert Janes, DDS’66 Joanne Nowell, DDH’77 Kiras Obrazcova, DDS’55 Roger Paturel, DDS’61 Deborah Stymiest, DDS’83 William Weaver, DDS’73 Penelope Williams, DDH’92 Linda Zambolin, DDH’66 If you would like to honour the memory of someone noted on this list by donating to the Gifts and Memorial Scholarship Fund, please contact Melanie Bremner at 902-266-2021 or melanie. bremner@dal.ca, or donate online at www.giving.dal.ca/dentistry.
Why we give Dal has always been a special place for Stephanie (DDH’97) and David (DDS’99) Babin. It’s where they met, made their friend group, and gained the skills and knowledge for the careers they’ve enjoyed for nearly 30 years. Now living in Victoria, BC, Dal is also where they return to connect with old friends and instructors at alumni events. As class president, David spent some of his evenings calling alumni to raise money for the Faculty, so early on he became aware of the ongoing financial needs of a university faculty. The death of David’s mother in 2001 prompted the couple to include Dal in their
wills. Then life became busy with children and building their practice. In 2024, they talked with advancement officer, Melanie Bremner, about making a legacy gift to the Faculty. They didn’t set out to influence others, says Stephanie, but the Babins are now hopeful that classmates and others might realize – as they did – that you don’t have to wait until you’re in your 70s to make a gift in your will. Their travels, particularly a 52-country, round-the-world trip in 2018-19 with their three sons, sparked a lot of soul-searching about how they should live their lives. David
Photo contributed
Stephanie and David Babin
says that he has always felt that he and Stephanie have given back through their work as health care providers. “But now I want to do more,” he says. “I think that if there’s a way to ripple out from touching one person at a time to somehow affect 100 or 1000 people, then a far greater impact than one-on-one health care can be achieved.”
DID YOU KNOW? New digital dentistry equipment and software will transform teaching and learning in the Faculty of Dentistry. If you would like to join alumni and friends who have chosen to support this exciting and ambitious project, please contact Melanie Bremner (902.266.2021 or melanie. bremner@dal.ca) or Victoria Hamilton (902.497.6825 or victoria.hamilton@dal.ca) for more information.
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FEATURE
Learning about good dental hygiene at The Science of Smiles 2025 By Cheryl Bell explains Hachey. Out of their discussions, “The Science of Smiles” was born.
FIVE STATIONS AND A PASSPORT Five different stations were created throughout the Discovery Centre plus a welcome booth near the entrance, where children picked up event passports for collecting stickers or stamps at the stations. Information about public health insurance plans, radiation safety, and fluoride, was also available at the welcome booth.
STATION 1 – THE SCIENCE OF DENTAL HYGIENE Here, children put on Dalhousie clinic jackets and safety glasses and pretended to be dental hygienists. A portable dental light and a dentiform let children practise their brushing and flossing.
STATION 2 – THE SCIENCE OF X-RAY VISION Children used a mock x-ray unit to take ”x-rays” of imitation teeth that they could touch and feel and then look at examples on the x-ray viewer afterwards.
STATION 3 – THE SCIENCE OF FOOD
Photos contributed
Building healthy plates of different foods was one of the activities at this station. “We didn’t just want to talk about sugar,” says Hachey. “We also talked about the key principles of food that we know are important, like consistency, frequency, and whether it’s with or between meals.”
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STATION 4 – THE SCIENCE OF PREVENTION Mouthguards, models of sealants, toothbrushes, fluoride products, interdental aids, and posters with oral health care
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Photo contributed
What do you get when you bring together some keen dental hygiene students, a mock X-ray machine, hands-on experiments, a large tooth costume, and hundreds of children to celebrate Oral Health Month and National Dental Hygienists Week? Why, an outrageously fun – and educational – Science of Smiles Day at the Discovery Centre, of course! The idea for Science of Smiles Day, which took place on April 5, 2025, took shape in Prof. Shauna Hachey’s population health class, which is aimed at getting students out into the community to promote good oral health care. Students typically visit schools, long-term care homes, and newcomer and cancer care centres. This year, however, Hachey successfully pitched to the class the idea of doing one big event at the Discovery Centre in Halifax. “I felt like it was a moment in time when it was important to promote evidence-based information, particularly around fluoride,”
Dental hygiene students get ready to welcome visiting families to The Science of Smiles at the Discovery Centre.
information were all featured here. Children and their parents could look at and touch a felt board that featured pink gums and red gums to explain gingivitis and its prevention.
STATION 5 – THE SCIENCE OF GERMS The students put invisible “germs” on a tooth model that the children could brush off. A black light showed them where they had missed, illustrating how bacteria in the mouth often cannot be seen. There was also an experiment called “plaque attack” that showed the children what plaque is like. In addition to creating all the activities, Hachey says the dental hygiene students helped write a funding proposal to pitch to potential sponsors and created social media posts to promote the event. “They learned how to design, create, and evaluate the success of a health promotion event as well as participate in it,” she says. At its peak, there were 800 people in the Discovery Centre. Two hundred kits were given out at the welcome booth. Combined with other promotional activities, which are course requirements throughout the year, Hachey reckons that over 1500 participants benefitted from exposure to oral health education.
GIVING
Kirk Preston: A belief in digital dentistry By Cheryl Bell
BUILDING A FOUNDATION IN LABRADOR Kirk Preston’s family lived in Labrador for several years where Preston’s father worked for the military. Growing up there gave Preston the opportunity to take up downhill skiing in a serious way, and he competed throughout high school as part of a ski team. He also – somewhat unusually – became an accomplished touch typist at school, typing classes being the alternative to rather rigorous floor hockey. These classes gave him hand skills that he has been grateful for throughout his career. Preston is not exactly sure how the idea of dentistry as a career arose, but he knew the hands-on nature of the profession appealed to him, plus the interaction with people and the prospect of being his own boss. He also liked that the science and the equipment changed frequently, which meant constant learning. At 16, Preston left Labrador for Fredericton and the University of New Brunswick, where he studied chemistry. Keen to start working as soon as possible after graduating, Preston returned to Labrador where he had a job in a chemistry lab at an iron ore company. Two years later, he studied for a BEd at Memorial University in St. John’s, NL, then he had a stint of teaching high school chemistry and physics. After another two years, he was back at MUN for a MEd in curriculum, followed by a position in the school district office.
AN EVOLVING CAREER IN DENTISTRY “I like to take all events and turn them into learning opportunities for me,” he says. What he realized at this point in his career was that he wanted a change of direction. The idea of being a dentist that had lain dormant for several years resurfaced. After a successful application, Preston began his dentistry studies at Dalhousie in 1991, aged 30. He enjoyed the program and he did well, receiving several prizes along the way. Four years later, with his new DDS degree in hand, he took a bold step. “I felt very comfortable in my skillset when I graduated from Dalhousie,” he says, “so I bought an office in Fredericton and had my own practice from day one.” When his wife Ruth started law school at Dalhousie in 2007, Preston began teaching part-time in the Dalhousie Faculty of Dentistry, which brought his skillsets together. Preston’s years of general dentistry and teaching led to the realization that he enjoyed treating older patients, many of whom require prosthodontic treatment. “I like interacting with that population,” he says, “and I really like prosthodontics because it is so hands-on. There is also a tremendous need for this area of dentistry in New Brunswick.” At this point, Preston sold his Fredericton practice and left with his wife and new baby for the University of Toronto where he studied for an MSc in prosthodontics. Back in NB three years later, he started a new dental practice in Fredericton, which became busy immediately. Seeing that many patients travelled from Saint John for appointments, he added a second office in Saint John where he now spends two days a week. He says that he could easily work full time in both locations. Despite Preston’s busy schedule, he still finds time to volunteer with organized dentistry, both provincially and nationally, and is
Photo contributed
Dr. Kirk Preston (DDS’95) says that if you look at his high school yearbook from 1977, the year he graduated, the photo caption says he planned to study dentistry. Although he explored different options along the way, dentistry did indeed become the profession he has enjoyed for over 30 years. He also continues to support Dalhousie’s Faculty of Dentistry so that it can continue to deliver the quality of education he feels he received.
currently president elect of the CDA. He will take up his new role as president in April 2026.
THE DECISION TO GIVE Preston has been a supporter of digital dentistry at the Faculty of Dentistry since December 2019. He says it’s “where I’d like to see the Faculty grow.” His own dental practice is totally digital and totally paperless. Part of the reason for his support to the Dal Faculty of Dentistry is that he feels the quality of education he received there was exceptional. “I think of it as a centre of excellence,” he adds, “and by giving money specifically to digital dentistry, it’s a way to keep the school and students current with the latest technologies.” His other reason is more personal. “I want to give while I’m alive,” he says, “so that I can see the impact on what I’m supporting.” Of all the universities he has attended, Dal has a special place in his heart. “Our class was together for four years in a very supportive and safe environment,” he says. Not only that, but he received financial prizes and had a summer job in the Faculty that helped enrich his education. “The dental school was generous to me, so I want to give back. I think they deserve it.”
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GIVING
Dr. Tom Boran: A gift to the Faculty of Dentistry Dr. Tom Boran (DDS’78) has a long history with Dalhousie University. He was just 17 when he arrived from Springhill, NS, in 1972 to study chemistry. But being a student is only one of the many roles he has filled during his 53-year connection with Dalhousie. After graduating with his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1978, Boran returned one year later to teach prosthodontics part time. After several different teaching and administrative roles, including dean, he’s never really left the Dentistry Building. One of the roles he most prizes is that of donor. For that reason, a piece of Boran’s heart will always be at Dal long after he does eventually retire. The Dr. Tom Boran Oral Health Outreach Fund was established in March 2017 to help support the Faculty of Dentistry’s outreach clinics in the Halifax area and it has helped countless patients who would not be able to afford dental care to receive the care they need. The fund was renamed the Dr. Tom and Deb Boran Oral Health Outreach Fund in 2019, the year his wife unexpectedly died.
A LIVING WILL This year, Boran arranged to boost the Dr. Tom and Deb Boran Oral Health Outreach Fund with the gift of a $200,000 life insurance policy. He started the policy over 40 years ago when he was setting up a new practice and wanted to provide some coverage for his wife and young sons. It will be a significant boost to the outreach fund when the policy is paid out in the future. “It’s like a living will in the sense that I can designate where the money goes and feel good about it now, rather than simply leave the money to Dalhousie in my will,” says Boran. Another benefit is that the insurance premiums he continues to pay are treated as charitable donations, which means that Boran enjoys tax benefits now.
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ALUMNI ANCHOR
Photo Danny Abriel
By Cheryl Bell
“I think everybody should know that this way of making a gift is available to them,” says Boran. “Those of us who are baby boomers have done quite well, and many of us have that ability to give back.”
GET THE GOOD FEELING The inspiration to make the gift in this way came from a strategic estate planning seminar that was held in the Faculty of Dentistry in April this year. The presenter from Strategos Group told the audience about several different options, but this was the one that attracted Boran. “I knew that I could leave the policy to Dalhousie in my will,” he says, “but I didn’t know about this option which would allow me to designate the gift now and enjoy the tax benefits now, too. This way you get the good feeling and a financial reward.” The process was straightforward, says Boran. The Advancement Office at Dal helped him through the process and there were just a few forms to sign. Boran also had to contact his insurance company, Sun Life, to change the named beneficiary on the policy. His three sons, who were the original beneficiaries of the policy, supported the change.
THE MISSION THAT DRIVES HIM The outreach clinics in Halifax, Dartmouth, and North Preston have always been near and dear to Boran’s heart. During his years as dean,
2025 | 2026
he worked to increase support to the Faculty of Dentistry from alumni and grant-funding bodies to be able to provide patients on low incomes or living in marginalized communities with the necessary oral health care at little or no cost to themselves. One of the programs Boran helped to set up was what is now called the Government Assisted Populations program, which continues to provide dental hygiene and dental care to new immigrants and refugees. Currently, Boran spends term time teaching at the North End Community Health Centre dental clinic and the sponsored care clinic, for patients on low incomes, in the Dentistry Building. Boran believes that these clinics are an essential component of oral health-care students’ education, giving them valuable experience working on cases they would not normally see in the main Faculty of Dentistry student clinic, and helping them to develop the skills and empathy needed for treating patients from different backgrounds and situations. Giving back to the students and the patients who need care the most are the focus of Boran’s ongoing involvement with the Faculty of Dentistry as both instructor and donor. “As long I still feel like I’m giving something back and doing a good job, I’ll continue to do it,” he says.
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